Thoroughly Poetic Thankful Thimble Thursday

Happy Thursday! Let's kick off this post with our usual weekly rhyme. That is, our poem for Angel Sammy's Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge.

Each week, our host shares a prompt to guide our poetic endeavors. This week's prompt is this sweet image here:

I usually try to briefly (but more often long-windedly) try to explain how I got from the prompt to my final poem. This week, my explanation is actually on the brief side. In short, I'm a Halloween freak and really wanted to write a Halloween poem this October week. So, I thought of how I could drop those two little children into a strange little Halloween tale, and this was the wacky result:

The Halloween Adventure

Brother and sister eagerly awaited Halloween.

After all, that was the night of trick-or-treating,

Which, of course, meant bags and bags filled with candy.

They counted down the autumn days until Halloween,

And it arrived one cool and crisp night, finally.

The brother and sister threw on their masks,

And then they swiftly gathered their empty candy sacks.

They ran out the door and into the street,

Where could be the heard the pattering of a great many trick-or-treating feet.

The brother and sister dashed past pumpkin lanterns and ghosts.

Their goal was to have their candy sacks bursting with the most.

To this door and that door and over there they ran.

They shouted, "Trick or treat!" until candy landed in their hands.

They did not know how many hours had passed,

But they suddenly realized the current house was the last.

They had now visited every house they could find,

And that thought brought sadness to their candy-loving minds.

But wait! What was that over there?

The brother and sister felt hope in the air.

They stood near the edge of the town's forest of skeletal trees,

And on the forest path something could be seen.

Where the forest met the cobblestone street,

A piece of candy rested on the ground by their feet.

After squabbling over which was the owner of that candy,

The brother and sister realized there was not point to their arguing.

After all, there was more where that candy came from.

In fact, a trail of candy continued on and on.

Through the skeletal trees the candy followed the forest path.

The brother and sister eagerly ran after it all just like that.

The ran and grabbed up candy after candy quick and fast.

They again knew not how much time had passed.

The trail of candy finally led them to a fence of white pickets,

Beyond which stood a house that looked a tad bit wicked.

So as not to disturb the owner of the house that looked haunted,

The brother and sister tiptoed instead of plodded.

Into the yard the trail of candy continued,

Until it finally stopped at a cauldron that was just one of two.

The cauldron on the right held even more candy.

The one of the left overflowed with a brew bubbling and green.

The brother and sister quietly picked from the right cauldron more and more candy.

From behind them they heard, "Are you serious? Really?"

They spun around and found themselves facing a black cat.

The white picket fence was where it stared and sat.

The cat was indeed the one who had spoken.

"What are your names?" it asked next, not even remotely joking.

The sister was the first to speak, her eyes wide.

"Hansel and Gretel," was her stuttering reply.

"Figures," the cat said,

Adding to that a sigh and a shake of its head.

The cat huffed and jumped to the ground,

And then yet more words emerged from its mouth.

"You really don't find all of this suspicious?

You don't find following a trail of candy into a dark forest at all capricious?"

The cat either hissed or sneezed,

And then it stopped right beside the children's knees.

It looked up at the house perhaps haunted,

Though the cat didn't seem even remotely daunted.

The cat said, "My witch lives here.

She's kind to me and I hold her dear,

But I don't advise you cross her path,

Unless in that there cauldron's bubbling brew you wish to take a bath."

"You mean she would cook us in that?"

It was Hansel who frightfully asked.

"If she finds you here, yes."

On that matter, that was all the cat said.

The cat had a final thought or two to say,

And he said them then without delay.

"Greed is going to be the downfall of lads and lasses like you.

You seem quite greedy, you two.

You have plenty of candy in your bags already.

Following a trail of candy into a dark forest? Really?

Get out of here, and make it fast rather than slow and steady."

Just then, an old woman's crackling voice could be heard from inside.

The brother and sister froze, though they wished to hide.

The old voice said, "Kitty! Come in for your dinner, kitty kitty kitty!

Don't let it get cold, or else you'll be silly!"

The cat bumped Hansel and Gretel's legs.

He nudged them with great force with his head.

Away from the cauldron of candy he urged them,

Just as the old woman inside called out again.

"Kitty, did you by chance find any guests out there to invite?

If you did, that would be more than all right!"

There was a cackling laugh that curdled Hansel and Gretel's blood.

They didn't wish to be boiled in the cauldron's brew like green mud.

The cat asked them, "Should I tell my witch you're here?

Or are you finally wise with well-placed fear?"

Needing no more hints or urging,

Hansel and Gretel set off running.

As they scurried back towards the town,

They could practically feel the cat's frown.

The feline called out just one last thing to them then:

"Enjoy your candy and cavities, children!"

***

As always, Thimble is ready to share her Thankfuls for Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop. Today, Thimble is grateful that the sore on her pup sister Astrid's foot is essentially all healed up.

We mentioned last week how Astrid suddenly developed a sore on her back right foot. That is the same foot from which she had a cancerous tumor removed in October of 2017. That's why we got her in to be seen by the vet as soon as possible. The vet was fairly certain it was a simple abrasion, though, but did say that if it didn't heal up in a week or so that she'd need to have further testing on it done. But that won't be necessary, because it's all healed up! Astrid is still free of cancer, with nothing but a harmless scab on her foot. Astrid's humans and her kitty siblings are all so thankful for that.

Of course, we're also grateful for this wonderful blogging community and all you friends of ours!

***

Last but not least we of course have the fill-in statements for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the last two.

1. October is the perfect month for _________.

2. The most recent purchase I made online was _________.

3. If I turned invisible for a day, _________.

4. _________ has gotten me in trouble in the past.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Halloween Tip of the Day

Our past two Halloween tips were reminders of the potential hazards of Halloween decorations. Wreaths, garland, and festive trinkets can pose dangers, as can candles in or out of jack-o'-lanterns. And, of course, don't forget cords for strands of lights or other decor. Today, relating to potential Halloween home decor dangers, we're going to mention some ways that you can indeed put out decorations, but in a safe manner.

First, of course, keep any and all potentially hazardous items high off of the ground, or out of the reach of your furbaby in any other way necessary. This might mean putting decorations on shelves that are high off of the ground, or in display cases that have doors. When it comes to cords, it is best to find a way to safely tuck them away or tape them down. There are even pet-safe and child-safe cord covers, under which cords can be tucked away from curious paws and mouths. And what about candles? Aside from refraining from burning them, or keeping them out of reach or in a room your furbaby does not have access to, you can try battery-operated or other similar artificial candles. You can use these types of  safer option in festive candle holders, or even to light your jack-o'-lanterns. Of course, though, do keep in mind that batteries and plastic parts and pieces can also pose their own risks to furbabies. So, while fake candles might not burn your furbaby, it is still wise to keep an eye on your furbaby around such items, especially if your kitty or pup is a chewer.