Friendly Fill-Ins on the Tenth Day of Christmas

Hello and happy Friday, friends! It's time 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 firs two fill-in statements, and I came up with the second two.


1. My guide word for 2025 is _________.

2. I am counting the days to _________.

3. 2025 is the year that I will _________.

4. I need to better organize _________.


My answers are below in bold.

1. My guide word for 2025 is focus.
(I was ready to type out that I hadn't yet decided on a guide word for this year, but then I serendipitously saw an article about focus, and that genuinely seemed like a good one. So, I'll go with focus. I'm actually pretty good at focusing sometimes, but not enough that I've accomplished everything I'd like to. So, I'll focus even more on focus, and go from there.)

2. I am counting the days to autumn.
(I don't want to wish the year away, and I want to enjoy every day I have with my furry babies and my human family. That said, once the Christmas season is truly over, I wouldn't mind if we just started over at autumn again. It's when the best time of the year begins, so I can't help myself.)

3. 2025 is the year that I will finish one of my stories.
(I love writing, as I've mentioned here before. I have a number of writing projects in various stages, as always. I want to finish at least one in 2025, and I am determined to actually do so. There's one that is calling to me the most, so I'm almost positive I know which writing project will be getting most of my attention this year. For many years I've failed to complete any full writing project from beginning to end, but I truly intend to change that in 2025.)

4. I need to better organize my kitchen cabinets.
(My kitchen cabinets used to be so organized. Then, over time, I accumulated new pots, pans, bowls, and that sort of thing. So, now those cabinets are in great need of a declutter and organization.)

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. So, on Christmas Day, Eddy shared this here festive photo of her and her favorite Christmas tree.

What Eddy didn't show you were the many times that I'd come home to find this tree a bit naked. See?

When I find the tree like that, I have to go on a hunt for its ribbon, as Eddy loves to hide it. Most often, it's tucked somewhere in her cat tree right there beside the Christmas tree.

I didn't realize the ribbon wasn't in focus when I snapped that photo, but it is indeed tucked in one of the cat tree cubbies. I put it back on the tree, and Eddy has happily removed it many times since.

Merry Tenth Day of Christmas, friends!

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Festive Flashback Doodle of the Day

Last year I scribbled up Krampus, but more of the Krampuss variety. It was one of my favorite drawings of last year, simply because it was so fun to draw this spookily festive little guy.

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Tip of the Day

Something that comes along with offering outdoor ferals and strays shelter, which we discussed yesterday, is warmth. There are a great many considerations to make when it comes to offering warmth to ferals on cold winter days. We'll start with considering the size of the space the cat will be occupying, such as the size of the shelter you have for ferals and strays, as that affects how heat is trapped. Shelters should of course be large enough to fit one or a couple cats, or even a few cats if you care for that many that get along. At the same time, though, the shelter should be small enough that cold air does not easily circulate throughout it. A shelter that is not too large will better trap and insulate heat. Another consideration to make when it comes to the shelter's construction and heat retention is the doorway. Though you don't want to block entry or exit or make ferals feel trapped inside a shelter, try your best to block drafts from entering through doorways. If possible, keep entrances faced away from the wind and drafts, such as by facing the doorways toward a wall of your house or other building, so that the shelter's entrance won't directly face open air. There are of course flaps and other coverings that can be placed on doors, as long as they don't deter cats from entering.

In addition to the warmth that a shelter itself can offer, there are more direct heat sources that can be put out for ferals and strays. One simple option includes heating pads or beds that do not directly produce heat themselves, but that instead contain material that allows the bed to radiate heat. There are beds on the market that are said to warm to approximately the animal's body temperature when they are lying on it. There are also electric heating pads and heated beds that do indeed produce heat, allowing for immediate access to a warm place to sleep. Of course, always be cautious and aware of the dangers of burns and fires when electricity and heat comes into play, and go the safest route possible. That being said, also keep in mind that any bedding made with fabric, whether heated or not, can become and remain wet as well as dirty, and therefore can prevent a cat from wanting to use it.

All of the above being said, you can also go for heating lamps or some form of space heater to use inside an outdoor cat shelter. This is of course yet another option you have to research, though, to ensure that you get one that is safe for outdoor use, and that will be the most practical to prevent burns, fires, and so forth. All in all, when it comes to providing heating sources for outdoor ferals and strays, do your research and take all precautions possible. Always be aware of the dangers of burns or fires when it comes to electricity and heat, and choose and use heating sources accordingly and wisely.