Monday, November 5, 2018

Fun book, unlikely friends and Heated Cat House

This is the story of Arthur, Mandy and Lucille, as they form a friendship which is surprising to all of them. Mandy is a hurting teen, Arthur is widowed from Nola, the love of his life, and Lucille is his lonely next door neighbor. Arthur, age 85, encounters Mandy in the cemetery where he visits his wife every day and where Mandy goes when she skips school. Arthur looks at cemetery grave stones and thinks he hears clearly glimpses of the buried people’s lives. Mandy playfully changes Arthur’s last name to Truluv, isn’t that charming? Together the three of them find their way forward in life. I am avoiding giving away plot details, but let me tell you, now I know why Berg is read by so many people. There is another book by her, "Night of Miracles" that has some of the same characters in it, and is a sequel, which I want to read.
You won't believe what I just did. I ordered a cat house with a heated floor for my cat who sleeps on my patio. The photo above is what the house looks like. I live in California so it is not all that cold but she is aging, like me, and the heated pad will be comfy for her, I hope. My sons and I think that my dog will take naps in it during the day. The pad only heats when a cat or dog sits on it, a clever feature. An important feature that I learned about when researching before buying is that a cat house needs front and back doors so your cat can not be trapped in it. Both doors are clear plastic and the back door only opens outwards.
I will post photos of my kitty in her new house in future, when she gets in. So far she is not interested or definitely cautious.
What's new at your house, in your life?
P.S. Added Nove. 24. My cat Fluffy discovered her heated cat house on Thanksgiving and slept in it that night and she finds it warm and cozy.

20 comments:

Lin said...

How nice of you to order that house for the kitty! I'm sure just being out of the elements will keep him more comfortable. Here in Chicago, people make insulated houses, but they only use one door because the cold and snow would just blow right through. I'm sure you don't have that in CA!

Sounds like a good book!

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I have this book checked out of the library right now but I'm trying to finish another book first! I love E. Berg and read all of her older books. It's been a quite day here today. I've been reading and drinking a cup of tea! Hugs!

Betsy said...

I’m looking forward to seeing the house that you bought for your kitty. Our two elderly cats don’t seem to care whether it’s warmer or not. I tried to get them to lay on soft blankets but no, the would rather lay on the hardwood floor to look out the patio door!
Blessings,
Betsy

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Sounds like a cute book.... Neat that you got a heated cat house for your babies.... Wonder if they will 'fight' over it????? ha ha

Have a good week.
Hugs,
Betsy

Linda said...

Your heated cat floor thing is a genius idea! It’s clever what people think of that really do help situations!

Arkansas Patti said...

That book sounds like one I would like. I'll see if my library has it.
I like the idea that the cat pad only heats when a body is on it. Very clever.

Pamela M. Steiner said...

That book sounds interesting. I may have to see if it is in our library. And that cat house is interesting. I never would have known they existed like that! I don't have a cat or a dog, so this is new to me. Great idea. Is it electric or battery operated? I'm wondering how it works if it only heats when they are in there. If it works well, let me know. My sister has cats on her screen porch. Although we are in Florida, we do get some pretty cold nights. Her kitties were feral, so won't come in the house, but they live on the porch and are quite content there now. Still won't let anyone touch them, however.

Have a blessed week. Always interesting to see what you are reading, etc. Nothing much new here. STill waiting for someone to look at our house and want it so bad that they will just have to buy it so we can move on. So far no lookers or takers. So this may take a while. In God's timing it will happen, and all will be perfect. I just have to be patient. Not my best trait.

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

I am almost embarrassed to say this but we have four of those houses with the heating pad for our outdoor semi-feral cats. It is cold and snowy in the east and we worry about them surviving the elements out there. We keep the houses under the deck so they aren’t encased in snow. However, there are times when they would rather all huddle together in a den made up of fallen branches in the woods. They have survived for five years with some pretty bad storms and will probably outlive me.

Mari said...

The book sounds really good! I think the cat house is great. Our cat would have loved it!

Jennifer said...

Oh, I love the heated pad that only activates when the cat sits on it! That's so clever!

Jeanie said...

I like Elizabeth Berg too.

Bravo getting the cat house. The cat will appreciate it. I used to have one a friend built for me and that's how the marmelade Gypsy came into my life -- first in residence in the house and then when a possum moved into it, Gypsy moved inside! I always worry about the outdoor ones and this is great.

Pom Pom said...

I love the cat house! I think my Timothy needs one but not for outside (it's too dangerous out there with hawks, coyotes, raccoons and porcupines). I also enjoy Elizabeth Berg. I'll read that!

Blondie's Journal said...

I can see where this book is a page turner. I love Berg and a book where opposites find common ground, even love!!!

That is one cool cat house (no tin roof I suppose!!). How awesome that it heats up only when the pet sits on the pad!

I'll look up the book! Happy weekend, Terra!

Jane

Toni said...

What a wonderful home for your pets. I love the idea of a back door for the cat. Thank you for visiting my blog. It's always nice to meet new friends.

Debbie said...

sounds like a great book!!!

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

I want to read both of those Eliz Berg books.

The heated cat house is so cute. We had indoor/outdoor cats from 1999-2008, but most of their lives were short lived so, when we moved the rest became indoor only.

Granny Marigold said...

Hello Terra, Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving a comment.
I enjoy reading Eliz. Berg's books and The Story of Arthur Truluv was no exception. I have requested The Night of Miracles ( can't remember now if that's the exact title) but the local library doesn't even have it available yet. Take care, Granny Marigold

Buttercup said...

I look forward to seeing the cat's new house. I know I appreciate a warm floor and make do with my fuzzy slippers.

I'm going to add the book to my endless to-read list. It sounds good!

Dee said...

I'm sure kitty (and pup) will enjoy the warm place to lay down.

Literary Feline said...

I haven't read anything by Berg, but she does come highly recommended. What a neat little cat house! I love the heating pad idea and that it is triggered when a cat or dog is lying on it.