Sunday Selfie

Thimble, our resident model, happily agreed to being our selfie star today. She only agreed, though, if she didn't have to leave her post at the door in order to snap said selfie. So, she has for you today a window view sort of selfie.

Thimble is quite proud of this pensive selfie, and of that adorable nose of hers, and so she's sharing this as part of the Sunday Selfies Blog Hop, hosted by the Kitties Blue over at The Cat on My Head.

We hope you all have a spectacular and sunny Sunday!

***

Doodle of the Day:

***

Did you know?

Did you know that a cat's brain is approximately 90% similar to a human's brain? Scientific studies have found that cats and humans have significantly comparable lobes of the cerebral cortex. These regions are even connected the same way in both species. Cat and humans also have nearly identical regions of the the brain that control emotion, and the two species have similar neurotransmitters, which results in them thinking in very similar patterns. No wonder cats make such wonderful friends for us humans!

Caturday in the Kitchen

I tried really hard not to doodle yet another pastel library scene. Honestly, my sketchbook is already chock-full of pastel books lining pastel rooms. So, instead, I went for a pastel kitchen scene!

The funny thing about my current preference for scribbling up pastel doodles is that I actually am not a pastel sort of person in real life. The walls of my bedroom are indeed a powdery purple, but when it comes to the rest of my house, I always gravitate toward a more neutral or rustic feel. The majority of my home's walls are a beige sort of color, with a couple accent walls that are maroon and forest green. When it comes to my doodles, though, my color preferences are far more diverse. When I'm in the mood for it, I certainly do enjoy doodling up scenes that are more rustic in nature. But, I also have moods when I want to scribble up nothing but pastel chaos. Hopefully you all get some sort of enjoyment out of both types of doodles.

Of course, our above pastel kitchen with its dishwashing kitty is our entry into Athena's Caturday Art Blog Hop. Be sure to visit Athena to see all of the masterpieces our friends have created!

Happy Caturday!

***

Did you know?

Did you know that one of the main reasons kittens sleep so much is because hormones for growth and development are released when they sleep? It's also worth noting that twitching and other benign movements observed in a sleeping kitten occur for similar reasons. Have you ever watched a kitten sleep and noticed that their legs, or other areas of their body, will sometimes display movements such as twitching? This is a common experience for a kitten, and it's also an important one. Primarily, twitching and other similar movement in sleeping kittens can help grow and strengthen their muscles. How else would their muscles grow strong enough to allow them to jump six times their length? Of course, if your kitty seems to be experiencing severe or concerning twitching or tremors, while asleep or awake, do consult a veterinarian. In general, though, twitching in a sleeping kitten, or puppy, is common and beneficial.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Photo Fails

Happy Friday, friends! And happy day of the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge! If you'd like to participate in this challenge, all you have to do is fill in some fill-ins. In case you missed the fill-in statements yesterday, I'll share them again below. Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. Summer is a good time to _________.

2. The most recent _________ that I ________ was _________.

3. I thought I would grow out of _________, but I haven't.

4. I feel annoyed when people ask me _________.


As always, I filled these in myself, and you can find my answers below in bold.

1. Summer is a good time to stay indoors.
(Indoors is, after all, where the air conditioning is. Truth be told, when it's not something like a sauna outside, I do love a nice walk or other outdoor adventure. But, in the true heat of summer, I'd rather hole up in the air conditioned house with my furbabies.)

2. The most recent book that I added to my to-read list was a children's fantasy novel.
(Am I an adult? Maybe.)

3. I thought I would grow out of children's books, but I haven't.
(As I mentioned in #2 above, I have at least one children's novel on my to-read list. Actually, I have at least half a dozen children's novels on my lists of upcoming reads. I feel like a weird mixture of a child and an octogenarian stuck in a 30-year-old body, and it's the childlike side of me who still seeks out the same types of stories that my own childhood self enjoyed. When I've had my fill of heavier books aimed at adults, I'll switch over to something lighter, and that's usually a children's novel. They're almost always still novels with a couple or few hundred pages, but they're more light and fun. And don't worry, I do gravitate towards books that involve furry friends as characters, and the next book on the docket actually includes a cat character who is roughly the size of a building.)

