**LOVE TO COLOUR?** Colouring with Cats #117 ~ Getting Your OM’s on with Mandalas on Mondays ~ How Can I Use Crystals On A Daily Basis, And Melvyn Shows Off The Crystal of the Week ~ Rhodochrosite

 

Supurr Monday greetings meautiful furiends

 Here's hoping mew had an epic weekend, and if mew missed yesterday's epic stone circle selfie, click here and purrhaps do the puzzle too.

We're continuing our crystal journey today, and this week,

How Can I use Crystals on a Daily Basis?

What a pawesome question. There are many ways mew can use crystals in your daily life; if they're the smaller tumble stones, mew can carry those with mew in a pocket, or the P.A. likes to use a small purse so they don't get lost. And by keeping them with mew, it's nice to touch/hold them whenever the need arises. A bit like worry stones, in fact, mew can buy specially carved crystals called thumb stones which are purrfect for this as they are usually very uniform in shape, either round or oval and have a slight depression carved that fits your thumb, according to the P.A. these are very nice to have.

Mew can also buy most types of crystals in some form of jewellery; bracelets, rings, earrings, pendants or brooches/pins. Wearing crystals is a great way to benefit from them, especially if the crystals are in direct contact with the skin. 

Please Note: certain crystals should never come into contact with the skin, so purrlease do your research thoroughly. 

The P.A. buys crystal beads and makes her own bracelets, so whichever stones she feels she would benefit from, she can just pick some from her homemade collection, and she wears them like this; see picture below.

Another way to use crystals is to have them placed around your home, but if mew have children or pets, purrlease make sure they are well out of reach as little hands and paws can find them quite tempting.

Mew can also place them in your garden or balcony, near plants or in plant pots; a little trick the P.A. uses is to put several small amethyst tumble stones in the bottom of a water spray bottle, then fill with water and use to spray/mist her indoor plants with, they seem to like it as some of her house plants are 15+ years old.  

Additionally, mew can use them for chakra healing, which involves placing certain crystals on key points of the body to help bring balance and harmony. Or mew could create a crystal circle to sit or lie in.

Crystal of The Week

Rhodochrosite is a gorgeous pink stone. It comes in all shades of pinks through to orange in some specimens and is recognisable because it has ameowzing bands on the stones, which create the most breathtaking patterns. They truly are a work of art.

At BBHQ, we have a few smaller tumblestones, such as the one in the top right picture, and one larger piece, which Melvyn is examining below.

This crystal was a lovely addition to the collection, and we think it arrived in 2019, if memory serves correctly. The P.A. said she bought this purrticular stone because it reminded her of a beautiful pink cloud. It is stunning in real life.

So let's tell mew a bit about the gem lore surrounding these pink stones. As with rose quartz, most pink crystals are used for love, self-love, compassion and harmony. Rhodochrosite appurrently helps with creating a pawsitive mindset and to help face the truth in difficult situations. 

In chakra healing, it is purrported to help clear the solar plexus and root chakras, assisting with the release of repressed or painful feelings and allowing them to freely dissipate after being recognised/acknowledged.

Rhodochrosite is also said to be mentally stimulating and aids with self-worth. It appurrently can also be good for inspiring creativity, all in all, it's a very pawsitive stone and is a lovely addition to any collection.  

To check out last week's Crystal of the Week, click the link: Apophyllite.

(Disclaimer: We are not health or medical practitioners, all crystal info is purely for entertainment purposes only.) 

We hope mew've all had a totally epic weekend, and that mew're ready for the week ahead, so let's jump right in and start as always with our little breathing exercise, which we're sure mew all have down paw by now...  but if mew've forgotten, stop what mew're doing for a moment and take deep fulfilling breaths; counting to five on the inhale and five on the exhale:

Breathe in

Breathe out

Breathe in

Breathe out

Breathe in

Breathe out

Smooch is here again to offur mew assistance in getting your OM's on and Zen Harmonies happening, so just press play, close your eyes and follow his instructions.

Don't mew feel better already?  I know we do!

All the mandalas featured are created & designed by us, The B Team.

Here's this week's mandala.

Right-click the image to save and/or print the mandala.

