Happy Thanksgiving Week

Hello Readers,

It is a very rainy day here - and we send out hopes that you are all doing well. Bundled up and warm, wherever you are.

What are you all doing for Thanksgiving? We are looking forward to eating a special turkey dinner together. 😸

Here's a little history for you: President George Washington proclaimed the first national Thanksgiving Day in 1789. Abraham Lincoln declared that the last Thursday in November should be celebrated as Thanksgiving, and it become a recognized holiday in the United States in 1863. It was moved to the fourth Thursday of November, and became an official federal holiday in 1941 by President Franklin Roosevelt.

But it actually started a lot earlier than that, when the pilgrims settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621. This first feast was organized by the Governor, William Bradford, who invited the Wampanoag Indians. Two years later, they began calling the feast "Thanksgiving", after a long drought ended.

Did you know? Ben Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird instead of the bald eagle. Imagine that! 

Me in all of my sunroom glory.

Grigio visited twice daily this week.

Grigio greeting me at the door.

November 21st, we began fostering this lil fuzzball. This photo was taken November 23, 2018.

One year later, November 23, 2019 - our fuzzball certainly has grown!

We are grateful for all of our many blessings: each other, Grigio, food in our bellies, warm blankets to cuddle in. 

Purr & Paw, 🐾

-Stivali. 

Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other. -Randolph Frederick Pausch.

Motivating Tips for Getting Through Winter

Happy Sunday, Readers!

Mamma was reading this article to us, How to Stay Motivated in the Cold Weather, and Pasqua and I agree that it may helpful to all of you.

Here is our cat-recap:

1. Love your mornings - we like to cuddle in bed with mamma and make her relax with us before getting ready for work each day. On weekends, we make sure she ignores the alarm clock, and only pays attention to us.

2. Write motivational post-it notes - since we cannot write notes to mamma, we do bring her toys, and move them around the house for her to find. Sometimes, I leave her "surprises" when I am missing her too much. Mamma does have a couple of motivational mantras on her mirror but I have no idea what they say. I assume it has something to do with loving us. 💗

One of ma's motivational notes - what does it say? 😻

3. Listen to podcasts or audiobooks - I know mamma listens to books in her car while commuting (and we don't get in that car with her much). At home, she does read out loud to us, and it is so nice to hear her different voices for characters, and to listen to whatever it is she is reading from. The article says reading is motivating, and I must agree, it motivates us to either pay attention to ma's voice, or to take a deep cat-nap.

4. Warm up with exercise - every morning, mamma does yoga. We like doing it with her. It is invigorating! In the afternoons, she will do a dance routine to some video she has, and that one is very funny to watch. We will chase after balls and toys to keep up with the music and to get our exercise in, too! It certainly warms us up.

5. Show up for yourself - this one lost us a little bit, because, as cats, ummmm, we definitely show up. In order to sustain motivation in the winter months, the article suggests to challenge yourself, set small, attainable goals, and reward yourself every time you crush them. Ummm, okay, does this mean we get more cat treats? Mamma gives us treats each time we "sit", "jump", "give paw", and "high five". Is this us showing up for ourselves? 😹

6. Enjoy the winter festivities - the last tip seems like the easiest one! Each season brings seasonal foods and festivities - something for all of us to look forward to during the calendar year. So, what's your favorite winter festivity? Ours is watching snow fall from our windows. If mamma would use the fireplace, I think we would really enjoy warming our fur by it. 😸 In November, mamma goes out pumpkin picking, orders pumpkin lattes, and buys presents for us and all her loved ones to celebrate Christmas. I can't wait to see what we get this year!

What do you think of these tips? What tips would you add to stay motivated in the cold weather?

We are big on relaxing in the winter - well, in any season, really.

Me working on my blog writing.

Have a wonderful week!

Purr & Paw,
-Stivali. 🐾

Love keeps the cold out better than a cloak. - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Holiday Shopping Begins~

Hello Everyone,
While ma was on the internet, she saw this ad, and thought it was the perfect first gift to get us, and get it for us quickly so she can take our Christmas Card photo with us in them!

Unfortunately, when she went to purchase these hats on Chewy.com - they were temporarily sold out. Thank goodness for answered prayers. I had a hunch she was gonna put me in the "naughty" one and Pasqua Scheggiare in the "nice" one! 

Do you agree that a photo of us wearing these silly hats would make an adorable Christmas Card this year?

We are looking forward to a very special season together. Our Christmas Wish this year is that Grigio, the grey stray cat we've been feeding since June, would come inside. He has yet to let mamma approach him, and scurries away any time she tries. Even on a recent night this week when it was pouring rain, he just chose to stay outside in it. It breaks our hearts!

The temperatures sure are dropping, and while we snuggle inside, we pray that Grigio will join us soon. In the mean time, mamma is shopping for a much better outdoor cat house for him. Wish us luck!

Did you spend your weekend shopping for the holidays? We spent ours napping. 

Warm cuddles to all of you. Enjoy your week!

Purr & Paw, 

-Stivali. 🐾

Don't wait until the fourth Thursday in November to sit with family and friends to give thanks. Make every day a day of Thanksgiving! - Charmaine J. Forde.

What's going on, November?

Our days have become shorter now, as we recently fell back by one hour, exiting Daylight Saving Time where we live. 

November was the ninth month of the year in the original Roman calendar, and its name came from the Latin word "novem" meaning nine. When the Romans added January and February, it became the eleventh month. Some days in November will be borderline warm and other days it will be very cold. It's the month that leads us to the end of the year, and reminds us to maintain an attitude of gratitude.

The colours of leaves are changing and those leaves are falling off of the trees. Mamma is breaking out sweaters we forgot how much we love to cuddle on.

November could be thought of as a somber month as it reminds us winter is coming. Historically, farmers would store up their harvest, getting their food and their home ready in order to survive the winter.

Fun Facts: 
November in Italian is novembre.

The first mechanically ventilated underwater tunnel in the world, the Holland Tunnel, opened to traffic on November 13, 1927.

Today's Anniversary: Parker Brothers introduced the Monopoly game on November 5, 1935.

Bell Telephone Company introduced the push button phone on November 18, 1963.

November means ma doesn't put the heat up enough and Pasqua insists on getting close!

November means Grigio still won't come inside, but at least he is using a heated blanket!

What is your favorite thing about November? What fun facts about this month do you know?

Stay warm! 

-Stivali. 🐾