Saturday, February 27, 2021

Saturday Fun: Badass Cats

 Cats are fearless

A friend came to visit with his big bully Rottweiler. He attacked our gentle-natured dog to show her who’s boss when he wasn’t securely tied up on the leash. That day Carl didn’t have time to put the leash on as the dog bolted out of the car knocking him to the ground. I watched in horror as my dog cowered and tried to hide behind my hubby.

Suddenly, we heard a loud meow. I saw my fearless cat, Miau, charging like a bullet toward the approaching Rottweiler. She pounced, let out a furious growl, and sank her needle-sharp claws into the huge dog’s face. The Rottweiler let out a painful cry and tried to shake the cat off his face. Miau wouldn’t let go and kept growling and biting the dog’s nose.

Carl finally caught up with the Rottweiler and clipped the leash on his collar. My hubby tried to peel Miau off the dog’s face, and after a brief struggle, the tiny, growling, and hissing furball pulled her sharp claws out of the dog’s face and let him go.

Hubby put Miau down. The cat puffed her hair, hissed indignantly a few times, and then walked over to our shaking dog and licked her face as if she were saying, “Don’t worry about that thug, buddy. I’ve got your back.”


Posted by Erika M Szabo


Thursday, February 25, 2021

All I can Make is Fudge Soup

 I want to make delicious fudge


But all I can make is fudge soup

I love fudge! 
Creamy chocolate peanut butter is my absolute favorite!  I have a recipe that makes it perfect. Not too sweet, not too chocolatey, just the ideal blending of flavors, and so smooth. Maybe you have the same one as I do, it is the recipe from the Hershey's cocoa can, then you add peanut butter with the regular butter.

I am almost 64 years old, so you know I have had this recipe for a very long time. Unfortunately, my success with it is not impressive.  I swear the recipe was created by the devil himself.  It is more touchy than a porcupine in a minefield.  If not for the few times I have created this masterpiece, I would have chucked it and gone on with life.  But, the victories are so delicious!  

Usually, I end up with chocolate peanut butter soup


It tastes ok but somehow a spoon of fudge just doesn't fulfill my cravings.  The cost of ingredients makes tossing it impossible so I have found ways to use this fail besides eating it by the spoonful. As an ice cream topping it is not bad and, if it's really soupy, adding oatmeal turns it into no-bake cookies.  Tasty but not what my tastebuds want.  

Chocolate peanut butter soup is not the only way this fudge defeats me.  I have over-cooked or over-stirred it and created something that resembles freshly turned dirt.


It is flaky and does not taste good, in my opinion.  I usually end up with soup, but when I create this mess, it does go to the trash.

In all my years of making fudge, my record stands at 4 successes and 100+ failures.  The jealousy in my eyes is evident when a friend boasts about how perfect theirs has turned out.

Do you have a favorite flavor of fudge?  
Can you share your recipe? 
If so, please know my green eyes are looking at you!

Written by Cindy J. Smith
Author of poetry and children's books

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Why Does Your Cat Smell Your Face?

Interesting facts about cats

Although a cat's sense of smell is not as good as a dogs' but it's far better than a human's. Like dogs, cats use their sense of smell to gather information, including information about us.

When your cat sniffs your face and breath, they're simply memorizing your scent. They recognize your scent and find it comforting. 

But why are they doing it every day or even a few times a day?

Cats rely heavily on their strong sense of smell to give them information about food, prey, and their general surroundings. Sniffing you often tells them a lot about your diet, the cosmetic and personal care products you're using, and your unique skin chemistry. Memorizing your scent also helps them to build trust and familiarity, so let your cat sniff away!

Cats have an organ at the roof of their mouths behind their front teeth called the vomeronasal organ, or Jacobson's organ. When your cat takes a sniff and leaves its mouth open for a few seconds, it's actually drawing air into the mouth and up into the Jacobson's organ.

Also, when your cat makes a strange face when smelling your face, hand or feet, it is because it smelled something interesting and is drawing the scent into the Jacobson's organ to get a better smell.


Posted by Erika M Szabo


Monday, February 15, 2021

Stay True to Yourself

You're unique.

There is nobody else like you!



Bad experiences cannot define who you are

A standalone sweet romance novelette, and also part of the Bedtime stories for Grownups bundle: EBOOK AND PRINT

Elana was born to a homeless, drug addict mother and left on the steps of St. Patrick Cathedral. Moving from one foster home to another, her life was a revolving door of shattered hopes and disappointments.

As soon as she felt an emotional connection to anyone, the foster kid in her quickly pushed the feeling away. The last thing Elana wanted to do was to get close to someone she would probably never see again. The necessary emotional defense served her well throughout her unpredictable life.

Until she met Luca.

Allowing them only a short time of happiness, cruel fate tore them apart. All she had was hope and half of the rosewood heart pendant he carved to hold onto. Will they meet again?

 

Tuesday, February 9, 2021

Imagination is My Superpower

 Reviews like this make me keep writing!


https://www.audible.com/pd/Bittersweet-Memories-Audiobook/B08KRVKTN1

Reviews like this make me keep writing!

"Think Those Memorable Old-Time Bedtime Stories

We all remember cozying up in our warm comfortable beds and settling while a bedtime story was read to us. The fun of the stories centered on the variety - not just a single book was the same but they all represented a vivid imagination and a memorable tale. Erika M Szabo refers to her imagination as her 'superpower' - I can't think of a better description of her creation of stories that span many different genres yet they all have that touch of magic that resonates with us from those old-time fairy tales. These however are adult tales with adult themes such as rising to find your dreams following loss and suffering and rising up despite hardship and fear. Tim Shafer's narration of this story helped create that comfy bedtime story mood. I will be seeking more opportunities to listen to books by this author." ~Sandy C.


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