Sunrise Sunday Selfies, and then some.

My furbabies and I caught the tail end of a lovely sunrise, which made Evan and Thimble very eager to show off their sunrise selfie skills for today's Sunday Selfie blog hop hosted by the ever pawesome The Cat on My Head. Here are the bright and shiny sunrise selfies:

Eddy only managed to catch a glimpse of the sunrise. Then she was off to resume her hobby of spying on her new fish friends. That being said, here's the only selfie she could manage to give me:

 Oh, and look who else posed for a selfie:

Although Astrid is usually all for sunny selfies at the window, she wasn't able to give me one today because she's been too busy sleeping in and snoozing the morning away. But, Astrid still gets to participate n today's post because it just so happens that the next piece in my new Valentine art series was created for her! Here it is:

Wishing all of our furiends and friends a happy and fun Sunday! How many of you will be watching the Super Bowl? More importantly, how many of you will be watching the Puppy Bowl and/or Kitten Bowl?

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Our Tip of the Day:

Our tip today is in honor of those adorable, adoptable puppies and kitties participating in the Puppy Bowl and Kitten Bowl today. It's a simple tip, yet also a very important one: adopt! Adopting an animal is one of the most rewarding things you can do, both for you and the furbaby. By adopting, you just may very well be saving a life, and you will helping in the fight against pet overpopulation as well as helping to put a damper on such things as pet shops and the mass breeding facilities related to them. What's more, although all those puppies and kittens out there need homes just as much as any shelter animal, please remember that the young animals rarely have trouble finding homes. Older and/or special needs animals, on the other hand, are often overlooked, so please consider them as well when adopting a pet.

Caturday Valentine Art

For today's Caturday Art blog hop hosted by Athena Cat Goddess Wise Kitty, I'm sharing a quick Valentine drawing I very recently created. I plan on making a Valentine for each of the furbabies in my life, my intent being to create one each day from now until Valentine's Day itself. My first drawing in this Valentine series was, of course, created for my sweet angel Rosie.

Wishing everybuddy a lovely Caturday!

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Our Tip of the Day:

In line with their natural, wild instincts, many cats do not truly like direct eye contact or being stared at. This is why some cats will run off if you make eye contact with them, even if you are their beloved owner. This could also be why some cats are so drawn to people who admit to not even liking animals - because these people are less likely to look or stare at kitty! That being said, if your kitty is one of those who tends to scurry off upon eye contact being made, perhaps simply try to not stare directly into your kitty's eyes, especially when trying to call them to you. Or, as mentioned in a past daily tip, if you do make eye contact with your cat, try following it up with a slow blink. Another option upon making eye contact is to look away and then back again. Both of these actions will help you to display your innocence to a cat, and can actually be seen as signs of respect and love.

Fuzzy Photo Friday

I haven't shared many photos of my goofball pup Astrid or my active kitty Eddy this week. That's because these two, easily my most active furbabies, have just not been all that into sitting still this week, at all. To be honest, that's pretty much always the case, especially with Eddy. But, usually I can sneak up on them for at least one or two decent enough photos each week. Well, that was somehow even more of a challenge than usual this week. I was determined to share some photos of them today, though, so here it goes...

Surprisingly, Eddy was the most successful of the two photo shoots. This is because I caught her sleeping:

At first glance the photos from her sleepy shoot seemed nice and focused. When I got them onto my computer and enlarged them, though, I was surprised (and, at the same time, not all that surprised at all) to see that, even with Eddy sleeping, the pictures still managed to be a little blurry.

I guess this little lady runs laps and bounces off of walls even in Dreamland.

Next up was Astrid. The resident pup has been especially excited lately, not only because she loves that the weather has slowly been getting warmer, but also because of the addition of our new fish tanks and the accompanying fish and frog. Anything new like this tends to turn her into a little fizzling ball of energy. Luckily, she's always been good about turning some of her energy into chew bone sessions. I thought I'd try to catch some photos during one of these chewing sessions:

But, alas, even chewing a bone is an action scene for this lady.

Happy Friday, furiends!

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Our Tip of the Day:
If your pup seems to have frequent moments of restlessness and boredom, even after being walked and fed, and of course after any medical concerns have been rule out, try creating games or getting puzzling toys that will allow him or her to be mentally stimulated and to expend energy. This could be as simple as you using his or her toys, or even yourself, to create a game of hide and seek throughout the house. Another option are the number of puzzle-like toys available on the market, such as those in which you can hide a handful of treats and the dog has to figure out how to release them. Physical exercise isn't the only way a dog expends energy, because their minds can be just as active as their bodies. So, be sure to stimulate their mind as well!

Thimble Thursday: My, what big eyes you have.

Thimble was the star of my Thursday post last week, and I had multiple people comment that they liked the idea of Thimble Thursday posts. I'm liking that idea quite a bit myself, it turns out, and so from here on out, unless something else more pressing were to arise, Thimble Thursday will be a weekly tradition. (I'm actually working on creating a schedule of posts each week that regularly and fairly star all of my furbabies. Mancat Monday is essentially always focused on Evan, since he's my only boy. That means I'm working on Astrid and Eddy scheduling, as well as trying to get in the habit of more regularly posting about the other family furbabies in my life.)

