Snowy Adventures with Angel Astrid

We got 7" of snow this weekend, and it's been frigid cold. My sweet angel Astrid would be thrilled with these conditions, as she was a huge fan of all things winter.

If you're curious why my girl Astrid's face is covered in snow in those photos, it's because when it snowed, this was one of her favorite things to do:

I loved watching Astrid play in snow, and I'm so glad I have photos and videos of her doing just that. I miss my pup so much, but these memories will be with me always.

Warm wishes to all!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

I've shared this doodle multiple times, I think even in my sweet Astrid's memorial post in September. But, I feel like sharing it again. After all, it stars Astrid and two of her favorite cold things, those being winter and ice cream. Oh, and she has a metal leg here because I believe I drew this in the year that Astrid had metal placed in her knee after she tore her CCL (like the human ACL). So, a metal leg was drawn.

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Tip of the Day

Our series of winter safety tips has already covered wiping off those paws when they've been in contact with snow, ice, ice melts, and so forth. Today's tip relates to all of that, and is to regularly check your furbaby's cute little toes. It is of course important to always ensure that your furbaby and his or her paws are free or injury, but this is something that is especially important in the winter. The cold and dry air, as well as the cold ground that might be covered in snow, ice, ice melts, and other substrate in the winter, can potentially lead to dry, cracked, bleeding, and overall uncomfortable paw pads. This is why it is important for you to regularly check your pup or kitty's paws in the winter, and of course year round. Be especially vigilant of the condition of paws that frequently go outdoors.

If you do notice your furbaby's paw pads are dry, cracking, or bleeding, or if they are displaying any discomfort when walking, consider options for treating and combating paw pad dryness and discomfort. There are pet paw salves on the market that are intended to combat dryness and to protect paws pads that often go outdoors. In some cases, petroleum jelly might be deemed safe to wipe onto the paw pads before they head outdoors, but this is sometimes a debated option. More importantly, when it comes to the health, safety, and comfort of your furbaby and their paws, it is of course always recommended to discuss the matter with a veterinarian. A veterinarian can check for any damage to the paws, and can also best recommend treatment for or prevention of dryness, cracking, and other injury to the paw pads. So, be observant of the state of your kitty or pup's paws, and seek veterinary care if you have any concerns.

Making Biscuits on Tonks Tuesday

It's Tonks Tuesday, and today the calico is making lots and lots of biscuits.

See those toesies in action? Tonks is quite the baker, kneading up dozens and dozens of biscuits every day.

Warm wishes (and lots of biscuits) to all!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Today's tip is one we've mentioned before, but that we're going to mention again for these cold winter days. Though of course living indoors helps keep our furbabies safe and sound during the winter months, it is still important to remember that extra measures can be taken to keep them warm and cozy. This is especially important for young or old furbabies, those with little to no fur, and any cats or dogs whose health is compromised. You can start by putting out additional soft and cozy blankets and beds for them. To take it one step further, there are heated blankets and beds on the market. Of course, be very careful when using anything heated, taking especial care to ensure that no burns or fires result. To be on the safe side, you can look into beds that allow warmth in a non-electrical way. For example, there are pet beds constructed of material that essentially reflects a kitty or pup's body heat back to them, warming them that way. Lastly, also take into consideration the location of blankets and beds. Place your kitty or pup's blankets and beds somewhere that is elevated off of the cold floor and away from drafts, doorways, and windows, to ensure that they can remain as warm as possible.

Evan's Squeaky Clean Mancat Monday

Today is Mancat Monday, for anyone who might have forgotten.

For the manly occasion, Evan decided to get himself squeaky clean for his audience.

My hind limb paralyzed boy has some very special looking baths, and I love it so much.

The above said, Evan doesn't mind the baths he gives himself, but he sure hates when I bathe him. That's too bad, though, because I bathe him at least once a day. With all of his urinary and intestinal issues mixed with his hind limb paralysis, we have to keep up with those baths no matter how much he hates them. Don't worry, though, he always gets cuddles and treats after his baths, which always brings back his purrs.

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

It's been almost exactly 2 years since Evan had an upper respiratory infection that involved some sneezes and head shakes that landed him with an ear hematoma. All things said and done, that hematoma left Evan's ear permanently disfigured. But, with the help of a specific ear cleaner that was invented by our vet clinic's founding doctor, Evan's weird little ear gives him no issues these days. That's not how it always was, though. When the hematoma was still fresh and we were trying to sort it out on top of his other health issues and meds, Evan was miserable. I remember scribbling up the doodle below during that time to try and makes something cute out of the rough time Evan was having.

