Sum-sum-Summertime!

June 20 Summer Equinox @ 10:42 pm EDT

YAY it's SUMMER!!!

Cannot express how I feel that there are others in the world who find making Stonehenge replicas out of ANYTHING, then post the images to share with numpties like me.

And now YOU get to enjoy them too!

🌞

In honor of June is Audiobook Month, 

I recommend Robert Gailbraith's (pen name for J. K. Rowling), Comoran Strike series:

1 The Cuckoo's Calling (2013)

2 The Silkworm (2014)

3 Career of Evil (2015)

4 Lethal White (2018)

5 Troubled Blood (2020)

6 The Ink Black Heart (2022)

7 The Running Grave (2023)

8 The Hallmarked Man (September, 2025) 

Robert Glenister, Narrator

Gritty, human, and wildly inventive is how I describe the stories of private detective Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott, in London, England.

There is also a TV show, which I have not seen, but I've heard that it's pretty darn good.

📚

Receptacle Love

6/19 is International Box Day!

Yes, cats often LURV cardboard boxes, but some humans seem to hoard them.

No one that I know, I've just heard about it...

Am thankful that we haven't run out of boxes in a long, long, long time.

😹

In honor of June is Audiobook Month,

I recommend Elly Griffith's Ruth Galloway series:

The Crossing Places (2009)

The Janus Stone (2010)

The House at Sea's End (2011)

A Room Full of Bones (2011)

Ruth's First Christmas Tree (2012)

A Dying Fall / Tomb of the Raven King (2012)

The Outcast Dead (2014)

The Ghost Fields (2015)

The Woman in Blue (2016)

The Chalk Pit (2017)

The Dark Angel (2018)

The Stone Circle (2019)

The Lantern Men (2020)

The Man in Black (2020)

The Night Hawks (2021)

The Locked Room (2022)

The Last Remains (2023)

Jane McDowell, Narrator

Archaeologist Dr. Ruth Galloway lives alone in a remote area called Saltmarsh near Norfolk, England when she's asked to help identify bones found nearby by Detective Chief Inspector Harry Nelson.

In some parts, uncovered bones could be a fresh corpse, or a 3,000 year old Early Iron Age burial.

And oh, the mysteries, murders, antiquities, museums, local legends, and complicated loves that ensue.

📚

Let's Hop!

Playing Coy

Henry's Hopefully-Soon-To-Be-Formerly Feral Friday is temporarily moved to today.

Am working on more action shots of Henry, as he learns that he can sniff my hand, foot, or leg, without repercussions.

It's hard to get pics, as these incidents are fleeting...or maybe 'feeting'?

Ugh...

😹

Henry did not enjoy the ruckus when The Hubby put the window air-conditioning unit in yesterday; much too noisy for his taste.

And no doubt the fans blowing hot air around aren't his cup of tea either, but it's Summertime in Michigan, which means really hot and humid, stormy, smoky, or windy.

🌞

In honor of June is Audiobook Month,

I recommend the following audiobooks about BOOKS!

*Nina George's The Little Paris Bookshop, narrated by: Steve West, Emma Bering, Cassandra Campbell

*Robin Sloan's, Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, narrated by Ari Fliakos

*Erin Morgenstern's The Starless Sea, narrated by Dominic Hoffman and five other readers

Libraries, bookshops, boats, bunnies, secret government departments, time travel...you name it, you've got it!

There are a multitude of authors who've written about the fantasy of books; these are my top picks but I've got more; email me if you'd like more suggestions.

Or, if you have something you'd like to tell me about, DON'T BE SHY.

📚

Choco Cats

It's Twozday!

A selection of together and separate pics for your viewing pleasure:

On the pool table.

Manny left, CB right.

CB on my lap in MY chair.

Another pool table duet.

CB bottom, Manny top.

Manny, in the bay window beddy.

Although they are black cats, they often look chocolatey.

❤️

In honor of June is Audiobook month:

I recommend Alan Bradley's Flavia de Luce Mysteries.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (2009)

The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag (2010)

A Red Herring Without Mustard (2011)

I Am Half-Sick of Shadows (2011)

Speaking from Among the Bones (2012)

The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches (2014)

The Curious Case of the Copper Corpse (2014)

As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust (2015)

Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd (2016)

The Grave's a Fine and Private Place (2017)

The Golden Tresses of the Dead (2019)

What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust (2024)

Untitled Book #12 publishing Autumn 2025

All narrated by the incomparable Jayne Entwistle.

