Friendly Fill-Ins

Happy Friday! There are so many fantastic things about Fridays, one of them being the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. If you'd like to participate in today's fill-ins but missed the statements yesterday, we'll share them again below. Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. One word to describe my week is _________.

2. My biggest success has been _________.

3. Not to brag, but I _________.

4. For me, _________ is the meaning of life.

My answers are below in bold.

1. One word to describe my week is typical.

(I'm a homebody who thrives on routine. So, every week for me is pretty typical. If my week is not my typical routine, I'm probably really thrown off and not terribly pleased. I don't like surprises, I'm not one for spontaneity, and you get the idea. Call me boring, but I like having my routine, typical life.)

2. My biggest success has been providing for my furry family.

(Ever since I was a little girl, I always wanted my own home with my own little family of furbabies. That's the kind of lifelong goals childhood me strove to achieve. And so, when I reached adulthood, got a full-time job, bought my house, and realized I was indeed providing what I hope is a good life for my kitties and pup, I felt a major sense of achievement. This is the kind of life and family I've always wanted, and realizing that I have been able to achieve it makes me feel grateful and admittedly proud. There are still a great many more goals and dreams I have in life, but being able to provide the best life I can for my furry family tops any list I could make.)

3. Not to brag, but I can eat an entire box of cereal in one sitting.

(I've always had a big appetite. Especially on days when I'm really active, I can knock back a lot of food. An entire box of cereal is one such example. I'm not promoting this as advisable, mind you.)

4. For me, embracing the interests and talents with which I was born is the meaning of life.

(I feel like there's a reason why I was born with a love for animals, with a love for drawing, with a love for writing, with a love for reading, and so on and so forth. I have a passion for all of the things I just mentioned, and so to me, the meaning of life is to do what I can to use those passions for some semblance of good. From caring for animals in need to creating art or writing that might bring even one person joy, I feel like those are the endeavors that bring meaning to my life, and a meaning to the interests and talents with which I was born. There's a good chance none of that made sense, but hopefully you get some idea of what I mean.)

Now it's your turn!

To add your link to the Friendly Fill-Ins Linky list, just click HERE!

You can also click on the badge below to add your link.

You are also welcome to complete the fill-ins in the comments below,

or in the comments on Ellen's blog, 15andmeowing.

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Ready for your Eddy fix? This tabby girl has been enjoying some window whiffies again. See?

Eddy and all of us here hope your Friday is filled with sunshine and maybe a window whiffy or two!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

This time last year, I was getting eager to draw Halloween drawings. The same goes for this year. Last year, to itch that scratch, I drew a short series of doodles that were not blatantly Halloweenish but that had a certain sort of macabre feel to them. One of those doodles was distinctly inspired by Edgar Allan Poe, and that's the flashback we're sharing today. Oh, and this flashback doodle is also a huge hint at the new series of doodles we'll be sharing on our blog starting tomorrow.

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Did you know?

In line with today's flashback doodle, we're sharing a repeat bit of trivia that we shared right around this time last you. So, did you know that Edgar Allan Poe had a beloved cat named Catterina? We're thinking some of you do know this, especially since not only have we mentioned it before, but a certain famous tortie named Mudpie has also mentioned Catterina before on her and her human's blog, Melissa's Mochas, Mysteries, & Meows. Some have said that Poe's Catterina was a black cat, but it is now commonly believed she was a tortoiseshell cat. Either way, Catterina is believed to have played a significant role in the lives of both Poe and his wife, Virginia. It is said that Catterina often kept Poe company when he wrote, and that she kept Virginia company during her battle with tuberculosis.

Thoroughly Poetic Thankful Thimble Thursday

It's Thursday, and we're ready to rhyme. After all, Angel Sammy is courteous enough to host the Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge each week.

As always, our host shared a photo prompt to guide our poetic endeavors. This week's prompt is this lovely image here:

Truth be told, the first thing that came to my mind when I saw this image was a hunting scene or two from the show Downton Abbey. That then made me think of a parody I've seen mentioned more than once regarding that show's title, and that pun is Downton Tabby. I decided to go with that concept, and this was the silly result:

Downton Tabby

Evelyn would be joining the hunt.

Fresh air and a little competition she did want.

The event was being held at Downton this year,

Which happened to be Evelyn's home that she held quite dear.

Men and women arrived from lands all over,

Along with their faithful steeds and hunting dogs with names like Rover.

Evelyn greeted each and every one as they arrived,

Smiling, waving, and offering a polite, "Hi!"

Horses and dogs all around were ready to set off and run,

Which is perhaps what made Evelyn's hunting companion stick out like a sore thumb.

"Is that a cat?" one of the other hunters did ask.

Evelyn nodded as she gave her snoozing feline a pat.

Another hunter asked, "How are you supposed to hunt with a cat?"

"The same way you hunt with a dog," Evelyn said. "It's as simple as that."

All those nearby stared, smirked, and some even chuckled.

Evelyn smiled, gave her cat another pat, and under pressure did not buckle.

Before long, the hunt was about to begin.

