Remembering Angel Rosie

Five years ago today, my sweet Rosie flew to the Rainbow Bridge.

Every year, I ponder what to post in my dear Rosie's honor. She was my best friend, my pride and joy, as well as the main reason I felt compelled to start this blog of ours. Two years ago, I finally found some words that more or less explain how I want to remember my Rosie every year on the anniversary of her journey to the Rainbow Bridge. So, I'm now going to re-post what I have said over the last couple of years.

Rosie was by my side for 21 years, from the time I was 4 years old until just after my 26th birthday. She was my companion through nearly every milestone in my life up to that point. This is certainly one major reason why the day I lost her was the worst day of my life thus far.

That all being said, as devastating as it was to lose her, I simply cannot forget the countless beautiful, happy, and funny memories Rosie gifted me. I would never and could never wish those memories away. That's why, when I think of Rosie, I always do all that I can to refrain from feeling sadness. Instead, at the thought of her, I try to go into my reservoir of memories and find ones that bring me joy. And let me tell you, there are many, many, many of those! What's more, I'm certain Rosie would not want the thought of her to bring me sadness.

It's difficult not to feel some semblance of melancholy when thinking of a lost loved one. But, in honor of the companionship, love, and countless memories that she gave me, I always try to remember Rosie with nothing but a smile. After all, for 21 years, she made me smile each and every day. She will always be my ray of sunshine in this world.

I love you, my Rosie, forever and always!

The above image was created a couple years ago by the ever so talented Ann of Zoolatry. I don't know if there is an image I cherish more than this one. I have never enjoyed having my photo taken, and the only regret that brings me is that I do not have many photos of myself with my furbabies. However, I am beyond grateful that my mom once snapped a candid shot of me kissing my sweet Rosie on the forehead. Ann then spruced up that photo to create the beautiful image above. I cannot express how grateful I am to have this image to help me forever remember the bond Rosie and I shared.

In honor of my angel Rosie, how about a couple more flashback doodles of her? Today's flashbacks are yet gain from last year's April A to Z Challenge. These doodles we're sharing today are all about blogging and the friends it has brought our way. Rosie was the reason I started blogging. At the time I made my first post, my calico angel was a geriatric cat of 20. I decided one day to share her with the world. After all, she brought so much joy to my life, so why not give her the chance to do the same for the rest of the world? Though my sweet Rosie was only with me for a few months of our blogging journey, she truly paved the way for me. Thank you for that and everything you've done for me, my sweet angel Rosie.

It goes without saying that I am thankful for every single moment I shared with my angel Rosie. I am equally grateful for every moment she's watching over me now.

We are also grateful for all of you friends of ours, and for the fact that you're always here for us. Thank you for that.

***

Before we go, how about the fill-in statements for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge? Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. I just finished _________.

2. I am hoping to start _________.

3. _________ is my idea of success.

4. When I can't sleep, I _________.

***

P.S. If you're looking for our weekly poem as part of Angel Sammy's Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge, we shared it yesterday. If you're interested, you can read it here.

***

Tip of the Day:

Today, we're taking a bit of a break from our parasite prevention tips in order to share a tip in honor of my sweet angel Rosie. Today's tip will offer some ideas on how you might be able to memorialize your Rainbow Bridge angels. Everyone has their own way of grieving and their own thoughts on memorials. Below are just some ideas that some may wish to use, while others may opt for other memorial options.

To begin, you can simply yet effectively memorialize your angel by displaying photos of them. You can even set up a little memorial corner or other area in your home, specifically for maintaining a memorial for your Rainbow Bridge angel. Whether or not you display it in a specific memorial area, you can also display your angel's clay paw, if you have one. You can also select a special urn for their remains, if you opted to keep their cremated remains.

Another option is to have customized portraits or other artwork painted or otherwise created for your Rainbow Bridge angel. You can have such artwork created based on your favorite photo of your angel, for example. Another option is to have custom jewelry created, using your Rainbow Bridge angel's image or name. Whether you wear such jewelry or put it on display, it can make for a lovely, unique memorial item.

If you can and want to, you can also create your own art or craft in honor of your angel. Whether this be a drawing, collage, or anything in between, this can help you feel closer to your angel. Or, you can write something in honor of your Rainbow Bridge angel. You can write a letter to them, write a poem for them, or simply write down any and all memories that you share with them. This is yet another way that you can honor and feel close to your angel, and you can choose to display or store away your personalized memorial items.

