What You’ll Find Here

Hi friend,

Welcome to my archived blog—formerly RowdyKittens.com!

I blogged regularly on this website from 2007 to 2021. In 2021, I archived 99% of my blog posts because it was time for a fresh start.

You’ll find a small selection of my favorite essays and photos below. Have fun browsing my old blog!

Currently, I’m sharing my creative work via my weekly newsletter. Join us!

With gratitude,

Tammy

A Beautiful Goodbye: 17.5 Years with Christie the Cat

Today, I have sad news to share. Earlier this week, Logan and I said goodbye to our furry family member Christie the Cat.

During the last month, Christie's health started to decline at a steady rate. She stopped grooming, lost interest in the things she loved doing, and rarely cuddled us. Last week, we became very concerned. She didn't eat or drink for 24-hours, so Logan and I took her to our veterinarian on Friday, February 26, 2021.

The news wasn't good. Dr. Moore, our veterinarian, said that Christie's weight had declined another ten percent. For a tiny cat, the news of more weight loss took my breath away. Then Dr. Moore told us that Christie developed abdominal tumors. I started crying. This was very bad news.

After talking with Dr. Moore, we decided to take Christie home for the weekend. Christie was given medication and fluids to keep her comfortable. That gave us a few more days to say goodbye.

Thankfully, Christie's last weekend was good. She ate tuna, slept on her heating pad, and wandered around with me in the early morning hours. I spent most of the weekend by her side. When Christie wasn't sleeping, she looked at us with so much love.

By Monday morning, Logan and I agreed it was time to let Christie go. Christie would have faced further weight loss, fast growing abdominal tumors, and pain. Euthanasia was the best option for Christie. It wasn't a decision we made lightly. And we couldn't have made the choice without Dr. Moore's wisdom, kindness, and compassion. We are grateful for Dr. Moore, Dr. Klein, and the whole team at Forest Animal Hospital. They are amazing humans.

Letting go of Christie was difficult and painful. And I’m grateful; grateful that she died peacefully. Dr. Moore and Jennifer—a kind vet technician—were with Christie as she died. Jennifer said Christie was ready to go and that she did not suffer. Goodbyes are hard and beautiful.

I keep expecting to hear Christie meow, saunter by slowly, or greet us at the door. Yesterday, I woke up from a nap panicked because we didn't have tuna for Christie's daily dose of medication. When I realized she was gone, I cried. It's going to take time to adjust.

In The Inner Life of Cats, author Thomas McNamee, wrote:

“ ... We love our cats with a purity and grace not possible in our love of our spouses, our parents, or even our children. People are too complicated for love as simple as what we bear to our cats. It is not agape, phileo, caritas, amor, or eros (roughly: selfless love, brotherly love, love of humankind, romantic love, and erotic love, respectively). I believe it has never been named. The kinship between our cats and ourselves reaches deep beneath consciousness, to a place before history, perhaps even before the development of self-expressible human intellect ... It is devotional, like prayer, and like prayer it is met with silence. Our devotion is what gives cats their power.”

And indeed, Christie was worth all the things – love, time, money, attention, and more.

I could write a book of stories featuring Christie. For example, Christie loved living in Siskiyou County. She was especially fond of our morning photos walks. Christie would follow me around with her tail straight up in the air. She looked like a little lion, and was so strong and fast! Christie even followed me into a wind storm; her tiny 8-pound body was at risk of being blown away. We ran back to the house together and snuggled.

I'm sad that Christie is gone. And, I keep coming back to gratitude. I’m grateful that she was part of our lives for 17.5 years. Christie had a long and adventurous life, and was a sweet and loving companion. She lived out her senior years in style and she will be in our memories forever.

***

Now onto this week's links …

1. When Your Marriage (and Cat) Turn 17-Years-Old is a letter I wrote in July 2020 about how Christie came into our lives.

2. The Inner Life of Cats by Thomas McNamee is a beautiful, honest, and informative book. Before Elaina's cancer diagnosis in 2018, I discovered McNamee's book. It’s one of the few books that I’ve keep on my tiny bookshelf because it’s so good. Over the last month, I re-read sections of the book. McNamee’s chapter on illness, aging, and death was particularly helpful. Christie, like many cats, was good at hiding her suffering. As a cat parent, it's so important to pay attention.

