Snowy Adventures with Angel Astrid

We've gotten a lot of snow this week, I believe at least half a foot. I know that's nothing compared to what some folks get and probably more than a lot of folks actually got this week, but it's a decent amount for us this early on. It's also very cold. My sweet angel pup Astrid loved cold weather and snow, and so this weather makes me think of her very often. It's my first winter without her, and I miss her so much, but I'm so grateful for all of the memories I share with her.

See the snow on Astrid's nose in that photo? She was notorious for shoving her snout into the cold white stuff, and even picking it up in her mouth and throwing it.

I hope you all can find even a fraction of the joy my sweet Astrid had for winter weather!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's flashback doodle is the image I scribbled up for our Christmas card a couple years ago. Astrid played her version of Snoopy, with the kitties enjoying Charlie Brown's special little tree.

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Tip of the Day

We're nearing the end of our Christmas tree tips, but not just yet. Today's tip is to be aware and cautious of edible tree decorations. Whether they be something such as candy canes, cookie ornaments, or strings such as those made from popcorn, be very careful if there is anything edible on your Christmas tree. This can be dangerous if your furbaby eats potentially dangerous goods off of the tree, or even if they eat too much of an otherwise safe human food. Of course, a furbaby trying to reach edible tree decorations could also lead to falling trees and related injuries. So, for the sake of your furbaby and the tree, it is likely best to avoid decorating with edible goods. As we've said before, it is still possible to be festive, but do be sure to keep your furbaby's safety in mind as well.

Tonks Tuesday in the Christmas Tree

On this Tonks Tuesday, the Christmas tree-loving calico wanted to share some of the first festive photos we snapped this year.

I took these when Tonks was "helping" me put up her favorite Christmas tree. I actually bought this tree off of a coworker's mother for a great price a couple years ago, when she wanted to upgrade and I needed to replace our previous, used and abused tree. And this new one is great because it's incredibly dense, which Tonks absolutely loves as she can really nestle in and nap in it.

There will certainly be more photos like this. After all, this calico spends a good chunk of her day in or near that Christmas tree. It's her favorite thing this time of the year.

Tonks and all of us here wish you a terrifically festive Tuesday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

While I continue to work on some new Christmas doodles for this year, today's flashback is yet another one from the old-fashioned Christmas series I scribbled up a couple years ago. This is far from my favorite doodle from this series, but I still wanted to include it nonetheless.

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Tip of the Day

Yesterday we mentioned the importance of securing your Christmas tree against any furry climbers in the home. Today, we have another Christmas tree safety tip, this time regarding those light strands and ornaments. As you all certainly already know, always be careful of cords and the dangers they pose, such as if chewed on or if a furbaby becomes tangled in them. If your furbaby only seems interested in the lower branches of the tree, perhaps only place lights on the upper portion. Or, if necessary, do not use lights at all. If you do decorate your tree with lights, always unplug them if left unattended.

The same sort of rules can apply to ornaments, as needed. You can avoid placing them on the lower portion of the tree, or refrain from using them altogether. If glass ornaments might become broken and cause potential injuries, consider using only plastic ones. Also consider the dangers of ornament hooks, or the choking hazards the ornaments themselves might pose. At our house, for these reasons, ornaments are not included on the tree but are instead hung from strands of garland that are attached to the wall, out of certain furbabies' reach. You don't have to throw your festive spirit out the door if you have adventurous and Christmas tree-loving furbabies, you simply have to take necessary precautions.

A Merry Mancat Monday

We put up our Christmas trees on Black Friday, and I've of course taken lots of photos of the kitties enjoying the festivities. I haven't yet organized all of those photos yet, but that doesn't mean we don't have one to share with you. For today, you get to see Evan in his new favorite place to sleep.

Do you see my boy curled up in his cat tree beside the Christmas tree? Being hind limb paralyzed, Evan isn't easily able to get to that level of the cat tree himself. I do put his pet stairs beside the cat tree, but he seems to prefer being lifted and put in there by his human, which I'm more than fine doing for my sweet boy.

Have a merry Monday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

I did not get around to all the art I hoped to scribble up this weekend, so until I finish more of my Christmas doodles for this year, it's time for more flashbacks. I do have lots of those, though, including this old-fashioned one from a couple years ago.

