Gone with the Whisker

Cass, Laurie. Gone with the Whisker. New York: Berkley, 2020.

I love Eddie the Bookmobile Cat! Minnie's niece Katie comes north to spend the summer, taking on three jobs. Rafe, Katie's boyfriend, works on the home he's preparing for them. In the meantime, Minnie lives on the houseboat. After Katie stumbles over the corpse of a bookmobile patron, Minnie promises to help catch the man's murderer. Eddie helps locate a second corpse later. He plays additional roles later. It's a fun read for mystery lovers who are cat lovers. I caught a couple of typos in the advance review copy that I hope an editor corrects in the final version. I received the advance review copy through NetGalley with the expectation of an honest review.

The Artist Who Loved Cats

Bernardo, Susan S. The Artist Who Loved Cats: The Inspiring Tale of Theophile-Alexandre Steinlen. Illustrated by Courtenay Fletcher. Los Angeles: Inner Flower Child Books, 2019.

Telling the story of Theophile Alexandre Steinlen, the artist famous for his Chat Noir cat illustrations, this picture book will please young readers who love cats. A young girl sees a bronze cat in a shop, enters, and hears the story from the shop owner (and from the cat). I enjoyed the illustrations. A little more biographical information is presented after the main part of the picture book. I received an advance copy through NetGalley with the expectation I would write an honest review.

Crazy Cat Lady

Loonstra, Agnes and Ester Scholten. Crazy Cat Lady. New York: Workman Publishing, 2019.

This is a perfect gift book for a cat-loving female like myself! The illustrations and text provide content to which we can relate. Workman Publishing invited me to download an electronic copy which was delivered through NetGalley. NetGalley's terms expect an honest review in exchange for electronic galleys.

The Cat in the Christmas Tree

Scottsdale, Peter. The Cat in the Christmas Tree: A Magical Tail. n.p.: n.p., 2018.

This chapter books shares the story of a mischievous black kitten named Shadow. Shadow keeps getting in trouble with Nathan's parents Justen and Sara. They threaten to send him back to the SPCA after Christmas. Fortunately the magical tree intervenes. The story itself was okay, but I was disappointed in the illustrations. Chapter books don't contain as many illustrations nor the illustration quality of picture books, but this one's would not please children at all. They all look pretty much like public domain .gif files. I love cats -- and I love cats in Christmas trees, but this book simply fails to capture the magic. I received an electronic copy through NetGalley with the expectation of an honest review.

Alycat and the Friendship Friday

Bourque, Alysson Foti. Alycat and the Friendship Friday. Illustrated by Chiara Civati. Herndon, VA: Mascot Books, 2018.

Alycat's class will visit a doctor's office. A new student arrives. When Alycat's friend offers to let the new student sit with her on the bus, Alycat feels left out until she comes up with a way to include all three of them. Illustrations and text are mediocre. The book does provide instructions for making the friendship bracelets Alycat designed. I received an electronic copy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley with the expectation of an honest review.

My Life in a Cat House

Cooper, Gwen. My Life in a Cat House: True Stories of Love, Laughter, and Living with Five Felines. Dallas, Texas: BenBella Books, 2018.

Gwen Cooper, author of Homer's Odyssey, featuring the now infamous Homer, the Blind Wonder Cat, writes more tales about her cats, including Homer. She talks about her life, her loves, her time spent between New York and Miami. She relates episodes from cats contemporary to Homer and cats who came into her life later. Some are humorous; most will be appreciated by cat lovers. The book bogged down at times with too much of the author's own story or with excess verbiage. Still it's a fun read for cat lovers. I received an advance electronic copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Travelling Cat Chronicles

Arikawa, Hiro. The Travelling Cat Chronicles. Translated by Philip Gabriel. New York: Penguin Random House, 2018.

A stray cat makes his home atop Satoru's van. Satoru begins providing food for the cat. When a passing car injures the cat, Satoru tends to it, eventually moving out of his apartment into one which allows pets. He names the cat Nana. Things go well for about five years until Satoru suddenly announces he must fine a new home for Nana. We learn a lot of Satoru's back story and see similarities between his life and the cat's. Satoru never tells his friends why he seeks a new home for his cat but he knows none of these homes is right for Nana. My favorite parts of the story are those narrated by Nana himself. This tear-jerking Japanese story in English translation will charm cat lovers. I received an uncorrected proof through a GoodReads giveaway with the hopes, but not requirement, of a review.

