Friendly Fill-Ins and Eddy's Not-So-Spooky Playtime

Hello and happy Friday, friends! We're ready for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, and we'd love for you to join us. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two fill-in statements, and I came up with the second two.

1. I tend to scrimp on _________.

2. I tend to save on _________.

3. I've nearly perfected _________.

4. I need to find a better way to _________.


My answers are below in bold.

1. I tend to scrimp on my wardrobe.
(I almost never buy new clothes. I've been able to get away with this not only because I wear the same clothes for years on end, but also because whenever I mention needing or liking a new item of clothing or shoes, my parents or sister often end up getting them for me for Christmas. I also recently got a new pair of jeans that I love because my aunt gave my mom some when she decluttered her closet, and one of them was the exact style and size I like and so my mom gave it to me. Oh, and when my jeans or other clothes tear or anything like that, my mom is a fantastic seamstress and fixes them. I hate shopping for clothes, so rarely having to go out and buy new ones is a win in my book.)

2. I tend to save on my kitties' medications.
(I will never scrimp on my furry babies' medications, but I have found ways to save on them. For example, I used to spend a lot more buying Evan's gabapentin already compounded, until I learned I could quite literally save something like $100 or more per month simply by buying the capsules. Evan won't eat it in food, but I make a flavored concoction with it myself rather than buy it already made that way. Over the past couple of years, I've also learned that pretty much all of Evan's medications are cheaper through my vet's online pharmacy rather than at the clinic itself, and choosing autoship saves even a bit more. I still spend a lot of money on my boy's meds, as well as Thimble's kidney supplement, but I'm still spending a lot less on them than I used to simply by changing where or how I buy them.)

3. I've nearly perfected Evan's bath time.
(Let's be clear, I will never truly perfect this, as my boy's baths are a mess. But, as for my part of actually scrubbing him down and getting him clean, I've finally gotten a system that works for both him and myself. He will still pee and often poop in my general direction during the process, but I always come prepared for that now as well. It'll never truly be perfect, but I think I've gotten just about as close to that as I can.)

4. I need to find a better way to organize Evan's medications.
(I feel like I've mentioned this before. I have a certain part of my kitchen counter that is dedicated to Evan's meds, and I even have a cute little kitty bowl that used to hold them all. "Used to" being the operative words there. The problem is that, over time, he's had medications added, the bottles for some of them have changed size or shape, and that sort of thing. He currently gets 11 medications on a regular basis, with lots of syringes and such also in the mix. What used to work for organizing them no longer does, so I need to sort that out so that, no matter what bottle the meds show up in and no matter if he has more meds added to the mixture, they'll still be somewhat organized.)

Now it's your turn!

To add your link to the Friendly Fill-Ins Linky list, just click HERE!

You can also click on the badge below to add your link.

You are also welcome to complete the fill-ins in the comments below,

or in the comments on Ellen's blog, 15andmeowing.

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It's about time I chase my kitties around in order to get new photos of them for the Halloween season. That's become a bit of an annual tradition, getting my kitties to sort of pose with some of our Halloween decorations. Most of them are pretty cooperative, but Eddy is the one I often have to get creative with. Her spooky photoshoots often involves just taking photos of her playing with Halloween toys, for example, like I did in this photo here.

Eddy was far more interested in her crayon toy, which is oh so spooky, isn't it? Now that I think of it, I haven't seen that crayon in a few days. I'll have to dig around under my bed and dresser to rescue it for her.

Eddy and all of us are wishing you a not-so-spooky day!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Lately, Halloween is infiltrating my sketchbook as well as my writing projects. So, this doodle here just about sums that up.

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Tip of the Day

Today's autumn pet safety tip is all about those cool fall temperatures. When the weather starts to cool, take into consideration what steps you might have to take to ensure that your furbaby stays warm. Don't forget that cooler weather can be felt both outdoors and indoors.

