Celebrating Black Cat Day

Here's some fun projects featuring black 🐈‍⬛ cats

Tarot card 

Some cute Halloween cards with black cat paper packs

ATC cards 

Black cat and pumpkin

My primitive cat and pumpkin cardboard design. With fabric ribbon. 

The pumpkin was made by pulling the top of cardboard off the pumpkin to leave the ridges. 

At Home with Dot

It's an Early edition,,

So I thought what do you know about black cat 

It's National Black Cat Day 

Please support black cat in shelters...

• Black cats aren’t rare—just overlooked.
  One reason black cats are common in shelters is that there are simply more of them. The gene for black fur is dominant in cats, and it's represented in over 20 recognized breeds.
  
  
• Some black cats change color.
  Under bright sunlight, black cats may reveal hidden reddish or copper highlights, thanks to the underlying tabby gene. This makes every black cat visually unique.
  
  
• Their eyes are especially striking.
  The same high melanin content that gives black cats their deep, glossy coats often results in bright orange or amber eyes, creating a dramatic contrast.
  
  
• They might be more resilient.
  Researchers at the National Institutes of Health have found that black cats may have a genetic resistance to certain illnesses, including FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus). Their dark fur might be more than beautiful—it could be protective.

How to help : 

• Adopt: Consider welcoming a black cat into your home. You'll be gaining a loyal companion with personality and resilience. Check your local shelter for black 🐈‍⬛ promotions.
• Donate: Your contributions support shelter pets by funding food, medical care, and lifesaving transports.
• Volunteer: Help your local shelter photograph, socialize, or foster black cats to increase their adoption chances.
• Share: The more we challenge outdated myths, the more black cats find loving homes. Use your voice to advocate for these beautiful animals.

National Black Cat Day

Silver Creek Cat Rescue mystery...

A cantankerous former mayor.
A dead man with a secret.
A magic gift in the middle of it all.

When forty-nine-year-old Eleanor Rockwell got laid off from her soul-crushing corporate job, she headed north of Austin with her daughter, Evie, and opened Silver Circle Cat Rescue in the small town of Tablerock, Texas.

Five years later, Silver Circle is Wildebridge County's largest shelter for rescue cats, so it's no surprise when Deputy Markham brings Belladonna — former mayor Fiona Blackwell's cat — to the shelter after she's arrested for murdering her husband, Beau. But why, Eleanor wonders, did the Deputy bring a silver drink tray with the sullen cat — and why is Belladonna talking when she walks on it?

Something strange is going on in Tablerock, and Eleanor is determined to get to the bottom of it. Can she figure out who's really running this town before Belladonna's ninth life — and her own — runs out?

Crystals, Belladonna, and Murder is the first book in the Silver Circle Cat Rescue Mysteries — a purr-fectly cozy cat midlife series set in the small town of Tablerock, Texas with just a touch of magic.

Book Review : 

When the Silver Circle is asked to take a cat whose owner is being held for murder by the police things get complicated. The murder suspect sent over a crystal tray with the cat. They discover a hidden compartment containing articles stating that the tray enables cats to talk. Trying to figure out what is going on involves them in the murder investigation. Fun, easy read.

Pumpkin Pecan Bars

 

For the crust:

• 14 full-size sheets

  graham crackers

• 1 1/4 cups

  coarsely chopped pecans

• 1 tablespoon

  packed dark or light brown sugar

• 3/4 teaspoon

  ground cinnamon

• 1/4 teaspoon

  kosher salt

• 8 tablespoons (1 stick)

  unsalted butter

• Cooking spray

For the filling:

• 24 ounces

  cream cheese, at room temperature and very soft

• 2 cups

  cold heavy cream

• 3 tablespoons

  maple syrup

• 1 teaspoon

  vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste

• 1 (15-ounce) can

  pumpkin purée (not pumpkin pie mix)

• 2 cups

  powdered sugar

• 1 teaspoon

  ground cinnamon

• 1/2 teaspoon

  ground ginger

• 1/2 teaspoon

  ground nutmeg

For the maple whipped cream and serving:

• 1 1/2 cups

  cold heavy cream

• 3 tablespoons

  maple syrup

• 1/2 teaspoon

  vanilla extract

• Chopped toasted pecans, for garnish (optional)

• Ground cinnamon, for dusting (optional)

• Make the crust:

  1. Break up 14 full-size graham cracker sheets into large pieces and place in a food processor. Add 1 1/4 cups coarsely chopped pecans, 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar, 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt. Pulse until the mixture resembles coarse sand and some pecan pieces are still visible, 18 to 20 (1-second) pulses.

  2. Melt 1 stick unsalted butter in a large skillet over low heat. Add the graham cracker mixture and cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture is toasted and fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat.

  3. Coat a 9x13-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Line the bottom and two long sides of the pan with a sheet of parchment paper long enough to extend over the edges by at least 2 inches to form a sling.

  4. Transfer the graham cracker mixture into the baking pan and press evenly into the bottom of the pan with the bottom of a flat measuring cup. Refrigerate while you prepare the filling.

  Make the filling:

  1. Beat 2 cups cold heavy cream, 3 tablespoons maple syrup, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract together in a stand mixer with the whisk attachment on medium speed until soft peaks form, about 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to another bowl.

