Thoroughly Poetic Thankful Thimble Thursday

Happy Thursday! It's time for Angel Sammy's Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge. Isn't that such a fun and wonderful thing?

As always, our host shared with us a photo prompt to help us get poetic. This week's prompt is this interesting image here:

I used that image as a starting point, and then my mind went a tad bit off track, and then I ended up with this:

Believe

Max and Nate were the best of friends,

A tabby cat of five and an active boy of ten.

On one fine day Nate's mom told the boy and his cat,

"We're off to the barbershop, so that your hair can again fit beneath your hat."

Though Nate wanted to argue because he quite liked his long hair,

He knew in the end it was useless, which in itself was unfair.

"Come on! Let's go!" Nate's mother did shout.

It took all of Nate's willpower not to whine and pout.

The only good thing about the trip to the barber was that Max came along.

By some stroke of luck, Nate's barber doubled as none other than a pet salon.

And so, just like that, they were off.

Nate hoped the barber didn't give his hair a full chop.

They arrived at the barbershop and Nate was directed to a chair.

So was whiskered Max, his tail swishing this way and that high in the air.

Nate resigned himself to the fact that he would be saying goodbye to his hair.

To ease the blow, he decide to request something that would add a bit of flare.

The barber asked, "So, Nate, what do you have in mind?"

Nate knew his answer and immediately replied,
"I want my hair to make me, well, a real cool guy.

I want something that would be worn by someone really great.

I want to be like a superhero who saves people while flying in his cape."

The barber nodded and patted Nate on the head.

The old man told the boy, "I'll certainly take into consideration what you just said.

Remember, though, that it's not just the hair that makes a hero.

Your belief in yourself also has to be far greater than zero."

The barber snipped here and chopped a bit there.

Nate hoped he wouldn't be disappointed with his new hair.

He hoped Max would end up looking mighty fine and fierce as well.

Nate had told the barber that Max believed looking like a lion would be swell.

When both Nate and Max's hair had been good and trimmed,

The barber picked up a mirror and grinned.

He said, "Remember what I said, Nate and Max.

Half of being a hero and a lion is belief in yourself, and that's a fact."

The barber held up the mirror and Nate and Max had a look.

To that mirror Nate's eyes were hooked.

Is that really what he was seeing?

The barber had certainly made comments on believing.

The reflection in the mirror revealed a boy and his cat.

But there was far more to it than that.

In the mirror, beneath his new haircut Nate was wearing a hero's cape.

As for Max, his reflection boasted a lion's mane that looked far from fake.

"Come on, boys!" Nate's mother then called out.

About the reflection Nate wanted to scream and shout.

Certainly he'd get nothing but funny looks, though,

And so he simply took one last look in the mirror before he did go.

With his mother and Max, Nate headed outside.

It was growing late and the moon had risen in the sky.

Its light cast shadows from far, far behind.

When Nate looked down,

He gasped and clapped at what he saw on the ground.

"Max! Look! Do you see our shadows?"

The boy spun in a circle as the cat cheered, "Meow!"

Nate grinned and watched as the cape his shadow wore waved in the wind.

The lion's mane that Max's shadow wore only served to widen the boy's grin.

***

Now, on this Thursday, Thimble is ready to share a couple of her Thankfuls.

Today, Thimble is again grateful for one of her favorite window views in the house (even if said window is chronically dirty with certain furbabies' nose art). Thimble is also thankful for her adorable face and its whiskers. She's quite proud of them.

As always, all of us here are also incredibly thankful for this wonderful community and the friends we've made here.

***

Last but not least, how about we share the statements for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge? Ellen of 15andmeowing is the mastermind behind the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. I could not _________ without _________.

2. A simple pleasure I enjoy is _________.

3. If I could change one thing about myself, _________.

4. _________ is hard to find these days.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Tip of the Day

Today's tip is to be careful and cautious with your furbabies when outside in cold weather, and to be aware that our furbabies' tolerances to cold can vary. Some animals are more susceptible to getting cold, such as those with a thin coat or no fur, those who are very young or very old, and those who are ill or in any way compromised. Sometimes, it comes down to the fact that some animals simply tolerate cold better than others. In any extreme weather, such as cold winter days, it is important to keep a very close eye on any animal who is outside. If your pup or kitty is outdoors taking a bathroom break or on a walk, monitor them closely. If you notice any shivering, restlessness or anxiety, or anything out of sorts, get them inside where it is warm.

One simple rule of thumb to follow, especially when in doubt, is that if it's too cold for you, then it's likely too cold for your furbaby. Hypothermia and frostbite can affect our cats and dogs just like it can affect us, so don't risk these medical emergencies. Don't leave your furbabies outdoors in the frigid cold. Do not set out on long walks on cold days, but instead stay close to home and be vigilant regarding your furbaby's comfort, health, and safety. If you care for feral cats or other outdoor animals, try to ensure that they have some form of shelter that is out of the elements and off of the ground. If possible, offer some form of warmth in the outdoor shelter, a topic we very recently discussed.