Monday, October 20, 2014

Kittinis and Mousies




Name: Little Miss Sunshine aka Sunshine aka Sunny aka Chloe
Turn-ons: Stepping on the iTunes key on the keyboard
                 Sleeping in boxes
                 Climbing ladders
                 Playing with water
                 Opening cabinets
                 Hiding in the Christmas tree Mochie, how do you erase on this thing?
Hobbies: Snooping Investigating, Birdwatching
Favorite toy: Rubber bands
Favorite foods: Mousies, bread, and tuna
Archenemy: What's that?

Hi. I'm Sunny. At the veterinary hospital where I met my mom, Krista Davis, they called me Chloe. I rather liked that name but then, I like being called Sunshine, too. My mom sings (very badly) a song to me about being her sunshine. It's kind of sweet, if a little pathetic.

Since it's cat week, I'm filling in for Mom today. If you're a cat, you probably know that the Manual of Feline Decorum requires that we run the household without letting anyone know that's what we're doing. It's a tough job but someone has to do it. Our poor people and (snort) dogs are so clueless that they would be lost without us. You'll see what I mean later.

Right about now The Maffini Princesses are probably getting their hackles up. Oh, relax! It would do you good to have a cat around.

The Maffini Princesses in disguise. They can't fool me!

My brother Mochie, who is about to turn 18 in human years! I think that's like 800 in cat years.

Lucky for me, my brother Mochie trained our mom for years before I arrived. When he wants food, he lifts his food dish and drops it so that it clatters. It's the most amazing thing - Mom comes running every time! Hehehe. Sometimes I think he does it just to test her. There are rumors of her being trained by another calico named Fang before Mochie came on the scene. They say Fang broke her of the notion that cats should use the human toilet. I'm grateful for that!

In honor of cat week, my mom made Kittinis and mousies. She calls my brother and me kittinis, so that's what she named this cocktail that she designed just for us.

Kittini

1 cat-size martini glass
1 can unsalted tuna fish
1 sprig fresh catnip

Pour 1-2 teaspoons of juice from the tuna can into the martini glass. Garnish with fresh catnip.

Kittini ingredients.

Catnip garnish!!! Purrrr.

Who doesn't love a Kittini?

I'm embarrassed for my mom, but this is an example of how helpless humans are. I thought everyone knew that mousies should be served raw, like steak tartare. I was pretty excited when Mom said she was making mousies for cat week. Sigh. Frankly, these would never fool a cat. They might look like mousies but they don't smell like them or taste like them. They're really not even good for batting practice.

Mousies
not for cats or dogs

1 pan moist brownies (I used The Best Brownies)
1 1/2 to 2 cups chocolate chips
pearl sugar (for eyes)
black licorice (for tails)
sliced almonds (for ears)

Melt  chocolate chips in the microwave. Stir until smooth. Roll cooled brownies into mouse shapes. Dip in chocolate, remove with a fork to a sheet of parchment paper. Pierce the rear with a toothpick and insert licorice tail. Add almonds for ears and pearl sugar for eyes. Allow to dry. Keep refrigerated.

Mom was upset when she realized that the licorice wouldn't untwist. In the end, we kind of liked the kinky tails, but if you ask me or Mochie, they still weren't proper mousies.


I have never climbed a window screen. I don't know who that is in the picture.

I'm an expert at hiding.

Oh dear! Have the Maffini Princesses come to visit?

Pose for you? If I must, but only on the mantel, with the breakable decorations.
Did you know that I'm in a book? My name has been changed to Twinkletoes to protect my reputation. But everyone knows I'm the inspiration for Twinkletoes! In THE GHOST AND MRS. MEWER, I even helped find the body. I told you people need our help. That's me with Trixie on the cover.



The book won't be out until December 2nd, but mom said I can give away an advance reading copy to one person who leaves a comment here by midnight October 21st. It has an ugly orange cover, but the story inside is the same. So leave a comment with your email address so I can contact you if you win!

Blogging is exhausting. Must . . . nap . . . now . . .

34 comments:

  1. Love Sunshine! The Kittinis and Mousies are very clever. We will have Kittinis NYE while we sip champagne! Can't wait to read the Ghost & Mrs. Mewer! Would love to receive the ARC. Thank you for a fun blog post.

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  2. I enjoyed reading your story, Sunny! What a lucky kitty you are! I am so excited to read The Ghost and Mrs. Mewer, thank you for the chance! rockergoddess2002@yahoo.com

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  3. My cranky old-lady cat Samantha would definitely approve of this post. Thanks for the fun, and for the chance to win an ARC. rencw@verizon.net

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  4. I would love to win an advance copy. I never win at these so I figure that I should be winning sometime soon. I started reading your books after seeing you mentioned on FB by a friend. I love the books and look forward to reading this one!!!
    aprcandles@sbcglobal.net

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  5. Can't wait to try the recipes and the cat hanging on the door is so funny. Our Maki does this too, especially when he wants to be fed.
    scarletbegonia5858@gmail.com

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  6. Aww, great pictures. What is it about cats and cameras? For years back in the film days (remember those?), when I was trying to finish a role to take it to be developed and had a couple of shots left over, I'd tell the cats "do something cute!"

