Words on Wednesday!

Words on Wednesday!.

Introducing Sasha the Malamute!

Introducing Sasha the Malamute!.

Our dog, Sasha, was interviewed by Rumpy Dog today and featured in his amazing blog!

THANK YOU RUMPY!

 

It’s a Blogger Challenge, and You’re Invited!

It’s a Blogger Challenge, and You’re Invited!.

Animal Welfare Blogger Challenge by Rumpy Dog!

Are you up for it?

Hissy Helps Out!

Hissy Helps Out!.

Check out Rumpydog’s blog about Hissy!

 

Helping out a first grader with his class project!

We know a little first grader in the town where we live, the son of mutual friends, named Robbie. His class is doing a map project by collecting postcards from around the United States and the World. If anyone would like to help Robbie out by sending a postcard, here is the address:

Robbie Vavrik/Miss Dittemore’s Class
Saint Matthew Catholic School
1307 Lincolnshire
Champaign, IL 61821
USA

There is also  corresponding event page on Facebook here:

https://www.facebook.com/events/437679782969832/

Sometimes I fret because I want to help others and find that my own personal resources are stretched way too thin. A postcard for a child I can do! Imagine how excited Robbie will be if he receives a lot of postcards and is able to fill up his map! I don’t know about you, but it sure makes me smile!

It’s a Question of Wording…

It’s a Question of Wording….

Excellent article by Rumpy Dog at http://rumpydog.com/

Interesting, and should be thought provoking for all pet owners and animal lovers!

 

A Story for Katydid – Chapter Five

(I wrote a little story for fun for a little girl who is 2 going on 3, the daughter of friends of mine. I used mutual Facebook friends and their pets, as characters in the story, with everyone’s permission. I tried to incorporate some personal hobbies from each person too, and made photo-shopped images for my friend’s daughter to enjoy. Please excuse my glaring grammar errors, this was totally for the entertainment of a very beautiful child. I will post one chapter per day here!)

Originally posted on Facebook here:

https://www.facebook.com/notes/will-appleby/a-story-for-katydid/528070973871185

5. Chapter Five 12-27-12

When the General, the Witch and the Royal Cats entered the gates of the kingdom, they were very surprised to see everyone in town lining the streets hooting and hollering and throwing flowers down on the cobblestone ahead of them. Especially the cats. They were surely brave and very self-confident, but didn’t take much of a shine to loud and public recognition. They much preferred cuddles and a warm fire with the Princesses. In fact, the first thing they did when they got to the castle was surround Little Princess Katy-Did and give her lots of headbonks, nosetaps and kitty snuggles!

The General had the foresight to send a carrier pigeon ahead, to advise the Princesses that the Royal Cats were just fine and had vanquished The Great Dragon, Apathy. So the Princesses immediately began organizing a huge celebration, complete with invitations that were sent to everyone in the kingdom. They also called Chef Maggie right away, of Maggie’z Magnificent Munchie Truck, the official Royal Caterer. Chef Maggie was the best chef in all the land and could put on the most scrumptious Banquet on short notice!  Chef Maggie was handsomely compensated with a huge bag of gold, given a full-works spa day, and a gift certificate for $1000 kibbles for the local farmer’s market. Many people would come simply because of Chef Maggie’s culinary prowess! Everyone who attended said it was the best party and dinner EVER!

Governess Poohdy, General Buonaparte and Aide de Camp Pasta were publicly recognized in a special outdoor gathering, for their dedication to their positions, loyalty to the Royal Family and jobs well done. All three received medals of honor and a nice all expenses paid vacation package to a destination of their choice.

The Royal Cats were very excited to be of further assistance to the Princesses too! They brought out their Royal Wienermobile about a week later, on a nice sunny Caturday, and drove all over the kingdom! The Princesses were returning all those Good Hearts that the General recovered from the dragon’s lair, to all the people who had lost them! It was a joyful day indeed. Even Little Princess Katy-Did got to give a Good Heart back to a little girl her own age, and they became friends and set a future play-date at the castle.

