Thoroughly Poetic Thankful Thimble Thursday

It's time to rhyme! That is, it's time for the Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge, hosted by the handsome Angel Sammy and Teddy.

Each week, our hosts offer us a photo prompt to get our creative juices flowing. This week's image is this beautiful one here:

This image makes me feel very calm and nostalgic. To be honest, that peaceful place looks to me like somewhere to which someone might retreat after retirement. I don't know really know why, but that's simply the thought that came to my mind. I know that I wouldn't mind hanging out somewhere like that once I retire.

For whatever reason, that thought then brought to my mind memories of my paternal great-grandparents. I was lucky enough to know both my great-grandfather and great-grandmother, and I have some very fond memories of them. Though I did not get this gene from them, my great-grandparents loved to travel. They would go off on adventures, and they would come back with all sorts of random yet intriguing souvenirs.

Anyway, my poem this week is very loosely based on my great-grandparents. That being said, I'll be the first to admit that this is certainly not one of my most riveting poems. It's also, surprisingly, one of my shortest. So, for another random rhyme by me, feel free to read on!

Golden

Everything was golden

For Jim and Audrey Holden.

They had lived decades numbering nine,

And their years had been more than fine.

They sat that day upon their porch,
Their rockers swaying back and forth.
Upon their laps snoozed their two feline friends,
Who had been with them for years that numbered two times ten.

Jim and Audrey gazed out at their lake,
As they waited for the sun to wake.
It would soon rise golden in the sky,
Allowing another day in their golden years to pass by.

Everything was indeed golden
For Jim and Audrey Holden.
Golden even were their memories,
And their adventures could fill treasuries.

Jim looked to Audrey and asked,
"Remember when we traveled the Nile all those years past?"
How could Audrey have forgotten?
She would take that memory with her to her coffin.

Reminiscing then began,
About that journey to that golden land.
They had sailed the Nile for miles and miles,
Their journey bringing them many smiles.

When they sailed ashore to that golden sand,
Jim and Audrey were both perfectly tanned.
But that was not an important detail,
And against all else it really paled.

The golden sand they traveled for hours,
Until they saw pyramids ahead like towers.
The pyramids stood tall and golden,
And brought much excitement to Jim and Audrey Holden.

They toured the pyramids for a very long time,
And lost count of how many they did climb.
But their journey did not end there,
For then they visited a creature quit rare.

You see, next up was the majestic Sphinx,
Which looked nothing like their cats, Tiger and Lynx.
Jim and Audrey were nevertheless in awe,
Of this creature with its stern face and giant paws.

After their time with that golden creature,
Jim and Audrey proceeded to the next feature.
They returned to the Nile and saw a great many things,
Until they finally stopped at the Valley of the Kings.

It was Tutankhamen's tomb they sought,
And disappointed they were not.
The king of old slept in his golden coffin,
Visitors in awe of it really quite often.

The journey to the land with golden sand,
It was but one of Jim and Audrey's adventures grand.
Though they treasured the adventures on which they roamed,
There was nothing like the comfort of home.

And so Jim and Audrey sat upon their porch,
Their rockers swaying back and forth.
Beside them, as always, were their two faithful cats,
Who, like Jim and Audrey, were full of class.

These four companions gazed out at the lake,
For here there were still golden memories to make.
They watched the sun rise golden in the sky,
Casting gold onto the water beneath which did lie.

You see, everything was golden
For Jim and Audrey Holden.
Their youth had been like golden treasure,
Filled with joy beyond any bit of measure.
And golden were their memories,
That they treasured with the greatest of reverie.
And now, golden were their years,
Which they held incredibly dear.

My great-grandparents' names were, indeed, Jim and Audrey. Their last name was Robinson, though, not Holden. But, Robinson didn't rhyme with golden quite to my liking, so I took some liberties and changed it up. They also never traveled to Egypt, but that's just another liberty I took.

***

Thimble said that's enough with all that other business. It's time for her to shine.

What are we looking at here?

Oh, yes, these bright and shiny shots star Thimble's tushie. These are actually some throwback shots to our review of Burt's Bees waterless cat shampoo (to read our review, just click here). Since Evan is hind limb paralyzed and therefore his aim in the toilet is at times not all that on point, he got to be the main reviewer of the shampoo. Thimble did not like that, though, so she sidled her way into to some of the shots. A model's gotta do what a model's gotta do.

Speaking of models, Thimble decided that she wanted to portray how thankful she is for her modeling skills as part of Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

In all seriousness, though, we have so much for which to be grateful. We are thankful for our health and happiness, and for our home and each other. As always, we are of course also so incredibly grateful for all of you friends of ours. Blogging and making friends here is something that makes us happy every single day.

