Friendly Fill-Ins and Eddy's Blurry Photo Fails

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 15andemeowing came up with the first two fill-in statements, and I came up with the second two.

1. My to-do list for September includes _________ and _________.

2. _________ grade was my favorite year of school.

3. I have a lot of respect for _________ because _________.

4. _________ made me stop _________.


My answers are below in bold, of course accompanied by my usual rambling that no one is required to read.

1. My to-do list for September includes doing neglected yard work and scribbling up Halloween doodles.

(I didn't get nearly enough yard work done this spring. Then, when the summer heat hit, I had no interest in going outside to do anything besides the occasional mowing. Now that it's cooling down out there, though, I realize I really do need to get out there and cut back a lot of overgrowth in my yard and all that other outdoor jazz. Oh, and you better believe the Halloween doodles will be getting drawn very soon. Though I make no promises, I'd love to share 31 days of Halloween doodles again this year. Or at least close to it. We'll see how that goes.)

2. 16th grade was my favorite year of school.

(I know this isn't even a real "grade" in school. But, I really want my answer to be my senior year of college, simply because I was so ready to be done with school. I've always loved learning, and due to no one's pressure but my own, I always got good grades. Even so, I hated school. I never liked being forced to learn only this or that, and only in this way or that way. I hated homework, as most of it seemed needlessly time-consuming and silly rather than helpful. So, when I got to my senior year of college, I was ecstatic to be at the end of my school years.)

3. I have a lot of respect for animal rescuers because they're doing an honorable but difficult job.
(Especially because of some of the strays and ferals in my neighborhood, I've been in contact with multiple rescue groups in my area throughout the years. Even with just those instances here and there, it's obvious these rescuers are doing a draining job out of nothing but the kindness of their hearts. They love animals, and that drives them to work day in and day out for the innocent creatures of this world. I have so much respect for that, and I hope to someday be able to do far more volunteering with animal rescue groups.)

4. Evan's urinary blockage made me stop giving my kitties' Temptations treats.
(I have no clear evidence that Temptations cause urinary blockages. However, quite literally while Evan was hospitalized with a urinary blockage at the end 2022, someone posted an article online about how Temptations might be linked with urinary blockages in cats. I wouldn't have thought much of it, except for the fact that I had just started regularly giving Evan Temptations a couple months before. I had always given them Friskies Party Mix before that, but thought I'd change things up. After reading that article, though, and given the timing of Evan's blockage, I stopped giving Temptations and went back to Friskies Party Mix. Though he has a number of other urinary issues, Evan has not had a blockage since.)

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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And now it's time for the Pet Photo Fails Blog Hop, hosted by none other than Melissa and Mudpie of Melissa's Mochas, Mysteries, & Meows.

For today, blooper queen Eddy went all out. She is indeed an oft blurry gal, and she doesn't disappoint in today's outtakes.

And as if that one wasn't blurry enough, how about this one?

That's my girl Eddy. When I ask her for a cute photo shoot, I most often get that. But that's okay, because she's my sweet, sassy, adorable little lady, and she's in charge.

Happy Friday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

My angels Rosie and Sammy will be celebrating their heavenly birthday on Monday, September 1st. This weekend I will be drawing their birthday doodle for this year, but for today, how about their birthday doodle from a couple years ago?

If you're curious, I've gotten into the habit of making Rosie and Sammy's birthday doodles Harry Potter-esque, which explains the color choices in that there doodle. After all, as a kid, Rosie and Sammy were my reading buddies. My sweet Sammy passed from an undetected heart condition when he was only 5 and I was only 10. I never got to read Harry Potter with him, but I started reading it soon after his passing, which helped me during my grieving process. My Rosie, though, lived to the blessed age of 21, and so she was often by my side as I read every single Harry Potter book from the time I was 10 until I was 18. What's more, in the Harry Potter series, the magical school known as Hogwarts always starts on September 1st. As a kid, it excited me so much that this date was shared with my Rosie and Sammy's birthday. I don't know if any of that made sense, but it's why I often incorporate magical whatnot into my angels' birthday doodles.

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Tip of the Day

Today is our last tip relating to those feline vet visits. This tip is actually far more of a general one, though, and it's to remember your veterinarians, vet techs, and all of the staff at your vet clinic on special occasions. Whether it be Christmas, Veterinarian Appreciation Day (June 18th), Veterinary Technician Week (the third week of October), or another similar day, do consider sending some appreciation to those at your veterinary clinic. You can send a simple card, some flowers, a basket of goodies, or anything that demonstrates your appreciation for all they've done for your furbaby and yourself. Sometimes, being a veterinarian or veterinary staff member is a thankless job, or one that is forgotten in the shuffle. So, if you appreciate what your veterinary clinic has done for any and all of your furbabies, then do consider being one of those grateful customers who expresses their appreciation.