Sunday Selfie

Guess what? Believe it or not, Eddy has a selfie to share with you all today!

Apparently, the best way to get this girl to snap a non-blurry shot is to stick her in front of a window. We're finally having us some true autumn weather, which means we'll probably be having us lots of window whiffies. Maybe that means Eddy will sit still for some more future photo shoots? (Paws crossed.)

Of course, Eddy's selfie there is our contribution to the Sunday Selfies blog hop, hosted by none other than the Kitties Blue of The Cat on My Head.

Have a stupendous Sunday, friends!

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Our Doodle of the Day:

Yesterday's doodle showed angel Rosie picking out a pumpkin at the pumpkin patch. Now, what kind of trouble is she getting into with that pumpkin?

Stay tuned tomorrow for the end result of Rosie's pumpkin antics!

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Our Tip of the Day:

The last of our Animal Pain Awareness Month tips involves ways that you can help enable a pained furbaby be more mobile and comfortable around the home. If your furbaby has difficulty jumping due to an injury or arthritis, for example, you can put pet stairs or a pet ramp beside chairs, couches, or beds in the home. This can help your kitty or pup better reach elevated areas without having to jump, which could otherwise exacerbate pain associated with an injury or arthritis. For a cat, another way to help them combat pain and discomfort is to give them litter boxes with low sides, so that they can easily walk right in. Or, you can also give them a ramp or stairs leading up to the entrance of the litter box, if needed. If it helps reduce pain associated with certain injuries, arthritis, or other ailments, you can also elevate your kitty or pup's food and water bowls.

Another simple way to help a pained furbaby feel some relief and comfort is by way of their beds and blankets. You can offer extra soft and thick beds, and in easy to reach locations. Some forms of pain are also alleviated by heat, which means that safe, pet-friendly heated blankets or heated beds could also be of use. Of course, you would need to take all necessary safety precautions when using any heated or electric products.

In more extreme cases, your furbaby might be in need of direct assistance with their mobility. If need be, you can use various forms of slings to help your kitty or pup ambulate. You can use a towel or blanket to create a makeshift sling, for example. Another option is to purchase a sling, or a harness with handles, which are indeed available on the market.

It is not easy to see our furbabies in pain. At the same time, it is not easy for them to feel such pain. That's why it is important to do what you can to alleviate your kitty or pup's pain, even if that means a bit of redecorating within your home.

Rosie in the Pumpkin Patch

I'm in one of those spells when I just sort of want to draw my angel Rosie all the time. So, that's exactly what I'm doing. Today, in the world of doodles, Rosie's picking out a pumpkin!

This is actually going to be part of short little series of doodles starring Rosie and her pumpkin. It will go through to Monday, the first day of October. Can anyone guess the fate of this pumpkin of Rosie's?

As always, we're happily participating in Athena's Caturday Art Blog Hop!

Have an incredible Caturday, friends!

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Our Tip of the Day:

As we mentioned yesterday, September is Animal Pain Awareness Month, and so the last days of this month will include tips relating to that very topic. Yesterday's tip was about some of the signs and symptoms you might notice if your furbaby is in pain. Today's tip relates to, of course, taking your kitty in for a veterinary exam should they be showing signs of pain. By way of examination and other potential diagnostic tests, a reason for any pain your furbaby is feeling might be deduced.

Moreover, if or when your veterinarian describes medications to treat or regulate your furbaby's pain, always monitor them closely. This is often especially important after the first doses of a new medication. Depending on the reason for pain, as well as depending on the individual animal, different medications can vary in their efficacy and side effects. Of course, some pain medications will, by nature, cause drowsiness or other such side effects. In some cases, though, there are other things to look out for. For example, some animals have noticeably adverse reactions to certain drugs, such as respiratory distress, hives or swelling, vomiting, or diarrhea. There are also cases when an animal might have a hypersensitivity to certain medications, making typical side effects, such as drowsiness, even more pronounced than anticipated or safe. Therefore, after giving your kitty or pup a pain medication (or, in truth, any medication), be sure to observe them carefully. If you notice any concerning or abnormal side effects in your cat or dog, of course do not hesitate to contact your veterinarian.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Photo Fails

Happy Friday, friends! Are you ready to fill in the Friendly Fill-Ins? In case you missed them yesterday, I'll share them again now. Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. A _________ will _________.

