Addio Febbraio

Today is the last day of the month. 2020 went by in a flash, and now 2021 is feeling that way, too.

We had a good week, and hope you did, too.

This morning, Mamma caught me on camera being impatient. Stivali is not patient.

In my defense, I was very hungry this morning. 

She laughed and laughed at me - I still bring little Verdi to her daily, and she has yet to capture that on video very well, so at least I am maintaining some dignity here. 😹

The weather this week included hail, rain, some sunshine, and some cold temperatures. Our little feral visited multiple times a day, and still would not come fully inside our home.

I do not understand why he is so stubborn. We have blankets, beds, food, fresh water, and a roof over our heads. How fortunate we are inside warm. I do not know why he refuses our generosity.

Enjoying sun puddles and eating lots of food are the things I like to do. 

Here's to a magnificent March ahead for each of you. Stay well.

Purr & Paw, 🐾

-Stivali. 

Here we stand in the no-man’s-land between winter and spring… in other words, March. Full of hope and frustration, March is tempestuous and teasing. - Julie Hage.

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.

Black Cat Day!

As a tuxedo, mostly black and part white, I am thrilled that there is a National Black Cat Day. And it is TODAY! 🐱

Even CNN wanted to tell readers about this phenomenal day. Read their take here.

Black cats and Halloween go hand-in-treatbag! Black cats became associated with witchcraft since it was a common belief that witches would disguise themselves as black cats. Some people say that many witches were burned at the stake alongside their cat. 😿 Which we do NOT want to believe. That is awful to think about. 😿

We know it is not true that black cats are evil. Black cats are just as lovable as any lovable cat. It is sad to us that there is such a bad reputation associated with black cats. We are determined to end this maddening myth!

Tell your friends! 😺

We had a good week, and we hope you did, too. We had a lot of sun puddle time.

If you decided to carve pumpkins, or are doing your carving today, here is an article about how to make some delicious treats out of the pumpkin seeds.

The nice weather has passed, and today it is raining. A perfect day to carve or decorate pumpkins in preparation for Halloween this week. Or, if you are like me, to cuddle under a fuzzy warm blanket for a long cat nap.

Purr & Paw, 🐾
-Stivali. 

Do you believe in destiny? That even the powers of time can be altered for a single purpose? That the luckiest man who walks on this earth is the one who finds true love? – Dracula.

Happy Fall, Y'all!

Crisp air and pumpkins everywhere!

Autumn began this week on September 23, and is scheduled to end on December 21st.
The third season of the year is a favorite for many, including our mamma! The transition between the summer heat to the cold winter means - windows open! Birds singing! Lots of sun puddling and and window watching.

What is your favorite thing about fall? Is it the colours of the landscape? The Thanksgiving feast you share with your loved ones? Pumpkin spice flavored goodies? It is the candy corn? Or is it all of the festivities like apple picking, hay rides, and corn mazes?

Whichever your favorite fall thing is, we hope the season is off to an amazing start for you, and that you enjoy some of your fall favorites this year with gratitude.

I work out! 

Don't forget to continue to exercise as to avoid those extra pounds winter may bring! 

Purr & Paw,
-Stivali. 🐾

Autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go. - Author Unknown.

What's mew with you?

Hello Friends,

Mamma went to Pennsylvania yesterday and came home smelling like other cats!

What is this all about??

She went to a CAT CAFE, can you believe this?

Now, most of you already know, our mamma once owned a beautiful cafe, and now she went to someone else's awesome establishment - and they have cats there! Cats in a cafe! Isn't that wonderful?

Mewow Cafe in Doylestown, Pennsylvania

Interior cafe seating - they serve local coffee.

They sell cat themed gift items!

Mamma fell in love with this cutie immediately.

If you are ever in Pennsylvania, you will have to check it out: Mewow Cafe

The owner has partnered with Kitty Junction and offers visitors the chance to meet adoptable kitties that need a home! Isn't that purr-fect?

Mamma even bought us each a toy from the cafe, and a really cute t-shirt for herself. 😹
The cats are in a window enclosed room separated from the cafe dining area.

