Thoroughly Poetic Thankful Thimble Thursday

Are you ready to rhyme? We sure are! We always enjoy participating in Angel Sammy's Thoroughly Poetic Thursday Challenge.

Each week, our host gives us a photo prompt to help spark our poetic imagination. This week's beautiful image is this one here:

I'm pretty sure I've included forests and toadstools in far more than one poem and doodle already, but that's because I love the fanciful concept of them. Given my fondness for the subject matter, I was very excited to see this image for this week's poetry challenge. That being said, this week's poem of mine is pretty darn similar to some of the other ones I've written, and that's even not just in terms of the forests and toadstools I've driven into the ground. When an idea gets in my head, it sort of gets stuck in there, and then I use it until it gets unappetizingly stale. But, I hope you don't mind.

Finnigan in the Forest

Finnigan and Fiona were the best of friends.

The played together each day from beginning to end.

They may or may not have been a traditional pair.

Finnigan was a cat of black, and Fiona a girl with red hair.

Their differences mattered not one bit, though,

For they were the dearest of friends even so.

Once upon a summer, it was a beautiful day,

So Fiona opened her window to let in the sun's rays.

Finnigan sat by her side and gazed out at the world,

Which is where he quickly caught sight of a wily squirrel.

When the squirrel ran toward the forest and its trees,

Finnigan was behind it faster than a breeze.

"Finnigan, come back!" Fiona cried from the window.

But, in his excitement, Finnigan the cat did not slow.
The cat chased the squirrel across grass greener than green,
Into the forest where trees were all that could be seen.

After a wild and rampant game of tag,
The squirrel disappeared with a zig and a zag.
Finnigan pranced and peered through the trees,
Hoping that the squirrel he would yet again see.
Instead, something else came into his sight.
It was none other than a bright and shiny light!

The light glowed like a golden orb,
And Finnigan's attention it did absorb.
A light was just as well as a squirrel,
Especially when it spun around in a whirl.

And so there was Finnigan, chasing the light,
Running after the orb that shone so sparkly and bright.
When the shiny plaything sped off through the trees,
Finnigan made sure that he did not freeze.
He would not lose sight of the moving glow,
Lest he miss out on a mighty fun light show.

Finnigan followed the gleam of the light as it floated,
Keeping up with it being his only true motive.
The cat jotted and trotted to keep pace with the light,
Until it finally slowed and halted its flight.

When Finnigan stopped and glanced about,
He saw that all around him toadstools did sprout.
That was not all Finnigan noticed, though.
There were now dozens of little lights that did glow!

Finnigan could not help but test a toadstool out,
By jumping upon it to see how high he could bounce.
The cat on the toadstool must have been quite a scene.
Who needed a silly old trampoline?

When Finnigan was done with his acrobatic fun,
One of the lights approached him, shining like the sun.
Finnigan could not help but give it a light little boop,
After which the orb spun around in a frenzied swoop.

"Ouch!" came from the bright little light.
Hearing that word gave Finnigan a bit of a fright.
Have you ever heard a light speak?
Finnigan suddenly found himself feeling quite meek.

The radiant glow did not stop there.
These were the next words it did share:
"Now, now, don't be a scaredy-cat.
But also don't you dare give me another tap.
 I'm really not all that scary.
See, I'm just a harmless fairy!"

Indeed, the light was suddenly a light no more.
It was a tiny little creature, and on wings it did soar.
Finnigan was tempted to go on another chase.
After all, winged critters were some of his favorite to race!

Instead, Finnigan gave a polite hello.
"Meow," he said to the fairy, who still did glow.
"It's a pleasure to meet you," was the fairy's reply.
"We live just over yonder," it added, "if you'd like to stop by."

Finnigan thought that sounded like all sorts of fun,
And so after the fairy he did run.
They passed more trees, and them some more,
Until they reached a glittering gold door.

The fairy opened the door and invited Finnigan inside,
After which his eyes grew wider than wide.
The fairy land was something to behold.
There were more toadstools, waterfalls, and even a castle of gold!

