Adventures with Astrid

Today, pup Astrid wanted to share a quick snippet from a recent walk. She decided to show you all how seriously she takes her walks, hence why she wouldn't look at the camera.

If you look at her back right foot in that second photo, you can perhaps get a glimpse of how Astrid is missing the outer toe on that foot. She lost that toe almost exactly 6 years ago to cancer. She's been cancer free since, something for which I'm eternally grateful.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

I shared a new doodle recently that was similar to the one below, but also different. This one here inspired the new one I scribbled up this year, which was a bit darker in tone. Anyway, here's a little something from last year.

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Tip of the Day

Since September is Animal Pain Awareness Month, we'll be finishing out the month with a short series of tips on this topic. Today's tip relates to how our furbabies might let us know they are in pain. This can be a bit difficult sometimes, as cats and even dogs can be very good at hiding pain. This is why we must be very observant of our furbabies on a regular basis, in order to know when they aren't acting themselves.

The symptoms of pain in our furbabies can vary greatly, depending on the source of the pain, as well as the individual animal. You might see decreased activity level, or even a decrease in your cat or dog's appetite. Another potential sign is an altered gait, or an unwillingness or inability to move or jump. A cat in pain might avoid or miss the litter box, and a dog in pain might have accidents inside the house. Aggression and hiding are yet more potential signs that your kitty or pup is in pain. The list of signs and symptoms of pain in animals could go on and on. This is why it's imperative that you know your kitty or pup's norm, and that you make frequent observations of their activities and behavior in order to catch when anything is out of the norm. Altered activity or behavior could mean any number of things, pain being one possibility.

Tonks Tuesday: Snoopervising Duties

Hello, friends! It's Tonks Tuesday, and the calico herself agreed to pose for a photo. This week she told me she'd do her very best to look at the camera instead of out the window. Did she keep her promise?

Tonks really just can't help but get a tad bit distracted by the window. After all, there's just so much to snoopervise out there! And this girl takes her snoopervising duties very seriously. This time she was watching some crows screaming away on the front porch.

Happy Tuesday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Today is the last tip in our disaster preparedness series, and it is one that we have repeated many times, on many different occasions. This tip is to always ensure that your furbaby has some form of identification. In the unfortunate event that your furbaby becomes separated from you in any form of disaster or emergency, some form of identification could more easily bring them back to you. A collar with an ID tag as well as a microchip are the most common forms of ID for our kitties or pups. In addition to ensuring this identification is on your cat or dog, also make sure that the information is up-to-date. If you have moved addresses or changed phone numbers, for example, make sure this is reflected on your furbaby's identification. No one ever wants to consider being separated from their kitty or pup, but should this happen in an emergency or any event, your furbaby is more likely to find their way back to you if they are wearing some form of identification.

Mancat Monday with Exhausted Evan

It's Mancat Monday, which means you get a dose of mancat Evan.

Evan tried really hard to stay awake for more photos.

He works so hard to keep the household in line, though, that he was just too exhausted to model for long.

Poor Evan. He has to work especially hard when his human of a mom is home on the weekends and therefore needs lots of extra snoopervision. Even better, our internet decided to go out last night and is still out, hence why his Mancat Monday post got delayed. Poor, poor Evan.

Evan hopes you all get some naps in today! Happy Monday!

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Doodle of the Day

I realized I never shared one of Evan's sort of summertime spooky doodles. I guess it's okay that there are blooming flowers in the background of this doodle, though, because just because it's officially autumn doesn't mean it looks it yet. Anyway, here's a doodle of what Evan's probably thinking as this mom of his watches all sorts of Halloween movies when it's not even October yet.

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Tip of the Day

Our current series of tips is about disaster and emergency preparedness for both yourself and your furbaby. Today's tip on this topic is to contemplate and decide on a proper caregiver for your furbaby, should there be an emergency rendering you incapable of caring for them. Thinking on such unfortunate hypothetical situations is never something anyone looks forward to, but it is nonetheless something important to consider. You will want to ensure that someone you trust might be prepared to care for your kitty or pup in an emergency. It is of course important to discuss this with the person in question, and to ensure that they are truly able and willing to take on the care of your furbaby, should the need arise. In some cases, this might mean including in your will that this person would become your furbaby's caregiver. Overall, though not an ideal topic with which to occupy your mind, it is indeed significant to have a safe and secure plan for your furbaby's care should something render you incapable of caring for them. Think of family or friends whom you trust, whom your furbaby knows, and whom have displayed an ability and willingness to take on the care of your kitty or pup.