And here's our finished version... we went for a completely different colour palette this week and think the final result has a bit of a medieval vibe to it, like something mew'd see in a church. What do mew think?

Coloured on the iPad and then transformed in the IOS App ~ Prisma, this time we chose the effect - Surf.

Don't forget mew can download** our free Colouring with Cats here:- Books One, Two, Three, and Four.

Colouring with Cats Book One

Colouring With Cats Book Two ~ Easy Mandalas 

Colouring With Cats Book III

Colouring With Cats Book IV

[**see our download policy here]

So on that note, we hope your Om's are on, your Zen Harmonies are happening, and we'll see mew on Wednesday when we'll be here sharing this week's News and Gossip, coming straight to mew live from BBHQ!

Until then

Keep Calm and Colour OM!

Epically chilled purrs

Wing Commander Basil & The B Team

Don't furget to subscribe and never miss another mandala! 

Graphics created with paid licence www.canva.com

Basil and The B Team's Scorhill Stone Circle Selfie on The Sunday Selfies Blog Hop **PLUS** Smooch's UK Historical Travel Guide

Meowvellous Sunday greetings furiends

Welcome to another BBHQ selfie selection, and this week we decided to bip down south to Dartmoor in our Time Travelling Telephone Box and revisit the Scorhill Stone Circle.

The B Team's Scorhill Stone Circle Selfie 

Guys, this place is so pawesome, there was nothing for miles around apart from us! MOL

JUST HOW WE LIKE IT!

Then nopawdy gets suspicious about a random telephone box appearing out of thin air!

Mew know how much we love ancient standing stones and stone circles, see our previous trips to:

Castlerigg    Stonehenge    Avebury     Aberlemno  

Druid's Temple in North Yorkshire Pentre Ifan   Ring of Brodgar

     Duddo Five Stones    Drombeg Stone Circle     Callanish Stones

Scorhill Stone Circle Hurlers Stone Circle     Moel Ty Uchaf Stone Circle

Boskednan Stone Circle The Brat's Hill Stone Circle

Uragh Stone Circle    The Men-an-Tol     Beltany Stone Circle    Sunkenkirk Circle

Cullerlie Stone Circle   Cockpit Stone Circle     Blackpark Standing Stones     Aikey Brae Stone Circle

Here's a little bit of info from BBHQ's Historical Travel Guide, Smooch:

Greetings fellow travellers and history lovers!

As we hiked through the hills of Dartmoor, we stumbled upon the Scorhill Stone Circle, a fascinating prehistoric monument that has stood the test of time for over 4,000 years. This ancient site is a must-visit for anypawdy interested in the rich history of the British Isles and offers a glimpse into the lives of our Neolithic and Bronze Age ancestors. The Scorhill Stone Circle is made up of 23 granite stones, which were carefully chosen and transported from the surrounding moorland. It was once thought to have as many as 60 to 70 stones. The stones vary in size from 1.2 to 1.8 meters in height and are arranged in a slightly oval shape, measuring about 27 meters in diameter. Experts believe that the site was built during the late Neolithic or early Bronze Age, which means it dates back to around 2000 BC. The purpose of the Scorhill Stone Circle remains a mystery, although many theories have been put forward. Some archaeologists believe that it was used for religious or spiritual rituals, while others suggest that it was a meeting place for the local community. Another theory is that the stones were used for astronomical observations, as they are aligned with the moon and stars. As we explored the site, we couldn't help but wonder about the people who built it. What did they believe? What was their daily life like? The Scorhill Stone Circle offers a unique window into the past, allowing us to connect with our ancestors and understand their world a little better. Aside from the Scorhill Stone Circle, there are many other interesting ancient sites nearby. The Grey Wethers, for example, is a pair of Bronze Age stone circles about 3 kilometres away from Scorhill. The circles are made up of 39 stones, and are thought to have been used for similar purposes as Scorhill. We may even bip there next week! MOL If mew're interested in castles, mew can also visit the nearby Castle Drogo, a furbulous building built in the early 20th century. Castle Drogo was designed by the renowned architect Sir Edwin Lutyens and is now owned by the National Trust, and it is currently under renovation. Overall, the Scorhill Stone Circle is a fascinating place to visit, offering a glimpse into the ancient history of Dartmoor and the lives of our ancestors. Whether mew're interested in archaeology, spirituality, or simply love exploring the great outdoors, this site is not to be missed.