Just then, Finnigan realized something important.
How could he have been so sordid?
The fairy land he could not yet attend.
After all, how could he go on an adventure without his best friend?

Finnigan told the fairy he would return soon,
And then turned around and through the forest did zoom.
He found Fiona in their yard, calling his name.
The sight of the poor little girl filled him with shame.

But Fiona seemed filled only with relief,
And she wrapped Finnigan in a hug that was not even remotely brief.
When the girl finally had her fill,
Finnigan tugged at her dress with great thrill.

Fiona could tell Finnigan had something to share,
And so through the forest together they did tear.
The toadstools were the first stop they made,
And like trampolines on them they played.

Finnigan could not wait to continue, though.
After all, those toadstools were just the start of the show.
He urged Fiona to follow him further,
His excitement now turning to fervor.

Finally, ahead, they both saw the golden door,
Behind which there was so much in store.
Fiona turned the knob and entered the fairy land,
With its toadstools and waterfalls and castle so grand.

Fiona gasped, laughed, and jumped for joy.
For bringing her here, she deemed Finnigan a good boy.
Into the fairy land skipped Fiona and Finnigan.
Little did they know, their journey was only just about to begin.

***

Those of you who visit us often might know whom you'll be seeing now. Thursday is the day when a certain lady cat shows off her adorable self. Of whom do we speak? Thimble!

Thimble is very thankful for the sun we finally saw yesterday. We haven't seen the sun much these days, because we've been having us some pretty nasty storms lately. There has been a lot of pouring rain, flooding, lightning, and thunder. A tornado even touched down at the edge of our town earlier this week. While we are very thankful that we are all safe and sound, we are sending our purrs, woofs, and prayers to those affected. Luckily, no one was injured in this tornado, but some homes sure were.

In addition to being thankful for the sun and the fact that no one was injured in this week's storms, we are of course also so very grateful for each and every one of you.

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Last but not least, we have the Friendly Fill-Ins statements for tomorrow! Ellen of 15andmeowing was the mastermind behind the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. My favorite Disney character is _________.

2. If I could stay any age for life, I would choose to be age _________.

3. _________ is my secret talent.

4. Life is like a _________.

We'll see you tomorrow!

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Our Tip of the Day:

Today's tip is going to be a bit of a long one, because it's all about how to introduce cats to each other, such as when bringing a new cat home. To be honest, the circumstances and methods of cat introductions can vary, especially depending on the cats involved. Some cats love other cats, some are not fond of other cats, and some are anywhere in between. Just like humans, every cat is different, and every cat has its preferences for who and what is around them. That being said, below we will indeed discuss some of the steps that can be taken to help properly introduce cats to each other.

Let's begin by saying that, though it is certainly not a cure-all for cat introductions, you can give Feliway a try. For long-term use (such as approximately 30 or so days), you can invest in a Feliway diffuser (refills can be purchased for these diffusers). There is also Feliway spray on the market, though a spray's effects do not last nearly as long as a diffuser's. If you are using a Feliway diffuser, it is often recommended that you plug it in roughly 2 weeks prior to an event such as bringing home a new cat, so that the pheromones are already in the home prior to the change.

Moving on, as we already mentioned in a previous tip, of course have somewhere safe for the new kitty to stay once they arrive at their new home. For example, a spare bedroom or a bathroom can make a safe area for a new cat. At this point, it is often best to have a sturdy barrier between the cats, something through which they cannot see each other, such as a door. This way, the cats can smell each other without having to take in the sight of a strange cat. Getting used to the scent of a new cat can be a crucial step before visual contact is made. If safe and feasible, you can even swap the cats' bedding, so that they learn the other's scent this way.

During the aforementioned non-visual olfactory meet-and-greet, there may indeed be hissing or growling. When this hissing and growling is only mild or nonexistent, at that point you try to start allowing the cats to see each other. Of course, using some sort of barrier is still advised, to ensure that no fights occur at the sight of each other. You can use a safe and sturdy baby gate, for example, or even a screen door. If there is hissing, growling, or other signs of aggression, stop the session and give both cats a break from seeing each other. You can repeat this exercise for short spurts, perhaps even multiple times a day, until the aggression diminishes.

