Happy Easter!

From all of us to all of you,

HAPPY EASTER!

Don't mind us, we're just over here waiting for the Easter Bunny.

We're also snacking on our annual Easter dessert. There's no better way to celebrate than with a sugar coma. Right?

We're also so blessed to be having a bright, shiny, and beautiful Easter weekend. That means we'll also be celebrating with some wonderful window whiffies.

We hope you all have a blessed Easter, filled with everything that brings you joy!

(That there Easter doodle also doubles as our illustration for the poem we shared this past Thursday. If you're interested in reading said poem, titled "Peter Cottontail, P.I.", just click here.)

***

Our Tip of the Day:

Today's tip is an Easter-inspired one, and it is to always think twice before ever giving anyone an animal as a gift. This could include giving a bunny to a child for Easter, as well as giving a puppy as a Christmas gift, or a kitty as a birthday gift. Caring for any animal will of course take time, effort, knowledge, and preparation. What's more, some animals, such as rabbits, have special dietary or other needs. This is why taking on an animal as a pet should be done with forethought and preparation by the pet's new owner. Giving a child a rabbit for Easter, therefore, could lead to a rabbit ending up in a situation with lack of proper care, and an overwhelmed child or parents. The same goes for giving any animal as a gift, especially if the recipient has not made the proper preparations or does not have the resources to care for a pet. So, never forget that giving an animal a proper home with proper care is something that should always be discussed, researched, and for which the owner should sufficiently be prepared. We have no doubt that all of you reading this already know this.

The above being said, it's worth noting that if a responsible pet owner expresses a desire to receive a pet as a gift, that is a bit of a different story. Someone whom you know well, who is already a proven kind and caring pet owner, and who wants another animal, is someone who could more reasonably receive an animal as a gift. We bet there are plenty of wonderful pet owners out there who have received a best friend in this manner. The important thing is to think such a decision through wisely, and to consider whether an animal will for certain receive the proper care it needs from a potential recipient.

R is for...

It's time for a mashup of the A to Z Challenge and Athena's Caturday Art Blog Hop.

For this year's A to Z Challenge, our alphabetical series of doodles stars my angel Rosie. In these doodles, Rosie is going throughout a more or less routine sort of day, doing this and that, A to Z style. So, what's Rosie doing with the letter R?

R is for...Reading Time

Throughout this A to Z Challenge, we're also going to do our best to share furbaby photos that in some way correlate with angel Rosie's daily alphabetical adventures. To go along with today's A to Z topic of Reading Time, both Evan and Thimble wanted to show off that they're regulars at the library.

Wishing you all a happy Caturday filled with good books!

***

Our Tip of the Day:

Today's tip is to consider the benefits that can result from reading to cats and dogs. This isn't necessarily something that we might think about, but reading to those kitties and pups can have more benefits than one. For example, if you adopt, foster, or in another way interact with a skittish cat or dog, reading to them in a calm, quiet voice can help them grow comfortable around you, while also helping you work through your reading list. You can also try to soothe or distract your cat or dog if they are scared by thunderstorms or fireworks by reading to them during these loud events. Then again, even if your kitty or pup isn't skittish or scared, reading to them can be a great way to bond, again while helping you get through some reading material.

It's not just the kitties and pups who can benefit from a reading session, though. For example, reading to a cat or dog can help a child learn and practice their literacy skills. There are some animal shelters that even have programs in which children can come go the shelter to read to adoptable animals. This is beneficial in many ways, such as by giving the children practice in reading, while also giving the cat and dogs at the shelter attention and helping skittish ones become more comfortable around children or people in general. If this is something that interests you or a child you know, ask your local animals shelter if they offer such a program. Reading is a wonderful thing, furbabies are wonderful things, so perhaps consider combining the two.

Q is for...

Ready for some Friday fun? We're of course going to kick that off with the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. In case you missed the fill-in statements yesterday, I'll share them again here. Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.


1. An Easter (or Passover) memory that I have is _________.

2. I hope to purchase _________ this year.

3. When the days are warm, I _________.

4. If the Easter Bunny visited my house, _________.


Here's how I filled in the fill-ins. My answers are in bold.

1. An Easter (or Passover) memory that I have is when one of my childhood Easter baskets included a squeaking dinosaur doll.
(Is this an oddly specific answer? I was a huge dinosaur fan as a kid. Then again, I'm still quite intrigued by dinosaurs. That's probably why my parents once included a brightly colored, adorable dinosaur doll in my Easter basket. When you squeezed it, it was sort of supposed to roar, but it instead squeaked. I loved it.)

