Friendly Fill-Ins

Welcome to Friday! We're ready to fill-in the Friendly Fill-Ins. Are you? Feel free to join us! My co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two fill-in statements, and I came up with the second two.


1. _________ creep(s) me out.

2. I could use a refresher class in _________.

3. Life would be much simpler if _________.

4. I would like to _________, but first I have to _________.

My answer are below in bold.

1. Dolls creep me out.

(I'm not talking about adorable stuffed animals. I love those little guys. I don't even mind baby dolls akin to Cabbage Patch Kids, which actually have the capacity to be cute. I'm talking more so about the type of doll that was typical in the Victorian era, I guess you could say. You know, the ones that sit and stare at you beneath an abnormally full head of hair, with glassy eyes and sometimes this devilish grin on their face. Those kinds of dolls just aren't my cup of tea. No offense to anyone who collects them. To each his or her own. My grandma collects dolls like that. Her living room is lined with glass cabinets filled with them, and it's horrifying. Sorry, Grandma, but please stop.)

2. I could use a refresher class in social skills.

(Socially speaking, I was a mess even before the pandemic hit. I'm probably even more of a mess now, though, because during the pandemic I got used to people avoiding each other, which meant less chit chat and small talk on the daily. With or without the pandemic, I'm just not a naturally social person, and I'm terrible at attempting to be social. Sometimes I can manage small talk just fine, and other times I'm like a fish out of water. Actually, most of the time I'm like a fish out of water. I still regularly have awkward exchanges with neighbors that I've known for nearly a decade, because socializing is rough stuff. If you ever met me in person, you'd very likely get a front row seat to my awkwardness show.)

3. Life would be much simpler if people took lessons from cats and dogs.

(If people took lessons from our furry friends, the world would be full of unconditional love and all sorts of other improvements. If only.)

4. I would like to build my kitties a catio, but first I have to do some major planning.

(This is something I want to do down the line, but it will indeed require me to plot and plan and prepare for it. I have a couple of ideas on where and how to install a catio, but I haven't made any final decisions yet. All in all, I really do want to give my kitties a catio. I think they would love it, especially Evan and Tonks. I would love to see them enjoying such a close view of the outside world, but with the safety of being enclosed. Anyway, that's a project to look forward to on another day.

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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Don't worry, we didn't forget to give you your Eddy fix.

Happy Friday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

As a followup to yesterday's tip on how to keep your furbaby cool if they are outdoors in the heat, we're here today to specifically talk about those walks you and your furbaby might take this summer. Especially on those days with extreme heat, it is safest to either limit or cut out walks, or to take them only when the day is at its coolest. For example, a very early morning walk or a late evening walk would be far safer than a walk in the middle of the day, when the sun is at its highest and hottest. If a walk or bathroom break outdoors is necessary for your pup or kitty on a hot day, do consider taking a water bottle along to help keep your furbaby hydrated and cool.

It's not just the heat of the air that you have to consider with regard to summer walks, though. Pavement can reach literally burning hot temperatures in the summer sun. While us humans typically wear shoes to protect our feet, paw pads are exposed and can indeed be burned during exposure to hot pavement. If touching the pavement with your own hand leads you to conclude that it's uncomfortably or painfully hot, then indeed take that into consideration. This is one reason why it is incredibly important to plan walks and outdoor adventures accordingly during the summer months. If your pup or kitty does need to go outdoors in the extreme heat, and especially if the pavement feels hot to you, then try to avoid the pavement and instead head straight for the grass. Or, for those furbabies who will tolerate it, protective booties can be placed on the feet to keep them safe against the hot pavement.

In the summer, just as always, it's always better to be safe than sorry. That might mean skipping a walk on a scorcher of a day, or changing your walking schedule so that your furbaby is outdoors only when it is cooler. Always do what is best for your furbaby's health and safety.