Mollie Hunt's Blog, page 7

CELEBRATING CATS!

Celebrate National Cat Day (and Crafty Cat Book Launch)!

For years, I’ve released my Crazy Cat Lady cozy mysteries on National Cat Day*, and this year is no exception. On Tuesday October 29th, 2024 Crafty Cat, the 11th Crazy Cat Lady Cozy Mystery, will be available for purchase! I chose National Cat Day because I cherish the richness of this day. Needless to say, for cat people, every day is a day to celebrate cats, but this one is special. So let’s celebrate National Cat Day in style. Lavish your kitties with love. Help a cat shelter or group if you can. And read a book that will take you into a world where cats always win.

The Crazy Cat Lady series features Lynley Cannon, a cat shelter volunteer who routinely finds more trouble than a cat in catnip. But Lynley’s adventures aren’t all thrills and spills. In her everyday life, she takes care of cats in many different ways. Her own clowder of nine includes special needs cats like senior Dirty Harry, obese Violet, and “wobbly” cat Elizabeth. Her home is outfitted with furnishings that help enrich an indoor cat’s life.

Tink by Waugh

Lynley’s cat Tinkerbelle is a registered therapy cat, and together they visit assisted living facilities and hospice patients. Her shelter work takes us into the world of cat care in a shelter surrounding. Sometimes it even involves a set of Humane Investigators who handle not just pet education but darker cases such as neglect and abuse.  Lynley is open to anything cat. She has helped with the TNR (Trap/neuter/return) process, emergency shelter intakes from natural disasters, hoarding situations, and more.

Each time Lynley takes on one of those endeavors, I get to tell my readers a bit about the real processes behind them. At the beginning of each chapter, I include a cat tip or fact to educate and engage those who want to know more about cats. But be assured, Lynley rarely lectures. She prefers to lead by example, so if you learn something new about fostering, cat safety, general care and health, or a fun new cat toy, it’s only because Lynley Cannon is practicing them in her own daily life.

As a volunteer myself, I know the importance of the work. Our society is so adept at letting the vulnerable fall through the cracks, and cats are no exception. In my area, Portland Oregon, we are blessed with forward-thinking animal advocates who have come together to help save lives. Their aggressive spay and neuter program had all but wiped out cat overpopulation before COVID and is making its way back to that goal now that the pandemic has passed. Our Oregon Humane Society routinely helps cats from other areas, especially from shelters too small to handle the overflow as well as those affected by disaster.

All of us can help save lives. Whether we foster, adopt, volunteer, donate, or sew a cat blanket, we are helping with the big picture. Many hands make light work, so my mother told me, and I’ve seen it in action within the world of animal advocacy. In my lifetime, dogs have been unchained and cats have been moved to the safety of the indoors. Unwanted kittens are no longer disposed of. Declawing is becoming a thing of the past. There is more work to be done, certainly, but kindness and compassion have taken root.

So let’s celebrate National Cat Day by spending quality time with our beloved kitties, and if you are so inclined, by adding a new cat mystery to your TBR list.

Find Crafty Cat in eBook and paperback here.

What makes your cat special?

Do they cheer you up when you’re feeling sad? Are they funny or sweet or ornery or cat-arrogant? Do they do cool tricks? Share your cat stories in the comments in honor of National Cat Day 2024.

*National Cat Day is an awareness day to raise public awareness of cat adoption. This day was created by Pet Lifestyle Expert and Animal Welfare Advocate, Colleen Paige, in 2005. Since its inception, it has helped save the lives of more than one million cats.

Don’t forget the Crafty Cat Giveaway!

One lucky person will win a signed paperback copy of Crafty Cat plus a special cat-themed gift, my favorite set of cat-print coin purses. These sturdy zippered coin-purses are made of canvas. 4 adorable cartoon cat patterns. Size: 5 x 3.5 inches. Perfect for little belongings such as coins, cash, credit cards, thumb drives, earbuds, keys, lipstick.

To enter the giveaway, email me at molliehuntcatwriter@gmail.com with “Giveaway” in the comment line. U.S. addresses only. No P.O. boxes. Drawing for the giveaway will be November 1.

MADE OF HUG – CURIOSITY QUILT THE CAT

Quilts for a cause.