Purrs

Smooch

The BBHQ Historical Travel Guide

We're also joining Athena's Fabulous Art Hop, so do stop by and show off your pawesome arty-farty skills.

The effect was created with Befunky - AI Enhancer, Impressionist GFX + colour changes to hue and saturation, plus a nice vignette.

We also turned this fab arty-farty picture into a puzzle, so do stop by the puzzle page and take the Puzzle Challenge, see if mew can beat our time of 10 mins 19 secs. 

Anyhoo, it's time for us to go and get cool, as it's been supurr scorchio the last few days again, so garden time is a bit limited, until later... much later.

Lunch is happening as usual, and Smooch is sitting at the kitchen table near the fan and directing proceedings from a place of uber coolness! MOL

So we'll wish mew all a totally terrific day and look forward to your company in the morning when we're back with another pawesomely fun Colouring with Cats post, ready for mew to get your OMS on and Zen Harmonies happening for the week ahead.

In the meantime, don't forget to...

Wing Commander Basil & The B Team

Don't forget to join in the pawesome Sunday Selfies Blog Hop with

 Angel Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Angel Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth, Calista Jo, Cooper Murphy and Sawyer ~ visit them at their pawesome blog:

www.thecatonmyhead.com

Link up coming later...

Don't furget to subscribe to our blog and never miss another post. 

Graphics created with paid licence @www.canva.com & www.befunky.com

**FELINE FICTION FIX** Book Reviews with Amber at The Mewton-Clawson Library #328 featuring **Tacos, Tarot, and Murder** by Leanne Leeds **PLUS** Friendly Fill-Ins + Photo Fails Blog Hop **Starring Smooch**

Hello meautiful library guests 

and 

Welcome to the Mewton-Clawson Library at BBHQ 

Thank mew for joining me in the stacks today, and oh my goodness what a busy week it's been.

Mew see the Library Mice have been down in the bunker since last weekend enjoying Fudge's epic Birthday Celebration, so everything has been left to me to sort out. 

Well, let me just add that I only emerged from the bunker late yesterday afternoon, after waking up on Level 16 surrounded by a magical menagerie! MOL

And when I finally made up to the surface and to the Library, I was greeted by several boxes of book deliveries sitting on the doorsep - thank cod there's been no rain. Anyhoo, as I'm looking a little frazzled and worse for wear after the pawty, here's a lovely throwback to 2016! MOL

Ahhh, there's nothing like being in the library, surrounded by all those words, and pretty book covers!

Now, let's continue with the Prudence Saga, and mew won't believe what happens in this episode. If mew missed last week's instalment, click here.

>^.^<

Part 16 

(Just so I don't lose track of where I am in the story, well I am getting older, and sometimes forget things these days! MOL)

Muskulls shifted his weight, eyes darting toward the overturned desk, calculating his next move.

Willie tightened her grip on the ancient document, her paws trembling just slightly, but her gaze steady.

We were trapped. But we weren’t done yet.

“Muskulls,” I said slowly, carefully, my tail flicking behind me. “If mew think we’ll let Clawdia walk away with all this... mew seriously underestimate us.”

Muskulls laughed dryly, but there was panic behind his eyes. “Mew don’t get it,” he muttered. “She’s already ahead of mew.”

Willie narrowed her eyes. “What do mew mean?”

“The real treasure,” Muskulls growled, “is already being moved.”

A beat of silence.

Then, a massive crash from the east wing.

The study shook, sending a decorative vase crashing to the floor.

Hissy sucked in a breath. “What the fluff is happening?”

I whipped around toward the window.

In the distant glow of the fire-lit gardens, a large truck was pulling away, heading towards the main gates along the tree-lined gravel drive of the estate. Its headlights cut through the drifting smoke from the summerhouse.

Clawdia wasn’t just stealing the estate.

She was taking whatever was buried beneath it and making her escape.

Willie gasped. “Mew were right, it was never just about money.”

I snapped my attention back to Muskulls, his smug grin wobbling now.

