Spooky wonders what this actually is
Spooky: Human catmom, did you just try to mew?
Me: No sweetheart, I said MUSE, it’s a MUSE Medallion. It’s for my book Catwoods, Stories and Studies of Our Feline Companions, and it’s from the wonderful Cat Writers’ Association!
Aside to readers: This is my first year at CWA, my first book, and my first contest! So I’m thrilled and grateful to receive a Certificate of Excellence and the even harder to get MUSE Award! Because all cats are my inspiration, and every kitty we’ve ever lived with has been a Muse of sorts, I thought our present cats should see the medallion.
Moonpie mystified
Moonpie: Well I thought you said “mews” too!
Lynx inspection
Lynx: I’ll have a look and a sniff.
Lynx reporting
Lynx: Fascinating.
Me: You remind me of someone I used to see on TV, Lynx!
Boss is paws-on!
Boss: Hmm, it has a pleasant feel to my paw-pads.
Stripey the diplomat
Stripey: I’m sitting this one out! I’m not getting into a disagreement with those feisty sisters of mine! And I find this all a-muse-ing … could I have some popcorn while I watch?
Me: Um sorry Stripey, it’s “no” on the popcorn.
Franklin the playful cat guy!
Franklin: This is to play with, RAWR!
Spooky checks it out
Spooky: I’ll look again, but … hey I see a cat on there; I still say I heard you say “Mews”, or was that the metal cat trying to mew?
Catwoods with the MUSE Medallion sticker!
Me: Uh, here’s the book with the MUSE Medallion sticker, Spooky.
Spooky’s fuming a bit
Spooky: Well, Phssssst and Hmmmpft then. You sure do crow about that book a lot! When you’re not trying to mew like us, that is …
Aside to readers: In real life, I hear mews all the time, so I think the cats are actually happy about the MUSE Award. (LOL I may be as mixed up about the sounds as Spooky is, not to mention, reality.) If you’d like, consider getting the book, it does help us care for the kitties. Just click the picture at the upper right of the page or go to the “Order the Catwoods book online” page.
A rare photo of all five kittens together. Many thanks to the hubs for contributing this and another picture to this post:
Lynx, Boss, Moonpie, Stripey, and Spooky
Lagniappe:
Our friend’s cat, Shelley:
Shelley in springtime
I live near a creek in a forest, in close observation and awe of the wildlife outside, as well as the domestic animals of the household. I'm writer Leah T. Alford. I was "catwoods" on this site Catwoods Porch Party, Itchmo Forums for Cats and Dogs, and a few other sites that may or may not exist now. I have now published a book, and the publisher wanted it called Catwoods. I never expected the book title to be the same as my username, so for now I've changed the username to Leah. For more info, click the "About" button above.
Catwoods Porch Party 
The kitties and I thank you Lizzie missy!
btw — would you be so kind as to guest blog post for my site? if you’re so inclined, here’s a link to general guidelines: https://wp.me/p6OZAy-1eQ
Hi da-AL, so sorry to be late answering your comment. I’m very flattered to be asked, thank you so much! really do like your site and would love to do a guest post! However, as I mentioned before, the collision of a worsening chronic illness, the intricacies of pandemic living for at-risk persons, and a heavy to-do list means it’s going to be several months, likely next year, before I have a break in my schedule. I also have to wait until a topic pops into my head, and then confer with you as to whether it’s a topic you feel will be suitable for your site. All the best, cheers and meows, Leah
many congrats — you guys sure know how to party 🙂
Thank you da-AL, I appreciate it! We try to party when we can!
Pingback: Cats React to MUSE Award for Catwoods – Life With Rescues With Skyla
Congratulations, Leah, how nice!
Thank you Candace, I appreciate your kind words!
I loved reading about all the kitties thoughts in the mews…um…muse award!!
And congrats once again!
Thanks so much, Meezer’sMews&TerrieristicalWoofs! And I’m happy you enjoyed the kitties uh, musing about the Muse!
Congratulations!!!!!!!!
Thank you Terre, I appreciate it!
Congratulations! What happened to Franklin?