In my 11th Crazy Cat Lady cozy mystery Crafty Cat, a central plotline is a group of quilters who are making cat-themed quilts to donate to a cat rescue charity auction. I’ve just discovered that here in Portland, there is a real quilt guild doing something different but similar. The Portland Modern Quilt Guild makes and donates quilts, some of which go to the Oregon Health & Science University’s pediatric Intensive Care Unit to make the rooms of longer-term patients feel less clinical. Recently one of their members, Stephanie Hower Derheimer, created a different kind of work, a one-of-a-kind hand-painted sculpture for Coraline’s Curious Cat Trail, an art project to benefit OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital… and it’s all about cats!

 I caught the exhibit on its final weekend when all the cats were gathered in Director Square, downtown Portland. Though I missed seeking the cats in their natural habitat, it was nice to get to see them all at once. I had many favorites, but one of the most intriguing was Stephanie’s quilt-themed cat. At the time, I didn’t know the story behind her artwork, but when I found out, I knew I had to share it as one of my Crafty Cat launch features. Here were people doing a similar thing to the characters in my book, and though they weren’t quilting cat designs or donating to cat shelters, I would never have known about them had not it been for one very special cat.

About the project, Coraline’s Curious Cat Trail:

In celebration of the 15th anniversary of LAIKA’s debut film Coraline, the studio partnered with the Visit Downtown Campaign, Wild in Art, and OHSU Doernbecher to create a trail of 30 sculptures modeled after one of Coraline’s most memorable characters, Cat. The sculptures, painted by many different artists, were stationed throughout downtown Portland for ten weeks, creating a free art trail for visitors to complete.

About Artist Stephanie Hower Derheimer, creator of Curiosity Quilt the Cat:

Stephanie Hower Derheimer is a Portland-based designer of quilts, art, illustrations, and—most recently—the cat statue that was located on OMSI’s front plaza, Curiosity Quilt the Cat! Stephanie’s quilted cat design was inspired by her work with the Portland Modern Quilt Guild, a nonprofit organization and thriving community of quilters. Part of the Guild’s work includes making charity quilts. Since the Coroline’s Curious Cat Trail project is in partnership with OHSU’s Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, she felt it fitting to wrap this cat statue in a cozy quilt of its own.

Preorder Crafty Cat, the 11th Crazy Cat Lady cozy mystery now and get it in your inbox on National Cat Day, October 29th, 2024.

Lynley shifts from quilting to sleuthing when the elder of the guild is murdered and a beloved cat is stolen. Located in Portland. 

(Books need not be read in order.) Paperback also available.

Don’t forget the Crafty Cat Giveaway!  

One lucky person will win a signed paperback copy of Crafty Cat plus a special cat-themed gift, my favorite set of cat-print coin purses. These sturdy zippered coin-purses are made of canvas. 4 adorable cartoon cat patterns. Size: 5 x 3.5 inches. Perfect for little belongings such as coins, cash, credit cards, thumb drives, earbuds, keys, lipstick.

To enter the giveaway, email me at molliehuntcatwriter@gmail.com with “Giveaway” in the comment line. U.S. addresses only. No P.O. boxes. Drawing for the giveaway will be November 1.

 

 

 

WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO LAUNCH A BOOK

It’s that time again!

The Crafty Cat book launch is set for October 29th—17 days from today. The manuscript for both the paperback and the eBook versions are still with my editor getting formatted. Only a tenth of the promotional information has been sent out. I have yet to write my launch edition newsletter…

The launch itself is a bit of a tempest in a teapot since there is no actual event, either in-person or online. I have yet to decide how to celebrate. A video reading? Cake?

What people think a launch looks like.

Photo by Efren Barahona on Unsplash

What I’ll really be doing on launch day.

Photo by Anthony Tran on Unsplash

So what does it feel like to finally see my book in print and for sale? To watch people preorder and buy copies? To get feedback and reviews?

Wonderful as those things are, it’s not my favorite part of writing a book. I love the writing; the story as it reveals itself to me; the little lines I find humorous or tragic and wonder how my brain ever came up with them. By the time the book is done, and I mean done-done and out in the world, I’ve moved on to another story.

Adventure Cat launch at Gifty Kitty

I do miss the days before COVID when there would be an in-person launch party at a bookstore or other venue. Those were fun. But I’m older now and social engagements are more stressful than enjoyable, for me as well as attendees. The last time I tried to do a launch was for Adventure Cat at the cat-themed store Gifty Kitty. I had 5 people in attendance: my cousin, my sister-in-law, my husband, and the two store owners. 2021 was not a great year.

