EARLY MORNING CHATTER....

--Over the years we've had our share of long nights, from here to there we've run the spectrum of what can keep a fella up at night.
--So it was no great shock when I was woken up by two wing nuts howling because it was raining and there were a few boom boom's.
--Of course having to sit in the kitchen with the fool while the storm passed was a bit of a pain in the neck, but it did give me time to reflect on a few things and that was alright to I guess. Besides I could tell the fool's were scared so sitting with them was really a no-brainer. I guess once a parent always a parent.....

DECODING THE PRICE TAG SPECIAL'S....

--When it comes to shopping I like plain and simple price tags, not the whack a doodle mess they have out there now.
--The way I figure it is if I need two aspirin from the mega headache I get from trying to figure out what I Sam Hill the price tags are saying, then maybe I'm working a little to hard at something that shouldn't be that hard. And maybe the dang fool price tags are confusing on purpose figuring if they keep us confused they have more of a chance at our limited jingle.
--So I pretty much leave the buy 2 get 3 free, or the 4 for 10 tags for my wife to figure out since she loves puzzles, and I stick with the simple ones.
--It's probably not the best deal but it does seem to work, and I don't end up with a mega headache from all the dang fool foolishness which is a two for in my book.....

OLD FADED PICTURES....

--There are certain things that start up the old memory train. A certain song, a favorite movie, or a old box filled with old faded pictures and drawing from when the children were little.
--Oh, sure video tapes are nice and the old digital pictures do add a certain flavor to the moment, but there's something about the feel of a old picture that just bring the memories rushing back.
--My wife claims I save to much stuff, and she's probably right. There are still boxes I need to go through. Slowly I'm working my way through the pile.
--Certain things I saved even though I've scanned them onto the computer, like old pictures and old drawing of course. I just like the way they feel.
--Probably in a few years I'll have to revisit, the whole thing again, but for right now I do like my old faded pictures,......  

IT'S THE WHACK A DOODLE BUSINESS....

--Trying to get a wing nut, to do his business is hard enough trying to get two wing nuts, to do their business is darn near impossible.
--I suppose it could be worse as long as you don't mind being outside waiting for two dim bulbs.
--Of course if they concentrated on the reason for being out they mind be done quicker. But I guess the fresh air is just to much when your brain pan is filled with mush.
---But when Waffles and Max do finally figure it all out then it's a race to see who's going to be first through the dang fool door.....

DOG NAPPING......

--The whole napping thing has been a head scratcher for me for years. From children who didn't understand why it was a good idea to have a little nap in the afternoon, to cats and dogs who just flop any old place and expect the world to move around them.
--Of course being cursed with no grace to spare, I've woken allot of nappers, in
my time......

THE OLD STOP RIGHT NOW.....

--Like a old warning that never took effect all the signs are there, but you just don't notice them as usual.
--Oh, sure when the flashing lights go off and the sirens start wailing, away it starts to cut through the fog in the old brainpan. And you start to realize a retreat is in order, but the extraction is mind numbing slow.
--It's amazing what happens time and time again when you forget to watch for the dang fool warning signs.
--But like everything it works out in the end. Because even without the signs the end is usually the same, neutral corners assure that you can get a chance for another round.

SCARY PIG'S AND GOOFY GARGOYLES....

--Over the years it's kind of hard to keep track of the salt and pepper shakers in our house . no
--Apparently my wife and daughter decided to fix that by a few weird sets. There's the scary pig set, that's a pig holding a salt and pepper shaker. The goofy gargoyle, that a gargoyle holding a salt and pepper shaker. And of course my favorite the Flintstones salt and pepper shakers.
--Now which one do I use you might ask well I usually grab the regular old ones I found in a yard sale free box. Only because there right there and I don't have to worry about holes that are either to small or to large.
--Which when I really think about it is a lot like certain things in life, sometimes newer isn't always better.....

GOOD MORNING WINGNUTS....

--You know it's going to be a long day when your eyes open and the first thing you remember is the list of things you didn't get to the day before.
--Even before your feet hit the floor the chilly morning reminds you of the gremlins that will be following you all day.
--So you take a deep breath and remember it's been almost two weeks since you got the 8oo lb monkey of your back, taking comfort in that but wishing he hadn't left so much baggage, behind.
--Of course when you open the kitchen doors and take one look at the happy faces of the wing nuts waiting for you, you realize it might not be such a long day after all....

Christmas music fills the air....

WAFFLES AND MAX....

--Waffles met Max the other day and it was friendship at first sight, of course Gandolf wasn't to impressed with having another dog hanging around, but every thing worked out by the end of the day.
--It's amazing animals can work out their little personality quirks, but some humans just can't be bothered.
--Max has boundless energy, and it seems to rubbing on Waffles a bit, for the first time in awhile he actually played for a whole entire day without whack a doodle crazy barking at boogers and what not.
--Of course when the newness wore of, and Waffles was ready for a nap but Max still wanted to play, things got a little cranky. But every thing worked out much to everyone's delight.
--It's amazing what nap time does for a house. Even Gandolf was able to catch a mouse while Waffles and Max took a nap.....

GOOD MORNING WINGNUTS....

--You know it's going to be a long day when your eyes open and the first thing you remember is the list of things you didn't get to the day before.
--Even before your feet hit the floor the chilly morning reminds you of the gremlins that will be following you all day.
--So you take a deep breath and remember it's been almost two weeks since you got the 8oo lb monkey of your back, taking comfort in that but wishing he hadn't left so much baggage, behind.
--Of course when you open the kitchen doors and take one look at the happy faces of the wing nuts waiting for you, you realize it might not be such a long day after all....

WAFFLES AND THE LONG WALK....

--To get Waffles to take a walk around the house I have to put him on his leash other wise he'll run back to the house.
--So I figured I'd probably have to put him on a leash when we went for a walk in the woods. As usual Old, Waffles surprised me by following along and not running back to the house.
--Of course getting back up the hill was a tad iffy after such a long walk, but luckily I brought a old duffel bag so I didn't have to carry Waffles while trying to use a dang fool cane.
--When we finally did make it back to the house I don't know who was more happy me or the dang fool dog......

The old faded doll....

REVISITING A OLD COMITMENT ....

--To often we forget the nights when sleep was a wish we saw no hope of being filled because we were dealing with howling puppies, crying kittens or whiny babies who just wouldn't go to sleep.
--Sometimes it's nice to revisit, those memories and remember the commitment that went into those nights.
--Sure it doesn't seem like much, but to stay on the right side of the road it sure took a lot of work, and sometimes it seems we forget that commitment. Because when we get older we figure we did our tour of duty, and really don't feel like reenlisting.
--But all it takes is a nudge here and there usually to remind us, and for those old commitment bonds to reassert themselves.
--I guess once a parent always a parent....

SOMETIMES IT'S NICE.....