  2. Beat 24 ounces very soft cream cheese (microwave for 10 seconds if needed so that it is spreadable), 1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin purée, 2 cups powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger, and 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg together in the stand mixer (no need to clean) with the whisk attachment on medium speed until well-combined and only very small lumps are visible, about 30 to 45 seconds.

  3. Add the whipped cream and gently fold together by hand with a flexible spatula until fully incorporated and no streaks of whipped cream remain.

  4. Transfer onto the crust and spread into an even layer. Refrigerate until set, at least 4 hours or up to overnight.

  Make the maple whipped cream:

  1. Beat 1 1/2 cups cold heavy cream, 3 tablespoons maple syrup, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract together in a stand mixer with the whisk attachment on medium speed until medium peaks form, about 2 minutes.

  2. Grasping the excess parchment, lift the slab out of the baking pan and place on a cutting board. Cut into 16 pieces, wiping your knife clean between each cut or as needed. Serve topped with the maple whipped cream, garnished with chopped toasted pecans and dusted with ground cinnamon if desired.

StarHOMEfeature 10/26/26

 

 

WELCOME to Week#4 of the October 2026 "You're the Star" Blog Hop!
Before we continue onto the Linky party I wanted to share from my blog:

https://athomewithlisajung.blogspot.com/2026/10/pumpkin-pecan-bars.html

___________________________

WELCOME to HOME feature week of the October 2026 "You're the STAR" blog hop!

Meet your hosts

 
This week is HOME feature week
Swing by the hosts' Blogs:

Lisa @ At Home With Lisa

Kris @ Kris and Larry . com

Angie @ God's Growing Garden

Colleen @ Butterfly in the Attic

Michelle @ Moms Are Frugal

This is a month long Linky party featuring YOU!

There will be 4 different features each week and 4 different feature categories.  Just to be clear - this is NOT a themed party - you may link up ANY family-friendly blog posts any day of each month. 
The "theme" occurs in our weekly features:
WEEK#4 HOME - recipes, home décor, antique/DIY &/or travel (this can include anything about your home - even history posts - all while remaining family friendly)

(All features were chosen from the September 2026 "You're the Star" blog hop)

Simply Grand Recipes - Apples, Apples, Apples! by Our Grand Lives

Autumn Elegance Living Room Hutch by Debbie-Dabble Blog

Saffron Seafood Paella with Chorizo by Esme Salon

Honey Apple Roasted Mini Pumpkins by Cindy's On-Line Recipe Box

If you've been featured then please grab a STAR button below:

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All Hosts/CoHosts will post this blog hop on every Monday of each week.

Please link up your family friendly blog posts below!

It wouldn't be a linky party with YOU!

(IMPORTANT NOTE: by linking up you understand that you might be featured next month and if so, we will use some of your photos from your post - rest assured - we will always link back to your lovely blog.  We might also share your fantastic posts on social media.  Also, you may link up as many family-friendly posts as you like & YES - other blog hops &/or giveaways are welcome {giveaways and blog hops will NOT be featured though}  Thank You & ENJOY! )

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Louisiana Pastalaya

 It's like jambalaya, but with pasta!! Perfect for family get togethers or tailgating for an LSU football game.

Ingredients

• 1 pound smoked sausage sliced into ½ inch rounds
• 1 pound pork shoulder cubed
• 1 ½ pound chicken thighs seasoned with 1 teaspoon Tony’s
• 1 yellow onion
• 1 green bell pepper
• 2 stalks celery
• 3 beef bouillon cubes
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ tablespoon Tony Chachere’s seasoning + more for serving
• 1 tablespoon Louisiana Hot Sauce
• 1 tablespoon Kitchen Bouquet
• 1 can cream of chicken soup 10 oz
• 3 ½ cups + ¼ cup water
• 1 pound bow tie pasta

Instructions

• Season chicken with Tony's and cook in a dutch oven or cast irons skillet for 8 minutes on medium-high, then flip and cook for another 8 on medium. Remove from pan, let cool, and then cut into small pieces.
• Add sausage to the Dutch oven and brown for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from pan and blot grease from the sausage.
• Add cubed pork to the hot Dutch oven and let brown for 10 minutes on medium high heat, stirring every 3 minutes. Remove from Dutch oven.
• Dice the onion, bell pepper, and celery and add to the Dutch oven with ¼ cup of water. Cook on medium-low for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add beef bouillon cubes, garlic powder, Tony's, hot sauce, and Kitchen Bouquet and cook down for 5 minutes. (Crumbling bouillons before adding to the pot helps to cook down)
• Add in cream of chicken and meats and stir to combine
• Add in water and stir to combine, bring to boil.
• Add in pasta and stir to make sure all noodles are touching the liquid
• Lower the fire to medium-high and cover the Dutch oven completely.
• Let the pastalaya boil for 3 minutes, stir gently, and then cover and let boil for another 3 minutes. Continue this until pasta is al dente (about 10-12 minutes total).
• Turn off fire, cover completely and let sit for 10 minutes.
• Dig in!!!

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Sunday fellowship time

Welcome to my Sunday fellowship After early church we gather in the back hall and enjoy fellowship with each other. 

I am the true vine....John 15 1-2. 

fellowship recipe 

Kids crafts