Flavia is an 11 year-old girl who is fascinated by chemistry. 

The series is set in 1950s England and later in Canada, and young ladies usually do not bedevil the local constabulary; Flavia will solve the mystery even if it maddens the police, her relatives, OR the government.

📚

Sunny Whiskers

It's PO'Monday!

June, 2016

The sunshine was strong, and Celestial Paddy O'Malley showed off his whiskerage.

He was a looker!

❤️

In honor of June is Audiobook Month,

I recommend the following non-fiction cat audiobooks:

Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicky Myron, narrated by Suzanne Toren

Homer's Odyssey by Gwen Cooper, narrated by Renée Raudman

A Street Cat Named Bob And How He Saved My Life by James Bowen, narrated by Kristopher Milnes

Making Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat by Dr. David Dosa, narrated by Ray Porter

Most likely, you've already heard about the first three, but maybe not the story of Oscar, who lived at a dementia ward, and had a unique ability to comfort those patients whose time had come.

Each book is a testimony to the bond between human and feline, and through great adversity, the love is unbreakable.

Including the reader's love for these cats and their humans!

📚

Dad's Smoking The Catnip Again! 😹

World Catnip Awareness day is June 15:

 

😹

This year, June 15 is also Father's Day in the U.S. of A and maybe elsewhere:

Happy Heavenly Father's Day, Puba.

We miss you.

❤️

In honor of June is Audiobook Month,

I recommend Richard Castle's, Nikki Heat series:

1 Heat Wave (2009)

2 Naked Heat (2010)

3 Heat Rises (2011)

4 Frozen Heat (2012)

5 Deadly Heat (2013)

6 Raging Heat (2014)

7 Driving Heat (2015)

8 High Heat (2016)

9 Heat Storm (2017)

10 Crashing Heat (2019)

Books #1, 2, & 3 were narrated by Johnny Heller

The rest by Robert Petkoff

These are the tales of Nikki Heat, an NYPD homicide detective and later captain, and Jameson Rook, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who also moonlights as a romance novelist under the pen name Victoria St. Clair.

New York: 'nuff said

Nikki is one tough cop, with a sad backstory, and a desire to be a woman amongst dudes.

Jameson is a flakey rich-boy, whose uncanny instincts weave the storylines together with action, snark, and knowing all the good delicatessens.

Hey, anyone who will get me a pickle is aces in my book!!!  🥒

No, I've not seen the TV show; didn't even know there was one until Book #10 appeared.

📚

Rainbowy

It's Caturday!

My boyfriend Sly was enjoying the warm temperatures.

Just played around with colors in the iPhoto edit, adding a touch of rainbow.

Click on the image above to enjoy a jigsaw puzzle.

In honor of June is Audiobook Month,

I recommend:

Annie Jacobsen's, Area 51: An Uncensored History of America's Top Secret Military Base (2011)

The American journalist offers her information about the secret United States military base known as Area 51.

Narrated by the author.

Compelling research that blows the "1947 Roswell Incident" story out of the water.

🛸

Let's Hop!

Furday the Purrteenth

TGIF!

🖤

In honor of June is Audiobook Month,

I recommend Martha Grimes' Richard Jury Mystery series:

The Man With a Load of Mischief (1981)

The Old Fox Deceiv'd (1982)

The Anodyne Necklace (1983)

The Dirty Duck (1984)

Jerusalem Inn (1984)

Help the Poor Struggler (1985)

The Deer Leap (1985)

I Am the Only Running Footman (1986)

The Five Bells and Bladebone (1987)

The Old Silent (1989)

The Old Contemptibles (1991

The Horse You Came In On (1993)

Rainbow's End (1995)

The Case Has Altered (1997)

The Stargazey (1998)

The Lamorna Wink (1999)

The Blue Last (2001)

The Grave Maurice (2002)

The Winds of Change (2004)

The Old Wine Shades (2006)

Dust (2007)

The Black Cat (2010)

Vertigo 42 (2014)

The Knowledge (2018)

The Old Success (2019)

The Red Queen (to publish in July, 2025)

All narrated by Steve West

Initially a Scotland Yard chief inspector, later a superintendent, melancholic Richard Jury is invariably assisted in his cases by Melrose Plant, a British aristocrat who has given up his titles, and by his hypochondriacal but dependable sergeant, Alfred Wiggins.

The names of each book is or was the title of an actual pub, which figure in the storylines.

I stumbled on this series when "The Black Cat" was on the new books shelf that the library, and found it fascinating enough to start at the beginning, and have kept going as each new book is released.

