Thoroughly Poetic Thankful Thimble Thursday

Today is Thursday, which means we're looking forward to joining in on Angel Sammy's Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge.

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

You might be annoyed but not surprised to learn that I yet again went in a kind of spooky, Halloweenish direction with this one. How? In a really weird and random way. If you'd like to read about it, here you go.

Tricks and Treats

Once upon a time, I was tricked.
I thought I was invited to the lake to fish.
But that was not, in fact, the truth.
I was, instead, nothing if not duped.

When I arrived at the lake,
It was not fish we were fishing, for goodness sake.
Rather, Old Lady Laura's apple tree was right there, standing tall,
And she asked for help fishing out the apples that into the water did fall.

With a sigh, I proceeded to fish not for fish,
But instead fished for apples like the old lady wished.
Dozens upon dozens of apples were fished from that lake,
And when we were done, Old Lady Laura asked if for a treat we wished to stay.

I almost turned down the offer,
But then I smelled what she did proffer.
The scent of pastry and apples and sugar wafted to my nose,
And toward those smells my feet did make me go.

Old Lady Laura's home was, well, a bit creepy.
As if her pointy hat and robes were not freaky,
She also had black cats galore,
And, well, so much more.

Were those potion bottles over there on that shelf?
Perhaps stirred up by Old Lady Laura herself?
And what about that—my gosh, is that a skull?
Then off of the shelf one of the black cats that skull did pull.

"Please, take a seat," Old Lady Laura did say.
If it wasn't for the aroma of fresh apple pie I would not have stayed.
Then, when the pie appeared on the table, I kind of cringed.
Honestly, how scary the pie looked actually made me flinch.
That's not to say it didn't also look and smell tasty.
I simply had to look past the skull—yet another—that was the shape of the pastry.

And then the cookies were added to the table.
Can you guess what shape they were in? Are you able?
The cookies also smelled of delectable apple and cinnamon,
But they were also in the shapes of skulls, yet again.

At least Old Lady Laura had a way with flavors,
Because the look of her desserts really did them no favors.
Perhaps I was tricked a couple of times today,
But at least the reward was apple treats with a most delicious taste.

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Now we're excited to join in on Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

As always, Thimble is here to express some gratitude, and today she's thankful for cozy fleece blankets that she can steal from this mom of hers.

Thimble hopes you all have plenty of blankets to steal from your humans!

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Last but not least, let's share the fill-in statements for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. My co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. Is it wrong to _________?

2. I wish I had kept my _________.

3. _________ is my idea of living happily ever after.

4. It's been a long time since I _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Tip of the Day

Today's autumn pet safety tip is about candles. As the weather cools and holidays begin to approach, many folk feel compelled to light some cozy, deliciously-scented candles. That being said, always be careful with candles, and any open flames, around your furbabies. If you do light candles, keep them only in areas where your furbaby cannot reach. For some furbabies, putting lit candles up on a high shelf might suffice. Many cats, though, might still be able to reach candles on shelves and other similar surfaces. If you do have such a furbaby capable of this, yet you also wish to light a candle, then consider measures such as keeping your kitty or pup out of the room where the candle is lit. The long and short of it is to never leave lit candles anywhere that a furbaby can reach, and certainly not unattended. Otherwise, a kitty or pup might find themselves burnt, or might knock a candle over and increase the risk of fire. If you cannot ensure the safety of your furbaby and home, then simply refrain from lighting candles.

It's also worthwhile to note that certain items associated with candles should also be considered dangerous and off-limits to furbabies. This would include matches and lighters, for example. These items should be kept tucked safely away, just as lit candles should.

