Mancat Monday With a Rhyme on the Side

It's Christmas season, and we happily put our trees up the day after Thanksgiving. There are of course always lots of kitty helpers when it comes to putting up the Christmas trees. Evan is always one of those helpers.

Do you see how Evan is helping to trim the tree? So what if it's a fake tree? He'll trim it anyway.

Evan is doing very well after being diagnosed with a UTI on Saturday. His hind area is still a bit irritated, since the UTI worsened the urinary incontinence he already had and that resulted in him getting what's called urine scald. But, even that has improved since our amazing vet cleaned him up and gave him some antibiotics. Since Evan was due for it in early December, 7-year-old Evan also got his senior bloodwork while he was there. We'll have those results today, which I'm hoping and praying are good.

Thank you all again for your purrs and prayers for my boy Evan! He and I appreciate it more than we could ever express!

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Now, we are finally sharing our poem for last week's Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge, hosted by none other than Angel Sammy.

As always, our host shared a photo prompt to help guide us. The prompt for this poem was this fantastically festive one here:

When I first saw this bright and happy image, the first thing I thought of was the movie National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. It's a tradition in my family to watch this movie after decorating the house for Christmas, which always occurs the day after Thanksgiving, that being Black Friday. This is probably my favorite Christmas movie of all time, and so I decided to somewhat mildly base my poem off of it. For anyone who isn't familiar with the Christmas Vacation movie, it's about a family man named Clark, and the movie essentially portrays how he and his chaotic clan celebrate Christmas. It's full of hijinks and havoc, and I love it. In one segment of the movie, Clark decorates his house with so many lights (25,000 bulbs, according to Clark) that his somewhat senile aunt asks him, "Is your house on fire, Clark?" My poem doesn't follow this same storyline, but it was inspired by it nonetheless.

Anyway, if you'd like to read my poem, which is only a few days late, here it is.

Is Your House on Fire, Clark?

No one loved Christmas more than Clark.

Each year he searched for the perfect tree, near and far.

He waited all year for the chance to deck the halls.

Turning his home into Christmas land was, to him, duty's call.

Finally, after months of unfestive boredom, Christmas was near.

Clark pulled from storage his boxes of lights, ornaments, and reindeer.

The perfect tree was found, chopped, down, and place in his house.

Christmas music filled the home's rooms, nowhere near as quiet as a mouse.

With every room inside the house filled with festive decor,

Clark turned to stringing the outside with lights, and so much more.

He had boxes upon boxes filled with lights to make the house glow,

Each strand boasting roughly a dozen tangled knots or so.

Old Mrs. Jones strolled by, walking her cat,

Because she was a woman who did exactly that.

The cat, named Snot, gave one of Clark's tangled light strands a slap.

By some miracle, the strand had one less knot, just like that.

After a few more cat slaps and a few less knots,

Clark asked Mrs. Jones if he could borrow the quite helpful Snot.

The old woman shrugged and said, "Sure, I guess.

I'll come pick him up later, with my blind old bat of a husband, Wes."

Clark thanked Mrs. Jones and then he and Snot got to work.

They undid roughly a thousand knots, certainly no fewer.

Strand by strand, Clark strung the lights all over the siding and roof,

Of course all the while humming each and every Christmas tune.

After an afternoon of laboring with the endless lights,

Clark asked Snot the cat, "Are you ready for a festive sight?"

The Christmas-addicted man plugged in the lights and was nearly blinded that night.

His house glowed with 25,000 bulbs, if his math was right.

The lights in the rest of the neighborhood may have flickered a time or two,

But Clark did not notice, for the sight of his house was all that he knew.

"We did it, Snot!" Clark said with a laugh.

As he took in the sight, he cheered and clapped.

Right on time, Mrs. Jones returned for her cat.

Snot made his way into the woman's arms and batted at her hat.

Mr. Jones came along, squinted his ancient eyes, and asked, "Is your house on fire, Clark?"

With a smile, Clark replied, "You could say that. My house is aflame with Christmas spark!"

***

Tip of the Day

Our final tip for the month of Thanksgiving, and a tip that can relate to all holidays, is to know your veterinary clinic's holiday hours. What's more, since most general veterinary clinics are closed on holidays, make yourself aware of the nearest emergency vet clinic that is open on holidays. Your usual veterinary clinic will likely have a recommendation for an emergency clinic for the hours and days they are closed. Just in case there is an emergency on a holiday, such as if your kitty or pup sneaks some food that is less than good for them, simply do a little research into nearby emergency clinics, know their hours and location, and have a plan in the event that a medical emergency might happen over a holiday.

