Friendly Fill-Ins and Eddy's Aquamarine Eyes

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. If I were to start a museum, it would be a museum of _________.

2. If I see _________ one more time I am going to lose my mind.

3. _________ is the strangest thing I believed as a child.

4. If my life had a mascot, it would be a _________.


My answers are below in bold.

1. If I were to start a museum, it would be a museum of drawings starring cats.
(I'd also be happy to include some doodles in there with dogs and other animals, but I'd mostly have a museum filled with drawings of cats in all sorts of seasons and settings and situations. I already have a ton of sketchbooks and notebooks filled with such feline drawings, so this answer is mostly me taking the easy way out.)

2. If I see a pregnant cat in my neighborhood one more time I am going to lose my mind.
(My neighborhood has always had feral cats. I put food out for them, and I'm happy for them to find a safe place in my yard. I've been able to trap-neuter-release one very feral kitty in need of vet care, and one pregnant cat was very sweet but without a family, and so I got her to a local no-kill rescue group. The newest issue is that a family in our neighborhood has started letting their intact cats roam. These cats have collars and a home, but the males are well-endowed and the females keep showing up pregnant. And that just means the cycle will never end. I wish people would be more humane and, well, smarter.)

3. Leprechauns living in my sandbox is the strangest thing I believed as a child.

(When I was a kid, my parents often made various holidays extra fun for my sister and me. One St. Patrick's Day when I was young, we wrote letters to leprechauns and made little homes for them in our backyard sandbox. If I'm remembering correctly, my parents even made tiny, fake footprints in the sand. Thereafter, for I don't even know how long, I really thought leprechauns lived in our sandbox outside.)

4. If my life had a mascot, it would be a cat reading a book.

(My mascot would be a cat for sure, because that's my life. Since I also love reading and writing, as well as drawing cats with books, I'd be more than happy with a bookish kitty as my life mascot. I fear this might make me sound full of hubris, but I'd like to turn one of my bookish kitty drawings into my mascot. Perhaps one of my bookish doodles of my calico angel Rosie.)

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 some Eddy? Today, we figured you were all due for another reminder that Eddy has absolutely stunning aquamarine eyes.

I just love her eyes. Well, I love all of her and her entire cute face, but those eyes are just stunning.

Eddy and all of us here wish you a fantastic day!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today we have two flashback doodles, and they're yet more of the spookyish variety. Well, sort of. I scribbled them up a couple summers ago, when I simply felt like drawing a kitty Grim Reaper as well as a kitty zombie. Because why not.

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Tip of the Day

Today's tip is one a bit more for the dogs, but of course could be used for kitties if the situation applies. What we're talking about today is bell training. It can help to have a way for your dog to tell you they need to go to the bathroom. Since jumping and scratching at the door is not all that ideal, you can hang a bell, or a strand of bells, on the doorknob. Of course, make sure the design of the bell and any attachments are safe for your furbaby, especially if they're a chewer. Once you've selected and placed the bell to be used, training techniques such as positive reinforcement can be used to teach your dog to ring the bell prior to going outside to use to the restroom. This will allow your dog to make the connection that, if they ring the bell on the door, they will be let out to use the restroom. Just as with any training, this may take time, but with patience, practice, and positive reinforcement, everyone involved can get the hang of it.

Thankful Thimble Thursday: Farewell, Froggy

Hello and happy Thursday, friends! Thimble is here and ready for Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop, and this one is in honor of our aquatic family member.

Yesterday, the African clawed frog I've had since I was 10 years old passed away. Today, Thimble is very thankful for the 27 years we had with our froggy. Well, Thimble only knew the frog for her 12 years of life, but she's grateful for those 12 years with the frog, and I'm grateful for the 27 years.

I sadly could not find any good photos of Thimble hanging out beside the frog in her tank. But, in the photo below, the reflection of the trees you can see behind Thimble is on the side of the frog's tank. 

Though I can't currently find any photos to prove this, Thimble spent not an insignificant amount of time staring at the frog. So did Tonks, as well as my sister's cat Toby. I don't blame them, as the frog was always a very intriguing little thing.

That photo was taken about 10 years ago, when the frog was roughly 17 years old. It's the best photo I ever managed to get of her. I did get a more recent photo of the frog a couple weeks ago, but it was when she was starting to get sick and so she doesn't look her best in that photo, so I'll keep that one to myself.

My grandma brought the wonderful frog to my family when I was 10 and my sister was 11. The frog had belonged to someone my grandma knew, but since the frog kept eating their other fish and frogs, they were going to flush it. African clawed frogs are indeed notorious for their cannibalistic tendencies. All that said, my dad's always had a lot of tanks for fish and such, and so we told my grandma to bring the frog to us. She got her own tank, of course, so that she wouldn't eat anyone. We never knew we'd have 27 years with the frog. When I moved to my house 11 years ago, I brought her with me, and so she's been fully under my care since then.

