diff --git a/src/timmy/mcp_tools.py b/src/timmy/mcp_tools.py
index 62b8b9a..3971406 100644
--- a/src/timmy/mcp_tools.py
+++ b/src/timmy/mcp_tools.py
@@ -21,6 +21,10 @@ Usage::
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import logging
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from PIL import ImageDraw
 import os
 import shutil
 import sqlite3
@@ -270,7 +274,7 @@ async def create_gitea_issue_via_mcp(title: str, body: str = "", labels: str = "
         return f"Failed to create issue via MCP: {exc}"
 
 
-def _draw_background(draw: "ImageDraw.ImageDraw", size: int) -> None:
+def _draw_background(draw: ImageDraw.ImageDraw, size: int) -> None:
     """Draw radial gradient background with concentric circles."""
     for i in range(size // 2, 0, -4):
         g = int(25 + (i / (size // 2)) * 30)
@@ -280,7 +284,7 @@ def _draw_background(draw: "ImageDraw.ImageDraw", size: int) -> None:
         )
 
 
-def _draw_wizard(draw: "ImageDraw.ImageDraw") -> None:
+def _draw_wizard(draw: ImageDraw.ImageDraw) -> None:
     """Draw wizard hat, face, eyes, smile, monogram, and robe."""
     hat_color = (100, 50, 160)  # purple
     hat_outline = (180, 130, 255)
@@ -314,7 +318,7 @@ def _draw_wizard(draw: "ImageDraw.ImageDraw") -> None:
     )
 
 
-def _draw_stars(draw: "ImageDraw.ImageDraw") -> None:
+def _draw_stars(draw: ImageDraw.ImageDraw) -> None:
     """Draw decorative gold stars around the wizard hat."""
     gold = (220, 190, 50)
     for sx, sy in [(120, 100), (380, 120), (100, 300), (400, 280), (256, 10)]:
diff --git a/src/timmy/thinking.py b/src/timmy/thinking.py
index 72866ab..6bab20c 100644
--- a/src/timmy/thinking.py
+++ b/src/timmy/thinking.py
@@ -1277,6 +1277,53 @@ class ThinkingEngine:
             logger.debug("Failed to broadcast thought: %s", exc)
 
 
+def _query_thoughts(
+    db_path: Path, query: str, seed_type: str | None, limit: int
+) -> list[sqlite3.Row]:
+    """Run the thought-search SQL and return matching rows."""
+    pattern = f"%{query}%"
+    with _get_conn(db_path) as conn:
+        if seed_type:
+            return conn.execute(
+                """
+                SELECT id, content, seed_type, created_at
+                FROM thoughts
+                WHERE content LIKE ? AND seed_type = ?
+                ORDER BY created_at DESC
+                LIMIT ?
+                """,
+                (pattern, seed_type, limit),
+            ).fetchall()
+        return conn.execute(
+            """
+            SELECT id, content, seed_type, created_at
+            FROM thoughts
+            WHERE content LIKE ?
+            ORDER BY created_at DESC
+            LIMIT ?
+            """,
+            (pattern, limit),
+        ).fetchall()
+
+
+def _format_thought_rows(rows: list[sqlite3.Row], query: str, seed_type: str | None) -> str:
+    """Format thought rows into a human-readable string."""
+    lines = [f'Found {len(rows)} thought(s) matching "{query}":']
+    if seed_type:
+        lines[0] += f' [seed_type="{seed_type}"]'
+    lines.append("")
+
+    for row in rows:
+        ts = datetime.fromisoformat(row["created_at"])
+        local_ts = ts.astimezone()
+        time_str = local_ts.strftime("%Y-%m-%d %I:%M %p").lstrip("0")
+        seed = row["seed_type"]
+        content = row["content"].replace("\n", " ")  # Flatten newlines for display
+        lines.append(f"[{time_str}] ({seed}) {content[:150]}")
+
+    return "\n".join(lines)
+
+
 def search_thoughts(query: str, seed_type: str | None = None, limit: int = 10) -> str:
     """Search Timmy's thought history for reflections matching a query.
 
@@ -1294,58 +1341,17 @@ def search_thoughts(query: str, seed_type: str | None = None, limit: int = 10) -
         Formatted string with matching thoughts, newest first, including
         timestamps and seed types. Returns a helpful message if no matches found.
     """
-    # Clamp limit to reasonable bounds
     limit = max(1, min(limit, 50))
 
     try:
-        engine = thinking_engine
-        db_path = engine._db_path
-
-        # Build query with optional seed_type filter
-        with _get_conn(db_path) as conn:
-            if seed_type:
-                rows = conn.execute(
-                    """
-                    SELECT id, content, seed_type, created_at
-                    FROM thoughts
-                    WHERE content LIKE ? AND seed_type = ?
-                    ORDER BY created_at DESC
-                    LIMIT ?
-                    """,
-                    (f"%{query}%", seed_type, limit),
-                ).fetchall()
-            else:
-                rows = conn.execute(
-                    """
-                    SELECT id, content, seed_type, created_at
-                    FROM thoughts
-                    WHERE content LIKE ?
-                    ORDER BY created_at DESC
-                    LIMIT ?
-                    """,
-                    (f"%{query}%", limit),
-                ).fetchall()
+        rows = _query_thoughts(thinking_engine._db_path, query, seed_type, limit)
 
         if not rows:
             if seed_type:
                 return f'No thoughts found matching "{query}" with seed_type="{seed_type}".'
             return f'No thoughts found matching "{query}".'
 
-        # Format results
-        lines = [f'Found {len(rows)} thought(s) matching "{query}":']
-        if seed_type:
-            lines[0] += f' [seed_type="{seed_type}"]'
-        lines.append("")
-
-        for row in rows:
-            ts = datetime.fromisoformat(row["created_at"])
-            local_ts = ts.astimezone()
-            time_str = local_ts.strftime("%Y-%m-%d %I:%M %p").lstrip("0")
-            seed = row["seed_type"]
-            content = row["content"].replace("\n", " ")  # Flatten newlines for display
-            lines.append(f"[{time_str}] ({seed}) {content[:150]}")
-
-        return "\n".join(lines)
+        return _format_thought_rows(rows, query, seed_type)
 
     except Exception as exc:
         logger.warning("Thought search failed: %s", exc)