Happy Birthday, Thimble, Toby, Trapper, and Angel Talon! (And Happy Mother's Day!)

Today is a very special day. The post's title probably gave it away, but it's my girl Thimble's 12th birthday!

This little lady is one of the sweetest, happiest, and just generally amazing creatures I have ever met in my life. Not to mention, just look at how cute she is. Honestly, just look.

Nearly 12 years ago, my grandma discovered that her neighbor had found a litter of 4 kittens and had placed them, for some reason, in a bucket. And then he'd just left them there. They were no more than 3 weeks old, and ever since then we've referred to them as the "bucket babies". My grandma rescued these little kitties, and then my parents, my sister, and myself took them in to bottle feed them. The intention was to adopt them out when they were old enough. Guess how that went.

So, it's not just Thimble's birthday, but the birthday of all the bucket babies. That includes her three brothers. There's of course handsome Toby, who owns my sister.

Then there's Thimble's much larger twin, that being dapper Trapper. He owns my parents.

Sadly, Thimble's third brother, sweet Talon, passed away last April because of the horrible thing that is cancer. He was one of the most intelligent and social kitties I've ever met. He owned my parents and was very close to his brother Trapper, and we all miss him so very much.

Happy Birthday, Thimble, Toby, Trapper, and sweet angel Talon! I hope you all have the most amazing, blessed day. I'll be giving the three earthside birthday babies lots of cuddles and toys, and I'll be thinking about Talon all day.

Last year, I scribbled up Harry Potter-esque birthday drawings for all of my furry babies. When I was looking in my archives for the one I created for these four last year, I realized I never even shared it here on our blog. I ended up finishing it about a week after their birthday, in part because I started it before Talon passed and then couldn't bring myself to finish it any sooner. So, here's their magical birthday celebration.

The scarves they're wearing relate to the "houses" that kids are sorted into at the magical school in the Harry Potter books. I would consider Thimble and Toby to be in the Hufflepuff house, as that one is for those are who are kind and calm. Thimble and Toby are indeed laidback like most Hufflepuffs. Trapper belongs to the same house as Harry Potter himself, that being Gryffindor. That's the house for those who are brave and bold, and that is indeed Trapper. Talon belongs to Ravenclaw, which is the house for those with great intelligence.

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It's Mother's Day in the United States (and I believe also in Canada), so we also want to wish all the mothers out there an extra special day! Whether your children are human and two-legged or furry and four-legged, mothers make this world go round. 

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Tip of the Day

Today's wildlife tip is another about birds. Hummingbirds, that is. These majestic little creatures love them a sweet drink. To make some sugar water for hummingbirds, you can mix 1 cup of cane sugar with 3 to 4 cups of water (extra mixture can be stored in the refrigerator for up to roughly one week). Despite popular belief, though, please do NOT add red food coloring to the sugar water. Adding a chemical dye can potentially be harmful to hummingbirds. Rather than lace their drink with artificial colors, you can simply use a bright (such as red) hummingbird feeder to attract them. There are indeed feeders specifically designed for hummingbirds and their preferred sweet drink. Of course, don't forget to clean said feeder in between fillings, as the sugar water mixture can potentially lead to mold if the hummingbird feeder is not maintained properly. Hummingbirds can make for grand Bird TV, just as long as you take the right precautions.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Bright and Shiny Eddy

To start this post, I want to send my most heartfelt condolences and prayers to Ellen and her husband David after the loss of their sweet kitty Penny. Penny was beyond blessed to have the most amazing, loving home and life with Ellen and David. What a beautiful tortie angel she is and always will be. You can visit Ellen at her blog here.

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I will be hosting today's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. Ellen came up with the first two fill-in statements, and I came up with the second two.

1. I know I am having a good day when _________.

2. I _________ when I am _________.

3. _________ makes me feel helpless.

4. I have a lot of confidence in my ability to _________.

My answers are below in bold.

1. I know I am having a good day when my kitties are all happy and healthy.

(Any day that all of my kitties are feeling good and acting like their happy, active, healthy selves, that's a good day. I plain and simply feel happy and content when my kitties are all feeling good.)