So, on this Thimble Thursday, I'm going to share some shots that capture one of her traits that always makes my heart melt - her adorably big eyes! Thimble tends to give me her best big-eyed lovey face during our morning cuddle sessions. These cuddle sessions tend to involve a lot of Thimble trampling on top of me, which means the pictures usually turn out a little something like this:

 How about one a little closer up now?

Thimble's adorably big eyes sure are, well, adorable. But, as I'm sure you can see, they are also far from looking anything along the lines of sleepy. That means that Thimble cuddle time marks the end of sleepy time for anyone involved. Whether it's 2 o'clock or 7 o'clock in the morning, if Thimble wants to cuddle, that means that this mommy's sleep is put on hold. Thimble's cuddles involve lots of purring, belly rolls, and pawing at her mommy's face to make sure she's still awake and participating. It's not like I can in any way dislike that, though, because just look:

Yep, the sleep deprivation is totally worth it.

Have a wonderful Thursday, everybuddy!

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Our Tip of the Day:

If your kitty is one of those that likes to "help" you while you work, try creating a place especially for them in or near your work space. For example, if your kitty likes to help you type on your keyboard while you're at the computer, try putting a special bed for your kitty directly next to the keyboard. This could be one of the kitty's favorite blankets, a piece of your clothing, or a box (you can do even better by putting a blanket or clothing item in the box to make it even more enticing to kitty). This way, your kitty will feel close and helpful to you, but you'll still be able to work. Other options are putting an extra chair next to you for your kitty, or even some exciting or new toys somewhere near your work space.

Our Wednesday Waterworld Preview (and the Three Day Quote Challenge: Day 3)

I'm not even going to pretend that this will be a Wordless Wednesday post, or even an Almost Wordless Wednesday post. So, that cat's out of the bag.

That being said, the first order of business is that my furbabies want to give a quick preview of our most recent project at home. With the help of their Pawpaw (my dad), we're in the process of setting up some fish tanks.

The top tank currently contains some minnows that came from a pond my dad set up in his backyard back in the summer. The bottom tank contains a frog that has been in the family and living at my parents' house for 15 years.

This frog, who lives its life behind glass painted by kitty cat and puppy dog noses, was originally named Steve by my sister and I. Then we found out that it was a girl. So, back in our adolescent days, my sister and I thereafter started calling it Stevenie (not Stephanie, but Stevenie, with the V pronounced and all that good stuff). The name stuck.

Believe it or not, the frog is actually a rescue, adopted by my family back when I was in grade school, after we found out that a friend of a family member had a frog they were planning on flushing because it kept eating their fish. So, we adopted it.

The furbabies are thrilled with the new arrivals, especially Toby, who has always had a crush on the frog. While the frog is more than used to being gawked at by four-legged furballs, I hope the fish aren't too traumatized. (Who am I kidding? Eddy's already been in the top tank once. I was too shocked to even consider grabbing photographic evidence at the time, so feel free to use your imagination when picturing this incident.)

Now, on to the next order of business. Today is my third and therefore final day of the Three Day Quote Challenge. One last time, here are the rules for this challenge:

1. Post for three consecutive days.
2. Choose and share one or three quotes each day.
3. Challenge three additional bloggers each day.

For Days 1 and 2, I shared two of my favorite quotes from two different authors (J.R.R. Tolkien and Oscar Wilde). I wanted to continue on this author quoting pattern of mine for Day 3 as well, and I decided to go with one of my favorite modern times author. I love a good, fun book, and I'm one of those who loves to read fantasy. So, I chose Neil Gaiman as my author to quote today. I had trouble picking my most favorite quote by him. Luckily, though, as seen above, the second rule in this challenge says to choose one or three quotes. Therefore, I chose three for today.

I love me a quote that is unique and fun, but even more so one that is profound and enlightening. That's about the best explanation I can give for choosing these three quotes in particular. Here they are:

"Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten." -Neil Gaiman

"The one thing that you have that nobody else has is you. Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision. So write and draw and build and play and dance and live as only you can." -Neil Gaiman

"Sometimes you wake up. Sometimes the fall kills you. And sometimes, when you fall, you fly." -Neil Gaiman

And, one last time, the last rule in this challenge is for me to challenge three more bloggers each day. I've chosen three blogs, but please feel no obligation or pressure to participate in the challenge. I know that not everyone has the time or desire to partake in blogging challenges, so please know that you only have to join in if you wish to and have time. I also tried to pick bloggers that I have not seen already nominated by another. That all being said, here are the three that I've chosen to challenge today:

1. Eric and Flynn's Adventures
2. angelswhisper2011
and, though this may make me a bit of a cheater,
3. anyone who would like to participate in this challenge but who has not found themselves on a list such as this one.

Thank you again, Ellen, for nominating me for this challenge! I love quotes, and I had a great time participating.

Happy (not-even-close-to-being-wordless) Wednesday, our furiends!

