Happy birthday, Astrid!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ASTRID!

Today is indeed pup Astrid's birthday. Well, given that she's a rescue with an unknown origins, today is the day we have chosen to celebrate whenever her real birthday is. Astrid turns 7 today, officially making her a senior dog. Astrid is evidence that age is just a number, though, because this wide-eyed and bushy-tailed girl still acts like a puppy.

Now, who's ready for a birthday bash? Thimble is our resident party planner, and she's inviting all of you to pup Astrid's birthday bash.

Of course, to celebrate her big day, Astrid will get to enjoy some of her favorite things. Don't worry. She's probably willing to share.

Though we're not sponsored, Astrid has a great fondness for cookies made by the owner of the Etsy shop known as DogParkPublishing. Above are the cookies Astrid gets to enjoy today. There are plenty to go around, so help yourself to a cookie or two!

We're not stopping at cookies, though. Pup Astrid is also a huge fan of ice cream. She actually probably enjoys ice cream even more than cookies. So, how about a trip to the ice cream parlor?

Don't worry, though. Astrid knows that some of her furry friends out there might not enjoy car rides as much as she does, so she's offered to bring some ice cream back for everyone.

That is, if the ice cream survives the car ride. And Astrid's tongue.

So, friends, grab yourself some cookies, grab yourself some ice cream, and party on with us!

Astrid, all of us humans and kitties in your life wish you the happiest birthday you could ever imagine. Thank you filling our lives with lots of love, energy, entertainment, and chaos. We love you, Astrid!

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Today, just as every Thursday, is Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop. This time around we are of course endlessly grateful for our birthday pup Astrid. We are thankful for each and every birthday we are blessed to celebrate.

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We did not forget that tomorrow is the day of the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. So, here are the fill-in statements. Ellen of 15andmeowing crafted up the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. I am trying to _________.

2. I always _________ when _________.

3. _________ has my seal of approval.

4. I would not recommend _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!


P.S. Our weekly poem for Angel Sammy's Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge will be shared in tomorrow's post, for anyone who might be looking for it or would like to read it.

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Our Tip of the Day:

Today's tip in our cat health series is plain and simple. We're here to remind you to make sure that your cat has easy access to fresh water at all times. Water intake is of course crucial to a kitty's health, as it is important for proper functioning of not only organs such as the kidneys, but all systems of the body. So, make sure that your cat has water readily available. Some considerations to make include ensuring that your kitty has water accessible in areas where they are comfortable drinking, such as somewhere that is not too heavy with foot traffic, yet also somewhere that they frequent often. You can of course also offer water bowls in multiple areas of the house, something that is often especially important in multi-cat households.

Also make sure that your kitty's water is in a bowl or other drinking vessel that they like. Some cats prefer typical bowls, some cats only want bowls with especially low sides, and some cats might even show a preference for drinking water out of cups or another container with high sides. Also, of course, freshen up that water as often as possible or as needed. Cats can be picky creatures, and some cats might refuse to drink water that is not fresh. In addition, fresh water is also simply healthier overall. To help ensure that water remains as fresh as possible, you could use a water fountain for your kitty. All in all, especially given how important it is for all bodily functions, make sure to give special attention to your kitty's water bowl.