If you have a yard or garden where this is possible, you can also plant a tree or flower in honor of your Rainbow Bridge angel. You can also place a memorial plaque or statue for them in your yard or garden, or even inside your home. In the case where you can and do bury your furbaby in your yard, you can also select grave markers, including customized ones, to mark their resting place in a special way.

Yet another potential way to memorialize your Rainbow Bridge angel is to make some sort of donation to a shelter or rescue, such as the one from which they were adopted. Donations can be monetary, or in the form of food, toys, or even your time. Other donations you can make include those to the cause for a cure, such as in the case that your angel passed away from or suffered from a particular disease.

The options for memorializing Rainbow Bridge angels are endless. Everyone grieves and honors lost loved ones in their own way, and that is more than fine. If you wish to memorialize your angel, simply think of what ways might feel best to you, and then pursue those options.

A Pup and a Poem

Last week Astrid showed you all how good she is at guarding her home from the front window. What she didn't show you, though, is how she sometimes falls asleep on the job.

At least her nap is in a warm and toasty sun puddle.

Though she may have been sleeping on the job, Astrid wishes you all lots of snoozes today!

***

I know I said that we'd be getting back to our usual weekly poetry schedule this week. We always enjoy Angel Sammy's Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge, which of course falls on Thursdays. Today is obviously Wednesday, but we're going to go ahead and share our poem today, a day early. This is because tomorrow marks 5 years since my sweet angel Rosie flew to the Rainbow Bridge, and I'd like to make tomorrow's post focus mainly on her. So, that means you're getting our poem for Angel Sammy's challenge today.

As always, our host shared a photo prompt to help us get poetic. This week's prompt is this fun one here:

If I'm being honest, I based my poem on both the above image as well as a flashback doodle I scribbled up last year. Following the daily doodles I created for the April A to Z Challenge, I decided to take roughly a week off from creating and sharing brand new doodles (don't worry, though, because we'll be back to 5 brand new doodles every week starting on Saturday). So, I matched a doodle from last year's April A to Z Challenge to the theme of today's poetic photo prompt in order to use it as extra inspiration, as well as to use it as our poem's illustration. I've actually wanted to write a poem with the following title for a while, and now I got my chance. It's as silly as ever, and I hope you all enjoy it.

If You Give a Cat a Cookie

Billy was a boy who loved food.
Cookies, cakes, and pies put him in the best of moods.
One day after school he saw sign posted in the center of town.
Seeing it brought to his face the opposite of a frown.

PIE EATING CONTEST, the sign read.
Billy resolved to participate with a nod of his head.
He immediately went home that afternoon to practice.
The kitchen contained no pies, but the cookie jar was full and active.

Billy wanted to make sure his stomach could hold plenty.
Then, at the table with the cookie jar, he was joined by his cat Penny.
Her coat was a beautiful calico pattern.
She was also a bit bossy with a loud, meowing chatter.

Billy set a timer and began scarfing down cookies.
At him, Penny was yawning and looking.
Then, suddenly, she reached for a cookie in Billy's hand.
"Hey!" the boy shouted. "What do you think you're doing, ma'am?"

Billy pulled the cookie away from the cat,
And then he tossed it in his mouth and swallowed it just like that.
Penny grunted and slapped the boy's hand.
Then, on the table she did prance and stand.
She stomped on Billy's cookies and turned them into crumbs.
The sight of this struck the young boy dumb.

"Fine! Fine!" Billy shouted.
He told the cat, "You can have a cookie, so no pouting."
Billy reached a hand into the cookie jar once more,
And Penny was happy for the cookie she did score.

Did it stop there, though?
It most certainly did not, no.
After that one cookie, Penny harassed Billy for another.
She demanded so many that Billy could only shudder.

Thereafter, this happened on the daily.
Penny's love for cookies became something sort of crazy.
Every day, Billy practiced for the pie eating contest.
And every day, Penny treated acquiring cookies like a quest.
Billy dared not deny her the loot.
If he did, she would give him a hiss, holler, and a hoot.

Billy practiced his eating skills for weeks,
Stuffing cookies, cakes, and pies into his cheeks.
Though he always had to share the cookie jar with his cat Penny,
Billy nonetheless found himself pie eating contest ready.

The big day finally arrived.
To be the pie eating winner he did strive.
He arrived early and took a seat at the pie-filled table.
He felt hungry, ready, and pie-eating able.