I scribbled up that one and a couple other similar doodles when I was in A Christmas Carol sort of mood a couple years ago. I had a lot of fun with those, and I plan on doing at least one vintage sort of doodle like that this year.

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Tip of the Day

We seem to be repeating old tips these days. 'Tis the season, apparently. That being said, this festive season we'll be repeating some Christmas safety tips that we also shared the past few years. It's an important topic this time of year, so we'll keep going with it.

How about we start with that good ol' Christmas tree? To begin, if you put up a Christmas tree, make sure it is securely in place. This is especially important if you have a kitty or pup who enjoys climbing or otherwise giving the tree lots of attention. You can try putting the tree in a corner of a room, if that helps to keep it safe and upright against adventurous furbabies. Moreover, to be extra safe, you can find a way to anchor the tree to the floor, wall, or even a heavy, sturdy piece of furniture. There is also the option of weighing down the base of the tree, such as with weighted bags, as long as they are of a safe and secure sort. Another option, especially if your furbaby is overzealous in their love for the Christmas tree, is to block their access to it altogether, whether that be with baby gates, closed doors, or another means. Whatever it takes, if you put up a Christmas tree in a home with a tree-loving furbaby, do be sure to try and find a way to prevent a fallen tree and potential injuries.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Festive Eddy in the Tree

Hello, friends! We hope all of you in the US had a blessed Thanksgiving yesterday, and that everyone else had a wonderful Thursday. Now it's Friday, and we're ready for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two fill-in statements, and I came up with the second two.


1. My Christmas tree goes up on _________.

2. I am thankful for _________, _________, and _________.

3. I _________ by the time December rolls around.

4. I'll be spending a lot of time _________ this holiday season.


My answers are below in bold.

1. My Christmas tree goes up on Black Friday.
(It's a longtime family tradition that our trees go up on Black Friday. This was to make sure Thanksgiving got its fair time. That said, I often start putting up all non-tree Christmas decor before or on Thanksgiving, and then the trees at my house go up on Black Friday. All that to say, my Christmas trees are indeed going up today, and I can't wait.)

2. I am thankful for my human family, my furry family, and my angels.
(I'm truly grateful for my parents, sister, and my kitties, as well as my angels of all kinds. I'm so thankful for the years I had with my sweet pup Astrid, whom I just lost in September. I'm missing her this holiday season, my first without her, but I am so glad for all of the holidays I did get to celebrate with her.)

3. I like to have all of my Christmas shopping done by the time December rolls around.
(I am so close to being done with my Christmas shopping this year. I don't know if I'll be completely done by December 1st, but I only have a couple gift cards and stocking stuffers to get at this point. I've eaten gotten all of the kitties' gifts already.)

4. I'll be spending a lot of time putting my Christmas trees back together this holiday season.
(I have a couple of tree climbers at my house, those being Eddy and Tonks. Sometimes these girls toss the actual limbs of the Christmas trees to the ground, which is so fun. The last time I ever put ornaments on a Christmas tree was Eddy's first or possibly second Christmas. She was my first ever tree climber, and I have never again risked ornaments on a tree. They now all get hung from garland high on the wall. I do still put cloth ribbons and lights on the trees, though, and I do often have to reattach those abused ribbons and straighten the light strands.) 

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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Since I'm putting up our trees today and of course mentioned Eddy's love for them, how about some of my favorite flashbacks of Eddy at Christmastime?

These were actually snapped way back when I still attempted to put ornaments on the tree. Which means some of the ornaments didn't survive the season.

Eddy and all of us here wish you a festive Friday!

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Festive Flashback Doodle of the Day

Since Eddy got to share her flashback Christmas tree photo shoot above, my other tree-loving kitty Tonks wanted me to share a flashback doodle starring her and her love for the festive tree. So, here's an old one of those.

That there is yet another doodle I'd love to recreate with my somewhat updated drawing style. I don't deem that one there awful or anything like that, but I see parts of it that I would improve or change given how I prefer to draw these days.

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Tip of the Day

November is National Pet Diabetes Awareness Month. That's why today we're giving a quick tip related to this disease. This tip is one that you all certainly know, and that is to be very vigilant with regard to your furbaby's behavior and appearance, keeping an eye out for signs of diabetes, and of course for signs of any disease. How often is your kitty or pup drinking? How often are they urinating? What is the volume of their urine? The color of it? Has their appetite increased? Has it decreased? Does their fur look dry and dull? Are they less active than usual? Have any of these things changed recently? How recently? These are just some of the questions that, as a pet parent, you have to ask yourself on a regular basis. Regularly observe and check your kitty or pup for any changes in their behavior and appearance. What's more, as always, if you have any concerns, consult your veterinarian.

