Annoyed Adventures with Astrid

On these extremely hot summer days, sometimes pup Astrid's main adventure of the day is out to the back yard. Recently, I followed her out there in hopes of getting a cute photo shoot. The problem is that Astrid has always been a mixture of paranoid and annoyed when she's followed around, and so I ended up with photos like this:

Do you see that side-eye? I'm pretty sure she was also chuffing at me in that photo. Astrid is not an aggressive girl whatsoever, but her facial expressions alone usually give away her true thoughts. And in that moment above, she was sufficiently annoyed with me.

In that one, I distinctly asked Astrid to look at me. And so, of course, she refused. She's still pretty darn cute, though.

Astrid has always had a big personality. While she's slowed down at her age of 12, that ornery personality is still there, which makes me so very happy. Oh, and she's still a shameless cat food thief.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

I'm pretty sure I re-share the doodle below every single year. Since I recently shared a number of old and new spooky summertime doodles, I think this one yet again fits right in.

I scribbled that one up many year ago, after one summer seeing a spooky typewriter like that in an early Halloween decor launch. I can't remember what store it was at, but I remember thinking it looked pretty darn cool. I didn't end up buying it, but I did immediately go home and scribble up this doodle.

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Tip of the Day

Over the past couple of days, we've talked about the option of having cat grass available for your kitty to snack on or play in, or even using artificial grass to give your kitty a mock grassy area for napping or playing. Today, we're yet again expanding on this idea by suggesting that, if possible, you can start a cat garden for your kitty's enjoyment. This can be outdoor or indoor, of course assuming that your kitty does not put itself in any danger by having access to a large quantity of pet-friendly plants.

So, what could you put in a cat garden? First, of course, you could have cat grass and catnip. Also don't forget about valerian, which is a great alternative to catnip. Another option is cat thyme, which is known to make cats feel more content than plants such as catnip. Keep in mind, though, that some people find the odor of cat thyme to be rather unappealing. The traditional thyme herb is also non-toxic to cats, if you're looking to give your kitty even more variety. You can plant these goodies in separate pots throughout your kitty's favorite room, or you can plant them all together in one large pot, to give your kitty his or her own little jungle. An added bonus is that, if you have other plants in the home that are pet-friendly but which you'd like to keep safe from curious paws and teeth, offering a cat garden can help distract your kitty from these other plants.

It is worth mentioning that some sites online will mention adding other plants or herbs to a cat garden for more variety. If you are looking up such information online, always be cautious and careful to double check the safety of any plant you place in a garden for your cat. For example, lemon grass and chamomile are sometimes indicated as safe for pets, but such plants have been known to cause issues such as upset stomach and vomiting. Another example is parsley, which is typically harmless in small amounts, but which can lead to sensitivity to the sun and sunburn if consumed in large quantities. When in doubt, of course consult a veterinarian regarding safe plants, or visit the ASPCA's list of toxic and non-toxic plants.