Friendly Fill-Ins and Festive Eddy

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. Some of my favorite Christmas songs are _________ and _________.

2. I like to watch _________ every year at Christmastime.

3. I would call this the most _________ time of the year.

4. If I were on Santa's naughty list, it would probably be because _________.

My answers are below in bold.

1. Some of my favorite Christmas songs are "Carol of the Bells" and "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas".

(I enjoy pretty much any and every rendition of "Carol of the Bells" that I hear. I've just always loved the tune, and I'm especially sold when it's played on cello or other strings. On perhaps the other end of the Christmas song spectrum, I also love "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas". It's just too cute and festive to not like it.)

2. I like to watch National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation on repeat every year at Christmastime.

(I've mentioned before, even very recently, how National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is my favorite Christmas movie. I don't know if I've admitted, though, that I watch this movie many, many times throughout the Christmas season. I often watch it on a daily basis, even if it's just playing on the TV while I get chores done. I find it the perfect mixture of festive and funny, as well as an accurate depiction of the absolute chaos that Christmastime can be.)

3. I would call this the most festively frantic time of the year.

(Every year, I try really hard to reduce stress and such during the Christmas season. After all, that's not the reason for the season. The problem, though, is that I just really enjoy Christmas and festive baking and sending cards and gifting to my family and all that jazz, and so juggling all of that usually leaves me feeling festively frantic.)

4. If I were on Santa's naughty list, it would probably be because my kitties told him I have yet to give them any squeeze-up treats.

(I've been meaning to purchase squeezable treats for my kitties for roughly an eternity. But then I forget and simply fail to do so. Mudpie would be so disappointed in me. But, part of my kitties' Christmas gifts are some squeeze-up treats, so they will finally get to try some.)

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 involves this little tabby girl giving you another little sneak peek of her beloved Christmas tree in my bedroom, that being the room in which Eddy prefers to live away from most of the other kitties in the house.

Do you see the little lights shining on the tree back there? And can you see that red ribbon at the top of the tree?

Eddy has a number of other photos starring her and her tree to share over the next couple of weeks. You'll soon be getting a glimpse of Eddy's rather abusive relationship with the poor red ribbon on that there Christmas tree.

Have a festive Friday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

We mentioned a certain squeezies-loving tortie named Mudpie in our Friendly Fill-In #4 above, and so here's a doodle she inspired a couple years ago.

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Tip of the Day

Did you know that poinsettias are not as deadly for your furbaby as is often believed? Of course that's not to say you should be feeding poinsettias to your furbabies as an afternoon snack, as they can indeed cause irritation of the mouth and stomach. But, poinsettias are in actuality not the most dangerous of Christmas decorations. It's festive plants such as mistletoe and holly of which you should be even more cautious. Mistletoe can cause issues such as vomiting, diarrhea, decreased heart rate, and difficulty breathing. Holly can also cause vomiting and diarrhea, and sometimes lethargy or even death. Needless to say, always be cognizant of what plants and other decorations are in your home. To be safe, it is likely best to simply keep your home free of Christmas plants.

Thankful Thimble Thursday: Trees, Trees, Trees

It's Thursday, and Thimble is of course ready for angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Today, the tabby girl is grateful for trees of all types.

Thimble loves her cat trees, she loves her Christmas trees, and she loves watching out the windows at the wildlife in the outdoor trees.

Thimble and all of us here are also grateful for you wonderful friends of ours!

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Now, 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. Some of my favorite Christmas songs are _________ and _________.

2. I like to watch _________ every year at Christmastime.

3. I would call this the most _________ time of the year.

4. If I were on Santa's naughty list, it would probably be because _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

We're going to backtrack a little bit and give one more Christmas tree safety tip, based on something that we do here at our house. If you want to have lights on your tree, but burns or electrocution are a concern with your furbaby around, or if you are concerned about electrical fires, then perhaps consider using battery-operated lights for your tree. Our tree seen in the images above is lit by battery-operated lights. These lights come with a remote control, with a timer option, making it easy to turn them on and off, all without the risks of electrical cords. Also, to save on the cost of batteries, I use rechargeable batteries.

That all being said, though, always base such decisions on your individual furbaby and his or her personal behaviors. The battery pack for the lights we use is very sturdy as well as well-hidden, and the kitties and pup at my house have never proven themselves chewers of such things. For this reason, my particular furbabies accessing the batteries is highly unlikely. Nevertheless, batteries can indeed be dangerous if chewed or consumed, so do keep this in mind when shopping around for anything that is battery-operated. But, if your furbaby is a cord chewer, or if you have any other concerns of the electrical nature, then perhaps look into battery-operated or other safe lighting options for your Christmas tree.

