Friendly Fill-Ins

Who's ready for the Friendly Fill-Ins? As we mentioned last week, Annie of McGuffy's Reader is taking a much-needed and very well-deserved blogging break. So, I am excited to be serving as the co-host to Ellen of 15andmeowing.

In case you missed the fill-ins yesterday, here they are again. Ellen crafted up the first two, and I came up with the last two.

1. Happiness is _________.

2. Ten years ago, I _________.

3. _________ is the best medicine.

4. Most people don't know that I _________.


And here are my completed fill-ins, with a solid dose of my usual rambling as well.

1. Happiness is sometimes a choice.
(In some cases, due to certain circumstances, I understand that happiness may not always come easy. However, in other cases, I really do believe happiness is something we can choose. I know far too many people who are unhappy because their house isn't big enough for their taste, because they don't have their dream job, or because something else in their life isn't exactly how they want it. In those cases, I think you simply have to realize how blessed you are for all that you do have, and then choose to be happy for those blessings.)

2. Ten years ago, I was counting down the semesters until I was finished with college.
(Ten years ago, I was finishing up my freshman year of college. In grade school and all the way through college, I always put extreme pressure on myself to get perfect grades. I was the only one putting that pressure on myself, but because of it I spent all of my school years ridden with self-induced stress. That's probably why I could not wait until my days of homework and exams were over.)

3. A purring cat is the best medicine.
(Best. Cure. Ever.)

4. Most people don't know that I was home-schooled for three years.
(I went to kindergarten at a local private school. Then, for first, second, and third grades, I was home-schooled. Then I went back to the same private school for fourth grade, and stayed in a traditional school setting for the rest of my schooling days. I've actually never asked my parents why they chose to home-school myself and my sister for three years. I remember my mom and sometimes my dad teaching us at home, and taking us on field trips to all sorts of museums and other educational programs. It was a unique experience.)

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 over at Ellen's blog, 15andmeowing.

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Don't worry, we didn't forget to give you your Friday dose of Eddy. We have a couple more miraculously non-blurry shots of Eddy, snapped while she was enjoying some window whiffies.

Eddy doesn't just have that lovely shot of her to share, though. Just like Thimble did yesterday, today Eddy is partaking in a fun little musical challenge. We are very late to the Curious as a Cathy Mewsic Moves Me blog hop, but we recently learned of one of these on our friend Stunning CK's blog. The one she recently shared involved the simple task of spelling out your name using song titles. All of the furbabies around here decided to have fun with this, with the help of their music-loving Auntie (aka, this here human's sister). So, here is what Eddy and her Auntie came up with for Eddy's name!

E:    "Edelweiss" from the musical/movie "The Sound of Music"

D:    "Dancing Queen" by ABBA

D:    "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" by Blue Oyster Cult

Y:    "You Can't Always Get What You Want" by The Rolling Stones

Eddy and all of us here hope that you all have a fabulous Friday!

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Our Doodle of the Day:

Our newest series of doodles is all about food. Because, well, food.

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Our Tip of the Day:

 

Today's summer safety tip is all about sunburn. Just like us humans, our furbabies can get sunburned. This can happen during time outdoors, or even by sunbathing in windows or doors. And, just as with humans, sunburn can result in skin cancer in our cats and dogs. This is why it is incredibly important to be aware of this and to take precautions.

Keep in mind that cats and dogs with little to no fur are of course more susceptible to sunburn. In addition to this, those with light fur and skin, such as those that are white or orange coats, are also more susceptible. That doesn't mean furbabies of other colors are not at risk, though. In addition, the areas of the body most likely to get sunburn are the ears, nose, and belly, as in most furbabies these areas have less hair coverage. Again, though, this doesn't mean sunburn or skin cancer cannot occur elsewhere on the body.

What are the signs of sunburn in your furbaby? They are very similar to those in humans. A cat or dog with sunburn will typically develop pink or red skin, which is often inflamed as well. The sunburn is often painful, and the affected skin can also become dry and flaky. Hair loss can also occur around the sunburned area. These are all signs to be aware of, but they are also things that you want to try to prevent from happening in the first place.

So, what can you do to protect your furbabies from sunburn and potential resulting skin cancer? You can of course minimize their time in direct sunlight, whether that be while outside or while sunbathing in a window or door. You can opt for outdoor activities when the sun is not at its peak, as well as opting for shade when outdoors. When it comes to indoor furbabies, you can close doors and curtains to help protect against sunburn during the sun's prime time of the day. In addition to this, there are certain window types and window covers that can help block UV light. These could certainly be useful for frequented windows and doors, but this also of course may not guarantee full protection against sunburn or resulting skin cancer.

Finally, another option for sun protection is, of course, sunscreen. This is especially important for furbabies who frequently go outdoors in the summer sun, or even for those who frequently sunbathe indoors. There is pet-safe sunscreen available on the market. Many sunscreens designed for humans can contain ingredients that are potentially toxic to cats and dogs, so it is indeed important that you look for products formulated especially for your kitty or pup. What's more, as we always say, if you have any questions at all regarding sunburn and skin cancer in your kitty or pup, be sure to discuss this with your veterinarian.