Christmas Greetings and New Year Wishes

 

We Hope Everyone is Well, with Loved Ones, and having a Blessed Christmas.

Prayers and Purrs for a Health-and-Happiness-filled 2011.

A secret Royal Hint!

2011 Will Bring Major Changes for Us!

KC and  Auntie ML will help keep you abreast of the Events!

Spoiler Alert:  The Royals Will Be "Movers and Shakers" come this Spring!

Snuggles and Love,

Emily, Brutus, Marigold

and Rose

 

   

Tummy Tuesday ~ Why, Your Magesty, Really!!

Queen Emily! We are Quite~Speechless!  Oh well, even Queens need a good stretch, One supposes...

To All Our Friends, Have a Blessed day!

It's November Already?!

How did THAT happen?!


Does that mean a scene like the following is not too far away?

*Click to Biggify!

While the snow falls, it does cause a feeling of serenity. A nice cup of tea and a good book goes well with
this contentment.

Wishing you a nice snuggle with good book...and a cat  (or 3)  to read to!

In the Kitchen with Chef!Brutus ~ Baking up a Holiday Treat!

Presenting a  Recipe for an Italian Treat For the All Hallow's Eve  Holiday

This is Chef  Brutus giving a Tutorial on 

 "Prep~Mise en Place" to QM Rose 

this past Spring:

and this was the resulting Dish:

An impromptu blend of sauteed veggies, which was served over Penne Rigate 

for luncheon. 

Brutus has been recognized by Queen Mum* as" HRH Prince Brutus, Iron Chef "

the first feline to hold that prestigious Title.

* Of Course, QM has no affiliation with The Food Network, and their Hooman Iron Chefs.

Thank you.

Today, Chef would like to share with you a Treat  

for your Hooman Companions.

This is an  Old Sicilian Recipe, a biscuit  known as

L'Ossa del Morte

or             

 "Bones of the Dead"

This is a traditional treat, actually available in Good Italian bakeries year 'round.

Queen Mum's Mum, also named Rose, (now residing at The Bridge)

used to use these cookies when QM was an infant, to help with "teething"

They are also good with wine!

           Please  DON'T OFF BY THE OVERALL PREP TIME! 

                      Just a little planning, and this recipe will yield about 30 servings!   

This particular recipe was developed by a Chef on Allrecipes.com  

by the username  of BILLSFRAN

Prep Time: 20 20 minutes ~  REST TIME: 12 HOURS! (Overnight)

Bake Time: approx. 15 minutes

Servings: Approx 30

INGREDIENTS:

1  pound confectioner's sugar

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

2 1/2tsp ground cloves

3 eggs, lightly beaten

Directions:

1. Sift together the sugar, flour, baking powder and cloves. Make a well in the mixture

and pour the eggs into the well. Work the eggs into the mixture, first with a fork, then with your hands, until you have a  smooth dough.

2: Line a baking sheet with foil. Roll dough into 1 inch rolls, (resembling tootsie rolls!)

and place each biscuit on the prepared baking sheet. Cover with a clean teatowel and let rest overnight.

Biscuits will spread!

3: Preheat an oven to 350F (175 degrees C)

4: Bake in the preheated oven until golden, about 15 minutes.

Remove biscuits from the pan immediately as they come out of the oven or they will stick.

Cool completely on a wire rack.

And there you have it!

Chef does hope you try these for All Hallow's Eve - they will keep quite long...at least through 2nd November. (All Souls' Day.)

That is, unless your Hooman consumes with a nice bottle of Claret and looses all self-control!

(As QM has been known to do on occasion!)

Happy Halloween To You All!

Femme Friday ~~♥ Our Sweet Little Marigold ♥~~

Emo~Mari generally shuns the limelight, preferring not to be photographed.
It is difficult to get Her to pose for Us.

A Very  GentleKitty She's grown up to be, teasing and bullying of Her brofurs while in Her kittenhood  taken quite well, overall.
She loves scritches under her front legs, and is quite the Vocalist at Bedtime, voicing a perfect "miaow" for each stroke She receives.

Thank You  for visiting with us!
  

Mischief a bit early this year??

Oh, Emily!! How Could You?!!

Our Emily has been quite the affectionate girl these past few weeks, which We have found sweet, and comforting given the rather hard Summer We've just been through.