Tinkerbelle and me at Another Read Through

The best book event I had was one of my first, at Another Read Through, a wonderful bookstore that, alas, moved online during COVID. I read from the first two books in the series, Cats’ Eyes and Copy Cats. I brought my registered therapy cat Tinkerbelle, and I think most people came for her.

The (almost) baren wasteland that was November 2016

The least attended, aside from the 2021 fiasco, was for Cat’s Paw, a few days after the 2016 election. No cozy cat mystery could cut through the gloom, shock, and disbelief my fans were feeling at that time.

For the launch of Cat Call, I was able to supply cupcakes with cat pictures on them! The next year Fred Meyers discontinued that line, replacing it with simpler designs and no cats. The movement to make products more cost effective for businesses while raising the price to the consumer has been sneaking up on is for more than a decade and shows no sign of stopping. Corporate greed isn’t anything new.

Lockdown Launch with Tyler

In 2020, I did an online launch of Cat Conundrum on Facebook Live. I didn’t know what I was doing, and for the first half hour, I couldn’t get the comments feature to work, which left me alone to talk at my viewers without any interaction. Finally my friend and editor got it working, but it’s not something I plan to try again.

So this year on October 29th, I will be celebrating National Cat Day, eating cake (I’ve decided while writing this, that cake is a must), and contemplating the next book in the series. It’s already got a name and a starting point. Watch for Cat City, coming in 2025.

________________________________________

Crafty Cat, the 11th Crazy Cat Lady cozy mystery.
Lynley shifts from quilting to sleuthing when the elder of the guild is murdered and a beloved cat is stolen. Located in Portland.
Preorder the eBook now and get it in your inbox on National Cat Day, October 29th, 2024.
Paperback also available.

Crafty Cat Giveaway

One lucky person will win a signed paperback copy of Crafty Cat plus a special cat-themed gift, my favorite set of cat-print coin purses. These sturdy zippered coin-purses are made of canvas. 4 adorable cartoon cat patterns. Size: 5 x 3.5 inches. Perfect for little belongings, coins cash credit card USB charger cable headset keys lipstick.

To enter the giveaway, email me at molliehuntcatwriter@gmail.com with “Giveaway” in the comment line.

U.S. addresses only. No P.O. boxes. Drawing for the giveaway will be November 1.

THE CATS OF LYNLEY CANNON

Here’s a snippet from Crafty Cat, a new Crazy Cat Lady mystery coming soon.

“Frannie mentioned you have several cats,” Dora commented, smoothing Elizabeth’s sideburns. “I think she said nine?”

“Something like that,” I replied discreetly.

“Wow!” Dora commented. “That’s a lot of cats!”

~Dirty Harry~

Who are Lynley’s cats?

With a new Crazy Cat Lady cozy mystery coming out this month, it’s got people wondering how many cats Lynley has in her clowder. When we first began this Crazy Cat Lady journey with Cats’ Eyes in 2013, Lynley cohabited with six: Dirty Harry, Little, Big Red, Violet, Solo, and the foster cat Fraulein Fluffs.

~Little~

~Big Red~

~Violet~

~Solo~

~Fraulein Fluffs~

Tinkerbelle the registered therapy cat came on the scene in Copy Cats, then Lynley rescued the Siamese kitten Mab, bringing the number to eight.

~Tinkerbelle~

~Mab~

Tragedy struck between Copy Cats and Cat’s Paw when Fraulein Fluffs crossed the Rainbow Bridge. But then, in Cat’s Paw, Lynley adopted Emilio form the Cloverleaf Animal Sanctuary.

~Emilio~

Lynley made it through book 5, Cat Call without any additions to the clowder but got busy again in book 6, Cat Café when she adopted a cat with Feline Cerebellar Hypoplasia, Elizabeth. Meanwhile Solo had been displaying signs of stress from living with so many other cats, so she moved in with Lynley’s granddaughter Seleia, where Solo thrived.

~Elizabeth~

Adventure Cat brought yet another cat onboard, the kitten Spot that Lynley had rescued five years earlier in her short story Cat’s Cradle. Spot was part of a criminal investigation case, so when Lynley relinquished her to Friends of Felines, she didn’t think she would ever see the cat with the beautiful paisley markings again. Turns out she was wrong. Spot, all grown up and renamed Hermione, leapt back into Lynley’s life in a big way.