Sunday Selfie With a Sleepy Boy

Thank you all for the purrs and prayers for Evan yesterday! He is doing very well. The vet discovered that Evan has a UTI. The UTI has likely caused his incontinence to worsen, which is why he's been leaking urine nearly every time he sleeps. In turn, it was all that urine leakage, on top of his obsessive licking of the area, that caused the skin near Evan's urethra to become so irritated. Since Evan is not all that cooperative for me when it comes to cleaning him up back there, the vet cleaned him up really well. The vet even shaved away the fur that was catching all the urine from his incontinence so that it wouldn't cause the skin to get further irritated. Evan looks like a little baboon now, but the area already looks so much less irritated, and I'm better able to help him keep it clean and dry now, and that makes me happy. Evan was given some antibiotics and is already acting like he feels much better. He hasn't licked the irritated area even once since we returned home from the vet, and given that he was obsessed with licking the area before, that's already a great sign.

Evan has a selfie to share that he snapped while happily snoozing after returning home from the vet yesterday. He was cuddled up next to his this mom of his, it was pretty dark in the room, and it's just generally not great quality, but it shows how sleepy yet cute he is and so it's the selfie he's sharing.

Happy Sunday, friends!

***

Festive Flashback Doodle of the Day

We'll finally be back on track with our new Christmas doodles tomorrow, which is when we'll finally share our festive poem and its festive doodle for last week's Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge. For today, though, we have a festive flashback that relates to yesterday's festive flashback doodle. Like yesterday's doodle, this is one is from last year and includes some Christmas pudding.

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Tip of the Day

We're continuing our discussion on Thanksgiving food through to the end of November. For today, keep in mind that food safety around pets isn't just related to food preparation and eating. Safety precautions should continue even after you've finished your meal. What are we getting at? We're reminding you to be aware of dishes in the sink and food scraps or wrappers in the trash. Illness and emergencies can result if your furbaby licks off of plates in the sink that contain remnants of dangerous foods, or if they find their way into the trashcan where scraps or bones reside. So, be aware and take precautions to keep your pup or kitty safe from dangerous foods even after the feast is over. Immediately rinse or wash plates and keep the sink clear of dangerous food debris. Also take out the trash if it contains dangerous food items, or keep it securely hidden away from your furbaby.

Mancat Medical Issues and Caturday Art

I'm supposed to be sharing my weekly poem and its illustration today. Both the poem and its doodle have only a couple of small details left to be completed, which I meant to and could have easily finished yesterday. But, I didn't get around to it yesterday because I was too busy fretting over a non-emergency yet still very distracting medical issue that my orange boy Evan is having.

For those who don't know or might not remember, Evan is hind limb paralyzed. That's how he's been for almost his entire 7 years of life. For over a year now, Evan has also had urinary incontinence, very likely related to his hind limb paralysis. For some reason, Evan's incontinence is worse in the cold months, and for the past couple weeks he at the very least leaks urine almost every single time he sleeps. I give him regular baths with a spray shampoo for pets, but he's not terribly tolerant of them, and so his cleanings are often not as thorough as they should be or that I wish I could manage. Evan also simply does not like having his back legs, or other areas back there, messed with very much.

Back to the issue at hand, though. Over the past couple of days, Evan has been obsessively licking the area near his urethra. I also started noticing an odor when Evan licks back there. Evan finally let me get a good look of the area yesterday, and that's when I discovered that the area around his urethra looks incredibly unhealthy right now. Since Evan takes a bit of manhandling to thoroughly handle and bathe, my mom and sister were helping me hold him while I got a good look of the area. While they were both there holding him for me, I tried my best to give him a more thorough yet gentle cleaning in that area, but I'll be the first to admit that the cleaning I gave him most definitely did not fix the issue. My guess is that Evan's constant urine leakage and now constant licking of the area has led to far too moisture and irritation in that area. It looks very raw, very wrong, and very likely infected.

So, I called the vet the second I discovered the issue, and though they were not able to see us yesterday, I am taking Evan to the vet this morning. I am hoping and am telling myself they'll be able to fix him up with a thorough cleaning, some antibiotics, and hopefully some sort of cleaning agent that I can safely use at home to keep him clean yet also dry back there. I hope it's as simple as that and that nothing more malignant is going on. Evan is otherwise acting like his normal, cuddly, ornery, hungry self, so I hope we can get this all under control and put it behind us.

Evan's veterinarian and I have had many discussions regarding his incontinence, and we both have thus far decided against medications that are meant to control or prevent incontinence. This is because when cats take those medications, they are far more likely to end up with a urinary blockage, and we certainly don't want that. I'm eager to get the veterinarian's suggestions on keeping Evan clean yet also dry back there, despite his now chronic urinary leakage. I admittedly feel horrible that I did not notice Evan was becoming so irritated in that area, and I now have learned my lesson and will be doing far more thorough checks of him back there, even if he'd rather I didn't.

All the rambling above aside, if you have some purrs and prayers to spare for my boy Evan, both he and I would greatly appreciate it.