2. The best time of the day is _________.

3. _________ is not my strong suit.

4. It's all fun and games until _________.


I filled these in myself, of course. My answers are very cat-centric today. I'm thinking most of you won't mind.

1. A cat will do as he or she pleases.
(Of course, in some cases, a kitty can be trained and all that jazz. But, let's be honest, who really rules the house? The cat. The cat rules the house. Where I live, 6 cats rule the house.)

2. The best time of the day is early morning.
(Sometimes I feel like I'm in a minority here, but I just love being up bright and early, when the rest of the world is still sleeping. The house is quiet, the neighborhood is quiet, the world is quiet. There is something so serene about that. Well, it's the sort of serene where you're also getting harassed by 6 hungry cats for being too slow to fill their bowls, but such is life.)

3. Saying no to my cats is not my strong suit.
(There's a reason Thimble got told by her vet that she needs to lose a pound. I'm that reason. She begs for the only treat she likes, that being baby food, and I literally cannot say no to her face. My sister says I have no resolve when it comes to Thimble. She is correct.)

4. It's all fun and games until you forget to feed the cat.
(Need I say more? EDIT: I should add that this doesn't happen often, but it did indeed happen the other night. This here hermit of a homebody had a rare evening out recently, and I forgot to fill the kitties' bowls before I left. When I got home, I was nearly eaten alive. I deserved it.)

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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Today is the day for bloopers. In other words, it's time for the Pet Photo Fails! Blog Hop, hosted by The Cuddlywumps Cat Chronicles.

Thank goodness these blooper reels occur on Fridays, because that's when Eddy gets to star on the blog. And if anyone can snap a blooper shot, it's Eddy. See?

We hope you all have a Friday as fun and frenzied as ours!

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Our Doodle of the Day:

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Our Tip of the Day:

Since September is Animal Pain Awareness Month, we'll be finishing out the month with a short series of tips on this topic. Today's tip relates to how our furbabies might let us know they are in pain. This can be a bit difficult sometimes, as cats and even dogs can be very good at hiding pain. This is why we must be very observant of our furbabies on a regular basis, in order to know when they aren't acting themselves.

The symptoms of pain in our furbabies can vary greatly, depending on the source of the pain, as well as the individual animal. You might see decreased activity level, or even a decrease in your cat or dog's appetite. Another potential sign is an altered gait, or an unwillingness or inability to move or jump. A cat in pain might avoid or miss the litter box, and a dog in pain might have accidents inside the house. Aggression and hiding are yet more potential signs that your kitty or pup is in pain. The list of signs and symptoms of pain in animals could go on and on. This is why it's imperative that you know your kitty or pup's norm, and that you make frequent observations of their activities and behavior in order to catch when anything is out of the norm. Altered activity or behavior could mean any number of things, pain being one possibility.

Remember Me Thursday

As we're sure most of you already know, today is Remember Me Thursday. The Remember Me Thursday website explains this day with one poignant sentence: "Remember Me ThursdayⓇ is a global awareness campaign uniting individuals and pet adoption organizations around the world as an unstoppable, integrated voice for orphan pets to live in forever homes, not die waiting for them." Just like most of you, around here we are huge proponents of adopting kitties, pups, and other companions from shelters and rescues. That's why our post today is indeed centered on this significant topic.

We decided to find a way to incorporate our usual Thursday blog hop participation into our Remember Me Thursday post. We'll start with a poem for Remember Me Thursday. This poem coincides with the Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge, hosted by Angel Sammy and Teddy.

Just as they do every week, our hosts offered us a photo prompt for our poems this week. It's this sweet image here:

I took some liberties on this one. I used this image as my starting point, and then tried to figure out a way to turn it into a little tale for Remember Me Thursday. The result is meant to not only shine light on animal adoption, but even more specifically on the adoption of those kitties and pups who may be more often passed up at a shelter.

