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!

***

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.

Festive Memories with Angel Astrid on Woof Woof Wednesday

We're now past the Twelve Days of Christmas as well as Three Kings' Day, but I'll admit that you'll still be seeing some festive stuff here on our blog for at least a couple more days. I'll likely take down my Christmas decor this weekend, as much as that pains me, but until then I'm still watching Christmas movies and all that festive jazz.

That said, it's Woof Woof Wednesday, and I felt like sharing another Christmassy memory of my sweet angel pup Astrid. Today's memory comes from 2023, when I ordered some new Christmas squeaky toys for Astrid online. They ended up being some of her favorite toys in her last couple years. I think it's because, though I didn't know it when I ordered them, these toys were made of a squishy sort of plastic rather than hard, firm plastic, and Astrid and her sensitive teeth loved that.

For whatever reason, Astrid took an especial liking to the elf toy, and she often took him outside with her.

The elf once even went for a walk with us.

As was always the case if Astrid chose to take a toy on a walk, she carried it for about 5% of the walk, and I carried it for the other 95%.

I wasn't allowed to tuck him in my pocket, either. Astrid would regularly turn around and make sure I had her little buddy in my hand, and she couldn't proceed walking unless I held him in her sight. That there elf is one of many items of Astrid's that I have in her keepsakes and will forever cherish.

Angel Astrid and all of us here wish you a wonderful Wednesday!

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Doodle of the Day

Since we're on the topic of dog toys, how about the related doodle I scribbled up for my grandma and her husband as part of their Christmas gift? I always create a magnet out of a drawing for them each year, and this time around it was inspired by their Boston terrier's penchant for ripping apart her many Lamp Chop toys.

I actually do have one more festive doodle starring my angel Astrid to share, and you were supposed to see it today. But, when I tried to get that all finished up, scanned, and uploaded last night, some sweet kitties wanted cuddles. I was happy to oblige, and so the art got put on hold. We'll share Astrid's festive doodle in the next couple of days, before we start deconstructing Christmas at our house this weekend.

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Tip of the Day

Today's discussion on shelters for outdoor ferals in the winter is to make sure you regularly check said shelters, to ensure that they are in good condition. Such checks should include looking for leaks and making sure that the shelter is dry inside. It is also, of course, important to look for broken or loose parts and pieces. These sorts of checks are especially important after storms or high winds, in order to ensure that no parts of the shelter broke loose or are posing a risk to the cats using the shelter.

In addition to regularly checking outdoor cat shelters for damage, also check to make sure that the shelters are clean and as sanitary as possible. If you are using straw as bedding in the shelter, regularly check it for dirt or excrement, and determine if it needs replaced or replenished. If cloth bedding material is being used, regularly check to make sure that it is dry and clean, and remedy it if it is not. There are many factors that go into maintaining a comfortable and clean shelter for ferals, also of course including food availability. So, if you are caring for outdoor cats, try to regularly check shelters to ensure that all is well and safe for potential inhabitants.

Happy Three Kings' Day!

Yesterday was the Twelfth Day of Christmas. We mentioned then that the festive season still wasn't quite over yet, though, as today is the Epiphany, or Three Kings' Day. To repeat what we said yesterday, this is the day when the three Magi, or the three Wise Men, visited baby Jesus and gifted him gold, frankincense, and myrrh. In some cultures gifts are also exchanged on this day, and in order to extend the Christmas season a bit I do give my human and furry family a couple of small things every January 6th. Just like with Christmas itself, it's not about the gifts, but it does feel nice to continue the festive season just a bit longer.

All that said, on this Tonks Tuesday, the adorable calico of course has a festive photo to share with you all.

Though you can't see it, Tonks's favorite (actual) Christmas tree is right across from that kitty bed. She loves keeping her Christmas tree company in her Christmas tree bed. And don't worry, we did indeed snap some closeups for you to enjoy.

Happy Three Kings' Day!

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Festive Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

As we mentioned yesterday, today's tip regards what type of bedding to put in an outdoor cat shelter, such as for feral cats. We'll start by cutting right to the chase and saying that an ideal form of bedding for an outdoor shelter is straw. A cat can burrow down in straw in order to stay as warm as possible in the cold. Unlike blankets and towels, straw will not hold moisture, and therefore will less likely freeze or become uncomfortable in rain, snow, and so forth. This is one huge reason why straw is often a better choice over cloth bedding material, because it can repel moisture, and can therefore allow for a consistent, dry, warm form of bedding for outdoor cats. Straw can also often be more easily replaced or replenished, as opposed to cloth bedding, should it get dirty. That being said, do make sure you know the difference between straw and hay. They are not the same thing, and hay will hold onto moisture, become wet and uncomfortable for outdoor cats, and can also become moldy when wet. Go for straw, not hay.

If you do put out cloth bedding for outdoor cats, check it regularly. If it is wet or dirty, be sure to replace it, clean it, and so forth. Try to keep all cloth bedding in areas where it is least likely to get wet, so that feral or other outdoor cats can use it comfortably. Cloth bedding works best in shelters that are free of leaks and that are in some way heated, as that will help it remain dry and comfortable.