Oh, but we will still share a doodle for today's Caturday Art Blog Hop. It's a flashback, and it one of my favorite Christmas doodles from last year that stars an orange boy like my Evan.

After Evan and I get back from the veterinary clinic this morning, I plan on cuddling him on the couch while I finish our weekly poem and its illustration, as well as relax by working on even more of our in-progress Christmas doodles as Evan and I have a Christmas movie marathon.

Happy Caturday, friends!

***

Tip of the Day

As we said yesterday, we have enough Thanksgiving tips to last through the end of the month, so we're continuing them. Do you know what holiday food we haven't yet mentioned? Cranberries! This here human loves cranberries, but are they safe for our kitties and pups? In moderation, plain cranberries can be given as a small treat to a dog or cat who enjoys them. That being said, it is best to steer clear of cranberry sauces and juices, as those contain excess amounts of sugar and other potential additives that might not be the best for your furbaby. Also be careful with special cranberry dishes, in case they contain not only excess sugar but potentially also toxic ingredients such as alcohol. As always, when in doubt, simply don't offer it to your furbaby.

Since we're on the topic of fruits, we'll go ahead and run through a couple of other fruity treat options for your kitty or pup. If fed in moderation, berries such as blueberries and strawberries are healthy for cats and dogs, as are bananas. Apples are also generally a healthy treat option, but only if you are careful to refrain from feeding your furbaby the seeds. That being said, keep in mind that when fruits like apples are made into pies, added ingredients such as sugar are not so healthy for your furbaby. Of course, also remember that fruits like grapes and raisins are toxic to cats and dogs, so never feed those. Even cherries can be dangerous, especially if consumed in large quantities, as cyanide poisoning can result due to the contents of the stem, pit, and even leaves. So, to be safe, don't feed your furbaby cherries, cherry pie, and most certainly not chocolate-covered cherries this holiday season. Ultimately, if you are not certain that a particular fruit or other food is safe for your furbaby, simply don't feed it as a treat.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Photo Fails

We hope all of our friends in the US had a happy Thanksgiving! Now that we're all stuffed, how about we take a break with the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. If you missed the fill-in statements, we'll share them again below. Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.


1. Why is _________ so expensive?

2. On holidays, I always have a second serving of _________.

3. I'm eternally grateful for _________.

4. 'Tis the season for _________.

My answers are below in bold.

1. Why is fruit so expensive?

(I love fruit, especially fresh fruit, but a lot of fruit costs a pretty penny. I know it takes expertise and resources to grow fruit, but those price tags are still painful nonetheless.)

2. On holidays, I always have a second serving of cranberries.

(I prefer the jellied cranberry sauce, and I always have more than my fair share of it. That's okay, though, because I'm one of the only members of my family who actually likes cranberries.)

3. I'm eternally grateful for my furry family.

(I'm of course grateful for my humanoid family, but on this here blog about my four-legged furballs, I'll take another opportunity to say how much my kitties and pup mean to me. They mean more to me than I could ever put into words.)

4. 'Tis the season for giving.

(This festive season is the perfect time to give to those in need, and to the ones you love. I'm not sure that I'm necessarily the best gift-giver, but I do enjoy giving gifts regardless.)

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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And now it's time for the Pet Photo Fails! Blog Hop, hosted by Mudpie and Melissa of Melissa's Mochas, Mysteries, & Meows!

Our blooper queen Eddy of course has some bloopers to share. These come from one of Eddy's recent photo shoots, in which she showed how much she loves to snuggle with Evan in bed. Some of Eddy's favorite bloopers involve every part of her being in focus, except for her head. The blurry head is one of her specialties. See?

Happy Friday, friends!

***

Festive Flashback Doodle of the Day

With Thanksgiving behind us, we are now all about Christmas around here. Our Christmas decorations are going up today, Christmas music is playing at our house 24/7, Christmas movies are constantly playing on our TV, and all that festive jazz. To kick off this Christmas season, we thought we'd share the Christmas card we scribbled up for last year.

We've been working on this year's Christmas card, as well as a plethora of other new Christmas doodles. Our first new Christmas drawing for 2020 will be shared tomorrow, which will also serve as the illustration for our weekly poem for Angel Sammy's poetry challenge.

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Tip of the Day

We had enough Thanksgiving tips to go all the way through the end of November, so the Thanksgiving tips will continue on for a couple more days. If you're anything like us, though, you have lots of leftovers that make these tips still relevant. So, let's talk more about food!

