Lazy Sunday

Hello Readers! 

The weather is getting warmer here and we are feeling lazy! 

I must encourage my mamma to put that air conditioning on because it is warm at the top of my cat perch. 

If you lack motivation when it is warm out, sometimes it is refreshing to give in to it - that is what I am thinking on this Sunday. A little relaxation will help me overcome this feeling and then I can eat and play after I nap. 

Here is to an enjoyable (even if lazy) Sunday, and a very motivated Monday tomorrow for all of you.

Purr & Paw,

-Stivali. 🐾 

 Dolce far niente. - one of mamma's Italian expressions, meaning, "it is sweet to do nothing". 😸

Be a Positive Part of the CommUNITY!

Happy Sunday, Readers, 

We cats are very protective of our mamma, and now there is a study we want to share with all of you that we think is interesting: 

Cats don't avoid strangers who behave badly towards their owners, unlike dogs 

The outcome of the study really surprised us. Cats are always considered standoffish. However, I would like to believe we would protect our mamma from a mean stranger. 

And this got us thinking, what are we doing on the daily to protect our neighbors? Protect the community we live in? There is so much going on in the world, and a lot of it is ugly. 

It seems to us being neighborly is a thing of the past, and I would like us to reenergize that sense of community. You can join us by doing something anonymously for a neighbor in need, or by volunteering and joining a local organization. Community groups are a great way to connect with neighbors and they empower us to make a difference in our world.

Here are some ideas, if you want to do something nice for a neighbor this spring:

• Give them a call and check in. 
• Bring over a baked good or a home cooked meal.
• Offer to run an errand for them.
• Bring them flowers, or plant some for them.
• Next time you are heading to the store, ask them if they need anything.
• Take in their garbage pails. 
• Shop at local businesses (supporting local is supporting your neighbor, and you can always pick up something for your neighbor there!). 

Pasqua demonstrates community outreach! 😸

Have fun doing something nice for your neighbor and please share what nice things your neighbors have done for you.

If you missed mamma's premiere of her read aloud children's book, check it out here: SuperCat Kismet

Have a blessed week!

Purr & Paw, 

-Stivali. 🐾

The purpose of life is to listen - to yourself, to your neighbor, to your world and to God and, when the time comes, to respond in as helpful a way as you can find. - Fred Rogers.

World Poetry Day

I bet you did not know that I like poems. I like when mamma reads them or sings them to me.

Poetry expresses feelings in rhythm something the books she often reads us does not. She also uses a different pitch, a distinctive style in her voice when she recites them. 

This is why I was excited to share with all of you that today is World Poetry Day. 

Maybe you will take time today to write a poem, or to revisit one you read some time ago and liked.

Today I enjoy the many pillows in my house.

It has been a very long time since I have caught a mouse. 

My brother Pasqua doesn't seem to mind.

As long as there are sun puddles to find. 

Have a blessed Sunday, Readers.

-Stivali. 🐾

Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words. - Robert Frost.

The inspiration of March!

Spring officially begins this month - we have to wait until the 28th! Daylight savings begins a little earlier - on the 14th. The weather in March can be surprising, does ma need a coat or not? Very confusing.

As the season changes from winter to spring, it is the perfect time to think about all the things that inspire us. Reflect on all the challenges we faced this past year, and everything we overcame. How did we do it? What inspires you? 

There is a lot to celebrate in March, and if you cannot think of anything - here is a list of days you can use to create more inspiration and fun: March Holidays 2021.

Pasqua patiently waits for the snow to melt so he can truly welcome spring. 

Expect great things, 

-Stivali.🐾

It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade. - Charles Dickens, Great Expectations.

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.

Delighted with a gift, and the simple pleasures of life.

Exciting news here! I have a new toy, a big happy fish, and it is by far the very best Christmas gift I received. 

Mamma tried to catch me playing with it on video, but I am hip to her game, and as soon as I noticed she was recording me, I stopped playing. I am a wee-bit camera shy. Check meowt: Life With Cats

This fish is awfully fun, and pretty, too - thanks to Aunt Jules for sending it to me.

