Friendly Fill-Ins

We've reached Friday. This means we're one glorious day closer to the weekend. This also means we're one fantastically festive day closer to Christmas. Speaking of Christmas, our Friendly Fill-Ins for today have a little to do with this festive season. If you'd like to participate, I'll share the fill-in statements again below. Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. _________ stresses me this time of year.

2. My favorite holiday film is _________.

3. If you ask me, _________ makes this season merry and bright.

4. _________ brings back memories.



I filled these in myself, and my answers are below in bold.

1. Time stresses me this time of year.
(There's never enough time in a day, and I feel like this is especially the case this time of year. There's so much festive stuff to do in so little time.)

2. My favorite holiday film is National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.
(I don't know whether or not this answer would surprise some of those out there who know me. If I'm being honest, while I certainly enjoy this movie's comedic take on Christmas and family, it's not just the storyline that makes it my favorite. This movie also holds so many memories for me, largely because it's the movie that for over two decades my family has watched every year after putting up the Christmas tree on Black Friday.)

3. If you ask me, Christmas magic makes this season merry and bright.
(I wanted to answer this in a way that encompassed all the things that really make this season merry and bright for me. There were so many things to include in that, though, that I finally just settled on summing it all up in the form of Christmas magic.)

4. Christmas brings back memories.
(What a basic answer, huh? Christmas in its entirety has always been a very family-centric celebration in my life. All the way back to my childhood, this time of year has involved a great many traditions, which include family of both the human and furry sort. The Christmas decorations, the Christmas movies, and the Christmas traditions all around bring back memories year after year.)

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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I still haven't gotten Eddy to agree to stop long enough to pose while she's climbing her beloved Christmas tree, but she did recently agree to a different sort of festive photo. Eddy is probably my biggest assistant when I'm scribbling away in my sketchbook. These days, my sketchbook is a place for all things Christmas. Eddy snoopervises all of these Christmas doodling sessions.

That's indeed how Eddy and I spent one of our festive evenings recently. Eddy snoopervised and snoozed on none other than a Barney the Dinosaur blanket while I doodled all things Christmas. Thanks for your help, Eddy. I certainly wouldn't be able to accomplish much without your keen help.

Have a very festive Friday, friends!

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Festive Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's festive flashback doodle was part of a Tiny Tim series of doodles I scribbled up last year. I'm a big fan of A Christmas Carol's Tiny Tim and all that he encompasses.

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Our Tip of the Day:

How about we discuss some options for making Christmas merry and bright for shelter and rescue furbabies? To help brighten their holidays, you can make any number of donations to your local shelters and rescue groups. Toys, beds, blankets, cat trees, scratching posts, and anything that might help to enrich the shelter environment is one great option, even if these items are gently used ones that your own kitty or pup no longer uses or needs. You can also donate dry and canned foods and treats, as well as chew bones or other chew toys. Of course, also don't forget other items that could help to make the animals' and shelter workers' lives a bit easier, including carriers that you no longer need, and a variety of cleaning supplies. Many shelters and rescues have wish lists established online, or can inform you by phone or email of what they are most in need. Some shelters even simply ask you to save up newspapers or old towels and blankets to help make cages more comfortable for the animals. Of course, if you are able to make a monetary donation, no matter how big or small that may be, that can also help tremendously.

In addition, you could opt to volunteer your time, or even your home! Fostering a furbaby, even if simply to give them a temporary home in which to enjoy the holidays, can make a world of difference for both the animal and the staff who would otherwise need to be available to care for the furbabies over the holidays. If fostering is not an option, you can also sign up to help at the shelter, such as by caring for and interacting with adoptees over the holidays. This extra care and kindness could mean a great deal to a furbaby who is still waiting for their forever family to find them, and of course can also help relieve the shelter staff.

No matter how small or grand, anything you might be able to gift to a shelter or rescue this Christmas could make all the difference. So, if possible, don't forget the furbabies awaiting their forever homes this holiday season!