Musical Caturday Art

Hello, friends! Cutting right to today's chase, our contribution to Athena's Caturday Art Blog Hop stars of course a kitty, but also some tunes.

I haven't used a cassette player since I was a kid, but it sure looked a lot more aesthetic than modern musical devices. So, there you have it.

Happy Caturday!

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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.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Christmas in...September?

Hello and happy Friday, 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. _________ your _________.

2. My plans for September include _________ and _________.

3. _________ has made my life easier.

4. _________ really complicates things.

My answers are below in bold. This week, I managed to keep my explanations and general rambling to a shocking minimum.

1. Don't ever be ashamed of loving the strange things that make your weird little heart happy.
(I saw this quote online recently, and I just really liked it.)

2. My plans for September include being creative and Christmas shopping.

(I have a lot of personal plans for September, though two of the biggest are doing a lot of drawing and writing, and other other creative endeavors, and getting a good start on Christmas shopping.)

3. My furry family has made my life easier.

(This one is pretty self-explanatory.)

4. Poor customer service really complicates things.

(I think this one is also pretty self-explanatory, no?)

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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Your Eddy fix for today comes in the form of this little lady spending time with her beloved trees. Those being her well-loved and slightly abused cat tree, and her year round Christmas tree.

Eddy heard that this here mom of hers plans to put a couple of minimal Halloween decorations on the Christmas tree soon. This little tabby is already planning how to remove them.

Have a fantastic Friday, friends!

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Doodle of the Day

Today's doodle was scribbled up way back in July. After all, it was meant to be our Christmas in July doodle, but I fell short on that. It stars Eddy in her beloved Christmas tree, so it fits today's post pretty well, even if it is seasonally confused.

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Tip of the Day

Today's autumn pet safety tip is 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.

Thoroughly Poetic Thankful Thimble Thursday

We are finally, after roughly an eternity, participating in Angel Sammy's Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge yet again.

This week's photo prompt is this absolutely adorable one here:

I am a big fan of panda bears. They're one of my all-time favorite animals. That said, I took some major liberties with this one. Since I always like to pair my poems not only with the prompts, but also with an illustration of my own, I looked through my doodles I have finished but haven't shared yet. I found one I drew on July 4th but just never shared, and it happens to star a panda. See?

So, using the photo prompt as well as that there doodle, I wrote this silly little poem:

Red, White, and Blue

Something here doesn't look quite right,
Though that's not to say it's a sickening sight.
I simply thought panda bears were black and white in hue,
But this one here is red, white, and blue.

Around my house are all sorts of weird things,
And that is absolutely the fault of my very own human being.
She brings home wacky goods all the time,
Such as this very patriotic panda at my side.

Don't you worry, though, little bear,
Because this regal orange tabby will give you attention and care.
We'll snuggle during nap time, that's what we'll do.
Oh, and my sincerest apologies if my majestic claws stab you.

***

And now it's time for Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Today, Thimble is grateful that she's cute even when she has to give her human of a mom an eye roll.

And Thimble gives a pretty cute side-eye as well.

Thimble hopes seeing her adorableness helped brighten your day!

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Last but not least, let's 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. _________ your _________.

2. My plans for September include _________ and _________.

3. _________ has made my life easier.

4. _________ really complicates things.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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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 peaks 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.

Woof Woof Wednesday: Old Injuries and Metal Knees

It was last September when pup Astrid tore her CCL (known as the ACL in humans) in her hind right leg. While she awaited surgery, she simply didn't use that leg. See in this photo from last September how Astrid was lifting her back right leg?

Fast forward a year, and pup Astrid is happily back on her walks. She has been since soon after her surgery, actually. Her back right knee is now made of metal, but she doesn't mind one bit.

I remember the relief I felt the first time Astrid put her leg down and used it after her surgery last year. That actually occurred within a matter of hours of us bringing her home. She didn't use it consistently or fully for weeks, but her using it at all was a huge difference. Nowadays, pup Astrid is back to walking and running like her happy and hyperactive self. For a 10-year-old dog who's lost a toe to cancer and has a metal knee, she's something else.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

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Doodle of the Day

Perhaps today's doodle speaks for itself.

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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 bowels.

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.

Tonks Tuesday: Naptime

It's Tonks Tuesday, but little calico Tonks is a bit busy. What's keeping her busy? Naptime.

That's little Tonks after nearly an hour of playing fetch with this here human of hers.

Tonks loves those cat toys that are small foam soccer balls. She loves chasing them, and sometimes she'll bring them back to me like a true game of fetch. Often, though, I have to retrieve them myself so that she can continue her favorite game of chasing toys soaring through the air.

Tonks's favorite time to play fetch is when I'm doing a workout. I do home workouts, simply in the form of weightlifting with dumbbells or doing some basic kickboxing. For some reason, me doing any of that became Tonks's hint to start bringing me her little foam soccer balls. So, my workouts almost always involve me constantly throwing cat toys. I honestly don't hate it. It makes Tonks so happy.

All that said, after a nice long game of fetch, the above photos are what you'll see of Tonks. She's a very, very active girl for a couple hours of the day. The rest of the day, she's a snoozing cutie.

