Our Kitty Secret Santa & Holiday Secrets
It’s raining cats and dogs so it won’t be a white Christmas but our snowy holiday card will have to do. It’s been a mixed year of highs and lows and we’re grateful for everyone who hung around. Your support of every kind is noted, appreciated and fondly remembered. Thank-you and may the love and light of season shine upon you.
Beyond over-extended and exhausted, I never completed sending out our snail mail card list or even our email list. If we missed you, it’s not personal. We’re taking our motto “Keep it Simple. Do less, Purr more” to heart. This year, hubby and I are not giving each other gifts or party hopping. We have no tree, or 32 course dinner or dozens of baked cookies; no decorations indoors or outdoors except a bowl of vintage glass ornaments and a wreath on the door. There was a time when simplicity reigned and there simply was more time. Time to relax like cats do.
This year, I made a choice to devote the precious little energy and time left to cat care. Merlin, Domino and Odin deserve extra attention. And our foster gal Miss Vicky aka Nou Nou is taking a big chunk. So much so, I’ve turned my office into her safe room. It’s a joy and the biggest gift. The cats however like real gifts and they lucked out with our Secret Santa.
Our fellow cat blogger friends participate in a Secret Santa exchange and our parcel arrived yesterday. Well, being the curious kitties (and human) we couldn’t wait until Christmas. Oh my whiskers, we must have landed on Santa’s extra nice list because our Secret Santa are the kitties from Ham-micks by 40 Paws famous for their fleecy hammock beds.
They not only sent us a Ham-Mick of our own but treats, toy smooshie balls, our fave loose organic catnip and everyone’s favorite a ‘nip nana AND a ‘nip cigar. I felt like a was a BAD Santa because I only sent this Hello Kitty t-shirt to my blogger pal at Sparkle Cat and donated toys to a shelter because we’re supposed stay under a certain dollar amount. Clearly the rules must re-interpreted.
Cats of course don’t have guilty bone in their furry bodies and can enjoy all gifts. Odin wasted no time trying out the Ham-Mick. He’s large and long cat and it fit him like a dream. He loves ‘nip nanas but this was his first ‘nip cigar.
Now I understand what the fuss is about. Cats get instant hit of cozy, supported relaxation and a few whiffs of the nip cigar is bonus bliss. Thank-you Forty Paws! And if you’re hankering for a kitty Ham-Mick, they’re only $30.00 for 2! Double your pleasure fur sure.
We’ll be back on Sunday. Enjoy your holiday. May it be contain some bliss.
38 Comments
british shorthair
British Shorthair Cats
Carol Dyer
Odin looks like he’s really enjoying that Ham-Mick! Happy new Year to you and yours (furry and otherwise!
Sweet Purrfections
What a nice Secret Paws package. We hope everyone enjoys the spirit behind Secret Paws. It’s not about the price, but about the thought behind it and that you enjoy yourself.
It’s been kind of quiet around here this holiday season, too. No tree or decorations for us. Mom Paula has been really sick, but we are thankful for what we have and for all of our furriends.
We hope 2015 is a better year for you.
Connie Marie
A VERY MERRY BELATED CHRISTMAS. Our Christmas was like
yours. I only spoilt our kitties, I made up for last year! I didn’t think I could handle any more, but something pushed me to take in 3 abandoned orphans, their the best thing ever in my life. I think they know how much I needed them too!! They are well, healthy and their helping me get well faster too. Their like the 3 Kitten-a-teers!!
Never fear, my other sweeties benefit from all the love they spread
Layla Morgan Wilde
Merry belated Christmas to you. How old are the new babies?
Connie Marie
Hi Layla,
They’re 3 boys between 8-10 weeks. They checked out very well,except for worms, and now are eating fantastic .
I pray Merlins holding on and is well for his age and conditions.
That Domino and Odin are behaving! That Nou Nou is lifting your spirits. Please take care of yourself. Connie
Layla Morgan Wilde
Thanks and purrs to you. Three boys is a handful.
Kjelle Bus aka Charlie Rascal
The package from Forty Paws is PAWesome!
Wish you Happy Holiday´s ( since I´m a bit to late to wish you Meowmy CATmas 🙂
XOXO
meowmeowmans
We love your card, and that package from Forty Paws is awesome! Merry Christmas to you, dear friends! We love ya!
Deb Barnes - Zee and Zoey
Meowy Catmas to you and yours! Purrs from Deb and the Zee and Zoey Gang!
Tamago
I like to keep things simple, too. My husband I decided to get one gift together and make it gift for each other. Some decoration but not much. It’s better to do less and relax more 🙂
That is a pawsome package you got! Enjoy and have a fun Christmas!
jansfunnyfarm
Yes, simple is best. We have not tree, no …… but we’re still running behind. So enjoy your cats and your holiday. Everything will be waiting for you on the other side of Christmas. Have a Merry one.
Sometimes Cats Herd You
Wow, what great gifts from your secret paws! We hope that all of you have a very Merry Christmas!