The next phase of the introduction is of course best begun only when previous signs of aggression have significantly decreased or disappeared. When the sight of each other no longer spurs hissing, growling, or other aggression, then you can start considering allowing a more direct meet-and-greet. Of course, only do this with heavy supervision. In other words, as you allow the cats to enter the same proximity, without any barrier between them, be very, very watchful. Look for any and all cues that aggression might occur, and if that is the case, stop the session and separate the cats as needed, and then try again when both cats are calm. As a side note, in the potential case of a cat fight, have on hand something safe, such as a towel, that could help you break up the fight.

It may very well take time and lots of patience to get cats used to each other. No matter what phase of introduction you're at, continue safe meet-and-greet sessions as often as is possible and plausible, even if these are best kept brief at first. Getting new cats used to each may indeed take a lot of repetitive exercises such as those listed above. The main yet simple thing to keep in mind is that this will likely take time and patience. Forcing cats to meet in a hasty manner can lead to any number of issues, including aggression or even litter box aversion. While I wish I could say there is a textbook method that guarantees easy, successful cat introductions, that's simply not the case. Just remember to be patient, do not force it, help the cats get to know each other on their own terms and timeline, and closely monitor them until they are well acquainted and have learned to safely like, tolerate, or ignore each other.

Nearly Wordless Wednesday

Is that cozy, Astrid? Really? Talk about a lip lift.

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Our Doodle of the Day:

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Our Tip of the Day:

We are still discussing the ins and outs of bringing home a new cat or dog. Today's tip in this series offers some ideas on how to get a new furbaby acclimated to their new family and home. Especially when it comes to shy kitties or pups, be sure to be patient in helping them get to know you. In order to allow a shy or nervous cat or dog to learn to trust you or other family members, frequently visit with them or sit with them, and perhaps even give them an item or two of your clothing. Offer them food and sit with them while they eat, or offer them treats or toys if that does not stress them. Talk to them soothingly, or even read them a book. Make such visits with them are calm, and always watch for cues that a furbaby is feeling nervous or stressed. Over time, if you remain patient and calm, a new furbaby who is nervous or shy can indeed learn to trust you.

It is not just you or other family members that a new furbaby will have to grow accustomed to, though. Every home and family has its own set of sights and sounds to which a new cat or dog will have to become acclimated. Think of the typical goings-on of your household, and, as needed, help your new furbaby become used to the new sights and sounds by slowly and calmly introducing them to new stimuli. Just as a couple of examples, some furbabies may have to get used to the sound of garbage bags or the sight of an open umbrella. Of course, don't bombard a new cat or dog with new sights and sounds all at once, but, as always, have patience and help them to acclimate to these things slowly over time.

That all being said, introducing a new cat or dog to other animals takes especial care and patience. Slow and proper introductions are of course best for both new and resident cats and dogs. We will further discuss these topics in the very near future.

A Tuesday Tale of Tails

Remember on Sunday, when we introduced you to these cuties?

In case you missed it, these three siblings have joined our family. Tonks the calico is my newest furbaby. Little black lady cat Winky was taken in by my sister, and since my sister lives with me, Winky lives with us as well. Tabby boy Flitwick owns my parents, and though he doesn't live with us, he visits often for play dates with his sisters.

Now, we mentioned on Sunday that there is a story to go with these little cuties, and we'll tell you that story now. Let's begin with this shocker that may or may not be worthy of The Jerry Springer Show: Tonks, Winky, and Flitwick are, believe it or not, the younger siblings of Thimble and her brothers Toby, Trapper, and Talon. Did you see that one coming?

Let's rewind. My grandmother found 3-week-old Thimble and her brothers in a bucket four years ago, after her neighbor had placed them there upon finding them under his patio. My grandma had previously caught glimpses of a cat who had clearly been nursing in the area around that time, but had not seen her in a while. So, it was assumed something had happened to her, and Thimble and her brothers were then adopted into our family.