2. I hope to purchase very few non-necessities this year.
(I'm really aiming for more minimalism, so I hope to keep purchases primarily to necessities. Pet food and other pet supplies, human food, books, and art supplies are the majority of what I consider necessities.)

3. When the days are warm, I enjoy extra long walks with pup Astrid.
(Astrid loves her walks. I also love to go for walks, so it's a great combo. When it's only moderately warm this time of year, Astrid is always eager for extra long walks. I am usually happy to oblige. Let me tell you, though, when it turns to summer here and reaches anything resembling 80°F or more, Astrid is not a fan. Neither am I. When it's that hot, Astrid and I both get cranky, and walks are not that long. This time of year, though, we're enjoying the moderate temperatures and going for lots of long walks.)

4. If the Easter Bunny visited my house, he'd have Eddy on his tail.
(That pun may or may not have been intended. Honestly, though, Eddy is the ultimate predator in the house, and she seems to know when a mouse even considers looking through a crack in the foundation. If a certain Easter Bunny made his way in, he'd do best to run for his life.)

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.

***

Next up, we have today's installment of the A to Z Challenge.

This time around, as many of you already know, our alphabetical series of doodles stars my angel Rosie. In this series of doodles, Rosie is going throughout a more or less routine sort of day, doing this and that, A to Z style. So, what's Rosie doing with the letter Q?

Q is for...Quick Bubble Bath 

(Is a bubble bath every really quick, though?

No? Well, we needed a Q, so we're going with it.)

Throughout this A to Z Challenge, we're also going to do our best to share furbaby photos that in some way correlate with angel Rosie's daily alphabetical adventures. To go along with today's A to Z topic of Quick Bubble Bath, Evan's here to show you how to take a proper bath.

Isn't that a great lesson? Did you take notes? That's how you take a bath, and don't you forget it.

Have a fun and fantastic Friday!

***

Our Tip of the Day:

Today's tip is indeed all about bathing those furbabies. Let's start with those kitties. In most cases, you will not need to give your cat a traditional bath as we know it. Helping your kitty remove unwanted fur can be done by brushing them, but an actual bath is often not needed for the kitties in our lives. A healthy cats is great at bathing itself with its tongue. If a cat needs a bath, such as one in the sink or the tub, it will likely be because they somehow got themselves dirty beyond their own repair, or they are in some way incapable of or unwilling to clean themselves and are in need of more extreme grooming. Such cases might include a sick cat with extreme diarrhea, or an unfortunate run-in with something along the lines of a skunk. If such a bath is needed, seek out shampoo that is pet-friendly, bathe them carefully and gently, and of course monitor your kitty when there is a sink or tub filled with water. If professional grooming is needed, do your research for trusted groomers in your area, or ask your veterinarian if they offer grooming services.

What about those dogs? Dogs are more often bathed by their humans, but do be sure not to bathe them more often than their skin and coat can handle. The frequency of necessary baths for dogs will depend on their particular coat, lifestyle, health status, and so forth. For example, dogs who play outside in dirt or mud, or dogs who have long hair that gets dirty easily, will likely require more frequent bathing and grooming than others. When it comes to bathing your pups, always keep an eye on your pup's coat and skin. If you are seeing lots of dry, flaking skin or dull, dry fur, then consider whether you might be bathing your pup too often. This is especially a concern during cold, dry winter months. Also make sure you are using proper, pet-friendly shampoo, and that you're regularly brushing your dog to keep the coat healthy outside of bath time. Just as with cats, if professional grooming is needed for your dog, do your research for trusted groomers in your area, or ask your veterinarian if they offer grooming services. Also speak to your veterinarian if you have any concerns about your kitty or pup's cleanliness, grooming habits, coat and skin, and so forth.

P is for...

Thursday is always filled with all sorts of fun, and we're kicking off that fun today with the A to Z Challenge.

This time around, as many of you already know, our alphabetical series of doodles stars my angel Rosie. In this series of doodles, Rosie is going throughout a more or less routine sort of day, doing this and that, A to Z style. So, what's Rosie doing with the letter P?

P is for...Paying Bills

Throughout this A to Z Challenge, we're also going to do our best to share furbaby photos that in some way correlate with angel Rosie's daily alphabetical adventures. To go along with today's A to Z topic of Paying Bills, Astrid is sharing a festive flashback from a visit to the vet, one of the places where we pay lots of bills.