4. I feel annoyed when people ask me if Evan is truly happy.
(I appreciate when anyone expresses compassion and care for my furbabies. But, a lot of people who find out I have a hind limb paralyzed cat automatically say something like, "Oh no, the poor thing. Does he really seem happy?" Again, I know people are just trying to be considerate to Evan. But, it still bothers me to be asked this sort of question about my running, playing, purring, cuddlebug of a momma's boy. I'm probably just being incredibly oversensitive and overprotective of my boy, but isn't that what moms are for?)

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.



***

Are you ready for your Eddy fix? Even better, are you ready for your Eddy blooper fix? Today is, after all, this month's Pet Photo Fails! Blog Hop, hosted by Melissa and Mudpie of Melissa's Mochas, Mysteries, & Meows.

Today's Eddy bloopers are brought to you by treat time. Now, Eddy is not much of a treat eater. That being said, though, I recently discovered that if I get a very specific type of fishy flavored treats, Eddy will have her way with them almost every time. For some reason, I thought that would make treat time a great opportunity for a photo shoot. Because, you know, cats don't move while they're eating treats. Right? Right?!? Wrong.

You want to see the icing on the cake? I'm not even sure this next one could count as a blooper, because it's just that much of an incomprehensible disaster. See?

That is, believe it or not, an actual photo of Eddy. A lot of movement happened, and that monstrosity was the result. Needless to say, Eddy remains the blooper queen at our house.

We hope you all have a Friday filled with fun and lots of treats!

***

Doodle of the Day:

Yep, we have another bookish doodle. It just had to happen.

***

Did you know?

Did you know that roughly 10% of a cat's bones are located in their tail? It seems our fun cat facts are all about the feline skeletal structure these past couple days, but we'll just go with it. A cat's tail is like an extension of their spine, and it contains around 19 to 23 vertebrae. As you all very likely know, a cat uses its tail for everything from balance to communication. Cats can indeed live without tails, but for those cats who do have tails, some serious injuries to it could potentially lead to neurological or other issues. So, be careful with that tail!

Thoroughly Poetic Thankful Thursday

Happy Thursday! Let's get right on with our rhyming, shall we? Today is, after all, Angel Sammy's Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge.

Our host wouldn't leave us lost at sea, so every week we get a photo prompt to guide us. This week's prompt is this adorable one here:

I have always thought that penguins are incredibly adorable, especially the insanely cute and fuzzy babies. That's probably why I was so excited that, back when I was in high school, the movie Happy Feet came out. This film is about a young penguin who learns that he, believe it or not, loves to dance. The image above made me think of that movie, and so I tried to write a poem inspired by it. The truth is that my poem didn't really come across like I intended it to, and it's certainly nowhere near as cute and fun as the Happy Feet movie that inspired me. Nevertheless, here's said poem:

Happy Pete

Pete was a penguin, and a happy one at that.

He actually quite loved to socialize and chat.

In truth, everything made Pete happier than happy,

From dancing, to singing, and even to napping

Pete the happy penguin had one mission in mind.
A fun time with friends he wished to find.
And so Pete put on his thinking hat,
In search of a way to achieve just that.

After days and weeks and months of deliberation,
Pete finally waved his flippers in the air in celebration.
"I know exactly what to do!" Pete shouted and clapped.
Around his house he could not help but dance and tap.

Pete the happy penguin got to work day in and day out.
He took very little time to rest, and none to pout.
Each day he would disappear into a building boarded up,
Once even carrying inside a giant stack of plates and cups.

Friends and family asked Pete what he was doing,
But he would simply smile and say he had something brewing.
Everyone had lost track of time when the day arrived,
When Pete declared that he was ready to reveal his surprise.