Fast forward a few months, and the cat, Thimble and her brothers' mother, showed up again. After that, she showed up regularly. My grandma named her Big Foot. What's more, every few months, Big Foot would show up either pregnant or accompanied by her newest kitten(s). My grandma always fed Big Foot and her kittens and gave them shelter, but was never able to catch or trap Big Foot. She was the epitome of feral, and was smart and unwilling to cooperate to boot. In addition to this, my grandma lives in a very small town. In that tiny town, there is no animal control, there is no animal shelter, there are no rescue groups, and so there were certainly no groups to assist in TNR for a feral kitty like Big Foot.

So, Big Foot would show up pregnant or with kittens, and my grandma would put out food for them and give them shelter in the yard. That became the norm. As a side note, don't worry, though my grandma could not get her hands on Big Foot at that point in time, she was always able to get her hands on the kittens and find them homes when they were old enough. You'll see proof of this shortly.

Then, guess what? When Big Foot brought this newest litter of kittens around, this being the litter including Tonks, Winky, and Flitwick (and a fourth calico sister who was adopted by my grandma's nice neighbor lady), Big Foot finally proved to be more open to human intervention. Though my grandma could still not handle or really touch Big Foot, she was finally able to coax her and the kittens into a fenced-in enclosure in her yard.

Now, let's make the last part of this story short. When Tonks, Winky, Flitwick, and their other calico sister were old enough, my grandma managed to get Big Foot coaxed into a carrier with some food. She was then taken to the vet and is now, finally, spayed. Big Foot will no longer have to worry about raising kittens in the wild. She is still mostly feral, but she usually stays safe in my grandma's yard, and her last litter of kittens all have homes with us and my grandma's neighbor.

Want to see a recent picture of Big Foot, the mother of Thimble, Toby, Trapper, Talon, Tonks, Winky, and Flitwick? Here she is:

If I ever had any doubt that Big Foot is the mother to Thimble and her brothers, this negates it. Thimble may not look like her, but Toby looks incredibly similar to her, especially in the face. Talon also looks like his mom Big Foot.

How about this? Below are some shots of not only Toby and Talon, but all of the kittens that Big Foot brought to my grandmother's property over the past few years, and who have all found homes.

Toby, who owns my sister and lives with us, looks a lot like his mama cat Big Foot. To be honest, this is not the best shot of Toby to show off his similarities to his mama. If I can find a better one to show you all a side-by-side of look-alike Toby and his mama cat, I will certainly do so.

Talon, who owns my parents, looks like his mama cat as well.

 Trapper, who also owns my parents, is one of the few tabbies Big Foot produced.

Thimble! This girl, the only girl in the litter also consisting of Toby, Talon, and Trapper, is another one of the very few known tabbies birthed by Big Foot.

 This is Andi. She was found as a kitten by my grandmother. As far as we know, she is actually the oldest of Big Foot's offspring, as she appeared right around the same time my grandma first began sighting Big Foot roughly 5 years ago. Therefore, she is actually older than Thimble and her brothers. Andi lives indoors with my grandma.

This lady cat here is Little Feet. She arrived in my grandmother's yard as a kitten roughly 2 years ago, of course following Big Foot. This girl is still pretty much feral. She does not seem too fond of humans, at all, but my grandma was able to get her caught, and she now lives as a barn cat on the property of a family friend.

 This is Cassidy. He appeared as a kitten alongside Pocahontas (see below) just over a year ago. Big Foot brought them to my grandmother's yard, and they stayed in that area for many months. When my grandmother finally got the kittens caught, Cassidy soon after displayed an extreme hatred for living indoors. He now happily lives in my grandmother's yard, with his mom Big Foot, where my grandma feeds and shelters him, and where he often follows her around.

Pocahontas (aka, Pokey), after being caught by my grandmother, proved to be a very shy yet docile and sweet kitty. She now lives with my twin uncles, indoors, just one town over from me.

