A Not-So-Spooky Woof Woof Wednesday with Angel Astrid

Hello, friends! It's Woof Woof Wednesday, which means it's time for a memory with my sweet angel pup Astrid. I've shared this one multiple times on our blog, but I love this not-so-spooky shot I took of Astrid and a little friend.

As long as she got to enjoy her window view, Astrid was usually a pretty good sport about posing with whatever random stuff I shoved at her. She was such a good girl, and always will be.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

I've watched a few Halloween movies over the past couple weeks. One of them was the children's movie Halloweentown. That was a movie made for the Disney channel back in the '90s. As a kid who grew up in the '90s and also loved Halloween, I of course loved that movie when I was younger. And I still love the nostalgia of it and, even now as an adult, I watch it multiple times every Halloween season. All that to say, here's a doodle I scribbled up a few years ago that was inspired by Halloweentown.

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Tip of the Day

Today's autumnal tip relates to grooming. As the weather starts to cool in the autumn, your furbaby might begin to grow their winter coat. Especially in double-coated furbabies, such as Persian cats and Husky dogs, you might notice the fur filling out and growing thicker as the weather cools. For this reason, do be sure to help you furbaby groom, such as by brushing them on a daily basis, or at least a couple or few times a week. If you are unable to groom your cat or dog, and especially if they are prone to mats or hairball issues, then you can consider taking them to a groomer. Some veterinary offices even offer grooming services, so, as needed, you can discuss this with your veterinarian. Regardless of if you do it at home or take your furbaby to a groomer, regularly grooming your kitty or pup can help prevent mats, and can help prevent the ingestion of hairballs, especially in cats. Mats can be uncomfortable and painful, so it's of course ideal to prevent these. It is of course also important to help prevent your furbaby's ingestion of too much hair, not only because this prevents the vomiting of hairballs, but also because, in worst case scenarios, ingestion of too much hair could cause a blockage in the intestinal tract. So, don't forgot about those grooming sessions.

A Boxed Up Tonks Tuesday

It's Tonks Tuesday, and the calico cutie is yet again spending the day in a box.

That there box has been sitting on the floor at our house for probably 3 months at this point. Tonks loves the thing. She also loves when I add more packing paper to it. I tried putting a blanket in the box for her a while back, but she didn't like that. She just wants paper in her box. So, paper she gets. You can kind of see some of it behind and under her in that there photo. There's even more paper in the box now, as I got a Chewy shipment yesterday that had lots of packing paper, and Tonks was so excited to have that added to her beloved box.

Tonks hopes you all have a box to enjoy! Happy Tuesday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Halloween is just around the corner. Well, you know, sort of. That makes this old doodle seem fitting enough.

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Tip of the Day

Today's autumn pet safety tip is a short and simple one, and that is to consider keeping up with those preventatives. Even as the weather cools in the autumn, and even winter, it is possible for there to be days and conditions that allow for fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, and other parasites to survive. Bites or infestations of certain parasites can potentially lead to a variety of diseases or other medical concerns, some of them life-threatening. In order to better ensure that your kitty or pup remains healthy and happy, therefore, do consider administering those preventatives year-round.

Mancat Monday: Evan's Weekday Woes

It's Mancat Monday, and today my boy Evan is looking a little unhappy. Honestly, so am I. Don't worry, everyone is fine. We're just sad it's Monday, which means cuddle time will be truncated for another 5 days. That always makes both Evan and myself so very sad.

I always look forward to weekday evenings, when I can leave work and get back to my kitties. I think that makes my kitties happy as well, which makes it that much better.

Happy Monday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's flashback doodle is such an odd one. I've shared it and mentioned the history behind it before, but this time I'll just say that it's concept art for a certain scene in the story I'm writing. The scene of course involves the kitty character inspired by my boy Evan, as well as a lamp made of up a bunch of skulls. Weird, I know, but I saw it in my archives and thought, eh, why not share this weirdness again?

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Tip of the Day

Yesterday's autumn safety tip revolved around helping your kitty or pup stay warm by putting out more blankets or pet beds, and keeping said napping spots off the floor. Today's tip is also about helping your furbaby stay warm as the weather cools down, but this time in the form of food. It is possible that, as the weather grows colder, our furbabies might eat more in order to stay warm.  This is because eating spurs metabolism, which can help produce warmth for the body. As it grows chilly, therefore, your kitty or pup might indeed need more food. That said, this is more likely to be the case for animals who go outside. For that and other reasons, if you have any concerns regarding your cat or dog's weight, or if they have related health issues, then of course discuss food intake with your veterinarian first.

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.