Back to the Grind

As the beginning of the academic year draws near, those of us who serve as faculty return to the "grind." The dreaded annual day-long faculty workshop is today. Tomorrow is an all-morning meeting of faculty and staff. 

Don't get me wrong -- I love seeing my colleagues, but I get tired of listening to general information things year after year. Some speakers are more engaging that others, and we're certain to find a few snooze-worthy persons delivering addresses or extended announcements.

If I could just take my fur boys with me, I'd be entertained.

My three fur boys enjoy a can of Fancy Feast.

I can just see it. Speaker gets up. Mr. B takes one look and runs under my chair getting as near to me as possible because there is no safer place in the room. Barney decides he'd better join Mr. B but not before he arches his back and gives a quick hiss at the speaker. Sherlock gives the speaker a little bit longer but decides the speaker is boring. Not being shy, he hisses loudly and repeatedly. He then looks at me. Decides I'm not afraid, and knows he should not be. He jumps down and begins approaching the speaker, retreating once in awhile because of all the other strange people in the room, but making steady progress. When he draws near to the podium, he knows he is the best detective and wants everyone else to admire him. He gets on the podium and poses in his smug way. After thunderous applause, he returns to my lap.

Yes, my cats would make faculty workshop much more entertaining!

Plume

Simler, Isabelle. Plume. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2017.

I love this book! A cute cat is exploring his feathery friends. The artist does a wonderful job capturing just a portion of the cat in each photo while teaching about birds and feathers. It's whimsical and a great book. I received an advance review e-galley for review purposes through NetGalley, but I loved it so much I pre-ordered a copy of the hardback.

The Blue Cat of Castle Town

Coblentz, Catherine Cate. The Blue Cat of Castle Town. 1947, reprint. Mineola, New York: Dover Publications, 2017.

Note: The reprint is scheduled for release on July 19, 2017. Because older editions may be available in libraries, I decided to release the review ahead of that date.

How did I miss this book when I was younger? Today's readers can thank Dover Publications for bringing this Newbery Honor book back into print. It's the story of a blue cat who must teach his song to others to find his place on a hearth. His song is the song of the river. He wanders around Castle Town, Vermont where he witnesses village life. It's from a simpler time and place. It's a place where spinning wheels and weaving still exist. It's a place where the local carpenter still feels the need to do his best work on the pulpit in the Lord's house, even if it means losing his $1.50 in daily wages or using some of his savings even with a baby on the way. This book gave me a sense of that time and place, and I loved it. The illustrations by Janice Holland were well-done. I received an electronic advance review copy of this title from the publisher through NetGalley for review purposes.

Special note for genealogists: I think you'll enjoy this one. It does provide that census of place and connectedness we love.

Kit Kat and Lucy

DuPont, Lonnie Hull. Kit Kat and Lucy: The Country Cats Who Changed a City Girl's World. Grand Rapids: Revell, 2016.

Author Lonnie Hull DuPont relates the story of her move from San Francisco back to her native Michigan. She and her husband purchased an old farm house where a little tortoiseshell kitten that would come to be called Kit Kat adopted them. The author's husband who had severe allergies to cats found he outgrew the allergy so the shots were no longer necessary. It wasn't long until a Russian Blue kitten also found her way to the farm to adopt them. This cat became known as Lucy. She relates the story of getting the two to adjust to one another. Cat owners will see some of their own cats in some of the antics. Kit Kat was misdiagnosed by one vet at an early age. She eventually was diagnosed with FIV. She lived life as full as she could until the owners were forced to put her down. Grab your box of tissues when you get to that chapter. Lucy ends up getting some new playmates and lives a long life. Cat people will enjoy this book which shows how much joy cats bring to owners' lives. This review is based on an e-galley provided by the publisher through NetGalley for review purposes.