How did she ever find out about this great place? Well, our lovely Aunt Jules moved over a year ago to Doylestown, Pennsylvania and she is the creator/owner/writer of "For the Love of Doylestown" - for Facebook and Instagram users, follow her @fortheloveofdoylestown to view her beautiful photographs of Doylestown and learn all about the town.

We had a good week indeed, not just because mamma bought us new toys, but because we enjoyed sun puddling, had multiple visits from Grigio, received lots of cuddles, took lots of naps, and ate lots of treats.

We do like our sun puddle time.

We sure hope your week ahead is filled with equal parts of affection and laughter.

Purr & Paw,
-Stivali.🐾

Oh, how I adore napping!

Pasqua is 11 months old!

Happy Sunday! 

Yesterday marked ELEVEN months since Pasqua was born! 

We are not sure where he was born, or who his kitty parents are, we really don't even know much about how he ended up at Tabby's Place Cat Sanctuary. All we do know is mamma met him and he stole her heart right away! 

Our foster adventure began on November 21, 2018. Little "Chip", as the shelter named him, weighed under two pounds and was a fuzzball of energy.

Look at him now though! He thoroughly enjoys napping anywhere. Case in point #1:

Case in Point #2

We are very happy he liked our home (and us) so mamma felt comfortable at being a foster fail, haha, and adopted him officially a month later.  It has been an exciting nine months with him, and we look forward to many many more.

Can't you tell how excited I am to celebrate Pasqua turning 11 months? 

Maybe I will celebrate without napping at his one year mark.

Being a Princess is very hard work. Sunpuddles make it easier.

I wonder how we will celebrate Pasqua's first birthday next month... I hope it includes catnip cake and salmon kitty treats. 😻

Purr & Paw,
-Stivali.

Let me love you a little more before you’re not little anymore.

Happy July!

Dear Readers, 

We are so happy that it is July. Sunshine means sun puddles. Summer means longer days, which means more light to light our lives! We are so happy!

We are getting along fabulously. On occasion, Pasqua Scheggiare gets a little too rambunctious, but one fine swat of my paw on his head and he behaves again. It is like magic!

We are doing really well with demands. We have purrfected: 

• sit
• jump/up
• paw
• give me five

We are still working on 'fetch' - one which Pasqua did continuously but has recently become less enchanted with it. Haha!

Pasqua is quite the snuggler and he has a permanent spot next to mamma when she relaxes on the sofa. I don't join them very often because it is not fun for me to share mamma with Pasqua. I get envious and angry. 

This week, our country celebrates with fireworks and barbecues. I hope there are not too many fireworks nearby because they scare me. I know we are not under attack, but it sure sounds and feels like we are. I typically retreat to under the bed during such scary times. 

If you are wondering why there are celebrations here this week - it is to honor when the thirteen colonies claimed their independence from England on July 4, 1776.  This eventually led to the formation of the United States, so Americans celebrate this historic event on the fourth of July, also referred to as Independence Day.

Have a wonderful week, Everyone, and Happy Independence Day to all who celebrate it! 

Purr & Paw,

-Stivali. 

“I believe in America because we have great dreams, and because we have the opportunity to make those dreams come true.” – Wendell L. Wilkie.

May days

Hello Readers, how was your weekend? 😼

We had a nice weekend here - mamma worked on Stray Cat's memorial garden.  Pasqua and I watched her work outside through the screen window.

I just adore sun puddles.

She has yet to capture Chip's Chirp very well, but she is trying. Be sure to check out all of her videos of us on her YouTube channel.

The voting for the New Jersey Monthly Cutest Cat contest has officially ended, and we are hopeful we will hear good news next month about it. If you decided to vote for our little boy, we thank you!

Voting is still open for the Catster Contest and every vote counts - we appreciate your support! ❤

I do think he is the cutest cat in NJ. Hope y'all agree.

Cannot believe May is coming quickly to a close. How quick the time passes.

We hope you all are enjoying beautiful weather and are able to get out in it. ☀

Purr & Paw,
-Stivali. 🐾

May, more than any other month of the year, wants us to feel most alive. - Fennel Hudson.

Rainy week means naps and squeaks

It is mid-May here and we have been seeing and hearing a lot of rain.