We had some snow here this week, and I liked watching it from the window. Grateful to not have to be out in it. Between the fun new toy, and being able to be inside in the winter, I know I am a blessed cat.

Does it snow where you live? Do you have winter? Winter here offers beautiful sunrises, and when it snows it looks magical outside. 

I enjoy being inside, lots of blankets to warm up in. If you like to warm up with a blanket, hot cup of tea or cocoa, whatever you like, be sure to treat yourself this week, and relish in the beauty of life. 

Purr & Paw, 

-Stivali. 🐾

A sunrise, a walk in the woods, take time to enjoy the simple pleasures of life. - Sunta. 

Take Action Now to Prepare for 2021

It is the 51st week of this year, and today is the 348th day of the year. Today is the 4th day of Hanukkah for our Jewish Observers, and there are only 18 days left in 2020.

This has been the strangest year for us - mamma rarely goes out, and has been working from home on the kitchen table since March. She watches news programs more than I ever noticed before. The gift I find in this is that she cuddles with us more, and there is a bar on the bottom of the television which is fun for me to watch as it moves consistently. 

Our life is a journey of experiences filled with countless gifts. Sometimes problems overshadow the goodness that exists. It helps to be insightful to recognize love, forgiveness, and any light in the darkness. We are anchored by faith, and practice yoga with prayerful meditation to help heal from troubling times. 

This helps us relax in the present by letting go of doubt and fear so we can truly appreciate everything we are going through, even if it is not what we had planned.

Speaking of plans...

Do you follow our friend, Dr. James A Smith, Jr on Instagram or Facebook? He has a Challenge happening right now where each day he posts one word and asks how you would incorporate it in 2021. On the first day, the component was Authenticity, the second was Resilience, and the third, Grace. 

Intentional planning now for our upcoming year will help us balance our lives, don't you agree? 

Join his Challenge on either Instagram or Facebook or both. He is an energetic motivational speaker who mamma had the pleasure of meeting nearly 20 years ago. 😺 

It'll be fun to see our readers join mamma in the discussion and preparation of 2021. 

In other news, we are happy to report that our little feral, Grigio, has been spending more and more time on the deck as the weather has been getting colder here. 

Have a wonderful week, Dear Readers. 

Purr & Paw,

-Stivali. 🐾

Nobody is going to be at their best during a global pandemic. Just acknowledging this fact can be helpful and validating. We need to be compassionate with ourselves. - Dylan Gee, assistant professor of psychology at Yale University,

Are you telling your story?

Seton Hall University President, Dr Joseph E. Nyre, wrote the following message to the Seton Hall Community. Too beautiful to not share with each of you readers:

This is a moment where our compassion for one another, our understanding of the complexities of our situation, and our flexibility will define the character of our community. May each of us follow the example of our patroness, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, whose faith and determination helped her overcome incredible adversity. I join you in looking forward with hope and optimism.

For readers who do not know a little bit about Elizabeth Ann Seton's story - at 29 years old she was widowed with five children and penniless. She was living in Italy at the time, and converted to Catholicism because of the faith and kindness she observed in Italian Catholics. She moved to the United States, first to New York, and then to Maryland. It was in Maryland, where she started a school, and took in any child who wanted an education.

She died at 47 years old, and became the first American-born citizen to be beatified (1963) and then canonized (1975). She is buried in Emmitsburg, Maryland and is the patron saint of grief. She experienced deaths of many loved ones, including her husband and two of her five children.

Our stories are important. Our history can define who we are, and how we see and react to the world. Hearing other's stories may change our perspective, or help see the world a little differently. 

Tell your story.

Little Pasqua wants to share some of his today with this video clip: Pasqua and a q-tip

He likes to play. All of the time.

Enjoy your Sunday, Everyone!

Purr & Paw,
-Stivali. 🐾

History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.  - Maya Angelou.

Our Stories Matter

Happy Sunday, Readers,

Last week, I shared Pixie's story in honour of her passing. 😿 Which got me thinking about our individual stories - and how they matter.

