Poetry

SAWYER’S ZOOMIES

Thoroughly Poetic Thursday

It was a dark and story night… No! That’s how I had intended to start this week’s poem after I saw the prompt photo.

 

zoomies

 

Light may be coming through the window, but this place made me think of a haunted castle and a scary ghost cat. Some other member of the household, however, had other thoughts and commandeered the computer. Here’s that kitty’s poem.

 

Zoomies

 

I like to zoom all through the house,
Chasing my brother or sometimes a mouse.
I sprint up the stairs as fast as I can
Then scurry on down again and again.
Stairs are a toy and a kitten’s best friend
Provided I don’t slip and fall in the end.
When tired I can rest quietly on a tread
Hoping to trip a human lost in their head.
They may say words not fit for young ears.
If that happens, I must quickly disappear.
If not, I may find myself put in timeout
Where I can do nothing but hiss and pout,
Until I’m released to start over again.
Because as a kitten it is not a sin
To play, run and zoom until I am pooped
And can curl up with my big brother, Coop.
For a warm, cozy snuggle until dinnertime
After which the stairs I will once again climb.
This time to bed for a night’s soothing rest,
So once again my humans’ patience I’ll test
As I resume my antics the very next day,
Turning stairs into my very own speedway.
When you’re a kitten nothing’s impossible
As my humans always will think I’m adorable.
And if I’m lucky, I’ll get some nommy treats
Even when I stealthily dive ‘neath their feet.
But I must remember never to hurt them too badly
As for me this only can end quite sadly.
If they are stuck in the hospital healing,
I’ll be left home alone with only hurt feelings.
So though I may think stair zooming’s a game,
I promise my humans, them I will never maim.

© Sawyer Blue 01/31/2018

So it seems that the newest member of the furmily thought he deserved to be part of three consecutive posts. I’m hoping his fursibs don’t gang up on him for being such a blog hog. Though, he’s one tough kitten and can take care of himself.

We’ll be joining Teddy and angel Sammy for poetry day. If you’d like to read Sammy’s poem…maybe something to do with a stairway to heaven. We’re just guessing at that. Anyhoo…to read his poem and find links to those of others, click on the badge below.

Thankful Thursday

Each week we join the blog hop over and Brian’s Home and let everyone know something for which we are thankful. That hasn’t been an easy task the past few weeks. We are grateful today that no other kitty has come down with the eye “icks.” Both Misty May and Cooper Murphy are still being treated and improving.

To join Brian’s Hop, click on his badge.

 

See you tomorrow for the Friendly Fill-Ins blog hop.

FINDING JOY IN YOUR LIFE

Thoroughly Poetic Thursday

It is time to join our pals, Teddy and Angel Sammy, from Two Spoiled Cats for another poetry Thursday. Their mom, Pam, is now presenting a photo each week to inspire our thoughts and creativity. Here’s this weeks photo followed by my poem.

 

boy + puppy = joy

 

Joy

Pure joy can be found in the simplest of things:
The beauty of a rainbow after a storm;
The first crocus of spring after a drab, cold winter;
A hot cup of cocoa after shoveling snow;
The giggle of a youngster watching blown bubbles;
The smile on your child’s face as he meets his new puppy;
The gentle purr of a cat curled in your lap;
The support of good and faithful friends.
Life’s little pleasures are what keep us looking ahead
When both the smallest and largest of problems
Try to overwhelm us and break our spirits.
I choose to see and find the joy in all things.

Janet Buickerood Blue 01/24/2018

Each week Angel Sammy’s poem, which he transmits from the Rainbow Bridge is a must read. To read and find links to other poems in the comments, click on his badge. While you are there, check out the photo for next week’s poem and consider joining in the fun.

My poem this week is a good complement to Monday’s Sparks post. If you missed, Searching for Miracles, click here.