And what became of the Witch who everyone used to think was evil? By Royal Proclamation she was given a new name and would henceforth be known as Good Witch Hazel. However, she did cat-nap the Royal Cats after all, and had to face the consequences of that decision. So by Royal Decree, Good Witch Hazel was ordered to serve 500 hours of community service at the Royal (no-kill) Animal Shelter/Sanctuary. She also had to complete a minimum of 15 counseling sessions, to help her work out a few things and learn some new, good things. She was given quarters in a nice cottage in the Royal Garden, and could come and go as she wished. The Princesses believed in an honor system that allowed a person to prove themselves. If she was successful and completed her discipline, she would be allowed to take a job at the castle or further her education.

When Good Witch Hazel reported to her first counseling session in the Royal Library, she was surprised to find Aide de Camp Pasta waiting for her, wearing a beautiful gown and nice comfy slippers, instead of her armor. Pasta knew Hazel was surprised and explained to her that not only was she the General’s aide ( a position she worked very hard to attain), but also was the official Royal Chaplain/Counselor-in-Residence. By learning how to live well, take every good opportunity, learn from mistakes, and always improve herself, Pasta had achieved much in her life. A girl can be anything she chooses and does not have to limit herself to one position or title. All she has to be able to do is dream. Pasta told Hazel to dream and that she BELIEVES in her!

Later on, all the Princesses, Governess Poohdy and the Royal Cats took a lovely holiday to the snowy mountains. They stayed in their private lodge, went sledding, and drank lots of hot cocoa by the fire. They also stayed up late and giggled a lot and told stories.

And everyone lived happily ever after!

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Royal Party Invitation

Royal Wienermobile

Royal Winter Holiday

A Story for Katydid – Chapter Four

(I wrote a little story for fun for a little girl who is 2 going on 3, the daughter of friends of mine. I used mutual Facebook friends and their pets, as characters in the story, with everyone’s permission. I tried to incorporate some personal hobbies from each person too, and made photo-shopped images for my friend’s daughter to enjoy. Please excuse my glaring grammar errors, this was totally for the entertainment of a very beautiful child. I will post one chapter per day here!)

Originally posted on Facebook here:

https://www.facebook.com/notes/will-appleby/a-story-for-katydid/528070973871185

4. Chapter Four 12-26-12

General Buonaparte and his small group of highly trained troops found the witch’s hovel in the woods very empty. A search in the shack indicated a hasty departure, and the note from Joey was found on the rickety table. Exasperated that the Royal Cats decided to take on the Great Dragon, General Buonaparte dispatched his Aide De Camp, Pasta, back to the castle to brief the Princesses. He then rallied his team, and began leading them at a full gallop to the dragon’s lair. Everyone knew where the dragon’s lair was, but no one had seen it for years and years, and no one really cared anymore.

Being half a day and leagues ahead of the General, the witch and the Royal Cats were approaching the Great Dragon’s lair. The air was thick with the scent of sulfur. As they walked through the edge of the woods, the trees thinned and became sickly looking. Then a field, no longer lush, green and beautiful….but rather, choked full of half-dead weeds, lay between them and the lair at the base of the mountain. They all stared at the gaping cave entrance, all was pitch black beyond it.

Wee Russ began to holler at the dragon, baiting him to come out. “Meow meow! I am so wee but I am smarter than you, great lazy good for nothing worm! Squeak squeak! Plus, I am much handsomer!”While Russ engaged Apathy the Great Dragon in this provoking conversation, Joey and Woody flanked the cave entrance, taking their meatball guns with them, and took up positions that would put the dragon in cross-fire once he emerged from the cave.The witch took a magical cauldron out of her magic bag. Inside the bag it was so tiny! When she set it on the ground, it grew larger and larger until it looked like any other normal witch’s cauldron. It even started it’s own fire underneath, and soon the water was bubbly and steaming. The Royal Cats had regaled her with many stories about themselves as they walked to the dragon’s lair. They had informed her that they were well-versed in defensive arts as all Royal Cats should be. While this was not a well-known fact among the people of the kingdom, everyone in the castle knew. The Princesses had felt this was a necessary thing, preparing for all the what if’s and just in case’s the future might bring. The General also knew, which probably explained his exasperation. He held the opinion that having the training doesn’t mean one should invite possible disaster upon one’s self! He also knew the Royal Cats feared nothing.

