Friendly Fill-Ins and Adorable Eddy

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. I write with my _________ hand.

2. My plans for the month of May include _________ and _________.

3. I wonder if anyone else _________.

4. _________ is what I like most about _________.


My answers are below in bold.

1. I write with my right hand.
(I've admittedly always wanted to be left-handed. I am left-eyed and do certain things left-handed, but my parents have told me that as a kid I seemed to watch and mimic my older sister's way of writing, and she's right-handed. Maybe I would have been right-handed anyway, but I still often wish I was left-handed. Then again, that would probably change my style of drawing, and maybe I wouldn't like that.)

2. My plans for the month of May include cleaning my kitchen cabinets and organizing Evan's medication station.
(As always, there are lots of things I'd like to get done this month, including various home and yard projects as well as my usual drawing and writing goals. That said, two things I've been telling myself I really need to get done are cleaning and organizing my terrifying kitchen cabinets, and re-organizing Evan's medications. I used to have Evan's meds really well situated in their little station on the counter, but a couple of meds and other supplies have been added, and so now it's a mess and in need of help.)

3. I wonder if anyone else makes up and sings nonsensical songs to their kitties.
(Let's be honest, I know other people indeed do this. I'm certain a lot of you fellow cat lovers do this with your own kitties. I certainly do it with my kitties as well as my pup.)

4. Getting to spend the whole day with my furry babies is what I like most about weekends.
(I've mentioned many times before how I'm a homebody. And since I currently work full-time outside of the home during the week, I love weekends. Even if I have errands or chores here and there, I still love that I'm mostly home and can spend hours at a time with my kitties and pup on weekends. I love being home with them so much.)

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 wanted to share a couple more photos from one of her most recent photo shoots. She's shared a couple shots of her belly and other cuteness from this series of photos, but how about a couple of closeups of her adorable face?

Just look at that cute little snaggletooth!

I snapped that one night when there was no natural light to be seen, but Eddy's aquamarine eyes are gorgeous no matter the lighting.

Happy Friday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

I hope to do a lot of writing in my current weird and wacky work-in-progress this weekend, as well as finally finish my last A to Z doodle related to said story, and this flashback doodle starring my angel Rosie seems apt enough for that.

That was actually from my "Halfway to Halloween" April A to Z Challenge from a few years ago. With no other ideas for the letter Q, I'd chosen quill, and that there doodles was the result.

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Tip of the Day

Yesterday's spring safety tip was about taking precautions around potentially dangerous products during any spring cleaning you might be doing. In addition to spring cleaning, home renovations and other similar projects are often tackled this time of year. If you are planning any home renovations during the spring months, or any time of the year, keep in mind that some paints, varnishes, and other such products can indeed be toxic to our furbabies if ingested. The fumes of such products can also of course pose risks. Renovations and the like might also mean the arrival of bits and bobs such as nails and screws, which of course can be dangerous if ingested or if stepped on by furbaby paws. There are any number of dangerous items that might be involved in home renovations or other such projects, so always keep this in mind with regard to your furbaby. Block their access to dangerous areas, and keep all dangerous items tucked out of reach when not in use.

Thankful Thimble Thursday with the Selfie Pro

Hello and happy Thursday, friends! Thimble is of course ready for Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Today, Thimble is grateful that she's a professional photographer, especially when it comes to selfies. See?

I've mentioned this before, but Thimble is an absolute ham for the camera. I have so many photos of her grabbing for my phone/camera, rubbing her face against it, and all that adorableness. She loves attention, and I'm more than fine with that. Thimble deserves all the attention she wants.

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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. I write with my _________ hand.

2. My plans for the month of May include _________ and _________.

3. I wonder if anyone else _________.

4. _________ is what I like most about _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today we have a flashback doodle starring Thimble in a tiara and necklace. I scribbled this up last year, after reading my newest favorite book series. In that series, a talking kitty wears a tiara and necklace, among other accessories, and I decided Thimble needed that sort of thing in her life.