~Hermione as a kitten~

Lynley showed great restraint in the following books with no more additions to the clowder in Cat’s Play or Cat House, and she has continued that trend in Crafty Cat, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t lots of cats in the stories. Lynley Cannon’s involvement with cats is something that will never change.

 

CRAFTY CAT COVER REVEAL and A GIVEAWAY

Without further ado, I present… Crafty Cat!

I’m proud to finally present the cover for my latest Crazy Cay Lady mystery, Crafty Cat. This cover, like the other books in the series, features artwork by cat artist Leslie Cobb. The piece is titled, “Greetings!” and is one of her Best Friends Animal Sanctuary series. The black cat’s name is Scooter, and he was the official greeter in the Best Friends Cat World lobby.

Lynley shifts from quilting to sleuthing when the guild’s founder is murdered and a beloved cat is stolen.

A new Crazy Cat Lady cozy mystery, located in Portland, Oregon.

About Crafty Cat:

Romance, death, and cat quilts.

What does quilting have to do with murder? Lynley Cannon is about to find out.

Lynley Cannon has a new hobby—making cat-themed quilt donations for the ShadowCat Rescue auction. The small quilting guild is run by three generations of women and two cats, but when the elder of the family is murdered, Lynley’s job shifts from crafting to sleuthing.

Who would want to kill such a dear old thing? The police think they know, but they don’t have all the facts.

As secrets come out and a romance is uncovered, the quilting project begins to fall to pieces. Lynley jumps in to help the family navigate the justice system, but when a neighbor is found dead and another of the quilt shop’s owners missing, even Lynley is at a loss. It takes a couple of crafty cats to get to the bottom of this stranger-than-fiction crime.

Crafty Cat, the 11th Crazy Cat Lady cozy mystery

Launching on National Cat Day, October 29th, 2024

But I also mentioned a giveaway.

One lucky person will win a signed paperback copy of Crafty Cat plus a special cat-themed gift, my favorite set of cat-print coin purses. These sturdy zippered coin-purses are made of canvas. 4 adorable cartoon cat patterns. Size: 5 x 3.5 inches. Perfect for little belongings, coins cash credit card USB charger cable headset keys lipstick.

To enter the giveaway, email me at molliehuntcatwriter@gmail.com with “Giveaway” in the comment line.

U.S. addresses only. No P.O. boxes. Drawing for the giveaway will be November 1.

AUTUMN ONE – A NARRATIVE

Autumn one.

A weak white sun filters through the sea mist swirling around the tips of the fir, pine, spruce, and hemlock that grow on this continent’s edge. I have the heat on, just to warm the place. Memories of days too hot to move slipping away, though they were only a few weeks past.

I hear the scrabble of claws on the sofa arm. A cat, Clarence, hefts himself up over the edge to train his curious gaze on me. He lingers there, resisting my pets but also loving them—his purrs give him away every time. Jumping down when enough was had, he races in his three-legged gate to the loveseat where he settles into his heated bed for a wash. Long tongue across long tail fur, he pauses to give me a love blink before settling down for a nap.
There are two more cats, already fast at their midday sleep. Melinko by the window where he can keep an eye out for birds, and Tyler on my bed going for a more profound slumber. Tyler is twenty-one and sleeps a lot. Sometimes I tease the black tip of his tail or the M on his forehead to see how much it will take before he wakes, but mostly I leave him be. I watch him, the little twitches, the squeezing of the eyes, the absolute inertia of the resting feline form. So beautiful, so loved. I will not dare think of a time when he is gone.

The cats are sleeping, but what of me, alone and unmotivated? In the past I would have walked to the beach or into town, but now my health no longer permits such carefree ease. I cannot even allow myself to work too much, to think or read or watch too much TV, because all those activities we consider mindless do require mental power. If I want to have any energy left for other things, I need to pace myself. Such is the heartbreak of Long COVID.

This recommended quietude does give me time to perceive, to gather in my surroundings, the feel, smell, taste, sounds, and sights around me. At this moment they are:
The feel of my body pressed onto the sofa, and the nagging tiny pains that never go away anymore.

The smell of fresh air and this morning’s omelet.

