Thoroughly Poetic Thankful Thimble Thursday

It's that time of the week again, when we rhyme, share Thimble's adorable self, and give thanks. We'll start with the rhyming.

We always enjoy participating in Angel Sammy and Teddy's Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge. Each week, our hosts share with us a photo prompt to help us get started. This week's image is this festively hustling, bustling one here:

I didn't have much of an aim with this poem. I just sort of used the basic concept in the image above, and ended up with this:

Naughty or Nice?

Where did young Noelle fall on Santa's list?

Was she naughty, or was she nice enough to get her wish?

Perhaps a little story can answer this.

Let's start this tale on a day not long before Christmas.

Noelle woke up that morn at the crack of dawn.

She allowed no time for even the quickest of yawns.

She sprung out of bed and readied for the day quicker than quick,

Throwing on her coat that was redder than her mother's favorite lipstick.

It was to her mother's room that Noelle then did run.

"Come on, Mother, let's go! We're already being beat by the sun!"

Noelle's mother replied, "We have all day. What's the hurry?"
"I'll be in the car," Noelle said as away she did scurry.

Passing scarcely any other cars that early in the day,
To the local mall Noelle and her mother made their way.
The car was hardly even parked before Noelle dashed out the door,
Making her way to the very fist of many, many stores.

"What all do you want?" asked Noelle's mother.
The girl declared, "Anything and everything, and this, that, and the other!"
And so Noelle and her mother visited store after store.
They carried boxes and bags filled clothes, toys, and a great deal more,
Even though navigating the hustling, bustling, festive crowds was a chore.

At the very last store, the goods were boxed up and gift wrapped for them.
Noelle watched as the store worker turned a plain box into a gem.
"Excuse me, but could you do me a favor?" Noelle asked, her eyes wide.
"Could you wrap for me some boxes that have nothing inside?"

The worker replied, "Are you planning to pull a mean prank on someone?

Some unlucky soul will open such a box and realize it was not in good fun."

Noelle smiled and said, "For everything there is a reason.

Especially during this mighty fine and festive season."

And so, Noelle and her mother walked out with boxes both full and empty,
All of them wrapped up in a manner ever so pretty.
Her mother did not even ask where they were headed next,
As she pulled onto the road to make their festive trek.

After what seemed to Noelle like an eternity,
They finally pulled into the lot of a place filled with all things furry.
ANIMAL SHELTER, read the sign above the door.
Inside, Noelle and her mother carried boxes galore.

"What have we here?" asked the woman who greeted them inside.
She held a little kitten in her arms and walked with a big pup at her side.
"We brought gifts for all of the animals you've saved,"
That was Noelle's answer as she gave a nearby tabby a great big wave.

Noelle added, "We even have some festive empty boxes for the kitties here.
I know my cat at home thinks every empty box is something quite dear."
Noelle and her mother were happily led down every hall,
Where they gave cats toys and dogs tennis balls.
They fed them treats and played with them for hours,
And even used the beautiful empty boxes to build the cats castles and towers.

Though Noelle and her mother could have stayed there all day,
They still had a great many other stops to make.
After saying their goodbyes to the happy animals, their new friends,
It was with good tidings and thank yous that on they were sent.

Noelle and her mother made similar stops all over town.
At the children's hospital, they made smiles out of frowns.
At the nursing home, they delivered gifts from the west wing to the east.
To the homeless shelter, they brought enough food for a festive feast.

At the end of the day, Noelle and her mother were tired,
But at the same time, they could not help but smile.
Do you remember the question we asked in this rhyme's first lines?
Perhaps now on an answer you can properly decide.
Certainly it's obvious whether Noelle is naughty or nice.

***

Every Thursday, Thimble gets to show you all how adorable she is. She also lets you all know what she's thankful for these days. Today, Thimble got a tad bit distracted while doing both of these things.

Thimble was trying to show you all how pretty she was beside the Christmas tree, and obviously how grateful she is for said Christmas tree. But, some little kitten sister of hers started playing beneath the tree and wreaking havoc on her photo shoot. Isn't that so rude? Thimble hopes you all don't mind this blooper she was forced to take.

On this Thankful Thursday, all of us here are also beyond thankful for our home, for each other, and for the friends we have in all of you.

***

Now we're here to help you prepare for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. I really need to _________.

2. My favorite Christmas (or Hanukkah) decoration is _________.

3. It's beginning to look a lot like _________.

4. This time of year, I eat my fair share of _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Our Tip of the Day:

Given the nature of the poem we shared above, we thought we'd use today to discuss some options for making Christmas merry and bright for shelter and rescue furbabies. To help brighten their holidays, you can make any number of donations to your local shelters and rescue groups. Toys, beds, blankets, cat trees, scratching posts, and anything that might help to enrich the shelter environment is one great option, even if these items are gently used ones that your own kitty or pup no longer uses or needs. You can also donate dry and canned foods and treats, as well as chew bones or other chew toys. Of course, also don't forget other items that could help to make the animals' and shelter workers' lives a bit easier, including carriers that you no longer need, and a variety of cleaning supplies. Many shelters and rescues have wish lists established online, or can inform you by phone or email of what they are most in need. Some shelters even simply ask you to save up newspapers or old towels and blankets to help make cages more comfortable for the animals. Of course, if you are able to make a monetary donation, no matter how big or small that may be, that can also help tremendously.

In addition, you could opt to volunteer your time, or even your home! Fostering a furbaby, even if simply to give them a temporary home in which to enjoy the holidays, can make a world of difference for both the animal and the staff who would otherwise need to be available to care for the furbabies over the holidays. If fostering is not an option, you can also sign up to help at the shelter, such as by caring for and interacting with adoptees over the holidays. This extra care and kindness could mean a great deal to a furbaby who is still waiting for their forever family to find them, and of course can also help relieve the shelter staff.

No matter how small or grand, anything you might be able to gift to a shelter or rescue this Christmas could make all the difference. So, if possible, don't forget the furbabies awaiting their forever homes this holiday season!