Friendly Fill-Ins

Hello, friends! We're ready for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, and we'd love for you to join us. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two fill-in statements, and I came up with the second two.


1. A pleasant memory that I have from grade school is _________.

2. My plans this month include _________.

3. Please don't ask me to choose between _________ and _________.

4. In _________ years, I see myself _________.

My answers are below in bold, accompanied by their usual and unnecessarily long rambling.

1. A pleasant memory that I have from grade school is going to those wonderful book fairs.
(Remember those book fairs back in school, usually having a lot to do with Scholastic? And those little Scholastic book catalogues from which you could order books the old-school way? My school usually had these book fairs around the same time as parent-teacher conferences, and the students could hang out at the book fair while their parents talked to the teachers. Those book fairs always made my bookworm self so very happy. And my sister and I were always pretty quiet and considered well-behaved kids by our teachers, so as a reward our parents would let us pick out some books at the book fair. Those were the days.)

2. My plans this month include the same ol' same ol'.
(This month, I want to try to get more art done, write more, read more, put out better blog content, and overall try to get my life together. I feel like this is a repeat battle every month, but one of these times I'll win.)

3. Please don't ask me to choose between cats and dogs.
(I know a lot of you who visit our blog only share your homes with cats and probably just generally prefer the company of cats. I'm certainly not going to shame anyone for that, because I love cats. I've shared my life with cats since I was a small child, and I always will share my life with cats. That said, I personally have also shared most of my life with dogs and also love them very much. That's why, when I see polls asking if you prefer cats or dogs, I can never say one or the other. As an animal lover of all sorts, it makes me feel guilty to choose. If I'm being honest, if I really, truly could only choose to have one, I'd probably only have cats, in no small part because they're fare more independent. But that doesn't mean I don't love dogs and don't hope to always share my life with them as well as cats, so please just don't make me pick.)

4. In five years, I see myself having accomplished more of my creative endeavors.
(That's my goal and intention. I've worked in the field of science for over a decade now, and while I appreciate the experience, I'm pretty sure I've come to the conclusion that I'd really rather be using my creative skills in life. Between art, writing, and other such things, I have a lot of personal dreams and plans. I've been working on some of these creative endeavors for years now, such as all the writing projects I've been mentioning here on our blog for an eternity. I unintentionally pushed a bunch of those dreams and goals to the side when my full-time job started picking up a couple years and just never slowed down again, but I've officially decided that I'm going to make the transition to a more creative, preferably entrepreneurial lifestyle. My goals are lofty, but I'm willing and eager to try.)

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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Eddy is here to say hello to you all today. Sort of. She apologizes for the butt shot, but the window needed her attention.

Happy Friday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Today's simple autumnal tip is, when safe and reasonable, for you and your furbaby take outdoor advantage of the fall weather. During this season, we often don't see all those unbearably hot summer days or those frigid winter days. Therefore, while this cooler, crisp weather is here, perhaps use it to take special yet safe trips around the neighborhood, to the park, and so forth. Of course, this part of this tip only applies to those furbabies who are accustomed to going on walks or making other similar trips outside. So, if you have yourself a pup or a kitty who enjoys the outdoors, make the most of autumn, and use these months to take an extra walk or two, to make those walks a little longer than usual, or to simply enjoy extra moments of fresh air by sitting on the porch or in the yard together. Do be sure to take all precautions, though, and make sure your furbaby is safely on a leash, that he or she is wearing identification, that you only visit pet-friendly areas, and so forth.

We're not quite done yet, though. This next part of the tip relates to those furbabies who might not be outdoor or go on walks, but who might still benefit from the weather of autumn. We're referring to using the cool autumn months for vet visits or other trips indoor furbabies might need to take. In other words, when possible, you can schedule vet visits for the season of autumn, so as to avoid sweltering summer or frigid winter trips outdoors. Your furbaby still might not enjoy a date with their doctor, but at least in the autumn they likely wouldn't have to suffer extreme heat or cold during their outing.

Thankful Thimble Thursday

Hello, friends! We'll be sharing our weekly poem in the same post as our Friendly Fill-Ins challenge tomorrow. So, for today, let's get right to Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Thimble is of course here to express some gratitude, and today she is especially thankful for her adorable face. I am also grateful for her adorable face.

Though Thimble is halfway wearing her furrowed brow in that photo, be assured that she is as sweet as sugar and wants nothing more than some cuddles and a belly rub. I myself am so very thankful for Thimble and all of my furbabies. We're also thankful for all of you wonderful friends of ours.

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And now we have for you the fill-in statements for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. A pleasant memory that I have from grade school is _________.

2. My plans this month include _________.

3. Please don't ask me to choose between _________ and _________.

4. In _________ years, I see myself _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's flashback doodle is another wishful autumn one, starring none other than my angels Sammy and Rosie.