So there in the middle of that wasted field, Quincy, Russ and little Sheldon donned their magic making hats and began to add special herbs and roots to the rolling water in the cauldron. They began to purr and purr and purr. The witch stood next to them, her wand at the ready position, waiting for just the right time. She was afraid and the tremor in her hand made the wand wiggle a little. Quincy told her to be brave and purred at her, and the witch took a deep cleansing breath and steadied her hand.

Wee Russ, this whole time, had continued to also provoke the Great Dragon, shouting out insults and questioning his lineage. This angered Apathy and wounded his twisted self-esteem. Russ began to belt out simple truths that Apathy could not bear to listen to. That Apathy was nothing, NOTHING were it not for being fed by the masses, that he did nothing of his own accord. It took a whole population that no longer cared about good and right in the world, it took a world where no one cared about anyone but themselves and did nothing unless it benefited themselves. It took the fears of people who were now paralyzed to do any good because it just didn’t matter. Apathy had become a great gluttonous lazy brute on this diet of impassivity by a people that could no longer feel the slightest bit of care for others.

Hot smoke and flame curled out from the lair’s entrance and great lumbering footsteps echoed out. Joey and Woody readied themselves from their positions on either side of the cave. THE DRAGON CAME OUT! He was very large and very blue and very angry! He was going to get Wee Russ! Apathy locked eyes with Wee Russ who promptly giggled out loud. Eyebrows drawn quizzically, the dragon felt confused by Wee Russ’s laughter, and in this moment Joey shot him right in the face with a big juicy meatball! At first stunned, Apathy was soon overcome by the aroma and taste of gourmet meatballs. Everyone knew that Apathy could not grow if not fed, so this is how Joey and Woody kept Apathy distracted. Volleys of gourmet meatballs kept Apathy quite busy.

Meanwhile, Quincy, Wee Russ and Little Sheldon stirred the cauldron and purred louder and louder. Purr Purr PurR PuRR PURR PURR! Quincy told the witch to stay steady and not release the magic from her wand until he gave her the sign. PURR PURR PURR! The Great Dragon Apathy became greedy for more meatballs and took to the air, flying as only dragons can. Joey and Woody expertly shot meatballs into the air like professional skeet shooters, keeping the Dragon interested only in his own gain. PURR PURR PURR! The cauldron began to release a softly scented steam into the air…soothing, smelling faintly of tropical flowers, warm, comforting and full of care….the steam expanded outward and upward and would soon be upon the dragon as he flew about catching meatballs. PURR PURR PURR! Quincy, Wee Russ and Little Sheldon joined paws and purred ever louder, staring at the Great Dragon Apathy, sending him CARE in their thoughts. Steady steady dear witch, Quincy advised the witch, it’s almost time. Care hit Apathy like a sonic boom and he instantly crumpled to the ground. There was a great crash as the ground cracked, dust and debris swirled about blinding everyone, and Quincy shouted, “NOW!” to the witch. Doing a good thing for the first time,  in a very long time, the witch cast her spell from her wand into the air where the dragon had fallen from. The power from her wand hit the steam from the magic cauldron: KABOOM! Instantly rainbows shot out from the sky in all directions and people who lived a thousand miles away could see the gorgeous colors in the sky and smiled, not knowing of the great battle with Apathy. All they knew was all of a sudden, they were visiting with their neighbors and calling out checking on friends and family. It suddenly felt like….the right thing to do!

