Friendly Fill-Ins and Eddy's Belly Trap

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-in statements, and I came up with the second two.


1. I used to think _________, but I was wrong.

2. Every time I plan to _________, I _________.

3. I'm already looking forward to the month of _________ because _________.

4. When it comes to social media, I _________.


My answers are below in bold.

1. I used to think a college degree was crucial, but I was wrong.
(I have a bachelor's in animal sciences, and I'm very grateful for what I did learn during that time. That said, my job as a veterinary assistant at a feline clinic taught me a lot more than anything I actually learned in college, and in my current job I'm not even using most of what I learned in college. A college degree is not a requirement or a guarantee for anything in life, and I personally believe that first-hand experience teaches a lot more than most of what you can learn while sitting in a chair in a classroom. Of course doctors and careers of that type require degrees and are very important in society, but I still wish young adults were given more chances to do internships or other first-hand job experiences rather than being expected to jump right into having to pick a degree for institutional learning. I'm also an advocate of people going into the trades, as those are so important to society as a whole.)

2. Every time I plan to scribble in my sketchbook while relaxing on my couch, I instead end up cuddling my sweet orange tabby boy Evan.
(Evan is my little shadow as well as my cuddle bug. Whether I'm on the couch, in bed, or sitting literally anywhere, he's at my side. I love that so much, and I'll never turn him away. The only thing is that his cuddles are very up close and personal and so I have yet to figure out a good way to work on art while he's in my lap. That's okay, though. I've just been working on art in other pockets of time, but I'll also keep trying to see if I can figure out a way to orient myself so that I can draw while my cuddly boy is snoozing in my lap. Either way, the cuddles will continue.) 

3. I'm already looking forward to the month of May because of a book release.
(I've mentioned before how a couple years ago I discovered a new series that has become an absolute favorite of mine. It's a fantasy series starring a man in magical heart boxers and his talking Persian tortie cat named Princess Donut. If you're curious, it's the Dungeon Crawler Carl series by Matt Dinniman. It makes no sense and is pure chaos, and I could not be happier that book 8 releases in May. This same author has another new book releasing in February, and though it's not in this series, I'm also excited to read it as soon as it comes out.)

4. When it comes to social media, I see some pros and lots of cons.
(Social media has allowed more communication between people, at least in some regards. It's easier to stay in touch with people than it used to be, and so that's at least sometimes a pro. On the other hand, I often find social media to be a terribly toxic environment. It's taken people away from the world in front of them and coaxed them into living through screens. Between people trying to use it as a shady claim to fame or as a misplaced soap box, among other things, social media has done damage to our society. Of course, that's just my opinion.)

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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It's time for your Eddy fix. Are you ready for the cuteness? We're not sure you're ready.

Indeed, Eddy is still happily hanging out with her year round Christmas tree. Between that and her cat tree, she's a happy girl. Oh, but that belly is a trap. I don't recommend you give it a tickle, unless you're a sucker for punishment and have your affairs in order.

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

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Today's tip is to be careful and cautious with your furbabies when outside in cold weather, and to be aware that our furbabies' tolerances to cold can vary. Some animals are more susceptible to getting cold, such as those with a thin coat or no fur, those who are very young or very old, and those who are ill or in any way compromised. Sometimes it comes down to the fact that some animals simply tolerate cold better than others. In any extreme weather, such as cold winter days, it is important to keep a very close eye on any animal who is outside. If your pup or kitty is outdoors taking a bathroom break or on a walk, monitor them closely. If you notice any shivering, restlessness or anxiety, or anything out of sorts, get them inside where it is warm.

One simple rule of thumb to follow, especially when in doubt, is that if it's too cold for you, then it's likely too cold for your furbaby. Hypothermia and frostbite can affect our cats and dogs just like it can affect us, so don't risk these medical emergencies. Don't leave your furbabies outdoors in the frigid cold. Do not set out on long walks on cold days, but instead stay close to home and be vigilant regarding your furbaby's comfort, health, and safety. If you care for feral cats or other outdoor animals, try to ensure that they have some form of shelter that is out of the elements and off of the ground. If possible, offer some form of warmth in the outdoor shelter, a topic we very recently discussed.