This gives us the perfect opportunity to nap!

What do you do when it rains multiple days in a row? Do you hunker down or do you still go out and about?

We are indoor cats, so we do not go out, but we do miss sunpuddling.

I tried to play hide and seek - but apparently, I am not very good at it:

Mamma likes to watch Hallmark movies. Pasqua is always very happy when she sits and relaxes, because he likes to, too:  

However, on this particular evening, the Hallmark movie did not keep his interest: 

Mamma is still trying to capture my Verdi deliveries and Pasqua's cute little chirp. She is afraid that I will stop bringing her Verdi, and that Pasqua will grow out of his little voice. Stay tuned, Readers, we may finally allow her to get our adorable behavior and squeaks on video!

Friendly reminder, last day to vote for Pasqua in the NJ Monthly Magazine contest is noon eastern time on the 19th:  NJ Monthly Contest Link to Vote

The voting is open until the 31st for the Catster contest:
Catster’s Purrrific Photo Contest: I Fits, I Sits Link to Vote

Thank you for your support.

Purr & Paw,
-Stivali.

Pasqua is Six Months Old Today!

Happy St Patrick's Day, Readers!

We are celebrating all day long. Not just for St Patrick, the sheep herder, and patron saint of Ireland (although, he wasn't actually Irish! Interesting fun-fact!), we celebrate also today because Pasqua is now six months old!

😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸

Did you know that St Patrick's real name is believed to be Maewyn Succat, but when he became a priest he changed his name to Patrick? Look at his real name, though: Succat. Isn't that something?

😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸

Another coincidence we take note of today: when Italian-American males are named Pasqua or Pasquale, their nickname very commonly is Pat. These coincidences on the day we celebrate St Patrick and our little Pasqua Scheggiare are not accidents, and we believe they are signals from God to remind us that we are truly blessed.

😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸😸

At six months old, these are some of Pasqua's favorite things:

• treats
• my food (he prefers it over his kitten food!)
• a little grey mouse we named Grigio (not to be confused with my beloved Verdi)
• napping/sleeping
• playing peek-a-boo and fetch
• cuddling with mamma
• hiding with me when visitors come over (I am teaching him this habit to our mom's disappointment)
• sun puddling
• looking out the windows and glass doors
• hanging out with mamma when she works from home

And some of our favorite photos:

They named him "Chip" at the Cat Sanctuary where we adopted him from.

It is not safe to refill my food container in Pasqua's presence.

Playing fetch (Grigio is in Pasqua's mouth).

Enjoying the view from the sun room.

He sleeps a lot in the most adorable poses. Example 1.

Example 2 - how is that even comfortable?

Six month portrait.  Getting so big!

I offer this Irish Blessing for all of you: "May you have love that never ends, lots of money, and lots of friends. Health be yours, whatever you do, and may God send many blessings to you!"

Purr & Paw,
-Stivali.

Happy March!

March brought more snow today. But the sunshine felt good on our fur. We are getting along well.
I even let Pasqua play with my paws.

He is a very silly kitty. Mamma has been teaching him high-five and peek-a-boo.  Here is his latest peek-a-boo spot - the shower! Pasqua Peek-a-boo He is very funny.

May March bring you peace and joy as we are soon to see and feel spring.

Happy day, Readers, happy day.
-Stivali.

Settling in...

I'm getting used to having this little guy around.

However, I sometimes look down at him in disgust.

And he is undeterred...

We are all settling in, waiting for winter to end. Sun puddling during the day. Sleeping through the night. Life is good here. We are happy. 

Hope all of you readers are, too.

Purr & Paw,

-Stivali (and Pasqua). 

Snow Days and Sun Puddles

So. Me begging for mamma's food is becoming a fun trend - one week and going strong of nightly begging.
See? Told you I cannot be that sick. 

The weather outside is frightful, and I am really grateful to be an indoor cat. Safe and warm.


This is how my sister spends her days... relaxing in the sun porch - enjoying all of the sun puddles.

The cold stays out. We stay in.

We are happy. We are grateful. We are blessed.

Stay warm, Readers in Cold Places. 💞