Category Archives: Uncategorized

Our New Bird Bath and Feeder

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When my wife took out our Christmas decorations, she suggested we do the Advent calendar again, by which she meant I do the Advent calendar again. I didn’t do it last year because of our move to our current house, but I did it the two previous years.

Our Advent calendar is made of wood and shaped like a house with 24 drawers. The first year I did it, I didn’t have 24 gifts that would fit in the drawers, so I wrapped them, wrote a short poem for each, and tucked the poems into the drawers. A word of advice: Be careful when you do something overly nice for your spouse, because it will soon be expected. If my wife is reading this, I’m just kidding.

Anyway, because of the small size of our house and its limited space, I needed to ensure my gifts would not take up too much room. Because of the number of gifts, jewelry was not an option. One of the gifts I chose, partly because it would take up no room in the house, was a combination bird bath and feeder with a planter at the bottom.

I did not take a photo of it from the outside, but here it is from Frankie’s perspective.

There is a cardinal on the feeder in the above photo and a squirrel in the photo below.

I worried that squirrels might tip it over, so I attached it to a wooden stake.

So far, the cats don’t seem to care much about it, but we humans have enjoyed seeing the wildlife from our front porch.

My Newest Book is About Cats

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After I finished my most recent book, Last Hope, I went back to work on another book I started in 2023, but kept starting and quitting whenever I got stuck. I got stuck again, so I decided to write a short prequel to my Last Healer Mysteries series called Last Seen.

The book was challenging to write because it happened before Joe’s tenth birthday in 1926. I may be old, but I knew nothing about 1926. In the story, Joe and his best friend, Jimmy, discover that many of the neighborhood cats are missing, including their own. Their quest to find the missing cats is a distraction from the drama in Joe’s life, including the death of his father and the discovery that his healing abilities are unique, and he could be a freak.

The book is different from the rest of the series, as it is written in first person and is suitable for all ages. Here is the official description of the book.

In this prequel to the Last Healer Mysteries series, Joe shares with Katie the story of his very first investigation, a poignant story from 1926 Brooklyn that opened his eyes to the uniqueness of his healing ability.

Shortly before his tenth birthday, while he was dealing with the untimely death of his adoptive father, Joe learns that no one else has his healing abilities, and he may be a freak. He then discovers his beloved cat, Smokey, has vanished along with many other neighborhood felines. Teaming up with his best friend Jimmy, the boys become detectives on a quest that turns into a lifeline amid grief and worry. The boys’ investigation eventually reveals the surprising truth about the cats’ fate, but it also draws them into a deeper, more urgent problem that will test whether Joe can heal anyone besides himself.

Last Seen is a family-friendly tale of friendship and the many forms of healing.

You can read more about it on my personal blog here. As usual, I need your help with reviews. The book is free today and tomorrow on Amazon. It is also free after that if you have Kindle Unlimited. I know some people prefer physical books, but because it is a short 11,000 words, it is only available as an eBook. You can get your copy here.

Bad Cat Chris is also free today and tomorrow, as is a short story I wrote called Repeat.

I hope you enjoy the stories, and if you can, please review on Amazon.

Frankie’s Newest Favorite Spot

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Frankie’s favorite napping spot seems to change more often than a politician changes their mind. Lately he has taken to lying on the dining room table near where Rose works.

In the past, he only got on the table when he wanted to bother Rose, and he only bothered Rose because he knew Rose would yell at me to feed him so she could work.

Photo Friday: Catio Time

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Frankie and Floki love hanging out on the catio, but they don’t really have a favorite spot out there. It seems every time I look, their positions change, though lately Frankie has been seen on the loveseat quite often. Floki is on the rocking chair but it’s hard to see him.

We will be on a cruise next week. Our former neighbor is coming to stay with the cats until we return.