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Tip of the Day

Today's autumn pet safety tip is a repeat one all about those windows. After all, as the temperatures cool down this autumn, we might find ourselves craving some fresh air. Before opening any windows, though, be sure to inspect screens and take any and all precautions to ensure that no furbabies escape from any open windows. If you have an escape artist, perhaps block their direct access to windows, such as by putting something in front of the window that will prevent them from getting right next to the screen. Also never leave furbabies unattended with an open window, but instead monitor them closely when windows are open. Perhaps this all sounds like extreme measures, but a lost furbaby is a devastating thing, and it is always better to be safe than sorry.

That's not all we have on those windows, though. Also keep in mind the health of your furbabies, and yourself, when windows are open. Does your furbaby, or yourself, have asthma? What about allergies? If your kitty or pup has any such respiratory issues, open windows might not be an ideal thing. Allergens, dust, dirt, and all sorts of debris can enter through the window screen with the aid of the wind. This debris can lead to asthma attacks, itching, scratching, and other potential side effects in furbabies who do have asthma, allergies, or other similar medical issues. So, though open windows can be very enticing when the weather is cool and crisp, never forget to take into consideration all potential side effects.

A (Not So Morbid) Adventure with Astrid

Last week, pup Astrid shared a little adventure that ended up being a tad bit morbid. That was because she was showing you all a certain bridge that we sometimes go past on walks, and said bridge is sketchy enough that this here true crime addicted human thinks it looks like the kind of bridge a body might be found under. We almost didn't share that last week because it seemed a bit overly morbid, but then you wonderful friends of ours didn't even blink an eye. Many of you even agreed with us, for which we thank you for making us not feel alone in our morbid thoughts.

That all said, today Astrid wanted to share a less morbid bridge. This one is actually a bit quaint, at least when compared to the one we shared last week. So, here it is.

This bridge passes over the creek in our neighborhood in one of Astrid's favorite areas to walk, and so we cross it often.

We often see ducks down there in the creek, but this time none of our feathered friends were present. Maybe next time.

Astrid hopes you all enjoyed this far less morbid adventure! Happy Wednesday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's wishful thinking autumn flashback doodle is from many moons ago. It's one of the drawings that I hope to recreate in my more current style.

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Tip of the Day

Today's autumn pet safety tip is perhaps a bit random, but it's still in line with our autumnal series. And what is this tip? It's to keep in mind that we're in the middle of grape season. As most of you know, grapes are toxic to cats and dogs. We're sure some of you also know that, in the Northern Hemisphere, grape season typically ranges from August through October. This is something of which to especially be aware if you live in or near vineyard territory. If you live in such areas, do be sure to keep an eye on your kitties or pups during walks or other outdoor activities. As for those who don't live in grape country, and also for those who do live in grape country, be sure to never feed your furbabies grapes or raisins.

Toe Bean Tuesday

Hello and happy Tuesday, friends! Though Tonks was a bit too distracted bathing to pose for the camera, you at least get a shot of her toesies.

We hope you enjoyed seeing those toe beans!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's flashback doodle is one to simply express our eagerness for autumn. It seems so close, yet also so far away. 

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Tip of the Day

Today's autumn pet safety tip relates to those leaves, sticks, and other debris that ends up on the ground this time of year. Though they might seem harmless, it is possible for even simple fallen leaves to pose a variety of risks. If your pup or kitty is accustomed to chewing on or ingesting leaves, sticks, acorns, and other bits and pieces that frequently fall from trees during the autumn, for example, then medical issues could result. There is a chance that your cat or dog could end up with gastrointestinal distress if they eat leaves and the like. In worst case scenarios, ingestion of large amounts of leaves, sticks, or acorn material could lead to perforation or obstruction of the bowel.

Another similar risk might come from sharp leaf stems or sticks. If your furbaby is playing out in the yard where leaves are thick and obscure what's beneath, for example, then it is perhaps possible for them to sustain injuries to the eyes, legs, or other areas of the body. This might occur if a stick or leaf stem scrapes or pokes them while they are walking or playing in fallen leaves. In order to prevent injuries and other potential medical emergencies, you can try to keep on top of picking up leaves, sticks, and the like in your yard, so that dangers are less likely to lie in wait. It is also, of course, important to monitor your kitty or pup while they play in the yard or make their way on walks. This way, you can try to help them stay safe from injury from autumn debris on the ground. Of course, though, despite our best intentions, sometimes furbaby emergencies still do occur. If anything of the like occurs, do not hesitate to seek veterinary assistance.

Mancat Monday with the Blanket Thief

Hello and happy Monday, friends! We were MIA over the weekend, for the simple reason that we were working out some technical difficulties. We should be back up and running now, so here we are!

