Mini-ManCat Monday

One reason we admire cats is for their proficiency in one-upmanship. They always seem to come out on top, no matter what they are doing, or pretend they do. - Barbara Webster 

Yeah, we are the bestest at whatever! 

Over the weekend me and mum quietly celly-brated our blog-a-versary! Mum didn't even have to use fingers and toes to figure out we been doing this for 18 years! Wow. Yeah, Derby started it and I joined and continued. Plus I let mum show off her books and blankies. 

Speaking of which, I thinks I need an intervention for mum. First these two boxes showed up from JoAnn, whomever she is.

Then two more boxes and one of them was really big! Sheesh mum, even I can't play in four boxes at one time.

Should have known, mum got carried away cuz she saw not all of her shelves were filled with yarns. So she went crazy!

Now the shelves are all full and she even had one bit left over that wouldn't fit on the shelves. Plus it was a duplicate of a color she already had just got! Mum, you need to control yourself!

Yeah, this is good, just the two of us chilling and watching the outside. Mum also trying to read her book.
 

She is doing good on getting all the outside stuff done. Plants cut back, hauled off. Even the flowers that she planted were all deaded, so they went away too. 

Mum found the hour in all the clocks this weekend. She changed them early on Caturday morning and went to bed so she did get her extra hour of sleeps. She needed it after doing all of her chores.

Feetsball Report

 The Pack won on Sunday, WooHoo. Breaking their losing streak. They played another young team with a QB who hasn't played much either. Lots of penalties, mum said it was like anytime they did something good they had a penalty. Oh well. A W is a W. 

CrashCar is over for the season too. Mum's fav driver wasn't up to be the champion so she didn't care who won. 

Have a good week everyone.

 

Dona Nobis Pacem - Blog Blast for Peace

 

Blog for Peace today and every day.

 

Dona Nobis Pacem

 

Wonderful Wordy Wednesday

 Happy November! 

Trick or treat here yesterday was cold and a bit snowy. The usual amount of kids is 20-25 but I think I had at best 18. Also a late arriving start, about 20 minutes after the official start at 5:30. Probably because the weather was bad and parents didn't get home from work as early. I didn't sit outside to distribute candy, I stayed inside and just answered the door. No need to get cold, although the heavy snow showers had stopped. 

I had lots of salt water taffy and got rid of 80% of it. One kid even said "cool taffy" when they saw what I was handing out. Something other than chocolate or candy bars. Most kids had full bags, except for the ones who were using pillow cases!

A Chateau Under Siege is the latest Bruno, Chief of Police book. During a historical re-enactment the main character is injured but then seems to disappear. His family doesn't seem to be too worried, but there are some underlying threats. Can Bruno figure them out before anything further happens? Book was just released, so another 12-18 months before the next installment!

The London Seance Society in Victorian London this secret men only society seems to not be totally on the up and up. Conducting seances to contact the dead, but then two female spiritualist are seeking out the truth, sometimes at their own peril.

 

 

 

I reorganized my yarn stash and then promptly ordered more! I have empty shelf space! Plus the first two new blankets of the season.

 

Happy Reading and crafting too!

Mini-ManCat Monday

Cats can be cooperative when something feels good, which, to a cat, is the way everything is supposed to feel as much of the time as possible. - Roger Caras

The Devil made me do it! Happy Hollow Weenie Eve everyone! I will try not to be evil over the next few days. 

Mum got out the black majic kitties last week after the cleaning peoples came. That way they didn't have to move the stuff to clean or mess with them.

 

Mum has been good working on the outside stuff too. On Caturday she cleaned up leaves and used the grass eater too. Even the naybor guy came around and did some with his big riding grass eater. It saved mum some time, BUT, he scalped the grass in a few places. 

Mum and the latest blankie with baby colors. Hmm, mum is a baby coming here? Mum says no, but one will be added to the extended family next year. This blankie isn't for them, they picked their color and they didn't want this color. So mum is using it up and will give it away. 