--There are certain times when it's nice to have company on those occasions when you need a little moral support.
--Oh, sure if you had to you could brave it out, but sometimes it's nice to know you don't have to and it doesn't make you any less if fact it makes you so much more.
--I'm sure there's a whole bunch of sayings about he who stands alone stands the strongest, and nonsense like that. But sometimes it's just nice to know there's someone who will stand beside you, while you face what ever it is.....

MORNING SUNBATH....

--In the beginning of our adventure at Whack a Doodle Acre I always thought it was weird how when the sun came up so would the whack a doodles who hung around the house. Just like magic you could find them all lined up on the porch railing getting there sunbath.
--Of course my wife explained it to me more than a few times, just what the Sam Hill was going on. And it wasn't until I got older that it fully sunk in.
--Now I sometimes go out and sit with the whack a doodles getting some of that morning sunlight.
--The thing is they don't seem to really mind as long as I don't block the view to much......

UPSETTING THE APPLE CART....

--It's always amazed me just how simple it is to throw a monkey wrench, into a smoothly running day.
--Usually I find myself going of track when I come to depend on a routine and forget old man Murphy and his dang fool games.
--Which is not to say I won't stay in a set routine, because sometimes that's the only way I can get any thing, done especially when the dang fool gremlins are nipping at my heals. I'll just make sure and keep a eye out for old man Murphy.
--It's really only as hard as I make it, which sometimes given my more bucket than brain style can be a real head scratcher at times.....

MORNING FLINCH AND THE FRESH GRASS....

--Taking a brake from mowing I noticed Morning flinch bouncing in the fresh cut grass, after a bit he would fly of to return a few moments later.
--Well I didn't think to much of it and went back to mowing.
--It wasn't until I was passing Morning Finch’s house that I noticed it was stuffed to the gills with fresh cut grass. Old Morning Flinch was on the porch of the doll house chattering away.
--I guess the little fool is getting ready for winter to.....

WAFFLES AND THE SMELLY FARMER....

--Playing outside enjoying a quiet morning of running from Grasshoppers, Butterflies, and Whack a Doodle Cats Waffles was having a grand day of it.
--That is until the smelly farmer started spreading his smelly brown goo in the field across the road. The smell was so bad he keep sneezing every time he tried to chase after the Whack a Doodle Cats.
--Of course the Whack a Doodle cats were having their own problems with brown goo smell besides making them sneeze it was also making their eyes water.
--Waffles tried barking at the farmer to let him know he was ruining his fun, but the smell got in his mouth and made him cough.
--The Whack a Doodle cats all ran behind the house into the tall grass where the smell wasn't so bad.
--And poor Waffles went in the house, where the smell wasn't so bad unless you were sitting in front of the a/c.
--But I guess it could be worse at lest by night fall the smell shouldn't be so bad......

A WONDERFUL DELIGHT....

--That first glance out the window while trying to enjoy that first cup of morning coffee is made a whole lot brighter, by the blooms of my wife's Sharon bushes.
--Oh, don't get me wrong the lilacs are nice, but they just don't last that long. It seems like the Sharon bushes have been blooming for at least a couple of months.
--And now that the days are getting a little shorter and the nights a tad cooler it just the right boost to a chilly morning.....

GANDOLF AND THE MICE....

--It's taken old Gandolf awhile but he's finally figured out how to catch mice. Now of course he's working not letting them go.
--The worse part is when one manages to get away from him he walks around meowing like a fool until he manages to catch another one to take it's place.
--Which of course gets on Waffles nerves because he starts barking at Gandolf trying to get him to shut up, which of course makes him worse.
--If it wasn't so nerve racking listening to these two fool's it would probably be quite funny .......

THAT'S NOT A CAT!.......

--Looking out the window the other day I noticed all the cats who hang around the house on top of the old play set, which was kind of weird because I just feed the dang fools.
--When I went outside to investigate I found a big old raccoon a eating away in the cats food dish. Normally I wouldn't mind a strange visitor but it was obvious this one didn't plan on sharing and was being quite vocal about it when ever one of the whack a doodles came over for a bite.
--Well if there's one thing I can't stand is a bully especially one who was visiting. So I ran back to the house and got a bucket of water a old broom.
--Between the cold water and a few well place swat’s on the bottom Mr. Raccoon decided it might be better to look for food else where.
--The whack a doodles were happy they got to eat and didn't have to worry about that grumpy old raccoon.
--Of course my wife was a little upset when she found out, but after all these years she's kind of used to me and my shenanigans I guess.....

PUDDING OR JELLO.....

--Trying to decide which to make shouldn't be such a mind bending experience. Or so you would think, but apparently in the house of Whack a doodle it calls for tons of discussion, and if your lucky a decision.
--It makes for trying times but in the end if your lucky you'll have a delightful snack to sooth your frazzled nerves.
--Of course it would be so much easier just to cut out all the discussion, but then you'd have to listen to all the grumbling at the other end. Sometimes it's just better to get the worst out of the way so the rest is all downhill.....

LONG SLOW DAYS .....

--Sometimes after a great run of really good days a batch of long slow days come around the bend and take hold of the days routine. Driving a tad wacky of course as you desperately try to regain your lost momentum.
--When I'm not distracted I usually realize I should just go with the flow and enjoy the change of pace. Instead of driving myself crazy trying to keep up a pace that my body doesn't want to handle.
--But having been blessed with the curse of more bucket than brains, I usually end up driving myself whack a doodle crazy fighting the whole dang fool process.
--Which is just plain foolish, and something I've been trying to work on for years. But haven't even come close to getting a handle on......

BABY SWING KITTIES.....

--While cleaning out a closet the other day I happened across a old baby swing we used to use for the children when they were little.
--My wife was quite delighted because it was one more clump of useless clutter we could get rid of. And she suggested I run it out to the free pile next to the road.
--Well on the way down to the road I noticed Squash, Puffy and Buddy fighting over the two swings we had on the old play set. I figured what the heck, and walked over and hooked up the old baby swing.
--It took them a couple of minutes but when they figured out what they could do with it they went whack a doodle crazy trying to get in it.
--Of course it didn't solve the fighting problem because their wing nuts, but it is fun watching the fool's swing in the old baby swing.
--Now my wife wasn't to happy about the prospect of another piece of useless junk hanging around the house, but she quickly changed her story when she saw how much fun the fool's were having....

DARK AND GLOOMY.....

--It really is amazing how a dark and gloomy day can affect every bodies day. One look out the window at the sky and it seems the day is in a predestined downward spiral.
--Sometimes I wonder what would happen if nobody looked out the dang fool window. Would the day still flounder in the downward spiral.
--Even Waffles and the dang fool cats appear to be affected by the old dark and gloominess. They either curl up and sleep and spend the day all sad and depressed.
--Myself I try to keep a open mind about the whole thing. Sure it takes a bit more work on a dark and gloomy day, but I suppose it could be worse. And that's usually the inspiration I use to get my self moving.....

