Woof Woof Wednesday: Dog Days of Summer

Our heat index is 100°F today. So, yeah, is it autumn yet? That said, my sweet angel pup Astrid didn't like summer any more than I do. Astrid was a dog who loved cold weather. Despite her general excitement for the outdoors, she would often choose to stay indoors when it was hot outside. That's why Astrid looked a lot like this on the dog days of summer...

Though she understandably didn't enjoy spending time outside on the hottest summer days, Astrid was more than fine snoozing on her couch in the sunny window.

I was always so grateful that Astrid and I shared a love for cool weather. We would take shorter walks in the summer, but our autumn walks were long and beautiful and I loved them. I was of course thankful for any walk I took with her, but I was indeed also thankful that Astrid wasn't a big fan of hot weather and so she didn't often ask me to walk her too far on those days.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's spooky summertime doodle was a piece of concept art for a story I was working on many years ago. It involved a sort of spooky cabin in the woods, so I found myself drawing this here.

I hope to get back to this doodle's writing project again in the future, but I never felt as attached to it as I am with my current writing project. Probably because my current writing project not only co-stars a hind limb paralyzed kitty like my Evan, but all of the kitties and pups in my life have even small cameos. It's a fantasy story, but you better believe it's overrun with furry, four-legged characters.

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Tip of the Day

Around this time in 2018, we were introducing kitten Tonks as well as her sister Winky into the home. Back then, we shared a series of tips on none other than the topic of introducing new furry friends into the home. So, let's go ahead and repeat that series, shall we?

We're going to begin these tips with a simple yet important one, and that is, before you bring any new furbaby into your home, no matter the species or age, always take into consideration all factors that might affect this decision. For example, do you have enough space in your home to bring home a new cat or dog? If you rent your home, how many animals does the landlord allow? Also consider finances, and whether the proper medical and general care of a new cat or dog will realistically fit in your budget. How about your health? Are you physically able to care for a new cat or dog? Do you have other animals? Do any of them have medical or behavioral issues that would make it unwise to bring home another animal? How about family or roommates with whom you live? Is it reasonable and safe to bring a new cat or dog to live with the other people in your home? Needless to say, there are great many factors to consider before bringing home a new furbaby, so be sure to thoroughly consider all those that apply to you and your home.

Tonks Tuesday: Neighborhood Watch

It's Tonks Tuesday, and today the calico is spending her time in one of her favorite places. And that is, the window!

Tonks may or may not spend much of her time spying on the neighbors, and of course the wildlife. She's pretty much the head of our Neighborhood Watch. Thanks for keeping our street safe (or at least heavily spied on), Tonks!

Happy Tuesday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Yesterday I shared a flashback doodle from a few Junes ago. It was something I scribbled up after seeing a summer release of a particular piece of Halloween decor. Today's flashback is from that same June of old, and was inspired by yet another piece of Halloween decor that was released that summer.

I actually can't remember what store came out with this witchy hand a few years ago. It might have been Bath & Body Works, and the witch hand might have been meant to serve as a candle holder. I'm not positive on that, though. Just like the piece of decor I'd drawn in yesterday's flashback doodle, I didn't buy this witchy hand, but I did bring it into my sketchbook.

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Tip of the Day

We have another quick and simple food and drink tip today. Especially for older, arthritic, or furbabies otherwise unable to get around well, try to place food and water bowls near their favorite places to sleep or hang out. If possible, you can also try to place bowls all throughout the house so that they have easily accessible options wherever they are at the time. This can help ensure that furbabies with less mobility are still getting proper nutrition and hydration.

Mancat Monday: Naptime Face-Plants with Orange Boys

Hello and happy Mancat Monday! Today, Evan wants to remind you all of one of his favorite sleeping positions.

Looks cozy, huh?

This boy loves to spend his naptime in a face-plant position.

Evan isn't the only orange boy who likes sleeping in a suffocating sort of way, though. My parents have a pale orange boy named Kipper, and look how he sleeps as well...

All right, boys. Whatever floats your boat, I guess.