“She promised me a slice of the pie,” he muttered angrily. “But if she’s left, she’s cut me out. The evil, using, piece of scum!”

That’s when I saw it, the brief flicker of doubt, of betrayal, of realisation crossing his face.

Clawdia had used Muskulls.

And now she'd tossed him aside like a bad salad.

Willie stepped forward, voice low, controlled. “Muskulls, mew need to choose. Right now. Stay loyal to Clawdia, and lose everything. Or help us, and stop her before she vanishes.”

Muskulls hesitated.

For the first time all night, I saw uncertainty in his eyes.

And then, he made his move.

Muskulls’ eyes flickered.

The diesel engine of Clawdia’s escape truck hummed in the distance, rear lights glowing red in smoky haze. He turned toward the sound, the sound of his own betrayal.

She had used him. And now? She was leaving him behind.

I took one step forward, locking my gaze on him.

“This is your last chance,” I said, voice low, deliberate. “If mew want to do the right thing, it’s now or never.”

Muskulls clenched his jaw.

Then, he moved.

In one swift motion, he grabbed the overturned desk, heaved it upright, and pulled open a hidden drawer.

Inside was a sealed, leather-bound book, thick and dust-covered.

Hissy gasped. “What is that?”

Muskulls exhaled sharply, flipping open the first page, revealing an archive of estate documents dating back over a century.

“This,” he muttered, “is what Clawdia’s been trying to hide.”

Willie snatched the book, scanning the pages.

And then, she saw it.

Stamped across the final document was the ultimate revelation:

“The original deed of ownership for Fuskerton Grange, signed by the last remaining heir of the Snozrazzle bloodline.”

Everything froze.

The last heir.

The real owner.

And the name on the document?

Prudence Snozrazzle, the eldest sister and first in line to the title.

The blood drained from my face.

“Clawdia’s been lying from the start,” Hissy whispered. “Prudence was never just the heir to the current estate... she’s the heir to the lost royal title.”

Willie stared at her elder sister's name, eyes wide in shock. “She doesn’t even know what she’s sitting on,” she murmured.

But before we could process anything else, a gunshot split the air.

Hissy yanked me down behind the desk, heart pounding, and I pulled Willie behind me as Muskulls threw himself behind the fallen bookcase.

Smoke curled from the hallway, and heavy footsteps echoed toward us.

Clawdia hadn't left at all.

DUN... DUN... DAH!!!!!

>^.^<

Until next week, when more shocking revelations are revealed! Good Gravy, it's the story that just keeps on giving! MOL 

Oh, and I hope mew aren't bored with it yet? 

If mew are, just tell me and we can put it on a back burner for a while.

Today, the P.A. is also joining in Friday Fill-ins Blog Hop with the pawesome 15 & Meowing and Four-Legged Furballs.

1. Lately, my main focus is ___________________.

2. I crave ______________________.

3. I get my best ideas _________.

4. I only trust _________ with my biggest secrets.

The P.A.'s answers are...

1. Lately, my main focus is on my new book. I've expanded it from 28,000-ish words to 41,000 in the last couple of weeks. I'm just about to start the next draft, where I need to expand a few things and cull a few others. This was a project I started in 2021, but then it stalled as I had to 'OFF' one of the characters, and it really bothered me. 'Offing' a bad character in a story is no issue, but when it's a good character... yeah, I have issues with that. Over the last four years, I've tried to revisit this book numerous times, but to no avail. Then, a few weeks ago, I had a bit of an epiphany (see #3!) and found a workaround that absolutely blew me away, and I've been pedal to the metal ever since. Wish me luck! LOL

2. I crave total quiet when I write. No radio, music, or TV. No distractions, just me, myself and I, all three of us confering on the plot - and yes, I am kidding about having multiple personalities - a huge joke! 

3. I get my best ideas completely randomly, like mini lightning bolts, you never know when one will strike next! LOL

4. I only trust my hubby or The B Team with my biggest secrets.

As it's the last Friday of the month, we're also joining in the furbulous...

Go visit meowvellous Mudpie's blog at www.mochasmysteriesmeows.com to join in.

This was way, way back in May 2013, when he'd only been at BBHQ 6 months.