Home

Once upon a time, there were two little girls.

They were sisters, and their names were Opal and Pearl.

Opal was five and Pearl all but four,

When they found themselves standing at that magical door.

On the other side of that door were surely some new furry friends.

It mattered not to the Opal and Pearl that they hadn't met them yet.

And so, quickly, they pushed that grand door open,

Seeking that for which they were hoping.

On the other side of that door existed a wonderful place,

Where the sisters were greeted by a many furry and whiskered face.

Opal and Pearl could not help but say, "Awwww!"

After all, just look at all those cute little paws!

Opal and Pearl were not certain what they sought just quite yet.
They simply knew they wanted a friend to spoil and pet.
A woman passing by asked what they were after,
To which Pearl replied, "A friend to give us smiles and laughter!"

"Well, you've come to the right place," the woman said,
"This shelter is full of animals waiting for a home with a bed."
Then, down a corridor Opal and Pearl walked as the woman led.
The sounds of meowing and barking filled the ears on their heads.

The room they finally entered held so much to be seen.
There were cats, dogs, rabbits, and even birds who did preen.
In cages these cute creatures did play, eat, sleep, and wait.
Some had their space to themselves, while others sat with a mate.

Opal and Pearl walked up and down and looked all about.
How were they supposed to pick just one or two friends out?
Then they noticed one particular cage was getting no attention at all.
Not a single visitor stayed long at that cage against the back wall.

Opal and Pearl headed that way,
To see which furry friend in that cage did stay.
Two furry feline friends were nestled within, in fact,
Tucked all the way in the very, very way back.

"Hello there!" Pearl called into the cage.
A sign nearby indicated their two-digit age.
In the journey of life, these two cats were in a very late stage.
Opal and Pearl also learned the two were named Basil and Sage.
They were both a bit small and really quite grey.

It was as Basil and Sage finally came forward to greet the girls,
That up walked a funny old lady with a head full of curls.
The old lady declared, "It's with young ones that most little girls are smitten.

See, over there, all of those cute little puppies and kittens?"

Opal and Pearl smiled politely and nodded their heads.

Then it was Opal who spoke up and said,

"We do see those little cuties, oh yes.
But, it would seem, so does everyone else.
Past all of their other visitors we can't even get near,
All while no one is looking at these sweet ones over here."

The old lady scratched her chin and said, quite bold,
"But, aren't these two just a bit, well, old?"
It was as the woman spoke that Basil and Sage both stuck out a paw,
Each grabbing a ribbon that in Pearl's hair they excitedly saw.

Pearl laughed, and Opal followed suit.
The old woman huffed and away she did scoot.
The kitties and puppies were of course cuter than cute,
But there was certainly nothing wrong with these playful two!

Basil and Sage did not live at the shelter very much longer.
After all, Opal and Pearl most certainly did not squander.
In no time at all, Basil and Sage were removed from that cage.
To their home with Opal and Pearl they journeyed, no matter their age.

***

Thimble is here now to share with you all our gratitude for Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop today. 

It's probably unsurprising, but Thimble and all of the furbabies here are thankful for their forever home. We purr and pray every day that all homeless animals, and all those who have found their way to a shelter or rescue, will know the comfort of a forever home with a loving forever family.

***

Last but not least, we have for you today the Friendly Fill-Ins statements for tomorrow. Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. A _________ will _________.

2. The best time of the day is _________.

3. _________ is not my strong suit.

4. It's all fun and games until _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Our Tip of the Day:

Today's tip is, of course, to realize the importance of adopting shelter animals, so that they can indeed know the love of a forever home. Even if you are not looking to adopt, you can still spread the word to others about adopting a cat, dog, or other companion animal from a shelter. You can also help by volunteering time and resources to a shelter, as any little bit of assistance can help them adopt out more animals. Lastly, when adopting or spreading the word about animal adoption, please don't forget those animals who are special needs, geriatric, or in any other way often considered less likely to be adopted. Every single cat, dog, and other companion animal deserves the chance to feel comfort and love in a home of their own.