And here is a group shot of Tonks, Winky, Flitwick, and their other calico sister. As far as we know, Tonks and her tricolor sister were the only calicoes ever born to Big Foot. Flitwick was her third and final tabby, that we know of.

While I am so grateful that Big Foot brought me my Thimble and now Tonks, and also brought Toby, Talon, Trapper, Winky, and Flitwick into my immediate family, I am equally glad that she finally allowed herself to be caught and spayed. She has been producing kittens in the wild for somewhere around 5 years. I can only imagine how taxing those years must have been for her. For years, attempts at catching her were unsuccessful. Now, though, she can live a happy life without the worries of motherhood.

So, there was the long-winded origin story of Tonks, Winky, and Flitwick. Did you make it this far? I sure can get pretty long-winded. My apologies.

Also, on another note, I am working on getting some newer photos of the kittens. Let's just say they are no better than Eddy when it comes to sitting still for the camera.

Happy Tuesday, friends!

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Our Doodle of the Day:

Our newest series of doodles will involve the big kids around here expressing their thoughts on the arrival of the kittens. That being said, we are still in the very early introductory stages between the kittens and the older furbabies. Just one reason for this is that the kittens have been treated for coccidia, which is transferable by way of feces, the litter box, and all that jazz. No direct contact will be made until we are certain that the kittens are clear of this intestinal parasite.

So, for now, the kittens are secluded to their own area, but the big kids can see them, and they can see the big kids. For the furbabies in our household, this is working well. All of the big kids know that the babies are present in the house, and are now being given time to adjust to that fact. The older furbabies all have mixed reviews on the fact that kittens have invaded the home turf. Today, Evan and Toby thought they'd let you know their thoughts.

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Our Tip of the Day:

Today's tip on bringing a new furbaby into the home is to have a safe area for them to spend their introductory days. Depending on your situation and living space, this can take on many forms. If you are bringing a social, calm cat into a home with no other animals, there is a chance that they might have free roam of the home right off the bat. However, in many cases, such as if they are nervous or if there are other animals in the home, it is far more wise and safe to give a new furbaby a particular safe area where they can go when first beginning their life at their new home. This safe area could be a bedroom, a bathroom, a spacious cage or similar setup in a safe and quiet room, or something else along these lines.

What's more, consider what this safe area should contain. It should of course have the new furbaby's food, water, litter box, toys, a bed or blanket, and other necessities and comforts. Especially when it comes to nervous or shy furbabies, it is also crucial to ensure that a new kitty or pup has an area where they can feel secure or even hidden. If their safe area does not include anywhere for them to feel secure and hidden, consider giving them some options, even simply by cutting holes in upside-down cardboard boxes.

All in all, you have to consider what a new furbaby is coming home to. Do you live with a large family? Are there other animals? Is the new cat or dog shy? Consider all of these factors, and then decide where and how to keep your new furbaby safe while they are first learning the ropes at their new home.

Moo on Monday

This weekend, we were so happy to be visited by Moo, 15andmeowing Joanie's traveling cow. Each of the older furbabies around here wanted a turn spending some time with our guest. In case you were wondering, the kittens, whom we introduced yesterday, are still learning about manners. Moo was not subjected to their antics.

The first to greet Moo was Evan.

Just a tad bit of mandatory sniffing occurred.

Oh, sorry, Moo. Don't mind Evan. If he tells you you smell bad, don't believe him.

Good grief, Evan, don't be so dramatic.

There, that's more like it! Moo and Evan did some sunbathing together. Evan wanted Moo to see how cozy his beloved sun could be. Isn't that nice and toasty, Moo?

Next up, our housemate Toby came over to say hello to Moo.

Of course, Thimble had to take a turn greeting our guest Moo, too!

The playful girl she is, Thimble wanted to share her favorite toy with Moo.

How fun that was!

Evan, Thimble, and Toby all then got together to have a group party with Moo.

