Selfies in a Snowstorm

Trying to get a distracted, excitable kitten to sit still and snap a selfie is like pulling teeth. I asked Tonks to star in a selfie today, and after more attempts than I'd like to admit, this bright and shiny and tilted and downright sad little selfie is all Tonks and I could manage.

Actually, we managed one more selfie that has not been fully demoted to the status of blooper. This other shot, as you'll see below, suffered greatly from my terrible, improper use of backlighting. Ready for some serious misuse of lighting?

Though my lack of talent in photography is largely at fault, there is one other reason why it was so tough to snap a selfie that was not bright and shiny and all shades of low quality. Though you can't tell from the images above, something very dazzling and distracting was happening outside. Indeed, this is what was happening on the other side of that door behind Tonks.

This is the first significant snowfall Tonks and her sister Winky have witnessed. And they sure were mesmerized by it. Those white flakes falling from the sky had them in all sorts of awe, and Tonks was going from window to window watching them fall. Come to think of it, perhaps I should have stopped chasing around the excited kitten and instead had a snoozing Evan or Thimble snap a selfie.I It's too late now, though, so you all get to enjoy the winning shots above.

Warm wishes to all of you!

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Our Doodle of the Day:

To the best of my knowledge, this here is the last doodle in our series inspired by instrumental piece known as "Wizards in Winter", by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

We could easily build a snowkitty today, given how much snow we got yesterday. Perhaps we should do that. Pup Astrid actually enjoys playing in snow, and she also loves kitties, so I'm thinking she'd be up for it.

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Our Tip of the Day:

Today's tip can relate to our own furbabies, as well as ferals, strays, and other animals who live outdoors. When ice comes into play during the winter months, be very cautious when using salt, or ice melt. Most traditional salts on the market contain ingredients that can be toxic and can irritate cats' and dogs' paw pads. Irritation can also occur in the mouth, as well as in the intestinal tract, which is a concern if the animal directly ingests the salt or licks it off of their paws after walking through it. So, for the sake of your furbabies as well as ferals and other outdoor animals, avoid using typical ice melts. Instead, do your research, or ask your veterinarian, for recommendations on pet-safe ice melts. There are some ice melts on the market that are far more safe than typical salt used for melting ice, but even some labeled as pet-friendly can still contain ingredients that might be questionable. For this reason, it is always important to do your research. You can also opt for other alternatives, such as tossing some sand or other other similar, safe substrate on top of ice that forms in the winter. Sand and other such materials can allow for better traction and reduced slippage on ice, while avoiding chemicals included in many ice melts.