A Birthday Bash and a Nap

Today we're starting with something very important. What's that, you ask? Well, it's birthday wishes for my girl Eddy!

Today we're celebrating Eddy's 4th birthday. Wait. What? Wasn't she just a kitten yesterday?

I guess I shouldn't deny my girl her maturity. Eddy is my sweet ans sassy 4-year-old momma's girl with one heck of a flight response. She's also downright adorable and has the cutest snaggletooth, thanks to facial nerve paralysis she's had since kittenhood.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EDDY!

Of course, all of you friends of ours are more than welcome to join us in the birthday fun and festivities! Eddy is a huge fan of anything fishy, so there's fresh fish for all. And it certainly wouldn't be a party without some nip and naps, so do partake in those as well.

Speaking of naps, that has a a tad bit to do with our contribution for this last day of the A to Z Challenge.

Just as with the previous 25 letters, our alphabetical series of doodles stars my angel Rosie. In this series of doodles, Rosie has gone throughout a more or less routine sort of day, doing this and that, A to Z style. So, on this last day of the A to Z Challenge, what's Rosie doing with the letter Z?

Z is for...Zzzzzzz

As you all certainly know by now, throughout this A to Z Challenge, we're also sharing furbaby photos that in some way correlate with angel Rosie's daily alphabetical adventures. To go along with today's A to Z topic of Zzzzzzz, birthday girl Eddy is sharing a flashback of her enjoying her favorite sleeping spot every night, which is her mom's legs when they're trapped beneath the sheets.

The birthday girl and all of us here wish you a terrific Tuesday! We hope you catch lots of Zzzzzzs today!

***

Our Tip of the Day:

Today's tip is meant to relate to both our A to Z topic of Zzzzzzz as well as with my girl Eddy, since today is indeed her birthday. Somehow, that mixture of ideas led us to the topic of carriers. You see, my girl Eddy has a lifelong fear of that dreaded carrier. As a kitten, she was trapped out in the country by a local rescue group. Shortly thereafter, she developed severe neurological signs, including spinning in circles, tipping over when walking, a significant head tilt, and facial nerve paralysis. One of the top guesses for why she suddenly developed these signs within hours of being trapped is that the trap potentially hit her in the head and injured her. Eddy has since recovered from the majority of her symptoms, save for an adorable head tilt and facial nerve paralysis, but she has maintained a crippling fear of any and all cages and carriers.

In honor of Eddy, we're here to give you some reminders to help combat fear of the carrier as best as possible. First and foremost, try to keep the carrier out year round, 24/7. This can help to prevent the carrier from becoming a source of fear and flight at the sight of it, such as when it is brought out for an impending vet visit. What's more, try to turn the carrier into something fun or cozy. You can try putting a blanket or bed in the carrier, to turn the carrier into a place for relaxing and napping. You can also make the carrier a place where treats are given, or even a place where canned food or other goodies are fed. Toys can also be placed or tossed into a carrier during playtime, to make it a more fun place to be.

It is also important to note that type of carrier might be an important factor as well. For example, does your cat seem fearful of the size or sounds of a plastic carrier? If so, perhaps instead try using a mesh or cloth carrier. That being said, also keep in mind your cat's safety. For example, if your cat has a tendency to scratch at their carrier, especially if in a highly determined manner, then consider whether a carrier made of mesh or cloth will keep them safely enclosed and contained.

There are still more options that can be considered when it comes to visiting the vet with a fearful cat. For example, you can look into the possibility of at-home visits from a veterinarian. There are also of course sedatives that veterinarian can prescribe to help calm a kitty for a vet visit. If in doubt about your kitty's comfort and safety when preparing and traveling for a vet visit, or other destination, of course consult your veterinarian.

Y is for...

It's the penultimate day of the A to Z Challenge.

As has been the case for the past 24 letters, our alphabetical series of doodles still stars my angel Rosie. In this series of doodles, Rosie is going throughout a more or less routine sort of day, doing this and that, A to Z style. What's Rosie doing with the letter Y?