Of course, some sunbathing and window gazing was in store for the kitties and their guest!

Eddy may not be as big of a fan of the front door as Evan and the others, but she still wanted to spend some time with Moo before she had to head out. So, she invited her to hang out with her on her favorite cat tree!

She explained to her the ins and outs of cat tree etiquette, so that she could enjoy the full experience.

Then the two of them enjoyed the view together!

Speaking of view, a certain pup around here also spent a little time with Moo. Those of you who visit us regularly know that Astrid is a huge fan of the window. As in, she's pretty much only willing to pose in said window. So, of course, pup Astrid wanted to spend her time with Moo in, well, the window.

Needless to say, we all had such a wonderful time with Moo! She was such a fun and fantastic guest, and we could not have had more fun with her. Thank you for visiting us, Moo, and thank you to Joanie for sending Moo on this journey! Though we are sad to see her go, Moo is now on her way to his next stop. We know she'll have lots of fun there, too!

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Our Doodle of the Day:

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Our Tip of the Day:

The next tip in our series on bringing home a new cat or dog is to ensure that you are prepared with all of the supplies needed for bringing home said furbaby. For example, the new furbaby will of course need food and bowls, and also possibly a litter box, litter, a leash, toys, beds, perhaps a product such as Feliway, a collar and ID tag, and so forth. What's more, though, when selecting such supplies, keep in mind the particular furbaby you're introducing into your home. Is it a kitten or puppy, or a geriatric cat or dog, or a furbaby with special needs? In such cases, have on hand food and other items that would best suit the particular kitty or pup. That being said, it is often recommended that you try to slowly transition a new cat or dog to a new food, so as not to disrupt their digestive system with a sudden change in diet. Therefore, it might also be reasonable to purchase at least a small amount of the food they were eating prior to you bringing them home, and transitioning them to a new food over the course of a few days. All in all, as you all surely know, make all necessary considerations and make proper preparations prior to bringing home a new furbaby.

When Newbies Snap Selfies

Yesterday we shared this doodle:

When we shared this yesterday, we asked you all what you thought was going on in the doodle. Some of you guessed that we have some new furry members of the family. Well, if you guessed that, you're right!

Does anyone remember a comment I made a few weeks back about how I knew that, someday, I wanted to be owned by another calico? I have not had a calico companion since my angel Rosie gained her angel wings in 2015. Rosie was so dear to me, and she can never be replaced, but she led me to fall in love with calico beauties. Back when I made that comment about someday sharing my life with another calico, many of you commented that a calico would come into my life again when it was meant to be. You were correct.

Friends, meet Tonks!

That's my Tonks! Guess what, though? Tonks is not the only kitty who has become a new member of our household. My sister, who currently lives with me, adopted one of Tonks's sisters, Winky.

So, not just one, but two kitties have joined our furry family! Actually, it's not really just two. Tonks and Winky's brother, Flitwick, was adopted by my parents.

Though Flitwick does not live with us, he and his sisters have play dates on nearly a daily basis. Oh, and in case you were wondering, the names Tonks, Winky, and Flitwick are all from the Harry Potter series. We couldn't help ourselves.

As always, there's a bit of a story surrounding these kittens and how they joined our family. We'll be sharing that story on Tuesday. For today, we're going to leave it at...Welcome to the family, Tonks, Winky, and Flitwick!

On a different note, tomorrow we'll be sharing with you all how we spent this weekend with Moo, the traveling cow of 15andmeowing's Joanie. The big kitties and even pup Astrid had a great time with Moo, and we can't wait to show you all!

Happy Sunday, friends!

P.S. I need to give credit where it's due. I am not the one who helped Tonks, Winky, and Flitwick snap their selfies today. My grandma helped them snap their selfies in her yard. That will make more sense after you read their story on Tuesday.

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Our Doodle of the Day:

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Our Tip of the Day:

Given that we are currently working on introducing kittens into the family, we feel compelled to do a series of tips on this very topic. 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.

Caturday Art

Can you guess what this doodle means? You'll get the details tomorrow!