The sound of the ocean, that old noisy fridge, and a truck on the highway. I pause to imagine where the truck is going. North to the little town of Ocean Park or south back to Long Beach? Those are the two choices.

But on to my mindful inventory. The sights I’ve already described—cats, mist, trees. A breeze tickles the huckleberry, its branches now heavy with blue fruit. If I had more momentum, I would go pick them. From our cluster of bushes, I might come up with a scant cup.

Maybe I will do that later. I will put it on the list. But for now, I think I will follow the wisdom of the cats and settle down for a nap.

Remember Me Thursday: Light Up The World For Orphan Pets

Changing just one mind can save a life. Share this to help others #ShineALight about pet adoption on #RememberMeThursday.

On September 26, 2024, let’s get the entire world talking about pet adoption. Tweet, tag, post and share the beauty and life-saving significance of pet adoption on social media. Let’s honor the 1+ million orphan pets who ran out of time and help #ShineALight for the rescues that we can still help.

Let’s take social media by storm for orphan pets!

Unite with pet-lovers around the world on Thursday, September 26, 2024, to shine a light on orphan pets waiting in shelters and rescues for forever homes.

Tyler, Clarence, and Melinko

Tyler: 21, adopted from the Oregon Humane Society in 2017

When I learned OHS had an 18-year-old cat awaiting adoption, I couldn’t leave him there. Once we adopted him and took him to our vet, she estimated his age was closer to 14, but that was still senior, and besides, we loved the big sweet boy already. Now he has surpassed that 18-year mark by 3 years. He still is healthy and active, though he is slowing down. His favorite thing is to sit beside us on the couch.

Clarence: 1 year 4 months, adopted from the Oregon Humane Society in 2023

Clarence started out as a foster from OHS. He’d had his back leg amputated after a terrible accident that had healed badly. At first the kitten was quiet and sedate. Once we adopted him and he began to recover, he turned into a normal, energetic baby cat. He gets around as well as any cat and loves to chase the other cats. His favorite thing is to relax in the catio and watch the wildlife in our backyard.

Melinko: 4, inherited from family 2024

Melinko is the sweetest goofball! When our granddaughter could no longer care for him, we took him gladly. He is the perfect addition to the widespread age gap of the other two cats. His favorite thing, besides eating, is to chase his tail!

View adoptable pets at The Oregon Humane Society

View adoptable cats at the House of Dreams, in Portland

COMING SOON! The 2024 CWA 30th Annual Communications Conference

What the cat is the CWA?

It’s hard to believe a decades-old international organization could remain so unknown, but it has. Whenever I mention the CWA-Cat Writers’ Association-I get blank looks and questions. Over and over I explain patiently that the Cat Writers’ Association is a global cat-centric professional organization dedicated, not just to writing, but to all excellence in cat-themed media.

Here’s a bit of history, taken from the CWA Website:

“On Saturday, November 21, 1992, four “cat journalists” met at the Cat Fanciers Association Invitational Cat Show in Fort Worth, Texas. They included Cat Fancy magazine editor Debbie Phillips-Donaldson and circulations specialist Suzanne Stowe; Cat Fanciers Association public relations expert Michael Brim; and freelance pet writer Amy Shojai. All wanted to help get “good information” about cats out to the general public, and support writers dedicated to that effort. The Cat Writers’ Association, Inc. (CWA) was born that day and while writing remains the cornerstone of our organization, over the years we have evolved to embrace and embody so much more.”

“There’s a Cat Writers’ Association? What do they do?”

Well, they do a lot of things. They post a bi-weekly blog. They support all things cat-positive. They chat on Zoom. They have an interactive book list of all their many cat authors and books. They run an annual communications contest, giving out Certificates of Excellence and special Muse Medallion awards for the best of the best in multiple categories…

…and they present an Annual Communications Conference.

The 2024 CWA 30th Annual Communications Conference

Since 2020, the conference has been virtual, but before that, the conference was an in-person event. Held in such places as Houston, TX, and Myrtle Beach, SC, cat people from around the globe came together to socialize, trade cat stories, learn from experts, and generally have a great time. Though the online conference has a different feel than the in-person one, the speakers are able to give excellent presentations that the attendees can access at a later date if they miss something or wish to refer back to what someone said, which is a great advantage. There are also lots of chances to “chat” and communicate with old friends and new.