Thankful Thursday

Regardless of my poem this week, it continues to be difficult to find things for which to be grateful. Another of the Kitties Blue crew has become infected with the eye icks! We’ll fill you in on the latest vet visit on our Friendly Fill-Ins post. Dad Tom and I are grateful, however, that Calista Jo has finished her medications and appears to have made a complete recovery. We also are extremely thankful for a great AAHA-accredited and American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) and International Society for Feline Medicine (ISFM) Cat Friendly Practices® veterinarian, Vinton Veterinary Hospital. Even when Dr. Neel is out of the office, we know all the other vets in the practice are terrific and will give our fur babies the very best of care.

Thankful Thursday is a blog hop hosted each week by Brian. To join in, click on his badge.

 

 

REMEMEBERING ANGEL SAMMY

Thoroughly Poetic Thursday

We have a special poem today remembering our friend and the originator of Thoroughly Poetic Thursday, now angel Sammy.

We had this colorful photo of hot air balloons as our inspiration.

 

 

Remembering Angel Sammy

Do you remember angel Sammy’s Balloon
Adventure when he visited his friends?
He came to see us in Roanoke
And flew over the famous Mill Mountain Star.
We hung a sign on the star welcoming
The King of Baconia to our city.
We even had bacon cookies waiting.
Sammy visited many pals on his trip.
As Sammy went to the Bridge that day,
It was both a special and sad journey.
Mau lost his best friend, but Fiona
Had Sammy as her traveling companion.
They received their wings together and
Now look down on the balloons and us all.
We miss our sister and our dear friend
And wish they could fly down for a visit.

© Janet Buickerood Blue 01/17/2018

Here’s a photo taken the day of Sammy’s visit and included on our post, “Come Fly With Me for Sammy.”

 

Come Fly With Me

 

To take part in Thoroughly Poetic Thursday, check out the photo prompt at Two Spoiled Cats, write a poem and post it on Thursday. Then visit Teddy and Sammy’s blog and post your poem or a link to your post in the comments. You can visit Two Spoiled Cats and read angel Sammy’s always memorable poem by clicking on his badge.

 

 

Thankful Thursday

We also participate in Brian’s Thankful Thursday blog hop each week. We all think it is very important to be grateful. You may think my thankfulness is a bit silly this week, but I can’t help myself. I found out when visiting Four-Legged Furballs yesterday that today is Winnie the Pooh Day, and I adore Pooh. So, I am grateful today that A.A. Milne created Pooh and all his friends, especially Tigger.  In fact, I like Pooh and Tigger so much, I have them both tattooed on my back. As today is Pooh’s special day, I am sharing a photo of that tattoo.

I’ve had this tattoo for about 20 years, so Pooh isn’t as vibrant as he once was, and it’s not a great photo, but I still wanted to share.

If you’d like to share on your blog for what you are thankful and join Brian’s hop, click on his badge.

 

 

 

NO OCEAN VACATION

Thankful Thursday

We usually begin our Thursday post with our Thoroughly Poetic Thursday poem; however, we are switching it up this week. Cooper Murphy is so much improved after having a high fever and being quite sick at the end of last week. His right eye is not 100% yet and he continues to get ointment in each eye. He also has meds to take for a few more days. But he should make a full recovery for which we, especially Mom and Dad, are all grateful. Cooper and the entire family thank you for the purrs, prayers and POTP.

Thankful Thursday is a blog hop hosted by our pal, Brian. To join in and let all your friends know for what you ate thankful, click on his badge.

 

Thoroughly Poetic Thursday

This week’s photo prompt is a day at the beach. Having grown up in California, the beach is a place our humans really enjoy visiting. We, however, have no interest in such a thing, as evidenced by our poem. That little boy in the photo doesn’t look very enthusiastic either!

 

Kitties Blue have no intention of visiting the ocean.

No Ocean Vacation for Kitties Blue

We’ve never been to the beach.
The distance makes it out of reach
For cats who don’t like the PTU,
Which includes most of the Kitties Blue.
Even a short car ride is not enjoyed,
So a six-hour drive would surely make us annoyed.
Sand between our toes might be okay,
Much like the litter box we’re in each day.
But we definitely don’t like wet feet,
Which might occur if the ocean we meet.
We’ve all seen the video of Mau in the pool.
None of us plan to be similar fools.
Taking a dip in the great big ocean
Would be an incredibly stupid notion.
We’ll just ponder this photo picked by Teddy’s mom
And stay home in bed safe and calm.