I've read them, and I've listened to them; Narrator Steve West is one of the best!

📚

 

Arf!

Remembering Celestial Sammy

Sammy appeared in the yard in early 2011.

Originally called New Guy or Guy, The Hubby forgot when at the the low cost spay/neuter clinic, and substituted his granddad's name.

Sammy became sickly, so we helped him fly off over The Rainbow Bridge.

That was June 12, 2014.

Am thankful for Sammy, though with us for a short time compared to others, as he responded to our love with his unique 'arf'-sounding meow, and allowed stroking.

We feel honored that he chose us, and we mourn him.

Sammy's urn sits next to Paddy and Sweetie, as they were 'O' Cats together.

💔😿❤️

Let's Hop!

In honor of June is Audiobook Month,

I recommend the following non-fiction books:

Simon Winchester, Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded: August 27, 1883, narrated by the author

Ben Montgomery, Grandma Gatewood's Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail, narrated by Patrick Lawlor

Jim DeFede, The Day the World Came to Town-9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland, narrated by Ray Porter

The titles are self-explanatory, and each audiobook is a treasure-trove of facts, nuance, stories, and the power of humans to triumph over adversity.

📚

Past Blast

How 'about a Sweetnesday?

These images are from early June, 2018.

Our Wee One was cruising into Summer, still an 'O' Cat.

Really miss our Miss Growly Pants!

❤️

In honor of June is Audiobook month,

I recommend Mike Carey's Felix Castor series:

The Devil You Know (2006)

Vicious Circle (2006)

Dead Men's Boots (2007)

Thicker Than Water (2009)

The Naming of the Beasts (2009) 

The Ghost in Bone (2023) no audiobook

Books 1,2 & 3 narrated by Michael Kramer

Books 4 & 5 narrated by Damian Lynch

Supernatural urban fantasy thrillers, featuring Felix Castor, a freelance exorcist.

London, England, with vampires, lougarous (werewolves), zombies, ghosts, succubi, and demons.

Felix has come up against all and more.

Wonderfully witty, action packed, and bewitching.

But I don't think there are any witches.

📚

Liquid

It's Twozday!

Our post yesterday highlighted the goofy Celestial Paddy O'Malley, but Da Boyz will not be outdone!

😹

In honor of June is Audiobook Month,

I recommend Tana French's Dublin Murder Squad.

In The Woods (2007)

Narrated by Steven Crossley

The Likeness (2008)

Narrated by Heather O'Neill

Faithful Place (2010)

Narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds

Broken Harbor (2013)

Narrated by Stephen Hogan

The Secret Place (2014)

Narrated by Stephen Hogan and Lara Hutchinson

The Trespasser (2016)

Narrated by Hilda Fay

Each book centers on a different officer in The Dublin Murder Squad, and each storyline is completely different from the last.

It's been years since I read these, yet they've stayed in my brain and heart.

Plus, I adore the Irish accents and speech. ❤️

📚

Action Chonk

❤️ It's PO'Monday! ❤️

Enjoy Celestial Paddy's antics from June, 2015:

Fluffing a Duck by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

😹

In honor of June is Audiobook Month:

I recommend Ann Cleeves Shetland series.

Raven Black (2006)

White Nights (2008)

Red Bones (2009)

Blue Lightning (2010)

Dead Water (2013)

Thin Air (2014)

Too Good To Be True (2016)

Cold Earth (2016)

Wild Fire (2018)

The Killing Stones (coming in Autumn 2025)

Narrator: Gordon Griffin for first four books

Narrator: Kenny Blyth for next five books

Unknown narrator for book 9

A detective with the Shetland police based in the main town of Lerwick, but originally from Fair Isle. Jimmy Perez's family is believed to have descended from a Spanish sailor stranded on the islands after a boat capsized, who then married a local woman and settled in Shetland. 

Previously married and divorced, Perez moved back to Shetland and bought a small house in Lerwick, and commands the local police force.

Jimmy is know to be quiet yet compassionate, observant, and able to connect with the community.

There is also a television show based this character; I've not seen it.

Ann Cleeves has authored many other books, and series, including the Vera Stanhope series, which also was made into a TV show.

I didn't like Vera much, but I adore Jimmy Perez, and look forward to the new book.

📚

Wild Waves

 June 8 is World Ocean Day

World Ocean Day catalyzes collective action for a healthy ocean and a stable climate, working in collaboration with youth leaders and a wide range of organizations. 