When we first got the frog, we were told it was a male. So, my sister and I, for some reason or another, named it Steve. Some time later, we learned how to figure out the gender of frogs, at which point we discovered that Steve was actually a girl. After that her name technically became Stefanie, but the reality is we've often just called her Froggy.

I've never had an aquatic companion cremated before, but after giving us 27 years, this loyal frog is indeed getting cremated and will be coming back to me in a cedar box with a plaque that says Steve/Stefanie and Froggy.

Thank you for 27 years, Steve...Stefanie...Froggy!

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Now we have 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. If I were to start a museum, it would be a museum of _________.

2. If I see _________ one more time I am going to lose my mind.

3. _________ is the strangest thing I believed as a child.

4. If my life had a mascot, it would be a _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

I felt like sharing another spooky summertime doodle today, so how about this old one of a kooky cat-o'-lantern mug hanging out on a summer night?

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Tip of the Day

Over the past couple of days, we've talked about the option of having cat grass available for your kitty to snack on or play in, or even using artificial grass to give your kitty a mock grassy area for napping or playing. Today, we're yet again expanding on this idea by suggesting that, if possible, you can start a cat garden for your kitty's enjoyment. This can be outdoor or indoor, of course assuming that your kitty does not put itself in any danger by having access to a large quantity of pet-friendly plants.

So, what could you put in a cat garden? First, of course, you could have cat grass and catnip. Also don't forget about valerian, which is a great alternative to catnip. Another option is cat thyme, which is known to make cats feel more content than plants such as catnip. Keep in mind, though, that some people find the odor of cat thyme to be rather unappealing. The traditional thyme herb is also non-toxic to cats, if you're looking to give your kitty even more variety. You can plant these goodies in separate pots throughout your kitty's favorite room, or you can plant them all together in one large pot, to give your kitty his or her own little jungle. An added bonus is that, if you have other plants in the home that are pet-friendly but which you'd like to keep safe from curious paws and teeth, offering a cat garden can help distract your kitty from these other plants.

It is worth mentioning that some sites online will mention adding other plants or herbs to a cat garden for more variety. If you are looking up such information online, always be cautious and careful to double check the safety of any plant you place in a garden for your cat. For example, lemon grass and chamomile are sometimes indicated as safe for pets, but such plants have been known to cause issues such as upset stomach and vomiting. Another example is parsley, which is typically harmless in small amounts, but which can lead to sensitivity to the sun and sunburn if consumed in large quantities. When in doubt, of course consult a veterinarian regarding safe plants, or visit the ASPCA's list of toxic and non-toxic plants.

Adventures with Angel Astrid: Floppy-Eared Fun

It's time to share a memory with my sweet angel pup Astrid, and today I have yet another one from one of her walks. This one stars her floppy ears, and I love that so much.

Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Yesterday, we mentioned some of the benefits of growing cat grass indoors for your kitty. We wanted to offer a couple more tips in this same line of thought. First, you don't only have to grow cat grass in small pots from which your kitty can have a bit of a green snack. Another option is to create for your kitty a cat grass bed. For example, you could grow some cat grass in a larger pot, and some cats will enjoy this grassy environment for napping or playing purposes. Cats' ancestors out in the wild often live, sleep, and even play in this type of grassy environment, so why not our domesticated kitties?

Another option is to create beds or play areas out of artificial grass, which can again give off the idea of a more wild environment for your kitty. Most synthetic grass materials are safe for pets, but you should of course still always double check, or simply look for ones that are specifically designed to be pet-friendly. There are, in fact, artificial grass toys, scratchers, and beds that are specifically designed for cats. Did you know there are even artificial grass potty mats for dogs, or even cats? All in all, artificial grass is not only low-maintenance, but can also have beneficial effects for your kitty. It can offer them a place to play or snooze, all while mimicking grassy environments found out in the wild. If you think your cat might enjoy cat grass or synthetic grass in the form of a bed or play area, perhaps look into setting this up for them.

Tonks Tuesday with the Toe Beans

It's Tonks Tuesday, and today the cute little calico wanted to give you all a glimpse of her toe beans.

Tonks has adorable toes, and she knows it. She says you're welcome for the toe beans show and tell today.

Happy Tuesday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

I felt like sharing another summertime spooky doodle today, and since I still haven't scribbled up this year's yet, I went into our archives and found this one. It's actually more so a springtime spooky doodle, though, as I scribbled it up as part of my "Halfway to Halloween" April A to Z Challenge a few years ago. That said, this drawing was also inspired by the fact that I have a couple of life-size skeletons that hang out around my house year round. They're not real, at least not that I'm aware of, and their names are Jack and Sally.