© Kitties Blue – 01/10/2018

Thoroughly Poetic Thursday is hosted by our friend, Teddy, and his big brother, angel Sammy. Sammy transmits a poem each week from the Rainbow Bridge. To read his poem, which is always a masterpiece, visit Two Spoiled Cats by clicking on his badge. You also can find links to other poems among the comments.

Discount Code

If you missed our Tuesday post, “No More Litter Mess,”  you missed our review for the Smiling Paws Pets litter mats. You can read that review here. If you think you’d like one or more of these mats, use the promo/coupon code, Janetblue15 on the Smiling Paws Pets website for 15% off you entire order.

Secret Paws

We’re all hoping we can open our Secret Paws package today, since Cooper Murphy is feeling better. If that happens, we’ll tell you all about it tomorrow and combine Friday Fill-Ins with Caturday Art the following day. Guess you’ll just have to check back tomorrow to see what we’ve been doing.

Purrs and paw-pats, angel Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, angel Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth, Calista Jo, Cooper Murphy and Sawyer

ONE OF A KIND

Thoroughly Poetic Thursday

As we do each Thursday, we are joining Teddy and Angel Sammy’s Thoroughly Poetic Thursday. Mom Pam posted a really cool photo last week for inspiration. I had been looking forward to writing that poem, but that was not to be. I have written a poem to and for Lily Olivia.

One of a Kind

I don’t know how to say good-bye.
I thought you were invincible; though,
You used up many of your nine lives.
You ruled us all with an iron paw;
Never took “no” for an answer
And always got your way.
If not, you’d bark to signal your
Displeasure and sometimes raise a paw.
I always joked that you were bi-polar.
When I told people you were a calico
They immediately understood what I meant.
Today was unnaturally quiet in the house.
Can a home seem empty with eight cats?
I will miss waking up at night to find you
Sitting next to me and staring at me.
I will miss you yelling at us as you did
When you wanted breakfast and dinner.
I will miss watching you lounging and snoozing
On the porch settee on a warm afternoon.
But most of all I will miss your kisses!
When kitten Sawyer befriended you,
We suspect you were imparting your
Wisdom and secrets for controlling us.
Time will tell if he was a good listener.
But whatever he may have learned,
Neither Sawyer nor any other cat
Can or will replace you in our hearts.
Lily Olivia, you were one-of-a-kind.

© Janet Buickerood Blue 01/03/2018

 

To find Angel Sammy’s poem, which he transmits each week from the Rainbow Bridge, click the badge below. You can also find links in the Comments to other poems as well as see the photo prompt for this week and next week.

Thankful Thursday

It is beyond difficult to be thankful today. Losing Lily Olivia is not a good start to the new year. I am, however, thankful to have had her in our lives for nearly nineteen years. And I am grateful to everyone who has left comments on our “Saying Good-bye” post as well as on the Cat Scouts and Crotchety Cougars websites and Tom’s Facebook page and sent e-mail messages and texts of condolences. Thank you. I will do my best to thank each of you personally during the next few weeks.

As a tribute to Lily Olivia, I am sharing a few photos from the afternoon of New Year’s Day. These are the last photos taken of her. I apologize for the quality. Lily was enjoying her last sunpuddle, and Sawyer was soaking in all those secrets she was sharing.

 

One of a Kind

 

One of a Kind

 

One of a Kind

 

Thankful Thursday is a blog hop hosted by our friend, Brian. To share your “thankfuls,” click on his badge.

 

QUIET, PLEASE!

Thoroughly Poetic Thursday

We kitties had a terribly difficult time creating a poem this week. We had this gorgeous photo, selected by Mom Pam and angel Sammy, as our inspiration. Regardless, our poetic abilities fizzled.

 

Kitties prefer quiet.

 

Quiet, Please!

