Friendly Fill-Ins

We had a winter storm yesterday that involved lots of ice. Our internet was struggling through that, but it's all better now and so here we finally are!

It's Friday, in case you haven't noticed, and so we're ready for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. Please feel free to join in on the fun! My co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two fill-in statements, and I came up with the second two.


1. It's about time _________.

2. An anecdote I like to tell is _________.

3. I wish there was a way to _________ without _________.

4. Too many people take _________ for granted.

My answers are below in bold.

1. It's about time winter hit us.
(In my area, it's a local joke that it's not really winter until February. Especially for the past decade or two, February has been the month when our area gets slammed with winter storms. It happens almost every year. In the past two weeks, we've had two big winter storms, and apparently we're expecting another one next week.)

2. An anecdote I like to tell is the time that an incredibly sick Rosie fought me tooth and nail to take her meds.

(My calico angel Rosie once had pancreatitis so bad that her bilirubin and other liver values ended up literally off the charts. The vet even said that her values were "contradictory to life". Rosie was tough and stubborn, though, and not only did she survive that ordeal, but while hospitalized at the cat clinic where I worked at the time, frail Rosie would full force fight me to take her meds. After one such battle, I thought I'd actually succeeded at getting one of the pills down her, but when I checked on Rosie a couple hours later, she looked me right in the face as she spit that pill out. She'd been holding it in her mouth for hours just to spit it out at me. I never succeeded at getting her to take that pill.)

3. I wish there was a way to enjoy winter without ice.

(I think snow can be absolutely beautiful, but I could really do without the ice. Not only can it more easily take out power and internet lines, but it's simply just a nightmare to drive and walk on. We had a large amount of snow a couple of weeks ago, and for days on end it would melt during the day and then freeze into an ice rink at night. Then yesterday we just straight up had us a little ice storm. Can you just chill out on the ice, Mother Nature? No pun intended.)

4. Too many people take everything for granted.

(I couldn't pick what to put here. People often take freedom, their health, the health of their loved ones, the kindness of others, and all sorts of things for granted. And I'm not just calling out others on this, because I'm guilty as well. You don't know what you have until it's gone, and that goes for almost anything. So, I'll just sum it up and say that people too often take anything and everything in life for granted.)

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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Ready for your Eddy fix? Yeah? Good. Here's the pretty little lady in all of her stunning glory.

Don't let the sun behind the unfolded pile of laundry fool you. It's barely double digit temperatures outside, and the ground is covered in ice and snow. Eddy will just stay snuggled up inside on her favorite blanket, thank you very much.

Happy Friday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Given the white covering on the ground outside, I felt compelled to share a good and snowy doodle today. Since none of my new doodles are majorly snowy, I went for this silly flashback doodle:

I remember when I scribbled that up a couple of years ago. It was actually inspired by the book The Mitten by Jan Brett, which I read all the time during the winter as a child.

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Tip of the Day

We're still not done with tips for National Cat Health Care Month. Today, we're here to remind you to regularly groom your kitty. Brushing your cat has many benefits, such as removing hair that might otherwise lead to hairballs. Hairballs can not only potentially cause vomiting, but also, in some cases, intestinal blockages, which is certainly something no one wants. In addition, brushing can of course also help prevent painful mats, or remove those that are forming. A well-groomed kitty is a happy and healthy kitty, so keep that brush handy. Regular nail trims would also come into play in this topic of regularly grooming your kitty. Of course, if your kitty does not allow for you to brush him or her or trim his or her nails, then perhaps consider a professional groomer, or asking your veterinarian if they offer grooming services. This is especially important for kitties with issues such as mats or painfully long nails that need addressed.

While we're on this topic, remember that cats are both physically and behaviorally equipped to bathe themselves. Therefore, unless your kitty becomes unusually dirty or for some reason is in dire need of a full bath, putting your kitty in that bathtub for a scrub down is not generally necessary. In fact, bathing your kitty could even lead to dry skin or fur, which is of course not ideal for their comfort or health. So, unless a bath is absolutely called for, leave the regular grooming to brushing, nails trims, and other such tasks that will keep your stay kitty sleek, shiny, healthy, and happy.