Merry Twelfth Day of Christmas!

Merry Twelfth Day of Christmas, friends!

You better believe we've still been getting festive over here. Our trees and other Christmas decor are still up, and we're still watching Christmas movies and listening to Christmas music.

Evan decided to go for a few partial shots of his handsome face, because what's more festively artsy than that?

We do still have a couple more festive posts to share this week. After all, though today is the Twelfth Day of Christmas, tomorrow is the Epiphany, or Three Kings' Day. That's the day when the three Magi, or Wise Men, visited baby Jesus and gifted him gold, frankincense, and myrrh. In some cultures, little gifts are exchanged on that day as well, and I started doing that with my family a few years ago in order to extend the festive fun.

Merry Twelfth Day of Christmas to all!

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Festive Doodle of the Day

I got a couple of my new Christmas doodles finished up, scanned, and uploaded this weekend. I had a few belated Christmas gift doodles to finish up as well, and while I'm glad I got those completed, they did keep me from getting to all of the forgotten Christmas doodles I'd hoped to finish. That's okay, though, and you'll get to see those gift drawings I scribbled up very soon as well.

All that said, one of the new Christmas doodles I finally finished relates to the story I've been having fun writing. I've mentioned it a few times over the past year or two, and there are indeed some Christmas scenes in the part of the story I'm working on. This is the story I've mentioned that stars the extra special kitty named Hobo, who was heavily inspired by my own Evan. He of course gets some Christmas gifts from his human, which he finds under their makeshift Christmas tree.

The concept of their living conditions does play a role in the story, especially in the beginning. What's more, I included those details because I never want to forget where I came from. My family comes from very humble beginnings. The star on Hobo's tree in that drawing is based on the star that topped my family's early Christmas trees, and that star was a piece of cardboard wrapped in aluminum foil. I honestly love that. You might not always have something fancy or perfect, but you can always find a way to make the magic happen.

That's a lot of rambling. My apologies. I'll stop now. Yet again, Merry Twelfth Day of Christmas!

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Tip of the Day

Something that comes along with offering outdoor ferals and strays shelter, which we previously discussed, is warmth. There are a great many considerations to make when it comes to offering warmth to ferals on cold winter days. We'll start with considering the size of the space the cat will be occupying, such as the size of the shelter you have for ferals and strays, as that affects how heat is trapped. Shelters should of course be large enough to fit one or a couple cats, or even a few cats if you care for that many who get along. At the same time, though, the shelter should be small enough that cold air does not easily circulate throughout it. A shelter that is not too large will better trap and insulate heat. Another consideration to make when it comes to the shelter's construction and heat retention is the doorway. Though you don't want to block entry or exit or make ferals feel trapped inside a shelter, try your best to block drafts from entering through doorways. If possible, keep entrances faced away from the wind and drafts, such as by facing the doorways toward a wall of your house or other building, so that the shelter's entrance won't directly face open air.

In addition to the warmth that a shelter itself can offer, there are more direct heat sources that can be put out for ferals and strays. One simple option includes heating pads or beds that do not directly produce heat themselves, but that instead contain material that allows the bed to radiate heat. There are beds on the market that are said to warm to approximately the animal's body temperature when they are lying on it. There are also electric heating pads and heated beds that do indeed produce heat, allowing for immediate access to a warm place to sleep. Of course, always be cautious and aware of the dangers of burns and fires when electricity and heat comes into play, and go the safest route possible. That being said, also keep in mind that any bedding made with fabric, whether heated or not, can become and remain wet as well as dirty, and therefore can prevent a cat from wanting to use it. We'll further discuss bedding material in an outdoor shelter in tomorrow's tip.

All of the above being said, you can also go for heat lamps or some form of space heater to use inside an outdoor cat shelter. This is of course yet another option you have to research, though, to ensure that you get one that is safe for outdoor use, and that will be the most practical to prevent burns, fires, and so forth. All in all, when it comes to providing heating sources for outdoor ferals and strays, do your research and take all precautions possible. Always be aware of the dangers of burns or fires when it comes to electricity and heat, and choose and use heating sources accordingly and wisely.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Festively Fun Eddy on the Ninth Day of Christmas

Hello, friends! It's time 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. _________ is a New Year's tradition for me.

2. _________ is not the same as _________.

3. I would pick _________ as my theme song for 2026.

4. I'm a coward when it comes to _________ but brave when _________.


My answers are below in bold.

1. Watching While You Were Sleeping as the clock strikes midnight is a New Year's tradition for me.
(While You Were Sleeping is a romantic comedy from 1995 starring Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman. Generally speaking, I'm not a fan of the romance genre. That said, I genuinely enjoy this movie. It's the only romcom I like, and it also takes place around Christmas and the New Year. My sister and I always go to my parents' house and we all ring in the New Year together by putting this movie on. We even sometimes manage for it to strike midnight as the characters are having their own New Year celebration.)