Wordless Wednesday: Brumley & His Lobster

Reunited

I am now reunited with my cat. I drove to Mississippi today to pick him up from his visit with his grandparents. I brought him a lobster (not a live one - one that was filled with catnip). I have never seen him so enthusiastic over something as he has been that lobster. I promise a picture later, but I'm too tired to download the pictures from the camera and then upload it here tonight.

When I arrived, I discovered that there was a leak in the air conditioning unit in the house. I had to deal with a little water on the floor and under the carpet in a closet. I just happened to hear the drip. The air-conditioning man who came out to find the cause of the problem found that something had been connected wrong for a long time and said that they were lucky they hadn't had more problems than they had. I tried to find someone with a shop vac, but I was unsuccessful. I ended up using a mop and towels for the cement floor under the a/c. I ran to Wal-Mart and got a wet/dry hand-held dust buster type appliance and a fan for the closet.

Pets

I'm a cat person. I've had a few dogs over the years, but my true passion has always been for the feline companion.

My first cat was E.R.M. I was quite small and my older brothers were teaching me to spell at the time I named him. The story goes that I was asked by my paternal grandfather how to spell cat, and I proudly declared "E.R.M." E.R.M. had a favorite place to sit -- on a little shelf that was on the bar between the kitchen and dining room. Apparently one of the neighborhood boys tried to scare me that my cat had gotten out of the house, and I told him "No, he's not. He's inside on the shelf." Apparently I was correct in that instance.

Cats didn't fare too well in my neighborhood while I was growing up because of a mean chihuahua that lived across the street (and probably a few other neighborhood dogs too). That's probably why I have an indoor cat now!

The next cat that I really remember was a little black kitten that I got when my brother Gary was stationed in Wichita, Kansas with the air force. Their cat had kittens, and I brought one home with me which I named "Wichita." I loved that kitten, but he didn't survive in our neighborhood long.

I remember a yellow tabby with whom my nephew Derek had fun playing under the Christmas tree when he was small. I believe that is that cat that one of the neighbors witnessed being killed by "Tramp Baker" (the mean chihuahua).

After that I mostly had dogs. Floppy lived a long life and died on the same day that Elvis died. I was much sadder over Floppy's death than Elvis'. Floppy had "floppy ears." That's how he got his name. There was a dog named Cindy that I believe was Floppy's mother that I owned for awhile. We took care of my nephew's dogs Honey and Priscilla for awhile when they moved into a rental house and couldn't have dogs. I vaguely remember a dog named Sam from my preschool years.

Today, I'm Brumley's pet human. Here is Brumley enjoying a camping trip. He was very sad when his "Granny" and "PawPaw" got rid of the motor home. He loved to sit and sniff out the screen door! Brumley does not want any brothers or sisters. He's made that very clear.

I Have a Smart Cat!

I have been looking for a book that I'd taken with me to Mississippi. I was almost sure that I'd brought it back with me. I thought it was in a tote bag or in one of the computer cases, but for two days I couldn't find it. Earlier tonight I called my mom to ask her if I'd left it in Mississippi. She couldn't find it so I was pretty sure it was around here, but I sure didn't have a clue where I'd put it and whatever else was with it. As soon as I hung up the phone, Brumley went over to a bag and sniffed it. I asked him, "Is that where it is?" He sniffed again. I went over and looked, and sure enough, there was the book. I told him "Thank you" and then called my mom back and told her that Brumley had found it. We both had a good laugh. The next time I lose something, I'm going to ask Brumley first!