Like Pixie, I had a rough start, too - the runt of a litter born in the parking lot of a shopping mall and abandoned by my cat-mother.

Me as a kitten.

When you share your story, what do you start with? Do you start with your rough beginning, or do you begin your story with a memory of courageous perseverance in the face of adversity? We all have a story to share and maybe we all can inspire others with our resilience.

You may remember how Pasqua came in to our life. We don't know much about his back story, or why he was dropped off at the cat sanctuary that October. We do know that they named him Chip because he was found during their Halloween Chip or Treat event.

Pasqua as a kitten.

Maybe if I allowed Pasqua to write today's blog he would start out at Thanksgiving 2018, and his first night in his new home here with us. How he knew it was supposed to be temporary and it was just a foster situation, so he squeezed his way into our hearts so that he would never leave.

We all have our own experience and impression of the world. If we stick with starting our story at the bad times, our focus of the bad times grows. The bad times are important, but even more important is how we rise above them, that's what makes us who we are at the core.

We don't have to start our story with the bad times. Instead, we could start at the good times, start with the blessings. Maybe, if we focus on the good, we will see the good grow.

Give people a space to be heard, listen to their story.

Share your story.

It matters.

Purr & Paw,
-Stivali. 🐾

🧡Sharing your story is heart work. It's not easy work, but it might be the most important thing you’ll ever do. - Jennifer Williamson.🧡

Pay it forward...

Happy Sunday, Readers,

The United Kingdom celebrates May as the National Smile Month. We hope this post finds you in good spirits and having a relaxing weekend filled with plenty of smiles.

We received a special video message from Jonathan Rosenberg, the Founder and Executive Director of the cat sanctuary which Pasqua Scheggiare came from, Tabby’s Place. We want to share it with you, and if you were looking for a place to pay forward any of your blessings, we kindly ask you to consider this public charity (501c3 non-profit corporation).

Their success, as with any charity, is dependent on the generous donations of people just like you. We believe what they are doing is extraordinary and valuable.

Tabby's Place Video Update

Thank you. We hope you enjoy your week.

Purr & Paw,
-Stivali. 🐾

Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving. - Albert Einstein

Cat Story

A long long time ago, our mamma penned a children's picture book inspired by her orange tabby, Kismet. It has taken on many renditions over the past decade - rewrite rewrite rewrite - as she seeks a literary agent to represent her and a publisher to publish it.

She has many stories written for it - making it a picture book series. This is in addition to all her other works she has written and others she is working on.

There are many stories about cats, and we are hopeful that hers will be published one day for the world to enjoy. 

™© suntawrites

There's a lot of lost work out there, or forgotten work, and we don't want that to happen to Kismet's story.

For instance, the author famous for The Grapes of Wrath, wrote a cat story in the 50s that was published in French. The Smithsonian reports that for the first time it has been published in English (through purchase of a magazine, check it out here: https://strandmag.com/product/john-steinbeck-issue-plus-1-year-subscription/).

© Jeffrey McKeever

Steinbeck's The Amiable Fleas is a lighthearted short story about the friendship between a chef and his cat (depicted above). It inspires us to keep encouraging mamma to work at her craft, to try to get published, and to remember that the loyalty 'n love between human 'n cat is a story worth writing and reading! 

Inspire one another! 

-Stivali. 🐾

“Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.” - Louis L’Amour.

Christmas Wishes

Hello Readers,

We hope you had a wonderful week. 

You know how I really like drinking from the faucet? Well, I found the purr-fect gift for me. Check this out: Aquapurr - an automated water spout. How cool is that? 

I think it would make a great addition to our home. Don't you? 😺

In other news, mamma is excited to share with you two new videos. She was finally able to capture in time me carrying my toy mouse, Verdi! She is overjoyed, but of course, wants to still get a better one.

Stivali Carrying Verdi, Take 1

Stivali Carrying Verdi, Take 2

Enjoy your Sunday, Everyone! 