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Tip of the Day

Today's spring safety tip is all about that spring cleaning. In our series for Pet Poison Prevention Month, we gave some tips on household items that can potentially be toxic to our furbabies, such as if ingested. Some of these dangerous products are, of course, household cleaners. Various detergents, for example, can be very caustic or can contain toxins. This is why, if you are planning on doing some spring cleaning around your home, always think ahead and take your furbaby's health and safety into consideration.

As needed, block your kitty or pup from the rooms you are cleaning, such as with closed doors or baby gates. What's more, when cleaning products are not in use, store them safely out of reach, where curious paws cannot reach them. It is true that some household cleaners are dangerous while others are not, but if you are in any way unsure of a product's safety, err on the side of caution, assume it is dangerous, and keep it away from those furbabies.

Happy Birthday, Eddy!

As the title says...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EDDY!

My sweet and sassy, active and playful, ornery girl Eddy turns 10 years old today. I can't believe she's reached the double digits now.

Eddy loves me, something for which I am eternally grateful. She's otherwise very skittish and doesn't like any other humans, though, and so family and friends only get to know her through photos and videos. This girl has a big personality and lots of sass and many volumes of adorably bossy meows, so I wish she'd let others get to know her and her amazing self. That said, I'm happy to be this spunky little lady's favorite human being, and I love her so much.

Happy Birthday, Eddy! I love you so much, and I hope your day is absolutely perfect!

I didn't get Eddy's new birthday doodle completely finished yet, so for now she gets a flashback doodle in celebration.

Let's say it one more time...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EDDY!

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Tip of the Day

 

Are you ready for another spring safety tip for your furbabies? As certain insects and buggers start to make an appearance this time of year, be cautious of those that could be harmful. For example, just as with humans, bee stings can lead to allergic reactions in cats and dogs. These reactions can include mild swelling at the site of the sting, or a full anaphylactic reaction, such as with difficulty breathing. For this reason, always try to keep your furbaby away from bees and other similarly dangerous critters. Keep your furbaby out of gardens where bees and other such critters might frequent, and don't leave your kitty or pup unattended in an area known for its bees and so forth.

We'll also now remind you of some other critters that we not too long ago mentioned in another tip. So, don't forget that some caterpillars and butterflies, such as those that consume milkweed, can be toxic for furbabies to ingest. There are also dangerous spiders of which to be cautious, of course including the brown recluse and black widow. There are even some toads and frogs that can be poisonous for our furbabies to ingest.

All in all, this time of year, some incredible critters start to make appearances. However, some of these critters can lead to serious effects in our furbabies. This means we must always be cautious with our furbabies around any critters that we know are dangeorus, and even those with which we are not familiar. And, of course, should your furbaby come into contact with a dangerous insect or other critter, do not hesitate to seek veterinary assistance. What's more, discuss with your veterinarian what you can do to help prevent serious allergic reactions or other emergencies, which can include having diphenhydramine (Benadryl) on hand, and knowing how much to give.

Tonks Tuesday with the Talon Look-Alike and the Letter W

Thank you all for the kind words after the loss of my parents' sweet kitty Talon. We love and miss him so much.

I'm a couple days behind on the last letters of the April A to Z Challenge. The past few days have left me with little to no desire to do any form of art. I'm starting to come out of at least that part of the funk, though, and today I do have the letter W to share.

Again, my preface for these alphabetical doodles is that some of my favorite things in life are cats, drawing, writing, and the fantasy genre. And so, my A to Z posts this year are illustrations for a weird and wacky fantasy story I'm currently writing. This story co-stars a hind limb paralyzed orange tabby cat named Hobo, and this month you'll get to go along on some of his adventures.

Today, the letter W stands for walks. After all, in between all of his wild and wacky adventures, Hobo enjoys himself a plain and simple walk in the park.

I'm admittedly not happy with the progress I've made on the doodles for the last three letters of the April A to Z Challenge. I've worked on all of them, but some of some of the progress occurred when I was visiting my parents and their kitties on Talon's last day. Now I honestly just don't really want to look at those drawings. I wasn't happy with how the drawings were going anyway.