Y is for...Yoga

As you all certainly know by now, throughout this A to Z Challenge, we're also sharing furbaby photos that in some way correlate with angel Rosie's daily alphabetical adventures. To go along with today's A to Z topic of Yoga, in a perfectly off-center and terribly lit photo, Toby is here to demonstrate none other than the infamous downward-facing dog yoga pose, just like Rosie in her doodle above.

We bet a lot of you friends of ours are yoga pros like Toby. We're right, aren't we?

Happy Monday, friends!

***

Our Tip of the Day:

As you all certainly know, a kitty or pup can show signs of illness or injury in a variety of ways. One behavior to always keep an eye on is none other than stretching. A comfortable, healthy, happy furbaby will stretch and show other similar signs of comfort and contentment. A furbaby who does not feel well or who is in pain might stretch less, or not at all, and of course might also display other signs of discomfort, such as sitting in a hunched position. Therefore, if you notice less stretching from your furbaby, or any other signs that are abnormal to your kitty or pup, of course consult a veterinarian.

Guest Sunday Selfies

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago how, on my birthday, I went on a hike at my favorite local forest. While there, I caught sight of a new little friend. See?

Can you see him in there? I zoomed in for a better shot of my new friend. Of course, the friendship was unrequited and my little pal tried to run away.

Thanks to the wonderful zoom function of a camera, though, I did snap one halfway decent shot before the little fellow scurried away from the crazy lady with the camera.

What I enjoyed most about this encounter is that this is a fox squirrel. This hiking area is about 30 minutes from my house, and in my hometown all those 30 minutes away, we only have grey squirrels. I think fox squirrels are beautiful, with those bush red tails, and so I was quite happy for this little meeting I had.

Of course, this red little fellow I met is unwittingly participating in today's Sunday Selfies Blog Hop, hosted by the Kitties Blue over at The Cat on My Head.

Happy Sunday to all!

***

As has become customary during this month of April, the month of the A to Z Challenge, on this Sunday we are sharing the doodle that I scribbled up for our most recent Thoroughly Poetic Thursday poem. This poem is titled "Vinny and Val", and was loosely based on my childhood experience with my angels Rosie and Sammy. To read this poem, just click here.

***

Our Tip of the Day:

To go along with the poem we wrote this past Thursday, and the above accompanying doodle, we have a couple of reminders we've given in the past. First, only use costumes and clothing on kitties and pups who enjoy or tolerate it. If a cat or dog expresses agitation or any dislike for wearing costumes, then keep their comfort and happiness in mind and refrain from dressing them up.

The second comment we want to make is to ensure that children in your life are taught to be kind, gentle, and considerate with cats and dogs, and all animals in their life. This might indeed mean ensuring that children understand to never play dress-up animals who do not enjoy it. Of course, this also extends to any fun and games they might attempt with kitties and pups. Some animals are simply more tolerant than others, and some find more joy than others in playing games of any human sort. Children should be taught to accept and respect if a certain animal simply does not want to play. So, make sure that children in your life understand how to be gentle and considerate of animals and their preferences and feelings, and to give animals space if they need it. This is important to ensure that not only are the animals in question comfortable and happy, but also so that no accidental bites or scratches occur.

X is for...

It would seem that we're nearing the end of April, which means we're also nearing the end of the A to Z Challenge.

As we've probably quite annoyingly told you roughly a gazillion times this month, our alphabetical series of doodles stars my angel Rosie. In this series of doodles, Rosie is going throughout a more or less routine sort of day, doing this and that, A to Z style. So, what's Rosie doing with the letter X? First, let me tell you, I had to make a real stretch to work X into Rosie's day.

X is for...X Marks the Spot

Get it? To make X work, I had to turn it into items X-ed off of her to do list. She sure has been a busy kitty during this A to Z Challenge.