When the table was finally lined with contestants,
Pies were piled in front of each individual ready to be pie-eating tested.
The pie eating contest referee stood at the ready.
He held his hands on his hips, stern and steady.

Just as the referee was about to shout, "Go!"
One of the judges waved his arms and said, "Wait! No!
We have another contestant who's arrived just on time.
We have room to add one more contestant on the line."

Billy's eyes grew wide when he saw the new arrival.
It was his cat Penny, and about that there was no denial.
The cat mewed as she took a seat next to Billy.
She shook off and twitched her tail in a manner quite silly.

Then, finally, the referee shouted, "Ready! Set! Go!"
The contestants began eating at 100 miles per hour from zero.
The pile of pies in front of Billy dwindled and dwindled.
Then, though, he felt as if he were swindled.
When he had but three pies left, Penny had none.
In truth, the tiny little cat had eaten her pile of pies and was done!

Penny licked her lips and purred.
Then she whipped out a cookie and ate it for dessert.
Billy had to admit he learned a lesson from that girl with Penny for a name.
He learned that if you give a cat a cookie, she'll beat you at your own game.

How about a couple more foodie doodles from last year's A to Z Challenge?

***

Tip of the Day

Yesterday we discussed the topic of fleas and the importance of using preventatives. We briefly noted on how a flea infestation can lead to a kitty or pup being infected with tapeworms. Today, we are expanding on the topic of these nasty, wormy invaders.

To begin, as we just stated, a tapeworm infestation can be the result of a flea infestation. This is because fleas can carry tapeworm larvae, and when a cat or dog grooms and thereby ingests a carrier flea, that furbaby can then become infested with tapeworms. Fleas are not the only hosts of tapeworms, though. A cat or dog can also become infected by ingesting a rodent, rabbit, or bird that is carrying them. For this reason, some veterinarians will recommend that outdoor cats and dogs remain on tapeworm preventatives regularly, to prevent infestation in the event that a tapeworm host is ingested during a hunt.

Now that we know how a kitty or pup can end up with tapeworms, let's give a brief summary on the signs. One obvious sign that a furbaby has tapeworms is visually seeing it in their feces, or around their anus, or even in an area where they frequent. What you see in the feces of an infected cat or dog are actually segments that break off of a tapeworm, and these segments are perhaps best described as looking like grains of rice. Other symptoms of tapeworms include a cat or dog scooting their rear end on the floor, to alleviate the itching, irritating sensation of the tapeworm and its segments. In severe cases, such as after a lengthy tapeworm infestation, side effects can include lack of growth or weight loss, or even intestinal blockage as a result of tapeworms.

If you have any concerns that your furbaby might have tapeworms, take your furbaby and a sample of their stool in for your veterinarian to examine. There is the possibility that tapeworms may not shed consistently, and some stool samples may come back as negative even when tapeworms are present in the intestines. This is why it is also important to explain and describe to your veterinarian any signs you have seen, such as tapeworm segments in the feces, scooting, weight loss, and so forth.

These days, treatment for a tapeworm infestation is relatively straight-forward and easy, with the use of parasiticides. Thereafter, prevention is of course also key. Flea preventatives are imperative in ensuring that your furbaby does not become infected with tapeworms by way of fleas. If your cat or dog is often outdoors, and especially if they are known to hunt or ingest wildlife, you can also discuss with your veterinarian giving preventatives more heavily geared toward tapeworms. Tapeworms can hinder your furbaby's ability to thrive, so of course be sure that you understand their risks and do your best to prevent these wormy pests.

Tonks Toesies on Tuesday

Today we have for you Tonks. And Tonks has for you some toesies.

We hope these toe beans make your Tuesday terrific!

***

Flashback Doodles of the Day

Here we are with more flashback doodles from last year's April A to Z Challenge. Today, we chose a couple of them that most relate to Tonks. First up, we have a flashback doodle of Rosie having a bit of fun with a blanket while making the bed. Tonks is great at wreaking havoc helping while this mom of hers tries to put blankets in their proper place.

In another doodle from last year's April A to Z Challenge, Rosie did some yoga. Tonks loves doing yoga. She's quite good at it, and she's always futilely trying to give this here human lessons on flexibility.

***

Tip of the Day

We just finished our series of tips on heartworm. Since we're on the topic of pesky parasites, we're going to keep it going with some more related repeat tips. We shared these tips on parasites over the last couple of years, but this time of year, this topic can be an important one to discuss. Today, we'll be talking about fleas.