All that to say, I think I've decided a way to combine all three of the last letters of the April A to Z Challenge into one doodle that I'm actually excited to work on. Tomorrow is Eddy's birthday, though, and I'm still working on her celebratory doodle, so you might not see my April A to Z Challenge finale until later this week.

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It is indeed Tuesday, which means Tonks Tuesday. I've mentioned this on our blog before, but nearly 11-year-old Thimble and her in-the-family littermates Toby, Trapper, and sweet angel Talon actually had the same mama kitty as Tonks and her also in-the-family littermates Winky and Flitwick. The mama kitty in question was a feral in my grandma's neighborhood. My grandma and her husband were able to catch her and get her spayed when Tonks and her littermates were a couple months old.

All that said, Tonks is the kitty from the same mama who looks and acts the most like her now angelic older brother Talon. So, today I'm sharing a few photos in which she really reminds me of him.

Before Tonks came to live with me as a kitten, she stayed at my parents' house for a few days. Talon was the kitty at my parents' house who excitedly welcomed and mentored all the kittens who came after him, Tonks included. Tonks not only looks like a calico version of Talon, but she also sounds like him when she lets out her cackling meow and just all around acts like him in so many other ways. I'm glad Tonks still helps give us little glimpses of Talon every day.

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Tip of the Day

 

As spring really gets underway, don't forget that our furbabies can have allergies just like we can. Just as with us, pollen, grass, and other airborne allergies can lead to itching, scratching, sneezing, and a number of other similar symptoms in our kitties and pups. If you notice any such symptoms in your furbaby, discuss this with your veterinarian. There are antihistamines and other treatments that can potentially help alleviate allergies for our furbabies.

In addition to veterinary and medicinal care, there are other considerations to make when it comes to helping a kitty or pup cope with seasonal allergies. For example, though we all love window whiffies, keep in mind that open windows can potentially exacerbate allergies, as the allergens then have easy access into the home. So, closed windows are often best for keeping the allergens down within the home. For furbabies who go outdoors, when they come inside, you can wipe off their paws and even wipe down their body to help remove allergens. Regularly cleaning floors, curtains, bedding, clothing, and so forth, can help keep a handle on allergens that might find their way into the home. Regularly changing the filter in your heating and cooling system is another important factor. An air purifier can also help.

As always, we of course want what's best for our furbabies. Allergies can lead to discomfort, so helping your furbaby cope with them is crucial. If you think or know that your furbaby has seasonal allergies, or any allergies at all, discuss this with your veterinarian and do all that you can to minimize their effects.

In Memory of Talon

It's been a rough few days for my family. My parents' happy, sweet, social, and just generally amazing cat Talon gained his angel wings on Friday evening. Talon was the littermate of my girl Thimble, and also littermate to my sister's boy Toby and my parents' other boy Trapper. Talon of course lived with his brother Trapper at my parents' house.

Talon is the handsome black and white boy on the left in that photo, posing with his tabby brother Trapper.

My parents, sister, and myself bottle-fed the litter of four kitties after my grandma discovered her neighbor had found them and put them in a bucket at 3 weeks old, no mother in sight. They were the first litter of kittens we took in with the intention of fostering, but we failed miserably at that and adopted them all instead. Every single one of these kitties, Talon absolutely included, means so much to my parents, my sister, and myself. I still remember bottle feeding Talon, as he was the most enthusiastic about his food as a baby. He earned his name because he wildly used his sharp little kitten claws to get that bottle to his mouth. Bottle feeding him brought me so much joy, and I cherish every single second of the nearly 11 years that Talon blessed our family.

A little over a year ago, Talon started coughing on occasion. His vet at first thought it was asthma, and then chronic bronchitis. For many months, steroid shots and occasional oral steroids, in addition to a bronchodilator and other various meds, kept his coughing at bay. He did end up with steroid-induced diabetes recently, but the oral medication Bexacat kept that in check, just like it does for his brother Trapper's diabetes. Over the last couple of weeks, though, Talon's coughing was no longer responding well to the steroids or other meds, and his respiratory rate was starting to regularly rise well above what's normal for a cat. X-rays of his lungs also showed that what was originally believed to be mild inflammation related to bronchitis, had worsened and was also no longer responding to the steroids or other meds.

