Merry Seventh Day of Christmas and Happy New Year's Eve (With Angel Astrid)!

Today, I have a sweet memory of my sweet angel pup Astrid with some of my outdoor Christmas decor.

Those festive pieces are helping decorate my front yard again this year. We've been having lots of wind storms, though, and despite lots of tent stakes and other attempts to keep them standing, I've had to pick them up off the ground so many times lately. The poor reindeer keeps getting decapitated by the wind, but luckily his head is easy to reattach. And now that I'm looking at these photos, I'm pretty sure I put his antlers on backwards when I reinstalled his head just last night. That doesn't matter right now, though, as the best part are the memories I have of my dear Astrid.

Now, Merry Seventh Day of Christmas and Happy New Year's Eve to all! We hope the final hours of 2025 treat you well and bring you much peace and joy. What's more, we hope 2026 treats you with kindness and bestows you with many blessings.

***

Festive Flashback Doodle of the Day

I have 4 days off of work starting tomorrow, and so I hope to use that time to finally finish up some of my festive doodles that are in limbo and finally share them in the final days of the Twelve Days of Christmas. For today, though, I have a doodle I scribbled up for a New Year's Eve many, many years ago. It's yet another one I'd love to recreate in my more current style, but for now this is the original piece that I've shared on many New Year's Eves.

***

Tip of the Day

Today's tip on winter feral care is to remember to put water out for ferals and strays you care for. This sounds and often feels impossible, given that water indeed freezes in cold temperatures. However, it is often possible to make water accessible to ferals or strays even in the winter months. Yesterday's tip discussed ways to successfully feed moist food to ferals in the winter, and most of those methods will also work for water. You can start by simply checking the water as often as possible, and removing ice or refreshing the water to ensure that it remains a liquid and not a frozen solid. You can also warm the water bowl, or even put out warm water, to delay its freezing. Other options include putting microwavable heat pads beneath the water bowl, using an electric heated bowl, or using another heat source in the area where the water is kept. With all such options, though, always keep safety in mind, and only choose and use heated products that best prevent burns and fires.

There are a couple of other considerations to make when putting water outside for ferals and strays in the winter months. To begin, try to keep water bowls elevated off of the cold ground as much as possible, to help keep it from freezing rapidly. In addition to this, using a deep bowl inside of a wide bowl will also help it to freeze less rapidly. Another option is to have a source of running water, such as by offering water in some sort of fountain, as moving water does not as easily freeze. And yet another way to help keep water from freezing rapidly in the winter is to put the bowl in the sun.

It also important to note that, as much as is possible, try to avoid putting water near where ferals or strays might sleep. This is because spills can indeed happen, and damp bedding material can make warmth and comfort difficult. So, there are many considerations to make when successfully offering water to ferals and strays in the winter months, but it is indeed possible, and of course also beneficial to them and their health.

Happy New Year's Eve! (And Merry Seventh Day of Christmas!)

Tonks wants to know if you'd like her to tell you a scary story?

Once upon a time, Tonks's human of a mom called her over, promising toys and treats. But then, that lying human pulled out a nail trimmer, and Tonks's claws were brutally cut. See? Isn't that a scary story? And for poor Tonks, it's unfortunately a true one.

Tonks considered telling a different sort of scary story to round out 2024, but she decided otherwise. So, instead, Tonks and all of us here are wishing you a Happy New Year's Eve! We hope 2024 has treated you with much happiness and many blessings.

Oh, and Merry Seventh Day of Christmas!

***

Festive Flashback Doodle of the Day

This year's plan of making new New Year's Eve and New Year's Day doodles didn't happen, but I'm telling myself that's okay. I do have this one I've shared for the past few New Year's Eves, so why not share it again.

***

Tip of the Day

Today's tip on winter feral care is to remember to put water out for ferals and strays you care for. This sounds and often feels impossible, given that water freezes in cold temperatures. However, it is often possible to make water accessible to ferals or strays even in the winter months. You can start by simply checking the water as often as possible, and removing ice or refreshing the water to ensure that it remains a liquid and not a frozen solid. You can also warm the water bowl, or even put out warm water, to delay its freezing. Other options include putting microwavable heat pads beneath the water bowl, using an electric heated bowl, or using another heat source in the area where the water is kept. With all such options, though, always keep safety in mind, and only choose and use heated products that best prevent burns and fires.

There are a couple of other considerations to make when putting water outside for ferals and strays in the winter months. To begin, as is possible, try to keep water bowls elevated off of the cold ground, to help keep it from freezing rapidly. In addition to this, using a deep bowl inside of a wide bowl will also help it to freeze less rapidly. Another option is to have a source of running water, such as by offering water in some sort of fountain, as moving water does not as easily freeze. And yet another way to help keep water from freezing rapidly in the winter is to put the bowl in the sun.

It also important to note that, as is possible, try to avoid putting water directly in a location where ferals or strays might sleep. This is because spills can indeed happen, and bedding material can make warmth and comfort difficult. So, there are many considerations to make when successfully offering water to ferals and strays in the winter months, but it is indeed possible, and of course also beneficial to them and their health.