Given that my family has experience with it thanks to my parents' diabetic kitty Trapper and my sister's equally diabetic kitty Toby, I also wanted to mention the feline diabetes medication Bexacat. This medication is said to more likely work in cases where diabetes is the result of a kitty being overweight, which was the case for both Trapper and Toby. But, it also worked for my parents' angel kitty Talon, who was not overweight and instead developed diabetes as a result of steroid treatments. All that said, Bexacat is a once-a-day pill that redirects excess blood sugar to the urine. This means a kitty on it will always have high sugar in their urine, but it helps them excrete it from their blood that way. If a veterinary-assisted test run of Bexacat proves to work for a kitty, without any issues like ketoacidosis, then they can take that instead of insulin. It is my understanding that it only works in kitties who have never before been treated long-term with insulin, and so it's often prescribed for newly diagnosed kitties. It has kept the aforementioned boy Trapper's diabetes successfully regulated for multiple years now, and it's also worked for Toby for many months. Those two boys are honestly now healthier and more fit than they've been in a long time. So, we just wanted to mention this Bexacat in case your kitty is diagnosed with diabetes and this might be an option.

Happy Thanksgiving!

In the US, today is Thanksgiving. I want all of you to know how much your friendship means to us. We are so very grateful for all of you.

I'm also so very thankful for my kitties, including my angel kitties. I'm also beyond grateful for the time I was blessed to share with my angel pups, of course including my sweet Astrid who just passed in September. I didn't get any new Thanksgiving doodles scribbled up this year, but I'm so thankful that in the past I drew some that included my precious pup Astrid.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

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We are of course going to share the fill-in statements for tomorrow's Friendly Fills challenge. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. My Christmas tree goes up on _________.

2. I am thankful for _________, _________, and _________.

3. I _________ by the time December rolls around.

4. I'll be spending a lot of time _________ this holiday season.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends. Happy Thanksgiving to all those in the United States! To all of our other friends, we hope you have a happy Thursday!

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Tip of the Day

We're finally ready to give our final Thanksgiving tip, on this very day of Thanksgiving. This final Thanksgiving tip is one we've mentioned in the past and is one we're sure you all already know, and it's to be aware of your furbaby's safety if you are having a holiday gathering at your home. Open doors and foot traffic of course increase when guests arrive, which can put your kitty or pup in peril for more reasons than one. Begin by keeping your furbaby away from the door as guests arrive, such as to avoid potential escapes and the danger of getting stepped on. To best protect your kitty or pup, you might simply want to consider setting up a safe and quiet room where your furbaby can spend the majority of the holiday gathering. This is especially important if your kitty or pup is afraid of strangers, if he or she is instead social and might get underfoot and injured, or if you think your guests might unwittingly give your furbaby dangerous scraps from the table. It's of course nice to think of your furbaby joining in on holiday festivities, but keep their safety in mind first and foremost.

This seems like a good time to remind you that you can also consider giving your furbaby safe nibbles of the festive feast. Not all foods are safe, of course, as we've mentioned. However, tastes of safe meats and veggies, as long as you're certain they're safe, can allow your furry family member to participate in the festivities. You can even use safe nibbles of food to coax your kitty or pup to a safe area where they'll be waiting out a gathering, or as a reward for their good, safe behavior during the holiday festivities.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Autumnal Adventures with Angel Astrid

My sweet angel Astrid loved autumn. She loved the cool temps, and I was right there with her. We took many nice, long, beautiful autumnal walks over the years, and I'm so very grateful for that. Sometimes I'd get lovely shots of Astrid standing with gorgeous trees behind her, and other times I'd snap photos that are a bit less aesthetic but still very happy memories like this one here.

I snapped that photo just last autumn. I don't know the scientific name of that sort of shrub, but I do know that it's colloquially called a burning bush. My parents have one in their front yard, but this one is elsewhere in the neighborhood. Astrid was very intrigued by whatever it smelled like (likely donations from other dogs' bladders), and I decided to snap a shot of her sniffing it. It might look like an odd sort of shot, but I'm still glad I took this photo of my sweet angel girl.