Last night however, Some little Miss decided to show The Royals Who Exactly Is Queen.

By Peeing on Our Bed!

Oh Emily, really...

You silly girl, of course you're forgiven.

In future, if One could exercise a bit more self-restraint it would be more becoming of a Queen!

One Word Wednesday!

'TOCKS!

BIGGIFY IF YOU DARE!!

LiveSTRONG!!!

Slideshow: LiveStrong 5 - Slideshow

Wordless Wednesday

~~~ ♥ 'Bye for Now, Sweet Eric ♥ ~~~

It was with a heavy heart that we awoke to the news of Our Dear Friend

"Fat" Eric (aka Prince Eric) having been helped to the Bridge Monday last.

Our Purrs, gentle head-butts and Prayers are with 

His Mom Kate.  May his fambly whom he needed to leave behind find solace in fond memories, and their grief be lightened by all CB'ers prayers.

We are confident in Our Hearts that Eric was met my many well known Furriends at the Bridge!

So until We meet again,

Eat, Play and Watch over your Mum and fambly. Time will seem just a heartbeat to you until we all meet again, with belly rubs and scritches.

With Love,

Emily

Brutus

Marigold,

and

QM Rose

Words of condolences may be left on his fambly's blog,


Fat Eric and Friends  

Gorgeous Ginger Wednesday!

Our Prince, Brutus The Brave Hearted, Top Chef and 100% Texas ManCat!

...oh, and Pillow-Lover...

pee ess!

We are so very grateful for your purrs and prayers earlier this month! 

Yes, We faced some serious health issues, and want to 

Thank with all Our hearts Our Blessed Auntie ML and KC for keeping you

posted and asking for the purrs & prayers.

As always, they were granted!

Brutus saw his Special V-E-T on July 3rd,

received an injection of Depo-Medrol and hasn't wheezed or coughed since, not once!

As for me, I was in hospital 3 days.  I threatened to leave 

Against Medical Advice if not discharged

so I could return to My Royals, as

no one, Except their Auntie ML, of course,

knew they were alone.

I am currently completing a series of Iron infusions 

that, if Dr. Sidhom, Our Hematologist-Oncologist is satisfied with the lab results,

should end by next week.

No internal bleed has been found.

The Doctors are now simply leaning to a dietary insufficiency,

or Malabsorption Syndrome.

We feel so much better now!

Even the color in Our cheeks have returned!

Thank you all again for your thoughts

and virtual bickies and hugs!

We love you all so very much!

With humble gratitude,

Prince Brutus

and

Queen Mum, Rose

~ ~ ~ 

~~~The Royals Salute Our Troops in Afghanistan!!~~~

Kiki and US Marine Brian Chambers

Kittehs Kiki and Keykey have found a home in the midst of war. And it’s all thanks to three US Marines, Brian Chambers, Chris Berry and Aaron Shaw. They started a mission to help find homes for stray cats that they found while serving in Afghanistan. After finding Keykey injured by a c-wire, Berry took care of his wounds and nursed him back to health and the two of them have been best friends every since.

And now Keykey is living with Berry’s parents in Michigan while Kiki is living with Chambers’ parents in Texas and both are enjoying their new loving homes! Those Marines are definitely heroes in our book as is also the group of Royal Marines that started the organization called Nowzad in 2007. This organization rescues stray and abandoned animals in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Men who are expected to be "killing machines" succumbing to the sweet soft furry purrs of a kitteh!

God Bless them and their Comrades in Arms!

♥♥♥

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

The Royals Remember...

In Loving Tribute to Grandma Taylor

When the Royals first came to Us,  a friendship developed between me and Auntie Deb.  Deb is the consummate mom: wanting to know daily the growing up and escapades of Brutus and Marigold.

Our phone calls became daily, and included how her daughters were growing into women, recipe exchanges, and all manner of things.

One morning I woke up with a verse in my head that something told me was from the Bible, but I couldn't place it.  When I spoke to Deb later that day, I asked her if she was familiar with it, and she too had "heard it somewhere" but couldn't place where.

"I know who can answer this!" and she made a three-way call to Grandma Taylor. 

An introduction over the phone was as good as in person, and Mrs. Taylor immediately became someone I wished I could spend hours with!