Now, like we've also said roughly a gazillion times this month, throughout this A to Z Challenge, we're also sharing furbaby photos that in some way correlate with angel Rosie's daily alphabetical adventures. To go along with today's A to Z topic of X Marks the Spot, we worked with the second item on Rosie's to do list. Do you see what that says? In line with that, Thimble wanted to show off her skills at knocking anything and everything off of any and every flat surface in the house. She seems to have some sort of quota for how many things need to hit the floor in a day. And not even Thimble's own namesake is safe from her whappy paws!

Thimble vs. the thimble. Guess who won. Thimble. Thimble won, obviously.

Those flashback bloopers of Thimble are also our day-late-and-a-dollar-short contribution to the Pet Photo Fails! Blog Hop, hosted by Melissa and Mudpie of Melissa's Mochas, Mysteries, & Meows. You can blame this here human and her faulty memory for us not participating in this fun hop yesterday.

Of course, our above doodle of Rosie also means we're participating in Athena's always fun Caturday Art Blog Hop.

Happy Caturday!

***

Our Tip of the Day:

Our A to Z installment for the letter X is all about checking things off of your to do list. To relate this to the furbabies in our lives, and to offer a tip in this realm of things, I'm going to share something that my family used to do for one of my childhood dogs. This pup, a sweet and gentle giant named Shellie, ended up on an armory of medications in her senior years. She took some medications once a day, others twice a day, and yet others three times a day. In order to ensure that none of the 4 people in our family gave her a medication that she had already received, or that a medication was not forgotten, we had a list of all of her daily medications and the times they needed administered. If you gave pup Shellie a medication, you immediately crossed that particular medication administration off of the schedule. This ensured that she never missed a medication, and that she was also never accidentally overdosed on a medication. Today's tip, therefore, is to consider some sort of list or schedule to keep track of your kitty or pup's medications. This might be especially beneficial if your kitty or pup is on multiple medications, if there are multiple animals in the house on medications, and if there are multiple people in the home who need to stay in proper communication regarding said medications.

Fill-Ins and the Letter Known as W

Who's ready for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge? We're ready for it! In case you missed the fill-in statements yesterday, I'll share them again here. Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. I got my first cell phone in _________.

2. I wish the word _________ could be removed from the English language.

3. I'll never outgrow _________.

4. _________ make(s) me feel old.


If you'd like to know how I answered these, just read on. My answers are in bold.

1. I got my first cell phone in 2003.
(It was near the end of my eighth grade year when I got my first cell phone. It was in part because I was about to head off on a week-long trip to Washington, D.C., with my eighth grade graduating class. Way back then, in order to be able to easily contact my parents to check in throughout that week, a very plain and basic cell phone found its way to me.)

2. I wish the word "bae" could be removed from the English language.
(For anyone who might not know, "bae" is one of those newer words that has been added to the dictionary in recent years. It means anything along the lines of "boyfriend", "girlfriend", "sweetheart", and the like. Apparently, it might simply be short for "baby" or "babe". "Bae", or "bæ", can also mean "poop" in Danish, so why, exactly, is it used as it is in the English language? This word really irks me, and I can't even fully explain why.)

3. I'll never outgrow cuddling furry cuties.
(I was known to hug any and every furry animal who would allow it when I was a child. There is actual video footage of my rude childhood self chasing down my grandma's sweet, good sport of a Samoyed dog for a hug. Not much has changed since those days. I still hunt down all the kitties and pups I know for cuddles. As an adult, I'm now that person who spends an entire social gathering hanging out with the nearest cat or dog rather than the people.)

4. Current trends make me feel old.
(I am so out of the loop. I see kids and their trends these days and can't help but think, "Wait, what?" Things have really, really changed since I was a kid. Fashion, music, TV shows, this thing known as technology, and all sorts of other things have totally gone haywire, at least to me. I really don't mind being out of the loop in most regards, though. I never understood any of the trends when I was a kid, either, so it's nothing new. And I have no problem going against the grain.)

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.

***

Now, how about today's installment of the A to Z Challenge?