A Caturday Art Cat-o'-Lantern

It's the first day of autumn. That means it's officially the season of Halloween. That means it's cat-o'-lantern season.

Truth be told, I meant to include an actual kitty friend for that cat-o'-lantern in this doodle. But, I was so excited to scribble up my first cat-o'-lantern of the year that I apparently forgot to include the actual kitty. The cat-o'-lantern counts as a kitty, though, right?

Happy Caturday, friends! And happy autumn!

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Tip of the Day

Yesterday's tip discussed having rescue alert stickers posted at your home, to aid rescue workers in getting all of the animals at your home to safety in the event of an emergency at your house. Today's tip is to have a means of alerting rescuers that there are animals in need of care at your home in the event that something were to happen to you while you are away from home. For example, you could have a pet alert info card in your wallet or in your car, indicating the types and number of animals at your home in need of care should you, God forbid, be rendered unable to make it home to care for them as needed. It is never desirable to consider the possibility of such emergencies or disasters occurring, but it is nevertheless important to think ahead and plan ahead for your kitty, pup, or other companion animal's care in the event of any type of emergency.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Snaggleteeth

Hello, 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. _________, _________, and _________ are a few of my favorite things.

2. If I had _________, I would _________.

3. You don't have to be young to _________.

4. _________ comes with age.

My answers are below in bold.

1. Animals, art, and books are a few of my favorite things.

(I love my kitties and my pup, I love drawing as well as listening to the art known as music, and I love both reading and writing. And that pretty much sums it up.)

2. If I had a winning lottery ticket, I would donate to and assist with far more animal rescue resources.

(I've always wanted to be more involved in animal rescue in some way. I try to do what I can, but if I won or some way came upon a large sum of money, and if I could perhaps quit or at least cut back on the 9 to 5 work life, I would love to put more time and resources into animal rescue efforts.)

3. You don't have to be young to be silly.
(I really struggled on how to word this one. At first I tried to be all poetic and typed out, "You don't have to be young to have a child's heart." Then I realized it sounded like I stole those words right of Hannibal Lecter's mouth, so now you get this. Anyway. What I'm getting at is that, no matter how old you are, you can enjoy the little things or have childlike fun. I watch animated movies and sometimes read books written for a middle grade audience because sometimes that's what makes me happy and helps me have fun. So, be as silly as you want, no matter your age.) 

4. Self-acceptance comes with age.

(I feel like sometimes kids are so impressionable or are surrounded by so much peer pressure that they don't realize it's okay to be your true, genuine self. You don't have to fit into a mold, and it's okay if you like things that others find different or even weird. If it makes you happy, and as long as you're not causing harm to anyone or anything, you do you. I feel like that's something people realize more when they get older, though I wish people of all ages lived like that.)

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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Are you ready for your Friday Eddy fix? You are? Well, good. Here's the tabby girl. Well, mostly, here's her adorable little snaggleteeth.

I love getting photos of Eddy's special little face. That's why you've seen more than one photo like this on our blog. I just can't help but snap shots of that adorable mouth on that adorable face. The right-sided facial nerve paralysis she's had since kittenhood is what makes Eddy's cute teeth do what they do, and I love it so much.

Happy Friday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's doodle is honor of the fact that, at least if you ask me, Halloween is right around the corner. I, personally, cannot wait.

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Tip of the Day

Today's disaster preparedness tip is a rather specific one, and it is to consider using a pet rescue alert decal or sticker at your house. These decals or stickers are meant to alert rescue response teams as to how many and what kinds of animals are in the home. They can be placed on a screen door, on a window near a door, or somewhere similar where rescuers can easily see it. This type of information on what animals are in the home can help in the case of a house fire or any emergency evacuation, especially in cases when you are in any way unable to inform response teams as to how many and what kinds of animals are in the home and in need of rescuing. There are a variety of these decals or stickers available online, but one easy way to get them is through the ASPCA, as you can visit their website and order free pet emergency alert decals for your home.

Alerting emergency personnel of the animals in your home can help them to more quickly rescue your companion animals in the event of a fire or other emergency. This being said, though, please do ensure that any such decals or stickers are kept up-to-date. Not only is this important for ensuring that all animals in the house are properly accounted for, but is also important for the safety of emergency personnel. For example, if one of your furbabies has passed away but it is still included on an displayed pet emergency alert at your home, then emergency crews might put their lives at risk looking for an animal who is not even present. So, while these pet emergency alert bulletins can indeed benefit your pets' safety, also ensure that you use them properly in order to keep emergency personnel equally safe.