Thankful Thimble Thursday from Beneath the Blanket

Hello and happy Thursday, friends! You better believe Thimble is here and ready for Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Today, Thimble is grateful that she recently discovered her ability to burrow under blankets.

Tonks has always loved crawling under blankets, but it wasn't until recently that Thimble started doing it. Now she does it frequently, and it's so very cute. This little tabby girl doesn't quite have the same finesse as Tonks when it comes to climbing under blankets, so it's quite an adorably chaotic ordeal, but she purrs the whole time. She was also purring when I snapped the above photo, which you unfortunately can't hear.

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And 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. I used to think _________, but I was wrong.

2. Every time I plan to _________, I _________.

3. I'm already looking forward to the month of _________ because _________.

4. When it comes to social media, I _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Yesterday's winter tip was to avoid using typical salt, or ice melt, for the sake of the health of your furbaby and their paws. One thing we failed to mention, and that is therefore today's tip, is to take precautions in the event that neighbors' or others' use of salt might affect your kitty or pup. In the event that your furbaby goes on winter walks in areas where salt is used, wipe their paws off when they get home in order to remove as much of the salt or other chemicals as possible. Even if your furbaby does not go outdoors, there is still a chance they can be exposed to salt or other potentially dangerous chemicals, such as by way of your shoes. To help prevent injury or illness due to exposure to or ingestion of salt in this manner, remove your shoes when you get home, or at the very least thoroughly wipe them off. In addition to this, vacuum regularly in order to keep salt and other debris from entering your home, or from trailing through your house. Ice melts can pose health risks to kitties and pups, so avoid their use, but also realize and prevent against the dangers they can pose if they are used by others and out of your control.

Snowy Adventures with Angel Astrid

After some warm, almost springtime weather, we're back to being cold and snowy. My sweet angel pup Astrid loved cold, snowy weather, so today's memories of her are in honor of that.

One of my favorite things to do on Astrid's wintertime walks was getting photos of her paw prints in the snow. She lost a toe to cancer when she was just 4 years old, and she happily lived the rest of her 8 years with just 3 toes on her back right foot.

See that 3-toed paw print in there? I love it so much.

Warm wishes to all!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Today's tip can relate to our own furbabies as well as ferals, strays, and other animals who live outdoors. When ice comes into play during the winter months, be very cautious when using salt, or ice melt. Most traditional salts on the market contain ingredients that can be toxic and can irritate cats' and dogs' paw pads. Irritation can also occur in the mouth, as well as in the intestinal tract, which is a concern if the animal directly ingests the salt or licks it off of their paws after walking through it. So, for the sake of your furbabies as well as ferals and other outdoor animals, avoid using typical ice melts. Instead, do your research or ask your veterinarian for recommendations on pet-safe ice melts. There are some ice melts on the market that are far more safe than typical salt used for melting ice, but even some labeled as pet-friendly can still contain ingredients that might be questionable. For this reason, it is always important to do your research. You can also opt for other alternatives, such as tossing some sand or other other similar, safe substrate on top of ice that forms in the winter. Sand and other such materials can allow for better traction and reduced slippage on ice, while avoiding chemicals included in many ice melts.

Tonks Tuesday in an Unseasonal Tree

It's Tonks Tuesday, so of course you get a dose of the cute calico herself. Though we did sadly take down our Christmas decor this weekend, Tonks is happy that her Christmas tree cat beds stay out year round. See?

We actually have two of those beds, and I sometimes change up where they are. That really gets Tonks excited to use them. In these photos, Tonks is in that bed on none other than the back of the couch. She's really loving napping in it there, at least for now.