My Name is Brumley

Hello! My name is Brumley. I own the person who normally writes this blog. However, when she told me about the topic that Janice wanted her to address, I told her that I was writing this post. I know that my pet human has owned other animals including those despicable dogs over the years, but she does not need to document them. I'm the only owner that matters. She thinks it is really cute when she tells how her first cat was named E.R.M. because she was learning to spell at the time. I was smart enough not to adopt a family with kids who would give me a dumb name like that and then chase me around the house. No, when she showed up at the A.S.P.C.A. shelter there in Cincinnati, I was immediately drawn to her because she didn't have kids. I didn't give any of those kids who were ooh-ing and ah-ing over me the time of day. Then she tells about Wichita, the black cat that she got from her brother's cat's litter when he was stationed in Wichita, Kansas. I'm tired of hearing of poor Wichita's demise at the mouth of her neighbor's awful chihuahua. (See, I told you dogs are despicable.) Then there was the dog she had that howled every time the "Mississippian" came down the railroad a little over a block from the house in which she grew up. Granny always tells about that dog howling the time the tornado hit Hatley, just a little farther down the road. Dogs are not unique to alerting pet humans to impending disasters. My pet human had purchased a new washing machine when we moved from my home state of Ohio to this wonderful state they call Tennessee. She put some clothes in the washer and went upstairs to do a little more unpacking. I stayed downstairs. I'd never seen one of those washers except the night my pet human took me to the basement when there was a tornado coming over our house in Cincinnati, but it wasn't on that night. However, I instinctively knew that it should not be sending forth water and bubbles all over our kitchen, and I ran and got my pet human to come and take a look. She immediately obeyed me. She knew who was boss! She turned off that washing machine and then had quite a time cleaning the kitchen. Of course, she then invited a stranger to the house to come check out what was wrong with the new washer. It turned out to be some hose was closed or something like that. Then there is the dog Floppy who died on the same day that Elvis died. She says she was more broken up by Floppy's death than Elvis'. I can't imagine why anyone would be that broken up about a dog who had floppy ears. Dogs are stupid! Then there is Cissy. That was Floppy's mom, I think. Cissy was given to the family by someone who worked with my Granny. Later on, I think that Granny and PawPaw and my pet human took in her nephew's dogs Honey and Priscilla when they moved and were renting and couldn't have a dog. Those are the ones I've heard my pet human mention. Granny has also mentioned a dog named Sam, but my pet human was too small to remember him very well. She doesn't need to remember any of them--just me! By the way, the picture is of me camping. This was my favorite spot in the Minnie Winnie until Granny and PawPaw sold it and quit letting my pet human drive them and me on camping trips. I will say that Granny was having a very hard time getting in and out of the camper without my pet human helping push her in, but I just really hate that I don't get to go camping any more. We went to such interesting places. I didn't like Georgia because they had these little bugs called sand fleas. My pet human made me wear a stupid collar that I didn't like. Florida was very nice. They had such interesting plants. I'd never seen anything like them in Ohio or Tennessee (or Mississippi). I am the only owner that my pet human needs to remember! Now, she'd better get me some catnip for taking over her blog for the night.

When You Spend Most of the Day at Church . . .

. . .Your cat won't allow you to blog that night!

My 700th Post

This is my 700th post. It's going to be one of those posts that really doesn't have a single topic because it's been a very busy day for me (as are most Sundays).

I spent the late afternoon conducting auditions for the speaking parts in our church's children's musical for the spring. After getting home from church tonight, I'm just now getting around to checking email, reading blogs, etc. I guess I just haven't had time to think up a better post. I'm not as organized as my cousin Terry who has his posts for the week determined in advance. I guess that's how those of us who are "ENTP" are!

Most of you know that I have a weakness for cats! I love the cross stitch project Renee has just completed. It's a Margaret Sherry pattern for the spring "Cool Cat."

I found the Lynn Shoeworkers Strike post, the post on the Irish famine, and the post about Natick's establishment interesting this week at Mass Moments.

Muddy called his post "How to Get Attention," but I thought it might have an alternate title as "Sitting Upon the Throne Where I Belong. Now go do my bidding."

Randy is extending a discussion that we have been having on the APG mailing list about what people call their grandparents to the blogosphere. I've already replied to Carolyn privately so I won't confuse the mix by adding mine to the discussion again, but if you haven't contributed yours, please do so. It's become a very interesting discussion.

Now, I'm off to read. I'm in the midst of Murder on Marble Row by Victoria Thompson. This installment in the series is set in the late 1800s when Teddy Roosevelt is New York's police commissioner. This is the 6th book in the series, and I can't wait to get back to reading it. That should tell you something about how much I'm enjoying it!

One last thing . . . they are predicting snow for Wednesday. I hope they are right!

Cute cat vs. dog video

This is hilarious.

Strange Cat Story

Cat survives after having a peanut butter jar stuck on its head 19 days.