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Tip of the Day

Is your kitty a chewer? Do they put anything and everything in their mouth? While we're sure you all know to keep potentially dangerous plants out of your home, do you have safe or fake plants on which your kitty chews? If your cat goes outdoors, do they tend to eat grass on the lawn? If the answers to any of these are yes, and if medical issues have been ruled out for any abnormal behaviors, do perhaps consider keeping some cat grass growing in your home. Even if any of the above statements aren't true of your cat, you can of course still offer cat grass. Cat grass is a safe plant on which many cats enjoy chewing, and which also serves as a source of fiber than can help keep things moving sufficiently through the GI tract. For example, cat grass might be able to help prevent issues with hairballs.

You can purchase cat grass that has already been grown and is ready for your kitty's chompers, or you can grow your own. It is relatively simple to grow, and is also typically cheap. So, do consider looking into keeping cat grass in your home, both for your kitty's entertainment as well as for their health. Of course, do monitor your kitty, especially when first offering cat grass. If they gorge on the grass and/or vomit after eating it, then only offer it to them on occasion, or not at all.

Mancat Monday: Cuddle Time

This past 3-day weekend, I spent as much of my free time as possible cuddling my kitties. My biggest cuddle bug is Evan, as he's always been my little shadow. So, there were lots and lots of cuddles with my boy, and I am so very glad for that.

Just look at that face. Honestly, look at it! It's irresistible.

Happy Monday, friends!

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Flashback Doodles of the Day

A couple years ago, for the April A to Z Challenge, I drew a variety of sort-of-cat-shaped items. I found a bunch of them while I was yet again going through old doodles, so I decided to share a few of my favorite kitty-shaped things.

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Tip of the Day

We've been offering some pet parenting hacks, including ways to save money or space while also having a happy furbaby. Today's tip is another plain and simple one, and that's to consider making your own toys for your cats, or even your pups. For example, if you have an old shirt you no longer intend to wear, you can cut it up and use the cloth to create simple knot toys for your cat. If you have some catnip on hand, you can even include some of that in the knot itself, or let the toy soak up some catnip in a sealed bag prior to gifting it to your cat. You can also use old clothes to make knotted or braided toys for a dog, as long as the dog is not know to eat such items. Even a lone or unwanted sock could be used as a toy, such as simply by rolling it into a ball that a cat or dog could bat around or chase.

You could even try your hand at making an interactive toy for your kitty, or even your pup. One such idea is to take a Tupperware container, cut roughly golf ball-sized holes in its lid, put some of your kitty's toys or treats in the container, put the lid on, and let your kitty use the holes to have fun trying to access their goodies. Then again, a cardboard box might work just as well for this DIY interactive cat toy. Interactive toys such as this can be great for a cat or dog's physical as well as mental health, especially if they are spending extra time closed up indoors due to the weather. It's even better when you can save money by creating such toys yourself.

The options for making your own cat toys, or even dog toys, are endless. You can even take cardboard boxes to make a cheap castle for your kitty. So, if you're looking to save some money, or if you want to find a use for safe yet unused items such as clothing, then consider how they might be used to create something fun for your furbaby. If you want further ideas, there are an astonishing number of ideas online, so look into all of your options if you wish to. Of course, always make your furbaby's health and happiness your highest priority, and do not create any toys that might put them at risk.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Pretty Eddy

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-ins statements, and I came up with the second two.

1. I tend to forget _________.

2. I celebrate the 4th of July by _________.

3. I was a fan of _________ before it became popular.

4. I see _________ in my future.


My answers are below in bold.

1. I tend to forget the name of the plant known as the clematis.
(At least one climbing plant known as clematis has been growing at my parents' house, that being my childhood home, for decades. It has beautiful flowers, and I always recognize it when I see it, but the name of it always eludes me. My brain always wants to call it a chrysalis, which is decidedly not a plant. That, or I almost call it an unsavory disease of an unspeakable part of the body. My brain will come up with anything but the word clematis.)

2. I celebrate the 4th of July by eating hot dogs and watching movies.
(Our country's 250th birthday is a wonderful thing. That said, I'm not a big partier, and I'm also not the biggest fan of fireworks, mostly because I don't like how much they distress animals and those with related PTSD. So, I opt to spend the day at home, having a cookout with my parents and sister and watching even a slightly patriotic movie. My family always gets Nathan's hot dogs. You know, the brand they use for the 4th of July hot dog eating contest. They're honestly pretty darn good, and it's one of the only days all year that I enjoy a hot dog, or usually two or three.)

3. I was a fan of my current favorite book series before it became popular.

(I'll try not to ramble on too much here, as I've mentioned these wild and crazy books so very many times on this blog. It's the Dungeon Crawler Carl fantasy series by Matt Dinniman, starring a talking Persian tortie cat named Donut. I stumbled upon the books when the author was still independently published and had 6 books out in the series. The series has since become very popular, has 8 books out with 10 total set to be released, has been picked up by a traditional publisher, and is even going to be made into a TV show. While I'm not one of the earliest fans, I did find the books before they really blew up, and I'm glad I got to enjoy them before the craze.)