If it's growing cold outside, monitor your pup or kitty when outdoors, and don't leave them outdoors for long periods of time. In addition, if you care for strays, ferals, or other outdoor kitties of pups, do your best to ensure they have some form of shelter in which to stay out of the wind and to stay as warm as possible. Even a storage container or a Styrofoam cooler turned upside, with a hole cut in the side as an entrance, can allow for some warmth on cool days. You can add blankets or straw to help strays, ferals, and other outdoor cats or dogs huddle up and stay warm in such a shelter. Do keep in mind, though, that blankets can become damp and cold if rained on, which is why straw might be an ideal option for helping outdoor furbabies stay warm in a shelter.

Of course, don't forget that even our indoor furbabies can feel the drop in temperature this time of year. Floors can go from being cool respites on hot summer days to being drafty and chilly in the autumn. For this reason, try to ensure that your cat or dog has somewhere off of the floor to sleep, especially in these cooler seasons. You can put out extra blankets or pet beds for them to warmly nap on. Especially as we get further into autumn, safe and pet-friendly heating blankets or heated pet beds could also be put out for your furbaby. Then again, you can also help your kitty or pup stay warm with some extra lap time.

Thankful Thursday with Catzilla Thimble

Hello and happy Thursday, friends! As always, Thimble is so very excited to be here for Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Today, Thimble is grateful that Halloween decorations have started appearing in our house. What's more, she's excited to reprise her role as Godzilla to the little Halloween village I have. Or shall I call her Catzilla?

Thimble is that kind of kitty that will bat at and knock down anything and everything she can. Thankfully, this Halloween village is made of wood, which means that even when she slaps it around like the Catzilla that she is, neither she nor the spooky village pieces will sustain any damage.

Thimble hopes all of our kitty friends find something to bat around and knock to the floor today!

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Now, let's share the fill-in statements for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. I tend to scrimp on _________.

2. I tend to save on _________.

3. I've nearly perfected _________.

4. I need to find a better way to _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

I'll admit that I'll probably start sharing outright Halloween doodles very, very soon. I'll start with flashback doodles while I complete my new Halloween drawings for this year, but that works out fine since I have dozens upon dozens upon dozens of Halloween doodles from over the years. All that said, today we have another seasonally confused drawing to share.

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Tip of the Day

Today's autumn pet safety tip is all about those windows. We've shared many tips on this topic in the past, but here we go again. After all, as the temperatures cool down this autumn, we might find ourselves craving some fresh air. Before opening any windows, though, be sure to inspect screens and take any and all precautions to ensure that no furbabies escape from any open windows. If you have an escape artist, perhaps block their direct access to windows, such as by putting something in front of the window that will prevent them from getting right next to the screen. Also never leave furbabies unattended with an open window, but instead monitor them closely when windows are open. Perhaps this all sounds like extreme measures, but a lost furbaby is a devastating thing, and it is always better to be safe than sorry.

That's not all we have on those windows, though. Also keep in mind the health of your furbabies, and yourself, when windows are open. Does your furbaby, or yourself, have asthma? What about allergies? If your kitty or pup has any such respiratory issues, open windows might not be an ideal thing. Allergens, dust, dirt, and all sorts of debris can enter through the window screen with the aid of the wind. This debris can lead to asthma attacks, itching, scratching, and other potential side effects in furbabies who do have asthma, allergies, or other similar medical issues. So, though open windows can be very enticing when the weather is cool and crisp, never forget to take into consideration all potential side effects.

Sweet Astrid's Angelversary

Today marks an entire year since my sweet pup Astrid gained her angel wings. Rather than focus on the awful events of this time last year, though, I'm going to share my gratitude for the endless fun and beautiful memories my Astrid gifted me with over the years.

This girl was and always will be truly something so special. She was sweet and sassy, and she was so smart and had such a fun and quirky personality that I will always love so much.

I cherish every single memory I share with my angel Astrid. Some of my favorite, though, admittedly come from all of the grand adventures we took on walks and occasional day trips. This girl loved her walks as well as car rides, and so the adventures were many.