There in that field as the dust settled, a great silence of peace enfolded the Royal Cats and the witch. Quietly, birds began to sing their beautiful song. A butterfly popped up out of the weeds and began to flutter about. It was over. Apathy was defeated. A great chasm from where the dragon fell to the ground, separated Joey and Woody from the others, and they waved paws across the gap to let everyone know they were OK! Joey and Woody had donned their “men in black” sunglasses and high-pawed each other in their glee. Little Sheldon and Wee Russ thought nothing of this great event, as if defeating Apathy was just another day for them, and ran off after the butterfly to have poonanigans. Quincy understood this too, all Royal Cats know that the course of one’s life is shaped by what one believes, and that it’s all very simple. The witch stood and watched it all, taking it all in. She laughed at herself, now realizing that choice, a simple choice, could enrich her so.

Hearing approaching horses behind them, Quincy raised a paw in greeting to General Buonaparte and his elite troops! The General soon saw that Joey and Woody would require assistance to cross the chasm and ordered his troops to set-up a zip line to get them over the gaping, smoking hole in the ground. The witch began to cry quietly, and after speaking with her privately, the General led the recovery mission into the dragon’s lair to find all the Good Hearts that Apathy had hoarded over the years.

General Buonaparte returned the witch’s good heart to her with great fanfare. Joey and Woody wanted to go across the zip-line again and again, thinking it great fun. Not wanting to miss any fun, Quincy, Wee Russ and Little Sheldon all took turns careening across on the zip-line too. What’s good for one Royal Cat, is good for all Royal Cats, was their thinking. All the other Good Hearts were placed in a softly lined travel chest, to be taken to the Princesses (who would know just what to do with them).

Now becoming stern, the General told everyone it was time to go home, the Princesses were waiting for them, and Little Princess Katy-Did was very worried. Fresh horses were offered to the witch and the Royal Cats, and they began their long journey back to the castle.

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Joey & Woody fighting the dragon.

Russ, Quincy & Sheldon making a magic potion.

A Story for Katydid – Chapter Three

(I wrote a little story for fun for a little girl who is 2 going on 3, the daughter of friends of mine. I used mutual Facebook friends and their pets, as characters in the story, with everyone’s permission. I tried to incorporate some personal hobbies from each person too, and made photo-shopped images for my friend’s daughter to enjoy. Please excuse my glaring grammar errors, this was totally for the entertainment of a very beautiful child. I will post one chapter per day here!)

Originally posted on Facebook here:

https://www.facebook.com/notes/will-appleby/a-story-for-katydid/528070973871185

3. Chapter Three 12-19-12

Joey, Russ, Quincy, Woody  and Sheldon  jumped out of the bag and slowly approached the evil witch. She was sobbing uncontrollably, so they sat around her in the kitchen and quietly began to purr. They were not afraid of her at all, they were very brave as Royal Cats should be.

Soon her tears subsided to sniffles and she noticed the cats were out of the bag. She reached down and pet each one. She apologized to them, explaining she meant no harm. She thought if she had the famous Royal Cats as familiars, that she would have the respect of her peers.

She sat down on the floor with the kitties as they began to engage in happy poonanigans (which made her smile) and she told them about herself. She was very lonely and very sad. Sometimes mad. All the other witches were very mean to her and bullied her, called her names and played tricks on her. None of them would let her play any Good Witch games. This all started after a great dragon named Apathy stole her good heart and flew away.

It should not be surprising to learn that Joey spoke to the evil witch, after she ran out of words herself. (and all the Royal Cats could talk!) He curled up in her lap and purred and purred and reminded her she really wasn’t evil, but the dear Princesses in the castle would be very, very upset that she stole the cats. Especially cute Little Princess Katydid, who loved them all more dearly than anyone. So, the witch was probably in trouble. But it shouldn’t be too terrible because the Princesses were very kind.

The Royal Cats then held a little conference amongst themselves in the corner by the broom. The witch listened to them curiously, hearing a lot of meows and purrs and the occasional pfffft! Finally, the came to her as a group and told her they would help her get her good heart back and defeat the dragon named Apathy.