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Last but not least, below are the fill-ins for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. The first two fill-ins come from the mind of my co-host, Ellen of 15andeowing. I came up with the second two.

1. My favorite subject in school was _________.

2. An extracurricular activity I participated in was _________.

3. I want to learn _________.

4. It takes courage to _________.

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Our Tip of the Day:

Is your kitty or pup a fast eater? If your furbaby inhales their food, there are some potential ways you can help slow down their eating. One way is by placing something such as a golf ball or tennis ball, or another safe item, in the bowl. This can slow down eating since they have to eat around the item. Of course, do make sure that any item used is not a choking hazard, and also that it doesn't take up such a large portion of the bowl that it would restrict the ability to eat altogether. There are also bowls on the market that have partitions that serve the same purpose, to slow down a dog or cat's eating. In this same vein of thought, sometimes all it takes is using a plate rather than a bowl, as having the food more spread out can also slow eating. Using methods to slow down eating can help reduce problems that often result from rapid eating, such as regurgitating food and weight gain from overeating.

Doggie Déjà Vu...Again

Can you guess what you're about to see? Huh? Can you?

That's right. It's Astrid yet again being a pouty puppy in the window. I need to ask professional model Thimble to teach this pup some new poses.

Wishing all of you friends of ours a wonderful Wednesday!

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Our Doodle of the Day:

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Our Tip of the Day:

We have another quick and simple food and drink tip today. Especially for older, arthritic, or furbabies otherwise unable to get around well, try to place food and water bowls near their favorite places to sleep or hang out. If possible, you can also try to place bowls all throughout the house so that they have easily accessible options wherever they are at the time. This can help ensure that furbabies with less mobility are still getting proper nutrition and hydration.

Tabby Tuesday

Today seems like a Tabby kind of Tuesday. There are a lot of tabbies roaming around this house, so let's see who steps up to the plate today.

Oh, look, it's Eddy!

Eddy thought she'd show off those mighty tabby stripes of hers. So, there they are!

Happy Tuesday, friends!

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Our Doodle of the Day:

Teddy and his mom Pam gave us the suggestion of doodling up some sushi. So, we did just that!

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Our Tip of the Day:

Keep in mind that, depending on factors such as a cat or dog’s size and health, some furbabies might require special considerations for the setup of their food and water bowls. For example, tall dogs, dogs with deep chests, older animals who have difficulty bending down, and animals with short snouts might do best with elevated bowls that are situated closer to the level of their chest or face. Food and water bowls elevated in this manner can allow for more comfortable eating and drinking, as well as easier chewing, swallowing, and overall digestion. Of course, on the other hand, do ensure that the bowl is not too elevated, especially for small dogs or cats, as having to reach up to eat would be uncomfortable for them as well. So, do be sure to take time to observe your kitty or pup’s dining habits, and to adjust their bowls to ensure they are able to dine comfortably.

Mancat Monday

On this Mancat Monday, mancat Evan is keeping a close eye on those neighbors of ours.

Sometimes, you really just have to snoopervise the neighbors. And, sometimes, you're just not all that impressed with what you see.

That's what Evan thinks of little children playing in their yard across the street. Perhaps he wasn't sure if they needed some sort of assistance. After all, they were sort of screaming bloody murder.

Do you all like to snoopervise the neighbors? Surely Evan isn't the only one who does. You really have to keep an eye on those neighbors sometimes.

Happy Monday, friends!

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Our Doodle of the Day:

We're still working on the suggestions you all gave us when we asked what food you would like to see doodled up. None other than Erin asked for a doodle with a mouse and a bowl of cream, because those are her favorite foods. This one's for you, Erin!

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Our Tip of the Day:

Don’t forget to regularly clean those food and water bowls! We sometimes might forget about the furbabies’ bowls, such as if they sit out of sight on the floor or in another room. But, do include these in your regular cleaning of dishes. Whether the bowls are metal, ceramic, glass, or plastic, grease or other debris from food, as well as dog or cat saliva, can indeed build up and lead to less than sanitary dining. So, do be sure to clean those bowls!

Sunday Selfies

Happy Sunday, friends! Today, a certain orange boy has, yet again, some window whiffies to share with you all.

A certain pup around here just loves to photobomb Evan's photo shoots. Can you see her sniffer back there?

The window whiffies get more and more rare every day, since the air that comes in through that window is more like that from a furnace. That's why, when we do get window whiffies, we cherish them.

Evan's window selfies up there were of course snapped for the Sunday Selfies blog hop, hosted by the fantastic Kitties Blue of The Cat on My Head.

Evan and all of us here are wishing you all a spectacular Sunday!

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Our Doodle of the Day:

We're not done with our foodie doodles yet. Today's doodle was a suggestion made by none other than Stunning CK. She recommended that we create a certain Chinese-inspired dish, that being fried mice. Your wish is our command, CK!