The one to bring back the most hunting finds would win.

A countdown began after everyone took their place.

And just like that, the hunt was on like a race.

As all the other horseback hunters rode off with their dogs,

Evelyn placed a hand on her hunting companion's fur so soft.

She said, "Wake up, Champ, it's time to hunt."

The orange tabby cat yawned, stretched, and then he did run.

"Yeehaw, Reggie! Giddyup!" Evelyn said to her horse.

Evelyn tightened her grip on the reins and Reggie set off on his course.

Champ the orange tabby took the lead,

Followed closely by Reggie the white steed.

This way and that Champ zipped and zoomed.

It seemed like every second he was spotting more loot.

Soon enough, Evelyn's satchels were filled to the brim.

She simply could fit no more, lose or win.

Nevertheless, Champ still managed to find more and more on his hunt.

Evelyn started piling the trophies on her dress, both the back and the front.

Finally, Evelyn said, "Come now, Champ, let's head back home.

You've done a mighty fine job, and I simply can carry no more."

With that, Champ jumped onto Reggie's back,

Where he settled in for a post-hunting nap.

Evelyn balanced in the saddle on the way back to Downton.

Her hunting loot wobbled, but she miraculously managed to drop not one.

The hunting event's judges greeted Evelyn with bugged-out eyes.

They said, "Look at all these. Whoa. My goodness. Oh my!"

Evelyn was the first hunter to return to Downton,

And so she, Champ, and Reggie took the time to relax in the sun.

One by one, the other hunters returned from the woods.

Downton was now bustling with men and women boasting about their goods.

The judges tallied each hunter's loot.

When it came time for the announcement, there were hollers and hoots.

A judge wearing a top hat and tie called out,

"Silence, please, so that my poor voice need not shout.

You all performed quite well in this year's Mushroom Hunting Extravaganza,

But one of you brought in mold and fungus that was both numerous and handsome."

There was much murmuring in the air.

The judge continued, "Should we announce the winner? Should we dare?

Right, yes, let's do just that.

The winner is Evelyn of Downton, and her, um, cat!"

From the crowd there were groans and gasps,

As well as quite a few laughs and claps.

The hunter nearest Evelyn said, "I thought a cat's hunting skills were a bit lacking.

I guess I've been proven wrong by your Downton tabby."

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Thursday is a great day to give thanks, especially thanks to Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

As always, Thimble is here to express her gratitude. Do you know what Thimble is thankful for today?

Thimble is grateful for sunshine, green grass, and her adorably large ears. Thimble and all of us here are also thankful for this wonderful blogging community and all of you in it.

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Last but not least, we have the fill-in statements for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. Ellen of 15andmeowing crafted up the first two and I came up with the second two.

1. One word to describe my week is _________.

2. My biggest success has been _________.

3. Not to brag, but I _________.

4. For me, _________ is the meaning of life.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Did you know?

Did you know that some dogs have been bred to hunt mushrooms? The Italian dog breed called the Lagotto Romagnolo has historically been bred and trained to hunt truffles, which are actually not true mushrooms since they grow underground. Regardless, there are dogs that have been bred to hunt truffles, morels, and other mushrooms. In theory, any variety of dog, or even other animals, could potentially be trained to recognize and find the scent of certain mushrooms, and some dogs and other animals have indeed been trained to do so. Talk about taking mushroom hunting to the extreme.

Woof Woof Wednesday

Pup Astrid loves pouting gazing out the front window. After all, that allows her to snoopervise the neighbors. Sometimes, though, Astrid falls asleep on the job.

Well, a girl's gotta get her beauty rest when she can. 

Happy Wednesday to all!

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Doodle of the Day

Is it hot and humid in your corner of the world? Is the summer making you melt into a puddle? If so, grab yourself a refreshing glass of lemonade. 

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Did you know?

Over the past couple of days, we've talked about what you call intact male and female cats versus neutered or spayed ones. Now, speaking of spaying, did you know that the technical term for the spay surgery of a female cat or dog is an ovariohysterectomy? Broken down into its origin words, an ovariohysterectomy surgery simply means that both the ovaries and the uterus are removed, which is exactly what happens during a spay. If just the uterus is removed, it's called a hysterectomy. If just the ovaries are removed, or even if just one ovary is removed, it's called an ovariectomy. In cats and dogs, though, a true spay is most often a full ovariohysterectomy.

Tabby Tuesday

Orange tabby boy Evan loves boxes. After all, he is a cat. The other day, I tried to get a shot of Evan doing his best to fit him and his little paralyzed back legs in a box that may or may not be too small for such a purpose. When I aimed the camera at him, though, Evan got excited and I ended up with action shots bordering on bloopers. See?

Evan wishes you a terrific Tuesday filled with boxes!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Like yesterday, today we're sharing a flashback doodle inspired by the fun hobbies of reading and writing. Of course, there's always a kitty there to help with both of those pastimes.

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Did you know?