Wishing you all a blessed Wednesday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

We have yet another doodle from many autumns ago. Apparently this particular year I was still in the mood to draw a cat-o'-lantern alongside those Thanksgiving pies, which resulted in what you see below.

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Tip of the Day

We've been discussing foods that may or may not be safe to share with your furbaby on Thanksgiving. Keep in mind, though, that food safety 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 left on the table or in the sink as well as food scraps or wrappers in the trash. Illness and emergencies can result if your furbaby licks off of plates 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 table and 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.

Tuesday with Tonks and Evan

Yesterday Evan shared a shot of him napping in his favorite way, that being with his face down so that he looks like he can barely breathe. That said, during that photo shoot, Tonks was sitting on some blankets in the rocking chair beside Evan's bed. She was poorly lit yet very happy and therefore blurry during this photo shoot, but she still wanted to share how she keeps her big brother company.

Evan went to the vet for his annual exam and recheck bloodwork yesterday evening. I haven't gotten the results back yet, and I might not until Friday because of the Thanksgiving holiday. That said, Evan's vet said that, especially given everything Evan has going on, he looks pretty darn good. He's 12 years old and is hind limb paralyzed, has urinary incontinence, bladder cystitis, a long history with UTIs, has had a urethral blockage in the past, has megacolon and therefore sometimes battles constipation, and I'm probably forgetting some things but you get the idea. He's on lots of medications, some that can affect the kidneys and such, so he gets bloodwork more than once a year. But, it's been a few months since his last bloodwork, so I really hope his all still looks good.

Evan has been having regular enough UTIs that his vet recommended I keep antibiotics on hand at home and start giving them to him for one week, keep him off of them for two weeks, give them for a week again, off another two weeks, and so on and so forth. That's not ideal, but we're otherwise struggling to keep his UTIs at bay. He has multiple conditions, such as paralysis and urinary incontinence, that increase his risk of UTIs, so it makes sense. We'll see how the new regimen of antibiotics works for my boy. This does make both his vet and myself worried about him and his bacteria becoming resistant to this particular antibiotic, but we can always try other antibiotics if that happens.

We hope you all have a terrific Tuesday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

As I mentioned yesterday, I'm bad about not scribbling up new Thanksgiving doodles. That means this week you all keep getting old doodles that are outdated compared to my current way of drawing. Not by a whole lot, but definitively enough to notice. Even so, here's another very old one that I scribbled up in honor of the seasonal confusion I often feel in November.

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Tip of the Day

We've previously mentioned sweet potatoes, white 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 the carrot. 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 you're pup or kitty wants to be included in the Thanksgiving feast, go for a safe and healthy option like 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.

Mancat Monday: Face-First Snoozing

Happy Mancat Monday, friends! Evan is of course here to grace you all with his presence. Well, sort of. He may or may not have slept through his Mancat Monday photo shoot.

I've shown Evan sleeping like that before. It's one of his favorite ways to snooze, with his head tucked under in a seemingly suffocating position. I myself enjoy breathing and so am not into face-first snoozing, but Evan loves it.

Have a magnificent Monday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Despite my best intentions every year, I rarely draw new Thanksgiving doodles. This might be because it's simply not my favorite holiday and I've always moved on to working on Christmas doodles by then, but I still always mean to scribble up something new for Turkey Day. I do have some old ones from many years ago, though. These are yet more doodles from before I switched to my newer, slightly altered color palette and perhaps slightly upgraded drawing style. That said, here's one of the oldies for you.

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Tip of the Day

In a previous 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.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Eddy Feeling Festive

Hello and happy Friday, friends! We're ready for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, and we'd love for you to join us. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two fill-in statements, and I came up with the first two.

1. _________ was a faux pas I made once.

2. I know every line of _________.

3. I need a good recipe for _________.

4. If I were in charge of _________, I would change _________.


My answers are below in bold.

1. Commenting on lack of football game wins to a football player classmate was a faux pas I made once.

(An old high school classmate once stopped me to say hi on the college campus we both attended. During the conversation he mentioned how our old high school's football team was doing well that year, and I commented on how I was glad that they were doing better than when we attended school there. The thing is, I forgot he was on the football team during our years at the school. I admittedly did not follow sports hardly at all in high school, but I did know that we almost never won any football games. I didn't remember he was on the team until after we'd parted ways, and he'd been very polite and made no comment on it, but I felt awful afterwards. I know that I can sometimes be very forward and lack a filter, but that particular instance is one I occasionally remember and feel terrible about.)