We've previously mentioned sweet potatoes and green beans, and how these vegetables are safe when fed plain, but are best left out of your furbaby's diet if prepared in a casserole or with other added ingredients. Today, we're here to remind you of some of the other vegetables that could make for nice Thanksgiving treats for your pup or kitty, of course as long as they are fed plain. One common and nutritious vegetable is carrots. This orange vegetable can provide a large variety of beneficial nutrients, such as beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium, and others. Other veggies that are generally safe as a snack for a kitty or pup include broccoli, celery, cucumbers, spinach, and peas. So, if your pup or kitty wants to be included in the Thanksgiving feast, go for a safe and healthy option, such as a plain vegetables. Of course, though, even when it comes to veggies, it is still best to feed them to your kitty or pup in moderation. And, as you've heard us say many times now, always be aware of any ingredients that are added to foods prior to feeding them to your furbaby. If a veggie dish has been topped with onion, garlic, excess salt, or other similar seasonings, then it is no longer an ideal or safe treat for your kitty or pup.

Happy Thanksgiving!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

We're having technical difficulties again, with Google refusing our attempts to upload the new Thanksgiving doodle we want to share today. But, instead of continuing to fight with Google on Thanksgiving morning, we're going into our archives to reshare the Thanksgiving doodle we shared in 2018. It stars my angel Rosie, a guest of a turkey, and a giant Santa float from a parade that looks very different this year thanks to a certain pandemic.

Again, to our friends in the USA, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

To our friends in the rest of the world, HAPPY THURSDAY!

Wishing you all many blessings and lots of festive fun this time of the year!

On this day of thanks, and on every day of the year, we truly have so much for which to be grateful. We are grateful for our family, those still with us and those who watch over us. We are also grateful for our health, for the roof over our heads, and for the food on our table. We are grateful for this beautiful, festive season, even if it does look a bit different this year.

We are also beyond thankful for this wonderful community of friends. Without all of you, we would be lost. Thank you for helping give us so much for which to be thankful, friends! Wishing you all many blessings, today and every day!

***

We usually share our poem for Angel Sammy's Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge on of course Thursdays, but this week we're going to share it on Saturday. That post will include our first Christmas poem and first new Christmas doodle of 2020. 

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We didn't forget about tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. We'll share the fill-in statements below. Ellen of 15andmeowing crafted up the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. Why is _________ so expensive?

2. On holidays, I always have a second serving of _________.

3. I'm eternally grateful for _________.

4. 'Tis the season for _________.

***

Tip of the Day

Surely I'm not the only one who always feasts on the classic green bean casserole for the holidays? If green bean casserole is on your Thanksgiving table, keep in mind what all ingredients are used to make it before you let your furbaby try some. A lot of green bean casseroles involve potentially dangerous ingredients, especially after you add the classic mushroom soup and onions on top. The onions themselves are of course a hazard, as are added sodium and other ingredients that sneak their way in there. For this reason, it is likely best to hold off on sharing green bean casserole with your kitty or pup. That being said, though, if you have plain green beans to serve, those can make a great and nutritious treat for that furbaby in your life!

Woof Woof Wednesday

 Sometimes, Astrid gets a bit suspicious and evasive of the camera.

How about I just focus on those puppy paws, then?

Happy Wednesday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Here's another Thanksgiving doodle from last year.

Tomorrow we'll have a brand new drawing that is partially in honor of the one and only Thanksgiving here in the US, and also partially in honor of rapidly approaching Christmas.

***

Tip of the Day

We've been discussing the safety of our furbabies when it comes to common Thanksgiving foods. This topic would feel incomplete without a mention of none other than stuffing. Is this Thanksgiving staple safe for your furbaby? More than likely, it is best that you simply avoid feeding any of that stuffing to your kitty or pup. Why? Because many stuffing dishes include ingredients such as onion, garlic, salt, butter (which could especially be a problem for furbabies with lactose intolerance), and other components that could have uncomfortable or dangerous side effects. If the stuffing is plain, without any potentially dangerous ingredients, then a small taste might be fine for your furbaby. But, more than likely, that Thanksgiving stuffing will contain some ingredients that are best avoided in your cat or dog's diet.

The Helpers

Though I do have a desk at which I can and sometimes do work in my sketchbook, I also quite enjoy relaxing on the couch while drawing. Of course, though, when I work on the couch, I get lots of help. My helpers always make sure to hold me down and keep me on track while drawing. Obviously.

Happy Tuesday to all!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

This doodle from last year was inspired by my desire to give Thanksgiving its just due, but which is difficult because of my eagerness for Christmas.

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Tip of the Day

Many Thanksgiving dinners include bread, rolls, biscuits, or other doughy goods. That being said, be cautious and aware when baking bread around dogs and cats. If a pup or kitty consumes unbaked bread dough, especially that which contains yeast, serious side effects could result. For example, unbaked break dough can expand inside the warm intestinal tract, which can in turn result in life-threatening bloat, twisted stomach, and other potential issues. Yeast in unbaked bread dough not only can result in bloat, though. It can also ferment. Such fermentation produces alcohols, which can then be absorbed into a cat or dog's bloodstream and result in alcohol poisoning. Needless to say, unbaked bread dough can be very dangerous, or even deadly, if consumed by a cat or dog. So, never leave unbaked bread dough unattended. Keep your kitty or pup out of the kitchen, or do whatever else you must to keep your kitty or pup from giving that dough and other dangerous Thanksgiving feast foods a taste test.

