Festive Friday

Happy Friday-before-Christmas, everybuddy! I bet all of you friends of ours are feeling pretty festive these days. We know we are. What else is festive? Today's Friendly Fill-Ins!

1. I can't wait to see _________ open my gift to him/her.
2. I have had the same _________ for _________.
3. I would not mind if Santa were to bring me _________.
4. On Christmas Eve, I always _________.

See? Our wonderful hosts, Ellen of 15andmeowing and Annie of McGuffy's Reader, came up with those wonderful thoughts for us to fill in. So, fill them in I did.

1. I can't wait to see Evan open my gift to him.
(I know that Christmas isn't about giving gifts. Nevertheless, I do enjoy gifting things to both human and furry family members, gifts that I think will bring them joy. This year, I think I am most excited about giving my mancat Evan's gift to him. I was going to tell you what it is, but then I decided to build some suspense and wait to let him show you later. To be honest, I really can't wait to give all of my furbabies their gifts. I love seeing them happy and having fun.)

2. I have had the same Christmas Eve tradition for nearly my entire life.
(See #4.)

3. I would not mind if Santa were to bring me news that all the homeless will have homes.
(I mean this for furbabies and humans alike.)

4. On Christmas Eve, I always go to Christmas Eve Mass at my church, and then to my parents' house for our family gift exchange.
(This has been my family's Christmas Eve tradition since I was a small child. We go to church, come home and have dinner, and then gather around the Christmas tree and open gifts. We started doing this because when I was a child, we always would head out first thing on Christmas morning to go visit extended family out of town all day, which made Christmas morning church and Christmas morning gift-opening a real hustle. So, instead, we started enjoying Christmas Eve church services and opening gifts that were under the tree on Christmas Eve. Then, on Christmas morning, we would open the gifts in our stockings. Even though we're all Christmas Day homebodies nowadays, my family still has this very same tradition.)


Now, of course, Eddy has some festive shots to share with you.

The window sill makes for a great path to the tree, you know.

We're wishing everybuddy a festive Friday!

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Our Festive Doodle of the Day:

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Our Tip of the Day:

We have recently mentioned some ways to make Christmas special for both your own furbabies and those in shelters. Today, we want to remind you to remember those furbabies who are outdoors and in your neighborhood. Do you have stray or feral kitties around your area? If so, for Christmas, or any day possible, try to give them any help you can. You can give them some extra food, some treats, and even a toy. If possible, try to offer them shelter in some way. This is something that can greatly benefit them in the cold of winter. If it's something you can manage, you could allow them access to your garage, shed, or even a spare room in your home, as long as this option is safe for them and all other animals in your home. Or, you could find some way to give them shelter outdoors. There are shelters you can buy and set up in your yard, or you can build a makeshift one. For example, you can get a large Styrofoam cooler, cut a hole in one side, put some bedding and food in there, and thereby give outdoor furbabies somewhere to hole up. You can also use tables, chairs, or other items to make a safe area under which they can stay out of the elements. If possible, you could find a way to allow them use of an outdoor-safe, pet-friendly heating pad.

It's worth it to mention that, when it comes to bedding, keep in mind that while towels and blankets sound like a good idea, they can get wet from rain or snow if outdoors, and then they often stay wet or even freeze. For this reason, you could try using straw instead. Straw does not remain wet like towels or blankets, and it also makes a great substrate for burrowing and staying warm.

Lastly, since we're talking about outdoor animals, perhaps don't forget the squirrels and birds! For Christmas, you could throw some extra food out for them, to allow them an extra festive day as well. Some places even make especially festive suet cakes and other goodies for outdoor critters this time of year.

So, this Christmas season, don't forget to think outside of your own home and family. Of course Christmas is a time for family, but it's also a time to remember how lucky we are, and how others may not be so lucky. So, spread the love this Christmas season!