Evan and Kipper wish you all a nap or two today! I would recommend not suffocating yourself during said naps, but these orange boys say it's really quite cozy.

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Since I'm a broken record, I'll yet again repeat that when summer rolls around, I always start feeling eager for autumn and Halloween. I'm just not a fan of heat and humidity, and at the end of the warm days is my favorite season of fall and my tied-for-first-place holiday that is Halloween.

As I've also mentioned, my eagerness for autumn and spooky season is just egged on by the fact that stores now often come out with Halloween merchandise starting in June or thereabouts. A couple years ago Cracker Barrel came out with a ghostly piece of decor that became very popular. While I didn't buy it, I did draw it, of course with the addition of a kitty.

This year Cracker Barrel came out with a piece of Halloween decor that is a similarly ghostly highland cow. I'm really tempted to draw that one as well...

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Tip of the Day

Keep in mind that, depending on factors such as a cat or dog’s size and health, some furbabies might require special considerations for the setup of their food and water bowls. For example, tall dogs, dogs with deep chests, older animals who have difficulty bending down, animals with short snouts, and those with conditions such as megaesophagus often do better with elevated bowls that are situated closer to the level of their chest or face. Food and water bowls elevated in this manner can allow for more comfortable eating and drinking, as well as easier chewing, swallowing, and overall digestion. Of course, on the other hand, do ensure that the bowl is not too elevated, especially for small dogs or cats, as having to reach up to eat would be uncomfortable for them as well. So, do be sure to take time to observe your kitty or pup’s dining habits, and to adjust their bowls to ensure they are able to dine comfortably.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Eddy's Belly

Hello and happy Friday, 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. My plans for June include _________ and _________.

2. _________ is the bravest thing I have ever done.

3. I swear by _________ as a cure for _________.

4. As if _________ wasn't bad enough, _________.


My answers are below in bold.

1. My plans for June include home improvements and working on my weird writing project.

(In addition to what you'll read in #4 below, my house has at least one showerhead needing replaced, I also need to get a new part for that same shower's handle since it no longer wants to turn the water off fully, my doorbell stopped working and needs replaced, and even the lamppost in my yard needs a repair. And that's far from my full to-do list. I do live in a house that's 60 years old. While that's nowhere near as old as some homes, it's far from new and it's showing. The second part of my answer is a lot more fun. I do indeed mention this often, but I'm still working on my favorite ever writing project. It's a weird and wacky fantasy that co-stars a kitty in a wheelchair, and I'm actually making good progress on it. I also have some new concept art I want to scribble up for it.)

2. Saying goodbye to my angel kitties and pups is the bravest thing I have ever done.

(I couldn't think of anything else for this, and I know this is a sad answer. But, it's what came to my mind. And honestly, the bravest thing I've ever done might truly be finding the strength to realize that my sick kitties and pups needed that final act of love, no matter how much I didn't want to say goodbye.)

3. I swear by cat purrs as a cure for just about anything.
(Despite the fact that I came up with this fill-in and was certain I'd have something to offer, I actually couldn't come up with any true "cures" I'd swear by. Except for, well, kitty purrs. Sure, purrs can't take away all of the symptoms of certain ailments. But, those kitty purrs will always at least make you smile and feel happy. In some situations, that's a complete and total cure for what you might be going through.)

4. As if my washer breaking wasn't bad enough, my fridge is now making some weird sounds.

(There are times when all of my household appliances are working great with none of them acting up. Every time even one does act up, though, at least one or two more follow suit within a couple weeks. Happens every time. My washer died recently, and while I'm ordering a cheap new part to see if that fixes the problem, I'm pretty sure I'll end up just needing to get a new one. On top of that, my fridge started making an extra weird sound lately. It's still working for now, but the thing is something like 15 years old and was left behind by the previous home owner, so it's not like it's a spring chicken.)

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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Did you know it's Friday? We bet you did. One of the best things about Friday is that it's Eddy's day to share her adorable self on our blog. Are you ready for the cute tabby girl? We hope you're prepared.

The low, amber lighting in these photos is a little deceiving. Eddy doesn't actually look quite that brown, but either way I assure you she's always adorable.