So, it's Mancat Monday. Today, resident mancat Evan is yet again showing you all how he loves to nap next to this mom of his.

That is indeed Evan snoozing on one of his blankets. And by "his" blanket, I mean he took the blanket I was using. One second I was snuggled up under it, and then suddenly it belonged to Evan instead. Story of my life.

How about a closer view of this handsome cutie? You're welcome in advance.

If you were curious, those photos were taken on roughly the first day of September or thereabouts, when I was watching a spooky movie, because 'tis the season.

Speaking of stolen blankets and spooky things, I'll go ahead and share today's doodle now. It's one I scribbled up after seeing an ad for a piece of ghostly Halloween decor sold at none other than Cracker Barrel.

The actual piece of decor sold in stores doesn't include the orange kitty. That part was inspired by Evan. And this isn't the first time I've shared a doodle like this. I've scribbled up and shared at least one Halloween doodle along this same vein in the past. Honestly, though, ghosts are often depicted as figures covered in sheets, and since cats are known blanket thieves, surely there's been a ghost or two hindered by this fact. It just makes sense. Well, at least in my head it does.

Happy Monday, friends!

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Tip of the Day

Today's autumn pet safety tip is about those mushrooms we often see growing all over the place this time of year. The honest truth is that the majority of mushrooms that we see growing outside don't pose a huge risk to our furbabies. However, a small population of them are a real danger. What's more, it's often difficult to distinguish between the different types of mushrooms, especially if you don't know all that much about these fungi. Therefore, especially if you aren't familiar with types of mushrooms and the level of risk they pose to your furbaby, do be sure to monitor your furbaby when they are in your yard, on a walk, or anywhere mushrooms are growing. Prevent your kitties and pups from gnawing on and ingesting any mushrooms, so as to ensure they are safe from any hazards certain mushrooms might pose.

Friendly Fill-Ins

Hello and welcome to yet another ridiculously late post, friends! I'm still having all sorts of quarrels with Blogger, as well as with the internet at not only my house but also at my workplace, and also now my laptop is informing me that it's rapidly reaching the end of its useful life. All that said, we're finally here, and things could be much worse in life, so we'll count our blessings and stop complaining.

Welcome to Friday! We're ready for the Friendly Fill-Ins, and we'd love for you to join us. My wonderful co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two fill-in statements, and I came up with the second two.


1. I am not always _________.

2. I refuse to eat _________.

3. I would happily accept a job offer at _________.

4. _________ is a job I could never do.

My answers are below in bold.

1. I am not always immune to retail therapy.

(I'm not generally someone who shops much or spends much money, unless it's on my furbabies. That said, I have my certain days where I find myself perusing sites like Etsy or the Target website, and adding things to my cart, and often checking out said items. As indicated above, my retail therapy mostly comes in the form of online shopping. For me, there is very rarely anything therapeutic about facing the crowds in a physical store.)

2. I refuse to eat gluten.
(This is simply due to an intolerance with side effects that are less than ideal. I'm also lactose intolerant, but for some reason gluten affects me way more than anything in the realm of dairy. Don't worry, though, because I still eat plenty of pasta and bread of the gluten free type. I could never give up my beloved carbs.)

3. I would happily accept a job offer at a company that would allow me to work from home.
(I think I've mentioned this before, perhaps even recently, but currently one of my biggest goals in life is to transition to a position that allows me to work from home. I started working as a pet-sitter and such in my neighborhood when I was 10 years old, and I've been working jobs outside of the home for the 23 years since then. I've officially reached a point in my life where, though I am more than willing and eager to work for my living, I would love to do so from home. I'm a homebody who really wants to stop leaving my furbabies home alone all day. Obviously there would be some stipulations, and of course I'd prefer to work from home doing something I love, but I'm also willing to work my way there. And I'll stop rambling now.)

4. High-rise window washing is a job I could never do.
(This is such a random answer, I know. That said, I recently saw a video of some window washers who specialized in going way up to the top stories of high-rise buildings and cleaning the exteriors of windows many, many, many feet above the ground. I've discovered in the past few years that I'm apparently afraid of heights. I'm usually okay if I'm inside a building, or if there's some sort of significant railing or other secure barrier, but being suspended by a harness to clean a crazy high window? That's a hard no from me. Kudos to those who can keep those insanely high windows squeaky clean without seeing their life flash before their eyes.)

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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We bet you're all ready for your Eddy fix. Right? Right? Well, lucky for you Eddy is indeed here today, but she's getting some beloved window whiffies and so simply can't look at the camera right now.

Eddy and all of us here are wishing you a fantastic Friday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Yesterday was the birthday of my angels Rosie and Sammy. We shared a couple of their flashback birthday doodles, but today we thought we'd share another doodle starring them, this one from either 2 or 3 years ago.