2. Saying is not the same as doing.
(I've known some people in my life who will say they're going to do something, and then they never do it. It drives me crazy when people act like saying something is just as good as doing it.)

3. I would pick "Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen as my theme song for 2026.
(I feel like I picked this song for a similar fill-in in the past, but it's simply what immediately came to my mind. Not only is it my favorite Queen song, but it gives me a lot of energy. I also have a great deal I want to accomplish this year, so the theme of the song also just fits.)

4. I'm a coward when it comes to my own medical procedures but brave when my furry babies need medical care.
(I'm a bit of a wimp when any needles or other sharp tools approach me. I've found ways to manage my anxiety with that sort of thing, mostly that I don't look at what a needle or other tool is doing and that I have to lay down for blood draws, but I still can't keep some of that anxiety away when it comes to myself having anything like that done. When it comes to my furry babies, though, I can be present and keep a brave face. I used to work at a vet clinic and helped with lots of blood draws and surgeries there, and so it doesn't bother me when I'm helping a furry baby through a medical procedure. I'm glad that I'm far better at that sort of thing with my kitties than myself.)

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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We're making our way through the Twelve Days of Christmas, today being the ninth day, and Eddy's Christmas tree still excites her very much. So much so that she often gets quite active and blurry around it.

It's not even the official day of bloopers, but that's what my Eddy has for you all today nonetheless.

Merry Ninth Day of Christmas!

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Festive Flashback Doodle of the Day

Since I still need to scan and upload my new festive doodles for the final days of the Twelves Days of Christmas, I'm yet again sharing a flashback doodle. I always forget about this one until I go through my archive of drawings, but I'm always happy when I rediscover it. This one was inspired by A Christmas Carol and was clearly created for the New Year in 2023, though I've come to wish I hadn't put the actual year on it. So, let's just pretend it says 2026, shall we?

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Tip of the Day

Today's tip on caring for ferals and strays outdoors during the cold winter months is to, if possible, offer them some sort of shelter. Even a makeshift shelter is better than no shelter at all. For example, outdoor tables and chairs can be arranged to form a shelter under which a feral or stray can get some respite from direct inclement weather. Another cheap, makeshift option includes turning a Styrofoam cooler upside down to form a shelter, with a door cut out as an entrance. Other relatively cheap storage containers can also be used to create makeshift shelters, again simply by cutting out a door and ensuring that it is safe for use. Of course, if it is possible, you can also buy or build a sturdier, more permanent shelter, such as one constructed out of wood. Another option, although of course only if it is safe and free of dangers, is to allow ferals and strays to spend cold winter days or nights in a garage or shed. Again, only if they are free of potentially dangerous items, a garage or shed can be used as a warm place for ferals and strays to spend cold winter days or nights. All in all, if you are able to, consider setting up some form of shelter to help ferals and strays have some respite from the elements. Even a makeshift shelter formed out of materials you already have could be a great benefit to them. Our next couple of tips will discuss feral cat shelters and their components in more detail.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! We hope your 2025 ended beautifully, and that your 2026 is off to a blessed start. We're enjoying a peaceful beginning to this new year, which is a great segue into Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Thimble is of course here to share her gratitude, and she's not only thankful for a new year of new beginnings, but also for our Christmas village.

Thimble is always like Godzilla to those poor village folk. She tosses their houses around and stomps all over them, and she loves doing so.

Don't mind the fake bones on our platter and all that good stuff. On Tuesday Tonks shared a photo of our Christmas tree in which a skeleton's head could be seen peeking through the branches, so there's not much I can say other than our house is just a weird place.

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Of course we didn't forget about 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. _________ is a New Year's tradition for me.

2. _________ is not the same as _________.

3. I would pick _________ as my theme song for 2026.

4. I'm a coward when it comes to _________ but brave when _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends! Happy New Year and Merry Eighth Day of Christmas!

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Festive Flashback Doodle of the Day

I worked on a couple of my in-progress festive doodles as I waited for the clock to strike midnight last night. We're still in the midst of the Twelve Days of Christmas and so the festiveness isn't over yet. That said, for today I'm actually still going to share a flashback doodle. That's because it's the sequel to the old New Year's Eve flashback doodle I shared yesterday. So, here you go.

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Tip of the Day

We've been discussing care of ferals and strays during the winter months, and over the past few days our discussions have all been about food and water. We do have yet another tip on this specific topic. When it comes to offering food to ferals and strays, try to keep the location and timing of the feedings as consistent as possible. Keeping a predictable feeding schedule and food location can help an outdoor cat know when and where they can find food. Conserving energy is a very important thing for outdoor animals in the winter, and knowing when and where they can successfully venture out for a meal can indeed help ferals and strays save much needed energy, rather than wasting their energy only to find no food present at their feeding station. Therefore, if you feed ferals and strays, keep in mind that it is very beneficial to the animals if you keep their food on a consistent schedule and in the same location.