Plus she did more to organize all of her yarns. She will show you that on her book post. 

Feetsball Report

The ViQueens came to Lambeau to play The Pack and they won. The Pack did their usual slow start. Mum was yelling HBO words at the moving picture box. Not so much at the team but the announcers and stuff. Too much chat, not enough game. Heck one play The Pack blocked a kick and then all they showed was the ViQueens sideline, not the run back. 

Then mum watched the end of the CrashCar race. Last race is next weekend. Her fav driver can't be the champion but she was happy that one guy didn't make the final four. 

Everyone have a safe Hallow Weenie. It will be cold here and mum will have to bundle up to be outside handing out treats. 

See you next week!

Wonderful Wordy Wednesday

It has been so nice outside I haven't been reading much. Doing some outside yard work and just enjoying the fall warmth. Had a record high temperature of 82F on Tuesday. By the weekend it will be below freezing overnight. 

Have worked on crocheting but that is done while I have been watching the baseball playoffs. When I open the closet it looks strange that there are no blankets piled up. At least not yet it won't take long to get a few done.

The tree guys came last Friday too, so that is another fall thing done. I can see out the back to the walking trail again. The whole yard just feels less messy with all of the excess trees gone. 

On to the books!

Turkey Day Murder part of the ongoing series by Leslie Meier of which I got tired of after the first six of over thirty books. I didn't even read the book cover, it went directly to the return to library pile. I also decided to skip most of the books in the series and only have the four most recent books now on my TBR and spread out so I don't read one or more a month.

The Science of Murder is written by a British pathology technician and in the book uses what are now called forensics based upon Agatha Christie's books. Using examples from her many novels on how items like fingerprints, ballistics, impressions, blood spatter, autopsy and toxicology. While she refers often to various books, she doesn't give any spoilers. Fun read since I have been a Christie fan for ages.

His & Hers, OMG this was a real page turner and one with changes in the plot about every 10 pages. Anna, a BBC reporter is assigned to cover a murder in her old hometown. Jack, the detective assigned to the case knows Anna, but also knew the victim. There are two sides to every story, which means someone is lying. I had read a few other of this author's books and added the two I hadn't read to my list!

The Last Republicans, I would call this a joint political biography of the two Bush Presidents. Their relationship as father and son as well as President to President. Informative read. 

Mini-ManCat Monday

 I'm aloof, I like to run around outside, but I also like to curl up in warm spots. I eat fish. - Megan Coughlin on why she'd make a good cat 

Hmm, mum might make a good cat too. She likes to curl up and be warms too. Fishy eating, yeah, but ham and all sorts of other good human foods.

I saw lots of beauty-ful tock shots over the weekend. I didn't leave a comment on all of the blogs, but I sure appreciated all of you helping me and mum to amember Angel Derby. 

Mum did get the blankie closet all cleared out of the done blankies, but don't worry, she is working on a new one already. Pretty much has one going all winter long. Plus she is going to have to make a special one for a future new member of the family. Coming early next year!

About the future, coming really, really soon is the 2023 Blog Blast for Peace on November 4 and 5. We have been doing this for years and like all years we all need peace in our lives. Miss Mimi heads this up and you can go HERE for more information.

Mum and I have worked hard and we have come up with a really nice peace blog pic for this year. You can make your own or base it off of one of Miss Mimi's backgrounds. We have done both over the years. 

Me keeping watch outside. Mum had some guys come over on Friday and they worked on the trees. Took some dead stuff out, got rid of a lot of junky trees too. We can actually see the trail again from our birdy watching chair. Mum still has some cleanup to do, but this tree stuff would have been too much for her alone.

Feetsball Report

The Pack - they went out to play in the mile high mountains against the Broncos. They didn't get totally stampeded, Jlove and company were winning at one point but at the end Jlove tossed it to the wrong guy. Just like last game. Oh well. 

Have a good week everyone!

 

Tock Day!