2. I know every line of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.
(I might not remember every line, but myself as well as my parents and sister can certainly say most of the lines along with the characters throughout the movie. This is my favorite Christmas movie of all time, and I watch it many, many, many times during the festive season. I always watch it for the first time during the Christmas season after putting up my trees on Black Friday, and I can't wait to start my many viewings of it next week.)

3. I need a good recipe for homemade gluten-free, dairy-free bread.

(My mom and I are both gluten and dairy intolerant. Neither of us used to be, but for some reason in the past decade or so we've both become not easily able to eat either of those things. We used to make homemade bread often, and we often still do for my dad and sister. We've been unsuccessful in making true, good bread of the gluten-free and dairy free-variety, though, even when using the special flour and other ingredients we use to successfully make various other baked goods. Obviously gluten is a big reason why bread rises and is so good, but I'm able to buy gluten-free bread from the store that I actually enjoy, so I'd love to find a recipe like that to make at home.)

4. If I were in charge of holiday scheduling, I would change Thanksgiving to October.
(I know Thanksgiving occurs when it does for a reason. That said, as an American whose favorite holidays are Halloween and Christmas, I wish we were like Canada and celebrated Thanksgiving in October, before Halloween. It would still be a nice autumnal holiday, but it wouldn't stand between Halloween and Christmas and make it confusing on when to take down fall decor and put up Christmas decor. It's always been a tradition in my family to let Thanksgiving have its time and decorate for Christmas on Black Friday. While I obviously don't have to follow that tradition and do often start decorating for Christmas earlier than that, I still just wish we went straight from Halloween to Christmas.)

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.

***

It's time for your Eddy fix! And today, the usually blurry girl decided to sit still for you all. This shot was taken at nighttime and so it's not the best lighting, but I thought she looked so cute sitting on her cat tree beside her year round Christmas tree. This girl is feeling festive, and I don't blame her one bit.

Soon, that Christmas tree will be lit up for the festive season. With only loosely hung battery-operated light strands, that is, as my hyper Eddy can't be trusted with anything else. Eddy's especially eager for the giant cloth ribbon I always hang at the top of the tree. She's mostly looking forward to ripping it off of the tree and slashing it to shreds. Her Christmas season wouldn't be complete without that activity.

We hope you're starting to get festive on this Friday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Since I mentioned my favorite Christmas movie National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation in the fill-ins above, I'll go ahead and share an old doodle I scribbled up years ago of the house in that movie. Just last night I worked on a new doodle inspired by this movie, but for now you get this old one.

Every time I see this doodle I'm reminded of how I meant to put a Christmas tree in one of the lower windows. Except I forgot to do so while scribbling it up. It bothers me every time I see this drawing, but such is life.

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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 our family it wouldn't. 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.

A Nosy Thankful Thimble Thursday

Hello and happy Thursday, friends. Thimble is of course here and ready Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Today, Thimble is getting nosy. Though perhaps not in the way you might think. She's really just quite happy to show off how adorable her nose is.

Do you see that big freckle on her cute little nose? That's a relatively new one, or at least from the past year or two. My orange Evan and calico Tonks collect a lot more freckles than my tabby girls Thimble and Eddy, but Thimble does gain a new one on occasion.

***

And now we have the fill-in statements for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. _________ was a faux pas I made once.

2. I know every line of _________.

3. I need a good recipe for _________.

4. If I were in charge of _________, I would change _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's doodle is yet another very old one from many years ago, so it's yet again not quite up-to-date with my perhaps slightly improved style. But, it is indeed what my house looks like right now. I'm still working on putting Halloween stuff away, and I've put out a couple of Thanksgiving whatnot, but I'm really in the mood to decorate for Christmas.

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Tip of the Day

Do you know what holiday food we haven't yet mentioned in this Thanksgiving series? 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, 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.

Angel Astrid's Woof Woof Wednesday in the Window

Today's flashback of my sweet angel Astrid is none other than her enjoying time in favorite window. After all, it's been far too long since the view of my pouty puppy posing in her window has blessed our blog.