Fireworks are extremely pretty,
Unless you are a sensitive kitty.
The booming loud noises
Never cease to annoy us.
All the people oohing and ahhing
Just causes our frantic ear pawing.
As humans seem to enjoy the show,
Under the bed we all plan to go
And not come out until it’s 2018,
When we can return to our regular routine.

© Kitties Blue 12/27/2017

We must apologize to Teddy and angel Sammy for this feeble excuse for a poem. If you go to Two Spoiled Cats, by clicking on the badge below, we know you will find an expertly crafted poem by angel Sam. You will also find links to other poems among the comments.

Thankful Thursday

This section is lots easier today, and wow are we thankful for that. We also are grateful for all the holiday cards we have received from our friends, which we will share in a few days. We received lots of new toys, wrapping paper, tissue and boxes. As with the greeting cards, we will be showing you some of our gifts in a future post. But just to give you a bit of a preview, here’s a photo of Sawyer and Cooper Murphy enjoying Christmas.

 

Kitties prefer quiet.

 

Thankful Thursday is a blog hop hosted by Brian. To join in, click on his badge.

 

 

Thanks for dropping by to see us.

Purrs and paw-pats, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, angel Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth, Calista Jo, Cooper Murphy and Sawyer

LETTER TO SANTA CLAWS

Thoroughly Poetic Thursday

We are begging forgiveness this week from Teddy and Angel Sammy for going off-script with our poem this week. This is the photo for which we were challenged to create a poem.

 

 

We thought it was pretty depressing for the week prior to Christmas. And we really wanted to reshare this poem, which we originally wrote and posted for Christmas 2014.

 A Cat’s Letter to Santa Claws

Santa
Oh dearest Santa, I promise I’ve been good.
Always used my litter box and eaten all my food.
That broken lamp was a minor transgression.
I don’t think it required that time-out session.
And it wasn’t I who shred the arm of that chair.
Besides, isn’t that why they come as a pair?
The hairball on the human’s pillow didn’t come from me.
I don’t have floofy furs, as you can plainly see.
And all that litter spread throughout the house hither to yon…
It sprang right out of the box long after I had gone.
And you know that sandwich the human left on the table…
I swear it was stolen by a stray mouse named Mabel.
And the Christmas tree that suddenly toppled over…
Was not pushed by me but a marauding gopher.
I have no idea how these critters invaded my space.
I never leave the cat door open or out of place.
Oh. dearest Santa, I’ve truly never ever been naughty.
So please bring me some toys from Jackson Galaxy.
And a big bag of nip to last a whole year…
Please, oh please, oh please Santa dear.
And some nommy treats would be totally pawsome.
I’d eat every one and not leave a crumb.
For I, the cat, have been as good as a cat can be.
So please don’t pass me by this Christmas Eve.
If you’ll stop by my house once again this year,
I promise to leave cookies and a bit of good cheer beer.
And as to next year, I raise my right paw
And promise to be a good cat, oh dear Santa Claws.
Yours truly, The Cat

So now you know what happened yesterday…a marauding gopher! If you missed yesterday’s post, the link is at the bottom of this post.

We also are sharing this today, as on Mondays we participate in the Sparks blog hop at McGuffy’s Reader, which we think is a good thing for sharing on Christmas Day.

We are joining Thoroughly Poetic Thursday at Two Spoiled Cats. To read Sammy’s poem, which he transmits each week from the Rainbow Bridge, click on his badge. You also will find links in the comments to other blogs with poems.

 

Thankful Thursday

We also are joining Brian’s Thankful Thursday blog hop. Our “thankful” was easy to select this week. No one got in trouble yesterday for the little “oopsie.” And it was not reported to Santa,

If you’d like to tell everyone for what you are thankful, join the blog hop by clicking on Brian’s badge.

 

Purrs and paw-pats, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, angel Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth, Calista Jo, Cooper Murphy and Sawyer

 

KITTIES BLUE SAVE CHRISTMAS

Thoroughly Poetic Thursday

Today we begin a new challenge for Angel Sammy’s Thoroughly Poetic Thursday at Two Spoiled Cats. After three rounds of using prompts from the alphabet, we now are challenged to write a poem inspired by a photo posted by Sammy and Teddy’s mom, Pam.