Friends and family came from far and near,
Curious what they might see and hear.
His parents were the first to arrive at the party,
Closely followed by his friends Timmy the Tabby and Munchkin Marty.
Outside of the mysterious building where they gathered there stood a sign.
Grand Opening!, that's what it told the people in line.

"What are you opening?" a friend asked Pete.
He clapped and said, "In just one moment, you will see!"
Pete the happy penguin did not make those in line wait much longer,
Which was good, because their curiosity grew stronger and stronger.

After a singsong countdown,
And not a single hint of a frown,
Pete declared, "Go on in and have a look around!"
All those in attendance did just that.
What they found inside made them smile and clap.

Inside, counters and cases of countless cookies and cakes could be found,
As well as dozens of tables and chairs for everyone to sit down.
It was a bright and happy place to be,
And Pete told them all to dish up dessert and have a seat.
He promised a grand show for them all to see.

When all plates were filled with sugary sweets galore,
Pete the happy penguin promised this place would never bore.
"I wanted a place where friends of all sorts could gather," he said,
"And of course a place where I could entertain those friends."

With that, Pete the happy penguin put a top hat upon his head.
"Enjoy the show!" he twirled and said.
He then grabbed himself a baton,
And a grand show was indeed put on.

Pete did all the things he enjoyed the most.
He sang and danced, all while being a perfect host.
He made sure all of his patrons had plenty to eat,
And that they were never lacking something tasty and sweet.

For hours, Pete sang happy songs and danced on his happy feet,

All while his patrons sat in good company to scrumptiously eat.

The place was called none other than Happy Pete,

And it was, indeed, the happiest place to be.

***

Today is also, of course, Thankful Thursday. This blog hop in honor of the wonderful thing known as gratitude is hosted by Brian of Brian's Home.

Today, we are not only thankful for our blogging friends, but also for the talents all of those friends possess. Today, we are particularly grateful and happy for Ellen of 15andmeowing, who has thus far written and published two children's books based on the heartwarming stories of two of her kitties, Prancie and Emmy. These books are called Prancie's Prayer and I Am Not a Skunk, and they are beautifully adorable tales of rescue. I am very late in posting about these sweet stories, but I hope better truly is late than never.

I tried to get certain kitties around here to pose with Ellen's books. I even tried to recruit the help of the resident librarian, Thimble. The thing is, while the kitties certainly showed up for the photo shoot, they simply couldn't manage to properly pose for it.

Most of the photos from this shoot would easily be categorized as bloopers, but that doesn't diminish how happy we are that Ellen has written such touching stories about her kitties. Honestly, these photos are probably just bloopers because the kitties were so excited by Ellen and her kitties' terrific tales.

Have you read Ellen's wonderful books yet? Have you gifted a copy to any of the children in your life? If not, you can find Prancie's Prayer and I Am Not a Skunk by clicking on their titles. The books contain such heartwarming tales of animal rescue, and the illustrations are downright adorable. You won't regret reading them!

***

Last but not least, we have for you the fill-ins for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. The same author Ellen as above, of 15andmeowing, came up with the first two, I came up with the second two.

1. Summer is a good time to _________.

2. The most recent _________ that I ________ was _________.

3. I thought I would grow out of _________, but I haven't.

4. I feel annoyed when people ask me _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Did you know?

Did you know that, though they're much smaller, our cats have more bones in their bodies than us humans? Cats have 244 bones, whereas humans have 206 bones. One area in which cats have more bones is their spine, which is why they are far more flexible than us comparatively stiff humans. This goes to show that the skeletal system, as well as the muscular and other similar systems, has a lot to do with how an animal can move.

Animated Astrid

I save photos of my furbabies in my Google Drive. Since Google is linked to my blog, this makes it easy to quickly add photos to my posts. What's more, Google is such a helpful photo depository that it sometimes even alters my photos for me. Sometimes, it even creates animated versions of them. I actually look forward to seeing the animations they create using my photos. Lately, Google has been loving working with pup Astrid's snotty snout.