Purr & Paw,

-Stivali.🐾

🎶It's you I like. The way you are right now, the way down deep inside you. Not the things that hide you, not your toys, they're just beside you. But it's you I like. Every part of you.♫ - Mister Fred Rogers.♬

December to do list...

What's on your calendar this week?

To do: shop, bake, clean, laundry, Hanukkah and/or Christmas cards to write and address and mail, gifts to wrap, stockings to hang, trees to decorate, houses to decorate...

The list goes on and on... is kindness on your list? To be kind? To strangers? To the cashiers you encounter during your shopping?

During this time of "busy" be sure to make time for kindness.

People can be especially rude during this time of year, because they are distracted, they are busy, they forget to be kind, to be patient, to be understanding. Let's not be like them, instead, let's be purposeful in being the opposite.

It takes effort, yes, it may feel uncomfortable or pointless - but the more effort you take to be kind instead of too busy to care - the easier it will be to do - just like any habit, it takes practice, and you will soon see the fruit of your efforts. For it will not be pointless, and perhaps, your kindness will inspire others to act that way, too.

Be kind, and may peace be with you.
-Stivali. 🐾

Mutual caring relationships require kindness and patience, tolerance, optimism, joy in the other's achievements, confidence in oneself, and the ability to give without undue thought of gain. - Mister Fred Rogers.

Happy December 1st!

New month, new day, new chapter, a new page, Welcome Dear December!

December marks my official "I'm Mamma's Day" - on December 06 - the day before our Aunt Marcella's birthday.

Other special birthdays this month include: Great Aunt Anna 03, Great Uncle Nicky 05, Mrs Walter 05 (PJ's mamma), Baby Taegan Elizabeth will be 06 on the 05th, Aunt Julie's 15, Uncle Mikey 21.

Also, this month, we celebrate when we officially signed adoption papers for Pasqua Scheggiare! Cannot believe this month will mark one year! 

Mamma has yet to catch me on video carrying Verdi to her, but she did snap this photo this week of me:

She has added few videos to our YouTube channel, most recently us watching outside:  https://youtu.be/VNeiDph8T8I

Are you decorating for the holidays this weekend? Mamma did not put up a Christmas tree last year, so I think we will have to convince her to do so this year. We need ornaments to play with!

Purr & Paw,
Stivali. 🐾

Remember this December, that love weighs more than gold! - Josephine Dodge Daskam Bacon.

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. 🐾

Eleven Days to Halloween!

Happy Sunday, Readers,

We are eleven days from Halloween, and Pasqua and I are hopeful no one rings the door bell. That scares us more than a Halloween ghost! 👻

We see lots of jack-o-lanterns when we look outside. People carve them and place candles in them. They look so pretty.

Fall is a beautiful time of year.

Grigio does not agree, and yet does not come inside to get warm.

I wonder if you have any ideas of what to do if you can't use a knife? Like, Pasqua and I appreciate the beauty of the carved pumpkins but cannot hold a knife. 😸

Maybe you want to avoid the messy carving with all of those slippery seeds, and wet pumpkin innards, too. Here are some alternative ideas mamma had for us, but please do tell us your own alternatives to add to this list:

• Use yarn! We like playing with yarn a lot. It is easy to decorate a pumpkin using colorful yarn or even ribbon. Use the stalk as the base to wrap it from top to bottom. So pretty!
• Melt crayons and decorate the pumpkin with the liquid ink. This takes paw painting to a whole new level!
• Do you want to turn your pumpkin into a cat? Use felt to cut out the shapes needed to disguise your pumpkin into the purrfect feline. 
• Use decorative tape. A lot of hardware stores and craft shops have wide decorative tape to secure packaged gifts. What fun it is to not have to worry about glue or any pumpkin messiness when we can just wrap the pumpkin in fun tape!
• Paint. Use acrylic paint to decorate your pumpkin into whatever you want it to be. Need inspiration? Check out these cool ideas at Parents.com.

Have fun with your pumpkins, and do let us know how they turn out. 👻

Purr & Paw, 🐾
-Stivali.

When witches go riding, and black cats are seen, the moon laughs and whispers, "‘tis near Halloween". - 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!