When it comes to fleas, it's important to realize that essentially any and all animals are susceptible. Even indoor-only cats and dogs can get fleas, such as if the tiny pests come into the home by hitching a ride on humans, or on other animals who go outdoors. What's more, fleas can be present even when you might think they aren't, even in the winter. If fleas have already made their ways indoors, they can thrive in the warmth of a home any time of year. Even outdoors in the winter, though, they can still potentially be present. Especially if there are warmer days here and there, and if you're starting to see some green grass outside, then there is always the chance that fleas can be present and active. So, this is just one reason to keep your furbabies on flea prevention.

To really drive home this tip, though, we're also going to remind you of just some of the side effects that can come with fleas. First, of course, fleas can cause all sorts of itchiness. In some cases, an animal can even have flea allergy dermatitis, which is of course when a cat or dog is allergic to flea bites and can therefore display significant itching, hair loss, lesions, and so forth. Itchy skin is not the only potential result of fleas, though. Fleas can also lead to a tapeworm infestation in your furbaby, something which we will further discuss tomorrow. In addition, anemia and other bloodborne and potentially dangerous diseases can result from fleas and their bites. The health and safety of your furbaby is of course, therefore, an incredibly good reason to be sure that you keep up with that flea prevention year round.

We will also note here that you should discuss with your veterinarian which flea preventative is likely to be both the safest and most effective for your furbaby. Not all preventatives are created equal. Some cheaper, generic, over-the-counter versions have even been found to cause incredibly dangerous or even life-threatening side effects. This is not something for which it's worth risking your furbaby's life, so discuss preventatives with your veterinarian, and select a quality, safe product. Also, in the event that your entire home needs to be treated for fleas, also be sure that you discuss this with your veterinarian, so that you might get tips from them on safe methods for this extensive type of treatment.

Mancat Monday

It's Mancat Monday. Obviously that means we're going to give you a dose of mancat.

One of Evan's favorite things to do is snooze next to this mom of his on the couch. That's exactly what he was doing in that there photo. This orange boy is my little shadow, and I love it.

Happy Monday!

***

Flashback Doodles of the Day

We're still sharing flashback doodles from last year's April A to Z Challenge. In this alphabetical challenge last year, we shared Rosie going through a busy day. For today's flashbacks, we're going to share some a couple of the doodles that relate to Evan's fondness for snuggling with his mom on the couch or in bed.

For the first flashback doodle of today, we have Rosie taking a nap. Evan loves naps as well.

The other flashback we have for today is Rosie turning in for the night. Evan loves bedtime, because that's equivalent to cuddle time.

Evan and all of us here wish you all lots of rest and relaxation!

***

Tip of the Day

Today, we have the last tip in our series of heartworm tips. It's a long one, and it relates to a fact that especially all cat parents really should know. And this is that there is currently no true treatment for heartworms in cats. There are treatments available for dogs that can kill the adult heartworms, but this does not work the same for cats. One reason for this is that the drug used to treat heartworms in dogs has been found, in some cases, to cause sudden death in cats. This is often due to dead or dying heartworms causing blockages and cardiac failure. Another reason why treatments may not work is because the life cycle of a heartworm is different in a dog versus a cat.

In dogs, the lifespan of a heartworm is longer, around five to seven years. This lifespan includes larvae entering the body after a mosquito bite, traveling to the heart, and then growing into mature, reproducing adults. Dogs are an optimal host for heartworms.

In cats, the heartworm lifespan is far shorter, often two to three years. What’s more, cats are not a prime host for heartworms, and a cat’s body itself often overcomes the heartworms, typically before they can even enter into adulthood. This is why far less adult heartworms are found in cats than are found in dogs. Even immature heartworms, which are typically what would circulate in the blood and be indicative of disease in a canine heartworm test, are often not found in the blood of cats. This is why cats are less commonly diagnosed with heartworm disease. Then again, though, it is not impossible for a cat to have heartworm disease, and in this case, heartworms cannot be killed as they can in dogs.

For cats, one of the only options for a cure is to have the heartworms surgically removed. This, of course, can be tricky and risky. Symptoms of the disease can also perhaps be controlled and the cat made comfortable with various medications and supportive treatments. Given that a cat might be able to outlive the heartworms, it is possible to treat the symptoms while the heartworms go through their cycle and ultimately die. As mentioned earlier, though, heartworms can live for two to three years in a cat, and there is still always the risk of pulmonary or cardiac failure while the heartworms remain.