Don't worry, Google didn't stop at just one pup Astrid animation.

I can't take full credit for these GIFs. Google created them using photos I snapped of my pouty puppy. I have less than zero skill with animation, and technology in general.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

***

Doodle of the Day:

I apologize if this doodle looks a tad bit familiar. A couple weeks ago I shared a similar doodle that I'd created as some concept art. I decided I wanted to redo that doodle with a few some changes made to it, and so that led to the above similar yet different doodle.

***

Did you know?

Did you know that dogs are what you might call scavenging carnivores? Cats are obligate, or strict, carnivores. This means that cats require meat, and the nutrients it provides, in order to survive. Dogs, on the other hand, can survive on plant material. That's not to say that a dog's ideal diet is not largely meat-based. It simply means that if meat is not available, a dog can survive, though perhaps not thrive, on plant material it might be able to scavenge instead.

Tuesday Trio

That there is a rare shot of this trio of kitties sharing the door rather than fighting over it. More often than not, there are smacky paws and wrestling matches going on at the door. But look at them here, sharing it like civilized kitties. It's a miracle.

Oh, and we're just going to pretend Tonks isn't blurry in that photo. Let's make believe that she managed to sit still for half a second in that there photo. Okay? Okay.

Do any of you kitties out there fight over windows seats at your house? It's quite literally a daily occurrence here in our corner of the world.

Happy Tuesday!

***

Our Doodle of the Day:

***

Did you know?

Did you know that pet hair is not an allergen in and of itself? When a person is allergic to cats or dogs, it's generally the dander, saliva, and urine that contain the allergenic proteins known as allergens. Pet hair can of course contain bits of dander, saliva, and potentially even urine, and can also contain debris from dust, pollen, or other allergens. The pet hair itself, though, is likely not the culprit for an allergic response. This is in part why hypoallergenic pets can't exist in the strictest, truest sense. Even cats and dogs without hair can be allergenic, because their dander, saliva, and urine can still spark an allergic response in a person with an allergy to pets. That being said, allergies can nevertheless vary, and so it is still possible for a person with a pet allergy to have less symptoms around certain species and even breeds.

Mancat Monday With a Side of Motivation

That there is (embarrassingly crooked) photographic evidence of a mancat being snuck up on...

...by another mancat! Indeed, housemate Toby snuck up on Evan, and a brawl ensued. I will spare you the photographic evidence of that battle.

For anyone who might be new to our blog, or at least new to seeing Evan in photos like these, I always feel compelled to explain that he is hind limb paralyzed. He also has scoliosis. His posture in the photos above showcases one of his very typical sitting positions. Don't worry, though, because this specially abled boy of mine gets around excellently, and he runs and plays and has a grand ol' time. He's my happy hind limb paralyzed hero!

***

It's been a while since I shared a Monday motivational quote. This all began with the Sparks blog hop, hosted by Annie of McGuffy's Reader. Annie has been on a blogging break, but many bloggers often continued posting motivation quotes on Monday in honor of the blog hop. I got out of the habit of doing that, though, and I hope to get back in the habit starting today. So, here's our motivational thought for this week.

"A ship is safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are built for."

-John A. Shedd

Wishing you all a magnificent Monday filled with motivation!

***

Did you know?

Did you know that a cat's whiskers are connected to the nervous system as well as the muscular system? The link with the muscular system allows cats to move their whiskers, something that is often noticeable with the whiskers on their cheeks. Sensors on the tips of the whiskers, as well as their overall connection with the nervous system, allow cats to use their whiskers to determine and navigate the environment directly surrounding them. Because of cat whiskers' deep connections and their overall significant functions, they should never be trimmed.

Sunday Selfie

Thimble's been spending lots of time in our library lately. You probably already knew that, since we've been sharing lots of photos of Thimble in said library. Obviously, Thimble loves her books. That's not the only reason Thimble spends so much time in the library, though. She also frequents the library because it has the window from which she can most easily snoopervise the neighbors. That was a bit of tangent, though, especially since Thimble's selfie for today wasn't even snapped at the window.