Astrid loved that window. It was right by the front door and faced the street. She could watch neighbors, passersby, wildlife, and all that wonderful jazz. In her last few months, my sweet pup's arthritis and balance issues made it far from easy for her to get onto the couch there and so she didn't get to enjoy her favorite window all that much. She did have some beautiful days to enjoy her back yard, though, and I'm grateful for all the years she did happily climb up to her window and gaze at the world for many hours each day.

We hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's flashback doodle is yet another oldie from many years ago, and it's yet another one that portrays the holiday confusion during this time of the year.

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Tip of the Day

Surely I'm not the only one who always feasts on some 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.

Tonks Tuesday: Flashback to Vet Day

Tonks and Thimble went in for their annual exams and senior bloodwork back in October, and I meant to share with you all some cute photos I got of Tonks at the vet. She's a relatively brave girl, and she even loves her mesh carrier, so she's always far more willing than Thimble to pose for the camera at the vet. See?

Tonks stayed by side in her carrier, but that didn't mean she wasn't curious. The second I unzipped it, she sat up and looked around. I cuddled her and enjoyed her adorable purring as she observed the exam room. A couple of times she showed minor interest in getting out of her carrier, but since she's the kind of kitty who would end up on top of the cabinets during her investigation of the room, I requested she stay with me, and she was ultimately happy to do so.

On the other hand, while Thimble is very social at home, even with strangers, she's not even a little bit brave when it comes to leaving the house. She pants in the car and at the vet, which isn't a great thing for cats to be doing. And this is how Thimble looked the entire time she wasn't being examined and having blood and urine stolen:

While Tonks was happy to take in her surroundings, Thimble wouldn't even look up when I said her name. The poor girl is terrified of being away from home. If you come to our house, though, she will absolutely be your best friend. Actually, she'll be your best friend at the vet as well. She'll roll her belly up and purr there, but while also hiding and panting and breathing insanely fast.

Happy Tuesday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

I'm really getting in the mood for Christmas, but I haven't yet finished any Christmas doodles for this year. I haven't even started coloring in our Christmas card, though I do have the outline almost completely done. That said, while perusing old Christmas doodles, I was reminded of the kitty version of Die Hard (which, yes, is indeed a Christmas movie) I scribbled up either last year or the year before. I forgot to look at the date, but either way, here you go.

I drew that the year I found the below ornament online. I bought one for my parents and my sister, as we watch Die Hard every year on Christmas night.

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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 stuffings 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.

Mancat Monday with Evan's Legs

Today's Mancat Monday post is in honor of none other than my boy Evan's extra special back legs. For anyone who doesn't know or doesn't remember, Evan is hind limb paralyzed. This has been the case since he was roughly 6 weeks old, and at 12 years old now, he's very accustomed to getting around in his own unique way. This involves dragging his back legs behind him when he walks, sitting with his legs off to the side when he's at rest, and that sort of thing.

All that said, I love my boy's legs. So, here's a view of how his back legs sometimes look when he's doing his thing around the house.

We also have a bonus shot for you, that being my boy taking a bath. He is able to lick his back legs, at least in part, and that event looks a little like this:

My amazing boy Evan and all of us here wish you a magnificent Monday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

I've shared this doodle below before, as is the case when I share flashbacks. I might have even shared this one in the past few months. I can't remember, but it fits well with the photos above, so I want to share it.

I actually scribbled that up as an illustration for the story I'm writing. Not only does the human gal in that story have her very own special needs kitty, but she also likes to draw, and so she did indeed doodle her own kitty's extra special legs.

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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 the 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.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Eddy in Her Chair

Hello, friends! We're ready for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, and we'd love for you to join us. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two fill-in statements, and I came up with the second two.

1. My first celebrity crush was _________.

2. If I could make up a new holiday it would be called _________.

3. _________ is the last thing on my mind these days.

4. If my _________ could talk, it would probably tell me _________.


My answers are below in bold.

1. My first celebrity crush was a ninja turtle.
(I've never really had a celebrity crush, at least not that I can recall. I do remember as a kid thinking that the teenage mutant ninja turtles were pretty darn cool, though. After all, they were popular in my childhood, and I did watch a lot of the movies and the cartoon from the '80s and '90s. I'm not sure I'd call that an actual crush, but it's all I can think of to put for this one.)

