Sunday, May 3, 2020

A Selfie and a Rhyme

Because Thursday was Eddy's birthday, Thimble didn't get to star in her usual Thursday post. This little lady cat therefore informed me that today was to be her day. She was ready to share a selfie for the Sunday Selfie Blog Hop, which is of course hosted by the Kitties Blue over at The Cat on My Head.


Thimble didn't want any of you fans of hers forgot how cute she is. So, she snapped this selfie right here:


In case you're wondering, Thimble was staring at lights on the wall in this selfie. This human here loves how big Thimble's eyes get when she does this. Can you blame me?



***

Thursday was the last day of the April A to Z Challenge, and for that reason on that day we didn't share our weekly poem for Angel Sammy's Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge. That's why we're sharing our poem today.


As always, our host shared a photo prompt to guide us. This past week's prompt was this historical image here:


I thought seeing that photo would send me into a more historical mindset, but that's actually not the direction I went when I sat down to write my poem. Rather, something else entirely emerged as I started to type. It still involves swimming, and it also involves a kitty, of course. If you're curious, here's the silly poem in question:


Swimming Practice

Summer was on the horizon.
Because of that, young Betty's anxiety was rising.
It's not that she wasn't eager for warm weather and blue skies.
The problem was that she could neither swim nor dive.

All of Betty's classmates spent summer at the pool.
That was an activity Betty heard was fun and kept you cool.
She didn't want to feel left out,
But she also had her fears and doubts.

Betty's parents had tried teaching her to swim many times,
But fear and hesitation were apparently her biggest crimes.
All swimming lessons to that day had proved unsuccessful,
A fact that made Betty feel absolutely dreadful.

Wishing to spend summer with her friends,
Betty resolved to put her fear of water to an end.
Practice makes perfect, doesn't it? she asked her own mind.
With a cringe, she hoped swimming practice would be kind.

Not but a few minutes later, Betty stood in her bathing suit by the water.
She feared failing and losing all honor.
Touching one toe to the water, Betty pulled back and frowned.
She worried, Am I nothing but a great big coward?

Betty jumped back when something brushed her leg.
Looking down, she realized it was her dear cat Meg.
Now Betty stood beside the water with her feline friend.
Of the two, Betty found herself the only one from whom fear stemmed.

Meg the cat jumped to the edge of the water,
And then she dove in with the ease of an otter.
She swam and floated like a boat,
Water splishing and splashing against her calico coat.
Meg paddled and her fur grew wet.
Watching her cat in the water made Betty wonder why she did fret.

Meg swam and dove and clearly wasn't scared.
Should I get in the water? Betty's thoughts dared.
She again put a toe in the water, and then an entire leg.
When both legs were in the water, she was excitedly greeted by Meg.

Finally, Betty let the water rise to her shoulders.
She paddled like Meg, though the girl was slower.
When she found her groove, Betty began to gain speed.
Soon, she had also gained confidence indeed.

Betty and Meg paddled and splashed.
A yellow duckie frequently floated by in a dash.
The girl giggled and her cat let out a mew.
They were now giddy swimming buddies, these two.

Suddenly, Betty's mother appeared.
"Mama!" Betty shouted. "Do you see what I'm doing here?
I'm swimming! I'm swimming!
And I'm not even kidding!"

"Yes, I see that you two are swimming," Betty's mother said.
The woman then sighed and shook her head.
Then Betty's mother added, "Now can you move on to the pool?
The way you're treating this bathroom and bathtub is just cruel."


That illustration there is actually a flashback from last year's April A to Z Challenge. It fit the poem I scribbled up, though, so I shared it here. The illustration of course stars my angel Rosie, and both it and the poem are somewhat inspired by my childhood with Rosie. Though Rosie never liked being in water, and she certainly never dove into a full bathtub, she did use to keep me company when I bathed as a child. Both Rosie and her brother Sammy would sit on the edge of the bathtub while I bathed, and I would be careful not to splash them because I didn't want them to run off.

The above doodle is not the only one from last year's A to Z Challenge that starred Rosie in the bathroom. In a couple of other doodles from that series, Rosie washed her face and brushed her teeth. See?



We hope you enjoy seeing some of the flashback doodles from last year's A to Z Challenge, because we have several more we plan to share with you over the next week or so. They all of course star my angel Rosie, because she has become the focus of all of my doodles for the annual April A to Z Challenge.

Happy Sunday to all!



***
Tip of the Day:

Yesterday we discussed some of the potential symptoms of heartworm disease. Today's tip is a simple one grounded in a bit of common sense. And that is, if your kitty or pup is showing signs of potential heartworm disease, or if you have any concern regarding the disease for any reason, of course schedule an appointment for your furbaby to be seen by their veterinarian as soon as possible. Furthermore, this is the time to discuss heartworm testing with your veterinarian, and of course to ask questions as needed to understand the process.

That being said, keep in mind that there is a relatively simple heartworm blood test for dogs. It is recommended that this testing be done at least annually, or as needed. On the other hand, testing for heartworms is not as easily done in cats. We will discuss this a bit further tomorrow, but typical blood tests for heartworms do not always offer as definitive results in cats as they do in dogs. In cats, a heartworm antigen or heartworm antibody test can be done. Another option is to have imaging done, such as chest x-rays. Though not always simple or easy, as long as you and your veterinarian work together, it is possible to determine if your kitty has heartworms. So, if you have any concern whatsoever that your kitty, or your pup, might be at risk of heartworm disease, do not hesitate to schedule a vet visit for testing.

11 comments:

Catscue Catmom said...

Wow, those are some might fine peepers there Thimble!

meowmeowmans said...

Thimble, we could never, ever forget you, sweet girl!

Your doodles of Rosie washing her face and brushing her teefs are so precious. :)

Eastside Cats said...

Ya know, it's been so long since I've been swimming, that I don't even have a swimsuit anymore!

The Florida Furkids said...

Thimble, you are unforgettable!

The Florida Furkids

Timmy Tomcat said...

Loved that selfie Thimble

messymimi said...

Thimble, you remind me of the song Pretty Little Angel Eyes.

Fun poem and illustration, i hope she helps clean the bathroom, i'll bet the water splashed everywhere.

Dash Kitten Crew said...

Thimble looks so focused and intent on watching. What a lovely picture!

Melissa, Mudpie and Angel Truffles (Mochas, Mysteries and Meows) said...

That's one purrfect selfie, precious Thimble!

The Island Cats said...

Wow, what big eyes you have, Thimble!

Pam and Teddy said...

Great selfie..........and PURRRFECT poem for the photo last week. We thought we'd spark some imaginative goodies with that old photo and we sure did - this is proof of that. We love it. Thanks for playing along with us every week....................love the doodles too!!

Hugs, Pam and Teddy

pilch92 said...

Thimble is a beautiful girl. I love all the drawings and that was a great poem too.