4. I see lots of kitty cuddles on the couch in my future.

(Like many people, I have a 3-day weekend. Though there will of course be plenty of chores needing done, I still want to spend as much time as possible hanging out with my kitties. I plan to use the long weekend to cozy up with them on the couch and read, write, and draw while watching some movies.)

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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Who's ready for an Eddy fix? We're sure all of you are. And so, the pretty tabby girl is here to grace you all with her presence.

If you look closely and squint your eyes, you can see Thimble's cameo in that there photo of Eddy. Though, Eddy isn't too keen on getting photobombed, so she hopes you all just focus on her.

Happy Friday to all!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's flashback doodle is one I scribbled up for Independence Day a few years ago. I can't remember what prompted me choose to get patriotic in this particular way, but I remember having fun drawing it.

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Tip of the Day

We're doing a bit of a repeat tip today, since it is, after all, the day of fireworks. I think we even shared this tip around Memorial Day, but we're going to share it again. On this 4th of July, there are ways to help keep your furbaby calm and safe during the often booming festivities. While those fireworks go off outside, close all window and doors, as well as blinds and curtains. This will help reduce the sights and sounds of the fireworks. You can further drown it out by putting on a movie or some music, and turning up the volume enough to mask the sounds of the fireworks. Just make sure it's not so loud that it is uncomfortable for your kitty or pup's sensitive ears.

What else can you do to help keep a nervous dog or cat calm during the fireworks shows? Try to distract them. Start a game inside with them, such as fetch or hide-and-seek. You can also offer some treats or a special meal. Sometimes simply talking to them can help, or even reading a book out loud to them.

Still, there are a few more potential ways to help a cat or dog feel as calm as possible while fireworks are set off this time of year. You can use a ThunderShirt, which, as many of you know, may help reduce anxiety in dogs and cats. You can also fashion something makeshift yet similar, using a blanket, towel, or even one of your shirts. If nothing else, simply provide a scared or anxious furbaby somewhere safe to hide inside the home. Ensure that they have somewhere to retreat that is pet-friendly, whether that be under a bed, behind a couch, or in another nook or cranny. You can also offer them boxes in which to settle down, if that helps your furbaby feel safe.

Lastly, in the unfortunate event of an escape or other emergency, ensure that your cat or dog has identification on them. Of course try to ensure that they are safe indoors and unable to get out of the house, but should they escape, be prepared. Many animals are uncertain of the sights and sounds of fireworks, and so if they find themselves outdoors on days like today, they might very well run and hide. This is why it is so important that, today and every day, your furbaby have an updated microchip and/or an identification tag to help them find their way back home. Of course no one wants to think of their furbaby escaping and getting lost, but it is always best to be prepared for the worst case scenario.

Thankful Thimble Thursday: Blurry but Cute

Hello and hi! It's Thursday, which means Thimble is here and ready for Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Today, Thimble is grateful for how cute she is. I'm so very thankful for her adorable little self as well. Thimble is glad that she's adorable even when she gets overly excited about having her photo taken and so ends up blurry and rolling all over the place.

Thimble genuinely loves having her photo taken. She loves attention and cuddles in general, so that's probably why shoving a camera in her face and oohing and awwing over her makes her so excited. And I'm more than fine with that. My only other kitty who at least somewhat likes having her photo taken is Tonks, as, like Thimble, she loves the attention. Evan tolerates photo shoots, and my sweet and sassy Eddy kind of hates them.

Happy Thursday to all!

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Now, of course, we have 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 forget _________.

2. I celebrate the 4th of July by _________.

3. I was a fan of _________ before it became popular.

4. I see _________ in my future.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's doodle is from a few years ago, and it's an odd one. But I promise it makes sense, at least to me. When Thimble was a kitten, her meows sounded so mechanical, as if she were a robot. While her meows are not quite as noticeably robotic-sounding anymore, they're still more than a little bit like that. All that said, ever since she was a kitten, I sometimes call her RoboKitty. So, I drew Thimble as exactly that.
 

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Tip of the Day

We're continuing with our pet parenting hack tips. So, yesterday we mentioned wrapping sisal rope around furniture legs in order to create money-saving scratching posts that also save you extra floor space. That's not the only way furniture can be used to create something special for your kitty, though. We all know that cats love cozy places to relax, including, of course, hammocks. If you yet again want to save money and floor space, you can suspend a hammock from beneath an end table or other similar piece of furniture. You would start with some cloth, which could be securely attached to or tied around the legs of the table. You could use velcro, some safely tied rope, or even just the corners of the cloth to suspend the hammock. In this way, you could create a cheap, easy, space-saving DIY hammock in which your kitty could snooze.