2. I am happiest when I am at home.

(I racked my brain for something more clever to put for this, but I just kept coming back to what I've mentioned many, many times before. And that is, I'm a homebody. There is nowhere I love being more than my own home, where I can be with my kitties.)

3. A sick kitty makes me feel helpless.

(I know I'm not alone with this one. When my kitties, or any pups or other furry companions, are not feeling well, I feel so helpless. Even if I've taken them to the vet and I'm giving them meds and all that jazz, I still feel helpless when I see my furry babies struggling. I mentioned earlier this week how Evan was in a pretty severe flare of his bladder cystitis. Even as I medicated him around the clock, I felt like I wasn't doing enough. Thankfully, after adding antibiotics and a Solensia injection to the mix, Evan is now pretty much all the way back to his normal self, and I am so very grateful for that.)

4. I have a lot of confidence in my ability to use my imagination.

(I'm far from a mastermind when it comes to imagination and creativity. But, when I sit down to draw or write, I'm happy that I can always come up with something to craft into existence. My ideas and techniques are far from perfect, but I am nonetheless grateful for the weird stuff that exists inside my head.)

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.

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It's time for your Eddy fix, so get ready for a bright and shiny one. Yesterday Thimble shared how grateful she is for sunshine, and little lady Eddy decided she wanted to do the same today.

Happy Friday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's doodle is from a few years ago, and it admittedly doesn't star a cat or even a dog. In honor of the little critters who visit my yard every night (and help themselves to the food I leave out for stray and feral kitties), here's a (o)possum for you.

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Tip of the Day

 

Today's tip in our wildlife series is all about feeding those birds in your yard. To begin, it may not be necessary to put food out for birds in warm months, when, unlike in the cold winter months, natural food sources are prevalent. That being said, it nevertheless typically does no harm to feed birds in your yard even in the warm months. So, feel free to feed those feathered friends. Your furbabies will thank you for the Bird TV.

Now, let's start with a couple of things not to feed the birds in your yard. Bread is one food that is not really all that ideal for birds. This is especially the case if the bread is moldy, which can have toxic effects. Chocolate is of course another no-no when it comes to feeding birds, but we're pretty sure none of you were tossing chocolate chips out there. Those are just to name a couple, though. If you have any doubts about a food being toxic to birds or other wildlife, err on the side of caution and do not leave it outdoors for them.

Now, on to what you can feed those birds. There can be a lot of factors when it comes to feeding birds. Different regions have different birds, different birds prefer different feed, and different feed sometimes requires different feeders or feeding methods. If you are really serious about feeding birds in your back yard, perhaps do a tad bit of research, or ask for some professional advice when purchasing bird feed at a specialty store. In short, though, birds often enjoy foods such as sunflower seeds, millet, nyjer seeds (typically put out for goldfinches), cracked corn, suet cakes, peanuts, or even some fruit. Remember what we said in previous tips, though, and place food for the birds somewhere that is safe for them, as well as for your furbabies.

Thankful Thursday with Angel Rosie and Thimble in the Sun

Today is Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

To begin, I'm so very grateful for the over 21 years I was blessed to share with my sweet and beautiful angel Rosie. She passed away on this date in 2015. That was one of the absolute worst days of my life, but I always want to remember Rosie with nothing but the pure happiness she brought me for over two decades.

My family adopted Rosie and her brother Sammy when I was 4 years old. Sadly, Sammy passed away at the age of 5, when I was 9 years old, of an undetected heart condition. Rosie, though, was with me until I was 26 years old. I am forever grateful for her companionship, unconditional love, and everything she taught me in life.

I love you, Rosie! Always and forever!

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Now, Thimble still wanted to share her thankful today as well. And, yet again, Thimble is so very grateful for sunshine!

Thimble wishes you all lots of bright and shiny sun!

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Last but not least, 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 know I am having a good day when _________.

2. I _________ when I am _________.

3. _________ makes me feel helpless.