3. An Intermission from Instagram by Rebecca Green is a helpful essay about the benefits and downsides of Instagram. I hope you read the essay and explore Rebecca's website. I adore her art! In 2014, Rebecca illustrated our tiny house for Flow Magazine. Long story short: Rebecca sent me the illustrations for free! She didn't want the illustrations to sit in a drawer, and she requested that we frame the pieces. We framed the art and I love looking at it daily. I adore the portrait she drew of Christie and Elaina.

R. Green.png

The Girls

Art by Rebecca Green

4. I'll leave you with The Rainbow Bridge, a beautiful poem, that our vet gave us:

The Rainbow Bridge

By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill,
Is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.

Where the friends of a man and woman do run,
When their time on earth is over and done.

For here, between this world and the next,
Is a place where each beloved creature finds rest.

On this golden land, they wait and they play,
Till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.

No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness,
For here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.

Their limbs are restored, their health renewed,
Their bodies have healed, with strength imbued.

They romp through the grass, without even a care,
Until one day they start, and sniff at the air.

All ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back,
Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.

For just at that instant, their eyes have met;
Together again, both person and pet.

So they run to each other, these friends from long past,
The time of their parting is over at last.

The sadness they felt while they were apart,
Has turned into joy once more in each heart.

They embrace with a love that will last forever,
And then, side-by-side, they cross over... together.

—Author unknown

***

Thank you for reading! If you find joy or inspiration from my work, please share it with a friend—or say thanks with a coffee.

With gratitude,
Tammy Strobel

How I’m Journaling in 2021

Last week, I read and listened to a lot of reporting about the siege at the Capitol, the Presidential transition, and updates on COVID-19. I went way too deep into the news. I also received sad news on Monday. My mom's dog, Henry, died.

Henry was a crazy dog, and I loved him. I took hundreds of My Morning View photos with Henry in the frame. Henry was easy to photograph because he was very food motivated. He’d do almost anything for a treat. Currently, I’m gathering my photos of Henry for my mom. Henry was a beautiful dog, and he will be missed deeply.

Amid all this, I’ve been journaling. I’ve been an avid journaler for a few decades because the practice helps me process my feelings, synthesize ideas, and keep track of my life. I can’t imagine my day-to-day routine without a plethora of pens and notebooks.

Since readers have inquired about my journaling process, I thought it would be fun to share a round-up of my 2021 journal collection. I hope the round-up below inspires you to keep writing!

Logbook of Delights 

Last year, I read The Book of Delights by Ross Gay and his essays delighted me. Gay's book is on my "read it again list" because it's so inspiring. It's no secret that 2020 was a rough year, and based on last week's political violence, it looks like 2021 is going to be challenging. No matter what happens, I'll be cultivating delight in my daily life.

This year, I'm keeping a small logbook where I record daily delights that I experience. We're only a few weeks into 2021, and I could list dozens of delights that I've enjoyed. Here are a few favorites: eating doughnuts with blue and white sprinkles on top, taking photos of said doughnuts, going on long walks with Logan, snuggling with Christie the cat, going to bed at 8 p.m., and more.

Taking note of delight doesn't mean that I'm blind to the horrors of the pandemic, political violence, and more. Instead, noticing and recording daily delights has given me optimism, joy, and faith that things will get better.

Commonplace Book

This year, I decided to create and maintain a commonplace book. I needed a system to keep track of quotes, along with the books, articles, and podcasts that inspire me.

In A Brief Guide to Keeping a Commonplace Book Ash said, “The commonplace books differs from bullet journals in that it is devoted to knowledge-making, and not necessarily planning out one’s life ... It's an excellent tool for readers, helping memorialize words, phrases, quotes, passages, and images.”

I also liked Mary Karr’s description of commonplace notebooks. Recently, Karr was on Tim Ferriss' podcast and she said, “... mostly what I write down are pieces of language or things, poems that I read, paragraphs, anything, so that you’re just constantly copying in longhand. You can’t type it. You’re constantly copying things that are beautiful. You’re constantly guzzling beauty, you’re guzzling the beautiful language. So that you’re kind of steeped in it like a fruitcake in good brandy.”