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Our Tip of the Day:

Is your kitty, or even your pup, a water dumper? Especially cats often like to dig at their water bowls, one reason being that this mimics the motions they make as kittens in order to stimulate their mama cat’s milk production. If your kitty is one of those who turns a water station into an ocean, there are ways to help prevent this.

First, you can simply try using heavier bowls. Stainless steel bowls with weighted and often skid-proof bottoms might be one solution, for example. Sometimes even simply a thick, heavy ceramic or glass bowl that does not easily give in to a cat’s slapping paws will do the trick. You can even try getting a skid-proof mat, on which you can place a skid-proof water bowl to help even further reduce the chance of spillage onto the floor. There are also bowls on the market that are meant to help prevent spillage from digging, such as bowls situated in a stand with grates, so that splashed water can drain into a basin beneath the bowls rather than onto the floor. If all else fails, you could even attempt a bowl that is in some way attached to the wall or floor, so that the bowl is unable to move altogether. In such a case, though, still always ensure that the bowl can be removed as needed for cleaning and freshening.

Friendly Fill-Ins

It's Friendly Fill-Ins time! In case you missed the fill-ins yesterday, they are provided below. Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. My favorite subject in school was _________.

2. An extracurricular activity I participated in was _________.

3. I want to learn _________.

4. It takes courage to _________.


I filled those in myself, and here's how I did:

1. My favorite subject in school was English/Literature.
(I have always enjoyed reading and writing, and so I usually looked forward to reading literature and working on writing assignments in school. I often still wonder if I should have majored in English in college. I instead majored in Animal Sciences, which did give me knowledge and experience that I truly appreciate. But, I still often wonder what I would do if I went back in time.)

2. An extracurricular activity I participated in was math team.
(I never played any sports. That really wasn't my thing. I was always taught that I needed some activities to slap onto college applications, though. So, math team happened. If I'm to be completely honest, I did not dislike math team, but I also didn't really enjoy it all that much. I also wrote articles for and edited the school newspaper, which I enjoyed far more than math team.)

3. I want to learn how to play the cello.
(I think I've mentioned this here before, perhaps way in the past. I learned to play the piano as a child, and while I did enjoy that, and still do enjoy it, for some reason I have developed a keen interest in the cello over the years. The sound of a cello in a song pretty much makes it an instant favorite for me. So, somewhere down the line, I hope to at least learn the basics of playing the cello.)

4. It takes courage to confront the unfamiliar.
(This one here relates to the posts we'll be sharing tomorrow and Sunday. You'll have to wait and see what I'm talking about!)

Now it's your turn!

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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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Our last fill-in up there, the one about having courage to face the unfamiliar, especially relates to Eddy these days.

Can you guess why? We're wondering if any of you will have any idea at all what we're getting at here.

Happy Friday, friends!

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Our Doodle of the Day:

We've been working through lots of foodie doodles, and I simply could not complete this series without one starring my dear angel Rosie. Especially when she was in her geriatric years, Rosie got to eat whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted, and even wherever she wanted. In fact, her favorite place to be was the couch, so that's where she got to eat. Talk about breakfast in bed.

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Our Tip of the Day:

Do you have kitties or pups who require separate feedings? This can occur if certain furbabies are on different diets, or if they require different amounts of food, such as if one is on a weight loss diet. While it is not always easy to do separate feedings, it is still often doable with at least a little work. For example, some cats who are more agile can be fed on an elevated surface, such as a counter or shelf, where other cats or even dogs cannot reach. In other cases, such as if you have a small cat or dog and a larger cat or dog, you can fabricate a box or other area with a small opening where the smaller furbaby can enter and eat without interference from the other, larger furbaby. Then there are times when when feeding in separate rooms might need to be attempted. This version often works best if feedings are scheduled, and during those times the furbabies are placed in different rooms while each of them eats their diet as needed. Though not always easy, there are methods that can be attempted for feeding furbabies on different diets, so don't lose hope if this is something your furbabies require.