Farewell to 2023

Hello, friends! I really didn't want to miss any posts during the Twelve Days of Christmas, or to post one as late as this. But, here we are. My ancient laptop is really, truly on its last leg these days, and I couldn't even get it to work on Friday or most of yesterday. I do have it working in some regard now, but I have even better news. Thanks to a Christmas gift from my amazing parents, I will very soon finally have a new, working laptop again, which I plan to use to really get back on track with blogging and writing.

I'll stop rambling now, and get to today's somewhat short post. It's New Year's Eve, which we're pretty sure we don't have to tell any of you. That said, we want to thank you all for your friendship and for just being amazing people all throughout 2023. We're so grateful for this amazing community. I also have to express my gratitude for my furbabies' health this year. After last year ending with Astrid's surgery for her torn CCL, and soon after that Evan's hospitalization for a urethral obstruction, I am so thankful that all my kitties and my pup had an overall healthy year in 2023. I'm also grateful that the same can be said for my human family.

We hope all of you friends of ours end 2023 with much health and happiness, and that your 2024 is filled with many blessings!

And, of course, Merry Seventh Day of Christmas!

***

Festive Flashback Doodle of the Day

***

Tip of the Day

Today's tip on winter feral care is to remember to put water out for ferals and strays you care for. This sounds and often feels impossible, given that water freezes in cold temperatures. However, it is often possible to make water accessible to ferals or strays even in the winter months. Yesterday's tip discussed ways to successfully feed moist food to ferals in the winter, and most of those methods will also work for water. You can start by simply checking the water as often as possible, and removing ice or refreshing the water to ensure that it remains a liquid and not a frozen solid. You can also warm the water bowl, or even put out warm water, to delay its freezing. Other options include putting microwavable heat pads beneath the water bowl, using an electric heated bowl, or using another heat source in the area where the water is kept. With all such options, though, always keep safety in mind, and only choose and use heated products that best prevent burns and fires.

There are a couple of other considerations to make when putting water outside for ferals and strays in the winter months. To begin, as is possible, try to keep water bowls elevated off of the cold ground, to help keep it from freezing rapidly. In addition to this, using a deep bowl inside of a wide bowl will also help it to freeze less rapidly. Another option is to have a source of running water, such as by offering water in some sort of fountain, as moving water does not as easily freeze. And yet another way to help keep water from freezing rapidly in the winter is to put the bowl in the sun.

It also important to note that, as is possible, try to avoid putting water directly beside where ferals or strays might sleep. This is because spills can indeed happen, and damp bedding material can make warmth and comfort difficult. So, there are many considerations to make when successfully offering water to ferals and strays in the winter months, but it is indeed possible, and of course also beneficial to them and their health.

Happy New Year's Eve!

For the New Year tomorrow, and for the final days of the Twelve Days of Christmas, we'll finally share some of the new festive doodles I've been working on. For today, though, we thought we'd go with the short series of New Year's Eve and New Year's Day doodles we first shared a couple of years ago.

We hope that your 2022 ends with peace and joy, and that your 2023 is filled good health, happiness, and many blessings.

Happy New Year's Eve! And Merry Seventh Day of Christmas!

***

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.

Sort of Festive Fill-Ins and Photo Fails

Hello and happy final day of 2021! To celebrate, shall we get right to the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge? Feel free to join in on the fun! My co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two fill-in statements, and I came up with the second two.


1. I had hoped to _________ in 2021 but didn't.

2. A goal I have for 2022 is _________.

3. I'll be _________ when 2021 ends.

4. I hope 2022 brings _________.

My answers are below in bold.

1. I had hoped to publish a book in 2021 but didn't.

(I had a painfully long explanation for this one all typed up, but let's try to make a long story short, shall we? So, I've mentioned multiple times before how I enjoy writing, and that publishing a book is high on my bucket list. I had hoped 2021 would be the year for exactly that. But, alas, a quick and simple writing project has instead turned into a long and wild ride. I'm still on that ride, sometimes barely hanging on, but enjoying it nonetheless like the masochist I am.)

2. A goal I have for 2022 is to publish a book.

(Yeah, I know. Broken record much? But it's going to happen. I've been saying that for years. But, really, it's going to happen. After all, you've got to reach for your dreams, right? Also, I just really like writing. Which is probably why I sometimes just ramble on and on here. My apologies.)

3. I'll be melancholic when 2021 ends.

(This is just sort of default, probably for me and a great many people out there. We've spent 365 days with 2021, and good or bad, it's always strange to see a year become a thing of the past. That said, my melancholy never lasts long. Besides, 2021 has been something else, and a new beginning sounds pretty darn nice right about now. Welcome, 2022. Please be don't be a jerk like your predecessors. Cheers.)

4. I hope 2022 brings peace on Earth and good will to mankind.

(I don't know what else to say. The previous year or two have left a lot to be desired.)

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.

***

And now it's time for the Pet Photo Fails Blog Hop, hosted by none other than Melissa and Mudpie of Melissa's Mochas, Mysteries, & Meows.