In case we haven't said it enough times already, our alphabetical series of doodles stars my angel Rosie. In this series of doodles, Rosie is going throughout a more or less routine sort of day, doing this and that, A to Z style. So, what's Rosie doing with the letter W?

W is for...Washing Your Face

Throughout this A to Z Challenge, we're also sharing furbaby photos that in some way correlate with angel Rosie's daily alphabetical adventures. To go along with today's A to Z topic of Washing Your Face, Evan wanted to show you the horror he has to endure for various cleanings.

Evan, my hind limb paralyzed little hero, sometimes has bathroom visits that go a little off the rails. That's when this stuff comes into play. He oft tells me to back off when he sees me holding that bottle, because he doesn't need help bathing, thank you very much. Then again, Evan is easily swayed with treats, so this here human usually does win this battle.

Happy Friday, friends!

***

Our Tip of the Day:

We already gave a tip on bathing your furbabings not long ago. Today's tip relates to that, but in a different way. Today's tip is a little idea on what you can do if your furbaby just needs a little wipe down or small cleanup. For example, what if your kitty or pup has manged to get a dirty face, or has remnants from a bathroom break on their rear end? For such cases, there are pet-friendly bath wipes on the market. Some fragrance-free baby wipes are also safe options, but to to err on the side of caution, wipes specifically formulated for dogs and cats are a good option. Another quick cleanup for kitties or pups are waterless shampoos. An example is the one in the photo with Evan above. Last year we reviewed that product, Burt's Bees waterless shampoo for cats, as part of the now obsolete Chewy.com Blogger Outreach Program, and it works great when hind limb paralyzed Evan needs a bit of a cleaning after a slightly unwieldy trip to his toilet. The important thing is to ensure any products you use to wipe or otherwise clean your furbaby are harmless and pet-friendly. When in doubt, consult your veterinarian on how to best give your furbaby any form of cleaning that might be necessary.

V is for...

Happy Thursday, friends! Where do we start with the fun and games? Let's begin with today's installment of the A to Z Challenge.

In case we haven't said it enough times already, our alphabetical series of doodles stars my angel Rosie. In this series of doodles, Rosie is going throughout a more or less routine sort of day, doing this and that, A to Z style. So, what's Rosie doing with the letter V?

V is for...Visiting Online Friends

Throughout this A to Z Challenge, we're also sharing furbaby photos that in some way correlate with angel Rosie's daily alphabetical adventures. To go along with today's A to Z topic of Visiting Online Friends, Thimble is taking over her mom's computer to go see what all of her blogging buddies are up to.

Of course, on this Thankful Thursday, and every day, Thimble and all of us here are so very thankful for all of you friends of ours. This blogging community is filled with so much kindness and compassion, thanks to all of you.

***

Next up, we did some rhyming for Angel Sammy's Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge.

Each week, our host shares a photo prompt to help us get our poetic gears spinning. This is the image for this week:

Though we never once did ballet in our lives, this image still reminded me of my sister and me when we were young. We did have some tutus as part of some of our childhood Halloween costumes, so maybe that's why? Anyway, of course the next thought I had involved our childhood cats, my sweet angel Rosie and her insanely tolerant brother Sammy. After all, these two kitties were our playmates growing up, and they put up with so much, including some occasional games of dress-up.

So, the poem below is very loosely based on, and of course in honor of, my angels Rosie and Sammy. Since today is all about the letter V in the A to Z Challenge, I also felt compelled to incorporate that into the poem. I simply used the names of the cats to make that happen, so that explains the random names for the kitties in this poem.

That's enough rambling for now, I would say. I'll stop talking now and let you read the poem, if you feel so inclined.

Vinny and Val

Penny and Jenny were their names,

And they were two little girls who loved to play games.

They especially loved to play with their best pals,

Who were known to them as Vinny and Val.

Now, Vinny and Val were a kind all of their own.

After all, they were furry and feline right down to the bone.

Penny and Jenny loved Vinny and Val with all of their soul,

Which was perhaps why the cats let the girls off with no toll.