This year’s conference on October 18 & 19 is even more special, being the 30th anniversary of the CWA Conference.

Anyone can attend.

For information on the conference, the speakers, the topics, and our generous sponsors, read this week’s CWA Blog post, Celebrating 30 Years of Educating Cat Communicators.

Registration runs through October 7th. Get your ticket today!

Speaker list:

Amy Shojai, Friday Keynote Speaker, “Back to the Future . . . The Next 9 Lives”James Evans, Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE)Beth Adelman, MS, “The Science of Feline Play”Kim Freeman, Lost Cat Finder, “Lost Cats: How Cat Writers Can Help”Kris Bock, author, “Cliffhangers: Keep the Pages Turning!”Pam Walker, animal communicator: “An Overview of How I Communicate With Animals”Teresa Keiger, Cat Fanciers’ Association, “Feline Colors and Patterns: Demystifying the World’s Most Colorful Mammal”“The State of Freelancing and Publishing in Today’s World” Expert Panel: Amy Shojai, author and CWA founder; Jen Reeder, journalist; Mary Tan, Whiskers MediaSarah Fay, Substack columnist & author, “The 3 Things You Need to Succeed on Substack”Vic DiGenti, author, “How to Create a Literary Legacy for You and Your Cat”Alan Breslauer, The Catio Guy, “Everything There is to Know About Catios”Nick Lee, Aime Kitchen, ”What’s Up with My Cat’s Fishy Breath?”Beth Adelman, MS, “The Science of Feline Play”Jay Hartman, CEO/Editor-in-Chief, Misti Media, “What Publishers Want From Writers”

And More!

 

SEPTEMBER is Happy Cat Month

Go the extra mile for cats this September

Last year, my COVID cat memoir, There’s a Cat Hair in My Mask: How Cats Helped Me through Unprecedented Times, won a prestigious award sponsored by the CATalyst Council, so when I learned the Council had declared September “Happy Cat Month,” I was all for it. The CATalyst Council is a non-profit group dedicated to ensuring all companion cats receive lifelong care. Even without the award, I’d be a fan, because of all they do for cats. Look them up on their website. You’ll be impressed.

Now, to Happy Cat Month.

Hmm. The first question I ask myself is, “Are my cats happy?”

“Yes,” I answer.

Okay, good. “But what makes them happy?” That’s the second question.

Through my years as a cat shelter volunteer and general cat person, I’ve taken classes, listened to experts, and read articles on cats— everything from behavior to litter box issues. One thing most agree on is the key to a happy cat is an Environment of Plenty.

It makes sense, after all, isn’t that what we want for ourselves?

But in the case of cats, it isn’t fancy clothes or knickknacks or even that most precious commodity, books. Cats wants are more basic.

Lots of food, water, litter boxes, space,  and things for them to do.

Food, water, and litter boxes are self explanatory. Space and things to do are less well-defined.

When it comes to space, it doesn’t need to be measured in square feet.  It can be a climbing structure where a cat can get up high or a cupboard with a cat bed where they can relax unnoticed if they so desire. Space is a means for cats to get away from each other and sometimes from us. As for things to do, that can mean toys, puzzle treat dispensers, bird TV, a catio or just a window to look out of— anything that ignites their imagination and curiosity.

Cats also want, to varying degrees, our undivided attention. This can translate to interactive play, brushing or grooming, or being quiet so they can lounge on our laps. For a social eater, sitting with them at meal time might be helpful. For a shy cat, it could be talking softly or reading to them without pressure. For the aggressive ones, extra playtime can disperse that energy. We must get to know our cats and learn their needs, wants, and likes.

So it really isn’t that hard to make our cats happy. Though they may sometimes seem to be judging us, they are a forgiving lot who live in the moment. If we try to make those moments special, whether by playing, feeding, or just leaving them alone to nap, they will likely be happy cats.

LAST OF AUGUST SUNFLOWERS

This year, we grew some very tall sunflowers with multiple flowers on their stems. A week ago we had a rain-nado (sort of a tornado of rain) which beat down a few of the stalks despite their trellis supports. Bringing them in, I’ve been able to enjoy them even more than I do the ones outside. A sunny surprise.

One stalk in my grandmother’s green vase.

A tiny blossom poses with the hoyas that never bloom.

Big stalk with multiple blossoms. Dirty Harry (cat) looking askance.