CHANCE ENCOUNTERS....

--It's nice when your out and about to see a friendly face, even nicer when you happen to know the person with the friendly smile.
--Those chance encounters sometimes seem to be few and far between, leaving yourself feeling wrung out and left to dry when you return home from a trip out and about.
--When those chance encounters do happen there like little blessing that shore up or defenses and give us enough resolve to venture out again.
--It really is such a shame that more people don't realize that life doesn't need to be so hard, and a smile every so often can brighten up even the most rotten day ......

ALIEN CATS HOUSE PATROL....

--Every day like clock work Alien cat makes his hourly patrol around the house, taking a break of course on the corner's for a long look about.
--The other cats usually hang around the house unless their of on one of their whack a doodle games.
--But not Alien cat besides patrolling around the house the only other thing Alien cat likes to do is take a peak or two into his people aquarium.
--Of course Alien cat has always been a single minded fellow from the start, he was the one who would wait for hours for the mouse to come out of the hole.
--I guess being single minded is OK if your happy with that kind of thing. Maybe it not about the mindset but about being happy with who you are.
--There's probably a lesson in there somewhere.....

LATE NIGHT DINNER....

--Being so caught up in the day that dinner is pushed back to the time of a late night snack can be a pain in the neck sometimes, but a welcome relief other times.
--During the summer months we usually have a late dinner because nobody really feels like eating until it cools down a bit.
--Of course winter it's a early dinner because everyone is usually in a hurry to get snuggled up in something warm for the night.
--The wacky months are spring and fall because we're kind of in limbo and in a transition period.
--But it could be worse I suppose at least we've cut down on a lot of late night snacking......

THE OLD GOAT.....

--Along time ago in a world far away, there used to be a old goat who was never happy with how his day was going so he usually spent it banging his head against anything and everything he could.
--You would think the old fool would of rattled something loose in his old brainpan, but apparently not because he kept it up for years.
--And then one day apparently the old goat decided to take a break and adopt  a wait and see attitude as far as the day went.
--Oh, the day didn't change very much, it was still a pain in the neck at time but there were those little blessing than made it all endurable. And even enjoyable at times.
--I guess it just goes to show maybe you can teach a old goat a trick or to, that is if the old fool will listen ........

THE LITTLE THING'S......

--Sometimes the difference between a good day and a bad day are the little thing's you encounter along the way, and how much you react to each of course.
--It sounds simple but most of the time it can be a real head scratcher trying to keep pointed in the right direction.
--Of course with a few simple steps over time the head scratching becomes less, but it doesn't come easy.
--Like all things it takes a lot of patience, and of course remembering tomorrow a new day, where things are bound to better.....

SUNRISE DEW FIRE....

--Watching the sunrise is one of the morning blessings I'm great full for. When I'm able to make it out under the old maple for that first cup of coffee and the morning sunrise, it puts just the right amount of snap in my step for the rest of the day.
--Seeing the morning ray's set the dew on the grass afire is a very good way to start the day as far as I'm concerned. But sometimes I have to settle for window viewing instead of sitting under the old maple, which is ok, to because no matter where your seat is for the morning concert mother nature's music is sure to inspire.
--Every once in awhile I'm able to drag my wife or children out for the skeptical, and their comments are enlightens to say the lest.
--But most of the time it's just me Waffles and a few whack a doodle cats watching the day begin, and that's ok, to because it's not about the company but about the time together that counts I guess.....

A LITTLE AFTERNOON SURPRISE....

--As a rule I really don't like surprise's, the whole what goes up must come down thing I guess.
--But there are occasions when circumstances chooses to deal us a surprise or two rather unexpectedly. Catching us totally of guard and unaware. It's those surprises that make life worth living.
--When you think about it, the whole idea can give the brain pan a rattle or two to say the lest.
--But sometimes I'm finding a good rattle or two can be a good thing.....

MR TOADS NEW HOME.....

--Waffles doesn't like his dog house. In fact the fool will lie outside in the rain rather than go inside. Winters about the same, the little fool will let the snow pile up before he gets up shakes and lies back down.
--That being said Waffles doesn't like to share his dog house. About the only time he really gets worked up about his dog house is when somebody else tries to use it.
--There was the battle of the over friendly possum, and then of course the day Squash and his gang decided to hang out in Waffles dog house. Oh, the memories of poor old Waffles trying to evict those fools.
--When Waffles found out Mr. Toad was sleeping in his dog house he went ballistic. It wasn't until I went out and scorched Mr. Toad along did Waffles calm down.
--Of course when we got back inside I noticed Mr. Toad hopping back in Waffles dog house, it looks like poor Waffles is in for some interesting days ahead.....

LIFE'S LITTLE MYSTERIES (WHAT LAUNDRY BASKET?)....

--Once upon a time when you were young and unenlightened as to the way the world actually worked, you bought a laundry basket.
--Of course little did you know that the dang fool thing was invisible to every one but you. I guess you missed the sign over the department store that said magic shop.
--And that little basket that was supposed to save so work does come in handy while you drag it around the house in search of dirty laundry.
--Oh, sure you tried leaving in in the bathroom but apparently it just looked like a giant waste basket. Because all you ended up with was more garbage with  dirty laundry on the floor.
--Like all good ideas sometimes it's best to really think them through, because if it's possible there's always a chance they'll come back and try to nip you in the butt......

FENCE WALKING CATS....

--You know your cats are either bored or just weird when they spend a good part of their day walking up and down your neighbors fence.
--Oh, I'd like to think they were patrolling their boundaries but those whack a doodles figure their boundaries are the whole world I guess. About the only thing they seem to take a interest in is their next meal and my neighbors dang fool chickens.
--Of course when they were running willy nilly around the house and yard they couldn't of cared less. But now that the neighbor have caged the dang fool's up the dang fool cats are fascinated by the dang fool things, and spend most of their time watching the dang fool chickens .
--I suppose it could be worse at lest we'll know if the dang fool chickens gets loose the cats will loose interest, and be hanging around the house and porch again.....

ROUND THEM UP.....

--You don't realize how many nooks and crannies a fan has until you've got the thing apart and are trying to get all the dust out of it.
--Of course after the sixth fan you realize that for a small house you sure have a lot of dang fool fans.
--But when their all clean and your just about to put them up for next year, you hear these three words,” Where’s my fan?" and realize why you have so many dang fool fans.
--Because you have so many dang fool's who can't live without their dang fool fans....

CHASING THOSE CLOGS.....