Thanks cat 9.984, I appreciate your kind words! Franklin is in one of the pictures above, the 7th down from the top. He’s usually the first picture in all posts but he shows up later this time. He’s not in the kitten line-up photo because he’s very territorial.
Guess I missed him. Thanks!
Congratulations on your Muse Award!
Thank you so much, The Island Cats, I appreciate your kind words!
Wonderful. And those cats are adorable
The kitties and I thank you so much, Rosie!
Charlee: “Congratulations, you guys! Your award looks like it would be tons of fun to bat around on the floor!”
Chaplin: “Just don’t lose it!”
Ahahaha you guys, Franklin feels the same way and would certainly scoot that thing right underneath furniture if he got the chance!
What a great post, Leah, really made me happy! I love all of them sweeties and especially that picture where all the sweeties are lined up and sitting by the window sill. Proper sweeties though. A Big Meow to you and all of the Sweeties. My Megan Sweetie is not well. She is having problem passing urine and I took her to vet twice within the past one week and vet has given her anti biotic injection which seem to be working but not sure how long. I just hope she gets better soon. Meow! Ashraf
Ashraf, thank you so much for your kind words! I’m glad you enjoyed the post and the pictures! I’m so sorry to hear that your Megan Sweetie is having problems though. I sure hope that the antibiotic clears everything up. Do come back and let us know how she is doing. Meows and Purrs, Leah
Thanks Leah. Apparently, My Grace Sweetie is also exhibiting the same symptom from earlier today. Really concern and not sure why this is happening to my sweeties. I may have to take Grace to vet tomorrow too and vet bills are alarming and causing stress. I will let you know how things go. I just hope my sweeties get better soon. Best!
I hope they get better too Ashraf, I’ve been busy and not so well so I didn’t reply earlier, but I am keeping my hopes up for your sweet kitties!
Mee-yow wow!! All 5 kittiess inn a row!! That iss furabuluss!
An so iss yore Mewss~~Muse award Miss Leah!! Pawtastick!
An Shelley yore lookin purrty as efurr…
**purrss** BellaDharma an ((huggiess)) LadyMew too….
Thank you BellaDharma and LadyMew, the kitties and I appreciate your kind words! We are happy also that you like the hubs’ 5 kitty picture! We send purrs and hugs in return, and always!
An you know what Cat Mom?? You have THE kewlest namess fore all yore catss!!!
Furabuluss namess!
The kitties and I thank you BellaDharma and LadyMew! And the hubs does too, he named Boss, I named Lynx and Moonpie (a sweet confection that I think is nationwide but is often associated with the southeastern US), and the others just sort of fell right into place. BellaDharma’s a pretty cool name too!
Thanx Cat mom! Mee was Bella all mee life butt when LadyMew met mee shee said mee was BellaDharma…Dharma iss Buudhist an has a 3 fold meenin: Rite Thott; Rite Inntention an Rite Action…which LadyMew did when shee deecided to rescue mee. An mee name iss inn memoree of ‘angel’ Unkell Siddhartha Henry too!!
BellaDharma that was certainly perfect action when LadyMew rescued you! And I like Angel Uncle Siddhartha Henry’s name too! I like Buddhist thought and used to read a little about it although I don’t recall it well so essentially I don’t know much about it.
Unkell’ss full name was PURRINCE SIDDHARTHA HENRY! A mouthfull rite Cat Mom?? Purrince fore singer Prince; Siddhartha fore THE Buudha an Henry fore LadyMew’ss PawPaw. Mistur Henry’ss nickyname was ‘Buudha’…..mew mew mew…such alot inn a name rite?? Oh an beefore THE Buddha beecame Buudha hee was Purrince Siddhartha…
Mee thinkss mee name iss alot easier to figure out 😉
He had a grand long name! The singer Prince is a good namesake too! And now that you mention it, I now recall that I used to know that Prince Siddhartha became Buddha! A good refresher today!
Mew mew mew Cat Mom mee thinkss ‘angel’ Unkell was a walkin Hisstory lesson 😉
An Unkell Siddhartha DID have a grand name!
Congratulations! Wow, 1st year blogging, 1st book – and you win – wow, wow, wow!
