Thankful Thimble Thursday: Farewell, Froggy

Hello and happy Thursday, friends! Thimble is here and ready for Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop, and this one is in honor of our aquatic family member.

Yesterday, the African clawed frog I've had since I was 10 years old passed away. Today, Thimble is very thankful for the 27 years we had with our froggy. Well, Thimble only knew the frog for her 12 years of life, but she's grateful for those 12 years with the frog, and I'm grateful for the 27 years.

I sadly could not find any good photos of Thimble hanging out beside the frog in her tank. But, in the photo below, the reflection of the trees you can see behind Thimble is on the side of the frog's tank. 

Though I can't currently find any photos to prove this, Thimble spent not an insignificant amount of time staring at the frog. So did Tonks, as well as my sister's cat Toby. I don't blame them, as the frog was always a very intriguing little thing.

That photo was taken about 10 years ago, when the frog was roughly 17 years old. It's the best photo I ever managed to get of her. I did get a more recent photo of the frog a couple weeks ago, but it was when she was starting to get sick and so she doesn't look her best in that photo, so I'll keep that one to myself.

My grandma brought the wonderful frog to my family when I was 10 and my sister was 11. The frog had belonged to someone my grandma knew, but since the frog kept eating their other fish and frogs, they were going to flush it. African clawed frogs are indeed notorious for their cannibalistic tendencies. All that said, my dad's always had a lot of tanks for fish and such, and so we told my grandma to bring the frog to us. She got her own tank, of course, so that she wouldn't eat anyone. We never knew we'd have 27 years with the frog. When I moved to my house 11 years ago, I brought her with me, and so she's been fully under my care since then.

When we first got the frog, we were told it was a male. So, my sister and I, for some reason or another, named it Steve. Some time later, we learned how to figure out the gender of frogs, at which point we discovered that Steve was actually a girl. After that her name technically became Stefanie, but the reality is we've often just called her Froggy.

I've never had an aquatic companion cremated before, but after giving us 27 years, this loyal frog is indeed getting cremated and will be coming back to me in a cedar box with a plaque that says Steve/Stefanie and Froggy.

Thank you for 27 years, Steve...Stefanie...Froggy!

***

Now we have the fill-in statements for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. If I were to start a museum, it would be a museum of _________.

2. If I see _________ one more time I am going to lose my mind.

3. _________ is the strangest thing I believed as a child.

4. If my life had a mascot, it would be a _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

I felt like sharing another spooky summertime doodle today, so how about this old one of a kooky cat-o'-lantern mug hanging out on a summer night?

***

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.