I've had my primary memorial drawing for Astrid outlined since soon after she passed last year. I still haven't colored it in, though, because it just seems like such a daunting thing to finish when I know nothing will ever be good enough for my perfect pup. I'll of course still be finishing that doodle soon, especially now that it's been a year. But, for today, I want to share the first drawing I completed for Astrid after she passed.

As a preface, just a couple days before Astrid passed last year, I decorated my house for Halloween while she was having one of her rare moments of restfulness in her final days. Astrid and I had very similar tastes in weather, meaning we loved going for walks on cool autumn days. I loved perusing the neighborhood with her, looking at all the Halloween decorations people had out in their yards. None of that rambling made sense, I'm sure, but it all leads up to this doodle that I scribbled up last year very soon after my sweet pup passed.

The inspiration for that there doodle was of course Astrid herself, and my favorite sweater I got her a couple years before she passed.

You better believe Astrid and I went on a great many autumnal walks with her wearing that sweater.

Astrid, I love you so very much, always and forever! You brought me so, so much happiness, my sweet girl, and you still do and always will.

Plumbing Repairs and Cat Beds

Hello, friends! I did not mean to skip yesterday's post. I had the day off work for Labor Day, but I wasn't on my computer much. Even more so, though, what really derailed me was the plumbing emergency that started on Saturday. It actually ended up not being anything truly major or requiring any wall-destroying repairs that were first anticipated, so I'm grateful for that. Even so, I had a repairman out this weekend and thereafter had a lot of cleanup following my shower's decision to spray water out onto my bathroom floor. Some baseboards still need replaced, courtesy of some opportunistic water, but the worst of the issue is remedied.

All that said, we're here! We're late, but we're here. Since it's the day Tonks usually gets to post, but Evan missed his post yesterday, how about something starring both of them?

Not too long ago, Tonks shared her newfound love for cat beds. She never really paid them much mind before, but these days she loves snoozing in the spare bed I put down for Evan every day.

In case you're curious, that photo above has a sort of ethereal glow because I didn't realize my camera lens was smudged.

For his contribution to this photo shoot, Evan decided to go the blooper route by taking a bath.

I have so few photos of Tonks in cat beds, so this here makes me so happy!

Have a terrific Tuesday, friends! Evan and Tonks hope you get in a good nap in a cozy bed!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

In between plumbing repairman visits and bathroom cleanup this weekend, I did get at least some of my Halloween decorations up. I also finally got my first Halloween movie watched last night. Given that we were having something 105°F heat indexes this weekend, though, this old doodle seems apt enough.

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Tip of the Day

Today's autumn pet safety tip is about none other than snakes. Depending on your location and the types of snakes, it might be baby snake season, or it might be the time when snakes are prepping for hibernation. In such cases, more snakes might very well be out and about and therefore pose a risk to furbabies and humans alike. Of course, not all snakes are dangerous. However, some snakes could indeed pose a risk or could be venomous. The types of snakes that are around of course depend on the area in which you live. So, it might be wise to a bit of research on the types of snakes in your area, and to also research which ones are dangerous to animals and humans. All in all, though, if in doubt, monitor your furbaby when they are outside to ensure that they don't run into any snaky danger. If you do see a snake, remove your kitty or pup from the area, especially if you know the snake is dangerous, but also if you are unsure of the risks it might pose. If your cat or dog is bit by a snake, do not hesitate to seek veterinary care to help ensure that no toxic reaction or infection results.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Curmudgeonly Eddy in Her Chair

Hello and happy Friday, friends! We're here and ready for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, and we'd love for you to join us. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two fill-in statements, and I came up with the second two.

1. Never have I ever _________.

2. My September to-do list includes _________ and ________.

3. I wouldn't mind hosting a _________ party.

4. I'm always curious about other people's ________.


My answers are below in bold.

1. Never have I ever been to Disney World or Disney Land.
(I'm more than fine with this fact, and it'll stay this way. I did grow up in the 90s and watched almost every single original, animated Disney movie. What Disney has become today, though, is not my thing.)