Deb had me recite the bits and pieces of the mystery scripture to her, and she, too was puzzled.

It was agreed she would "look into it" and get back to Deb.

While we chatted on the phone, I was doodling with searches, and finally came across where the lines from my dream came from: The Prayer of St Francis of Assisi.

Deb immediately called her very much loved Mother-in-law back and told her that we had found it. By that time, Grandma Taylor had her Bible research books out and was puzzling and searching away for those familiar words!  She was glad (and maybe a tad relieved!) that I had finally found the tricky lines within a "Catholic" poem, and that would explain why she couldn't place it in the Bible, as well!

In my memories, I have a vivid picture of a vivacious God- devoted woman who would be a formidable opponent for her brilliant Grand-daughters, Tatum and Sloane on any board game imagined.

Well into her 80's she provided the "Car-pool" Sunday mornings to safely usher her friends, or whoever needed the ride, to  Services at Church, and returned them safely home. 

"Unable are the loved to die.  For love is Immortality"

                                                                   Emily Dickinson 

St. Francis is the Patron Saint of Animals.  The Prayer written by him is befitting and comforting, and I would like to share it with you here.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

Oh Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek 

to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we recieve;

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.

To the Taylor Family, 

Our most sincere of condolences

are yours.

Our Father in Heaven will see you through,

and heal your pain.

May he bless you all.

With greatest affection,

Brutus

Marigold

Emily

and Rose

Weekend Update

Rose is home from the hospital and Brutus did get to see the vet.
We'll have to wait for the details from the Royal Family.

Friday Update

Rose is still in the hospital, hoping to get out today or tomorrow.
She has been given emergency blood transfusions, may have some type of internal bleeding.
She is extremely worried about her cats, she has no one close to look in on them.
Please send her lots and lots of purrs and purrayers.
And some for the Royals, Emily, Brutus and Marigold.

QM Rose Needs Purrs

Rose is in the emergency room being treated for severe anemia.
Don't have a lot of details right now, they plan to give her blood transfusions and vitamins.
She will be there overnight, maybe longer.
Brutus has a vet appointment Saturday afternoon which may need to be canceled. He has bronchitis and a possible heart problem.
Please send all The Royals lots of purrs and purrayers.
~KC & Mom ML

♥ Purrs for Neala ♥

 Send your Love and Purrs to Neala and her fambly today.

Much Love and Purrs are yours, Sweet Neala

Emily

Brutus

Marigold

and

Rose

♥♥♥♥

Thankful Thursday

My Blessing is today - 

Brutus and Emo-Mari came into my life!

My little life-savers.

We are sorry for not thinking ahead and doing a nice post for all our Furriends in the CB, and We know you're out there! 

Today, We wish to dedicate this blog to a VIP (Very Important Puddycat) Emergency in Our neighborhood.

But first, a prayer for all Formerly Feral Furriends.

PRAYER OF A STRAY

Dear God, Please send me somebody who'll care! I'm tired of Running, I'm sick with despair. My Body is Aching, It's so racked with pain, and Dear God I pray as I run in the rain that someone will love me and give me a home, a wam cozy bed and a big juicy bone. My last owner tied me all day in the yard sometimes with no water and God that was hard. So I chewed my leash God and I ran away to rummage in Garbage and live as a stray. But Now God I'm tired and hungry and cold. and I'm so afraid that I'll never grow old. They chased me with sticks and hit me with stones while I run the streets just looking for bones. I'm not really bad God, Please help if you can, for I have become just a "VICTIM OF MAN!" I'm wormy Dear God and I'm ridden with fleas and all that I want is an owner to please. If you find one for me God, I'll try to be good and I wont chew their shoes, but I'll do as I should. I'll love them, protect them, and try to obey when they tell me to sit, lie down, or to stay! I don't think I'll make it too long on my own, cause I'm getting so weak and I'm so all alone. Each night as I sleep in the bushes I cry, cause I'm so afraid God, that I'm going to die. And I've got so much love and devotion to give, that I should be given a new chance to live. So Dear God please, Please answer my prayer and send me somebody who will really care.Author unknown.

And now for Our Noos Repurrt.

Full details can be found in the comment sections on KC's Cat Blogosphere.

In the twon next to where We live are 24 totally housecats that their hooman has been forced to part with because he is being forclosed on.

Full details on the CB.