With all of that, the vet determined that Talon actually very likely had cancer in his lungs, that being pulmonary carcinoma. The only way to confirm that diagnosis would have been surgery or a procedure that involved flushing out Talon's lungs with water, something he very likely would not have survived given his condition. Pulmonary carcinoma is very rare in cats, and Talon is only the third cat our vet has ever diagnosed with this cancer in his 20 years as a vet. No one in our family smokes or anything along those lines, but the vet also indicated that there were also no obvious environmental factors for the other two cats he'd diagnosed with pulmonary carcinoma in the past. There's no knowing what truly caused it, though it could have been any number of genetic and/or environmental factors, or even something like a retrovirus. For what's it worse, not long before Talon started showing symptoms over a year ago, a kitty cold went through both my parents' house and my house, and we do wonder if that spurred something.

On Friday, nothing the vet tried would bring Talon's respiratory rate even remotely down to normal. As his x-rays indicated, he did not have a distinct tumor in his lungs, but instead a diffuse form affecting the entirety of his lungs. Surgery was not an option in any regard, and quality of life had to be considered for sweet Talon.

We said goodbye to Talon on Friday evening, and it was one of the worst days of my family's life. I love every single cat in my life, and I visit my parents' house pretty much every single day. They live right down the street from me, and even if it's just for a few minutes, I see their kitties every day. What's more, Talon honestly had the biggest personality of any cat I've ever met. He was an incredibly social cat. He loved everyone, and he excitedly followed around anyone and everyone who visited my parents' house. Talon loved jumping on my back when I was there, and I'd walk around giving him piggy-back rides. And that's all just barely skimming the surface of the amazing kitty Talon. His absence is very, very noticeable, and we will never let him be forgotten. Not ever.

We all love you so, so, so very much, Talon. Always and forever.

***

I will still be sharing the last few doodles in the April A to Z Challenge, you just might see them sprinkled in over the next week or so. I simply haven't had it in me to pull out my sketchbook or scanner or anything like that over the past few days. I also plan on scribbling up something in honor of the sweet Talon. May 10th is the 11th birthday of Talon and my Thimble and their brothers Toby and Trapper. It's going to be a rough one this year, but you better believe Talon will be honored and will absolutely be included in their birthday doodle.

Friendly Fill-Ins, Blurry Eddy, and the Letter V

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. _________ hurts my feelings.

2. Things on my not to do list include _________ and _________.

3. _________ is an inanimate object that cheers me up.

4. I wish I could hire someone to _________.


My answers are below in bold.

1. Not much hurts my feelings.
(I don't get offended by a whole lot. I just don't take many things personally. I'm a lot like my dad in that way. The only thing that kept coming to my mind for this one was how it bothers me when people make rude comments about my pets or animals in general. It's not really my feelings being hurt in that case, though, but instead that I just feel frustration and annoyance for those sorts of people.)

2. Things on my not to do list include talking on the phone and going to parties.

(This makes me sound so antisocial. And I kind of am. Or I'm at least asocial.)

3. My favorite book is an inanimate object that cheers me up.
(I also find joy in things like my sketchbook and drawing materials, just to name one more example. That said, lately it's escaping into the world(s) of my favorite book(s) that really brings me a lot of joy.)

4. I wish I could hire someone to do all of my home repairs.

(There are a variety of repairs my home needs, some that have needed done for a while, and some that just pop up from time to time. Home repairs and making time for said home repairs is one of my least favorite things, so I wish I could hire someone to finish all that needs done, and to be on hand when new issues arise. I do indeed hire certain people as needed, like plumbers and such, but there are also a lot of little things that I can and should just do myself.)

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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And now it's time for the Pet Photo Fails Blog Hop, hosted by none other than Melissa and Mudpie of Melissa's Mochas, Mysteries, & Meows.

As always, our blooper queen Eddy is more than ready with some outtakes. She's good and blurry in these, of course.