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  7. I've read all of the Domestic Diva series, and I'm just now reading Murder, She Barked. What a great new series!! I can't wait to read The Ghost and Mrs. Mewer.
    rhonda.hollingsworth@yahoo.com

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  8. As a human companion to two cats, one of whom is a rescue, I eagerly look forward to reading The Ghost and Mrs Mewer. dbahn@iw.net

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  9. What a fun story! My crew would definitely approve and would be the first to tell you they have me well train. I'm excited to read this book.
    rjprazak6@gmail.com

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  10. Loved reading Sunshine's story! My cats, YumYum and Lucy, have us trained, too. When Lucy is hungry, all she has to do is stare at my husband and he knows what he has to do. Now, if only I could train him that well......

    tcuevas@iccable.com

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  11. Sunshine--you are brilliant! Watch out though or your mother will have you blogging every week. (Big sigh.) It's an awful responsibility to be smarter than everyone else in the house... love Yoda and Evinrude

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  12. Loved reading the story. Definitely will read this book. sclickner at juno dot com

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  13. Wow, Sunny, you're as talented as your Mom (don't tell her I said that)! You and Mochie are two lucky kitties.
    I love your kitty-muse, Twinkletoes, on the cover, with Trixie...and I think the orange cover is just fine.
    Bet you helped Mom with the title, too...you smart kitty! :)


    patucker54 at aol dot com

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  14. I think my kitties would enjoy a kittini while I would enjoy reading the new book. Thanks for some insight into your life, Sunny.
    suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

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  15. My cats always know when I open a can of tuna. Now their drink has a name, kittini. Thank you. bobbipad@gmail.com

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  16. Sunshine has the correct attitude. suefoster109@netzero.net

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  17. Omigosh, Twinkletoes...I mean Sunshine, your pictures are adorable! I wish I knew who was climbing that screen! A feat of wonder. Or is it feet of wonder? Paws for wonder? I'm on a roll. And the mouses are adorable. Perfect for a Halloween platter. Thanks for sharing!

    Daryl / Avery

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  18. Ha Ha! 'They're really not even good for batting practice' & I'n the end, we kind of liked the kinky tails, but if you ask me or Mochie, they still weren't proper mousies'.
    Thanks for a fun read! Love the mice. I just might have to try the kittini for Monty. Monarch would probably want some too!

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  19. Little Miss Sunshine is a natural in front of the camera! fangcat13@gmail.com

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  20. That was so cute, and Miss Sunshine looks so cuddly I could't resist picking her up. I think I will make the mousies for my nieces and nephews at Christmas! thompson.lindaa@gmail.com

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  21. I'm not usually a cat person, but I d love my Grandkids kitten! Sunshine, I'm sure I'd like you too...

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  22. Cat approved. In this household that is a must.

    kaye.killgore@comcast.net

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  23. Great new title to add to my reading list
    Zeta@iwon.com

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  24. Hi, Sunny. My name is Mariusz and I'm the new kid at my house. I love special food. I tell everyone too. When we all get some moist food, I growl while I'm eating so everyone knows it's mine. I'm a fast eater too-so I go and make them give me their food as well! I'm a growing baby-I need ALL the food. Except the kibble. They can have that.

    cozyupwithkathy @ gmail dot com

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  25. Hi, my name is Lola and I have my owners well trained. Anytime I need something, such as food or water, I hit their legs until they follow me. I have a great view of birds,chipmunks and rabbits. They make my dreams spectacular!! Off to dreamland....

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  26. OK, Sunny, I'm in. Please put me in the draw.
    Judy
    judydee22002 at yahoo dot com

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  27. Would love to read this. Hope I win. Thanks for doing this.

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  28. I think we shall be serving Kittinis tonight for cocktails. Thanks

    gibsonbk at hiwaay.net

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  29. if we win the book can we print out your pretty picture and paste it on the cover?
    Fluora Bun (tort point siamese) says she "never" climbs the window screen either!

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  30. I love cats! I love pictures of cats! I love anything cats! candacejdavidson@gmail.com

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  31. Great post Sunshine. And, while I know you are disappointed in the mousies, humans are easily impressed, and our mom thought they were really awesome. To make it up to us that she's not preparing real mousies, Mom made us kittinis - yummm. Oh, and our mom has a picture of what she says is me (Princess Isabella) climbing a screen. Not sure how they get those pictures when we are totally innocent. I think my brother (Socrates) was to blame. Hey, Socks, stop pushing me! Sheese - boys - they are so sensitive! Anyway...Mom asked me to put her email address in this post so she could enter your mom's contest, so here it is: MYSTUFF_LST@yahoo.com. It was nice talking to you.

    Purrs......Princess Isabella (Bella) and Socrates (Socks)

    P.S. - Socks said to tell you he thinks you're really pretty

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  32. Sunshine, you are gorgeous and thank you for sharing your story, recipe and pictures of you and Mochie. areewekidding@yahoo.com

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  33. Thank you for all your wonderful comments! I'm so excited and very flattered. I can hardly stop purring! It was too hard to choose so Mochie showed me the random number thingie. And the winner is MALKA E! Congratulations, Malka!

    If you didn't win, Mom says there will be a lot more chances coming up, Stay tuned!

    ~Sunny

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