Thankful Thimble Thursday: Window Whiffies

I unfortunately didn't get a poem written for this week's edition of Angel Sammy's Poetic Thursday Challenge, but we will resume with that next week. For today, though, Thimble is of course here for Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Today, Thimble is grateful that we had quite a few days of window whiffies weather.

Have you all been getting to enjoy some window whiffies? We're supposed to have a couple days of storms and then hot weather again, but the extended forecast is calling for window whiffies weather again soon enough. Whew.

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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. _________, _________, and _________ are a few of my favorite things.

2. If I had _________, I would _________.

3. You don't have to be young to _________.

4. _________ comes with age.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

A lot of summertime chores bleed into autumn, and so you simply have to make them fit the season. Hence this doodle, I guess.

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Tip of the Day

Today's National Disaster Preparedness Month tip is to, in the event of a disaster such as a hurricane, do your absolute best to consider the care and safety of animals who may not be your typical indoor companions. For example, do you help care for feral cats, even an entire feral colony? If so, please don't forget them in potential disaster preparedness plans.

Obviously, evacuating feral furbabies may not be anywhere nearly as easy as relocating your tame, indoor kitties or pups. However, do still do all that you can to ensure that you include ferals or strays under your care in the event of an emergency. Especially if there is a known threat of a disaster, try to find a way to access traps or other means of capturing and transporting ferals. And, of course, do your research ahead of time regarding safe areas that would be willing to take in ferals or strays in the event of an emergency. There may indeed be organizations willing to help with this feat. Therefore, also do your research in this regard and reach out to various animal rescue organizations to determine if they can offer assistance.

Another consideration to make are animals such as horses and livestock. As best as absolutely possible, try to always think ahead, even before a disaster is on the immediate horizon, and make sure that you have access to trailers and other necessities for relocating large animals. And, again, do your research ahead of time regarding where you might be able to safely relocate animals such as horses or livestock.

Trying to orchestrate the relocation of numerous animals in the event of a disaster can indeed be very daunting. Sometimes, despite your best efforts, time or resources are short. In the end, though, you have to simply do the absolute best that you can. The best way to do this is to always think ahead, be prepared, and have a plan. Make sure that you take the time to research safe options for all creatures under your care, and then, accordingly, make plans that could be implemented in the event of a disaster or other emergency.

Woof Woof Wednesday: Window Views and Bunny Ears

Pup Astrid decided it's been too long since you've all seen a photo of her enjoying her beloved window.

That might not be a great shot, but can you believe what happened while Astrid tried to pose for some better ones?

Do you see that? Do you see those bunny ears that Astrid did not ask for? Humans. Can't live with them, and can't live, well, with them.

Astrid hopes all of you friends of her have less obnoxious humans. She also wishes you all a happy Wednesday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

It's pretty much Halloween season, so you better believe the spooky, kooky decor is out and about in our house.

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Tip of the Day

We're in the midst of a series of tips for National Disaster Preparedness Month. Yesterday, we discussed preparing emergency supplies or a travel kit, so that you and your furbaby will be ready to handle a disaster, evacuation, and so forth, should the need arise. Today, we're here to remind you to go yet another step further and to have a plan. In other words, in the event of a disaster or other emergency, how and what will you do in order to ensure the safety of both your furbaby and yourself? For example, if you live in an area where disasters might make evacuation a possibility, have a safe a safe destination secured, not only for yourself but for your furbaby as well. Do you know of a motel or hotel, or another similar shelter, where animals are allowed? Or, do you have friends or family where your kitty or pup will be allowed to stay? If necessary, research veterinary offices, boarding facilities, or other similar facilities out of harm's way, where your furbaby could be taken in the case of an emergency.

Emergency plans don't just relate to possible evacuations, though. For example, if you live in an area where tornadoes are a possibility, have a plan for where in the house both you and your furbabies can safely hunker down. Pick a safe room in the center of the house, for example, and have a plan for getting your kitty or pup there in a hurry. If needed, have leashes, carriers, or other necessary tools ready. Depending on where you live and what your situation is, always think ahead to how you will keep both your furbaby and yourself safe in an emergency situation.

One last comment we'll make on this topic is to, as needed and possible, practice your emergency plans. Make sure that everyone in your home knows the plan, and that everyone will know their part in the action. Doing a trial run or two can never hurt, to ensure that everyone is on the same page, and that everything will run as smoothly as possible in an actual emergency.