Remember when we shared this around Christmastime?

On this wintry day, Astrid went in for an inspection of a tiny little growth on her leg. It ended up just being a skin tag, but we wanted to be safe rather than sorry. Astrid had her toe removed due to a cancerous tumor a couple years ago, so any growths we find on her are checked by the vet.

That all being said, we are so grateful for the wonderful veterinarians and entire staff at our veterinary clinic. They are so kind and good to the kitties and pup in our family. We'll happily pay those vet bills if it means the furbabies remain happy and healthy, and all under such wonderful care.

On this Thankful Thursday, we are also so very grateful for all of you!

***

Next up today is the always fun Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge, hosted by Angel Sammy.

Each week, our wonderful hosts share a photo prompt to help get our creative juices flowing. The image for this week is this adorable one here:

Even before I knew what the photo prompt was for this week, I told myself that I was going to try to let it guide me in creating an Easter-related poem. In addition, I also wanted my poem to go along with the A to Z Challenge letter of the day, that being P. I'm a masochist like that. But I digress.

I was really quite glad when I saw the cute and fuzzy little guy in the image above. I could work with cute and fuzzy, or so I hoped. And, that's about the only explanation I have for the insanely long poem that follows.

Peter Cottontail, P.I.

Peter Cottontail was a busy guy.

After all, he was a skilled and dedicated P.I.

If there was a crime in need of solving,

Peter Cottontail would get to the root of the problem.

In fact, he got a call on one fine Easter morn,

From a mom with a girl who was quite forlorn.

One by the name of Easter Bunny had stopped by their house,

And hid for the girl two dozen eggs no bigger than a mouse.

A mysterious problem had arisen, though.

There were not twenty-four eggs to be found, no!

Twenty-three eggs were all they could find,

And the girl was really just about to lose her mind.

"Please, Peter Cottontail, P.I.," the girl's mother did say.

"Could you help us find the missing egg on this fine Easter day?"

Peter Cottontail was not one to turn down a challenge,

And he intended to help the sad girl using his sleuthing talent.

Peter Cottontail, P.I., interrogated all those present,

Who currently happened to be the mother and her girl who did lament.

Certainly neither of them seemed likely suspects,

So Peter Cottontail turned to other options he could inspect.

He noted that the neighbor's dog was in its yard,

And it sure had a loud and lively bark.

"Excuse me, dog," Peter Cottontail,

"Do you know anything about a missing egg?"

The dog wagged and wagged its tail as Peter Cottontail walked up.

 It skipped and trotted and let out a series of ruff, ruff, ruffs.

"Hey! Hi! Hey! Do you want to play ball?"

And that was all Peter Cottontail got out of the dog.

Tossing the dog's slimy, slobbery toy,

Peter Cottontail highly doubted the dog was using a ploy.

Peter Cottontail then noticed the cat in the same yard.

It was basking in a sun ray not far.

"Excuse m--," Peter Cottontail began,

But was interrupted by the cat who said, "Back off, young man.

I have been enjoying this sun ray for hours on end.

I know nothing of an egg, so find someone else to offend." 

Before long, Peter Cottontail caught sight of a little brown wren.

When it popped out of its little birdhouse of a den.

Approaching the bird, Peter Cottontail asked,

"Do you know anything about the Easter Bunny's recent task?

He hid some eggs for that sad little girl over there,

And one of them seems to have disappeared into thin air."

The wren ruffled its feathers and said,

"All I know is that girl's cries could wake the dead."

After a few more questions and the wren's salty replies,

Peter Cottontail determined the bird was a bit rude, but not a guilty guy.

Never one to give up without a fight,

Peter Cottontail, P.I., looked around for clues to come into sight.

What he saw was a squirrel sprinting across the yard.

The little fellow stopped before he got very far.

In the squirrels's mouth was a peanut in its shell,

Which he then held up and gave a mighty long smell.

Then the squirrel bent over and dug a hole in the dirt.

He threw the peanut in, buried it, and looked around, alert.

"Excuse me, squirrel," Peter Cottontail, P.I., said.

"Do you know anything about a missing egg?"

The squirrel shrugged and answered, "Maybe."

"It was a yes or no question," Peter Cottontail did say.

"I've seen a peanut," the squirrel told the P.I.

"But I can't tell you where, or why."

Peter Cottontail shook his head and told the squirrel,

"I'm merely looking for an egg that belongs to that there sad little girl."

The squirrel scratched its head and asked, "What does it look like?"