Wednesday Goodies (#ChewyInfluencer)

Yesterday, the kitties shared their thoughts on a new food they tried out as part of Chewy.com's Blogger Outreach Program. Today, it's pup Astrid's turn.

Astrid tested out NaturVetⓇ Aller-911™ Allergy Aid soft chews. Not only did these chewy treats look like something pup Astrid might enjoy snacking on, but this girl also could use any help she can get for her allergies. Astrid has a lifelong history of seasonal airborne allergies. She is lucky enough to have never suffered from allergies to foods or medications, but certain times of the year, especially spring and autumn, she is a bit of a mess. She takes diphenhydramine to help alleviate her symptoms, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to try these treats as well, to see if they help give her any additional relief.

These NaturVetⓇ Aller-911™ treats contain antioxidants to help support a healthy immune system. They are also, of course, formulated to help combat allergies and the symptoms that result. In order to do so, the treats contain ingredients such as omega-3 fatty acids, DHA, and EPA.

On to the taste test, though. As per usual, my foodie photo shoot attracted a bit of an audience.

I didn't make Astrid wait long for her goodies. The thing is, though, that I only got one, incredibly low quality shot of her taste test. See?

You may or may not be able to tell there, but Astrid indeed thoroughly enjoys the NaturVetⓇ Aller-911™ Allergy Aid treats. The instructions on the container indicate that a dog Astrid's size is to receive six treats per day, three in the morning and three in the evening. On this regimen, have we noticed a change in Astrid's scratching and other allergy symptoms? To be honest, not really. They have neither worsened nor improved on the treats as far as I can tell. Nevertheless, Astrid sure does enjoy the treats, so that's a definite plus.


(Disclaimer: As members of the Chewy.com Blogger Outreach Program, we received NaturVetⓇ Aller-911™ Allergy Aid soft chews in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are our own. We only review products that we believe will be of interest to our readers, and we never recommend a product that we do not believe in.)


Wishing all of you friends of ours a tasty, allergy-free Wednesday!

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Our Doodle of the Day:

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Our Tip of the Day:

Today is the last tip in our disaster preparedness series, and it is one that we have repeated many times, on many different occasions. This tip is to always ensure that your furbaby has some form of identification. In the unfortunate event that your furbaby becomes separated from you in any form of disaster or emergency, some form of identification could more easily bring them back to you. A collar with an ID tag as well as a microchip are the most common forms of ID for our kitties or pups. In addition to ensuring this identification is on your cat or dog, also make sure that the information is up-to-date. If you have moved addresses or changed phone numbers, for example, make sure this is reflected on your furbaby's identification. No one ever wants to consider being separated from their kitty or pup, but should this happen in an emergency or any event, your furbaby is more likely to find their way back to you if they are wearing some form of identification.

Taste Test Tuesday (#ChewyInfluencer)

Hello and happy Tuesday, friends! Today, the kitties here have a tad bit of a taste test for you. As part of the Chewy.com Blogger Outreach Program, they tried out a new food this month. And what food did they give a try?

The kitties here tried out Tiny Tiger™ canned cat food of the paté chicken variety. Around here, the kitties will only eat paté food, and their preferred flavor is typically chicken. So, this already sounded sort of promising.

Now, the kitties around here are notorious for being all shades of picky. So, I always cross my fingers and toes when I call them in to try a new food. When it came to this Tiny Tiger™ canned food, I did draw in a couple of curious (and incredibly blurry) felines.

Truth be told, though, the only furbaby around here who was impressed with this food was, well, the dog.

While the kitties around here might not have taken to Tiny Tiger™ canned paté food in chicken, that doesn't mean other kitties out there won't. If you think you know a kitty who might like this, do give it a try. As for us, we'll either be feeding it to our neighbor cat or the strays and ferals who sometimes come our way, or donating it to a local shelter.


(Disclaimer: As members of the Chewy.com Blogger Outreach Program, we received Tiny Tiger™ canned paté cat food in chicken in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are our own. We only review products that we believe will be of interest to our readers, and we never recommend a product that we do not believe in.)


Have a tasty Tuesday, friends!