2. My September to-do list includes decorating for Halloween and finishing lots of new Halloween drawings.
(I'll be starting to decorate my house for Halloween this weekend. My sister is in the process of moving out of my house, but don't worry because she's just moving to an available house across the street and so she and her kitties will still be close. All that to say, my home is a bit chaotic right now and so I won't be able to finish decorating the whole house until that's all settled. But, I can at least decorate parts of the house for Halloween, and that'll make it really feel like spooky season. What also will make it feel like spooky season is scribbling up new Halloween doodles. I have 5 said drawings already outlined and ready to color in with my markers, and just today I got an idea for another series of Halloween doodles. I still have a dozen or more new doodles from the past few months I haven't yet scanned or shared, but at this point they might have to wait until after the holidays to see the light of day because I'm far too excited to start sharing new Halloween, autumnal, and then Christmas doodles.)

3. I wouldn't mind hosting a small Halloween party.
(I'm not big on parties or other gatherings, or too much hullabaloo or socializing in general. But, as for a low-key, quiet Halloween party that mostly involves eating lots of sugar and watching spooky, kooky movies, I'd be more than fine with that. In truth, I already sort of do that every Halloween night with my parents and sister. I always get my parents and sister some of their favorite candies, and I make spooky cupcakes and sometimes other freakishly festive baked goods, and then we watch Halloween and other movies at my house. I look forward to it every year.)

4. I'm always curious about other people's book and music preferences.
(I had a couple of ideas on what to put for this one. For example, I like knowing if someone shares their life with any animals. I often get annoyed if I find out someone doesn't like animals, though, so I decided to veer away from that and use the above answer instead. And truly, as an avid reader and picky song listener myself, I do often wonder what others like to read and listen to. That information might not tell you everything about a person, but I think it can reveal at least a bit about them.)

Now it's your turn!

To add your link to the Friendly Fill-Ins Linky list, just click HERE!

You can also click on the badge below to add your link.

You are also welcome to complete the fill-ins in the comments below,

or in the comments on Ellen's blog, 15andmeowing.

***

Who's ready for a Friday Eddy fix? We know you all are. So, today, Eddy wanted to show off how she loves lounging in her favorite chair.

I had only placed that blanket there momentarily before taking it to its rightful place, but Eddy claimed it as hers and so now it just stays in her chair in a messy heap like that. At least until she pukes on it, which is her favorite way of telling me she wants a new blanket on her chair.

Oh, and in this next picture, can you tell that Eddy was getting exceedingly annoyed with me taking her photo?

Eddy truly does not like having her photo taken, but I refuse to have no memories of my sweet and sassy girl. So, she usually gives me a few seconds to snap a couple shots, and my goal is always to finish taking her pic before she gets up to escape the camera. I succeeded at that with this photo shoot, and Eddy resumed her nap when I was done annoying her. And don't worry, she got some treats and kisses for her cooperation.

Eddy hopes all of her kitty friends out there have way less annoying humans than she has!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

The leaves here have of course not even started to change colors whatsoever. Even so, since I'm eager for autumn and Halloween, and since I'm decorating my house for Halloween this weekend, this flashback doodle felt accurate enough for today.

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Tip of the Day

As part of our autumn series of pet safety tips, we recently mentioned keeping school supplies out of your furbaby's reach. In addition to this, there are further potential dangers that might pose a risk especially as the weather cools. One such hazard is, as you all certainly know, antifreeze. Without going into the chemistry of it, coolants such as antifreeze contain components that are highly toxic to cats and dogs. It also can smell or taste sweet and enticing to our furbabies, mostly dogs, making it all the more dangerous. For such reasons, try to avoid all emergencies by simply keeping antifreeze, and other similar products, hidden away where your cats and dogs cannot reach.