This is the photo Mom Pam posted last Thursday. It is followed by our poem.

 

Kitties Blue Save Christmas

 

The Day Kitties Blue Saved Christmas

As the nine of us hunkered down to wait for Santa,
the sky grew cloudy; we watched a huge storm brewing.
It was massive with turbulent mammatus clouds, and we
worried that Santa’s RPS* would not be working.
When a bolt of lightening caused our lights to flicker
all we could do was cross our paws, purr and pray
that Santa and his reindeer would come through okay.
We were certain he had faced similar conditions
in the four centuries he’d been delivering presents,
but still we feared for the reindeers’ and Santa’s safety.
We paced the floor, wondering how we could help when
the youngest of us, Sawyer, cleared his throat and meowed, “I
bet, if we turn on our lasers, we could guide him through.”
We were amazed the whippersnapper knew just what to do.
It’s his first Christmas, and we didn’t know he was a
smartypants. First we contacted all our fursibs at the
Rainbow Bridge: Skooter, Steamer, Daphne, Thelma, Louise,
Twinkle, Chloe, Madison, MacKenzie and Fiona
and had them gather. Together, they set their halos
to high and shone the light toward earth. Then we all grabbed
our antlers, turned on our high beams and directed our eyes
toward heaven. The dazzling glow caught Santa’s attention,
and he knew just where to fly, directing his reindeer
through the dense clouds and down to earth from the sky.
As he put gifts in our stockings, we asked our friends to do
the same, and that’s how Santa delivered gifts to all in 2017.

© Kitties Blue 12/13/2017

* RPS = Reindeer Positioning System

A few of us agreed to to have our photos taken in our antlers: Giulietta, Cooper Murphy and the elusive Misty May.

 

Kitties Blue Save Christmas

 

If you’d like to read Sammy’s poem, which he transmits each week from The Rainbow Bridge, click on his badge below. You also can find links to other poems in the comments.

 

Thankful Thursday

Each week we participate in this blog hop hosted by Brian. We have so much for which to be thankful, especially this time of year. Today we want to thank all are wonderful blogging friends who have remembered us by sending Christmas greetings. It touches our hearts that you care for us enough to make this kind gesture. The pet blogging family is the most caring, thoughtful and generous community, and we are grateful to be members and to have made so many fabulous friends.

To join the Thankful Thursday blog hop, click on Brian’s badge.

 

Purrs and paw-pats, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, angel Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth, Calista Jo, Cooper Murphy and Sawyer

AT THE BLUE ZOO

Thoroughly Poetic Thursday

Today is when we join our friend, angel Sammy, in writing a poem. We are completing our third trip through the alphabet with the prompt letter of “Z” for this week’s verse. The prompt words are: 1) zoo 2) zing, 3) zipper and 4) zap. Z is hard enough without having to come up with our own subject, so Mom went with “zoo” as the inspiration for our verse—a haiku. Mom claims that some weeks her imagination just refuses to engage. So, three lines are all you get.

The Blue Zoo

Do you live in a cat zoo?
Our mom says we do.
It’s the best fun you can have.

© Janet Buickerood Blue 12/06/2017

We are fairly certain that lots of our friends who live in multi-cat households sometimes feel just like we do. The pitter-patter of little feet can sound more like a stampede of elephants when there are 36 of those feet. When the bellowing begins at breakfast and dinnertime, we sound more like a crash of rhinos. And we gobble that food up like a passel of hogs.

Until ten days ago, our clowder numbered just eight. Mom says that on most days she felt we were manageable. Now with nine, she’s not so sure. Sawyer is four pounds of pure wildcat. He growls, snarls and flails like a ferocious big cat. We’re all hoping that when he is no longer confined for most of the day and night to the living room, he will calm down.

Sawyer does not like being alone, and he’s not quiet when he is—unless he’s sleeping. We, however, have never heard him meow. He chirps incessantly like a distressed baby squirrel.