Thimble thought she'd go for a slight turn of her adorable head in this selfie. There's nothing like a cute little profile shot. She also wanted to show off her whiskers. She's quite proud of them.

Thimble of course snapped this selfie for the Sunday Selfies Blog Hop, hosted by the Kitties Blue over at The Cat on My Head. One of the hosts, Sawyer, suffered another serious seizure on Friday, and we are sending him all of our purrs and prayers.

***

Doodle of the Day:

***

Did you know?

Did you know that a typical cat has roughly 12 whiskers on each cheek? And did you know that a cat has whiskers on more than just its face? Cats have whiskers on their cheeks, above their eyes, on their chin, and also on the back of each front leg. The whiskers on the back of the front legs assist with climbing, as well as with catching, holding, and even killing prey.

Caturday Art

Guess what our Caturday Art doodle stars today. Can you guess? We've only shared a gazillion other doodles like this lately. If you guessed books, pastel colors, and of course a cat, then ding ding ding!, you're a winner.

We hope you all have a wonderful day filled with a good book and a good snooze!

***

Did you know?

Did you know that, when walking, cat's legs move in a manner that is unique to only them, giraffes, and camels? Unlike many other four-legged species, cats, as well as giraffes and camels, typically walk by moving both left legs, then both right legs, then both left legs, then both right legs, and so on and so forth. Dogs and other four-legged species, on the other hand, generally walk in a way that involves moving one left leg, then one right leg, then a left leg, then a right leg, and you get the idea.

Friendly Fill-Ins

It's Friday, and that means we're here with the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. If you'd like to fill in some fill-ins, you're more than welcome to join us! In case you missed the fill-in statements yesterday, I'll share them again below. Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. I could use some suggestions for _________.

2. I never refuse _________.

3. I hope _________ never changes.

4. I would rate _________ a 10 out of 10.


This week, I aimed to make all of my answers about the furbabies. After all, they're the real bosses around here. My answers are in bold.

1. I could use some suggestions for new canned cat food brands to feed Tonks.
(This girl of mine is one picky kitty. A huge portion of food brands or flavors I try to get her to eat are rejected, and even her favorites are sometimes rejected. I've fairly certain I've tried feeding her nearly every brand and flavor that can easily be found in stores. I'm always on the lookout for food brands or flavors she's never tried before, in hopes that one of them will strike her fancy. Does anyone know any obscure brands of cat food Tonks might not have taste tested yet?)

2. I never refuse kitty cuddles.
(I'll also happily accept puppy cuddles. Nothing beats a cuddle session with the furbabies.)

3. I hope Tonks's love for fetch never changes.
(This girl can play fetch for hours. Literally. Sure, sometimes hours of fetch can get in the way of other things on the schedule. But, at the end of the day, it makes me so happy to know that the simple act of me throwing a ball over and over again fills Tonks with so much joy.)

4. I would rate my kitties' and pup's veterinary clinic a 10 out of 10.
(The doctors and entire staff there have always treated my furbabies wonderfully. They've always treated me wonderfully as well, but it's how they treat my furbabies that matters most. Sure, it's a veterinary clinic and some visits there are a bit more hectic than others, but I can't think of any significant complaints, and that makes me happy. Also, one of the doctors there is sort of locally known for his surgical skills, and he's apparently some sort of wizard with a scalpel. He's the one who removed my angel Rosie's eye when it became problematic, and that was when she was 21 years old. He also removed pup Astrid's toe and thereby rid her of cancer. I'll always be grateful for that.)

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.

***

We had a couple weeks of surprisingly still, focused shots of Eddy. That got so boring and old, though. Now she's back to her usual, active self in front of the camera.

Happy Friday, friends!