Penny and Jenny never failed to seek out their furry friends,

Playing games with them and dressing them in the finest trends.
Just last week they had turned the girls' bedroom into a castle,
And with a grand dragon Penny, Jenny, Vinny, and Val did battle.

And they would never forget how they spent just yesterday,
Which just so happened to be Penny and Jenny's birthday.
To celebrate, they built a fort in the living room,
And the girls, Vinny, and Val camped out as if under the moon.

Day after day, there was also games of dress-up.
After all, Penny and Jenny had dozens of fun clothes in a tub.

The little girls loved to dress up as cowboys and pirates,

And they thought dressing Vinny and Val the same was a riot.

One day, though, there was no cowboy or pirate attire in sight.

Instead, there were pretty pink tutus, yep, that's right.
Val pranced right on over for her tutu fitting.
Before she knew it, in a tutu she was quite prettily sitting.

Goodness me, please, no, Vinny wanted to groan.

Penny pulled out a purple tutu and told Vinny he could call it his own.

Vinny decided a nap was a far better idea,

And wondered if curling up on the floor would gain him freedom.

Alas, that did not work.

Penny approached with the tutu and a happy smirk.

Before they knew it, Vinny and Val wore tutus near their tails,

All because Penny and Jenny's enthusiasm simply never failed.

Each of the little girls wore a tutu around their own waist,

As well as a great big smile on their pudgy little face.

"Spin! Spin! Spin!" little Jenny cried.

She spun in circles so fast she looked like she might fly.

Never ones to disappoint their little girls,

Vinny and Val set their own furry little bodies atwirl.

Boy oh boy, was that a sight to see,

Two girls and two cats all spinning with a, "Weeeee!"

Together, they spun and twirled and danced all around,

All four of them wearing tutus around their bellies like frilly crowns.

The girls giggled and the cats purred,

As they passed the afternoon in a twirling blur.

They were more than a tad bit dizzy at the end of it all,

When down to the ground for a nap they all did fall.

Truth be told, though, they all enjoyed the dance,

Even Vinny, who fell asleep in his purple tutu while in a sleepy trance.

Cowboys and pirates had now become too much of the same,

And so ballerinas in tutus became the new game.

So, if ever you see two little girls and their kitties in tutus dancing about,

Don't worry or give them a shout.

They're just having themselves a grand ol' time.

And that is the tale of Penny, Jenny, Vinny, and Val in the form of a rhyme.

As we've said over the past couple of weeks, since we share our A to Z Challenge doodles Monday through Saturday, we'll share our illustration for this poem on Sunday. There will be kitties and tutus galore.

***

And now, of course, we have for you the fill-in statements for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. I got my first cell phone in _________.

2. I wish the word _________ could be removed from the English language.

3. I'll never outgrow _________.

4. _________ make(s) me feel old.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Our Tip of the Day:

Today's tip is a reminder to always have your kitty's, or pup's, proximity in mind when using a computer or other device. As you all certainly know, cats often enjoy sleeping on computer keyboards, sometimes especially when their human's hands are trying to use it. This being said, always be careful to prevent any unwanted internet activity your kitty might cause should the keyboard or other computer features draw their interest. If you see your kitty approaching, or if you need to walk away from your computer, do consider ensuring that you do not leave it on a site that involves shopping, banking, or anything else that could have ill effects if your kitty steps on the keyboard. You can also go as far as to log out of your computer or put it in some sort of sleep mode if you need to walk away and are worried of your kitty's interest in the computer. Another option that can help keep your kitty off of the computer would be to ensure that they have their own cozy area near where you use the computer. This could be a pet bed, a blanket, a box, or anything else along these lines. A cozy sleeping spot of their own can draw your kitty's attention, such as away from the computer. You can also distract them with toys, or use treats to lure and train to them to sit next to you rather than on the computer keyboard. Though our furbabies don't mean anything ill by it, they could still be capable of computer activity with less than desirable effects should they stomp on the computer and the like. There are ways to help prevent this, so simply always be aware of your kitty or pup's proximity when the computer is involved, and consider what solutions might work for you and your kitty or pup.