Again, though, Evan's ear no longer bothers him. It is disfigured, but we have an ear cleaning routine that keeps it and my boy very happy. That means he hasn't needed the surgery we feared might be required to potentially remove his problem ear, especially before we got the resulting ear infections in control. I'm so grateful that we were able to avoid that and that my Evan is instead a happy boy with an ear that's just as special as the rest of him.

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Tip of the Day

Today's winter tip is to, despite the fact that it's winter here in the Northern Hemisphere, still keep in mind parasites and their prevention. If you live somewhere that is warm or temperate even during this time of the year, of course certainly do consider keeping up with those parasite preventatives for your furbabies. The same, though, goes even for those who don't live somewhere consistently warm in the winter. Some winter days are not as cold as others, and parasites such as mosquitoes and fleas can survive and make reappearances when the temperatures rise. Sometimes, some parasites even make their way into our homes and survive winter climates by hanging out in the warm comfort of our heated houses. With this in mind, don't forget that mosquitoes can carry heartworms, and fleas can cause bloodborne diseases and can also carry tapeworms, all of which can cause dangerous side effects. For all such reasons, do think about the benefits of keeping up with parasite prevention for your furbabies all year round.

One more note we want to make regards none other than mice. This time of year, mice might find ways to enter our homes, garages, and sheds in search of a warm place to stay. What's more, mice can carry parasites such as fleas, tapeworms, and roundworms. This means, especially if your furbaby gets near or even eats a mouse inside the home, or anywhere else, they are at risk of such parasites. This is yet another reason to keep up with parasite prevention for your furbaby, no matter what time of year it is.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Eddy's Winter Window View

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. I feel like _________ whenever I think about _________.

2. January is a good month to _________.

3. _________ is nonnegotiable in my life.

4. I could give up _________ as long as _________.


My answers are below in bold.

1. I feel like jumping for joy whenever I think about leaving work and going home to my furry babies.
(I had a much more melancholic answer for this, but then I decided to switch gears. So, here we are. I know I'm not the only person with the sentiment contained in my answer here. I'm a major homebody who wants nothing more than to be with my furbabies, all day, every day. So, indeed, if I'm away from home, the thought of going back home to my kitties makes me so very happy.)

2. January is a good month to plan.
(I'm not someone who only makes resolutions or plans at the start of a new year, but January is still a good time to plan out certain things for the year. It is a fresh slate. So, if you have big goals for the year, January is a perfect time to get a head start. I've been doing quite a bit of long-term planning this month, though said plans are never set in stone because life does happen.)

3. Having kitties is nonnegotiable in my life.
(As long as I'm alive and coherent, I will always have cats. That's not up for debate. I know two couples in which the husband is pretty severely allergic to cats, and so despite being animal lovers they, well, don't have cats. Every time this comes up around their wives, all I can think is, Yeah, that would have been an automatic deal breaker for me. I don't say that out loud, but I always think it. I'm not sure if that makes me a bad person, but I can't think of anything that would make me agree to not have kitties in my life. I guess it's all about compatibility, and I'm not compatible with a life without cats. I'll note that I also do wish to share my life with a dog, and at some point that will happen again.)

4. I could give up baked goods as long as I have my chocolate milk.
(I love sweets, but I admittedly don't eat them terribly often since they often don't agree with my intestines. I survive the lack of baked goods by drinking my beloved chocolate milk. I'm lactose intolerant and so I drink almond milk, but there's a dark chocolate version that I love. As long as I have that, I can go without the baked goods, and I often do just that.)

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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Like many people in the US, we're expecting snow this weekend. If that does indeed come to fruition, Eddy hopes she gets a view like this one again.

Eddy loves watching snow fall. She also loves when I toss food out for wildlife in the winter, as she can spy on all the birds and squirrels from her cat tree in that there window. It's double the fun for her when it's snowing and there's Bird TV and Squirrel TV to enjoy.

Warm wishes to all!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Though we're more than a tad bit late in the season to give this tip, we're going to give it nonetheless. Today's tip relates to the furnace, and we want to remind you to have a professional inspect your furnace before use every year, or as needed. An inspection could help detect any issues that might make running the furnace a risk. This in turn of course gives you the chance to have any necessary repairs or replacements made, so that neither your furbaby nor yourself are put in unnecessary danger.

Also relating to the furnace, don't forget to replace the filter regularly. A clean filter not only allows the furnace to run optimally, but also helps eliminate allergens, dust, and other such debris from the air. Ensuring ideal air quality with a clean furnace and air filter is something to especially take into consideration if your furbaby, or yourself, has asthma or other respiratory issues. The furnace plays a crucial role for your furbaby and yourself on cold winter days, so don't forget to give it the care and attention it needs.

Up Close and Personal with Thimble on Thankful Thursday

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

Today, Thimble is so very grateful for the front row seat she gets during cuddle time.