We'll also mention one more toxic group of products that is often more commonly used once the weather cools. We're referring to rodenticides. When the temperatures outside start to lower, critters like mice might very well try to find ways to enter our homes in order to find warmth. This might result in some people using rodenticides. However, these products can be highly toxic to our furbabies. Not only is it dangerous if a cat or dog finds and ingests the chemical itself, but they can also become sick if they ingest a rodent that has eaten the rodenticide. All of that being said, it is likely best to avoid using rodenticides altogether, to ensure that your furbaby is not affected by them at all. Of course, keep in mind that snapping mice traps can also pose a risk, especially if they contain  enticing cheese or peanut butter and are somewhere that your furbaby can potentially access. One safer option is to look into using humane mouse traps, such as catch-and-release types. Of course, it is still wise to place these somewhere hidden away to avoid complications with your furbaby.

As lovely as autumn is, it can still pose risks to our kitties and pups. As the seasons change, think of any and all new products that you might be using. Then, consider how such products might affect your furbaby and their health, and then only use and store them in manners that keep your furbaby safe.

A Power Outage Post

Hello, friends! We've been having power outages at both my house and my workplace. Due today's lack of power, I don't currently have access to any computers with internet. I'm therefore writing this post on my phone using data. Since I'm notoriously slow at typing on my phone, this will be a quick post.

We just wanted to pop in and say hello as well as share the fill-in statements for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two. 

1. Never have I ever _________.

2. My September to-do list includes _________ and ________.

3. I wouldn't mind hosting a _________ party.

4. I'm always curious about other people's ________.

Unfortunately, every attempt I've made to include an image on this post has crashed my phone. So, we'll be back tomorrow with cute kitties and weird doodles!

(Wannabe) Autumnal Adventures with Angel Astrid

As soon as September rolled in, we were hit with a heat wave. It's been about 95°F every day this week. So, to make us feel like autumn might actually be around the corner, here's a fall memory with my sweet angel pup Astrid.

Astrid had no issues walking through fallen leaves in grass. However, if leaves were covering the sidewalk, she'd act like she had to jump over them or go around them. She had a lot of idiosyncrasies like that, and I loved that so much about her.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's flashback doodle is another bit of concept art for the weird story I'm writing. Here you're seeing the kitty star of the story and a certain K9 officer.

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Tip of the Day

Since we've reached September, we're all excited for autumn and are therefore doing a series of autumnal tips. Since autumn means the beginning of the new school year, yesterday we mentioned keeping school supplies out of your furbaby's reach. Today's tip also relates to those furbabies potentially affected by a new school year starting up. School starting up can mean a new routine, which can include a cat or dog suddenly being home alone more often, or for longer periods of time. For some furbabies, this type of change in their routine can lead to anxiety, which can in turn lead to destructive behavior, increased vocalization, and other behaviors that are out of their ordinary.

There are some potential ways you can help combat a cat or dog's separation anxiety, such as that which might result from the start of a new school year. First, you can try to introduce changes to your furbaby's routine slowly. If you are a teacher or have children with whom your cat or dog is used to playing, then leading up to the school year, transition your furbaby to being home alone by going out of the house more often slowly over time. In addition to this, you can set up interactive toys to help keep them busy when their humans are away. Of course, ensure that any such interactive toys are safe and will not cause any harm to an unattended furbaby. You can also try using diffusers with synthetic pheromones that can potentially help a cat or dog feel calmer. All of the above being said, in some cases, the safest thing might simply be to ensure that your cat or dog is kept secluded in a safe area where they cannot harm themselves, or the house. This might mean keeping them contained to a safe room or a crate of a sufficient size while you are away from home.

What's more, if your cat or dog does display signs of anxiety that do not relent, it is of course wise to discuss this with a veterinarian. First and foremost, it is important to ensure that there is not an underlying medical reason for anxiety in a cat or dog. Once medical issues are ruled out, anxiety in a cat or dog might require medication, which can help calm them or help balance out their mood and behaviors. Anxiety can lead to an unhappy and unhealthy furbaby, so if you notice any signs of anxiety in your cat or dog, do not hesitate to seek advice from a veterinarian, and to implement anti-anxiety techniques to help your furbaby feel happy and healthy.