--Like clock work it comes around every year, the whole time to switch tracks because it's going to be a bumpy ride from here.
--But like most things it seems our thinking becomes clogged with bits of stubbornness and just plain old wish fullness. Because in no time flat we find ourselves chasing those dang fool clogs and trying to get back on track.
--Of course if we'd of just listened in the first place we be sitting pretty and moving right along. But as usual the harder path seems to be our preference. Because once again were back in the grind chasing monkey's and swatting gremlins.
--Perhaps some day we learn to listen but until that day comes were cursed with more bucket than I guess.....

LITTLE VISIT'S....

--Every once in awhile it's nice to visit with old friends or loved ones from far away. Of course the best visit's, are the ones made in person and not by pictures and memories. But sometimes I guess you have to make the best of the circumstances and go with what you have.
--But like every thing a good visit can either be uplifting or a real pain Inn the neck. It pretty much depends on where you put that first foot step.
--Myself I try to enjoy the time to the fullest, because the empty hours can only be filled with memories and pictures, and after awhile it just doesn't seem the same.......

POP UP KITTY....

--Squash has the ability to move from place to place by what seems to be posing up when you lest expect it.
--One minute he's under the old pear tree in the tall grass the next minute he on the porch getting a drink.
--How in Sam Hill he got from place to place is beyond us. He just seems to pop from place to place.
--Every once in awhile I catch him staring at me with that weird little grin of his, and I know he waiting for me to look away so he can pop up and scare me.
--Waffles tries to keep track of him for me but usually gets distracted by a leaf of a dang fool grasshopper.....

SHAKING THE COBWEBS OUT OF THE TREE'S.....

--Every once in awhile it's good to shake things up a bit. It keeps the cobwebs out of the tree's, and keeps life fresh.
--Myself I try to keep up the momentum but there are days when just getting from a to b requires more work than you can handle. And of course like every thing in life it's usually those dang fool days when you have to dig into the reserves just to finish the day on a high note.
--It makes for a long day, but some how strangely refreshing when you take the time to remember the hurdles of the day......

THE THREE WORD DELIMA....

--Want to see grown up's cringe just whisper these three little words,” What’s for Dinner."
--You'd think it would be a simple process of going around the kitchen and gathering the ingredients. But no with a house full of Whack a doodles who can't all get on the same page it's darn near in possible to find a compromise every one can live with.
--Myself I really have no preference, mostly because I beginning to realize I was raised in a time where things were a bit simpler.
--But like all things with a little patience a compromise can be reached. You just have to keep your eye on the prize and remember they may be whack a doodles but there yours......

SNAILS AND SLUGS.....

--You can tell when it rains because the dang fool porch is slippery as all get out, and covered with snails and slugs.
--For some reason as long as we've lived at whack a doodle acres we've always had a overabundance of snails and slugs.
--The children would scream like fool's every time there was a breeze after it rained because the dang fool things would fall out of the trees on them.
--Of course for some reason the dang fool cats loved playing with the dang fool snail the slugs not so much. You can always find the dang fool batting the snails around. The slugs on the other hand usually caused a lot of hopping up and down trying to get the slime off.
--The children weren't much better they didn't seem to mind the snails, in fact they used to throw the dang fool things at each other, the slugs would send them screaming for the house. I guess in a lot of ways cats and children are the same......

CHECKING THE DATES....

--Every so often it's nice to go through the can goods and check the exportation dates. It's a pain because despite the best of good intentions the dang fool cans always get mixed up.
--Now of course nobody likes the dang fool job, but it sure saves a lot of hassles when your trying to make dinner and you keep getting expired cans.
--So about once a month we usually go through the dang fool stuff, it's a pain but worth it in the long run. Life hard enough without getting sick from eating expired food....

TWO FOOL'S AND A BALL....

--I'm sure there's a joke some where about two fool's and a ball, I don't really know it but I can Imagine how it goes, after watching Waffles and Gandolf, going whack a doodle crazy over a tennis ball.
--Usually Waffles and Gandolf, don't have much to do with each other. They each have their own space and pretty hang out there.
--But if you throw a ball into the mix the two fool become best friends and start to play with each other.
--Which is kind of weird, but I guess that what you can expect with a couple of Whack a doodles.....

PICNIC TABLE POW WOW....

--Every day before meals the cats gather on the picnic, table waiting for their food.
--For awhile I thought it was a cat thing, but then I realized it was probably the best place to catch the morning and afternoon sun. And the whack a doodle sure do love the sun baths.
--Of course it kind of throws damper on sitting at the picnic table. One thing the whack a doodle don't understand is personal space.
--I suppose it could be worse at least their a friendly bunch of Whack a doodles.....

LITTLE BUD'S AND BEE'S.....

--Watching a bunch a bee's hover over a bunch of little bud's, is strange. Because the fool bee's go whack a doodle crazy over the little bud's every time they pop out.
--The cats have even taken up watching the bee's with me, probably because their a little bored. Buddy found out the hard way to leave the whack a doodles alone. He swatted one who gave him what for, so now he gives them a wide berth.
--Waffles doesn't give much thought to the bee's, he pretty much leaves them alone. I guess for a dimblub, he has some sense after all.
--Of course if the weather wasn't so wacky there probably would be more things to do besides watching bee's....

GOOD MORNING TAIL WAG.....

--Now mater the time Waffles also has a good old tale wag going when ever you come out in the kitchen.
--Its one of the things I like about the little fool. He always rises to the occasion.
--It would be nice if everyone would try to remember the niceties of life instead of being caught up in the hustle and bustle of every day living.
--It doesn't take but a second and sometimes it could mean the start of a really good day. Or nipping a bad day in the but before it even has a chance to start.....

TALL GRASS HIDEAWAY .....

--Sometimes for a change of pace, it's kind of fun to try and figure out where the cats are hiding in the tall grass. Why this little game appeals to me I have know idea. Probably because it gets a little tiring have the whack a doodles jump out at me when I walk by.
--So lately when I get a minute I try to pick out their new hiding places. They've gotten to the point where they keep changing every day. So it does keep me busy trying to find the little fools.
--Of course my wife thinks I'm a tad goofy about the whole thing, but she's not the one the little fools get a kick out of scaring.
--I suppose it could be worse, at least when I drag Waffles along he catches them most of the time......

SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE....

--Sometimes the difference between to points is so small, you could split the difference with out much problem. And other times even with a team of horses there's no way you can solve anything without some form of compromise.
--Right what a mouthful, but finding this stuff out at the early stage of the problem makes for a better working relationship. And keeps you on your toes long enough to progress past the problem.
--Of course being willing to give a little helps a lot. Other wise your kind of stuck.
--But with patience and a lot of working together it is possible to work things out.....

PUFFY AND WILLOW WHAT A PAIR....

--It seems Puffy and Willow, have become inseparable lately you can't find one without the other.
--Which is kind of nice because for awhile Puffy was such a standoffish,  fellow it was kind of sad to see.
--But apparently all that's over now when the wing nut gang starts of with their shenanigans Willow follows right along.
--It's a nice picture, and rather quite pleasant to see. Now it those dang fool male cats would quit their shenanigans it would be quite peaceful around here.....