Also, that belly is a trap. While my girls Thimble and Tonks actually love having their bellies rubbed, Eddy does not. That's why, as cute as it is, I usually leave her belly alone. She likes to flaunt it, but she doesn't like it being touched, so I'll just admire it from afar.

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

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

To not get too longwinded in repeating myself, I'll just quickly say that I love spooky things, even in warm weather, and so we're sharing old doodles to fit that vibe.

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Tip of the Day

We're continuing on with our food tips, now focusing on eating and drinking habits. We've given tips in this vein in another recent series, but anything relating to our furry cuties is worth repeating. To start this off, we’re here to remind you to be cognizant of the material out of which your furbaby's bowl is made. When possible, steer clear of plastic bowls. This is in large part because plastic can be easily scratched, and these scratches can harbor all sorts of bacteria and other microbes. This can lead to issues such as feline chin acne. Stainless steel bowls, or even ceramic or glass, are often recommended. If you do use or have to use plastic bowls for any reason, be sure to clean them frequently, and to replace them as needed, such as if you notice scratches. This will help prevent bacterial growth and issues such as feline chin acne. Eating and drinking are of course crucial to our furbabies’ daily lives, so do be sure to pay attention even to details such as the types of bowl they are using.

In addition to the material of a bowl, we'll quickly note that size also matters when it comes to your furbaby’s bowls. As we’re sure you know, make sure the bowl is comparable to the size of the furbaby. A large dog will obviously require a larger bowl, while a small dog or cat might have difficulty eating from such a large bowl.

What's more, when it comes to those kitties, also keep in mind the concept of whisker fatigue. Whisker fatigue occurs when a bowl is too small and the whiskers brush the sides when eating or drinking. This can be uncomfortable for the cat, and can therefore lead to a reluctance to use the bowl. So, try to make sure that a cat’s bowl is wide and also shallow enough to allow for comfortable eating. Like us, our furbabies like to eat and drink in comfort.

Thankful Thursday with Thimble and a Teddy Bear

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

Today, Thimble is grateful for a few things. Not only is she yet again thankful for sunshine, but also for cozy blankets and teddy bears!

I have quite a collection of blankets and pillows and a few stuffed animals. Thimble is a cozy-loving lady and so enjoys all of them. The teddy bear behind Thimble in that photo is about 37 years old, as my grandpa gave it to me when I was a baby.

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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. My plans for June include _________ and _________.

2. _________ is the bravest thing I have ever done.

3. I swear by _________ as a cure for _________.

4. As if _________ wasn't bad enough, _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

As I've mentioned many times lately, I'm in a spooky mood. This happens to me pretty much every time the weather starts warming up. I start craving autumn, and then I get in the mood for Halloween, and then I feel like scribbling up spooky doodles. I hope to get some new summertime spooky doodles drawn soon, but in the meantime I'll be sharing some flashbacks. For today, here's another one from my "Halfway to Halloween" series of doodles I shared for an April A to Z Challenge a few years ago. All of these starred my calico angel Rosie. This one here is an odd one, but I remember really enjoying scribbling up Rosie in a skeleton costume.

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Tip of the Day

Today's food tip is all about those carbs. When we think of carbohydrates, things like pasta and bread may come to mind. But, carbohydrates in other forms are an important aspect in pet food. In a dog or cat's food, carbohydrates often come from plants or grains, such as corn, rice, oats, or wheat. Just as in humans, carbohydrates can serve as a source of energy and fuel for our furbaby's body. That being said, carbohydrates are one aspect of pet food that may hold different levels of importance for cats and dogs.

Dogs are omnivores. This means that, even in the wild, they get their nutrition from both animal and plant sources. For this reason, carbohydrates in the form of plants and grains are of course important in commercial dog food, just as meat products are. 