Yesterday we discussed why intact male cats are called toms, or tomcats. In response to that, our friends over at Eastside Cats commented that they wonder what a neutered male cat is called. And that comment inspired our bit of trivia for today. So, what's a neutered male cat called? The answer is a gib. A neutered male cat is called a gib. And while intact female cats are called queens, what about spayed female cats? The answer to that one is that a spayed female cat is called a molly.

Mancat Monday

Today's post is up late not because I forgot to schedule it, but because I've been trying to out-stubborn Blogger. I did not win. Sometimes Blogger does not cooperate when I'm trying to share images in a post. It mainly started doing this when I switched to the new version. I've been noticing a somewhat constant stream of updates and changes to the new version of Blogger, though, so I'm hoping this image issue is just as kink in the system that will get worked out soon. After all, a couple of other issues I was having with the new version of Blogger a few weeks ago have sorted themselves out.

Luckily, I already had a couple photos for Mancat Monday in a draft of this post from a couple of days ago, so Mancat Monday is still on. The issue is that I have a new doodle to share with you all, but Blogger is refusing to let me share it for the time being. I've even tried plain and simply copying and pasting my doodle into the post, but there are various errors I'm getting from those attempts. For whatever reason, though, Blogger is allowing me to access my archive of images that I've previously shared on our blog. So, I am at least able to share a flashback doodle. I don't know why it's letting me share archived blog photos but not new ones, but so be it, Blogger. I'll let you win this one, but I will win the next one.

Is anyone else having issues with images on Blogger? These issues are not consistent for me, but they have happened at least a couple of times since I've started using the new version of Blogger. I'm hoping that, like a few of the other kinks I noticed in the past, this gets updated and resolved soon.

Okay, I'll stop rambling and let you all have a dose of mancat. Today's main mancat is Toby.

Toby found himself a nice sun puddle. Soon enough, though, a blurry mancat named Evan wanted to join in.

I always tell Evan that he blends into the hardwood in our house too much. He does not care. In fact, he seems to enjoy using it as camouflage.

Happy Monday to all!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

As I mentioned above, you're supposed to be getting a brand new doodle today. It even involves the summery, refreshing drink that is lemonade. But, Blogger has informed me that today is not a day to share new images. I will be trying to figure out how I can make these image issues stop, because I don't like Blogger telling me what to do. For now, though, here's a flashback doodle from last year. I've been doing a lot of reading and writing lately, so this flashback here seemed fitting.

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Did you know?

Did you that male cats, especially intact ones, are believed to be called tomcats in large part because of an anonymous book called The Life and Adventures of a Cat? This book, said to have been published in 1760, was about a male cat named Tom. As the title suggests, this cat named Tom is all sorts of adventurous, and after this book became popular male cats regularly began being referred to as toms, or tomcats.

Sleepy Sunday Selfie

Evan wanted to star in a selfie today. Unfortunately, this here human was too slow to prepare the camera and Evan dozed off before a waking selfie could be snapped. So, you get a sleepy selfie today.

Happy Sunday, friends!

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Doodle of the Day

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Did you know?

Do you know why a cat sometimes covers their face with their paw when sleeping? There are a variety of potential reasons for this. One reason why a cat might cover their face while sleeping is simply because of comfort. Paw and arm placement can indeed play a part in how comfortably a cat snoozes, and wrapping a paw around their face might be a way to find this comfort. A cat might also wrap their paw as well as their tail around their face when sleeping as a means of staying warm. Most specifically, this is how a kitty keeps that nose warm when sleeping. Perhaps opposite of staying warm, a cat might also cover their face with their paw in order to block out the sun. This is useful for cats in the wild, as well as those who are simply sleeping in a window at home. And yet another reason a cat might wrap their paw around their face is simply for a sense of security.

Caturday Art

Sorry this post is going up so late. I apparently yet again forgot to schedule our post, and I only just now realized.

Earlier this week we shared a doodle that was the exterior of a Victorian style house I had envisioned in my mind. Another day this week we shared a doodle that was what I pictured to be that home's kitchen. Now, today, we have for you that Victorian home's living room, or parlor. Don't worry, there's a cozy kitty in there.

Happy Caturday to all!

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Tip of the Day

Today's tip is about none other than newspapers. If you are still subscribed to and receive a physical newspaper, perhaps check in with your local animal shelters and rescues and ask if they are in need of any. Many shelters still use newspapers as an easily donated and easily disposable lining for cages, and for this reason donations of newspapers are often appreciated by shelters and rescues. You can check the shelter or rescue website or their social media, or you can call or otherwise message them, to see if they have a list of items they need. Newspapers won't be the only item on that list, as many shelters also need items such as towels and blankets, pet bowls, carriers, paper towels, various cleaning agents, food, litter, and so on and so forth. So, whether it be newspapers or other items a shelter or rescue expresses a need for, perhaps consider donating requested items that you have and that are in good condition but that you no longer need. If it fits into your budget, you can also make a trip to the store and get even a basic supply or two that a shelter or rescue could use, as anything truly counts. As much as we love animals, we might sometimes forget just how much a donation of even basic supplies can mean to the workers and animals at a shelter or rescue.