"Like an egg," Peter Cottontail did enlight.

"It's an Easter egg, and will look quite pretty and nice.

Has any such thing been seen by your two eyes?"

The squirrel darted a few feet away and began to dig.

From the hole he made, he pulled out a twig.

The squirrel asked, "Is this it?"

"No," Peter Cottontail replied, "I am not looking for a stick."

The squirrel tried out another part of the yard.

He dug and dug, leaving the yard quite scarred.

"Is this it?" he asked as he pulled out the head of a doll.

Peter Cottontail cringed and said, "No, no, most definitely not."

"What about this?" the squirrel asked,

After he'd finished his most recent digging task.

He held in his paws a rusty old platter.

Peter Cottontail was beginning to see a pattern.

"No," he said, "but do show me what all you've buried today."

The squirrel scratched its head in a less-than-promising way.

The squirrel dug up an acorn, and then another,
And then he pulled from the dirt a perfectly inedible stick of butter.
After an eternity of unearthing all sorts of junk,
Peter Cottontail, P.I., finally found himself in luck.

It started when the squirrel ran to the garden,
Where he first dug up an empty milk carton.
But, after that, what did the squirrel pull from the dirt beneath a hedge?
Why, of course, the sad little girl's Easter egg!

Peter Cottontail, P.I., thanked the squirrel,
And then he returned the pretty purple egg to the little girl.

She clapped her hands and was no longer sad.
After that, a happy Easter was had.

As we've said over the past couple of weeks, since we share our A to Z Challenge doodles Monday through Saturday, we'll share our illustration for this poem on Sunday. That times out well, as it will be an Easter doodle, and Sunday is Easter. Fortuitous, huh?

***

Last but not least, we have for you the fill-in statements for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. Ellen of 15andmeowing crafted up the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. An Easter (or Passover) memory that I have is _________.

2. I hope to purchase _________ this year.

3. When the days are warm, I _________.

4. If the Easter Bunny visited my house, _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Our Tip of the Day:

Today's tip is about none other than vet bills. We're specifically going to mention some ways to help ensure that you can pay the vet bill. First, you can consider researching and purchasing pet insurance. As you all certainly know, pet insurance can help cover the costs of your furbaby's vet care. When pet insurance is not an option, though, perhaps due to the number of cats and dogs you have or due to your furbaby's particular health status, there are still other options to help you pay for you kitty or pup's vet visits. For example, you can look into Care Credit. Care Credit is essentially a credit card that can be used at certain veterinary clinics and which allows you to make payments over a few months or so. Similarly, certain veterinary offices offer their own payment plans, allowing you to pay for your cat or dog's care over a longer period of time. These payment plan options can especially come in handy for more expensive visits, such as those involving surgery or extensive diagnostic testing. So, if needed, don't be afraid to ask your veterinarian what types of payment plans they offer. This all being said, if none of the above are options for your particular situation, then manage your finances in a way that includes your furbaby and their care. When you budget and save, keep your furbaby in mind. If need be and if possible, have a savings or other account specifically dedicated to your furbaby's care, and save even small amounts of money to put in that account regularly. Raising furry children is not often cheap, but there are ways to more easily pay the vet bills.

O is for...

It's still April, in case you hadn't noticed. What does that mean? That means we're still happily making our way through the A to Z Challenge!

We're working through our alphabetical series of doodles starring my angel Rosie. In this series of doodles, Rosie is going throughout a more or less routine sort of day, doing this and that, A to Z style. So, what's Rosie doing with the letter O?

O is for...Opening the Mail

Throughout this A to Z Challenge, we're also going to do our best to share furbaby photos that in some way correlate with angel Rosie's daily alphabetical adventures. To go along with today's A to Z topic of Opening the Mail, Thimble wanted to share a flashback starring her favorite sort of mail.

Boxes! When we receive boxes in the mail, we all get excited. But, Thimble is curious, do any of you ever find anything like this crawling out of your boxes?

Perhaps that's just a sight here at our house?

We're wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday filled with boxes!

***

Our Tip of the Day:

Today's tip is to make sure that your cat or dog's veterinary office always has your current address. This can go for both your mailing address and your email address. Most veterinary offices will send physical mail and/or an email when your kitty or pup is coming due for their annual exam, vaccinations, followup tests, and so forth. Life can be hustling and bustling, so getting reminders regarding what your furbaby is due for, and when, can be very helpful for ensuring their health. In addition, some veterinary offices also send out mailings regarding sales on products or services, which can also of course be beneficial to receive. So, make sure that your veterinary office has your up-to-date address, and also make note of and schedule any necessary veterinary services for which you receive a reminder. Also related to this topic, make sure that your veterinary office has your up-to-date phone number, as they might also call with reminders or important information. If your address or phone number changes, let your veterinary office know, and pay attention to important messages you receive from them.