As always, our resident blooper queen Eddy is more than ready to share some photo shoot outtakes. As a preface to Eddy's bloopers for today, we have this:

Those were the photo shoot props. Or setup. Heck, call it a trap. My plan was to lure Eddy over to the festive little scene with her favorite treats. Because what's cuter than a Godzilla-esque cat storming through a miniature Christmas village?

Anyway. It's when Eddy entered the scene and realized she'd walked into a trap that we in turn captured her escape in the form of bloopers.

Eddy might not have been feeling festive, but we're still going to wish you a Merry Seventh Day of Christmas and of course a Happy New Year's Eve!

We hope the last day of 2021 treats you kindly, and that 2022 brings you happiness, health, and many blessings.

***

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.

Out With the Old and in With the New

It's New Year's Eve. 2020 is coming to an end. We're sometimes sad to see a year go. Not this time. 2021 is knocking at the door, and we're here to welcome it. We've got all shades of New Year's Eve fun to have today. Shall we start with a rhyme?

Each week, Angel Sammy hosts the Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge. He always shares a photo prompt to guide us, and this week's prompt is this timely one here:

I certainly wanted to write a poem in honor of waving a hefty goodbye to 2020, and so that's more or less what I did. Today is also the Seventh Day of Christmas, though, so there's some festive feels to my poem and its illustration as well. Also, as per usual, I of course threw a couple of obligatory kitties in the mix. All in all, today I have for you a weird and wacky and hopefully somewhat festive rhyme.

Out With the Old and in With the New

Four sets of eyes stared at the mantle clock.
It seemed to taunt them with its tick tock, tick tock, tick tock.
The hands informed them it was eleven o'clock or so,
Which meant they still had an entire hour to go.

The old man stood alongside his wife,
And each held a cat who more than certainly ruled their life.
The house was as festive as their very own party hats,
And on the table equally festive cupcakes waited and sat.

"This is going to be the longest hour ever," the old man said.
The old woman rolled her eyes and shook her head.
She told him, "We've made it this far, have we not?
Now is no time to act like a bratty little tot."

The old man scoffed and said, "Excuse me, but this year has gotten old and stale.
In comparison to other years, it really does pale.
It's ludicrous, an absolute abomination.
This year needs to take a permanent vacation."

"I don't disagree with any of that," the man's wife said.
"But at least we're here to see this year end rather than being dead.
Have some patience, and maybe even a tad bit of class.
Before you know it, this final hour of this horrid year will pass."

The man began to pace back and forth across the room.
The couple's cats accompanied him, though they moved in dashes and zooms.
He huffed and puffed and mumbled and grumbled.
When the cats ran between his legs, he also did stumble.

The old fellow stopped in front of the table on which sat the cupcakes.
He said, "These belong in my stomach rather than on this plate."
When the cats approached, he added, "What if the cats eat them before I do?
An old man like me needs sustenance, too!"

"Patience, old man!" his irritated wife did shout.
Then she nestled in to read a good book on the couch.
The cats climbed the mantle as the old man resumed his pacing,
And then the cats again joined him, though of course they were racing.

The snowy night outside looked bitter and cold,
Which made that year even more sour and old.
At least, to the impatient old man that was the case.
It was now half past eleven, but he wished the time was even more late.

The woman read, the man paced, and the cats ran to and fro.
Finally, there was only a few minutes to go.
The old couple and their cats stood staring at the clock yet again.
Soon, the hour would move to midnight from eleven.

They watched and waited,
Their four sets of eyes eyes wide and their breath bated.
Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock.
And just like that, midnight was announced by the clock.

The old couple and their cats cheered and purred for the new year.
After all, the disgraceful old one had finally disappeared.
The old man shouted, "Hip hip hooray! Out with the old and in with the new!
Now, let me have a celebratory cupcake. Actually, I'll take two."

***

As we close out this year and prepare for a new one, it seems like a perfect time to give some thanks. That's easy to do thanks to Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Thimble is here to give some thanks, and today she is grateful for all of her new catnip toys. She got lots of them from our Secret Santa Paws, that being all of the wonderful kitties and Dad Pete of Tomcat Commentary by Tim. This here mom of Thimble's also got her some catnip goodies for Christmas.

Wow. That's most certainly a blooper.

And there's another blooper. You all probably know what a challenge it is to snap a photo of a nipped out cat playing with a toy. But, can you at least see what the toy is? It's a cute little Christmas pudding toy that our local pet store had. Here, Evan agreed to sit still and pose with it so that you all could actually see it.

I almost stole that toy for myself, but I decided to go ahead and let the kitties have it. I guess I was feeling generous. Thimble sure seems glad I let the kitties keep it, as she's thrown the toy under the couch roughly a gazillion times already.

Merry Seventh Day of Christmas!

Happy New Year's Eve!

Wishing you all health and happiness in 2021!

***

Oh, but one last thing. How about we share the fill-in statements for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge? Ellen of 15andmeowing is the mastermind behind the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. My focus word for 2021 is _________.

2. I didn't get to _________ this year, but I hope to in 2021.

3. The year 2020 taught me _________.

4. _________ is one of my biggest goals for 2021.

We'll see you next year, friends!

***

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.