The witch was very afraid, but wee Russ, in his little, brave voice told her to not be afraid. He told her he was very wee and he wasn’t afraid! Sheldon, who was still  kitten, loudly squeaked he wasn’t afraid. Woody, Quincy and Joey all came to the witch and put a paw on her shoulder and told her she could do it!

So, Joey wrote a note for the Princesses and left it on the table. The witch packed her bag full of provisions for their journey. No Royal Cat could be expected to have an adventure without plenty of noms.

They left the witch’s hovel in the woods as a group united to a common cause, full of hope and singing. They were going dragon hunting!

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The Witch’s Good Heart

Joey’s Note

A story for Katydid – Chapter Two

(I wrote a little story for fun for a little girl who is 2 going on 3, the daughter of friends of mine. I used mutual Facebook friends and their pets, as characters in the story, with everyone’s permission. I tried to incorporate some personal hobbies from each person too, and made photo-shopped images for my friend’s daughter to enjoy. Please excuse my glaring grammar errors, this was totally for the entertainment of a very beautiful child. I will post one chapter per day here!)

Originally posted on Facebook here:

https://www.facebook.com/notes/will-appleby/a-story-for-katydid/528070973871185

2. Chapter Two 12-18-12

Little Princess Katy-Did was very dismayed when she caught a glimpse of the evil witch running away carrying a sack. She called and called for the Royal Cats and soon realized they were gone. She ran back into the palace from the garden to find her dear Governess Poohdy, who had went to the kitchen to fetch cupcakes and tea prepared by Princess Kristie for their afternoon snack.

Governess Poohdy had been in residence at the castle and in the employ of the Princesses since Little Princess Katy-Did was born. She assisted in her constant care and education while Princesses Diana, Leigh Ann and Kristie worked during the day, and when they were required to attend State affairs.

With huge, sad blue eyes shimmering with tears, Little Princess Katy-Did told Governess Poohdy what happened and felt very sorry for it. Governess Poohdy picked her up and hugged her, and then carried her to where Princess Diana was practicing her guitar in the conservatory. Once advised as to what had occurred, Princess Diana immediately summoned General Buonaparte and briefed him.

General Buonaparte was the leader of the Royal Calvary and was a very dedicated and wise protector of the realm. He turned to his Aide de Camp Pasta and told her to quickly muster all the troops, and to send each regiment in different directions to conduct a search and rescue for the Royal Cats. General Buonaparte had suspicions that the evil witch may have fled to her hovel and he had an idea of where in the woods it was, so he and his Aide de Camp Pasta assembled a small, highly trained group of soldiers. He would lead this small group into the woods to find the evil witch.

While the Kingdom had always been peaceful, General Buonaparte had wisely prepared for just such an event.

After the great noise of soldiers thudding away from the castle on huge war horses died down, Princess Diana and Governess Poohdy took Little Katy-Did to the Royal Library to sit in front of the great fireplace there, and wait. Princess Kristie brought a tray of gourmet cupcakes for everyone to nibble on. Princess Leigh Ann read poetry out loud in her lilting voice, to help soothe Little Princess Katy-Did. Princess Diana strummed her guitar quietly, because Little Princess Katy-Did loved music. Princess Kristie (who was Little Princess Katy-Did’s mother) held the little princess in her lap, and stroked her hair, rocking back and forth very gently. Governess Poohdy already knew that the little princess felt very badly and felt no need to admonish her for letting the cats out. She doubted that it would ever happen again, but she quietly hoped the Royal Cats would be found safe so the little princess would be happy again.

Meanwhile, back in the evil witch’s hovel in the woods, the Royal Cats awoke in the sack, which had been carelessly tossed on her tattered divan. Ooof! One by one, they poked their little royal furry heads out of the sack to behold with great curiosity, the evil witch crying in her kitchen.

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General Buonaparte and his Aide de Camp, Pasta

The Royal Cats in the Witch’s bag.