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Our Tip of the Day:

Continuing our tips on food and water bowls, also don’t forget to keep each furbaby’s preferences in mind. Just like us humans, our furbabies can indeed have types of bowls that they like more than others. For example, some cats or dogs might not like the ringing sound food makes when it hits a metal bowl, or perhaps even a ceramic bowl. Other cats or dogs might be wary of using a bowl with a design or picture on the bottom of it, as it is possible for them to think that is something sitting in their bowl. Though we might not think such things would matter, do keep these ideas in mind. Especially if your furbaby seems to be wary or hesitant of eating out of certain bowls, try to deduce why (though of course make sure that there is not a medical reason for food aversion!) they are avoiding the bowl and then do your best to remedy it.

It's Taco Time!

In case you were wondering, yes, yes we are still doodling all sorts of foodie goodies. Back when we asked what types of foods you all might like to see us doodle, our friends over at Animal Shelter Volunteer Life requested tacos. Our pals over at The Cuddlywumps Cat Chronicles even seconded that notion. So, of course, tacos had to happen!

This taco cat of a doodle is of course our entry into Athena's always fun Caturday Art blog hop.

Be sure to visit Athena to see all of the masterpieces created by our friends!

Happy weekend to all!

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Our Tip of the Day:

Yesterday, we mentioned the importance of the material out of which a cat or dog's food or water bowl is made. Today, we’re here to remind you that size also matters when it comes to your furbaby’s bowls. As we’re sure you know, make sure the bowl is comparable to the size of the furbaby. A large dog will obviously require a larger bowl, while a small dog or cat might have difficulty eating from such a large bowl.

What's more, when it comes to those kitties, also keep in mind the concept of whisker fatigue. Whisker fatigue occurs when a bowl is too small and the whiskers brush the sides when eating or drinking. This can be uncomfortable for the cat, and can therefore lead to a reluctance to use the bowl. So, try to make sure that a cat’s bowl is wide and also shallow enough to allow for comfortable eating. Like us, our furbabies like to eat and drink in comfort!

Friendly Fill-Ins

We're here today with the Friendly Fill-Ins! In case you missed them yesterday, below are the fill-ins for this week. The first two come from the mind of Ellen of 15andmeowing, and I came up with the second two.


1. My neighbors _________.

2. The last thing I purchased online was _________.

3. I have never _________.

4. Anything is possible if _________.


I took a turn to feel these in, and here's how I did:


1. My neighbors can be very talkative.
(Let me preface this by saying that I have wonderful neighbors. I am lucky in that I can trust essentially all of them, which is very comforting, and also perhaps rare. The only issue is that some of my neighbors really love to talk. Don't get me wrong, because this certainly does not make them bad people. It's only a problem because I am an introvert, and conversing isn't really my thing.)

2. The last thing I purchased online was a thermos.
(I don't drink coffee, but I do love to make smoothies, and I needed a thermos that could keep them cold. I purchased a thermos that indicates it can keep drinks cold for at least 24 hours. I doubt I'll ever test that claim, but it's very impressive nonetheless.)

3. I have never flown on an airplane.
(I don't like to travel, and the thought of flying on a plane sort of terrifies me.)

4. Anything is possible if you keep a positive attitude.
(I know that that thought might not always be 100% true, but in general, I am a huge proponent of staying positive. Positive thoughts and optimism really can take you far.)

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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We didn't forget that Friday is also the day when Eddy gets to show you all what she's up to.

More window whiffies!

Truth be told, we don't have many window whiffies these days, what with it being 90°F and all.

Does it feel like summer out there for you friends of ours? We hope you're all having beautiful days, with some window whiffies, too!

Happy Friday!

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Our Doodle of the Day:

Today's foodie doodle came about thanks to a suggestion from The Island Cats. When we asked what foods you all might like to see in some doodles, The Island Cats they said they would like to see some pizza. We thought that was a mighty delicious idea!

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Our Tip of the Day:

To go along with our foodie doodles, we're continuing on with our foodie tips. We'll now be discussing furbabies' eating and drinking habits. To start this off today, we’re here to remind you to be cognizant of the material out of which your furbaby's bowl is made. When possible, steer clear of plastic bowls. This is in large part because plastic can be easily scratched, and these scratches can harbor all sorts of bacteria and other microbes. This can lead to issues such as feline chin acne. Stainless steel bowls, or even ceramic, are often recommended. If you do use or have to use plastic bowls for any reason, be sure to clean them frequently, and to replace them as needed, such as if you notice scratches. This will help prevent bacterial growth and issues such as feline chin acne. Eating and drinking are of course crucial to our furbabies’ daily lives, so do be sure to pay attention even to details such as the types of bowl they are using.