Happy Birthday Noelle and Periwinkle

Chat GPT spelled Periwinkle wrong, but we still thought this was cute.

Can you believe our sweet little Noelle and Periwinkle are eight years old? It seems like just yesterday Noelle came to live with us. We don't know the actual date of Noelle/Periwinkle's birthday, but we picked September 1. 

Noelle says, "Mom tries to get me to wear this STUPID adorable birthday hat every year, but, unlike Super Mowdel Kizmet, I am not into modeling!"

Periwinkle had no problems wearing a birthday hat!  She even looks happy wearing it!!

We hope you will join us in celebrating these two wonderful girls.  Please have a niptini, (with or without nip)

Bacon wrapped shrimp....

Shrimp cocktail...

Ham...

Assorted sushi...

Save room for the cake.  We had Cooper Murphy make a special one for the party!

Enjoy the music...

Please sing along...

Happy Birthday, Noelle and Periwinkle.  We love you so much!

Labor Day Sparks and a Gotcha Day

We want to wish our sweet Reesie a Happy Gotcha Day!  We can't believe it's been a year since she came to live with us.  

Our Labor Day Spark...

Welcome to Sparks. Many years ago, it was my intent to post an inspirational thought each Monday. It would be my weekly meditation, and perhaps feed other people's spirit as well. Life got busy, and this fell by the wayside. Now, I feel a strong need to bring this feature back. 
The negative energy in the world has become thick and oppressive. Social media has become a part of this dark, negative storm. There is an obvious universal need for more positive energy and peace. And, we can all be part of this affirmative change. 
I believe we are meant to be lights in this world. If we allow our light to shine, we can see where we are going. It is then that we can begin to truly see each other clearly. Together, we can light up the entire world!
I hope you will join us. Please link up a positive quote, thought, poem, or verse. The badge and code can be found in my sidebar. Add the badge to your post to invite others. The more, the merrier. I welcome your thoughts. Peace.

Monday Sparks - Labor Day

Even though McGuffy's reader is taking a break, we are continuing our Monday Sparks posts!  From the original Sparks posts:

Welcome to Sparks. Many years ago, it was my intent to post an inspirational thought each Monday. It would be my weekly meditation, and perhaps feed other people's spirit as well. Life got busy, and this fell by the wayside. Now, I feel a strong need to bring this feature back. 
The negative energy in the world has become thick and oppressive. Social media has become a part of this dark, negative storm. There is an obvious universal need for more positive energy and peace. And, we can all be part of this affirmative change. 
I believe we are meant to be lights in this world. If we allow our light to shine, we can see where we are going. It is then that we can begin to truly see each other clearly. Together, we can light up the entire world!
I hope you will join us. Please link up a positive quote, thought, poem, or verse. The badge and code can be found in my sidebar. Add the badge to your post to invite others. The more, the merrier. I welcome your thoughts. Peace.

Here is our Sparks post for today

Happy Labor Day to all of our friends!!

ManCat Monday - Labor Day

Some facts about Labor Day:

Labor Day is always celebrated on the first Monday in September. This special time denotes a restful and fun time for each and every hardworking American.Canadians celebrate this holiday on the same day as well.

Other countries, Australia, Jamaica, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago also celebrate Labor Day, but they do so on different months and days. In Australia depending on where you live, Labor Day may be celebrated on the first Monday in October, the first or second Monday in March or the first Monday in May.

A Nation's Strength

Not gold, but only man can make

A people great and strong;

Men who, for truth and honor's sake,

Stand fast and suffer long.

Brave men who work while others sleep,

Who dare while others fly--

Thy build a nation's pillars deep

And lift them to the sky.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

How do you like our Patriotic header?  Ann from Zoolatry designed it for us and, with everything going on with Dad's heart procedure, we FORGOT to change it for 4th of July.  At least we remembered now!!

Happy Labor Day

Today is Labor Day.  It's a 3 day holiday for lots of folks and the "traditional" end of Summer day.  Mom remembers how the beaches and pools would all close in NJ.  Here in Florida, it's almost always Summer!!  

Here's some Labor Day Trivia:

Modern American labor Day Trivia & History:

• The average time it takes to commute to work. 24.3 minutes
• Of the 233 counties with populations of 250,000 or more, Queens (41.7 minutes), Richmond (41.3 minutes), Bronx (40.8 minutes) and Kings (39.7 minutes) -– four of the five counties that comprise New York City – experienced the longest average commute-to-work times.
• The amount of time the average American spends commuting to work each year ismore than 100 hours. (This exceeds the typical two weeks of vacation time taken by many U.S. workers over the course of a year.)
• 7.3 million workers who hold down more than one job. “Moonlighters” comprise 5 percent of the working population. Of these, 3.8 million work full time at their primary job and part time at their other job, and about 293,000 work full time at both jobs.
• 10.3 million workers are self-employed.
• 4.5 million people work at home.
• 20.3 million females work in educational, health and social services industries. More women work in this industry group than in any other. Manufacturing was the most popular
• industry among men, with 11.3 million workers.
• There are an estimated 15.8 million labor union members nationwide. About 13 percent of wage and salary workers belong to unions, with New York having among the highest rates of any state – 25 percent. North Carolina has one of the lowest rates, 3 percent.

As you celebrate the labor day holiday party, remember to give a nod to all the hardworking men and women who marched in solidarity in the days where industrial labor ruled America. Union leaders worked to create the benefits of overtime and sick pay that we enjoy today. So enjoy your 3 day weekend and thanks for all your hard work!

Happy Labor Day from the Florida Furkids, Cousin Trooper and Mom Sharon