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Our Tip of the Day:

Although this is certainly no law or hard and fast rule, it is often recommended to try to stick with names with two syllables when naming your pets. This is because names with two syllables perhaps best cater to an animal's attention to detail. Whereas one syllable names may not be long enough to catch an animal's attention, and whereas three or more syllables might be just long enough to make an animal lose interest or focus, two syllable names are a happy medium. Of course, this does not mean your furbaby has to have a two syllable name. If needed, perhaps the best thing to do is test out a couple of your favorite names and see to which one your new furbaby responds best.

A Cold Shoulder for the Camera (and the Three Day Quote Challenge: Day 2)

Sometimes my furbabies just don't want their pictures taken, and sometimes they make that abundantly clear to me. For some furbabies, it's all in the body language:

"Talk to the paw, Mom."

"I can't get far enough away from this crazy lady," says the Leaning Tower of Eddy.

 For others, the eyes say it all:

"Move along, Mom, move along."

"No, Mom. Just, no."

Well, since my camera and I have been rejected, I guess now is the perfect time to move on to the next fun matter of business for the day. I was recently nominated by Ellen over at 15andmeowing to take part in the Three Day Quote Challenge. I love quotes, and so I am happily participating in this challenge. There are three rules to this challenge, and they are:

1. Post for three consecutive days.
2. Choose and share one or three quotes each day.
3. Challenge three additional bloggers each day.

Yesterday was Day 1 of the challenge for me, and I chose a quote by the brilliant J.R.R. Tolkien. Today, for Day 2 of the challenge, I chose a quote by yet another author. It is another quote quite short and sweet, but I hear it's quality and not quantity that matters, so I guess that's all right. That all being said, here is my quote for today:

"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." -Oscar Wilde

I have always held the strong belief that each and every one of us is unique, and that we are all unique for a reason. Being myself rather than simply trying to fit in with the crowd has been something for which I have always striven my entire life, and that is why this quote holds so much meaning for me.

Now, the last rule in this challenge is for me to challenge three more bloggers each day. I've chosen three blogs, but please feel no obligation or pressure to participate in the challenge. I know that not everyone has the time or desire to partake in blogging challenges, so please know that you only have to join in if you wish to and have time. That being said, here are the three that I've chosen to challenge today:

1. Animal Shelter Volunteer Life
2. Fur Everywhere
3. Hannah and Lucy

Happy Tuesday, everybuddy!

 

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Our Tip of the Day:

Rather than buy a brand new pet bed or bedding for your cat and/or dog, try using something you already have. You can do something as simple as use some of your old clothing as a bed for you cat or dog - it will smell like you, and most animals love this and will happily use your clothing as bedding! You can also go as far as turning an old suitcase into a bed, especially for a cat or small dog. All you have to do is open up the suitcase, fill it with your old clothes, blankets, or some other form of bedding, and let your cat or dog discover this lovely new bed of theirs.

Mancat Monday (and the Three Day Quote Challenge: Day 1)

It's Mancat Monday again, which means that today's post is brought to you by my one and only momma's boy, Evan!

That little pink, freckled nose of his gets me every time.

Now, for something else fun. I was recently nominated by Ellen over at 15andmeowing to take part in the Three Day Quote Challenge. I was very excited when I saw that she nominated me. I love a good quote, and I love a good challenge, so this made my day. There are three rules to this challenge, and they are:

1. Post for three consecutive days.
2. Choose and share one or three quotes each day.
3. Challenge three additional bloggers each day.

For Day 1 of the challenge, I have chosen one of my all-time favorite quotes, from one of my all-time favorite books by one of my absolute favorite authors. It's short and sweet, but it's one of my favorites nonetheless. Here it is:

"Not all those who wander are lost." -J.R.R. Tolkien

The last rule is for me to challenge three more bloggers each day. I've chosen three blogs, but please feel no obligation or pressure to participate in the challenge. I know that not everyone has the time or desire to partake in blogging challenges, so please know that you only have to join in if you wish to and have time. That being said, here are the three that I've chosen to challenge today:

1. The Cat on My Head
2. Cat Chat with Caren and Cody (and/or Dakota's Den)
3. Deziz World

Happy Monday, furiends! We hope this week is kind to you!

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Our Tip of the Day:

Last Monday I gave the tip that sufficient water intake is very important for cats, especially males, in order to ward off urinary blockages and other issues relating to FLUTD (feline lower urinary tract disease). One suggestion I gave was to feed your cat moist food, and for today's tip I'm going to expand on that by offering suggestions on experimenting in order to find the kind of moist food your kitty most prefers. Some cats are very picky eaters, so try experimenting with texture, flavor, and brand of food. Some cats want to eat hardier, meatier food such as morsels in gravy, while others prefer softer food such as pates. Some kitties also may more readily eat moist food if additional water is added to it, forming a sort of soup. And while some kitties may like simple, plain meat flavors, others might prefer the more expansive or eclectic flavors out there. So, if your kitty is a picky eater, try a little experimenting. Of course, though, if you have any questions or concerns regarding what to feed your kitty, consult your veterinarian.