Thursday, March 17, 2016

#Felines (And Humans!) Appreciate Warmer #Spring Temperatures--#Cats This Week by Karen Rose Smith





Changing our clocks in March always signals that we are "springing" forward. With the increased hours of daylight, our spirits rise and we begin to think of  spring cleaning, sprucing up our yards and gardens and appreciating the warmer temperatures that bring green grass and budding flowers. 

The Smith felines are slowly adapting to the time change and their feeding schedules are returning to their normal times. I don't think Zoie Joy realizes that the time changed because she still gets me awake in the morning at her usual early sunrise hour. The outside visitors also seem to be unaffected by the change in feeding times. They seem to follow the rise and fall of the sun to set their morning and evening feeding times.  

Bonnie and Clyde bathe after their
evening meal against a backdrop
of rapidly greening lawn.
The winter animal print throws on the bed have been replaced with pastel-colored throws and Paddy and Halo seem to have approved. Paddy and Zoie have both been preoccupied with ladybug visitors that seem to think they are safe in higher places. 

Paddy enjoying the new throw on the bed.
Paddy watching a
ladybug.
Spring temperatures also signal the need for spring cleaning. A clean office somehow feels even more inviting when bathed in the afternoon spring sunshine and a warm breeze wafts through the room from an open window. The cats love the fresh air and outside sounds. 

Zoie supervising the winter/spring
wardrobe switch
I also began switching my winter clothes for my spring wardrobe. Zoie, Paddy and Halo accompanied me upstairs to do the switch. Zoie immediately found a comfortable spot on the wool rug in the spare bedroom and Paddy made herself at home on the window bench. Halo, of course, headed for a comfy spot on the bed! 

Bonnie catches a whiff
of cat mint in a patio
planter.
Bonnie surveys the first weeds of spring.
Outside the grass is rapidly turning a beautiful shade of green and Bonnie and Clyde, our newest stray visitors, love to frolic in the grass on the hillside, obviously appreciating the passing of winter. The cat mint in the garden and patio planters is beginning to sprout, the forsythia is ready to pop into bloom and the daffodils are showing off their spring colors. Our patio visitors will have to adjust to the sound of neighborhood lawn mowers, my husband working in the gardens and me spending some time on the patio enjoying the fragrances and sunshine. Hopefully, Bonnie and Clyde will become my summer patio companions. It would be nice if they could help pull the weeds that have already begun sprouting in the gardens!  


Watching the feline springtime antics of Bonnie and Clyde has reminded me of the beauty of spring and the importance of valuing those we love. They share food, bathe together and clearly have an inseparable bond. Too often we take those bonds for granted.



Happy SPRING from the Smith felines!

So you don't miss an installment of CATS THIS WEEK, sign up to follow my blog over on the right side of the page!


******************    




*******************
Halo says goodbye to winter and hello
to spring as she settles down with a
really good book!





*****************




USA TODAY Bestselling Author Karen Rose Smith is an only child who delved into books at an early age. She learned about kindred spirits from Anne of Green Gables, solved mysteries with Nancy Drew and wished she could have been the rider on The Black Stallion. Yet even though she escaped often into story worlds, she had many aunts, uncles and cousins around her on weekends. Her sense of family and relationships began there. Maybe that's why families are a strong theme in her novels, whether mysteries or romances. Her 95th novel will be released in 2016.

Readers often ask her about her pastimes. She has herb, flowers and vegetable gardens that help her relax. In the winter, she cooks rather than gardens.  And year round she spends most of her time with her husband, as well as her four rescued cats who are her constant companions. They chase rainbows from sun catchers, reminding her life isn't all about work, awards and bestseller lists. Everyone needs that rainbow to chase.

Karen looks forward to interacting with readers. They can find her at the links below. 


*****************





******************









1 comment:

Deborah Blake said...

You're a little more ahead on spring there than I am here in Upstate NY. Hopefully things will start greening up here soon. I do have robins again, and a few of the geese are back.

Bonnie and Clyde are so sweet together. I wonder if they are siblings, or boyfriend and girlfriend, or just two fellow survivors who have bonded together. Bonnie has such a sweet face!