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Our Doodle of the Day:

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Our Tip of the Day:

Today's disaster preparedness tip is actually instead related to what might occur after a disaster. Just as with humans, cats and dog might show signs of anxiety or other behavioral changes after going through something frightening or tragic. Especially if they are taken away from their home, separated from family even briefly, or in any other way experience a change in their familiar routine, a cat or dog might start displaying behavioral changes. After a disaster or emergency, even after you find yourself safe, always keep a close eye on your furbaby. They may begin showing signs of separation anxiety, or even uncharacteristic aggression. If you do notice any such signs, do not hesitate to discuss the issue with a veterinarian. Products such as calming synthetic pheromones might help an anxious furbaby, but sometimes more potent medications or treatments might be required to help them cope with their post-traumatic stress. Therefore, always keep a close eye on your kitty or pup, especially after they experience any emergency situation, and do not hesitate to seek professional assistance if they begin displaying any concerning behavioral or health issues.

A Chat with Mother Nature on Mancat Monday

Today, Evan is having a bit of a chat with Mother Nature.

This past weekend, we finally had us some cool, crisp weather. It was open window weather, and the kind of weather that allows for this here human to walk pup Astrid in a sweatshirt, rather than in a sweat-drenched tank top. But, then, Mother Nature threw us some extra sun and it reached nearly 90°F again. None of us here were impressed by that, so Evan scheduled a meeting to discuss the matter with Mother Nature. We hope the meeting goes in our favor.

Have a magnificent Monday, friends!

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Our Doodle of the Day:

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Our Tip of the Day:

Our current series of tips is about disaster and emergency preparedness for both yourself and your furbaby. Today's tip on this topic is to contemplate and decide on a proper caregiver for your furbaby, should there be an emergency rendering you incapable of caring for them. Thinking on such unfortunate hypothetical situations is never something anyone looks forward to, but it is nonetheless something important to consider. You will want to ensure that someone you trust might be prepared to care for your kitty or pup in an emergency. It is of course important to discuss this with the person in question, and to ensure that they are truly able and willing to take on the care of your furbaby, should the need arise. In some cases, this might mean including in your will that this person would become your furbaby's caregiver. Overall, though not an ideal topic with which to occupy your mind, it is indeed significant to have a safe and secure plan for your furbaby's care should something render you incapable of caring for them. Think of family or friends whom you trust, whom your furbaby knows, and whom have displayed an ability and willingness to take on the care of your kitty or pup.

Sunday Selfie

We'll make our post today short and sweet and to the point. After all, our internet is really on the fritz these days, and it's a legitimate toss-up as to whether or not it will be working at any given moment. We're going to have to have a real heart-to-heart with our internet provider.

Anyway, it's Sunday. What does that mean? The selfie, of course!

Happy Sunday, friends!

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Our Doodle of the Day:

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Our Tip of the Day:

Yesterday's tip discussed having rescue alert stickers posted at your home, to aid rescue workers in getting all of the animals at your home to safety in the event of an emergency at your house. Today's tip is to have a means of alerting rescuers that there are animals in need of care at your home in the event that something were to happen to you while you are away from home. For example, you could have a pet alert info card in your wallet or in your car, indicating the types and number of animals at your home in need of care should you, God forbid, be rendered unable to make it home to care for them as needed. It is never desirable to consider the possibility of such emergencies or disasters occurring, but it is nevertheless important to think ahead and plan ahead for your kitty, pup, or other companion animal's care in the event of any type of emergency.

The Caturday Scarecrow

It's the beginning of autumn, and I refuse to believe that it's 90°F outside. So, I'm just going to keep scribbling up autumnal doodles like this one over here in my happy corner by the air conditioning register.

Our two black cat housemates, Toby and Winky, informed me that they don't get to star in enough doodles. So, this one's for them!

Of course, that doodle up there is our contribution to Athena's Caturday Art blog hop.

We don't properly thank our blog hop hosts enough. So, Athena, thank you for always hosting this fun and fantastic blog hop! We look forward to it each and every week.

Have a beautiful day, friends!