With such limited treatment options for heartworms in cats, it is incredibly important to again note that the best option is to keep your cats on heartworm prevention. The risk of heartworm disease might seem small, but it is a risk nonetheless. And, just as always, it is better to be safe than sorry.

And, there is one last note for pup parents. Though there is a more successful heartworm treatment for dogs, heartworm disease can cause permanent damage. This can lead to lifelong issues, such as of the heart and lungs, even after the heartworms are eradicated. For this reason, heartworm prevention is of course also recommended for dogs.

A Selfie and a Rhyme

Because Thursday was Eddy's birthday, Thimble didn't get to star in her usual Thursday post. This little lady cat therefore informed me that today was to be her day. She was ready to share a selfie for the Sunday Selfie Blog Hop, which is of course hosted by the Kitties Blue over at The Cat on My Head.

Thimble didn't want any of you fans of hers forgot how cute she is. So, she snapped this selfie right here:

In case you're wondering, Thimble was staring at lights on the wall in this selfie. This human here loves how big Thimble's eyes get when she does this. Can you blame me?

***

Thursday was the last day of the April A to Z Challenge, and for that reason on that day we didn't share our weekly poem for Angel Sammy's Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge. That's why we're sharing our poem today.

As always, our host shared a photo prompt to guide us. This past week's prompt was this historical image here:

I thought seeing that photo would send me into a more historical mindset, but that's actually not the direction I went when I sat down to write my poem. Rather, something else entirely emerged as I started to type. It still involves swimming, and it also involves a kitty, of course. If you're curious, here's the silly poem in question:

Swimming Practice

Summer was on the horizon.

Because of that, young Betty's anxiety was rising.

It's not that she wasn't eager for warm weather and blue skies.

The problem was that she could neither swim nor dive.

All of Betty's classmates spent summer at the pool.
That was an activity Betty heard was fun and kept you cool.
She didn't want to feel left out,
But she also had her fears and doubts.

Betty's parents had tried teaching her to swim many times,
But fear and hesitation were apparently her biggest crimes.
All swimming lessons to that day had proved unsuccessful,
A fact that made Betty feel absolutely dreadful.

Wishing to spend summer with her friends,
Betty resolved to put her fear of water to an end.
Practice makes perfect, doesn't it? she asked her own mind.
With a cringe, she hoped swimming practice would be kind.

Not but a few minutes later, Betty stood in her bathing suit by the water.
She feared failing and losing all honor.
Touching one toe to the water, Betty pulled back and frowned.
She worried, Am I nothing but a great big coward?

Betty jumped back when something brushed her leg.
Looking down, she realized it was her dear cat Meg.
Now Betty stood beside the water with her feline friend.
Of the two, Betty found herself the only one from whom fear stemmed.

Meg the cat jumped to the edge of the water,
And then she dove in with the ease of an otter.
She swam and floated like a boat,
Water splishing and splashing against her calico coat.
Meg paddled and her fur grew wet.
Watching her cat in the water made Betty wonder why she did fret.

Meg swam and dove and clearly wasn't scared.
Should I get in the water? Betty's thoughts dared.
She again put a toe in the water, and then an entire leg.
When both legs were in the water, she was excitedly greeted by Meg.

Finally, Betty let the water rise to her shoulders.
She paddled like Meg, though the girl was slower.
When she found her groove, Betty began to gain speed.
Soon, she had also gained confidence indeed.

Betty and Meg paddled and splashed.
A yellow duckie frequently floated by in a dash.
The girl giggled and her cat let out a mew.
They were now giddy swimming buddies, these two.

Suddenly, Betty's mother appeared.
"Mama!" Betty shouted. "Do you see what I'm doing here?
I'm swimming! I'm swimming!
And I'm not even kidding!"

"Yes, I see that you two are swimming," Betty's mother said.
The woman then sighed and shook her head.
Then Betty's mother added, "Now can you move on to the pool?
The way you're treating this bathroom and bathtub is just cruel."

That illustration there is actually a flashback from last year's April A to Z Challenge. It fit the poem I scribbled up, though, so I shared it here. The illustration of course stars my angel Rosie, and both it and the poem are somewhat inspired by my childhood with Rosie. Though Rosie never liked being in water, and she certainly never dove into a full bathtub, she did use to keep me company when I bathed as a child. Both Rosie and her brother Sammy would sit on the edge of the bathtub while I bathed, and I would be careful not to splash them because I didn't want them to run off.

