Try your hand at knitting and crocheting with your new yarn. Dog yarn is soft and warm, and it easily repels water, so try making a hat or scarf with the yarn. You can even make a pair of socks or gloves to keep yourself warm! If you have a lot of yarn from the fur, you can make a sweater or a blanket. Even when the yarn is made, the dog fur might still be susceptible to mold and mildew if it gets wet. When you aren't using the bundles of yarn, keep them somewhere dry with good air circulation. If you have to put the yarn in a bag to store it, use a bag made of a breathable fabric, like cotton. Try to keep the yarn out of reach of pets, since they may still be able to smell some of their own scent on the fibers and might want to play with the bundles of yarn!
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One-sentence summary -- Make cozy crafts out of your new dog fur yarn. Store the yarn in a dry, well-ventilated area.

This will allow your bird to focus on you and your words. If your bird is easily distracted you can even try talking to it while its cage is covered. This will eliminate visual distractions as well. Keep it easy and short and use one that you say frequently, for instance the bird's name. If you want to teach it something other than its name, remember that the phrase should be simple, containing one or two words that are relatively high pitched. Since cockatiels have high pitches voices, you may not be able to teach it words that you say in a low tone. Use the words at the right time, such as don't teach it "Good morning" in the night when you are about to sleep, and vice versa. " Look at the cockatiel's eyes. Are its pupils getting larger when you say a certain word? Does the bird's crest go up to indicate excitement or interest? If you see neither, you may not be teaching the bird a word it likes saying. The cockatiel may not be repeating your phrase for other reasons too. For instance, it may be that the bird is not physically able to say it. Give the bird lots of treats and attention whenever the bird says a word correctly. Depending on your birds preferences, there isn't really a "right" thing to do. Some birds may like human food better, but some may like special bird treats. What ever you do, make it positive. No matter how smart your birdie is, it will not be Einstein. You must be patient, otherwise your bird will become frightened of you and you will have lost all the progress you have achieved. One single hand movement can do this, so be careful Once your bird has one phrase down, give it more to learn. After all, you don't want to hear just one phrase from your bird all day. Try narrating things you do for your cockatiel. When you feed it an apple, say "want a treat?" If you do this enough, and your bird likes talking, it may start saying the phrase when it sees the treat coming. Try whistling at your cockatiel. If you give it a simple series of notes repeatedly, it just might repeat it back to you. Be warned, however, that once a cockatiel learns how to whistle, it may choose whistling over talking. This is because whistling is easier for the bird.
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One-sentence summary -- Train the bird in a quiet place. Introduce the bird to one phrase at a time. Focus on words that your bird "likes. Strengthen the behavior with positive reinforcement. Repeat the phrase often and be patient. Complicate and increase the phrases you teach the cockatiel.

Think about what part of the story you like best and consider if there is an object you could carry that would signal to others your character. One good option would be to carry a stuffed animal such as a white rabbit or a striped cat. A plastic flamingo could work well for enacting the croquet scene. Some playing cards, a white rose or a paintbrush could link you to the Disney song "We're Painting the Roses Red." An old fashioned bottle with the label "drink me" might fit well in a pinafore pocket. Reread the book, or watch your favorite film version and pay attention to what lines you particularly like. Write down ideas of phrases that you could plausibly work into conversation. If you are at a party, pretend to grow or shrink as you eat food or have a drink. Alice is well known for saying "curiouser and curiouser!" in reaction to the many strange things she sees. The Disney film features several songs that you could sing or hum if the occasion arises. If your friends are also dressed as characters from Alice in Wonderland it will be easy for everyone to recognize your chosen character. The Mad Hatter is a very popular option from the Burton film. The White Rabbit would be a warm costume for a winter activity.
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One-sentence summary -- Choose a prop. Practice acting like Alice. Invite others to join you for a group costume.

Cats with failing kidneys tend to develop inflamed stomach linings, which causes heartburn and, in some cases, gastric ulcers. To provide some relief and encourage your cat's appetite, your veterinarian may recommend antacids. The typical prescription is omeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor that is extremely effective at reducing gastric acid secretion. Smaller cats usually get 1 mg/kg by mouth once a day; larger cats usually take half a 10 mg tablet once a day. If you do not have a prescription for omeprazole, you can also try famotidine, which is sold over the counter as Pepcid. Pepcid blocks histamine-induced gastric acid production. Unfortunately, dosing can be difficult. Larger cats typically need a quarter of a 20 mg tablet, but smaller cats usually need an eighth of a tablet, which can be impractical. B vitamins are important for digestive health and a good appetite. This group of vitamins is water soluble, so your cat's increased thirst may wash them away too quickly into the urine. Your veterinarian may therefore recommend a course of injections usually one injection a week for four weeks to keep sufficient B vitamins in your cat's blood. If your cat has no appetite even if you've given antacids and made sure there's no problem with dehydration you may need to provide an appetite stimulant. Ask your veterinarian about a low dose of intravenous diazepam, which sometimes gets cats to eat. Another possibility is Periactin, an antihistamine that has appetite-stimulating side effects. The usual dose is 0/1-0.5 mg/kg twice per day. Larger cats may require half a tablet, twice a day. Another appetite stimulant is mirtazapine which may only need to be given every 2-3 days. When given in the early stages of kidney disease, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) can prolong the life of the kidney. These drugs change the blood flow through the kidney and lower the pressure gradient so that less damage is inflicted on the micro circulation within the kidney. A common prescription is a 2.5 mg tablet of Fortekor once daily. Talk to your veterinarian about the best option for your cat. Note that ACE inhibitors will not cure kidney disease; they will simply protect your cat's kidney from some wear and tear. These drugs are not effective in advanced kidney disease.
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One-sentence summary --
Give your cat antacid medications. Supplement with B vitamins. Consider stimulating your cat's appetite with medication. Medicate with ACE inhibitors.