E is for...

Today, we'll be starting the Friday fun and games with the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. 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. The highlight of my week is _________.

2. Only _________ more days until _________.

3. I believe I was born to _________.

4. Age is _________.


If you're curious how I filled these in, here you go. My answers are in bold.

1. The highlight of my week is hiking through a local forest tomorrow.

(To celebrate my birthday, my family is taking me to one of my favorite local nature reserves tomorrow. It's supposed to be clear skies and 70°F, so I am beyond excited. Nature is one of my favorite places to be.)

2. Only two more days until Tonks and Winky's birthday.
(On Sunday, these two little lady cats will be turning 1! That also means their brother, Flitwick, who owns my parents, will also be turning 1. Join us on Sunday for a bit of a birthday bash!)

3. I believe I was born to be a cat mom (and dog mom).

(I've admittedly never felt the calling to be a mom to human children. Instead, I've always felt heavily drawn to cats and dogs, and I always feel that I am meant to care for the furbabies who enter my life. I will always happily do so, and I hope I do it well.)

4. Age is just a number.
(I will be entering a new decade tomorrow, and I'm kind of surprised how little that bugs me. When I was a child, the thought of aging always had me fretting. These days, I figure that number can't tell me who I am or how I feel. I think this also goes for our furbabies. Their age can certainly affect them, but I've never seen any expiration dates stamped on any cute little paw pads.)

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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Next on our list of Friday fun and games is today's installment of the A to Z Challenge.

As we've mentioned, our contributions to the A to Z Challenge this time around are a series of doodles starring 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 E?

E is for...Earning a Living at the 9 to 5

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. We may have to make some stretches and take some liberties, and many of these will be flashback photos that fit in with that day's theme. To go along with today's A to Z topic of Earning a Living at the 9 to 5, blooper queen Eddy is here to show you some bloopers that were snapped as she worked one of her favorite jobs. And what job is that?

Eddy works as her mom's IT Department! Eddy is so skilled in IT, that on more than one occasion she has turned her mom's computer screen display sideways and upside down with a simple stomp or two on the keyboard. Isn't that wonderful and amazing and all sorts of fantastic?

Happy Friday, friends!

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Our Tip of the Day:

Today's tip is to keep your furbaby in mind even when you are at work. Some kitties and pups can get lonely or bored, or can even have separation anxiety, when left alone. Sometimes there are easy fixes for this. In some cases, leaving out a shirt of yours for your furbaby to snooze on or snuggle while you are away can help. A shirt that has been worn once or twice might even be ideal, as it will smell more like you. In the case that a furbaby simply gets bored when you are away, consider the option of leaving out safe interactive toys. For example, track ball toys can help keep cats entertained, active, and happy when you are away at work. Another great option is to also play with your furbaby before you leave for work, so that they can see you off when they are happy and tired out. All of the above being said, if your cat or dog is an only pet and seems lonely or bored, whether you are home or away, then perhaps consider whether a playmate would be a reasonable option for both them and yourself.

More severe cases of separation anxiety can be trickier to remedy than simple boredom. Some cats and dogs with separation can injure themselves, or destroy parts of the home, if they become anxious after you leave the house. If you think your furbaby might have separation anxiety, such as if neighbors inform you that your cat or dog vocalizes frequently when you are gone, or if they appear anxious when you leave or arrive home, then consider discussing options with your veterinarian. In severe cases, there might be medication to help your furbaby's nerves balanced out. In cases that could lead to injury or other destructive behavior, your furbaby might do best if kept in a safe room or other safe area of the home when you leave. Cats and dogs form attachments to their humans, which can make it difficult for them when their humans leave. You know your furbaby best, so watch out for signs of loneliness, boredom, and anxiety, and find a remedy that is safe and best for your furbaby.