***

Our Tip of the Day:

Today's disaster preparedness tip is a rather specific one, and it is to consider using a pet rescue alert decal or sticker at your house. These decals or stickers are meant to alert rescue response teams as to how many and what kinds of animals are in the home. They can be placed on a screen door, on a window near a door, or somewhere similar where rescuers can easily see it. This type of information on what animals are in the home can help in the case of a house fire or any emergency evacuation, especially in cases when you are in any way unable to inform response teams as to how many and what kinds of animals are in the home and in need of rescuing. There are a variety of these decals or stickers available online, but one easy way to get them is through the ASPCA, as you can visit their website and order free pet emergency alert decals for your home.

Alerting emergency personnel of the animals in your home can help them to more quickly rescue your companion animals in the event of a fire or other emergency. This being said, though, please do ensure that any such decals or stickers are kept up-to-date. Not only is this important for ensuring that all animals in the house are properly accounted for, but is also important for the safety of emergency personnel. For example, if one of your furbabies has passed away but it is still included on an displayed pet emergency alert at your home, then emergency crews might put their lives at risk looking for an animal who is not even present. So, while these pet emergency alert bulletins can indeed benefit your pets' safety, also ensure that you use them properly in order to keep emergency personnel equally safe.

Friendly Fill-Ins

If you're looking for some Friendly Fill-Ins on this Friday, you've come to the right place! In case you missed them yesterday, we'll share the fill-in statements again below. My co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing is the mastermind behind the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. The last time I _________ was _________.

2. _________ isn't _________.

3. _________ is a blessing in disguise.

4. My favorite word is _________.


Now, if you want to know how I answered these, go ahead and read on.

1. The last time I cuddled a kitty was roughly half a second ago.
(My girl Thimble is the kitty in question this particular time around. When I'm at home, there's usually at least one kitty in reach. All of my kitties seem to have accepted the fact that if I catch sight of them, they're probably going to get hugged on.)

2. The grass isn't always greener on the other side.
(Maybe you just need to water your lawn? Growing up, I remember my mom teaching me that everyone is responsible for their own happiness. You have to water your own metaphorical lawn and your own metaphorical garden before envying how nice your neighbor's looks.)

3. Pain is a blessing in disguise.
(I debated whether to put this as my answer. But, I kept coming back to a song that was popular when I was in high school. This song, "All at Once" by the band The Fray, includes the lyrics, "We'd never know what's wrong without the pain." Those lyrics have always stuck with me, because though they're a bit sad, they're also very true.) 

4. My favorite word is Rosie.
(My angel Rosie's name always was and always will be one of my absolute favorite words. My dad named Rosie, back when my family adopted her in 1993. I've always thought it was such a pretty name, and it means so much to me. Fun fact? Both Rosie and her brother Sammy were named after characters from The Lord of the Rings. Rosie was named after Rose "Rosie" Cotton, and Sammy after Samwise "Sam" Gamgee.)

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.

***

Around here, Friday also means that you all get a fix of Eddy. We yet again, miraculously, have a non-blurry to share of this girl!

All of us here are wishing all of you out there a fantastic Friday!

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Our Doodle of the Day:

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Our Tip of the Day:

Today's National Disaster Preparedness Month tip is to, in the event of a disaster such as a hurricane, do your absolute best to consider the care and safety of animals who may not be your typical indoor companions. For example, do you help care for feral cats, even an entire feral colony? If so, please don't forget them in potential disaster preparedness plans.

Obviously, evacuating feral furbabies may not be anywhere nearly as easy as relocating your tame, indoor kitties or pups. However, do still do all that you can to ensure that you include ferals or strays under your care in the event of an emergency. Especially if there is a known threat of a disaster, try to find a way to access traps or other means of capturing and transporting ferals. And, of course, do your research ahead of time regarding safe areas that would be willing to take in ferals or strays in the event of an emergency. There may indeed be organizations willing to help with this feat. Therefore, also do your research in this regard and reach out to various animal rescue organizations to determine if they can offer assistance.