The Cat Blogosphere Make Miracles Happen!

We just wanted to share and spread their message.

Thank you all again for the good wishes for Brutus and Marigold's Gotcha Day Anniversary.

Yes, June 24, 2006 was a Purrfect Day!

Blessings and Peace,

Emily

Brutus

Marigold 

and 

QM

♥♥♥

ManCat Monday ~ Chef Brutus!

We thought we would begin a new series of cookery posts featuring Brutus who, possessing such a refined palate, became Sous Chef to The Queen Mum and her Consort nearly a year ago.

 QM's Consort, Michael, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, was Brutus' inspiration to make the kitchen His favourite room (aside from being where Stinky Goodness and Chik-hen Tem-Tay-Shuns were always served).

Now, not only does He have a paw in the daily menu, he has earned the title "Chef" and hoped you would enjoy sharing some of His Favourite Recipes.

Today's offering is a recipe that caught Chef Brutus' eye whilst lying across QM's forearms as She attempted to scan the innerwebs for recipes, one of Her favourite past times.

This is from a Cat and Kitten Cookery Book downloaded from the 'web entitled 

"Pamper Your Cat:  100 Recipes for your Feline Friend"

at www.the-cats-meow.com

Chik-Hen Cheezburgers

2 oz finely ground beef (can substitute any preferred protein if, like Us, you're not fond of beef)

2 oz finely ground chik-hen

1 Tbsp. canned cream of Chik-Hen soup (or a Tbsp of Chik-Hen Baby Food! Num!)

2 oz whole grain bread crumbs (unseasoned) or oatmeal 

1 baby carrot, cooked until soft.

1 egg

1/2 cup shredded cheese, any kind that pleases!

Preheat broiler.

Mash the meat and chik-hen with the soup then add the bread crumbs (or oatmeal), mushy carrot and egg.  Make into two small burgers and broil (leaving much rarer than you would for yourself! Approx. 2-3 minutes).  Sprinkle with shredded cheese and broil again until the cheese is melted.  Allow to cool until warm to the touch. Garnish with fresh grass or catnip, and serve.

Depending on your felines, serves 1-2.

With today being the First Day of Summer, We hope you will try this recipe soon!

Next month, Chef will feature a recipe for Home Made Chik-Hen Tem-Tay-Shuns!

Thank you for visiting, and Bon Appetit!

Femme Friday ~ Ohh! La La! Emo-Mari!!!

The one and only time Marigold, Princess Emo ever deigned to expose her belleh for scritches was well before her first birthday.

Here then, Our friends, is the only photographic witness to Mari's innate Loucheness, as was bestowed upon her by the Original Louche Tabby, Mousie.

ManCat Monday

You know how they say everyone has a twin somewhere?

Well...

"Poppa Was a Rollin' Stone..."

Keep Purraying for Maxie!

This was posted by KC last evening:

Mom Laura has decided, to bring Maxie home and make memories for a few days, then have him helped to the Bridge. Surgery will run about $6,000 and involves putting a stent in to hold his esophagus open. It was severely burned during an average dental procedure due to negligence by the vet. They are beyond upset and sad over this development. If anyone could help with an idea for a loan, please contact Mom Laura or even KC. They may be able to get the price of this surgery down somewhat.

We all know God does miracles.

The fact that a price is being put on poor Maxies' survival is sickening.

If you can follow the linkie to Maxie's page, (above) use the Paypal button there to donate (however much your heart tells you to!) towards Mom Laura's expenses, perhaps the sickness in heart and spirit within their home will lift,

and compassion will touch the treating Vet's Heart.

It was, after all, a 'colleague' of his that committed this heinous act of malpractice.

We in the Cat Blogosphere are spread World wide, but we all come together in our hearts when one of us is hurting.

Just ask the Royals!

We will start here in Our corner of New Jersey, and meet you all along the way.

This is an adventure in Faith and Healing!

Maxie Needs a Miracle

We are purraying very hard for Sweet Maxie today.  

This should have never happened.

Now, it falls on Us in the Cat Blogosphere to lift Maxie up to God's Healing Touch.

God's will be done.

~♥~  Thankful Thursday ~♥~

Bless the Loving Rescue Families

If it weren't for people with hearts of gold, The Royals would have met at The Bridge while only days old.

