A year ago today, a small black kitten showed up in front of our garage in the early, dark hours of the morning. Already a seven cat home, we were not looking to expand our feline family. But it was meant to be and this little guy who we named Shadow is now celebrating his first Gotcha Day with us. We could have never predicted the crazy world we live in now back then, but we could predict Shadow would fill our hearts with love and joy.

Happy first Gotcha Day Shadow – you’ve turned into a gorgeous and gregarious handsome panther cat and here’s to hoping for many, many more years together!

My first photo with Shadow in November 2019. He’s gotten so big since then!

For Mia and me, our happiest moments are those that are also the quietest.

I love all my cats, each for their wonderfully distinct personalities, but I share a special affinity for my sweet Mia, a cat who most vividly mirrors me if I were a cat and she a human. We both have our moments of strength and boldness, but for the most part, we are introverts at heart, rather unbothered by our frequent desire for peace and solitude. Read more

Zoey back in 2008 with kitten, Rolz. Happy Mother’s Day to her, too, because she’s a mom, too!

Mom. Three little letters, but three little letters that are unique in meaning to all of us. For me, I’m a mom to my sons, Chris and Joe. I’m a daughter to my mom, and a step-mom to Dan’s kids – Crystal, Michael, and Jackie, as well as a daughter-in-law to his mom. I’m also a mother-in-law to Chris’s husband, Jason, and I’m a grandma to not only their dogs Rick and Rocco, and cat Rose, but a first-time grandma to their adopted son, Calvin. And, of course, I’m a cat mom to my gang – Zee, Zoey, Mia, Peanut, Rolz, Kizmet, Jazmine, and our newest feline family member, Shadow.

Through all these roles, there have been good times and bad. Highs, lows, ups, and downs. That’s what life is – a kaleidoscope quilt built of memories and relationships. Whatever the day is for you, I hope you make the best of it. For me, I’ll be spending some masked time with my grandson and I can’t wait. Take care everyone and I hope you enjoy my Mother’s Day photos.  

Christmas with my boys – Chris and Joe.

Enjoying summer vacation with Crystal and Jackie in Key West.

Me and my beautiful mom.

Hanging out at the Hard Rock Hotel in Hollywood a couple of years ago with my step-son Michael who was visiting from Boston. I was made fun of for being a Dolphin Fan, but we won the game the next day against the Patriots!

Me with Chris, Jason, and my grand-dogs, Rick and Rocco.

Celebrating Mother’s Day a few years ago with Dan’s mom, Dotty, along with Jackie.

One of my all-time favorite pictures that truly represents the bond between me and my cats. This was all seven before we added Shadow to the mix.

Can’t forget my newest feline sweetie to capture my heart this Mother’s Day – Shadow.

My favorite mom role? Being grandma to my first grandson, precious Calvin.

It’s a Blog Hop!

Easter Sunday, as it’s known in Christianity, marks the anniversary of Jesus’ resurrection and ascension to heaven and is typically a day steeped deep in traditions to celebrate the miracle – most of them involving social gatherings, whether groups of people at church or family celebrations at home. But today, amid a global pandemic, tradition is replaced with social distancing, cleaning and disinfecting taking precedence, and the holiday will have to be reinvented. We can still celebrate and look for the deeper meanings of love and hope in what is a scary and uncertain world, but we must keep safety and smart cleaning in mind, especially in those households with cats who are cooped up in close quarters with us. Read more

Staying in and working from home is becoming the new normal for many of us.

Like many, I’ve had to reinvent myself numerous times. I’ve been a child of divorce and a child who was bullied. I’ve been divorced myself, resulting in me being a single mom of two boys, struggling to keep us afloat. I’ve also been unemployed several times over the years, wondering how I’d ever pay my bills – all circumstances giving me the resilience and fortitude to survive. With the coronavirus epidemic, I’m reinventing myself again, only this time it’s not just me, it’s the whole world reinventing themselves and the planet we live in. Read more