Guest Mancat Monday

I took care of my parents' kitties last week while they were out of town. I of course took more photos of their adorable kitties than I can count, so how about we share one of the mancats today? Here's Talon for you!

This boy loves rugs. He rolls in them, folds them up, and just all around has a grand ol' time on any and every rug he finds. Do any of you furry friends of ours like rugs as much as Talon does?

Happy Monday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's flashback Thanksgiving doodle is one I created last year in honor of my angels Rosie and Sammy.

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Tip of the Day

A discussion on Thanksgiving dinner foods would not be complete without noodles, would it? At least, in my family Thanksgiving isn't complete without noodles. If noodles are part of your holiday meal, it could likely be considered safe to feed your furbaby a small amount of plain noodles. Noodles can be a good source of energy in the form of carbohydrates, but of course they are best enjoyed in moderation for your furbaby. That being said, as always, also do consider any ingredients added the noodles. As we've indicated in many previous tips, refrain from feeding your pup or kitty noodles that include garlic or onion, for example, or that include any fatty or other sauces that might lead to gastrointestinal upset, pancreatitis, or other issues. So, if your furbaby fancies a taste of pasta, as long as it's plain, they can enjoy that little taste.

Sunday Selfies

Last Sunday, Tonks shared a selfie in which she gave you one of her cutest expressions on her adorable face. Today, this calico wants you all to know that she can be a serious and stern girl, too. After all, she has to be stern to keep this mom of hers in line. So, Tonks found some selfies of that sort from that same photo shoot, and here they are.

Happy Sunday to all!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Given that Thanksgiving is this Thursday here in the US, I feel compelled to share Thanksgiving doodles. That being said, I have not been in the mood at all to scribble up new Thanksgiving drawings. I've been working on Christmas doodles, because that's currently what makes me happy. So, to give Thanksgiving its just due, we're going to share last year's Thanksgiving doodles for the first half of this week. Here's one for you.

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Tip of the Day

Continuing on with our Thanksgiving dinner tips, yet another common holiday dish is white potatoes, such as mashed potatoes. When it comes to feeding your furbaby white potatoes, those that are cooked and plain can be a reasonable treat in moderation. When additional ingredients are added, though, then you have to start being extra cautious about offering potatoes as a treat. For example, butter or sour cream might cause gastrointestinal distress, especially for cats and dogs who are lactose intolerant. In addition, as we've said before, added ingredients such as garlic, onion, or excess salt can potentially be dangerous if consumed by a kitty or pup. So, you can let your furbaby try out those mashed potatoes, but first make be sure to take into account how they're prepared.

In addition to white potatoes, Thanksgiving is also often a popular time for sweet potato dishes. If plain and simple, sweet potatoes can make for a great treat for a kitty or pup. They are a great source of fiber and vitamin A, as well as vitamin C, potassium, and a variety of other beneficial nutrients. Plain steamed, baked, or mashed sweet potatoes would be a great treat to allow your kitty or pup during that Thanksgiving dinner. That all being said, though, do be cautious of dishes such as sweet potato casserole. These altered versions of sweet potato often contain added sugar, sugary marshmallows, and other potential seasonings or ingredients that could be unhealthy or lead to gastrointestinal side effects. So, sweet potatoes are a great treat to offer that furbaby in your life, but do be sure it's of the plain and healthy variety. Just as with white mashed potatoes, make sure you know how sweet potatoes are prepared prior to letting your furbaby have a taste.

Caturday Art

After some internet issues and technical difficulties, we're finally sharing our doodle for Athena's Caturday Art Blog Hop. It's our final autumn remake doodle, and it's based off of a drawing we shared way back in 2018. If you're curious what the original doodle looked like, just click here. And, here's the remake version.

Happy Caturday, friends!

***

Tip of the Day

Yesterday we discussed whether it was safe to feed your furbaby a taste of that Thanksgiving turkey. Another food you might find on the Thanksgiving table is ham. Is this safe to feed your furbaby, though? Ham, like turkey potentially can be, is often high in fat. Ham is also often processed or treated, and can possibly contain high amounts of salt. These factors can lead to any number of issues, such as gastrointestinal distress or pancreatitis, if consumed in excess by your kitty or pup. And, just as we've said of other Thanksgiving foods, also be aware of other potentially concerning ingredients added to ham, such as onion and garlic. While very small amounts might not have an effect for some furbabies, do be aware of the potential side effects that fatty, processed, treated, or seasoned ham can cause.