Thanks so much for your kind words, catscue, I appreciate it! It was my first year in the Cat Writers’ Association, but I’ve actually been blogging since 2012, and writing since I was about 12, which means more years than I’d like to admit, LOL.
love the photos of your kitties! Clearly they are dazzled by your award !
Thank you so much, I appreciate it and I’m happy you enjoyed the kitty photos!
A fantastic post! Love all the expressions of muse-mews confusion … both textual and the facial expressions! And wonderful to see all 5 kittens together … curiosity prevails: what are they entranced by? [Our 2 look like that sitting in the window when a squirrel climbs into the birdfeeder.]
CONGRATULATIONS on the award – your book is marvelous, definitely deserving.
Thank you so much for all your kind words, Jazz, the kitties and I appreciate it!
We think there was indeed something climbing on the house or on the roof of maybe into the attic during the 5-kitty picture. In other pictures taken at the same time, they are all looking upward. A squirrel does seem a likely candidate. That said, the hubs took that picture and he does have a way with cats and getting them to pose for him. They would never line up like that for me!
Congrats on a well-deserved award! Love the group photo of the kittens!
Thanks you so much, FACE Foundation, the kittens and I appreciate it!
The cats appear to be pleased for you. Congratulations!
Thank you arlingwoman, I appreciate it! I think the cats are pleased but just don’t want to show it too much …
Happy Mews Award. 😸
Tanja, thank you so much, I appreciate it!
They are a beautiful group of kitties, Leah! And congratulations again from all of us here! 🙂
The kitties and I thank you for you kind words, Lavinia, we appreciate it!
Getting the cats together for a group photo is always a challenge but makes a great photo!
I’m happy you like the photo, Greg! That is true, I rarely get more than two together in a good pic but the hubs somehow got all 5.
You kitties are on to something, they really should have called it the Mews Medallion! Congrats!
Thanks so much, I appreciate it. Ahahaha, Spooky and Moonpie are very forthcoming and would have given their opinions about the name if they’d been consulted!
Congratulations, Leah!
Thank you Cate, I appreciate it!
Congrats and thanks for sharing the beautiful photos!
Thank you so much -Eugenia, and I’m happy you like the photos!
You’re welcome!
Congratulations! Beautiful photos.
Thank you Correne, I appreciate it and I’m happy you like the photos!
How did you get them all to pose like that? Wouldn’t happen in my house! Someone would be biting someone’s ear or tapping their tail.
Ahahaha Kate we think there was something outside, probably on the roof, that caught everyone’s attention. That said my husband took that picture and he does have a way with cats. They would never all line up nicely like that for me!
Congrats! And I love the pic of them all together. What dolls.
Thank Polly, I appreciate it and the cats and I are happy you like their pictures! I’m partial to the 5-cat pic that my husband took, too!
Congratulations dear Leah, this is so beautiful. Thank you, Love, nia
Thank you Nia, I am happy you enjoyed this! Love, Leah
Congratulations and well done! I love your cats. So pretty all of them and they pose well too!
The cats love to hear this Garfield Hug! Thanks so much for your kind words!
💖
Congratulations! What a handsome group of kitties! And what an honor! 🙂
Kitties and I say thank you, Susanne, we appreciate your kind words!
Congratulations!
Boss has a beautifully shaped face, and I love the group windowsill photo! 🙂 Great photos – so enjoyable.
Thank you for the congrats, Lynette, and I’m happy you like the photos! I like the 5-cat windowsill photo too which was taken by the hubs. Ha, they’d never line up so perfectly like that for me! And oh yeah, I agree, Boss has such a nicely shaped face.
Congratulations and lots of mews from over here on your MUSE award. All your kitties are looking great.
The kitties and I thank you and your kitties for all the mews and kind words, Tim!
You kitties are hard to impress. Trust me, this is most impressive. Congratulations! XO
Ellen, thank you so much, I really appreciate your kind words and support. I often lack self-confidence … The kitties do have loads of cattitude, LOL. XO
Yay! ConCATulations! What a cute award. The kitties seem to like it too. 🙂
Thank you retrodee, I appreciate your kind words! I think the kitties do like it, for their own kitty reasons, LOL!
Stripey has great composition! ❤️😻
Thanks John. Stripey’s sort of a natural, he almost always strikes an interesting pose!