ONE STEP FORWARD, TWO STEPS BACK....

--You would think after all these years I'd be used to the whole one step forward two step back routine. But apparently it doesn't become any easier to swallow as time goes by.
--For some reason sometimes progress isn't measured in steps but in how long of maintain the steps you achieve.
--The whole dang fool thing is enough to drive a Tibetan monk to talking to himself.
--I suppose it could be worse at lest over time there is the promise that you might archive more steps forward that back.....

LIFE'S LITTLE MYSTERIES (THE LAST DROP SHUFFLE)....

--One of the great wonders in my book is watching a container with one drop left move around the inside of a icebox looking for someone to take care of it.
--It probably wouldn't be so bad but if left unattended the dang fool things have a habit of multiplying and the next thing you know is your icebox is filled with half empty containers you only find on shopping days.
--For the life of me I don't know who in Sam Hill came up with the last drop shuffle but I wish they would take it of their dang fool play list, it's starting to wear a groove in my brainpan.
--But I suppose it could be worse, at least shopping days come quite regularly so they don't pile up to much.....

SQUASH AND THE LADYBUGS ......

--Squash took a nap behind the house, the other day watching me mow. I guess he found it kind of peaceful. At least until the lady bugs showed up.
--Apparently Squash didn't know that that side of the house is where the ladybugs gather in the afternoon to get their sun.
--Squash must have had a good surprise when he woke up covered in ladybugs, because he was running around in circles swatting at the little darling as he was trying to run across the yard.
--When I was headed back in the house from mowing I asked old Squash how his nap was he gave me such a dirty look.....

GETTING CLOSE TO THAT TIME AGAIN.....

--It doesn't take much to remind you of the fact that it's almost time to take those dang fool air conditioners out again. Let the temp drop down into the 40's and every bodies looking for warm blanket's and long johns.
--Cleaning out the dang fool air conditioner's and all the fans is a bit of a pain. But it is a lot easier to do it now than wait until the other side where you have to do it before you can put the dang fool things in.
--And of course when it comes time to put them away for winter there's always plenty of help, because they quickly realize that's when the heat comes on.......

THE QUIET LITTLE GREY FLINCH.....

--Morning Flinch loves his new house, and apparently doesn't mind letting every body know.
--The cats are not to impressed but have quickly come to accept the little chatterbox.
--The other day Morning Flinch was out chattering about his new house when a quiet little grey flinch showed up. They must have known each other because in no time flat they were yacking away. And it wasn't to long before Morning Flinch was giving the Grey Flinch a tour.
--It seems Morning Flinch has a new friend and they've decided  to share the old doll house. I‘m kind of glade Morning Flinch has a friend he seems such a good natured fella.....

THE DOOR TO THE DOLDRUMS.....

--They say variety is the spice of life, sometimes it's kind of hard to find variety in the same old same old. Oh, that's not to say it can't be done it just takes a wee bit of creative thinking I guess.
--And like a lot of things you need to find the spice is the space of the day to day race. All it takes is a bit of patience and the willingness to look.
--Myself I try to keep a open mind, finding blessings along the way to hold me over until the doldrums, pass.
--It's not much but sometimes you have to make the best of what you have. Keeping in mind that tomorrow's a new day, and the sunrise is icing on the cake of life.....

LIFE'S LITTLE MYSTERIES (COAT HANGERS).....

--Over the years I've had to face many mysteries that continue to give me plenty of head scratching opportunity's.
--Like the coat hanger knot. Oh sure it looks like a harmless pile of coat hangers until you try to pull one of the pile. And then you find out their all attached together in such a way that before you figure it out you'll have forgotten why in Sam Hill, you needed a dang fool coat hanger in the first place.
--My advice if you come across a harmless looking pile of coat hangers, leave the dang fool things alone. Save yourself from spending the day trying to figure out why in Sam Hill, you spent the whole day untangling a bunch of coat hangers. Only to have the dang fool things tangle up again when you hung them in the closet.
--Of course I suppose it could be worse at lest once you get the dang fool things untangled there is that sense of victory and accomplishment, which in this dang fool day and age seems hard to come by. So I guess we should count that as a blessing.
--Seeing the dang fool things tangle up in the closet kind of sucks but hey I guess that's what puzzle are for to keep up feeling young with the constant challenge ......

A BASKET OF FUN....

--Make a few changes in the kitchen and it does a number on the dispositions of the pets, and drives every body else whack a doodle.
--Waffles and Gandolf, usually have a love hate relationship. It seems they love to hate each other. But after making a few changes in the kitchen their actually playing with each other. Go figure.
--The children have gotten a little immune to the whole change thing. Usually it takes a lot to upset their apple cart. But every once in awhile my wife and I do have our moments of success. And they walk around scratching their heads for a few days.
--I guess that what those moments are for, turning a empty basket into a basket of fun......

MORNING FLINCH AND THE LOW HANGING BRANCH....

--With the spider bush gone Morning Flinch, had to find a new place to sit chatter away. Luckily there was a low hanging branch from the maple tree that fir the bill.
--I guess things do go on no matter how much we sit and brood over what's done.
--It was nice to see Old, Morning Flinch, and his happy little chattering was a welcome pick me up.
--Of course Squash and Buddy were a little put out. The kept giving the little chatterbox the evil eye, I guess there just not morning cats.....

THE KITTY HOTEL.....

--When it comes to finding places to sleep I'm finding cats can be very resourceful.
--Now it seems along with all their usual haunts they've taken to napping on a shelf unit we stored on the porch.
--Which is kind of weird because it looks like a Kitty hotel with all the dang fool cats sprawled out on the shelves.....
 

A HOUSE FOR MORNING FLINCH .....

--The other day while cleaning out some stuff I happened across a old doll house our daughters used to play with. My wife told me to set it aside and we'd sick it out with all the other free stuff.
--Well call me a old fool which is what my wife did call me when she found out I hung the old doll house in the maple tree for morning flinch.
--It didn't take the little fella long to find it either. And boy did that set of a storm of chattering.
--Of course the cats are a little upset I guess it's kind of hard to sleep with all that chattering..... 

EARLY MORNING GET TOGETHER.....