It's also worth noting to be aware of the contents and preparation of chicken, beef, and all meats served at your Thanksgiving dinner. These can all potentially contain problematic fat, or additives such as onion, garlic, salt, and so forth. To prevent pancreatitis, gastrointestinal distress, or other issues, either refrain from giving your furbaby a taste at all, or give treats only in moderation and only when you are certain that the food contains no potentially dangerous components.

Friendly Fill-Ins

Sorry this post is going up way later than I intended! I yet again failed to properly schedule my post yesterday. Here it is now, though.

It's time for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. Are you ready? We'll share the fill-in statements again, and then I'll share my answers. Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.


1. _________ is funny.

2. I've written a fan letter to _________.

3. _________ is easier than it looks.

4. _________ is harder than it looks.


My answers are below in bold.

1. My furry family is funny.
(The kitties and puppy in my life are my favorite form of entertainment and humor. They never fail to make me smile and laugh.)

2. I've written a fan letter to Santa.
(I don't think I've ever written a fan letter to any typical celebrity. But, as a kid, I loved writing letters to Santa. So, I'm going to count that as my answer.)

3. Making a pie is easier than it looks.
(For years, though I love baking, I avoided making pies. Making the crust and filling and timing it all to get done at the right time seemed so daunting to me. A few years ago, though, I gave it a shot and realized it's actually not that hard. Now I make all different kinds of pies all the time. I do have my certain recipes I use loyally, including my grandmother's pie crust recipe, so perhaps that makes it more familiar and easy for me. But, I personally do think pies are easier to make than they seem.)

4. Closing a Ziploc bag is harder than it looks.
(This is probably a very silly answer, and it's probably very specific to me. I feel like I've even mentioned this before, but I have a heck of a time getting the zipping part of Ziploc bags to line up and actually close. My sister laughs at me for it, but one of my co-workers was struggling to close one the other day and actually mentioned how he struggles to get Ziploc bags closed on a regular basis. I had to laugh at that, because I finally didn't feel so alone with my inability to close a Ziploc bag.)

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've been having a couple of warmer days, so today you get to see Eddy enjoying some window whiffies.

There won't be many more window whiffies after today, though, because it's finally supposed to get cold and stay cold. Sorry, kitties.

Happy Friday, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's flashback doodle is from last year, and it stars my angel Rosie and also relates to my fill-in answer about making pies.

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Tip of the Day

Our series of tips relating to Thanksgiving food safety of course must include a little discussion on turkey. Is it safe to feed your kitty or pup some Thanksgiving turkey? Turkey bits fed in moderation can be a safe and delicious treat, but only as long as excess fat and bones are removed. Fat can lead to pancreatitis, among other potential issues. Bones are a choking hazard, and of course can also lead to perforation or obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract. Also keep in mind whether any additional ingredients, seasonings, or other additives were used when cooking the turkey. For example, onion, garlic, or excess salt on the turkey could potentially lead to gastrointestinal upset or other dangers. So, you don't have to skip giving your furbaby a taste of that Thanksgiving turkey, but do be sure you offer treats only in moderation, and that you take precautions for the health and safety of your furbaby.

Thoroughly Poetic Thankful Thimble Thursday

Happy Thursday! We're going to start off with a rhyme today, because why not? It's the day of Angel Sammy's Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge, so that certainly gives us a good reason to rhyme.

As always, our host shared a photo prompt to guide us, and that prompt was this fun image here:

Seeing that here in the United States we're gearing up for Thanksgiving next week, I felt compelled to somehow turn this prompt into a Thanksgiving rhyme. The result was weird and wacky, and if you'd like to read it, here it is:

A Thoroughly Thurman Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving at Grandma and Grandpa Thurman's was always something else.
They were more lively even than Santa's most festive elf.
Thelma Thurman wondered what this year's Thanksgiving gathering would bestow,
Just as her father pulled the car into the driveway of her grandparents' home.

Grandma and Grandpa Thurman's home was eccentric, that was apparent.
Then again, the same could be said for none other than Thelma's grandparents.
Her grandpa even greeted them in a festive Turkey Day sweater.
It seemed like nothing could make him feel happier or better.

The Thurman clan made their way into the dining room,
Where Thelma greeted her grandparents' cats, Bonnie and Clyde, who chronically snoozed.
While her grandparents were active, animated, and zealous,
Their cats lived a sleepy life that would make all tired folk jealous.

The table already looked like Thanksgiving heaven,
Even though that morning the clock had only just struck eleven.
Never ones to put off the fun and festivities,
Grandma and Grandpa Thurman urged everyone to sit down, dig in, and begin eating.

They feasted on turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberries, and so much more.
By the time she finished her heaping plate, Thelma was ready to snore.
There was still pie to be had, of course,
But Thelma needed time before there was any pie she could endorse.