2. If I could make up a new holiday it would be called Creepmas.
(I most certainly did not come up with this idea or term. There are quite a few people out there who, like myself, love both Halloween and Christmas. I've seen many such people online put up trees and other decor that they refer to as a Creepmas style, as in creepy Christmas. I've seen black Christmas trees, or Christmas trees filled with ravens and other macabre ornaments. Or people who put out decor involving Krampus or some of the other spooky Christmas lore out there. While Christmastime itself is all about reds and greens and classic Christmas to me, I wouldn't mind if some of the time between Halloween and Christmas became a Creepmas holiday.)

3. Summer is the last thing on my mind these days.

(We had some gorgeous autumnal days the past couple weeks. Then we got snow this week. My mind is so far away from summer, which is why our next couple of 70-75°F days are not making me feel very festive.)

4. If my furry family could talk, it would probably tell me to stop singing.

(I sing random, often nonsensical songs all the time. I've been noticing it a lot lately, and I won't even know how long I've been doing it. It got me thinking what my poor kitties must think, and wondering whether or not it annoys them. I can't see how it wouldn't, the poor things.)

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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Who's ready for an Eddy fix? All of you? Well, you're lucky, because Eddy is here to grace you with her adorable presence. Even better, you get typical Eddy bloopers, which are blurry and which I had to brighten since Eddy's favorite place to sit is a dark corner.

That's Eddy sitting on one of her favorite blankets on a chair my sister gifted me years ago. I essentially never get to use that chair, as Eddy has claimed it as completely and totally hers.

As if that photo above wasn't blurry and grainy enough, how about this one?

I love Eddy's crooked yawn on her crooked little face. The facial nerve paralysis that stuck around even after she recovered from a kittenhood neurological disorder gives her some of the cutest expressions, including when she's yawning. Oh, and don't mind the clothes hanging behind Eddy. Her beloved chair there has found its home more or less in my closet. After all, I ended up having to push the chair out of the way since I never got to use it anyway, and Eddy has always loved sleeping in the closet, so why not just put her chair in there?

Eddy and all of us here wish you a fantastic Friday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Like yesterday, today's flashback doodle is from a few years ago. I've actually recreated this one once already, as the first rendition was something rather crude that I scribbled up many, many years ago. Even this somewhat newer version below is a tad bit outdated with regard to my preferred color palette and slight changes in my drawing style. Until I recreate it yet again, though, here you go.

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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.

Not So Grumpy on Thankful Thimble Thursday

Hello and happy Thursday, friends! Thimble is of course here and ready for Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Today, Thimble is again grateful for fleece blankets, and for how adorable her face is even when a bit grumpy looking.

Honestly, Thimble wasn't even grumpy when this photo was taken. This tabby girl is a ham for the camera, but sometimes, right before she shoves her face at the camera, she gets that there serious look on her face. She was quite happily purring when this photo was snapped, so don't let that cute little face fool you.

Thimble hopes that seeing her grumpy-but-not-grumpy face made your day that much brighter!

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And now we of course have the fill-in statements for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. My first celebrity crush was _________.

2. If I could make up a new holiday it would be called _________.

3. _________ is the last thing on my mind these days.

4. If my _________ could talk, it would probably tell me _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's flashback doodle is from quite a few years ago. I've changed some of my preferred color palette and a bit of my drawing style since then, but I still wanted to share it for its autumnal vibes. It's yet another oldie that I'd love to recreate soon.

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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, especially 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.

Autumnal Adventures with Angel Astrid

Around this time last year, I took my sweet angel pup Astrid on a walk where we saw this gorgeous tree. A well-placed sunray added a little extra something to the photo.

The other day, I walked that same path by myself. When I went past that tree, it looked the exact same way, half red and half green. I immediately remembered this photo of my dear pup, and I almost took a photo of the tree on this year's walk. Ultimately, though, I decided not to take the photo. I honestly didn't want the before and after shots, with the after being without my sweet girl. So, I'll just remember that there autumnal tree by way of this memory with my Astrid.

Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

We still have a bit of snow on the ground. When it first snowed the other day, I still had one Halloween/autumnal decoration in my yard, that being my scarecrow. There have been multiple years that snow has covered my Halloween decorations, and one of those times was on Halloween itself. Of course, the snow got me in the mood for Christmas. All that to say, here's yet another doodle I scribbled up a couple years ago, in honor of the holidays getting a little confusing this time of year.

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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.