Have you heard.... Something good to read to your cat (or cats)....

No, this isn't the entire supply.  Just the most recent purchase.
Money well spent.

I know this post may not be entirely food-related, but I still felt it worthy of sharing with my small, but dedicated readership.  In my defense, the story started with a food-related mission.  I received an urgent email from Williams-Sonoma letting me know that seasonal food items were available for ridiculously low prices both online and in store.  I am unsure I have mentioned it previously, but there exists a moderate addiction in my household to the Williams-Sonoma hot chocolate mixes.  They are quite pricey when sold at full price, so it has become an annual game for me and mine to wait like a cat surveying unwitting prey.  Patiently awaiting the proper moment to pounce.  The signal as it relates to hot chocolate mix is the post-holiday sale notification.  When that arrives, it usually means a roughly 50 percent discount and the buying here commences in earnest.  Occasionally, any available supply that withstands that initial onslaught is advertised again even later in the new year to clear it out before Valentine's Day.  Even more bulk purchasing ensues.  Ensuring we don't run out before the next annual sale.  After all, the promise of a warm mug of rich hot chocolate with a snowdrift of mini marshmallows floating invitingly on top will make any day go better... period...  If it's a really rough day, adults are welcome to enhance with a generous splash of their cordial of choice.  Now that I have secured my supply, I urge you to find your nearest Williams Sonoma and get some for yourself.  (earnest grin)  My only caveat is that you may find yourself likewise addicted and unable to drink hot cocoa from anywhere else.

In a desire to beat the crowd over to Easton, we broke early on Saturday morning.  Shocking, I know.  although in this case early means a little after 10:00 am.  This left us with a bit of time to kill before Shake Shack opened.  Oops...  Another food-related angle I mentally overlooked.  So closely related to the primary mission - seasonal shake offering, you know.  They call it frozen hot chocolate.  Having sampled it, I would encourage you to do the same as time permits.

Anyhoo... Getting back to the point of this post.  In that time we had to kill, I stumbled across a good book at Bink Davies I just had to mention to you all.  I know that discussing gun safety these days can be fraught with difficulty.  I imagine even more so when trying to discuss it with your cat.  Their tendency to distance themselves with an air of aloofness and disinterest may give the impression that they rarely, if ever, listen to you.  Even still, I think this book should ease the conversation.  And hopefully offer some good humor for you and your cat too.  I did a quick search on the inter-web and discovered it is also available for purchase online, if you are too far from Easton to pick up your copy there.

Yes, I did laugh out loud.  Maybe the one time
in my life I wished I had a pet cat.  

I didn't pick up a copy for myself for one simple reason.  I do not have a pet cat and the feral cats in my neighborhood flee in my presence.  I sincerely doubt my offer of story hour would change that behavior.  If you have a cat, and avail yourself of a copy of the book...  Please let me know how it is received by your feline friend.  Always curious to know if others share my affinity for such things.

In the meantime, pray that you are able to stay warm regardless of Punxsutawney Phil's prognostications about the length of winter in 2020.  I will also offer my apologies in advance for any spelling or grammatical errors.  My editor-in-chief is otherwise engaged and I wanted to get this post out timely.

Your Dining Scout and Shadetree Chef,
 Big Mike