Thelma went to the living room and had nearly sat,
When her grandpa said, "There's no time for a nap!
There's yet festive fun to be had!"
Then he ran out the door just like that.

Thelma wondered how she could have forgotten about this tradition.
Each year, the post-meal activity was a different rendition.
Many families watched football on Thanksgiving, even if while snoring.
Grandma and Grandpa Thurman, though, found all that too typical and boring.

Last year, Grandma Thurman showed off her skills on a pogo stick,
And the year before that Grandpa started a pie-eating contest, in which he ate six.
Thelma wondered what wild and wacky thing would happen this year,
She knew the answer when with a skateboard in hand her grandpa did appear.

No one wanted to let Grandma and Grandpa Thurman down.
Besides, saying no to them would make everyone frown.
And so, the Thurman clan spent hours and hours skateboarding.
Grandma Thurman was so skilled she had everyone cheering and roaring.

The skateboarding fun and games came to an end when the clock struck five.
The Thurmans all headed inside, where they were met with quite the surprise.
While they were out on their Thanksgiving skateboard rides,
Bonnie and Clyde, the usually sleeping cats, had eaten all the pies!

***

What's up next? Of course it's Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!

Around here, Thimble is always available to share some gratitude, and this week is no different. Last week, Thimble shared some photos of her enjoying a nap in a sunny window with her canine sister Astrid. After we posted those photos, though, Thimble realized that her gorgeous eyes were closed in each one we shared. So, Thimble went through those photos again and found a couple with her eyes open. She's thankful her eyes are so pretty, and so she wanted to share those open-eyed photos today.

 Thimble hopes you enjoy seeing her pretty eyes this time!

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Last but not least, we have for you the fill-in statements for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. My fantastic co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. _________ is funny.

2. I've written a fan letter to _________.

3. _________ is easier than it looks.

4. _________ is harder than it looks.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Tip of the Day

In yesterday's Thanksgiving tip, we mentioned how it might be best to keep those pecans and that pecan pie out of your furbaby's reach. Today, we're giving a reminder to be cautious with all nuts, especially if you're not sure how they might affect your furbaby. Almonds, walnuts, pistachios, macadamia nuts, and other nuts can all potentially lead to gastrointestinal upset, some potentially causing more severe reactions than others. The possibility and severity of a reaction also might depend on your particular furbaby, and their particular gastrointestinal tract. Some nuts, such as walnuts, macadamia nuts, hickory nuts, and the previously mentioned pecans, can also contain a toxin that affects the nervous system, especially if they become moldy. For reasons such as these, to be on the safe side, it is best to simply keep any nuts, and dishes containing nuts, out of your furbaby's reach. As always, it's better to be safe than sorry!

Woof Woof Wednesday

In case you forgot what a dog looking out a window looks like, Astrid's got you covered. Here you go!

Happy Wednesday, friends!

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Doodle of the Day

Here's another of our autumnal remake doodles. The original of this one, which was first shared in 2018, can be seen here. And here's the new version of it, complete with cats, a good book from the library, and a cup of your favorite hot beverage.

I'm pretending the girl is drinking hot cocoa. What drink would you want in that mug?

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Tip of the Day

Today's tip in our Thanksgiving series is about none other than pie. As we've said on many occasions over time, plain pumpkin contains fiber and other nutrients that can have benefits for our furbabies and their health. That being said, though, not all components of Thanksgiving pies are as equally beneficial. For example, another popular Thanksgiving dessert is pecan pie, but do be cautious with this around your furbabies. Pecans are not particularly safe to feed your pup or kitty. One reason is simply that pecans can cause an upset gastrointestinal tract, and could also lead to bowel obstruction. Also take into consideration any other pies you make and what ingredients they contain. For example, chocolate pies or those containing raisins are of course dangerous to cats and dogs. What's more, when it comes to any kind of pie, whether it be pumpkin, pecan, or another, added sugars and other potential added ingredients can be less than ideal for our kitties and pups to consume. So, when you're making or eating those Thanksgiving pies, keep dangerous ingredients and the final products well out of your furbaby's reach.

Tonks Tuesday

What's Tuesday without a bit of Tonks?

This little calico snapped all sorts of selfies during this photo shoot, so you'll be seeing lots of those in the upcoming weeks. Tonks hopes that seeing her cute little face brightens your day!

Have a terrific Tuesday, friends!

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Doodle of the Day

Today we have for you one of the autumnal remake doodles I scribbled up. In other words, it's a recreation of a doodle I first shared back in 2018. If you'd like to see the original off of which this one is based, just click here. And now, here's the new version.

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Tip of the Day

From now through the end of November, we're going to give some tips on food safety. This is in no small part because next Thursday is Thanksgiving here in the US, and that's a time when we humans tend to indulge in all sorts of tasty foods. That being said, though, some of those foods are not ideal or safe for our kitties or pups to eat. We have indeed already shared all of these tips at some point in the past, but this seems like the perfect season to festively repeat them.