4. I have a lot of confidence in my ability to _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

In honor of my sweet angel Rosie, here's a doodle I made of her hanging out in a library many years ago. She was always my reading buddy, so it's more than fitting for her.

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Tip of the Day

 

As we mentioned yesterday, we're doing a bit of a different sort of series of tips, that being one all about wildlife. We're staring today with some tips on feeding none other than geese, ducks, swans, and the like. First, keep in mind that not all areas allow the feeding of these birds, for a variety of reasons. So, first make sure that you're in a location that is safe and appropriate for feeding wild birds such as geese and ducks.

Now, on to feeding these birds of whom we're starting to see more and more in these springtime days. First and foremost, despite popular belief, bread is not an ideal food to feed geese and ducks. Bread does not have much in the way of nutritional value for these wild birds, and often can do more harm than good, such as by causing wing deformities. So, what should you feed animals such as geese? You can offer them some regular birdseed, keeping in mind that sunflower seeds are not one that is ideal for them. You can also give them certain fruits and vegetables, like grapes, kale, and Romaine lettuce. That being said, make sure that these foods are bite size, or else there is the risk that the geese or ducks could choke. So, cut grapes at least in half, and chop up kale or lettuce that you offer. If you offer birdseed or other small foods, mound them up in small piles for ease of eating.

Also ensure that you take safety precautions, both for yourself and the wild birds. For example, it is typically best that you not feed the birds directly out of your hands. In addition, place the food you feed them in a safe area, such as away from roads. In general, you simply have to use common sense, and if you're not sure something is safe, simply don't do it. Interacting with wildlife can be an inspiring and unique experience, but it is always best to keep both their safety and your safety in mind.

A Belated Halfway to Halloween with Angel Astrid

I know we're now mostly past the "Halfway to Halloween" part of the year, as that was more so the last day of April and/or first day of May. But, I was scrolling through photos of my sweet angel pup Astrid and was reminded of the mummy cookies I got her from our local pet store every Halloween season.

I've shared these photos many times, but I just love them. There were multiple Octobers in Astrid's life when she had surgery on her back right leg, such as to remove a cancerous tumor on her toe and then years later to fix a torn CCL (ACL). To add a little humor to those events, I would always get her a mummy cookie to enjoy while she was bandaged up.

I've always loved how in that photo above you not only can see Astrid's booted back right foot, but then she also removed the mummy's right leg. So very fitting.

Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

All of the above also inspired the following drawing, which I created as part of my "Halfway to Halloween" April A to Z Challenge many years ago. It stars a bandaged up angel Astrid as well as my calico angel kitty Rosie.

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Tip of the Day

In yesterday's tip, we discussed keeping our furbabies at a safe distance from those bird feeders we put out for the wildlife. And now we're going to share a repeat series of tips on feeding wildlife, and interacting with wildlife in general. While we all certainly love animals and so might very well enjoy visiting with them and feeding them, this is something you nevertheless always have take into careful consideration. It is important to determine whether feeding wildlife in a certain area is wise, or even allowed. There are some areas where feeding wildlife is prohibited, for a variety of reasons.

One reason why it might not be wise to feed wildlife in certain areas is that, of course, some human food is not healthy for the wildlife. Some foods can even lead to sickness in such animals. In addition, feeding wildlife can cause them to lose their fear of humans or predators, and that can be dangerous for them. They can especially be put at risk if they are fed near roads or other high traffic areas, where they can lose their fear of cars and other such dangers. Also, feeding wildlife without caution and care can lead to disease transfer. For example, some wildlife carry diseases that can be contracted by us humans or our furbabies. This means that not only can we be dangerous for wildlife if not careful, but they can be dangerous to us.

In known, controlled environments, such as your own back yard, feeding wildlife is of course more safe. Then again, you still have to be cautious of what and how you feed these animals, so that they can remain healthy and safe and so that nearby humans and their furbabies can remain safe. We already mentioned yesterday putting bird feeders and food for wildlife out of reach of your furbabies, for their own safety as well as that of the wildlife. Over the next couple of days, we'll be discussing some tips on what to feed wildlife, so stay tuned if that is something that might interest you.