Happy Tuesday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Today's tip relating to the care of ferals and other outdoor cats is to be aware of where you store potentially dangerous products. Antifreeze, for example, is toxic to cats and dogs, as you all certainly know. Make sure that you are not only storing such products well out of the reach of your own indoor kitties and pups, but also well out of the reach of ferals, strays, and even wildlife. Even if you have it in the garage or shed, do consider keeping it tucked well away, such as in a cabinet, so that nothing can reach it. Especially if you have your garage or shed door open at times, there is the chance that a cat or wild animal will be able to make their way inside and thereby have access to any products that are not hidden away. Also keep this in mind with pesticides, fertilizers, cleaners, oil, and other potentially dangerous products. Think of whether even an unsuspecting outdoor visitor might make their way into your garage, shed, or other storage area, and hide away anything concerning or questionable just in case.

Yet Another Mancat Monday with Megacolon

Evan had a very rough weekend with constipation, yet again thanks to his megacolon. Well, he more so had a rough Monday through Friday last week, and then on Saturday he finally managed to fully evacuate that troublesome colon of his. It took some increased doses of Miralax and all that jazz, but I always call it a win if I don't have to give him an at-home enema, which we've managed to avoid for over a year now. Some days are much rougher than others, but we always manage to get through it.

My favorite part is how relieved, happy, and relaxed Evan is after managing to rid himself of that constipation. The photo below was him after doing just that on Saturday, and he was purring quite loudly as I snapped this.

Evan is feeling great today, and he hopes you all are as well!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

We are continuing our tips relating to ferals and other outdoor cats in the cold winter months. Today's tip is a more general one, and it relates to the fact that animals seek out warm places to sleep when it is cold outside. For example, cats and kittens, and other small animals, might climb up under the hood of a car that has recently been driven since the engine will be warm. For this reason, especially when it is cold outside, honk, clap, or tap on your car's hood before starting it. This will give a warning to any animals who might have sought shelter there and will give them time to find safety elsewhere. It is of course perfectly possible that no animals will be sleeping under the hood of your car, but in case a cat or other animal is, making noise before you start your car will help ensure that they get out of harm's way.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Eddy's Farewell to Festive

Hello to all! 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-in statements, and I came up with the second two.


1. I recommend everyone _________ this year.

2. My _________ is _________ and I _________.

3. I try to save money by _________.

4. I sometimes let myself splurge on _________.


My answers are below in bold.

1. I recommend everyone simply do their best this year.
(I'm someone who has a lot of goals and aspirations, this year and every year, but I do know that life happens and so doing my best is all I can do. And that's something I hope everyone knows. As long as you're doing your best, you're doing great.)

2. My car is 15 years old and I plan to drive it into the ground.
(I've had my current car since soon after graduating college. It's had its issues over the years, has some chronic quirks, and it's starting to rust, but it's paid off and I hope it stays with me for many more years. It does like to keep me on my toes, like the other day when the car drove fine but the speedometer and all other gauges just stopped working. Luckily cleaning off some of the fuses sorted that out, though, and we're back to just its usual level of old car weirdness.)

3. I try to save money by not eating out.
(The reality is that my intestines don't agree with most restaurant food and so I rarely feel compelled to eat out anyway. I eat essentially all homemade meals, and I genuinely like it that way. It saves a ton of money, and it saves my intestines a lot of grief. I pretty much only eat restaurant food when my family is having a birthday gathering. In those cases, usually my parents and/or my grandma are kind enough to pay the bill, and so I often don't even have to fork out money on those rare restaurant occasions.)

4. I sometimes let myself splurge on my kitties.
(I don't splurge on a whole lot, especially not in this economy. If I do, it's usually for my kitties. Granted, one of my biggest expenses every month is my orange tabby boy Evan's armory of roughly a dozen medications, which is a necessary splurge. But, I also do get my furry cuties extra goodies here and there, especially at Christmas and birthdays, as seeing them happy makes me happy.)

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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Today, Eddy is spending extra time with her year round Christmas tree's red ribbon. We're likely taking down our Christmas decor this weekend. This tree does stay up year round, and the lights remain all year as well, but the red ribbon will be tucked away until the next Christmas season begins.