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Tip of the Day

Since we've reached September, we're all excited for autumn and are therefore doing a series of autumnal tips. Since autumn means the beginning of the new school year, yesterday we mentioned keeping school supplies out of your furbaby's reach. Today's tip also relates to those furbabies potentially affected by a new school year starting up. School starting up can mean a new routine, which can include a cat or dog suddenly being home alone more often, or for longer periods of time. For some furbabies, this type of change in their routine can lead to anxiety, which can in turn lead to destructive behavior, increased vocalization, and other behaviors that are out of their ordinary.

There are some potential ways you can help combat a cat or dog's separation anxiety, such as that which might result from the start of a new school year. First, you can try to introduce changes to your furbaby's routine slowly. If you are a teacher or have children with whom your cat or dog is used to playing, then leading up to the school year, transition your furbaby to being home alone by going out of the house more often slowly over time. In addition to this, you can set up interactive toys to help keep them busy when their humans are away. Of course, ensure that any such interactive toys are safe and will not cause any harm to an unattended furbaby. You can also try using diffusers with synthetic pheromones that can potentially help a cat or dog feel calmer. All of the above being said, in some cases, the safest thing might simply be to ensure that your cat or dog is kept secluded in a safe area where they cannot harm themselves, or the house. This might mean keeping them contained to a safe room or a crate of a sufficient size while you are away from home.

What's more, if your cat or dog does display signs of anxiety that do not relent, it is of course wise to discuss this with a veterinarian. First and foremost, it is important to ensure that there is not an underlying medical reason for anxiety in a cat or dog. Once medical issues are ruled out, anxiety in a cat or dog might require medication, which can help calm them or help balance out their mood and behaviors. Anxiety can lead to an unhappy and unhealthy furbaby, so if you notice any signs of anxiety in your cat or dog, do not hesitate to seek advice from a veterinarian, and to implement anti-anxiety techniques to help your furbaby feel happy and healthy.

A Rainbow Bridge Birthday Bash

It's technically Thimble Thursday, but the tabby girl is going to let some other kitties star today. Well, sort of.

Why, exactly, is Thimble announcing that it's party time? Because it's the heavenly birthday of my angels Rosie and Sammy! Some of you might very well remember Rosie, who was with me from the time I was 4 until I was 26. She was more or less the main star of our blog when we first started it all those years ago. Rosie's brother Sammy, sadly, only lived to 5 years of age due to undetected cardiac disease. But, like Rosie, he was still a huge part of my childhood and who I am today.

On the left of that ancient photo is my sister sitting with Rosie, and I'm on the right sitting with Sammy. If you're curious, the eye patch that childhood me was wearing was due to an eye condition called amblyopia. Rosie and Sammy never noticed the patch, and they loved unconditionally. They were also great reading buddies, and overall just wonderful furry friends for my sister and myself.

Happy heavenly birthday, my angels Rosie and Sammy!

That there was the birthday card I scribbled up for Rosie and Sammy two years ago. Both childhood and adult me always loved that their birthday was known to be September 1st. To me, September signifies the intro to autumn, which happens to be my favorite season. So, I always celebrated their birthday in very autumnal ways. I've also always enjoyed the autumnal holiday that is Halloween, which is probably why last year's birthday card for these two angels was just a tad bit more spooky. See?

Feel free to come on in and join the birthday bash, friends!

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We didn't forget to share the fill-in statements for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. I am not always _________.

2. I refuse to eat _________.

3. I would happily accept a job offer at _________.

4. _________ is a job I could never do.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Tip of the Day

I apologize to anyone who does not yet wish to unofficially begin autumn. For me, though, September 1st marks the day when I can really start celebrating my favorite season of the year. That's why, starting today, we'll be doing a series of tips on pet safety during the season of autumn.

Since the fall semester of school is starting up for students, that's what our autumnal tip for today relates to. If any students live in your home with your furbabies, be sure that care is taken to keep your kitties or pups safe from any rampant school supplies. Pens, pencils, erasers, glue sticks, tape, scissors, and any and all sorts of school supplies could potentially pose a risk if left where a furbaby can turn them into a toy or snack. Ingested erasers or other supplies, for example, can result in gastrointestinal upset or even perforated or obstructed bowels. Obviously, this is not ideal, and so school supplies should be tucked safely away, out of reach of cats and dogs. Keep this in mind throughout the school year as well. Backpacks, for example, might contain some of the aforementioned potentially dangerous school supplies, or even lunches or snacks that contain hazardous ingredients. Therefore, again, be sure to keep all such school items well out of reach of your furbaby. As always, it's better to be safe than sorry.