Another consideration to make are animals such as horses and livestock. As best as absolutely possible, try to always think ahead, even before a disaster is even on the immediate horizon, and make sure that you have access to trailers and other necessities for relocating large animals. And, again, do your research ahead of time regarding where you might be able to safely relocate animals such as horses or livestock.

Trying to orchestrate the relocation of numerous animals in the event of a disaster can indeed be very daunting. Sometimes, despite your best efforts, time or resources are short. In the end, though, you have to simply do the absolute best that you can. The best way to indeed do the absolute best you can is to always think ahead, be prepared, and have a plan. Make sure that you take the time to research safe options for all creatures under your care, and then, accordingly, make plans that could be implemented in the event of a disaster or other emergency.

Thoroughly Poetic Thankful Thimble Thursday

Happy Thoroughly Poetic Thankful Thimble Thursday! Whew. What a mouthful. It's all for good reason, though. Let's start with that poetic part.

It is indeed time for Angel Sammy and Teddy's Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge. Every week, our hosts give us a photo prompt to guide us on our poetic journeys. This week's photo prompt is this cozy, candlelit one here:

To be honest, when I first saw this image, it brought to my mind Louisa May Alcott's Little Women. But, more specifically, this image made me think of at least one of the Christmas scenes from this story. I'm not quite ready to start scribbling up anything Christmas yet, though. Don't get me wrong, I love me some Christmas. But, I also love me some autumn and Halloween and am sort of stuck on that topic.

Anyway, trying to think of something besides Little Women Christmas scenes, I focused on scribbling up a poem about the magic of books. This made me think of all those times when, as a child, I got lost in a book with my angel kitty Rosie and her brother Sammy as my reading buddies. So, that's what I went with, sort of, more or less.

Oh, and perhaps it would help for me to explain that one of my nicknames for my Rosie was Rosie Posie. Sometimes I even called her Rosie Posie Pudding Pie, and that one even had a little song to go with it. I can still sing that strange little tune all the way through, even though my dear Rosie has been gone for three years.

Am I rambling again? I'll stop. So, here is yet another one of my weird and wacky rhymes:

Rosie, Posie, and Friends

Once upon a time, there were three little girls.

The three girls' names were Posie, Mary, and Coral.

Oh, and of course there was a kitty,

A calico who was really quite pretty.

She was the best friend of the girl named Posie,

And this kitty's name was none other than Rosie.

The girl Posie was not quite, well, ordinary.

This did not matter, though, to Coral and Mary.

And of course it didn't matter to her kitty Rosie, the good girl.

After all, true friends never took you for a kook,

Even if other folk claimed that you bothered and spooked.

Really, Posie never meant any harm,

Even if her habit did spark a bit of alarm.

When she was around, nothing was boring,

So much so that her presence sent townsfolk soaring.

There really was no better word for it than magic,

Which Posie nor her friends deemed even a little bit tragic.

You've heard of spellcasting, dark magic, and all sorts of cauldron cooks.

When it came to Posie, though, hers was the magic of books.

Perhaps the problem wouldn't have been so profound,

If in books Posie's nose was not always found.

After all, if her eyes met a sentence starring a dragon who breathes fire,

That very beast would end up right in front of the town's mercantile!

Unable to help herself, Posie oft found herself lost in her magical reads.

That was why her kitty Rosie never left her side, indeed.

After all, who else would alert her when she might need a break,

So that no one in town was eaten by a dragon, or a giant snake?

Not all those in town were appalled by the bookworm of a girl.

After all, do you remember Posie's friends, Mary and Coral?

They were the best friends a girl could ever have,

In addition, of course, to Rosie the loyal calico cat.

Can you guess what the girls did with Posie's magic?
They started a book club, of course, and you better believe that!
Fantasy, mystery, history, and all sorts of action,
Rosie, Posie, and friends even once read and caught a literary assassin!

Of course, the girls knew their club was not quite typical.
Thanks to Posie's skill, it was instead magic and mystical.
Now, was it wise for them to meet in the park or town square to read?
No, it was not, and on that they agreed.
After all, do you remember that fire-breathing dragon we mentioned before?
Rosie, Posie, and friends remembered how cleaning up after that had been a chore.