Tonks Tuesday with Just One Canine Tooth

It's Tonks Tuesday, and today the calico wants to remind you all just how cute she is even with just one of her canine teeth remaining.

Tonks does have most of her other teeth, but she lost three canines to resorptive lesions a couple years ago. She and Thimble have a history of these. Thimble has lost more teeth than Tonks overall, but Thimble still has two of her canines while Tonks only has her upper right one left.

Tonks and all of us wish you a terrific Tuesday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

I sort of recently re-shared some old doodles of Evan, Thimble, Eddy, and angel Astrid that were all inspired by the new fantasy series of books I've mentioned here a ton of times. I didn't re-share the drawing I made of Tonks in that series because I had considered using it on one of my book covers for the April A to Z Challenge. I didn't do that, though, so now you get this doodle from a couple years ago. It stars Tonks and a certain velociraptor named Mongo.

In the book he comes from, Mongo the velociraptor is described as having feathers. Let me tell you, though, that even drawing him naked was stressful enough, and so I decided against adding the anxiety of trying to put feathers on him. Sorry, Mongo, but Tonks likes you just fine like this.

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Tip of the Day

Whether you feed the wildlife in the warm months as well as the cold months, be sure to take your furbaby into consideration when placing feeders and food. We often of course want our kitties and pups to be able to see their Bird TV and Squirrel TV out the window. That said, too close of proximity can cause problems. This is especially the case for our furbabies who go outdoors. If feeders are placed where outdoor dogs and cats can easily access them, the wildlife can of course be scared off or preyed upon.

There's also the chance that the outdoor pups and kitties themselves can be negatively affected by close proximity to the wildlife and their feeders. For example, birdseed can pose some dangers to dogs and even cats. If consumed, there is a chance that a dog or cat can become blocked by consuming too much food intended for the wildlife. In addition, it could be possible for birdseed to ferment inside a dog or cat's stomach, and thereby cause bloat, which can be a very serious condition. Another concern is if birdseed molds, which can then have toxic effects if ingested by a pup or kitty.

In addition, the wildlife themselves can pose risks to our furbabies, just as they can pose risks to the wildlife. For example, the feces of some wildlife might contain parasites that could infect our kitties or pups if ingested. Parasites and other issues can also arise if certain critters themselves are caught and consumed. Some wildlife also carry transmittable diseases, which in some cases might affect our furbabies, or which our furbabies can pass to us from wildlife with which they come into contact.

So, the long and short of it is to always be aware of where you place feeders and food for the wildlife. Many of us do enjoy feeding those outdoor critters, but we also must keep our own furbabies safe. Of course, the wildlife wouldn't mind a bit of safety from curious pups and kitties as well.

Mancat Monday with Megacolon and Cystitis

My poor boy Evan had a rough weekend. He experienced a flare of both his megacolon symptoms as well as a flare of bladder cystitis. In his case, both of these chronic ailments are likely at least in part a result of his hind limb paralysis.

We got the megacolon flare sorted out and his intestines are all cleared out and happy (for now, at least), but it always takes longer for his bladder to calm down when his cystitis acts up. Evan is getting his usual pain meds at increased frequencies right now, which is why he's good and conked out in that photo above.

I almost didn't share the photo below, as it does show Evan's bloody urine on a paper towel. But, I decided I'd go ahead and share it just because it's part of Evan's story. When Evan has a bladder cystitis flare, he'll often urinate blood for multiple days. Though he's feeling a bit better today that he was over the weekend, this photo from this morning shows that there's still plenty of blood in this boy's upset bladder.

Don't worry, because Evan is a tough little guy and always gets through these cystitis flares. He'll get plenty of his pain meds, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, and lots of extra cuddles until he's back to his usual self.

Happy Monday to all!

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Flashback Doodle(s) of the Day

I tend to re-share this particular old doodle when Evan requires extra drugs during his medical flares. It's an accurate representation of how the boy feels about the whole ordeal.

But let's share another flashback I scribbled up around the same time as that one above. This one is much happier, and it also pays tribute to Evan's love for his beloved blankets.

