A Birthday Bash and Friendly Fill-Ins

There's only one way to properly start this post...

Happy 9th birthday to my sweet Evan, the best momma's boy ever!

Evan, you are so special in so many ways, and I love you to pieces. Thank you for being my momma's boy!

Grab some cake, friends, and join Evan in celebrating his birthday!

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Now, how about those Friendly Fill-Ins? We'd love for you to join in on this fun challenge! My co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two fill-in statements, and I came up with the second two.


1. I hope the Easter Bunny brings me _________.

2. My favorite part of the Easter (or Passover) meal is _________.

3. I'm most looking forward to _________ this weekend.

4. For me, this time of year _________.

My answers are below in bold.

1. I hope the Easter Bunny brings me cat food.
(Honestly. I don't need anything for myself. The pet stores hardly have any of what my kitties like, though, so can you hook us up with the goods, Easter Bunny?)

2. My favorite part of the Easter meal is dessert.

(For Easter, I always make a pudding dessert that's intended to look, well, Easter-y. It's really fun to concoct, if not terribly messy. I believe I've shared a photo of it from a previous year, so I'll share that photo again now for reference.

In truth, I don't usually eat any of this dessert because I don't do well with gluten and dairy, both of which are are included. But, I enjoy making it nonetheless. It makes me feel festive.)

3. I'm most looking forward to extra time off this weekend.

(It's just a three-day weekend I'm talking about here, but I'll take it. I can spend more time with my furbabies and family, and I can do more art. And I can sit on the couch longer. My favorite.)

4. For me, this time of year is a tad bit nostalgic.

(My birthday and Easter always roll around this time of year, and for reasons, that always reminds me of my childhood. I remember seeing my grandparents a lot this time of year when I was a kid, both because of my birthday and Easter. There would always be lots of cake and egg hunts, and my mom or grandma would often sew my sister and I new Easter dresses. I've always hated wearing dresses. I genuinely don't mind that this time of year is a lot quieter and far less active now that I'm an adult, but the memories are nice nonetheless.)

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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It's time for your Eddy fix. In honor of Evan's birthday, especially given that Evan is the only other cat in the entire world that Eddy actually likes, Eddy wanted to share two flashbacks with her birthday brother.

Do you like the blankets strewn all over the place in that one? Eddy loves a good fort, so sometimes my room is just a mess of blankets in which she plays and snoozes.

How about one more?

That one there brings back another set of memories. Do you see that bald patch there on Evan's side? That was back when he started neurotically licking himself bald, which prompted his vet to prescribe him amitriptyline. He's been on that medication for something like 3 years now, and with its help he no longer licks himself bald.

All that rambling to say, Eddy can't wait to have her own personal birthday party with you, Evan! She'll happily chase you and jump on you and generally pester you like she so loves to do. Thank you for being her patient big brother who only rarely slaps her around in return.

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I now realize as I'm about to publish this post that I didn't include our already backlogged installment for the April A to Z Challenge. Given how busy and long this post already is, we're just going to share two letters for tomorrow's Caturday Art post, and one on Sunday, and then we'll be all caught up starting Monday. 

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Tip of the Day

For today's tip, of course in Evan's honor, we'd just like to remind you all that special needs animals—or specially abled, a term that I find far more accurate—can still live happy, healthy lives in which they thrive. Specially abled animals can include those of all wonderful types, such as those with physically special attributes, like Evan. In addition, special abled animals can include those with known medical diseases or anomalies, such as diabetes, kidney disease, disorders of the thyroid, deafness, blindness, and cerebellar hypoplasia, just to name a few.

That all being said, if you are ever thinking of adopting, fostering, or even sponsoring an animal, don't forget those who are specially abled. Many of these animals are passed over at shelters, or even, sadly, euthanized. They are often deemed "imperfect" or "unadoptable", when the exact opposite is the truth. These animals may be different, yes, and they are indeed special. That being said, they also have so much much life, love, and lessons to offer.

Of course, though, we also have to note that when it comes to adopting a specially abled animal, always do your research, take all factors into consideration, and decide whether it is wise or possible for you to bring home a specially abled furbaby. Especially depending on their condition, these special furbabies can often of course live happy, healthy, long lives. But, again depending on their condition, their care may take additional effort, resources, and financing.

So, all in all, don't forgot those specially abled furbabies out there. They have so much to offer, and they can teach us all so much.