 

Blue Zoo

 

We know Mom and Dad will be happy when he can be permanently released to roam the house—which he has done on a few occasions when he’s escaped the living room. This should happen soon, as he has completed his course of antibiotics. We’re not too sure how we feel about this upcoming event. Stay tuned for updates.

We are joining Teddy and angel Sammy for Thoroughly Poetic Thursday. Sammy writes the best poems every week and sends them to Mom Pam from the Rainbow Bridge. Each one is a must read, so please click on his badge and visit. You also will find poems as well as links to even more poetry in the comments section at Two Spoiled Cats. So please visit and consider writing some poetry of your own.

Thankful Thursday

Each week we also enter the Thankful Thursday blog hop at Brian’s Home. This week, we are thankful that our friend Buddy Budd (Tomcat Commentary by Tim) is back home after experiencing some scary medical issues and having to stay in the hospital. He still needs our purrs, prayers and POTP, so we hope you’ll send some his way. Click on the badge to visit him.

We’re especially thankful that Mom has almost finished the holiday decorating and soon will be able to spend more time with us. That beacon you see shining in southwestern Virginia is our house. After totally skipping Christmas last year, it’s nice to see her decorating again. And it’s always fun to help, especially when there’s garland, light strings and a ladder.

To join the Thankful Thursday blog hop, click on Brian’s badge.

That’s it for us. Mom says it’s time for bed. She’ll be here tomorrow doing Friendly Fill-Ins.

Purrs & paw-pats, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, angel Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth, Calista Jo, Cooper Murphy and Sawyer

ONE YEAR MISSING ANGEL FIONA

Thoroughly Poetic Thursday

This week’s poem was not easy to write. It is now the third poem in a series about Angel Fiona. The first was “You,” written the day before she got her wings. The second poem was “Yesterday,” written six-months later. Today’s poem comes one-year (tomorrow) since she flew to the Bridge. Each of these milestones has fallen when the week’s prompt letter as been, “Y.” Because of that, this poem is entitled “One Year Missing You.” “Year” also is one of the suggest prompt words. The others are: 1) Yesterday, 2) Yummy and 3) Yellow.

You can read the first two poems in the series on the sidebar. This poem will be added to those on Friday.

One Year Missing You

One year has passed since you flew away,
And I still think of you everyday.
I see your sweet face in my mind’s eye
And wish we’d never had to say good-bye.
It’s nice you’ve sent us kitties needing a family,
But my dearest love, we are now at capacity.
You thought it would take more than one cat
To take your place in our habitat.
We love Cooper Murphy and baby Sawyer dearly
But thinking either could replace you makes me teary.
You were one-of-a-kind and will stay in my heart
Until the day I join you and we’re no longer apart.
When once again I can hold you in my arms
And revel in all your love and feline charms.
Together with you and all who have passed.
I will spend eternity contemplating how blessed
I was to share my life with my furry children,
Each and every one of you one-in-a billion.

© Janet Buickerood Blue 11/30/2017

Thoroughly Poetic Thursday is the creation of now angel Sammy, who passed last year, the day after Fiona. Each Thursday he transmits his poem from the Bridge. He is a masterful poet, and you really need to visit Two Spoiled Cats each Thursday to read his thoughtful and inspired verse. You also will find links to other poems in the comments section. To visit, click on his badge.

 

Sammy also presented Fiona with this badge for looking out for and finding a home for Cooper Murphy and Sawyer with her family. He has, however, promised to keep her in check in the future. Thank you, Sammy!

 

 

Sammy has been exceptionally busy lately, as he also made this welcome badge for Sawyer.

 

 

Thankful Thursday

We have so much for which to be thankful this week. First off, Cooper Murphy is thankful that the mouse from yesterday’s post was dumb enough to return to the catio. This time he deaded it.

All of us are grateful we had the opportunity to take Sawyer off the streets and give him a home for the holidays and all the years to come.

Finally, we are thankful to have such a great friend as Angel Sammy as well as his little brother, Teddy.

Thankful Thursday is a blog hop hosted by Brian’s Home. To join in, click on his badge.