Let's start with the obvious foods that most of you likely already know to be dangerous. For example, foods in the Allium species, such as onion and garlic, can be dangerous to cats and dogs. Be careful to keep those out of reach when cooking with them, and of course keep out of your furbaby's reach any foods that contain them. What are some of the other obvious ones? Grapes and raisins, such as if you have a fruit dish set out or if you've made a dessert with raisins, should be kept away from your kitty or pup. And don't forget the toxicity that chocolate and alcohol can pose to cats and dogs. Many tasty foods find their way to the table for Thanksgiving, but some of them are dangerous to our kitties and pups. Always be aware of that, and plan your menu, food placement, and general kitchen safety protocols accordingly.

Mancat Toesies on Monday

On this Mancat Monday, mancat Evan wants to show off his toesies. Are you ready for some toe beans? Here they are!

For anyone who isn't familiar with Evan or might not remember, this orange mancat is hind limb paralyzed. His back legs do not function like the average cat's do, they twist and bend in their own special ways, and their claws cannot and do not retract. But, Evan's toesies are absolutely adorable nonetheless!

Happy Monday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

I intended to share our next autumnal recreation doodle today. I'm doing a short series of doodles that are remakes of drawings I scribbled up in 2018, but of course in my current drawing style. The last three drawings in this series are all very close to being done, but their final touches still need topped off. I got a tad bit behind on my intended artsy creations this weekend because my parents and sister left for vacation, and I'm taking care of all of their furbabies, including my parents' 12 kitties. So, for today, we have another autumnal flashback doodle for you. It's actually one in honor of next week's US holiday of Thanksgiving.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, and Saturday of this week we'll be ready to share our final three remake doodles. If you're hoping for more Thanksgiving doodles, you'll not only get some next week, but you'll also actually get one on this Thursday with our Thanksgiving-inspired poem for Angel Sammy's Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge. I love scribbling up autumnal doodles in my sketchbook. I have to be honest, though, and admit that I am ready to start on the Christmas doodles. I already have a couple of Christmas doodles sketched out, actually, so they're not far off! I can't wait to get started on even more of them.

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Tip of the Day

Our last tip for Pet Diabetes Awareness Month is to schedule regular checkups with your veterinarian. Even if a furbaby's diabetes has been under control for a prolonged period of time, or even in a potential case of diabetic remission, it is still wise to schedule regular vet visits. Regardless of how long a cat or dog has been living with diabetes, regular bloodwork and urinalyses are very important for monitoring their overall health and status. Bloodwork in the form of frucotsamine checks can help reveal if blood sugar has indeed been staying steady over a longer period of time, as a fructosamine test can indicate the average blood glucose level over the span of the past 2 or 3 weeks. This is beneficial as it gives a broader view of diabetes regulation, far more so than just a single-moment blood glucose check. In addition, regular urinalyses can help check for glucose or ketones in the urine, or for signs of UTI, which are sometimes common in diabetic cats and dogs. As always, it is better to be safe than sorry, so never forget the importance of regular vet visits.

A Handsome Boy's Sunday Selfie

Over the Halloween season, Toby tried to share a selfie that was photobombed by one rude skeleton. You know, just a typical problem. Today, Toby wanted to share a selfie that didn't involve his handsome self getting photobombed. So, how's this?

Toby's looking out the window in no small part because he saw his mom drive away hours and hours and hours ago and she hasn't returned home yet. Toby's mom, this here human's sister, left for a vacation yesterday morning. She actually went with our mom and dad. I happily and voluntarily stayed home because, as I've mentioned many times before, even in Friday's fill-ins, I'm a homebody and find little to no joy in leaving home. In addition, I'm happily caring for all of the family furbabies. I'm taking care of my sister's kitties, Toby and Winky, which really isn't anything new since they live with me. I'm also caring for my parents' kitties, all 12 of them. They're all my best buds, so I don't mind one bit.

Happy Sunday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's flashback doodle is actually one I scribbled up last year for one of our weekly poems. I thought it was apt for today, though, since Toby showed off how handsome he looks even while watching out the window through which he saw his mom drive off for her vacation.

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Tip of the Day

It's still Pet Diabetes Awareness Month, and so we have another tip today for those who might know a diabetic kitty or pup. We recently mentioned the importance of diet for a diabetic furbaby, and today we're mentioning how exercise is also significant for keeping diabetes regulated. Just as with humans, a proper activity level can help to keep diabetes under control, this especially being the case for a diabetic kitty or pup who is overweight and in need of losing weight. That being said, though, exercise and activity level also can affect blood glucose levels. For this reason, talk to your veterinarian regarding a healthy level of exercise for your diabetic furbaby, and how to best monitor their activity level, weight, and diabetic status.