On the other hand, cats are strict carnivores, and in the wild they gain much of their nutrition and energy from the protein and fat of their prey. This is why plants and grains in commercial cat food is sometimes debated. Some studies indicate that cats in the wild do consume a small percentage of plant and grain carbohydrates, these being from whatever vegetation their prey may have eaten. Regardless, most commercial cat foods do contain carbohydrates from plants and grains, some in far higher percentage than others. This is where reading labels and comparing protein versus carbohydrate levels can be important for cat owners to do.

Not only is it important to consider a cat's strict carnivore ancestry, but it's also important to realize that for cats as well as dogs, a diet with a higher carbohydrate content can potentially lead to digestive concerns, such as diarrhea or flatulence. In addition, just as can be the case with fats and even protein, an excess of carbohydrates in the diet can potentially lead to weight gain. This is all just one more reason why it is so important to research, understand, and discuss with your veterinarian the best diet for your kitty or pup.

Adventures with Angel Astrid: A Walk in the Park

My sweet angel pup Astrid and I both always loved walking through the park that's near our house. It's just a big, open area of grass, around which spans the creek that runs through our neighborhood. Near the creek there are always lots flowers blooming in the spring and summer.

Quite a few years ago I also got these photos of Astrid posing with the beautiful blooms of a little tree in the park.

I'm really glad I got these pretty photo of Astrid, because for some reason that was the last year that tree ever bloomed.

Happy Wednesday to all!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

As I've mentioned multiple times recently, I've been in a spooky mood. This happens to me pretty much every summer, when I become eager for fall weather and Halloween. The fact that many stores now start stocking up for Halloween in June just spurs my spooky mood even more. I hope to get some new summertime spooky doodles done this summer, but for today here's one I scribbled up for my "Halfway to Halloween" series I did for an April A to Z Challenge a few years ago. This one is pretty tame and mostly just involves bats, but I'll share some more from this series over the next couple of days that are even more spooky.

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Tip of the Day

We're still in the midst of repeating a series of food tips from the past. We've so far talked about protein and fiber in pet food, and now today we're moving on to fat. Fat, like other nutrients, plays important roles for both us humans and our cats and dogs. Fats are yet another source of energy for the body and its cells, they aid in healthy skin and coat, and they are also important for growth overall.

In pet foods, some fats can come from the protein source, such as chicken and beef. However, there are also other potential sources of fats in our furbabies' food. Fats can of course come from oils, such as fish oils or plant oils. The important thing is to make sure that your furbaby's food includes good quality fat sources, and in a healthy balance. For example, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which often come from sources such as fish or plant oils or chicken fat, are very beneficial, but most importantly so in proper amounts. Less quality fats and oils would include lard and other similar ingredients, and therefore do be cautious if you see these on a pet food label.

Of course, any fats in too large of quantities could lead to health concerns. For example, obesity and pancreatitis can both potentially stem from or be worsened by diets high in fat. For reasons such as these, as we've said before, try to educate yourself on your cat or dog's health and the best nutrition for them, and of course discuss this with a veterinarian as needed.

Tonks Tuesday in a Box

It's Tonks Tuesday, and today the little calico is again showing off just how obsessed she is with boxes.

It doesn't matter how many cat trees, couches, beds, blankets, or any other cozy places to snooze that there are in the house. If there's a box, Tonks is going to choose it.

Tonks hopes you all get to enjoy a box (or two or three) today!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

I've shared this old doodle a couple times in the past, but it seems fitting for today as well.

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Tip of the Day

Our food talk continues today with a little something known as fiber. Fiber is a very important nutrient that, for one, aids in digestion for not only us humans but also kitties and pups. In terms of digestion, fiber can play more than one role. Depending on the circumstances and the particular type of fiber consumed, it can assist with both constipation and diarrhea. That's not all, though, as fiber can also play a beneficial role in weight loss. Fiber can make food more bulky, and in turn can help a kitty or pup feel full, which can then lead to less gorging and therefore aid in weight loss. Still, though, fiber's roles in a cat or dog's health does not end there. Studies have also indicated that high fiber diets can benefit those with diabetes, such as by helping to control blood sugar. For all of these reasons and more, be sure to educate yourself on your furbaby's fiber intake and overall health and diet, and of course discuss options with your veterinarian.