U is for...

The April A to Z Challenge isn't over yet!

In case we haven't said it enough times already, our alphabetical series of doodles stars my angel Rosie. In this series of doodles, Rosie is going throughout a more or less routine sort of day, doing this and that, A to Z style. So, what's Rosie doing with the letter U?

U is for...Uploading Photos (to your blog, of course!)

Throughout this A to Z Challenge, we're also sharing furbaby photos that in some way correlate with angel Rosie's daily alphabetical adventures. To go along with today's A to Z topic of Uploading Photos, Thimble wants you all to remember that she is a pro at snapping selfies and helping this mom of hers with the blog. More often than not, Thimble doesn't even need her mom's help. After all, she's a smart and talented little cookie. Sometimes, Thimble just tells this mom of hers to hand over the technological device, move aside, and let her handle it.

In case you were wondering, Thimble is just as much of a pro at using a computer as she is with the phone. She even knows how to turn the computer screen display upside down with just a few stomps across the keyboard. What a smart girl.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

***

Our Tip of the Day:

Today's tip relates to snapping photos of those adorable furbabies. It's not always easy to get a quality shot of a happily active kitty or pup, but there are some methods you can attempt. We're thinking most of you already know and implement some of these ideas, but we'll go ahead and mention them anyway.

Perhaps one of the easiest ways to get a focused photo of your cat or dog is to catch them when they're resting or sleeping. A sleeping furbaby is a still furbaby, which is obviously why this is an ideal time to snap a photo. Another idea of course includes getting your cat or dog's attention with treats or a toy. This might mean raising said treats or toys above the camera, so as to get your kitty or pup to look in that direction. Also consider other things that get your particular kitty or pup's attention, and take advantage of that if or when possible. For example, my kitties and pup enjoy gazing out windows that are cracked open, so if I need some furbaby photos, if the weather permits, I crack some windows and snap shots of the furbabies as they enjoy their window whiffies. Moving on, yet another option is to get on your furbaby's level. If your kitty or pup is on the couch or floor, for example, stoop down to their level to snap their photo.

It's worth noting that it also doesn't hurt to understand how camera settings work, and to use those to your advantage. I myself am not a photography professional by any means, and I admittedly do not alter my camera's settings all that much, but these are still an option for those who can or want to explore them. One setting to consider is shutter speed, which can be adjusted to help snap clear photos of objects in motion. Obviously, this could come in handy with those active furbabies in your life. Also consider the macro setting for closeup shots, and settings relating to the environmental lighting, just to name a couple more. Taking pictures of your furbaby may not be easy, but there are ways to make it possible.

T is for...

Are you ready for today's installment of the A to Z Challenge?

In case we haven't said it enough times already, our alphabetical series of doodles stars my angel Rosie. In this series of doodles, Rosie is going throughout a more or less routine sort of day, doing this and that, A to Z style. So, what's Rosie doing with the letter T?

T is for...TV Time

Throughout this A to Z Challenge, we're also sharing furbaby photos that in some way correlate with angel Rosie's daily alphabetical adventures. To go along with today's A to Z topic of TV Time, Thimble is showing you all how much she indeed loves to watch the TV.

Have a terrific Tuesday, friends!

***

Our Tip of the Day:

If you are watching TV or a movie with your kitty or pup, or if you are listening to music near them, keep in mind the health and happiness of their ears. As you all certainly know, cats and dogs have a more proficient sense of hearing than us humans. This means that sounds are often louder for them than they are for us, so a show or movie that is loud to you is even louder to them. For this reason, if your kitty or pup is nearby, do consider turning your TV or radio down to a volume that is reasonable rather than excessively loud. If you are unable to do so, or if your kitty or pup seems extra sensitive to sounds, then make sure they have access to other safe and cozy areas of the home. This will give them an option to leave the loud TV or radio area, and instead have some peace and quiet to themselves.

S is for...

Are you ready for today's installment of the A to Z Challenge?