In these photos, Thimble is laying on me and is right in my face. She's a very up close and personal kind of kitty. She's that way with cuddles, which I absolutely love, but she'll do it even more so when she sees me pull out my phone or camera. She loves getting the attention of having her photo taken. Thimble is a little ham and I love it.

Thimble hopes all of her kitty friends also get to enjoy being the center of attention. All kitties deserve it!

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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. I feel like _________ whenever I think about _________.

2. January is a good month to _________.

3. _________ is nonnegotiable in my life.

4. I could give up _________ as long as _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

As you all certainly know, cats often seek out heat. Those pups out there sometimes do, too. For this reason, when it's cold this winter, monitor your furbaby around any sort of heat source. This of course goes for fireplaces, which should be sufficiently blocked so that kitties and pups can't directly access it or end up with burns. But, this also goes for various space heaters, radiators, and even floor or wall registers for the furnace. Especially if your cat or dog is known to park themselves incredibly close to or even on top of such heat sources, be sure to keep a very close eye on them when heaters are being used or when the furnace is running. If they are near a heat source, check on them regularly and feel them to make sure that they are not getting dangerously hot. Depending on the kind of heat produced by various heat sources, burns and other injuries can occur if a kitty or pup sleeps on or near it. If needed, such as if your kitty or pup insists on keeping a heater or furnace register company, consider blocking direct access to it. For example, there are safe, fire-proof covers for furnace registers on the floor or wall. When it comes to space heaters, if needed, place them in areas where your kitty or pup does not have access. In other cases, you might be able to find a way to safely block direct access to heaters and radiators, so that your furbaby can enjoy the heat without the risk of burns. Of course we want our furbabies to stay warm in the winter, but it is also important to ensure that your kitty or pup does not end up with burns or other injuries.

Woof Woof Wednesday with Angel Astrid in the Window

It's Woof Woof Wednesday, which means it's time to share a wonderful memory of my sweet angel pup Astrid. It's been quite a while since we've seen this sweet girl in her favorite window, so how about that for today.

Astrid really did love watching out this window. It faces the front yard and street, which allowed her to keep a close eye on the neighborhood.

Of course, pup Astrid also sometimes slept on the job, but she deserved those naps so very much.

Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

The mixture of cold air outside and dry heat inside during the winter months can lead to skin that is dry, itchy, and flaky, among other discomforts. For this reason, it could very well be a good idea to keep a humidifier going in your house, to help keep the air and your furbaby's fur and coat as moist and comfortable as possible. Do be sure to keep in mind your kitty or pup's activity level and favorite areas to play or run when placing the humidifier, though, in order to avoid spills and other risks that might come with a humidifier. In a strategic, safe, and secure place, though, a humidifier can help keep the air moist and a cat or dog free of the discomfort of dry skin and coat. Do keep in mind, though, that too much moisture can lead to mold growth. It's often recommended to keep homes between 30-50% relative humidity, so perhaps aim for that range for comfort and safety.

It's also worth it to note that another way to reduce your furbaby's dryness and itchiness in the winter is to minimize or eliminate baths, as well as to dry them off when they come indoors and are wet with snow or rain. Brushing them regularly can also stimulate the natural oils of their skin, which can further help keep their fur and skin from drying out. If you do notice your kitty or pup's skin and coat is dry and itchy during the winter, and especially if you cannot get an easy handle on it, you can certainly discuss the issue and further solutions with your veterinarian.

Tuesday with Tonks and Her Shoelace

Tonks wants to show off one of her favorite Christmas gifts, that being none other than a shoelace.

A lot of the kitties in my family love strings, and chasing them is one of their favorite games. That said, if a string is too thin or too ribbon-like, certain kitties will try to eat it (ahem, Winky, ahem). I've learned that shoelaces are a safe option for my kitties, though, and so they got some of those for Christmas.

Tonks loves her shoelaces, and she wants to know if any of her kitty friends out there also play with shoelaces or other string? She hopes you do, as she says it's so very fun.

Happy Tuesday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Today's winter safety tip regards none other than frozen water. If you and your furbaby go out for walks, be careful of frozen ponds, lakes, and so forth. If you live or walk in an area where there is any sort of body of water, be very careful that you are aware of its location. Snow and ice can easily camouflage the frozen surface of water, beneath which danger awaits. To be better safe than sorry, simply avoid walking in areas where you know or think there are ponds, lakes, or any body of water. It is of course also safest to keep your walking pup or kitty on a leash and near to you, so that they cannot stray far and inadvertently find themselves on or in frozen water. A white winter scene can be beautiful, but it also holds many dangers. Be aware of these dangers, and plan walks and other activities with your furbaby accordingly.