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-ins statements, and I came up with the second two.
1. I tend to forget _________.
2. I celebrate the 4th of July by _________.
3. I was a fan of _________ before it became popular.
4. I see _________ in my future.
My answers are below in bold.
If you look closely and squint your eyes, you can see Thimble's cameo in that there photo of Eddy. Though, Eddy isn't too keen on getting photobombed, so she hopes you all just focus on her.
Happy Friday to all!
My answers are below in bold.
1. I tend to forget the name of the plant known as the clematis.
(At least one climbing plant known as clematis has been growing at my parents' house, that being my childhood home, for decades. It has beautiful flowers, and I always recognize it when I see it, but the name of it always eludes me. My brain always wants to call it a chrysalis, which is decidedly not a plant. That, or I almost call it an unsavory disease of an unspeakable part of the body. My brain will come up with anything but the word clematis.)
(At least one climbing plant known as clematis has been growing at my parents' house, that being my childhood home, for decades. It has beautiful flowers, and I always recognize it when I see it, but the name of it always eludes me. My brain always wants to call it a chrysalis, which is decidedly not a plant. That, or I almost call it an unsavory disease of an unspeakable part of the body. My brain will come up with anything but the word clematis.)
2. I celebrate the 4th of July by eating hot dogs and watching movies.
(Our country's 250th birthday is a wonderful thing. That said, I'm not a big partier, and I'm also not the biggest fan of fireworks, mostly because I don't like how much they distress animals and those with related PTSD. So, I opt to spend the day at home, having a cookout with my parents and sister and watching even a slightly patriotic movie. My family always gets Nathan's hot dogs. You know, the brand they use for the 4th of July hot dog eating contest. They're honestly pretty darn good, and it's one of the only days all year that I enjoy a hot dog, or usually two or three.)
(Our country's 250th birthday is a wonderful thing. That said, I'm not a big partier, and I'm also not the biggest fan of fireworks, mostly because I don't like how much they distress animals and those with related PTSD. So, I opt to spend the day at home, having a cookout with my parents and sister and watching even a slightly patriotic movie. My family always gets Nathan's hot dogs. You know, the brand they use for the 4th of July hot dog eating contest. They're honestly pretty darn good, and it's one of the only days all year that I enjoy a hot dog, or usually two or three.)
3. I was a fan of my current favorite book series before it became popular.
(I'll try not to ramble on too much here, as I've mentioned these wild and crazy books so very many times on this blog. It's the Dungeon Crawler Carl fantasy series by Matt Dinniman, starring a talking Persian tortie cat named Donut. I stumbled upon the books when the author was still independently published and had 6 books out in the series. The series has since become very popular, has 8 books out with 10 total set to be released, has been picked up by a traditional publisher, and is even going to be made into a TV show. While I'm not one of the earliest fans, I did find the books before they really blew up, and I'm glad I got to enjoy them before the craze.)
4. I see lots of kitty cuddles on the couch in my future.
(Like many people, I have a 3-day weekend. Though there will of course be plenty of chores needing done, I still want to spend as much time as possible hanging out with my kitties. I plan to use the long weekend to cozy up with them on the couch and read, write, and draw while watching some movies.)
Who's ready for an Eddy fix? We're sure all of you are. And so, the pretty tabby girl is here to grace you all with her presence.
Now it's your turn!
To add your link to the Friendly Fill-Ins Linky list, just click HERE!
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You are also welcome to complete the fill-ins in the comments below,
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If you look closely and squint your eyes, you can see Thimble's cameo in that there photo of Eddy. Though, Eddy isn't too keen on getting photobombed, so she hopes you all just focus on her.
Happy Friday to all!
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Flashback Doodle of the DayToday's flashback doodle is one I scribbled up for Independence Day a few years ago. I can't remember what prompted me choose to get patriotic in this particular way, but I remember having fun drawing it.
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Tip of the Day
We're doing a bit of a repeat tip today, since it is, after all, the day of fireworks. I think we even shared this tip around Memorial Day, but we're going to share it again. On this 4th of July, there are ways to help keep your furbaby calm and safe during the often booming festivities. While those fireworks go off outside, close all window and doors, as well as blinds and curtains. This will help reduce the sights and sounds of the fireworks. You can further drown it out by putting on a movie or some music, and turning up the volume enough to mask the sounds of the fireworks. Just make sure it's not so loud that it is uncomfortable for your kitty or pup's sensitive ears.
What else can you do to help keep a nervous dog or cat calm during the fireworks shows? Try to distract them. Start a game inside with them, such as fetch or hide-and-seek. You can also offer some treats or a special meal. Sometimes simply talking to them can help, or even reading a book out loud to them.
Still, there are a few more potential ways to help a cat or dog feel as calm as possible while fireworks are set off this time of year. You can use a ThunderShirt, which, as many of you know, may help reduce anxiety in dogs and cats. You can also fashion something makeshift yet similar, using a blanket, towel, or even one of your shirts. If nothing else, simply provide a scared or anxious furbaby somewhere safe to hide inside the home. Ensure that they have somewhere to retreat that is pet-friendly, whether that be under a bed, behind a couch, or in another nook or cranny. You can also offer them boxes in which to settle down, if that helps your furbaby feel safe.
Lastly, in the unfortunate event of an escape or other emergency, ensure that your cat or dog has identification on them. Of course try to ensure that they are safe indoors and unable to get out of the house, but should they escape, be prepared. Many animals are uncertain of the sights and sounds of fireworks, and so if they find themselves outdoors on days like today, they might very well run and hide. This is why it is so important that, today and every day, your furbaby have an updated microchip and/or an identification tag to help them find their way back home. Of course no one wants to think of their furbaby escaping and getting lost, but it is always best to be prepared for the worst case scenario.
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