--There's a lot of things you can count on in the wee hours of the morning. It's a little cooler, than when the sun up of course. And let's not forget the over abundance of night life. From crickets to mosquitoes to things that just like to fly around and chew on fools that like to stumble around after dark.
--Oh, and let's not forget the whack a doodle cats or possums who think their cats.
--Now I usually like the whole mess for one reason or another. But mostly because it just seems relaxing at lest for me that is.
--The other night I was sitting under the old maple tree watching the moon when I felt something nudge my leg. Usually that would mean one of the whack a doodle cats wants a pet or two .
--Well not really thinking about it I reached down and started petting what ever was nudging my leg. After a couple of minutes it sort of dawned on me the fur felt a little different than a cats.
--When the moon came out from behind the dang fool cloud I found out why. Because I was petting a dang fool possum.
--Well I finished petting the little fool and gave Squash, a dirty look as I started for the house. I guess I should of figured something was up that was the first time in awhile Squash has come near me and not done anything sneaky.
--I guess it could have been worse at lest the moon light was nice when it came out from behind the dang fool clouds......

HOW SOON THEY FORGET.....

--I've always been amazed how pets can forget the most simplest things they learned when they were very young. In a lot of ways I guess their like people in that sense.
--But unlike people it's usually quite easy to get most pets back on track. All it takes is a little consistency.
--People on the other hand are a enigma, just about the time you think their back on track blamo, their right back doing what they were doing before.
--If I had my druthers, I rather tackle a whack a doodle pet than a hard headed person. They have a tendency to leave you talking to yourself, and mumbling into the night......

LIFE'S LITTLE MYSTERIES ( INSIDE OUT LAUNDRY )....

--Usually you find the little darlings mixed in with all the other laundry, and it's not until you have the washer half full that you realize you've tossed one of those dang fool inside outs in there.
--Now you could let it pass but you know you'll have to deal with it later. And there's nothing worse than trying to pull a dang fool leg, or shirt sleeve right side in when it's wet. So you dive back in and search out the dang fool inside out and fix it before you start the washer.
--And thus continues the adventure of inside out laundry day.
--I often wondered just how in Sam Hill the inside outs happened, as I stood there calmly sorting the dang fool laundry. But I quickly came to the conclusion it'll take a bigger brain than mine to figure out the mystery. And quite frankly I just don't have the energy any more for that carefree thinking.
--Now I just count my blessing that it hasn't infested the whole laundry yet, and try to get it done before it does......

THE OLD MAPLE'S SHADE....

--On a hot day it pays to know where the shade is, and how far you are away from it.
--This past summer made me realize a few things. One we don't have near enough shade. And two it's a awful long walk to what we do have.
--Of course what shade there is is usually cluttered with cats lying about with that dang fool Waffles going back and forth keeping a eye on every one. Why he feels he has to keep a eye on every one I have no idea, but he does. Which depending on who he pesters, usually ends up with him getting swatted.
 --I also figured out that stumbling around in long grass is a pain in the neck especially using a dang fool cane. But when you have a riding mower with a winning personality the grass does have a tendency to get a little long.
--Out of all the shade around the house of Whack a doodle I really like the old maple, it's big and most important of all it close. Even though at times I have to stumble around a bunch of Whack a doodles I really don't mind sharing I guess....

GUESS WHERE I AM….

--Squash's new game seems to be guess where I am. Every time you think you have him pegged he moves to a different spot.
--The rest of the wing nut gang where their napping barely move from their spots. Although to be fair Oreo, does move around a bit. But none of them hold a candle to old Squash.
--It's almost as if he can't stay in one place to long. I actually counted and he only stays for about five minutes in one spot.
--Of course knowing how Squash likes to sneak up and scare the unprepared I'd say he just going about business as usual ......

WHAT A GUST OF WIND....

--It appears the gust of wind we had the other night knocked out the power and knocked down my dang fool TV antenna .
--What was amazing was the dang fool antenna landed in between the two lilacs my wife planted in the back yard missing both of them by hair.
--Of course my wife wasn't impressed when she saw the mess. But that's only because they came close to her lilacs.
--I guess sometimes blessing coming in all shapes and sizes.....

The spirit of thanksgiving day....

BLACKOUT SOCIAL.....

--Nobody likes a power outage, we usually try to make the best of it while waiting for it to be restored.
--Which means gathering around the old kitchen table and chatting or playing boards games by candlelight.
--It's not much but it does give us that extra time together that all the dang fool door dad's seem to take away.
--Of course once the power's restored there is that race to fire up the do dad's to see just what might have been missed since the power went off. But like every thing it'll be just a matter of time before people realize maybe they should enjoy the time spent of the power grid a bit more.....

SOMETIMES A SIGN IS JUST A SIGN….

--I guess in this day and age a sign that says," FREE." leaves some question as to how much the stuff is.
--The funny thing is when we were having a yard sale we had no shortage of people telling us our prices were out of this world.
--And now of course when we have a bunch of free stuff out there we again have people stopping to ask what we mean by the dang fool free sign.
--Maybe it's just me but it seems to have gotten just a wee bit complicated dealing with these dang fool questions. Sometimes a sign is just a sign, but then again I guess we're always looking for the hidden meaning in things.....

A QUESTION OF CONSTRUCTION....

--Maybe it's just me but window screens have come down a tad as far as construction and durable ability.
--Don't get me wrong, the whole let's make everything out of recycled plastic probably sounded great to ever came up with the idea. And besides charging people for something they already paid for and we're forced to recycle was probably just the added bonus they needed to sell the dang fool thing.
--But like everything that starts out as a half baked idea, what you end up with is something that's more trouble than it's worth.
--My wife swears I just don't like change, and she's probably right. I have been known to rise a wee bit of a fuss about the whole process.
--Along with not caring to much for change, I'll really can't stand this dang fool game in this country where we the consumer are forced to buy products that just don't work. Not by choice do we venture down this useless path but it seems there's really no place else to shop. But I guess nobody was really thinking about that when the always sells for less bandwagon was coming through town.
--I suppose it could be worse at lest we are saving the planet. And when those dang fool plastic brackets on those dang fool plastic screens fall off or brake. At least we known what to do with them on our way out to get another one, at the used to always sell for less store.......  

Bananas in the morning ....

EVERY THING IN IT'S PLACE....

--After all these years you would think I'd accept the fact that sometimes you have stumble through messes created by not putting thing back where you find them.
--And what gets me is it's not just confined to people the dang fool pets do it to. Waffles is constantly leaving his dang fool bones around. And don't get me started on Gandolf and his dang fool balls I'm constantly tripping over.
--The outside cats well there constantly leaving their little bit's of this and that where I have to walk.
--And of course the best for last the children who have still to learn that if you put things back where you find them it makes it that much easier the next time.
--But if that happened I image we'd be living in a perfect world, and image the things we'd be tripping over then......

KING OF THE ROCKER.....

