Festive Friendly Fill-Ins and Eddy's Red Ribbon (Yet Again)

Hello, friends! We're of course 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. I still need to _________ before Christmas.

2. Don't forget to acknowledge _________ at Christmas.

3. _________ is my Christmas miracle.

4. I _________ on Christmas Eve and _________ on Christmas Day.


My answers are below in bold, accompanied by some festive rambling. 'Tis the season.

1. I still need to wrap gifts before Christmas.
(I always tell myself I'm going to wrap gifts early, but I never seem to manage it. That said, I'm wrapping gifts tonight. I'm honestly looking forward to it. Once I get home from work and get the kitties all settled for the evening, I'm going to put on Christmas movies and wrap away. It's perfect timing as well, because one of my sister's gifts has been lost in the mail for weeks but is finally out for delivery today. Whew.)

2. Don't forget to acknowledge delivery drivers at Christmas.
(As someone who isn't a fan of shopping or leaving my house any more than necessary, I do a lot of online shopping. For that reason, I always try to put out some treats for delivery drivers to select from when they're delivering at my house leading up to Christmas. After all, their loads are bigger and their days are longer this time of the year. I didn't get their treat station set up outside as early as I wanted to this year, but I'm still hoping some delivery drivers get to take advantage of it.)

3. Last week's delivery of a stray kitty to a local rescue is my Christmas miracle.
(I mentioned in this post here that a stray kitty started showing up in my neighborhood a while back, and I was so worried about her as the winter got colder and colder. After being turned away by some shelters as well as animal control, a local rescue was finally able to take her in for me, and I was so happy to transport her to them last Wednesday. Just two days after she was taken in by the rescue, we had highs barely over zero and wind chills down to nearly -30°F. I was so glad she wasn't out there for that.)

4. I feel especially festive on Christmas Eve and a bit more melancholic on Christmas Day.
(Ever since I was a kid, my family's big Christmas celebration is on Christmas Eve. We go to a beautiful Mass at our church in the early evening of Christmas Eve. Then we go to my parents' house for supper, and then we put on the A Christmas Story marathon on the TV and open the gifts under the Christmas tree. We stay up late and eat festive desserts and all that fun jazz. On Christmas morning my parents come to my house for sausage and scrambled eggs and we open our stockings and watch at least one Christmas movie, usually Arthur Christmas, and then later that night my sister and I go back to my parents' house and watch none other than Die Hard. Christmas Day is beautiful, but it often feels bittersweet. It's only the first of the Twelve Days of Christmas, but the TV stops playing Christmas movies, and radio stations stop playing festive music, and soon after you start seeing Christmas trees tossed to the cub. That always makes it feel a bit sad.)

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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Eddy loves her year round Christmas tree in my room. She especially loves when I put its festive lights on and top it with that giant red ribbon.

For Christmas next week, you'll get to see Eddy giving that red ribbon the attention it deserves. Or perhaps doesn't deserve. We'll let you be the judge of that.

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

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Festive Flashback Doodle of the Day

My dad and I both enjoy horror movies, and so a couple times a week I go to my parents' house to watch scary movies with him. This time of year, we focus on creepy Christmas movies, and last night we watched Krampus. I really enjoy that movie, and I find the idea of Krampus festively frightful. A couple years ago I drew what I call Krampuss, and it seems fitting enough to share that today.

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Tip of the Day

Our past couple of tips covered what you can do to keep your furbaby happy and safe if you are traveling during this holiday season. On the other hand, what if your family is coming to your house for the holidays? First, as we've said many, many times before, practice door safety when guests are coming and going. If need be, block your kitty or pup's access to the door, or give them a safe room in which to stay. Consider whether your guests are staying for a short or long visit, and consider your individual furbaby's personality and behaviors when determining if, how often, or for how long they can safely intermingle with guests.

Of course, it isn't just your furbaby you have to worry about when guests arrive. Make sure that all guests know any important rules when it comes to your furbaby. If your kitty or pup is staying in a safe room while guests visit, for example, then make sure guests know if they are to refrain from visiting that room in the house. On the other hand, if your furbaby is a social butterfly and is out and about with guests, make sure that your guests understand what they should and should not do to keep your kitty or pup safe. For example, make sure guests are aware of the potential for escapes if the door is kept open. In addition, guests should know whether you allow your furbaby treats, and what human foods are dangerous and should not be fed to your kitty or pup. Also take safety precautions if guests are staying overnight. For example, make sure guests know to keep all medications or other potentially dangerous items well out of reach of resident cats and dogs.

It is possible for your house to be inhabited by both your furbabies and guests during this holiday season. At the same time, it's also important to make sure that all precautions are made to ensure that guests' stays are safe for everyone, including the furbabies of the home. So, simply think ahead and prepare both your furbabies and guests for a safe Christmas.