Friendly Fill-Ins and Photo Fails

Who's happy it's Friday? We sure are. This is in part because Friday means it's time for the Friendly Fill-Ins. If you'd like to participate but 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. My favorite quote is _________.

2. My favorite part of February is _________.

3. A little known fact about me is _________.

4. _________ is the most rewarding experience in the world.


My answers are below in bold.

1. My favorite quote is, "Not all those who wander are lost."
(I have way more than one favorite quote. I collect quotes like I collect cats, because I feel like words can hold a lot of power. Though I have roughly a gazillion favorite quotes, I chose the one I did here in part because it's the creation of one of my favorite authors, J.R.R. Tolkien. I also chose it because I first read it many, many years ago, way back when I was a kid in school, when I was contemplating my future, and it helped me realize that not knowing my destination didn't mean I was lost.)

2. My favorite part of February is pup Astrid's birthday.
(Did you expect me to say Valentine's Day? I'm not a Valentine's Day kind of gal. I do have a pup with a February birthday, though, and that's of course my favorite day of February. This here human's sister also has a February birthday, and I have all of her birthday gifts ready to go, but I'll brutally and honestly admit that I find far more joy in celebrating furbabies' birthdays. And don't worry, because pup Astrid's birthday gifts are also ready to go.)

3. A little known fact about me is that my first childhood pets were birds.
(Just one or two years before my parents adopted my childhood cats, Rosie and Sammy, my family had budgie birds. We first had a beautiful and sociable blue budgie named Pippin. After he passed away, we had two other budgies named Robin and Sweet Pea. They were all very sweet.)

4. Adopting a furry friend is the most rewarding experience in the world.
(Providing a forever home to a cat, dog, or any companion animal is a win-win situation for everyone involved. I think most of you already know this well.)

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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It's the day of the Pet Photo Fails! Blog Hop, hosted by Mudpie and Melissa of Melissa's Mochas, Mysteries, & Meows.

As always, my blooper queen Eddy is ready to share some blurry shots with you all.  So, how about some up close and personal Eddy bloopers?

Eddy and all of us here hope you have a fantastic Friday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's flashback is one that proves that my doodling style and subject matter have in many ways not changed at all over the past year. Around this exact time last year I shared the doodle below, and it looks a lot like some of the doodles I still scribble up today. Perhaps my doodle and I have officially become sticks in the mud.

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Tip of the Day

Today is likely our last tip in our winter safety series. For this last tip, we're going to do an overview of winter weather concerns, and remind you of some of the signs to look out for that might indicate a furbaby is struggling with the winter elements. To begin, when outdoors in the cold winter months, closely observe your kitty or pup and watch for shivering, a hunched up position, restlessness, whining, lifting paws off of the ground, redness of the ears, and other signs that the furbaby is becoming too cold. On extremely cold days, frostbite and hypothermia can happen fast, which is why it is not only important to closely monitor a furbaby who might need to venture outdoors even for a short time, but to also reduce time outdoors as much as possible. Also monitor your kitties and pups indoors, and ensure that they are remaining warm with sufficient heating and bedding.

Coldness, frostbite, and hypothermia are not the only issues that can arise in the winter, though. Injury to the paws, for example, is another potential. Pups and kitties who go outdoors can be affected by the cold ground, and by the snow, ice, and ice melts that might cover the ground in the winter. For this reason, be watchful for paw pads that are dry, cracking, bleeding, or otherwise injured, and monitor for lifting of the paws or altered ambulation.

The winter issues don't end there, though, as many more potential concerns can arise from the harsh cold of winter. For example, dryness of winter air and heated homes can lead to dryness of the coat and skin  When it comes to this, be on the lookout for itching, scratching, dander, and a dull coat. Yet another system of the body that can be affected by the winter months is the respiratory system. Dry, cold air can affect asthma and other such ailments, so be on the alert for coughing and other similar signs.

Winter can be a harsh time of the year, as you all certainly know. It can be hard on us, and also of course our furbabies. For this reason, always monitor your furbaby when outdoors but also when indoors. Over the past couple of weeks we've discussed some of the potential ways to combat the various issues that might arise due to the harsh winter weather. What it comes down to, though, is that it is important to monitor your furbaby, and if you have any concerns regarding their health and comfort, to never hesitate discussing this with your veterinarian in order to keep your kitty or pup as cozy as possible even on those cold winter days.