That there photo was snapped early this Christmas season. Let's just say that, courtesy of Eddy, that ribbon doesn't quite look the same anymore. There's a reason the previous ribbon had to retire this year.

Happy Friday, friends!

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Festive Doodle of the Day

I didn't get nearly all of the Christmas drawings finished this year that I wanted to. Some of them are even partially drawn but stuck in limbo, and will likely remain that way until I start working on Christmas doodles again later this year. That's okay, though, as life happens. That said, I absolutely wanted to finish the festive doodle of my sweet angel pup Astrid that I started working on weeks ago. I finally got it finished, and so here's the snow-loving, sweater-wearing pup.

I always make sure I draw my sweet girl with just 3 toes on her back right foot. She lost the missing toe to cancer all the way back when she was 4, and I'm so grateful I got to have 8 more years with her after that.

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Tip of the Day

Yet another tip related to outdoor cat shelters is to ensure that the shelter is heavy enough to stay put, such as in heavy winds. Shelters made out of wood or other heavy material will of course be more likely to stay put in high winds. If you have a makeshift or any form of lightweight shelter, such as one made from plastic or Sytrofoam, do consider placing something heavy, yet also safe and secure, on top of it. This could be a sheet of plywood or anything similar that can safely and securely weigh down a lightweight shelter. In some instances, you also might be able to find ways to tether, bolt, or in some way secure a shelter in place. The weight of an outdoor cat shelter is yet another factor to keep in mind when caring for ferals, so take this into consideration and ensure that any shelter you put out is one that will not blow away in the event of a stormy or windy day.

Thankful Thimble Thursday with Yet Another Tree

Hello, friends! Thimble is here and happy to partake in Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Thimble is grateful that the Christmas tree in my bedroom stays up year round. Our other trees and Christmas decor are also still up for now, but this tree keeps us festive all year long.

I started keeping a tree in my bedroom for Eddy. She doesn't like the other kitties in the house. Well, she does absolutely love Evan and tolerates Thimble, but otherwise Eddy keeps away from the other kitties by staying in my bedroom. That's always been her favorite room in the house anyway. When she was younger, before I adopted the younger kitties who are now her primary enemies in life, Eddy loved the Christmas tree I put in the living room. When my bedroom became her safe place, I gave her a Christmas tree in there, and since she loved it I decided to keep it up for her year round. Now Thimble also happily keeps it company on its neighboring cat tree, as you can see above.

Happy Thursday to all!

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Now, of course, 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. I recommend everyone _________ this year.

2. My _________ is _________ and I _________.

3. I try to save money by _________.

4. I sometimes let myself splurge on _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Festive Flashback Doodle of the Day

We'll continue the festiveness until we take down our Christmas decor this weekend. Tonight I'll finally scan the Christmassy doodle I recently drew of my sweet angel pup Astrid, and so you'll get to see that one tomorrow. For today, though, I realized we forgot to share one of our flashback doodles starring the Christmas hippo. This one involves some kitties and their girl who was gifted the hippo, as "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" was a reality for her.

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Tip of the Day

Yesterday's tip was to do regular checks of outdoor cat shelters, such as to ensure that the shelter is not leaking, broken, or dirty. Another tip in this same line of thought, but that we failed to mention yesterday, is to ensure that shelter doorways do not become blocked by snow or anything of this sort. If it snows, check the shelter and clear away any snow that might threaten to block the doorway. This will ensure that the feline inhabitants can enter and exit safely and without feeling trapped. Also check for anything else that might block the shelter entrance or cause a similar issue, such as if a thunderstorm or wind knocks down or blows around tree limbs or other debris. In such cases, of course ensure that the shelter entrance is not blocked, but also that the shelter did not suffer any damage. When you are caring for ferals and other outdoor cats, offering them shelter might mean you have yet another little home to look after, but it will be for a very good cause.