N is for...

Here we are with another installment of the A to Z Challenge.

Our contributions to the A to Z Challenge this time around are a series of doodles starring my angel Rosie. In this series of doodles, Rosie is going throughout a more or less routine sort of day, doing this and that, A to Z style. So, what's Rosie doing with the letter N?

N is for...Nap Time

Throughout this A to Z Challenge, we're also going to do our best to share furbaby photos that in some way correlate with angel Rosie's daily alphabetical adventures. To go along with today's A to Z topic of Nap Time, Evan wants you all to know that it's okay to stop and drop for a nap whenever and wherever you need one. He often helps out this mom of his while she's cooking in the kitchen or doing laundry. If such snoopervision tires him out, he immediately stops for a nap. Here he is settling into his favorite bed for a nap by the dryer.

Happy napping, friends!

***

Our Tip of the Day:

Today's tip relates to being cautious when near napping furbabies. Especially when it comes to deaf or skittish pets, be careful not to scare them when they're napping, such as by unexpectedly petting them. When napping and deep asleep, some dogs or cats might even display fear aggression if woken unexpectedly, which could result in even an accidental bite or scratch. As needed, if you need a sleeping cat or dog's attention, or are approaching them when they're sleeping, say their name first, or make another sound that is not alarming. Not all pets will be alarmed when awoken by a hand petting them and the like. You know your furbaby and their behaviors best. To be safe rather than sorry, though, especially if around an unfamiliar cat or dog, or if a particular cat or dog is on the skittish side or is growing older or deaf, then perhaps do try to avoid petting them while they're sleeping so as not to alarm them, and to avoid the risk of a bite or scratch.

Birthday Boy and the Letter M

Let's start today with something very, very important. Those of you who visited us yesterday might remember what we told you today is.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EVAN!

That's right, it's my momma's boy's birthday! My Evan is 6 today. I try not to let that number scare me. I still remember when Evan was just a kitten. I remember when someone dumped 6-week-old Evan at the front door of the cat clinic where I used to work. I remember how the tiny kitten that he was hissed and growled at me. I remember seeing his little paralyzed hind legs and wondering if this little boy would even survive. Well, my boy survived all right. That feisty little kitten survived, and he won my heart.

Happy birthday, my little hero!

 

On Evan's birthday last year, I told his whole story. My boy's story is a very special one, at least to me. If you'd like to read it and learn more about my little hero, click here.

Now, go right on ahead and grab a slice of that birthday cake! We've got some catnip brownies coming out of the oven, too. Don't forget to visit the toy table as well, and to take a nap in one of those boxes in the corner. We're all about a wild and crazy party like that.

***

Now, don't worry, because we didn't forget about the A to Z Challenge.

We're a broken record, as always, so we're still every day reminding you that our contributions to the A to Z Challenge this time around are a series of doodles starring my angel Rosie. In this series of doodles, Rosie is going throughout a more or less routine sort of day, doing this and that, A to Z style. So, what's Rosie doing with the letter M?

M is for...Making the Bed

Throughout this A to Z Challenge, we're also going to do our best to share furbaby photos that in some way correlate with angel Rosie's daily alphabetical adventures. To go along with today's A to Z topic of Making the Bed, the birthday boy himself is showing off what a huge fan he is of fresh beds. He especially likes his beds straight out of the dryer, warm and toasty.

***

Our Tip of the Day:

Today's tip is to make sure that the number of beds, blankets, and other napping places in your home is proportionate to the number of cats, or pups, in the house. Even with one cat or dog, a variety of sleeping spots can be important for a furbaby. This is even more important with multiple furbabies. This is because, just as with humans, cats and dogs sometimes simply want some personal space or alone time. Make sure these multiple napping spots are spread throughout the house, rather than crowded in one area. Especially for cats, also make sure that these rest areas are at a variety of heights. Cats often enjoy vertical personal space, so homes with multiple cats can do well having cat trees with multiple levels, as well as pet beds and blankets on beds or couches as well as on taller shelves or other elevated surfaces. The long and short of it is that when you have multiple furbabies, make sure they all have options for cozy places to have a peaceful nap. Personal space is important for our furbabies, too!