The above doodle is not the only one from last year's A to Z Challenge that starred Rosie in the bathroom. In a couple of other doodles from that series, Rosie washed her face and brushed her teeth. See?

We hope you enjoy seeing some of the flashback doodles from last year's A to Z Challenge, because we have several more we plan to share with you over the next week or so. They all of course star my angel Rosie, because she has become the focus of all of my doodles for the annual April A to Z Challenge.

Happy Sunday to all!

***

Tip of the Day:

Yesterday we discussed some of the potential symptoms of heartworm disease. Today's tip is a simple one grounded in a bit of common sense. And that is, if your kitty or pup is showing signs of potential heartworm disease, or if you have any concern regarding the disease for any reason, of course schedule an appointment for your furbaby to be seen by their veterinarian as soon as possible. Furthermore, this is the time to discuss heartworm testing with your veterinarian, and of course to ask questions as needed to understand the process.

That being said, keep in mind that there is a relatively simple heartworm blood test for dogs. It is recommended that this testing be done at least annually, or as needed. On the other hand, testing for heartworms is not as easily done in cats. We will discuss this a bit further tomorrow, but typical blood tests for heartworms do not always offer as definitive results in cats as they do in dogs. In cats, a heartworm antigen or heartworm antibody test can be done. Another option is to have imaging done, such as chest x-rays. Though not always simple or easy, as long as you and your veterinarian work together, it is possible to determine if your kitty has heartworms. So, if you have any concern whatsoever that your kitty, or your pup, might be at risk of heartworm disease, do not hesitate to schedule a vet visit for testing.

Kooky Caturday Art

We're of course participating in Athena's Caturday Art Blog Hop.

We'll give you a fair warning that today's doodle is especially weird and wacky. Is this anything new, though? Hopefully you friends of ours are used to our weird and wacky ways by now, or at least unsurprised by them.

Anyway. I'll give a brief explanation, or preface, or whatever you want to call it. I enjoy following all things cat online, but I also enjoy following all those book and all things fantastical in online groups. That being said, I'm part of a number of bookish groups online, and the other day one of them got me inspired to create this weird doodle I'm sharing today. The topics that came up in that online conversation involved witches, cupcakes, and none other than the famous Hello Kitty. All of those things tumbled around in my head and then landed in my sketchbook looking like this:

You know how witches in all sorts of stories are often given feline familiars? Well, wouldn't Hello Kitty make a fun and fantastic feline familiar? That's one of the thoughts that popped into my head the other day and really got me thinking about creating this doodle. The cupcake was just an added bonus. And now I want a cupcake.

I also thought this doodle was suitable for another reason. The other day I heard someone comment on how we're halfway to Halloween. At least, at the end of April we were. As a fan of Halloween, I thought this was something to celebrate. So, this witchy doodle can also serve that purpose.

We hope you all enjoyed our doodle today, even if it is all shades of kooky!

***

Tip of the Day

Our second repeat tip relating to heartworms is to know the potential symptoms. Since heartworms can affect the heart and lungs, early symptoms can often resemble those of asthma. Coughing and a lack of desire or an inability to exercise are commonly seen. Other potential signs of heartworm disease include decreased appetite, weight loss, and vomiting. The more severe the heartworm infection, and the longer it is present, the more pronounced the symptoms may be. Severe cases may also involve fluid buildup in the abdomen, as well as acute symptoms of pulmonary or cardiac failure, often due to heartworms causing a blockage. If you have any concerns that your cat or dog might have heartworms, seek veterinary care as soon as possible.

Friendly Fill-Ins

We've reached another Friday. What a feat. To celebrate, how about we have some fun with the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge? If you'd like to participate, we'll share the fill-in statements below. Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.


1. It is important to learn _________.

2. When I was _________, I was obsessed with _________.

3. I feel _________ about _________.

4. My lucky number is _________.


My answers are below in bold.

1. It is important to learn skills that interest you.
(I really debated what to put for this one. I hemmed and hawed and then finally figured, what's better to learn than what actually interests you? Obviously it's important to learn basic life skills and that sort of thing, but it's also important to learn skills and gain wisdom that truly grip your attention. Life is too short and precious to wish you knew something without actually learning it.)