(Nearly) Wordless Woof Woof Wednesday

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Today's autumnal tip relates to grooming. As the weather starts to cool in the autumn, your furbaby might begin to grow their winter coat. Especially in double-coated furbabies, such as Persian cats and Husky dogs, you might notice the fur filling out and growing thicker as the weather cools. For this reason, do be sure to help you furbaby groom, such as by brushing them on a daily basis, or at least regularly. If you are unable to groom your cat or dog, and especially if they are prone to mats or hairball issues, then you can consider taking them to a groomer. Some veterinary offices even offer grooming services, so, as needed, you can discuss this with your veterinarian. Regardless of if you do it at home or take your furbaby to a groomer, regularly grooming your kitty or pup can help prevent mats, and can help prevent the ingestion of hairballs, especially in cats. Mats can be uncomfortable and painful, so it's of course ideal to prevent these. It is of course also important to help prevent your furbaby's ingestion of too much hair, not only because this prevents the vomiting of hairballs, but also because, in worst case scenarios, ingestion of too much hair could cause a blockage in the intestinal tract. So, don't forgot about those grooming sessions!

Haunted Tonks Tuesday

It's spooky season, and things are getting a bit haunted, but don't any of you worry. After all, a certain calico here is a bona fide ghostbuster and will take care of any unwanted infestations. Like this one.

Tonks is wishing you all a not-so-spooky Tuesday!

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Doodle of the Day

Today's sort of spooky new doodle was inspired not only by the impending impending spooky season, but also by a book I recently read. It involved witches, witches' familiars, and worlds hidden behind secret walls. Because that all makes so much sense.

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Tip of the Day

Today's autumn pet safety tip is a short and simple one, and a broken record sort of repeat, and it is to keep up with those preventatives. Even as the weather cools in the autumn, and even in winter, it is possible for there to be days and conditions that allow for fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, and other parasites to survive. Bites or infestations of certain parasites can potentially lead to a variety of diseases or other medical concerns, some of them life-threatening. In order to better ensure that your kitty or pup remains healthy and happy, therefore, do consider administering their preventatives year-round.

Mancat Monday

Recently, Evan shared this adorable photo of his nose.

Can you believe, though, that Evan actually sometimes ends up with bloopers? I know. Shocking. The good and unsurprising thing, though, is that Evan's bloopers are downright adorable. Just look at this blooper from the same photo shoot as the above photo.

Is that not the cutest chin or what?

Happy Monday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Yesterday's autumn safety tip revolved around helping your kitty or pup stay warm by putting out more blankets or pet beds, and keeping said napping spots off the floor. Today's tip is also about helping your furbaby stay warm as the weather cools down, but this time in the form of food. It is possible that, as the weather grows colder, our furbabies might eat more in order to stay warm. This is because eating spurs metabolism, which can help produce warmth for the body. As it grows chilly, therefore, your kitty or pup might indeed need more food. That being said, though, this often relates more so to outdoor animals. Kitties and pups who live in temperature controlled homes might not, in fact, need a change in food intake during the cold months. And so, if you have any concerns regarding your cat or dog's weight, or if they have related health issues, then of course discuss food intake with your veterinarian.

Sunday Selfie

Today, how about yet another guest selfie from a kitty we've shared multiple times before? Here's my parents' adorable big orange boy named Foggy!

Isn't he handsome? The answer is yes.

Happy Sunday, friends!

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And now we have our contribution for yesterday's Caturday Art Blog Hop, which is of course hosted by Athena.

Our doodle is a just a tad bit spooky, but it was also inspired by my childhood reading buddies, Rosie and Sammy.

Now that's my kind of book club.

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Tip of the Day

Today's autumn pet safety tip is all about those cool fall temperatures. When the weather starts to cool, take into consideration what steps you might have to take to ensure that your furbaby stays warm. Don't forget that cooler weather can be felt both outdoors and indoors.

If it's growing cold outside, monitor your pup or kitty when outdoors, and don't leave them outdoors for long periods of time. In addition, if you care for strays, ferals, or other outdoor kitties of pups, do your best to ensure they have some form of shelter in which to stay out of the wind and to stay as warm as possible. Even a storage container or a Styrofoam cooler turned upside, with a hole cut in the side as an entrance, can allow for some warmth on cool days. You can add blankets or straw to help strays, ferals, and other outdoor cats or dogs huddle up and stay warm in such a shelter. Do keep in mind, though, that blankets can become damp and cold if rained on, which is why straw might be an ideal option for helping outdoor furbabies stay warm in a shelter.