Flynn
That is a great Secret Paw package you got from 40 Paws. Your card is lovely.
Merry Christmas to all of you.
Austin Towers
Despite the picture on our blog, our Christmas is always very simple. Easy put up and easy take down. Christmas is meant for family and kitties 🙂 Happy restful holidays x0x
Forty Paws
Oh! We are so glad that you luf your Secret Santa Paws!!! Nuffin like a ham-mick to chillax in! Maw is washing ours today… Maw is also in the process of putting up a Chrissymouse tree, but we don’t know how long it will last because of the 4 kittens that we have. That’s why she is waiting until the last minute. Well, and a lack of time. It sounds like she should have chosen the simple style as you did at your house!
Merry Chrissymouse to you and yours,
Us and Maw
The Swiss Cats
Wonderful gifts ! Purrs
The Swiss Cats
Meowy Chrissymouse and Happy Holidays to you all ! Purrs
Cathy Keisha
Whoa! I hope MY package is just as nice. We put a bunch of stuff in ours cos we got free stuff that I don’t like. That t-shirt is cute. I hope Summer will wear it.
Cathy Keisha
By the way, we went simple too this year. The tree is only half decorated as it the rest of the house TW didn’t stress about all she had to do—much. Merry Christmas!
Layla Morgan Wilde
Half-decorated is better than half crazy. Merry Merry!
Annabelle
Merry Catmus Eve
Annabelle * Boo * Ping * Jinx
maggie
It sounds like you’ve distilled the celebration to it’s most important component – love.
We’re all happy to see sweet Odin enjoying his presents!
Love and best wishes to all,
Maggie
Brian Frum
Merry Christmas to all of you from all of us!
Skeeter and Izzy
To us donating to a shelter, feeding a feral,rescuing, fostering,loving and caring for a kitty that has nothing is the very best secret Santa gift of all. We have decided to make 2015 the year that we do more for the kitties that need us the most….not just once a year but all year.
We wish for all a wonderful holiday, peace, love ,joy, kindness, hope, change and the prosperity that comes from giving all away because it comes back to you tenfold. Remember that no act of kindness or gift of love is ever too small.
Luvs
Skeeter and Izzy and the Feral Gang + Twig & Peanut & Romeo >^..^<
Layla Morgan Wilde
Your goal for 2015 is beautiful. Let’s do it!
Nerissa's Life
What a BEAUTIFUL card. LOVE it.
You’re just like my peep. I think she got most of the cards out in the mail before Christmas but by ‘before Christmas’ I actually mean, yesterday. No way are they gonna get to my pals by tomorrow. Canada Post doesn’t use eggbeater-teleportation technology, you see.
MERRY CHRISTMAS my friends!!!
Purrs,
Nissy
Sammy
Santa Paws sure brought you some wonderful goodies! We think having a QUIET and scaled down Christmas is a wonderful idea…..time to focus on all the love in your house and no doubt there will be plenty of that to go around!
Merry Christmas!
Love, Sammy and Mom Pam
Sue Brandes
That’s a nice present. Merry Christmas to you and your beautiful kitties.
Melissa & Truffles
WOW you guys really scored!!! Have fun with your goodies 🙂
Kathryn
Simplicity is important. A season that stresses is not wise. I did my shopping by ordering online and picking up in the store. I worked and let daughter and hubs decorate the tree. My inlaws prepare the dinner. My family does play a few games (Apples to Apples/ Cards Against Humanity) this time of year, so that’s fun.
Have a good, restful time! That is more important!
Layla Morgan Wilde
Sounds like you’re embracing sensible simplicity. Merry Christmas to you and the boys.
Ellen Pilch
Looks like your Santa Paws was extra good to you. Ours was too 🙂
Merry Christmas!
The Island Cats
What pawsome Secret Paws presents you all got! We haven’t opened our package yet. But we get to do so tomorrow! Yay!
Fuzzy Tales
We like the keep it simple, do less and purr more theme. Humans really need to learn that. Seems to be some sort of ego-based “badge of honour” to be crazy-busy now, in our culture.
We wish you a very happy and blessed Christmas; enjoy the quiet and the “down” time.
Purrs and peace.
Layla Morgan Wilde
That’s a great point about “badge of honor” when it’s the opposite. Being crazy busy is not honoring our own needs.
Summer
As you know, Binga and Boodie and I have a bunch of stuff, so it’s not like we needed any more! The only thing that bummed me out was that I wasn’t able to do a whole Secret Paws post like I usually do – I didn’t even know the shirt was for Secret Paws until after the fact!
You know, next time Secret Paws comes around, I may just ask that my partner make a donation or sponsor a cat in my name and leave it at that. Because I know there are many cats out there who are WAY less fortunate than me… and I’m so glad that there is one out there, Miss Vicky, that is getting some especially good, up-close-and-personal care from you.
Layla Morgan Wilde
I think when you announced the kitty santa hop, I got confused too. I sent the gift with a Christmas card and thought it self-explanatory.