--Finding Squash on top of a wooden rocking horse sleeping didn't seem all that unusual. Seeing Buddy trying to pull the horse's leash seemed a tad goofy, but again not that unusual with these dang fool's.
--Apparently Squash was really sleeping hard because it took awhile for Buddy to wake his but up. When finally woke him up he was rewarded with a swat but that was all right because Buddy ended up on the rocking horse. 
--And I'm guessing that's where he wanted to be in the first place. Because what happened next was a game of King of the rocker.
--Of course Waffles had to go over and stick his two cents, but they quickly put the boots to that by ganging up on poor Waffles. So much for him being the peacemaker.
--It all ended fine though because while Squash Buddy and Waffles were Peek went over and stretched out on the rocker and went to sleep.
--When Squash and Buddy saw this their interest suddenly died rather quickly in the whole king of the rocker thing. I guess they just didn't want to risk waking up old Peek. Can't say as I blame them she can be a handful when upset.....

WAFFLES AND THE SPIDER BUSH STUMP.....

--Every day since we cut down the spider bush Waffles has spent extra time trying to help dig the dang fool stump up.
--We've all taken a turn at digging around the dang fool thing. And I'm sure with a lot of patience we'll get the dang fool thing up.
--Of course convincing every one of that is a little hard, but their slowly coming around. And now that we've got more help I'm sure it'll be no time at all.
--Now if Waffles can convince those dang fool cats to give us a hand I'm sure things would move right along......

Jingle bell mixup....

JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT IT WAS SAFE....

--As a rule I try to keep a be prepared attitude, towards life. Because no matter how hard I try I just can't seem to stay ahead of Old Man Murphy and his dang fool law.
--And it seems just about the time you think everything is safe, Whamo, there's Old Man Murphy waving, his dang fool  law in your face.
--I don't for the life of wonder why I should be surprised by the turn of events, because it seems when I running low on the essential energy supply that's when the fat ends up in the fire.
--I suppose it could be worse, at least I've learned over the years to keep a tool box handy, and to make plans but don't plan results......

WAFFLES AND THE MOUSE....

--Gandolf and Waffles have been fighting over the dang fool mouse who has been raiding Waffles food dish for about a month now.
--Today the battle finally ended because Waffles caught the dang fool thing. Of course now the two Whack a Doodles decided to fight about the dead mouse.
--Well I let them have their fun for few minutes and then couldn't stand it any more and tossed the dang fool thing in the garbage.
--Now you would think the fools would get the idea and quit their shenanigans but no they went right back to fighting about who gets to sit near the mouse hole.
--I guess sometimes no matter what you do your going to have to deal with shenanigans of some kind or another. You think after all these years I'd get that through my head ........

PLAY SET SHENANIGANS .....

--While we were out finishing our annual get ready for fall cleanup. I noticed Squash, and Buddy sleeping curled up on the play set swings.
--I have to admit that it was kind of cute, especially when I looked up and saw Puffy and Willow sleeping on the deck of the play set next to the slide.
--Well apparently Waffles had had enough of the cats shenanigans because he ran up on the porch and pushed Puffy and Willow down the slide. And of course being the whack a doodle that he is he slid down the slide himself.
--Puffy and Willow I guess figured if they couldn't sleep no body else should be able to. Because they ran over and knocked Squash and Buddy of the swings.
--Who in turn proceed to chase Puffy and Willow across the yard.
--Waffles mean while  just sat there watching the whole thing grinning, from ear to ear. I told him he should be ashamed of himself but I really don't think he is.
--But then again what can you expect from a little whack a doodle.....

My sweet chinchilla babys....

GRASSHOPPERS IN THE TREES.....

--Squash found there were grasshoppers in the maple tree when he climbed up to his napping perch this morning.
--As much as I found it funny I also felt a little sorry for the little fool, I know how it is when you want to take a nap and something comes up to throw a monkey wrench in the whole thing.
--I'll have to give old Squash credit he tried to ignore the little pests, and was doing pretty good until the started using him for a diving board for their shenanigans. Then I guess he had enough and dropped to the ground and slunk, off to try and take a nap under the pear, tree.
--I guess it just goes to show sometimes you have to keep trying when it comes to napping....

LAWN MOWER RIDING CATS.....

--When the children were little the used to like riding in the wagon behind the lawn mower while I mowed. Then of course the got older and found other things to amuse themselves with. Even though on occasion the would make mention of those rides with fond memories so I guess all was not wasted.
--The other day while getting ready to mow Squash was watching me with that look that said he was up to something.
--Well I didn't think to much of it until I was going around the apple tree and the little fool dropped out of the tree and landed in my lap. After I had a heart attack I started working to slow down so I could let the little fool off.
--Apparently Squash had other ideas because he got up and put two paws, on the wheel and proceeded to try to drive.
--The other cats got one look at Squash behind the wheel and took of running. Squash seemed to think this funny because he started hopping up and down.
--Much to my disappointment I realized if I didn't watch what in Sam Hill I was doing I was never going to get the dang fool yard done. So after a couple of trips around the house I let Squash of next to the porch.
--Take about your weird cats, but I guess that's what you can come to expect at the house of Whack a doodle. I don't think we've ever had a normal pet.....

WHACK A DOODLE GAMES....

--Gathering up the lawn furniture and making ready for winter, has a tendency to drive the children a wee bit goofy. Not to mention the number to does on the dog and cats.
--The children know it's time to come out and lend, a hand when their mother gives them the look. And the cats and dog know it's time to mind their p's and q's when my wife starts moving things around.
--Of course it tend to make them a little spastic. And if you are not care full tripping over the dang fools is a real possibility.
--But with a little patience and of course working together it all gets done. And every body gets plenty of expertise and fresh air so it's sort of a two for in my book......

Glimmer of hope....

TREE WALKING CATS....

--Sitting in my serenity chair the other day I noticed the wing nut gang running across the yard. Not thinking to much of it because these little Whack a doodles are always up to something.
--It wasn't until I was heading back to the house that noticed that the fools were running up a tree and jumping to the next and so on. Until they were finally back up to the house. And then they started all over again.
--Sometimes I wonder where in Sam Hill Squash, Buddy, Puffy and Oregon get their dang fool energy. If I didn't know better I'd swear they were sacking up mine.
--When I got back up to the house the fools were collapsed on the porch deep in sleep. I guess that's why they call them cat naps.....

UMBRELLA SITTING....

--Apparently there's a new game at Whack a Doodle acres, it's called umbrella, sitting.
--For the past week we've found Squash, Buddy, Puffy, and even Oreo sitting on top of the dang fool umbrella to the picnic table.
--Why in Sam Hill their sitting up there I have no idea, but they are a bunch of wing nuts so I guess it's to be expected.
--Now if I can just convince them to stop jumping of on me when I walk by I'd be doing something.....

THE WONDERS OF THE TOOTHPICK....

--The other day my wife tore the house apart looking for her shish kabob sticks so she could grill some shish kabobs. Of course like every thing that your looking for in the house of whack a doodle they were nowhere to be found.
--Knowing that she really had her heart set on the dang fool things I recommended using toothpicks. When I mentioned it she gave me the look. Which usually means she didn't have time for my foolishness.
--But it seems when the she couldn't find the dang fool sticks she gave it another thought. let me tell you they might have been small but she made the things work and they were really quite good.
--I guess it just goes to show toothpicks are good for something besides picking your teeth......