Of course, don't forget that even our indoor furbabies can feel the drop in temperature this time of year. Floors can go from being cool respites on hot summer days to being drafty and chilly in the autumn. For this reason, try to ensure that your cat or dog has somewhere off of the floor to sleep, especially in these cooler seasons. You can put out extra blankets or pet beds for them to warmly nap on. Especially as we get further into autumn, safe and pet-friendly heating blankets or heated pet beds could also be put out for your furbaby. Then again, you can also help your kitty or pup stay warm with some extra lap time.

May we never forget.

Today marks 20 years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States of America. Today, we honor all those who lost their lives or loved ones as a result of fateful September 11, 2001. May we never forget.

I'm not one of those who has an especially significant story relating to 9/11, but the memories are still rather clear in my head nonetheless. I was 12 years old when 9/11 occurred. When the Twin Towers were hit, my 7th grade English class was just about to begin. I remember the principal coming into the classroom with a look on her face that I can only think to describe as terrifying. She handed a note to our teacher, who then proceeded to barely maintain composure as she told us what was going on in our nation. I am Catholic and attended a Catholic school as a child, and the main thing I remember about that day at school is every student being ushered to the church where we could sit and pray, because what else were we supposed to do.

If I'm being honest, I think one of my 12-year-old self's most vivid memories revolving around the 9/11 terrorist attacks didn't even occur on 9/11 itself. It occurred on October 7, 2001, when the evening's regular television programs were interrupted as the first bombs went off in the war in Afghanistan. I remember thinking, They're going to air this on television? And then they did.

Today we pray and hope for peace.

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We'll continue with our usual weekly blog hops tomorrow, including our true contribution for this week's Caturday Art Blog Hop, as today we want to focus on remembering and honoring the victims and heroes of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

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Did you know?

Did you know that an estimated 300 trained search-and-rescue dogs were present at Ground Zero following the September 11 attacks? Did you know that the last person found alive at Ground Zero, roughly 27 hours after the towers collapsed, was found by a search-and-rescue dog? There were also therapy dogs present, offering comfort to anyone who might need it at Ground Zero. Sadly, both human and companion animal lives were lost as a result of the September 11 attacks, but they shall all be remembered.

Friendly Fill-Ins

Hello and happy Friday! We're ready for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. Are you? If you'd like to join in, please do so! My co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two fill-in statements, and I came up with the second two.


1. My cure for the hiccups is _________.

2. I am currently watching (or reading) _________.

3. I would recommend _________ to anyone who _________.

4. I can do without _________ as long as _________.

My answers are below in bold.

1. My cure for the hiccups is holding my breath.

(Does this always work? No, it most certainly does not. I need a better cure, especially since I for some reason get the hiccups quite regularly.)

2. I am currently watching endless Halloween movies.

(It's September. That obviously means it's time for Halloween and all things horror and spooky.)

3. I would recommend a furry companion to anyone who wants a true friend.

(I'm not saying humans can't make for good friends, but if you want true unconditional love and all that good stuff, you really can't beat a furry friend.)

4. I can do without luxuries as long as my kitties and pups are happy and healthy.

(I came up with this fill-in statement and ended up not being able to think of much to put for it. I've actually never really been one to buy luxury items in the first place. I don't really enjoy shopping in any regard, not even for things like for new clothes, which is why my closet still consists largely of clothes I've worn since high school and college. This doesn't bother me, so I just never do much about it. My priority is and always will be caring for the furry family members I happily bring into my life.)

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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Your Eddy fix for today is brought to you by treat time.

Happy Friday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

We're still in the midst of our series of autumn pet safety tips. Today's such tip is to take precautions if you are walking your pup or kitty on autumn evenings. This time of year, it starts growing dark earlier in the evening. Therefore, if you head out with your furbaby on a walk in the evening, such as after getting home from work, be sure to wear bright colors, and make sure that your furbaby's collar, leash, and/or harness is adorned with reflectors. This way, if your furbaby is out on a walk with you after it has grown dark for the night, both your furbaby and yourself can be more easily seen and avoided by potentially dangerous traffic. Of course, when walking your furbaby in the dark, also do your best to select a route that is the safest one possible.