World Ocean Day belongs to all groups and individuals, collectively, everywhere. 

It’s about how we can create a better future with an abundant ocean and a stable climate, by working together.

A few items found on social media that help drive home the point that humans are schmucking up our planet, and it's time we stopped.

😿

In honor of June is Audiobook Month:

I recommend the following audiobooks by Neil Gaiman:

Coraline (2006)

 Anansi Boys (2006)

A Study in Emerald (2007)

American Gods (2011)

The Ocean at the End of the Lane (2014)

Trigger Warning (2015)

Neverwhere (2018)

The author narrated each of the above.

Neil Gaiman...what a fantastic storyteller.

He's written many, many books; I've only scratched the surface with the seven listed above.

📚

Manny Maw

It's Caturday!

Captured a Manny yawn, then used a Prisma filter to artify.

Click on the image above to enjoy a jigsaw puzzle.

🦁

In honor of June is Audiobook Month:

The Amelia Peabody series, by Elizabeth Peters, the pen name for Egyptologist Barbara Mertz (1927–2013).

The adventures of an British Victorian-era unconventional female Egyptologist Amelia Peabody, and an ever-increasing number of family, friends, allies, and characters both fictional and based on historical figures. 

The novels blend mystery and romance with a wryly comic tone, and at times also parody popular-for-the-time adventure novels.

Crocodile on the Sandbank (1975)

The Curse of the Pharaohs (1981)

The Mummy Case (1985)

Lion in the Valley (1986)

The Deeds of the Disturber (1988)

The Last Camel Died at Noon (1991)

The Snake, the Crocodile and the Dog (1992)

The Hippopotamus Pool (1996)

Seeing a Large Cat (1997)

The Ape Who Guards the Balance (1998)

The Falcon at the Portal (1999)

He Shall Thunder in the Sky (2000)

Lord of the Silent (2001)

The Golden One (2002)

Children of the Storm (2003)

Guardian of the Horizon (2004)

The Serpent on the Crown (2005)

Tomb of the Golden Bird (2006)

A River in the Sky (2010)

The Painted Queen (2014)

All narrated by Barbara Rosenblat

My experience is that every library in the world has these books, ebooks, and audiobooks, as they are wonderfully adventurous, comedic, with friends of all creeds and colors, and Amelia is as tough as old boots!

📚

Let's Hop!

D'aww...

It's hopefully-soon-to-be-formerly-feral Friday!

❤️ Henry is so cute ❤️

😻

In honor of June is Audiobook Month:

I recommend the Brit in the FBI series, authored by Catherine Coulter and J.T. Ellison.

The Final Cut (2013)

The Lost Key (2014)

The End Game (2015)

The Devil's Triangle (2017)

The Sixth Day (2018)

The Last Second (2019)

Narrated by Renée Raudman and MacLeod Andrews

A thriller series featuring Scotland Yard’s new chief inspector Nicholas Drummond and his partner, FBI Special Agent Michaela “Mike” Caine.

Nicholas and Mike lay it on the line, no matter what case they’re trying to solve. 

  

Smart, action-packed stories with international locales, serving up law, order, and justice, in a unique Brit-meets-New York style.

📚

*Crinkle*

 June 5 is World Environment Day, focusing on plastic pollution in 2025.

Reuse.

Recycle.

Reduce.

And a few sillies that highlight a cat's adoration of plastic bags:

Thankful for the people who are inventing ways to remove plastic waste from the oceans.

In honor of June is Audiobook Month:

I recommend V. E. Schwab's, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, standalone novel. 

"France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets."

Also gladly recommend Shades of Magic Series by the same author:

A Darker Shade of Magic (2015)

A Gathering of Shadows (2016)

A Conjuring of Light (2017)

📚

Let's Hop!

C'mon, just a little squeeze...please?

 June 4 is Hug Your Cat Day

😹😹😹

In honor of June is Audiobook Month:

I recommend the Lewis Trilogy...now a Quartet, by Peter May.

The Blackhouse (2009)

The Lewis Man (2011)

The Chessmen (2012)

The Black Loch (2024)

All are narrated by Peter Forbes

"When a grisly murder occurs on the Isle of Lewis that bears similarities to a brutal killing on the mainland, Edinburgh detective and native islander Fin Macleod is dispatched to the Outer Hebrides to investigate, embarking at the same time on a voyage into his own troubled past."

Tremendous stories, and the newest 4th book is as powerful as the first three.

Atmospheric, dark, and unputdownable!

📚