 Hello, Ducky here. Twenty years ago today a momma cat somewhere had a litter of kittens. One of those kits was my late, grate bro Derby. Yeah, if he was alive he would be a very old mancat! Sadly we lost him seven years ago to that nasty kidney stuff. 

Now years ago one of his NOMSS special furiends got him into showing his tocks and yes everyone else too. 

Some pumpkin tocks! Good thing since we are getting so much closer to Hollow-weenie.  .

Plus a few of my tiny tocks!

 Happy Purrthday at The Bridge dearest Angel Derby. I am sure you are having one fantastic party.

Wonderful Wordy Wednesday

Much cooler weather has arrived, lows in the 30s but not a freeze just yet. Even so I have been working to cut down flower beds and get those ready for winter. Also to get things out of the way for the window repair people and for the tree guys. Get stuff out of their way when they come in a few weeks. 

Plus soup making! The house was smelling delicious yesterday while I was making onion soup. Lovely caramelized onions with garlic and then it gets to mellow out in the crock pot for hours.

 

All of the blankets I have made in the past year which will be donated to the food pantry, all 19 of them. Clients get to choose a gift each year on their birthday. Blankets are a nice touch, other groups do something similar. Plus the hats and scarves.

So while not cooking or doing yard work, crochet, reading and more reading.

Wedding Day Murder, this is the seventh installment of the Lucy Stone mystery series. As I began to read it I realized I really wasn't that interested in the book, or the series anymore. I read the first few chapters and the last few to see how it ended. I wasn't going to read anymore of the series, then changed my mind and skipped about 20-25 books to get more into what has been published in the past few years.

The Lady in the Silver Cloud is the latest Stewart Hoag mystery. His sweet, elderly neighbor is killed after a Halloween party. What they find is a woman who had unlimited money, always paid in cash too. Never married so where did all the money come from and who did her in?

The Man Who Broke Capitalism and that person was Jack Welch, CEO of General Electric. His business model was mergers and acquisitions, divestment, outsourcing, off-shoring, layoffs and downsizing. The shareholder was king and profits must be gotten. Of a personal note I worked at GE after the company I was at was acquired by GE in late 1998. I left on my own in early 2008 because I couldn't see a way forward for myself in what I wanted to do. Plus I had seen how things worked. With my years from the acquired company and GE I did qualify for a pension! So get $$$ every month from them.

Life or Death, a thriller. Audie is one day away from being released on parole on a ten year sentence when he breaks out of prison. Why would he do that? Is he going after the seven million dollars everyone thinks he has stashed? Or is it something else. Lots of plot twists and a good read.

 

 Happy Reading.

Mini-ManCat Monday

 God is really only another artist. He invented the giraffe, the elephant and the cat. He has no real style, He just goes on trying other things. - Pablo Picasso 

Hello gang, hope things are well. Me and mum had a good week, she even stayed home for the week. Well mostly. But she didn't go anywhere overnight and I know she could have been doing racy car things. 

 

Mum got a pic of my checking out her latest blankie, notice the lump. She is preparing to take all of her blankie off to be given away this week. The closet was full, so time to empty the space so she can make more this winter. 

Feetsball Report

The Pack played last week Monday and lost and this week they had the weekend off. Sheesh, can they play on Sunday like they should!

Mum may watch a bit of baseyball, but not all of it. 

See you next week.

Wonderful Wordy Wednesday

Weather did change late last week, even one morning with frost on the house roofs. No frost on the ground. All of my plants are done blooming so they can begin to be cut back. Later this week they are predicting several rainy days, so good reading weather.

Baseball playoffs for the Milwaukee Brewers lasted for two games and they are out. I have watched a bit of some games, mostly the Phillies-Braves games as the play by play announcer Brian Anderson is the Brewers's TV guy (at least when he isn't doing TBS games!)

The racing season is over too, last local event was this past weekend. I didn't go, still being kind to my toes where I had the cysts lasered off. Healing nicely but no need to stress out my feet!

So reading and crochet and some outside work. That will be fine for the next week.