Woof Woof Wednesday: A Christmassy Collar

Our yard might be covered in leaves rather than snow, but pup Astrid is still a festive little lady.

Some of you might recognize that festive little something. It's a ribbon Astrid has worn on her collar for the past couple of Christmas seasons.

Astrid's beloved Gammy (this here human's mom) sews cute ribbons like this for Astrid's collar. I've mentioned the story behind this before, but I'll share a short version of it again. For Astrid's nearly 11 years of life, most strangers who meet her initially refer to her as a boy. After all, she's a big dog with perhaps not the most feminine look to her. So, years ago, Astrid's Gammy started making ribbons to put on the pup's collar. The hope was that it would help people realize Astrid is a little lady. In truth, she still usually gets called a "he" by most folk, but the ribbons are still adorable and Astrid happily shows them off.

Happy Wednesday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Continuing with our Christmas safety tips, today we're here to remind you to beware of ribbons. Ribbons can be dangerous in the same way that tinsel can. If ingested, ribbon can cause dangers such as obstruction or laceration of the gastrointestinal tract. This is why it is important to ensure that your furbaby does not have access to ribbon this holiday season. Avoid using ribbon when wrapping presents, or do not place presents with ribbon where your furbaby can reach them. Ribbon may seem like a fun and festive part of Christmas, but it can also mean dangerous situations for the furbabies in your life.

Touching Trees on Tonks Tuesday

This post's title might seem weird, but it sums up Tonks's relationship with Christmas trees. When it comes those green friends of hers, Tonks is all hands paws.

Tonks and all of us here wish you a happy Tuesday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Our last Christmas tree tip relates to real trees and how they might affect your furbaby. If you have a real tree, be cautious of letting your kitty or pup drink from any accessible water in the tree stand. It is possible that certain chemicals, such as fertilizers or even pesticides, are used in some tree lots. Some of these chemicals can then end up in the water that the tree is resting in, and this can potentially lead to toxic side effects for your furbaby. Another concern relates to stagnant water in the tree stand, which can harbor potentially harmful bacteria. In addition, be careful of pine needles falling from real trees, and even artificial trees, for that matter. These needles are pointy and sharp, and if consumed this can potentially lead to internal damage. So, keep that tree water covered or somehow out of reach, and keep those fallen pine needles cleaned up, so that your furbaby and the Christmas tree can live in harmony.

A Merry Mancat Monday

Want to see my favorite gift under the Christmas tree? Here it is!

My mancat Evan loves snoozing in his bed under the Christmas tree, and I love snapping photos of him doing so. The poor boy isn't always all that thrilled to have his naps interrupted, but he usually poses for a photo or two nonetheless.

I'm also one happy kitty mom because Evan had his annual exam and senior bloodwork last week, and everything came back looking great. He's on a number of medications for his urinary and intestinal issues, but we seem to have found a happy place with all of that. Obviously not everything is perfect every day, as Evan is hind limb paralyzed, has urinary incontinence, a past urethral blockage that resulted in other chronic urinary issues, bouts of constipation as well as diarrhea, and so on and so forth. But, with his meds and special care and routines, Evan is doing great. I could not be happier. 

Have a merry Monday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

A series of tips on Christmas tree safety simply would not be complete without a comment or two on tinsel. Long story short, please do not use tinsel if you have furbabies in your life. This stringy stuff can be quite tempting to kitties, for example, but can also be extremely dangerous. If consumed, it can cause problems such as gastrointestinal obstruction or laceration. Keeping that in mind, if your furbaby does swallow tinsel and you find some hanging from their mouth or even anus, do not pull on it, as this can cause even further internal damage. If you find yourself in a situation such as this, seek veterinary care as soon as possible. Again, though, to prevent such incidents, it is highly recommended that you simply do not use tinsel as part of your Christmas decorations.

Caturday Art: Hippo Hero

Today's doodle was scribbled up last year. Even so, it may or may not have inspired the Christmas card we're creating for this year. I'm hoping it's pretty obvious which Christmas song this is based on.

Happy Caturday, friends!