Happy Tuesday, friends!

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Doodle of the Day

Today's doodle relates to our post above. What's more, this drawing was actually started way back in April, when for the A to Z Challenge I did the theme "These Are a Few of My Favorite Things". I started scribbling this up for K, for it to stand for kickboxing, but just never finished it and went with another drawing instead. So, this poor forgotten doodle is finally seeing the light of day.

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Tip of the Day

Today's autumn pet safety tip is about none other than snakes. Depending on your location and the types of snakes, it might be baby snake season, or it might be the time when snakes are prepping for hibernation. In such cases, more snakes might very well be out and about and therefore pose a risk to furbabies and humans alike. Of course, not all snakes are dangerous. However, some snakes could indeed pose a risk or could be venomous. The types of snakes that are around of course depend on the area in which you live. So, it might be wise to a bit of research on the types of snakes in your area, and to also research which ones are dangerous to animals and humans. All in all, though, if in doubt, monitor your furbaby when they are outside to ensure that they don't run into any snaky danger. If you do see a snake, remove your kitty or pup from the area, especially if you know the snake is dangerous, but also if you are unsure of the risks it might pose. If your cat or dog is bit by a snake, do not hesitate to seek veterinary care to help ensure that no toxic reaction or infection results.

Mancat Monday: A Lazy Labor Day

Hello and happy Monday, friends! Today is Labor Day, an American holiday that more or less celebrates the work force. So, I get to stay home today with my kitties and pup. I certainly won't complain about that. And neither will my little orange shadow.

With that adorable face snoozing beside me, today I'll be having a lazy sort of day. That means I'll be happily working on some drawings. I also hope to get some writing and blogging done, and some reading. That's actually a decent enough segue to today's doodle. It's a brand new one, which means I scribbled it up weeks ago but only just this weekend got around to scanning and uploading it, along with many other drawings that have been sitting in limbo in my journal.

Anyway, here's today's doodle. 

You'll be seeing lots of new doodles from now on, because I've finally found my muse again and have really been cranking them out. And, as I mentioned above, I actually got them scanned and uploaded this weekend. Finally. I'm already starting on autumn and Halloween doodles, because I simply have to. That said, I have a hefty chunk of drawings still to share that have little to nothing to do with autumn or Halloween. Well, some of them are sort of spooky summer doodles, so I guess that's not true for all of them.

Rambling aside, to all of our friends in the United States, have a restful Labor Day! To our friends outside of the U.S., have a magnificent Monday!

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Tip of the Day

Today's autumn pet safety tip is about those mushrooms we often seeing 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 can pose 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.

A Birthday Bash and Friendly Fill-Ins

I'm going to kick this post off with something special. And that is...

Happy Birthday, my angels Sammy and Rosie!

I will forever be grateful for every second of time I had with my sweet childhood kitties. Sadly, Sammy passed away from an undetected heart condition at the age of 5, when I was 9 years old. Rosie, however, lived to 21 years old. She was with me from the time I was 4 until I was 26. These two dear kitties were and always will be some of the greatest friends and companions I'll ever know in my life.

So, again, Happy Heavenly Birthday, Sammy and Rosie! I hope you're celebrating your amazing lives up there just as much as I'm celebrating you down here. You will never be forgotten, my sweet angels.

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And now we're ready for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. 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 non-monetary prize I would like to win is _________.

2. If I won tickets to _________, I would give them away.

3. I think that those who _________ should _________.

4. When it comes to telling stories, I _________.

My answers are below in bold.

1. A non-monetary prize I would like to win is pretty much any pet supplies.

(I'd be happy winning my kitties' or pup's food, treats, medications, or really anything they use regularly. I'd even be happy winning toys or other fun goodies for them. Anything that makes their life great would be a win to me.)

2. If I won tickets to any big event, I would give them away.

(I'm not a huge fan of big, loud, rambunctious events. It's just not my kind of thing. I've been to a couple of concerts in my life, and while I enjoyed them for the music, they were also a bit too loud and rowdy at times for me. I'm more than fine enjoying my entertainment in quieter settings, like my house. Call me boring, because that's exactly what I am.)

3. I think that those who abuse animals should face significant punishment.

(I typed out a more elaborate explanation, but I have trouble remaining kind when speaking about animal abusers. So, I'll leave further detail to the imagination.)

4. When it comes to telling stories, I am better with written words than spoken words.
(I have some family members who stand in front of a crowd and tell a tale like they're on a stage giving a talented performance. I absolutely cannot do that. My conversational skills, and sometimes just my verbal communication skills in general, are nothing to write home about. That said, while I still have a ton of room for improvement, I do enjoy and think I'm somewhat decent at stories I can physically write.)

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.

***

Who's ready for their Eddy fix? You are? Well, lucky for you, we've got just what you need.

Eddy was only slightly annoyed by the fogginess of the window. It's been so humid here lately, that most mornings the windows are just covered in fog and water. The kitties don't really appreciate the barrier that provides to their snoopervising skills, but they make do.

Happy Friday, 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 the 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. What do we always say? It's better to be safe than sorry.