***

Doodle of the Day:

Apparently I'm stuck in a doodling rut that involves books and pastel colors. Honestly, how many doodles in that category have I shared in the past week or two? I'm not really sure "rut" is the right word for this, though, because I'm quite happy drawing books in a pastel palette. I hope you all don't mind this "rut" too much, especially since I have another one just like it to share today.

***

Did you know?

Did you know that cats show a preference for eating food that is at body temperature, in part because that would be the temperature of freshly killed prey? That being said, if you've been storing an open can of cat food in the refrigerator, and if your kitty is picky about the temperature of their food, you can briefly warm it up in the microwave. It won't take long to warm, though, so don't overdo it. A couple of seconds in the microwave is usually sufficient. Before feeding warmed food to your kitty, check it yourself to ensure it is not hot enough to burn them.

Thoroughly Poetic Thankful Thimble Thursday

Did you know it's Thursday? Well, it's Thursday. That means we're going to do some rhyming. After all, it's time for Angel Sammy's Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge.

Our host would never just leave us hanging, so a photo prompt is offered every week. This week's prompt is this mesmerizing image here:

I find scenes like this to be so beautiful. What's more, though, this reminded me of an inside joke my mom and I have. When we get tired of things like, well, people, we always joke that we're just going to go live the hermit life out in a cabin in the woods. That thought got me thinking, and ultimately resulted in the insanely long poem below.

Hermit the Hog

Once upon a time there lived a hog,

In a cabin nestled in the mountains north of the bog.

This hog had just one wish,

And that was that no one would know he did exist.

Hermit was, of course, this recluse hog's name.

It was when he was alone that he felt most sane.

Friends were not something that he even once sought.

Hermit did not want company, no he did not.

But, alas, on one fine day Hermit heard something outside.

Was that the sound of voices rising low then high?

Just that mere thought left him dumbfounded.

Was he not safe even in his home deep in the mountains?

As the voices outside grew more and more near,

Hermit felt a boiling mixture of anger and fear.

He hoped whoever it was would walk right on by.

He passed the time by jumping behind a chair to hide.

Hermit shivered when the voices outside grew louder.

He was really starting to feel quite perturbed and sour.

The chittering and chattering stalled just outside his door.

Hermit hoped beyond hope for an end to this horror.

But then there came a tapping and a knocking.

Hermit quietly insisted that the door would not be unlocking.

He planned on staying tucked out of sight behind his chair.

He would be speaking to no one, not here, not anywhere.

The knocking at the door, though, it did not stop.

The intruders insisted with their knock, knock, knock!

One of them finally shouted through the door,

"Hello? We need directions, nothing more!"

Hermit the hog tried and tried to hold his ground.

He tried to ignore the intrusive knocking and talking sounds.

Whoever stood on the other side of the door, though,

They didn't seem to want to leave, no.

Hermit wondered if he'd have to go out there and shoo them away.

That would certainly ruin what had once been a fine day.

After minutes and more minutes of hiding and waiting,

The intruders' chattering and requests for directions were not abating.

Finally, Hermit drew a deep breath and scurried to the door.

He planned on demanding they leave, and nothing more.

He flung open the door and shouted, "Go away!"

Perhaps that would be enough to send the intruders on their way.

Hermit had no more than slammed the door,

When the intruders spoke to him once more.

"Please, good sir, we've just gotten a little lost.

If you would just give us directions, we'll pay you whatever it costs."

Hermit the hog tried to wait them out,

But they continued to plead and perhaps even pout.

The intruders refused to stop so rudely loitering,

So Hermit threw open the door yet again.

He only just now truly saw the three intruders with his own eyes.

One was a brown mutt of a dog of a rather large size.

The other two were not nearly as big,

Both being cats with long tails that did wave and flick.

"The road's over there," Hermit grumbled and pointed.

He hoped that would be enough to get those intruders going.

"We tried the road of which you speak," said one of the cats with a mew,

"But the river flooded and traveling it is now not something we can do."

Hermit knew of a secret path that led out of the mountains,

But he wasn't sure it was something on which he wanted to give counsel.