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Tip of the Day

Yesterday, we mentioned the importance of securing your Christmas tree against any furry climbers in the home. Today, we have another Christmas tree safety tip, this time regarding those light strands and ornaments. As you all certainly already know, always be careful of cords and the dangers they pose, such as if chewed on or if a furbaby becomes tangled in them. If your furbaby only seems interested in the lower branches of the tree, perhaps only place lights on the upper portion. Or, if necessary, do not use lights at all. If you do decorate your tree with lights, always unplug them if left unattended.

The same sort of rules can apply to ornaments, as needed. You can avoid placing them on the lower portion of the tree, or not use them altogether. If glass ornaments might become broken and cause potential injuries, consider using only plastic or fabric ones. Also consider the dangers of ornament hooks, or the choking hazards the ornaments themselves might pose. At our house, for these reasons, ornaments are not included on the tree but are instead hung from strands of garland that are attached to the wall, out of certain furbabies' reach. You don't have to throw your festive spirit out the door if you have adventurous and Christmas tree obsessed furbabies, you simply have to take necessary precautions.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Festive Eddy's Eyes

First and foremost, I'm sorry for yet another late post! November was one of the busiest months we've had at my workplace, and it really affected the time and energy I had for my hobbies, like blogging and drawing. I'm taking on far less tasks in December, though, and from here on out, to be honest. So, the Christmas posts should very soon be far more regular and all that festive jazz.

That said, I'm now taking one of my breaks at work to get this post actually published. Of course, 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. I feel like _________.

2. By the end of the year, I want to _________.

3. December is the month that I _________.

4. My house looks like _________ during the holiday season.

My answers are below in bold.

1. I feel like time is flying.

(Surely I'm not the only one?)

2. By the end of the year, I want to create a workable plan for 2024.
(I have a number of projects and endeavors I want to accomplish next year, some being creative projects I've been working on for many years. I really want 2024 to be the year for those poor, oft neglected goals of mine. Luckily, I'm someone who actually loves having a plan and loves having a routine, so I'm going to sit down throughout this month and create for myself at least a loose plan and schedule that could help me accomplish more of my goals in 2024.)

3. December is the month that I have mixed feelings about.
(I love Christmas. Let's put that out there right off the bat. Christmas is one of my all-time favorite times of the year. I also enjoy the beauty of winter, and as a kid it was my favorite season. In recent years, though, I realize that I've been struggling to enjoy winter like I used to. I think it just comes down to a mild circulatory disorder I developed about a decade ago. It's absolutely not a life-threatening disorder, but it makes my thermoregulation a bit wacky, and it affects me the most in the winter. So I love Christmas, and I like December overall, but I've also gotten to where I don't look forward to the coldest days, the times when I have to clean snow off of my driveway and car, and that sort of thing. But, Christmas is still amazing.)

4. My house looks like a festive mess during the holiday season.

(I do my best to keep a clean house, but I'm far from perfect. I do try to keep it clean in the hygienic sense, but my house is also absolutely lived in, and it looks it. After all, I live with 6 cats and an 80-lb dog, so I don't call all the shots. This time of year, add Christmas trees and all sorts of random holiday decor to the mix, and my house is a holly jolly land of chaos.)

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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Luckily for you, it's time for your Friday Eddy fix. Like Thimble did yesterday, today Eddy is giving you a little sneak peak of her Christmas tree. As for this human, I'm excited to yet again share how absolutely gorgeous Eddy's eyes are.

See the Christmas tree and its vague little lights behind Eddy and her cat tree? And, do you see those stunning aquamarine eyes?

And, of course, we can't forget that adorable snaggletooth. I love Eddy's little face so much.

Happy Friday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

We seem to be repeating old tips these days. 'Tis the season, apparently. That being said, over the next few days, we'll be repeating some Christmas safety tips that we've shared in the past. How about we start with that good ol' Christmas tree? To begin, if you put up a Christmas tree, make sure it is securely in place. This is especially important if you have a kitty or pup who enjoys climbing or otherwise giving the tree lots of attention. You can try putting the tree in a corner of a room, if that helps to keep it safe and upright against furbabies. Moreover, to be extra safe, you can find a way to anchor the tree to the floor, wall, or even a heavy, sturdy piece of furniture. There is also the option of weighing down the base of the tree, such as with weighted bags, as long as they are of a safe and secure sort. Another option, especially if your furbaby is overzealous in their love for the Christmas tree, is to block their access to it altogether, whether that be with baby gates, closed doors, or other means. Whatever it takes, if you put up a Christmas tree in a home with a tree-loving furbaby, do be sure to try and find a way to prevent a fallen tree and potential injuries.