Writing down quotes, facts, and more in my commonplace notebook has boosted my reading retention. Plus, “guzzling beauty” is something delightful to do.

The Planner/Dairy

Last year, I ordered a large 18-month daily planner from Moleskine by mistake. I'm actually glad I made the mistake because the large planner is a great tool to organize my days, track tasks, and process my feelings.

Feel free to steal the ideas I mentioned above for your journaling practice. If you're new to journaling or need a refresher, check out my e-booksWrite to Flourish: A Beginner’s Guide to Journaling or Everyday Adventures: Tiny Quests to Spark Your Creative Life.

With gratitude,

Tammy

My Favorite Books of 2020: Keep Turning the Page

Today, I was going to share a list of the ten best books I read in 2020. When I reviewed my reading list, I knew that was an impossible task. Last year, I read over 80 books, and it was too challenging to narrow the list down to only ten good reads. Below you'll find a list of about 30 books that made me laugh, cry, and rethink my opinions in 2020.

You can find links to the books below on my Bookshop page. Enjoy!

NON-FICTION

1. Delights

The Book of Delights by Ross Gay takes a deep dive into delight, and it's brilliant. It's about our connection to one another, the world, and the magic that happens when we pay attention to our surroundings. Gay inspired a project that I'll be working on in 2021 (more on that next week). Also, The Show of Delights is delightful.

2.  Mary Oliver's Poetry & Prose

Ross Gay's work led me to Mary Oliver's poetry and prose. They are perfect pairings! Oliver's words grounded me in 2020; especially when it was raining ash. Upstream, a book of selected essays, was the perfect place to dive into Oliver's body of work. Then I devoured all of Oliver’s poetry books.

3. Rest & Retreat

Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine May is inspiring, and it's the perfect read for COVID times.

4. Friendship

Last year, I wrote an article for Flow Magazine about friendship in the digital age. Part of my research for the article included reading Lydia Denworth's book — Friendship: The Evolution, Biology, and Extraordinary Power of Life’s Fundamental Bond. It's excellent! I also got to interview Denworth for my piece on friendship. She is amazing, and her book reaffirmed why cultivating strong relationships is one of my core values.

Pair Friendship with Mary Pipher's beautiful book – Women Rowing North: Navigating Life’s Currents and Flourishing As We Age. The importance of friendship comes up frequently in Pipher's book.

5. Movement

The Joy of Movement: How Exercise Helps Us Find Happiness, Hope, Connection, and Courage by Kelly McGonigal is so joyful! I love to move my body, and this book is life affirming.

6. Addiction

If you've been impacted by addiction, I recommend reading We Are the Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life by Laura McKowen and Dopesick (Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company That Addicted America) by Beth Macy. Both books illustrate that history, public policy, corporations, and cultural norms shape how we treat and think about addiction.

7. Adventures in Opting Out

Adventures in Opting Out: A Field Guide to Leading an Intentional Life by Cait Flanders is a timely read. I opted out of "normal" life in 2020, and that will continue until I get the COVID-19 vaccine. I loved Cait's book, and I will read it again in 2021.

8. Anti-racist Reads

How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi is a courageous, compassionate, and compelling book. Kendi's personal narrative, analysis of public policies, and in-depth historical knowledge shifted my perspective. If you want to learn about anti-racism, Kendi’s book is a good starting point.

I also recommend The Undocumented Americans by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio, What the Eyes Don’t See by Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, and Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi.

9.  Strangers in Their Own Land

Thanks to OnBeing, I read Strangers in Their Own Land by Arlie Russell Hochschild. The book explains the origin of the Tea Party Movement in Louisiana. Hochschild’s research, insights, and observations are fascinating. Her words and research reminded me that deep listening and empathy are needed more than ever.

10. The Future We Choose

The Future We Choose: Surviving the Climate Crisis by Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac is full of research, inspiration, and practical action steps. The authors inspired me to get involved with an organization that's planting trees in my community.