Posie had long ago befriended the town librarian.
His name was Clive and he was, it seemed, a nonagenarian.
The library had a grand basement made of stone,
And nearly every visitor left it deserted and alone.
That made it the perfect place for the bookworms' magical club,
And Clive didn't mind one bit if the basement was the club's hub.

To the library, Rosie, Posie, and friends headed at least once a week,
Eager to select a book to read, watch, live, and critique.
When one particular week finally arrived,
Their excitement the girls really could not hide.

It was nearly, you see, none other than All Hallow's Eve,
And what kind of little girl didn't crave a book fit for screams?
Indeed, Posie, Mary, and Coral searched the library shelves.
All of the thrillers and horrors they debated amongst themselves.

Should they go for this one about gremlins here?
It was sure to bring them all sorts of wonderful fear.
Or, what about that one there, starring a haunted house?
It would send chills up their spines, without a doubt.

Oh, but wait, what did Coral find over there?
Yes, that one was sure to spook and scare!
Over to the table they ran with it, and fast.
They were more than ready to feel shocked and aghast.

The front cover of this one alone was perfectly chilling.
Posie could certainly make this read all sorts of thrilling.
And so, they opened up the book and the first page they began to follow,
This All Hallow's Eve story called The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

I'm half tempted to draft up some sort of sequel to this little tale for Halloween. I wonder if that will happen. Maybe I'll surprise myself and it will.

***

So far we've rhymed on this Thursday, and now we're about to go all Thimble and Thankful. Ready?

That's right, friends.

Thimble is again thankful for more and more boxes! This here human has a serious addiction to this place called Target. Boxes appear from that place far too often. Well, Thimble doesn't think so. This human, though, thinks she might need an intervention. In all fairness, said human is actually already nearly halfway through her Christmas shopping, and so the oodles of boxes contain all sorts of unseasonally festive goodies.

What's more, this here human raided the infamous $1 bin at Target the other day, and found all sorts of Halloween cat goods. We have enough goodies to do three or four Halloween giveaways in October. We're super excited.

So, in all of that rambling, we're trying to say that we're so very thankful for, yes, boxes. Also, though, we're grateful for the upcoming holidays. We're thankful for our family and our friends, and that of course includes every single one of you.

***

Last but not least, we're here to help you prep for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. Ellen of 15andmeowing crafted up the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. The last time I _________ was _________.

2. _________ isn't _________.

3. _________ is a blessing in disguise.

4. My favorite word is _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Our Tip of the Day:

We're in the midst of a series of tips for National Disaster Preparedness Month. Yesterday, we discussed preparing emergency supplies or a travel kit, so that you and your furbaby will be ready to handle a disaster, evacuation, and so forth, should the need arise. Today, we're here to remind you to go yet another step further and to have a plan. In other words, in the event of a disaster or other emergency, how and what will you do in order to ensure the safety of both your furbaby and yourself? For example, if you live in an area where disasters might make evacuation a possibility, have a safe a safe destination secured, not only for yourself but for your furbaby as well. Do you know of a motel or hotel, or another similar shelter, where animals are allowed? Or, do you have friends or family where your kitty or pup will be allowed to stay? If necessary, research veterinary offices, boarding facilities, or other similar facilities out of harm's way, where your furbaby could be taken in the case of an emergency.

Emergency plans don't just relate to possible evacuations, though. For example, if you live in an area where tornadoes are a possibility, have a plan for what part of the house both you and your furbabies can safely hunker down. Pick a safe room in the center of the house, for example, and have a plan for getting your kitty or pup there in a hurry. If needed, have leashes, carriers, or other necessary tools ready. Depending on where you live and what your situation is, always think ahead to how you will keep both your furbaby and yourself safe in an emergency situation.

One last comment we'll make on this topic is to, as needed and possible, practice your emergency plans. Make sure that everyone in your home knows the plan, and that everyone will know their part in the action. Doing a trial run or two can never hurt, to ensure that everyone is on the same page, and that everything will run as smoothly as possible in an actual emergency.