After all, that was his little known way to travel in peace.

Then again, he'd never again know peace with these three freaks.

Hermit mumbled and huffed and groaned,

But told the intruders that the way he would quickly show.

The dog and the cats thanked him over and over and over.

Their incessant gratitude made him eager to return to being a loner.

Hermit told the troublesome three to follow him,

And to hurry and make this a very quick trip.

Though Hermit hoped for pure and unbroken silence,

His intruders talked so much the short walk seemed like miles.

Somewhere in their rambling the dog did ponder,

"Good sir, does this mountain have more waterfalls like the one over yonder?"

Hermit scoffed and rolled his eyes as he said,

"This mountain has no waterfalls, so be quiet instead."

"But we just came from the waterfall," one of the cats did reply.

They all nodded to prove what they said was not a lie.

The other cat said, "This beautiful waterfall is practically in your back yard.

You must come see it, for it's certainly not far!"

The dog and cats trotted off in the other direction,

Before Hermit the hog could even grumble an objection.

He considered running back inside the safety of his home,

But he knew they would come back and not leave him alone.

And so Hermit stomped after the intruders,

Intending on telling them he'd never met anyone ruder.

When he reached the three pests, though,

He learned that they had not been lying, no.

He faced a waterfall that glittered and glistened.

It roared a lullaby that made for a pleasant listen.

"You've really never seen this before?" the dog asked.

"I don't get out much," Hermit answered, matter-of-fact.

Hermit had no idea how long he was under the water's spell.

It was the three visitors who said they best be off before night fell.

Though he found himself reluctant to leave this beautiful place,

Hermit knew beating the stars would indeed be a race.

He sighed and led the way to his secret path down the mountain,

And dog and cats again thanked him for his company and counsel.

Just before they turned to leave,

One of the cats smiled and did plea,

"Won't you sometime go with us on a hike through all this land?

Today we found so many places that are really quite grand.

It wasn't just the waterfall we found today,

But also a mesmerizing collection of fully furnished caves!"

"There are caves in these mountains?" Hermit did asked, shocked.

Hermit the hog scratched his head and gave it a thought.

Then he looked in the direction of the waterfall and said,

"Come back tomorrow. Perhaps you can convince me then."

***

Now, of course, we have for you a pretty Thimble and her Thankfuls on this Thankful Thursday.

Thimble is not only grateful for that beautiful sunshine, but also for the cat trees at our house. Can you see the one she's posing with here? Can you? Here, Thimble will try to give you a bit of a better look.

Just look at that wonderfully tattered sisal rope. This cat tree is well-loved and has met a great many claws. Thimble is so very thankful for it.

We're going to sound like a broken record, but we're also yet again so very thankful for all of you!

***

Now we're going to help you prep for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. If you'd like to participate, the fill-in statements can be found below. Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. I could use some suggestions for _________.

2. I never refuse _________.

3. I hope _________ never changes.

4. I would rate _________ a 10 out of 10.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Did you know?

Did you know that cats sleep for roughly 2/3 of their life? This means that a 9-year-old cat has slept through roughly 6 years of their life. Indeed, a typical cat sleeps approximately 16 hours per day. Old or sick cats may sleep more like 20 hours per day.

The Doggie in the Window

Are you ready for yet another shot of a pouty puppy gazing longingly out a window?

Believe it or not, that is not a repeat photo. That's juts a repeat pose of a repeat nose, photographed over and over again.

Do you see the fogginess in the lower left corner of that photo? That was the result of Astrid getting annoyed of me and dramatically sighing on the lens of the camera. Being a model isn't easy, guys.

Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday!

***

Doodle of the Day:

***

Did you know?

Did you know that the technical term for a cat's vomited hairball is "bezoar"? This term can actually refer to any accumulation of indigestible material formed in the digestive tract of an animal, including not only felines but also canines, ruminants, and even humans. In some cultures and ancient practices, and even in tales of fiction, these bezoars have been used to treat various ailments.