11. Paul Theroux's Travel Books

Deep South and On the Plane of Snakes by Paul Theroux were excellent reads. Theroux's words made me want to forgo air travel in the future and take long road trips instead. Theroux’s blend of personal story-telling, journalism, history, and current events made his books compelling.

12. Pico Iyer's Insights

Pico Iyer is an incredible writer, and I loved The Open Road, A Beginner's Guide to Japan, and Autumn Light. Iyer’s books were filled with gorgeous prose and insights to live a better life.

FICTION

Here's a list of the most compelling fiction I read in 2020:

1. The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd is a fictional novel about Ana — the wife of Jesus. The novel is an extraordinary story about a woman trying to find her voice. If you love historical fiction, and strong female characters, you will love this book.

2. The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow is a beautiful novel. I enjoyed the story, and how Harrow interwove issues of race, class, and gender into the narrative. It's one of the most unique fictions books I've read.

3. The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne follows one man's life over the course of 70 years. It explores the idea of home, friendship, sexuality, and the terrible toll of bigotry. The book made me cry, laugh, and I learned a lot. It's an epic tale.

4. The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes is based on the Packhorse Librarians of Kentucky – a program that delivered books to people in the Appalachian Mountains between 1935 and 1943. The novel is about books, friendship, and strong women. There's so much to love in this story!  

5. Dark August by Katie Tallo is mystery/thriller that kept me up past my bedtime. I was happy to hear that Katie is working on a sequel!

6. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens is part romance and part murder mystery. I didn't want the book to end. Also, Owens' description of the North Carolina marshlands is incredible. Her words brought me into nature.

I hope you find a few books on my list that sparked your curiosity. If you can, buy a few books at your local bookstore or on Bookshop.

If you can't afford new books, find them at your local library. If the library doesn’t have a book in their collection, ask a librarian to purchase it. I didn't realize this was something I could do until a few years ago. Libraries are the best!

Libby is another excellent—and free—resource. When the library was closed due to COVID, I relied heavily on Libby. It's a smartphone app that gives you the ability to “borrow ebooks and digital audiobooks from your public library. All you need to get started is a library card.”

Thanks for joining me on this little corner of the Internet! I’m grateful.

With gratitude,

Tammy

An Ultra-Cozy Home: Notes on Hygge and Mys

During 2019, Logan and I started planning a trip to the UK. We were going to visit England and Scotland during the summer of 2020. However, we canceled our trip because of COVID, and we won't be traveling until a vaccine is available. That also means we’ll be working from home for another year.

Since we’re doing everything at home, making our living space super cozy is on our agenda. I'm revisiting a concept called hygge. It's a Danish word that means "to give courage, comfort, and joy." I read The Little Book of Hygge a few years ago, and I want to read it again. There's also a Swedish idea called mys. In a recent article, writer Ingrid K. Williams explained that hygge and mys are similar. According to Williams, "mys refers more pointedly to an ultra-cozy atmosphere."

To create an ultra-cozy home, we rearranged our office, lighting set-up, and bookshelves. Logan also brought his plants inside and they look lovely in the corner of our living room near the window. Also, keeping the house clean and tidy makes our space feel cared for and serene. Two humans and a cat can be quite messy.

Sometimes making our space cozy requires investing in new belongings. Whether it's clothing or furniture, we want our belongings be part of our lives for a long time. We try to buy our stuff secondhand. If that isn't doable, we buy things from companies that design for life, and have excellent exchange, repair, and return policies.

For example, we've been thinking about buying a couch since October 2019, and we finally bought one! For the past decade, our furniture has been very minimal. Purchasing a couch was well-timed, and I love how it’s made our home feel cozier. The seats are welcoming, the fabric is soft, and it has four modular seats that can be configured in seven different ways. I foresee lots of couch rearranging happening this winter.

As I write this letter, I'm sitting on my couch. A giant cup of coffee is on the window sill, and a fuzzy blanket is covering my legs. I'm trying to concurrently balance a laptop computer and cat on my lap. The balancing act isn't working, and I'm positive Christie the cat will take over my lap shortly.

I won't be traveling, writing at the library, or hanging out in coffee shops for a while, and that's okay. Instead, I’ll be perfecting my hygge and mys moves at home.

With gratitude,

Tammy