2. When I was 5 years old, I was obsessed with Barney the purple dinosaur.
(Does anyone remember Barney? I haven't kept up with Barney over the years and so I don't even know if he's still relevant, but when I was growing up in the '90s, he was pretty darn popular. He's a singing and dancing dinosaur whose goal is more or less to make learning fun for kids. I had a Barney stuffed doll as a kid, as well as a Barney sleeping bag that has actually appeared on our blog before. This is because my ancient Barney sleeping bag has become a blanket for the furbabies around here to enjoy. Evan is probably the biggest fan of the Barney sleeping bag, as evidenced below.)

3. I feel excited about the current writing project I'm working on.
(I have always found joy in writing stories, as well as illustrating them. I've at least briefly mentioned my current writing project here on our blog in the past. Though it's still not completed and I haven't spoken about it much recently, I'm still working on this project and am eager to finish it. When I first started buckling down on this writing project a couple years ago, it started as what I thought was a short story, or a short children's book. I thought I would finish it in no more than a month. Then, though, my mind ran rampant with the ideas in the story and I soon found myself planning and writing a novel, which has since turned into an entire series of novels in my head. I'll be the first to admit that my lengthy writing projects are just as weird and wacky as some of the poems and doodles I share here on our blog. I guess that just is what it is. I'm pretty sure I've mentioned all this before, and now I'm just rambling. I have some doodles inspired by my stories in the works, which I'll of course share with you all here.)

4. My lucky number is 9.
(I like odd numbers, but 7 is such an overused lucky number that I've always refused to accept it as mine. As a kid, for whatever reason, I felt an affinity for the number 9. I think this was helped along by the fact that my angel Rosie and her angel brother Sammy were born on the first day of September, which is of course the ninth month of the year. So, 9 became my lucky number. I also really like the number 13, perhaps because I'm not a superstitious person.)

Now it's your turn!

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Last week, Eddy's bloopers co-starred a strange sort of someone. Remember this fella?

All of the furbabies here received new little goodies for Easter, and this little guy is what the Easter Bunny brought Eddy. For various reasons, this gnome of Eddy's has been named Chompsky. And Eddy very much likes her pal Chompsky. She loves slapping him this way and that way, she loves throwing him around the room, and she loves chewing on and tearing at him. She especially loves chewing on Chompsky's beard. Eddy even considers him enough of a friend to share her favorite treats with him (prepare for incoming bloopers).

The gnome has not yet expressed his opinion on his friendship with Eddy. Perhaps he will do so in the future, though. After all, this won't be the last you see of Chompsky.

Happy Friday, friends!

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Flashback Doodles of the Day

For the Caturday Art Blog Hop tomorrow we'll of course be sharing a new doodle (and a wacky one at that). For the other upcoming days over the next week or so, though, we'll be sharing flashback doodles. This is not only because I'm hoping for just a small break after creating a brand new doodle for every day in April, but it's also because I want to rehash some of the doodles from last year's April A to Z Challenge. For last year's alphabetical challenge we of course used angel Rosie as the star, but back then Rosie was taking you through an entire day of a busy girl like her.

So, let's start on these flashback doodles from last year. In honor of the fact that it's Friday and the weekend is just around the corner, we thought we'd share a couple of the doodles from last year's A to Z Challenge that showed certain steps of an average work day. Let's start with that drive to work.

After you arrive at work, you count the minutes until you can get back home, right?

And when that clock tells you it's time to leave the office, you run for the door.

And now you're ready for the weekend!

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Tip of the Day

We're admittedly doing some more repeat tips. April was Heartworm Awareness Month. Since each day last month we shared tips relating to our A to Z Challenge, we did not get the chance to share any heartworm prevention tips. So, in hopes that late is truly better than never, we'll now be sharing some heartworm tips. Many of these are repeat tips from multiple years in the past, but this is a significant topic that we don't mind repeating.

We'll start simple and remind you all that heartworms come from mosquitoes, and a dog or cat can become infected if they are bit by a mosquito carrying larvae. This can occur in either indoor or outdoor furbabies. For indoor animals, you can try to keep all windows and doors closed, in hopes to prevent mosquito entry into the house. However, they can enter through cracks, or simply when you open the door. What’s more, it is possible for mosquitoes to be out and about year round, even in the winter. For this reason, our first heartworm prevention tip is to simply ensure that you keep your dogs and cats on preventatives that include heartworm coverage, and that you do this year round.