Let's see what I've got to show mew this time!

Mewton-Clawson Library Copy

Tacos, Tarot, and Murder

A Cozy Magic Midlife Mystery 

Silver Circle Cat Rescue Mysteries Book 6

by 

Leanne Leeds

       Here's a little snippet of the book blurb:      

A festive Cinco de Mayo celebration.

A Mexican hairless cat with a chilling message.

A murder most foul amid the fiesta.

As the small town of Tablerock, Texas prepares for its annual Cinco de Mayo festival, Ellie and Evie Rockwell were counting on a day filled with tacos, perhaps a pinata or two, and a fiesta of feline fun at Silver Circle Cat Rescue. Instead, they’re served a stiff dose of reality when the town’s eccentric tarot card reader Luna Espinoza is found face-down in her award-winning margarita mix.

This week, we're revisiting this supurr cozy cat mystery series and finishing book six in the three-book box set. If mew missed the previous reviews, click the links below:

Crystals, Belladonna, and Murder ~ Book 1

Honey, Hairballs, and Murder ~ Book 2

Nugget, Coins, and Murder ~ Book 3

Fairy Tales, Fruitcake, and Murder ~ Book 4

Snowballs, Fluff, and Murder ~ Book 5

I couldn't resist sharing this sixth instalment in the Silver Circle Cat Rescue Mysteries series this week. It serves up a fiesta of fun that leaves mew both laughing and guessing until the very last page.

Set, as always, against the backdrop of Tablerock, Texas. And this time, the town is ready for the vibrant Cinco de Mayo celebration, and Ellie and Evie Rockwell had plans for a purrfect day of tacos and furiendly festivities. But instead, they’re met with the shocking news that the town’s tarot card reader, Luna Espinoza, has taken her last sip, face-first into her famous margarita mix!

What follows is a rollercoaster of hilarity and suspense, especially with the arrival of Luna's hairless cat, Mystico. This feline free spirit comes with a side of ghostly warning and a mission... to reveal Luna’s murderer! The idea of communicating with the cats of Silver Circle is both whimsical and engaging, and the writing captures the cat-centric essence meautifully. 

As the stakes rise and more suspects emerge, and the list is as colourful as the Cinco de Mayo decorations, Ellie and Evie must rely not just on their instincts but also on the uncanny insights offered by their whiskered companions. The blend of mystery and light-hearted humour keeps the pacing brisk, and those pages turning.

The story is filled with delightful characters that leap off the page, each with their own quirks and secrets. The dialogue sparkles as much as the margaritas, and the setting practically begs mew to dip into a plate of nachos while mew read - I take mine with catnip sauce! MOL  Plus, the theme of furiendship, family, and the feline love that binds the community, only enhances the charm of this cat cozy mystery.

 Add in a dash of magic, a sprinkle of suspense, and a generous helping of heart, and mew have a delightful read. If mew’re a fan of cat cozy mysteries, or just somepawdy who enjoys good tacos (who doesn’t?), this book is a must-read. 

I really adore this series - if mew hadn't guessed already! MOL

There are eleven books in the series, and if mew are subscribed to Kindle Unlimited, they are available in the catalogue to read for free, except for Book 11 as that is a pre-order available in August 2025, and if mew have Audible, they are available to listen for the cost of one member credit each, or mew can now buy them as box sets of 3 books each. (Info correct at time of posting.)

Another Totally Top Paw Addition to This Furbulous Series!

Paperback: 253 pages

Audio: 7 hours 58 mins

My Ratings Scale

Rating of:

Tacos, Tarot, and Murder

Overall Enjoyment

Other Fun Blog Hops to Join in Today

          Brian's Home   Catblogosphere    Feline Friday   Nature Friday    Flashback Friday   Friendship Friday       

Do enjoy the book if mew decide to read it.

It's time for me to say BFN or bye-for-now as mew know the drill, so many books, so little time and I'll be back next week with another specially paw-picked book just for mew, and don't forget that all my previous reviews can be found on my Book Review page.

Until next time...

Keep calm and read more books

Amber 

Follow us @BionicBasil® on Instacat

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 graphics created with paid licence www.canva.com