That's what most of the photos look like when I stick a camera in front of little miss Eddy. Any crisp, clear shots you see of her are needles in a haystack.

Have a wonderful day, friends!

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Now, how about another letter for the April A to Z Challenge.

I only have a few more days to repeat our alphabetical preface, that being that some of my favorite things in life are cats, drawing, writing, and the fantasy genre. And so, my A to Z posts this year will be illustrations for a weird and wacky fantasy story I'm currently writing. This story co-stars a hind limb paralyzed orange tabby cat named Hobo, and this month you'll get to go along on some of his adventures.

Today we've reached the letter V, which stands for veterinary sorts of things. In between going on wacky adventures and meeting ogres and trolls and gnomes, Hobo the special needs kitty also has to visit the vet. It's far from his favorite thing.

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Tip of the Day

Today's spring safety tip is another one we've very recently mentioned, but that we'll repeat again. It is to always be aware and cautious of the potential dangers of various fertilizers, pesticides, and other such chemicals that are often used this time of the year. If you plan to use any such products, do your research and try to avoid using potentially toxic variations. No matter what kind you use, though, to be safe, keep any such products stashed safely away from your furbaby's reach.

But, this tip also goes beyond what you might be using in your own personal environment. For pups or kitties who go outdoors, you should take into consideration that unfamiliar yards, parks, and other such areas may use products that could have toxic effects if walked through, ingested, and so forth. When out and about with your furbaby, or even just yourself, try to avoid areas where you know or think any unsafe chemicals are used. When you arrive back at home after a walk or other excursion, wipe off paws and shoes, so that you can do your best to remove any traces of fertilizers, pesticides, or other chemicals. There is no such thing as being too careful when it comes to the health and safety of our furbabies, so do all that you can to keep your furbaby protected from potentially dangerous chemicals this time of year, and all year round.

Thankful Thimble Thursday with Sunshine and the Letter U

It's time for me to share another weird and wacky doodle for the April A to Z Challenge.

So far there hasn't been a single day that I've skipped our broken record A to Z preface in these alphabetical posts. I guess I'll keep that streak going, and so I'm yet again here to say that some of my favorite things in life are cats, drawing, writing, and the fantasy genre. And so, my A to Z posts this year will be illustrations for a weird and wacky fantasy story I'm currently writing. This story co-stars a hind limb paralyzed orange tabby cat named Hobo, and this month you'll get to go along on some of his adventures.

Today brings us to the letter U, which stands for underground. Hobo and his human do indeed visit a world that exists none other than underground. It's aptly called, well, the Underground. Some call it the Graveyard, though, for reasons. I again realize that none of this makes any sense, but what's new.

I had a lot of trouble trying to make those stairs look like they were descending far down beneath the surface. I'm still not happy with the final result, but that there is what I have to offer for today.

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Are you ready for Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop? Thimble certainly is.

Today, Thimble is grateful for the beautiful, warm, bright, and shiny sun.

Thimble indeed loves those sun puddles. Of course, she also quite likes how the sunshine makes her glow in glamour shots like that one there. 

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And now we have 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. _________ hurts my feelings.

2. Things on my not to do list include _________ and _________.

3. _________ is an inanimate object that cheers me up.

4. I wish I could hire someone to _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Tip of the Day

We're here with another spring pet safety tip today. This one is another repeat tip, but it's also one that we think it's worth saying again. And that is, again, to consider keeping up with those preventatives. As the weather warms and the grass grows green, pests such as fleas, mosquitoes, and ticks will be out and about in full force. We very recently gave a series of tips on buggers such as these, what parasites they can harbor, and what diseases they can pass on to our furbabies. Tapeworms, heartworms, and Lyme disease, for example, can result if your furbaby falls victim to such pests. This can of course affect their health and happiness, and nobody wants that.

So, in short, please do keep up with preventatives for your kitties and pups. You can discuss the best options with your veterinarian. And, of course, only give your furbaby a preventative that is formulated for their species, as well as their age and weight. Proper prevention indeed plays a part in keeping our furbabies as healthy as possible.