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Tip of the Day

Yesterday's spring safety tip was about taking precautions around potentially dangerous products during any spring cleaning. In addition to spring cleaning, home renovations and other similar projects are often tackled this time of year. If you are planning any home renovations during the spring months, or any time of the year, keep in mind that some paints, varnishes, and other such products can indeed be toxic to our furbabies if ingested. The fumes of such products can also of course pose risks. Renovations and the like might also mean the arrival of bits and bobs such as nails and screws, which of course can be dangerous if ingested or if stepped on by kitty or pup paws. There are any number of dangerous items that might be involved in home renovations or other such projects, so always keep this in mind with regard to your furbaby. Block their access to dangerous areas, and keep all hazardous items tucked out of reach when not in use.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Thimble's Cat-o'-Lantern Fun

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. When I need to make a tough decision, I _________.

2. If I were a dance, I would be a _________.

3. _________ is my current life motto.

4. _________ is the best part of being an adult, and _________ is the worst part.

My answers are below in bold. 

1. When I need to make a tough decision, I try to think of both current and future consequences.

(I've learned that it helps me make decisions to not only think of current benefits or instant gratification, but how things will end up in the long run. This is probably common sense, but it's something I fully realized over time as I got older and had more tough decisions to make.)

2. If I were a dance, I would be a breakdance.

(Did you see that Australian lady's breakdance from the 2024 Summer Olympics? That's the kind of breakdance I'm talking about. It's an accurate representation of me trying to get through most days.)

3. "Yes, you can." is my current life motto.

(I wish I had something more profound to say for this one. But, the reality is that I keep catching myself, or even others, saying that my goals in life aren't feasible. That sort of mentality makes me question my ability to pursue my dreams, which in turn makes me do a double take and think, wait, no. Yes, I can.)

4. Independence is the best part of being an adult, and paying the price is the worst part.
(As a kid, I wanted nothing more than to have my independence. I wanted to be able to do what I wanted and when I wanted to do it rather than have to defer to the adults around me. So, being an adult is great when it comes to those perks, at least within reason. As for the worst part, though, I chose this wording so that it could hold all sorts of meanings. Whether paying the price literally means paying bills, or having to deal with the many other responsibilities of being an independent adult, or even just the aches and pains of getting older, there are plenty of prices to pay as an adult.)

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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Eddy wants to thank everyone for the birthday wishes! Since she got to share her adorable self on her big day yesterday, she agreed to let our usual Thursday girl Thimble take over today's post.

Now, as we've mentioned more than once this past week, there are people out there who enjoy Halloween so much that they celebrate the end of April and early May for their status as being halfway to Halloween. I'm one of those people. So, for one more "Halfway to Halloween" post, Thimble wants to share with everyone that she still greatly enjoys playing with the used and abused well-loved cat-o'-lantern toy the kitties have had for many years.

That poor thing used to be a way brighter orange, and way less bedraggled. The kitties love it so much, though, and it shows.

Happy Halfway to Halloween!

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Doodle of the Day

Quite a few years ago, I did none other than a "Halfway to Halloween" theme for the April A to Z Challenge. All of those doodles starred my calico angel Rosie in spooky-ish springtime settings. Since Thimble shared off her favorite cat-o'-lantern toy above, this particular doodle from that year seems perfectly fitting for today.

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Tip of the Day

Today's spring safety tip is all about that spring cleaning. In our series for Pet Poison Prevention Month, we gave some tips on household items that can potentially be toxic to our furbabies, such as if ingested. Some of these dangerous products are, of course, household cleaners. Various detergents, for example, can be very caustic or can contain toxins. This is why, if you are planning on doing some spring cleaning around your home, always think ahead and take your furbaby's health and safety into consideration.

As needed, block your kitty or pup from the rooms you are cleaning, such as with closed doors or baby gates. What's more, when cleaning products are not in use, store them safely out of reach, where curious paws cannot reach them. It is true that some household cleaners are dangerous while others are not, but if you are in any way unsure of a product's safety, err on the side of caution, assume it is dangerous, and keep it away from those furbabies while you spring clean.