This time around, as many of you already know, our alphabetical series of doodles stars my angel Rosie. In this series of doodles, Rosie is going throughout a more or less routine sort of day, doing this and that, A to Z style. So, what's Rosie doing with the letter S?

S is for...Suppertime

We're going to pause here and have a little poll of a question. Do you refer to your evening meal as supper, or as dinner? I know it's very commonly known as dinner. Growing up, though, nearly everyone in my immediate and extended family referred to it as supper, and so I've always called it supper. So, what is it to you? Supper? Dinner? Both? Neither?

Okay, moving on now. Throughout this A to Z Challenge, we're also going to do our best to share furbaby photos that in some way correlate with angel Rosie's daily alphabetical adventures. To go along with today's A to Z topic of Suppertime, Toby wanted to show you all the best part of supper.

Dessert! Obviously, dessert is indeed the best part of any supper. The strange dessert you're seeing there comes from a flashback to Pi (Pie) Day a couple years ago. The pies were a chocolate pudding pie, still covered with plastic wrap in the glamorous shot above, and a pumpkin pie with chocolate chips sprinkled over half of it. My dad likes chocolate-infused pumpkin pie, and that's about the only explanation I have for chocolate chips on top of a pumpkin pie.

Is it pie time yet? We sure hope so. Much to the kitties' delight, whipped topping is of course always involved in the eating of pies.

Happy Monday and happy supping, friends!

***

Our Tip of the Day:

Today's tip was inspired by Ellen of 15andmeowing, and it is to do your best to remain knowledgeable about pet food recalls, especially those that could directly affect your furbaby. When Ellen recently commented on pet food recalls on her blog, she specifically mentioned the website Truthaboutpetfood.com. This site offers news on current pet food recalls, making it a great source for keeping up-to-date on any foods that might be unsafe for your kitty or pup to consume. There are also other online resources with lists of pet food recalls, including the AVMA website, the FDA website, and sometimes specific pet food company websites or some veterinary clinic websites. For the health and safety of your furbaby, regularly check news of recalls on pet foods, treats, and so forth.

Happy Easter!

From all of us to all of you,

HAPPY EASTER!

Don't mind us, we're just over here waiting for the Easter Bunny.

We're also snacking on our annual Easter dessert. There's no better way to celebrate than with a sugar coma. Right?

We're also so blessed to be having a bright, shiny, and beautiful Easter weekend. That means we'll also be celebrating with some wonderful window whiffies.

We hope you all have a blessed Easter, filled with everything that brings you joy!

(That there Easter doodle also doubles as our illustration for the poem we shared this past Thursday. If you're interested in reading said poem, titled "Peter Cottontail, P.I.", just click here.)

***

Our Tip of the Day:

Today's tip is an Easter-inspired one, and it is to always think twice before ever giving anyone an animal as a gift. This could include giving a bunny to a child for Easter, as well as giving a puppy as a Christmas gift, or a kitty as a birthday gift. Caring for any animal will of course take time, effort, knowledge, and preparation. What's more, some animals, such as rabbits, have special dietary or other needs. This is why taking on an animal as a pet should be done with forethought and preparation by the pet's new owner. Giving a child a rabbit for Easter, therefore, could lead to a rabbit ending up in a situation with lack of proper care, and an overwhelmed child or parents. The same goes for giving any animal as a gift, especially if the recipient has not made the proper preparations or does not have the resources to care for a pet. So, never forget that giving an animal a proper home with proper care is something that should always be discussed, researched, and for which the owner should sufficiently be prepared. We have no doubt that all of you reading this already know this.

The above being said, it's worth noting that if a responsible pet owner expresses a desire to receive a pet as a gift, that is a bit of a different story. Someone whom you know well, who is already a proven kind and caring pet owner, and who wants another animal, is someone who could more reasonably receive an animal as a gift. We bet there are plenty of wonderful pet owners out there who have received a best friend in this manner. The important thing is to think such a decision through wisely, and to consider whether an animal will for certain receive the proper care it needs from a potential recipient.