The Nazi Conspiracy related the plot by the Nazi's to kill Stalin, FDR and Churchill at their Tehran, Iran conference in November 1943. I have read extensively on World War II and don't remember reading about this, or perhaps, since it didn't succeed, it wasn't deemed that important to relate. There are those who claim it was made up by the Soviets to get FDR to stay within their compound, but hard to prove this either way.

Hiss Me Deadly, the latest of the Cat in the Stacks books. Charlie and Diesel have to solve the murder of a musician and attacks on others related to a visit from an old hometown success.

Happy Reading.

Mini-ManCat Monday

 Cats are rather delicate creatures and they are subject to a good many ailments, but I never heard of one who suffered from insomnia.

Happy Monday to you all. The weather has changed from the more summer heats to cool this past week. Mum even turned on the heaty monster over the weekend. Just for a little bit, she didn't want to get out of the shower and be cold!

So you know where I was? Yep, got on my ham-mick and enjoyed the warms blowing under my spot. Mum thought I would still be in my heated cat cup, but no! Gotta do my heaty spot! 

Then I took advantage of the sunshine and did my kitty yoga and bath in the front window. Nice and relaxing. 

Mum took advantage of the cooler weather to do a few things outside. Plus inside the summer fans got taken back to the dungeon for the winter. Don't need them for now. 

Sports Report

The Pack doesn't play until tonight. Sheesh, they haven't played in over a week! Mum wanted a little bit of a game on Sunday but not for long. 

The Brew Crew, they crashed and burned in the playoffs. Losted both of the games at home and now they are all home watching. Mum did watch some of the game with her favorite announcer guy that normally does our moving picture box games. 

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Wonderful Wordy Wednesday

 October and my weather has been more like August. Warm, sunny with the air conditioning kicking on when the house warms up. That will change in the next few days. Time to snuggle up and read more. 

Although reading more right now is a challenge as the baseball playoffs are in swing. My local team is playing. Then of course football. 

Dead Famous I think I thought that this was a novel on which the British TV show was based, it isn't, it is a non-fiction book on celebrity. The author explores celebrity over the years, from the Bronze Age to now. How to get famous and stay famous. Didn't finish.

The Season, the cover seemed familiar and when I went back I found I had already read this back in 2020. I actually had it in a stack of books I posted on the first month I started doing these posts. But at that time I wasn't giving a recap of the book. The author explores the history of debutantes etc. and I did re-read the book.

Pictures at a Revolution shows the transition of the film industry to more biting topics in film. The films, Bonnie and Clyde, Dr Doolittle, The Graduate, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner and In the Heat of the Night. All five pictures were nominated for Best Picture and other awards and all of them won at least one Oscar. I may need to re-watch a few of these movies.

I Was Better Last Night a memoir by Harvey Fierstein, gravely voiced actor and writer. Tony Award winning writer of Torch Song Trilogy, La Cage aux Folles, Kinky Boot, performer Hairspray, Fiddler on the Roof and many more. Interesting read.

Happy Reading

Mini-ManCat Monday

 A cat...would check to see if you brought anything to eat, and if not, would turn and walk away, tail held high. - Mike Deupree 

My name sake has gone to heaven.  For those of you who weren't around back then my full name is Mallard Olympus Cutie Pie. Just Ducky to all of you! My namesake was Dr Donald Mallard of NCIS, aka Illya Kuryakin aka David McCallum. RIP Ducky!

Now it is Tock-Tober and you know what that means! Time to get your tock shots to celly-brate.

Me and the late, grate Derby, showing off our tocks. 

The weather is super nice, mum has the windows wide open for both of us and they stay open over night too. Mum says it will change by next weekend. 

Sports Report

The Pack played last Thursday and they losted to the Lion guys from Dee-Troit. Mum says it is a young team, and they will improve. 

Brew Crew - They are National League Central Division Champs and will play in the postseason starting on Tuesday. They will play Arizona Diamondbacks. At least they don't have to go to the hot dessert to play, all the games are here at home. 

Have a wonderful week and start getting some good tock shots!