And my heart would be missing 

entirely.

Thank You.

 ~  Wordless Wednesday ~

Yes, it is I, Queen Mum, holding both Royals in June 2006.

Brutus and Marigold were about 8-10 weeks old.

Status Update: Brutus

We Are Improving!

I had been coughing every few days throughout April. When We had Dr. Elliott visit us, she could not hear anything amiss, so she advised QM to keep an eye on me, and to call in any changes.

Well, throughout May, my cough increased in frequency until on Thursday morning, May 27th, QM timed my coughing spells to 1 every 30 minutes or so.

She had prednisone, and as sneaky as ever, made me take that nasty pill 3 times that morning.

The next day, QM rang Dr. Elliott up asking for advice.

Nothing new in the flat~same litter, Stinky Goodness and kibble, even some Healthy Treats sent to Us by a Lovely Lady, Jamie Smith of Thoughtsfurpaws.com !

Organic, healthy stuff, plus a new toys and Healthy Kibble!

Dr. Elliott advised her to give me my prednisone on a new dose schedule, and I heard something about a "neb-U-lizer".

In the mean time, I'm being good!

~I'm getting plenty  of rest!~

Good Nutrition is im-paw-tent!

QM had the makings for Cheezburgers at the ready!

~Warm cuddles with my sisfur, Emo-Mari feels SO good!~

 Dr. Elliott is here with one of her kittehs, Cleopatra.  Dr. Elliott 

is an alumna of Texas A & M College of Veterinary Medicine, 

Class of 1994! 

We Love Our Auntie ML, who is also Our GodMommy!

We've been fussed to think she's been feelin' poorly, so QM

took this video so we can say how much we ♥ her!

Queen Mum can't thank effuryone enough for sending all the healing energy 

and purrs and prayers!

She says it's the reason I don't have an infekshun by now!

Thank You to all our True Furriends!

We ♥ you all, too!!

=^..^= Happy Birthday, Momma Grace =^..^=

While visiting KC over at CB, We were reminded it is Our dear Momma Grace's Birthday!  

She's 6 years old today.

Boy, she's old...

We Will Love Her Forever and Ever!

Hmmm...must be something in Our DNA...

pee ess:

Hi My Furriends!

Just a note to let you know I'm holding in there!

QM is still worried, but Pretty Dr. Elliott

(Who went to V.E.T. School in Texas!)

told Her what to do, and I'm "stable".

Come back tomorrow and see Our video!

'Bye for now!

♥

May We Ask for a Purrayer?

We have been preoccupied this week as Brutus' Asthma has been increasing in severity.

We had hope he would have an easy Spring, but it doesn't appear to be the case.

Our Friends and Furriends, Your generosity with Helping the Royals was unprecedented, and there should be sufficient funds available to have Dr. Elliott further instruct us what to do for Brutus.

However Purrs and Prayers are the Strongest Healing Force.

We thank you in advance for thinking about My Baby Boy, who I love down to my core.

Blessings to all of you.

"Boun Compleanno Bella"

♥♥♥

Your Loving Royals

Brutus

Marigold

Emily

and Crazy Old QM

Wordless Wednesday

Soundtrack: "Life Turns Around" by Chrome Kitty

 ♥ ~ Formerly Feral Royals ~ ♥

Brutus has always been the SpokesCat for The Royals

Emo-Mari always seems to be deep in thought - can you see the 

wheels turning?!

Watching my babies enjoying a nosh warms my Italian Mama's heart!

Mum's aren't supposed to have favorites, but Brutus and I are very tightly 

bonded.  While Woofies are loyal and want to be with their humans

Cats use their freedom of choice. My Bru Bru 9 times out of ten chooses to be next to me.

Marigold is definitely a girly-girl! Well, she is a Princess, after all...

Brutus would so love a cheezburger...

I wanted to thank you all again for being so generous and kind to us, allowing the Royals to stay with me.

You see, They're not just pets to me...they're my therapy, literally the reason I get up in the morning.

I have Major Depressive Disorder, and I do know what might get into my head if I ever lost these babies.

Brutus lays in the pillow next to mine every morning starting about 4:30am.It's Wakey-Wakey time!

Waiting in the kitchen are the girls.

Stinky Goodness is about to be served.

So yes, My Reason for staying on this Planet

are my Royals.