A is for...

Today is the first day of April. We're not fooling you, even though it is April Fool's Day. If I'm being honest, I really dislike the concept of April Fool's Day. I don't like surprises, and I equally despise pranks, so this is not my sort of day. But I digress.

Okay, back to the point of this post. So, April is the month of the A to Z Challenge.

For those who don't know, the A to Z Challenge is exactly what it sounds like. In April, you pick a theme and share thoughts or creations related to that theme, from A to Z. You follow the alphabet throughout the month, Sundays being the only day you don't share something alphabetical. Today being April 1, it's time for the letter A.

We previously shared that our A to Z Challenge theme is "A Day at Rosie's Restaurant". As per usual, my contributions to this alphabetical challenge are coming in the form of doodles. They all star my calico angel Rosie, as well as the restaurant I've scribbled up for her. Throughout April, Rosie will be sharing what you can find on her restaurant's menu, from A to Z. In addition to going in alphabetical order, Rosie is also sharing her menu in order of the typical daily meals, starting with breakfast foods, then moving on to lunch and dinner foods, and then desserts.

So, what breakfast food does Rosie have to offer for the letter A?

Apple turnovers! This dessert-for-breakfast sort of thing holds special meaning for me. When I was a kid, my grandma used to spend New Year's Eve and New Year's Day with us. On New Year's Day morning, she'd always make sure we had apple turnovers for breakfast. Rosie was also always there to celebrate, and to drink my milk.

If you'd like an apple turnover to kick off your day, give Rosie's Restaurant a visit!

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You know what else the letter A stands for?

Astrid! Wednesday is usually our Woof Woof Wednesday post, so of course Astrid wanted to make her appearance. I wasn't about to deny her that. We hope you enjoyed her window whiffies shot, which looks identical to roughly a gazillion of her other window shots.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

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Tip of the Day

We're going to do our best to make this month's tips correlate with the food, or at least some related component, that's in our alphabetical doodle for that day. For today, that of course means we're talking about apples. So, are apples safe for our kitties and pups? In moderation and with some precautions, bits of apple can make for safe and even healthy treats for your furbaby. Apples contain a variety of beneficial nutrients, vitamin C and fiber being just a couple of them.

The above being said, there are certain components of an apple that can pose a risk. Apple seeds, for example, should never be fed to your furbaby. This is because they contain a compound called amygdalin. When chewed or digested, this compound produces cyanide. As you all surely know, cyanide is toxic. It is also best to keep the core away from your kitty or pup, not only to prevent the ingestion of rogue seeds, but also because it can pose a choking hazard. So, apples can indeed make for a safe treat, as long as they are fed in safe chunks without seeds. As always, though, apples and other human foods should only be fed to your kitty or pup in moderation.