Chinchilla delight....

HUBCAP IN THE TREE....

--While out and about the other day my wife and I noticed a squirrel sitting on a hubcap sunning himself in the tree.
--I didn't think much of it until we were on our way back and saw the same squirrel sitting with a pile of nuts. I guess he figured out a purpose for the hubcap.
--Life's like that sometimes I guess you have to take your blessing where you find them.....

Blue skies with greyish white clouds....

GOOD NIGHT SPIDER BUSH.....

--When the spider's decide to invade a dang fool bush loaded with pickers, I guess there's only one thing you can do and that's to cut the dang fool thing down. At lest that's the way it was explained to me by my wife.
--Of course carrying out the task was a bit of a pain in the neck. Especially when the dang fool spiders decided to leave the bush. And head for the fellow making all the racket. It really is amazing how a few spiders can make people run for the hills.
--Myself I really don't care for the dang fools, and I especially don't want a bush full of the things next to the porch. So it didn't really hurt my feeling none when my wife decided the thing shield be cut down. But having to chase the dang fool children back outside every time they saw a spider was a bit of a pain.
--But with a bit of patience we got rid of the dang fool bush. Waffles gave his seal of approval by marking the stumps. And Squash pouted a tad, because apparently he like to sleep under the dang fool thing.
--I guess it could be worse at lest now with don't have to worry about getting slapped in the face with pickers when we come up the stairs.....

A day to remember....

MR TOADS NEW FRIEND....

--I guess it was only a mater of time before Mr. Toad started making friends. I mean if you hang around long enough your bound to rub of a little on each other.
--So I wasn't to surprised to find Willow and Mr. Toad curled up next to each other under the old maple tree, when I went out to feed the Whack a doodles this morning.
--I mean after all this is Whack a doodle acres, and after all these years I've kind of gotten used to some of the shenanigans of some of the Whack a doodles that pass by.
--It was a little weird to find Mr. Toad following Willow around, but he I guess it takes all kinds I guess.....

Before the day is done....

WAFFLES AND THE CROW....

--Waffles has gotten to point where he pretty much needs company when he goes outside. Except of course when he goes out with my wife, the he's Captain Courage.
--Of course I have to follow the little fool out when he goes out to do his business, because other wise he stands in the doorway and whimper like a fool.
--Today was going fine until a giant crow flew over head, when the shadow crossed Waffles path he just about lost it. He hopped up and down and did a Scooby-Doo trying to get back to the house.
--I tried to explain to him it was just a crow and he didn't have anything to worry about. But he didn't want to hear and ran in the house and hid in his bed.
--I guess he had enough of outside for awhile.It could be worse at lest he did his business when he was out there.....

Being kind isn't supposed to be hard....

WHOLE LOT OF FUN....

--There are certain things that are considered fun, are certain things that are not. At least that's what I've been told by my wife and children.
--I guess they kind of take exception when they find me hip deep in muck and mire, humming a little tune while I Wade through the shenanigans of the moment.
--It's not that I don't appreciate the muck and mire moment, I just figure it's a lot easier to hum a tune than spend the day shaking your fist, at the dang fool sky.
--Besides it sort of makes even the darkest days a week bit better. And when it comes down to brass tacks and nails I'll take anything I can get if it makes for a better day......

A little bit of hot air....

CENTER OF ATTENTION....

--Most of the time I really don't mind people who have a over powering need to be the center of attention. I guess it comes from having raised four children, and all the dang fool cats we've had over the years. It sort of warps your perception a bit.
--My wife of course thinks I'm goofy when it comes to the whole thing. not that I don't get annoyed with the constant games some people play. I just figure life's to short, to run around being mad about something I can't control.
--Of course I always say a little prayer for the dang fools, and hope some day the grow out of the dang fool stage....

Planning a good day....

FALL IS ON THE WAY.....

--Like a old friend you can hear it's whisper in the air. Of course the crispness at night is a little reminder.
--Of course after the summer we've had I can't say as I'm going to miss summer in the lest.
--In fact it'll probably take me a good six months to cool off. But maybe that's just me, I never was one for to much heat.
--Now Waffles, and the dimblub, cats seem to be a lot happier it's cool off a tad. They've been running around like a bunch of Whack a doodles. But that's about what you can expect from a bunch of wing nuts I guess....

What a day full of morning light....

IT'S NICE TO BE NEEDED....

--You know the other shoe has dropped and there’s something the matter with the children’s computers when for no apparent reason their in the kitchen looking like they just lost their best friend.
--Of course trying to get a handle on just what the Sam Hill happened is a bit of a pain in the neck. But with a bit of patience the story slowly takes form.
--Going over everything with them so they can figure out the problem next time, again requires a bit of patience.
--But I guess that's what being a parent is all about, being ignored until that moment when you are needed. And it's back to the trenches afterwards.
--At lest the dang fool dog still gets a good tail wagging going every morning when I come out to get the old coffee. So I guess it could be worse.....

Today was a good day....

JUST WHAT YOU WANTED....

--I love the fact when we work real hard to get what it is we think we want. We find that somewhere in the process it sort of lost it's appeal.
--There's something in the process of building up our expectations, that nine times out of ten leaves us with a unfulfilled feeling when we finally capture what ever in Sam Hill it was that we were chasing. But then again maybe it was the chase we should of been enjoying and not the finish.
--I suppose it could be worse, the whole thing could of been for nothing. At least if you enjoy each step of the way, it would probably balance out in the end.
--But then again this could probably be the ramblings of a old pink hat wearing fool. Usually that's the response I get from the old wife and children, when I start rambling away. Of course Waffles is a little more attentive, but I'm beginning to think that's because he like it when I talk to him..... 

Yard wondering ....

PEEKING THROUGH THE LILACS....

--They say change is good, at least that's what I've been told by my wife while she constantly changes the furniture around in the House of Whack a Doodle.
--Now don't get me wrong I enjoy moving the furniture around as much as the next fella.
--It's just sometimes you just don't have much extra energy, and just want to enjoy what energy you do have before that trickles out.
--Of course I suppose those are the days when you should hop right up and start moving furniture and what not. So complacency doesn’t set in, but like I said sometimes you just don’t have enough energy to spare.
--Which I suppose is how I find myself peeking through a lilac bush at the front lawn. It was a good old game of musical chairs with me being the odd man out.
--Actually the only cool corner in the dang fool kitchen is the one with the giant lilac growing in front of the window. So when my wife suggested why don't I move my big cranky butt down there, and quit blocking her view of her Sharon bush. I of course jumped at the opportunity.
--It wasn't until I'd moved that it dawned on me that it was Waffles corner and Gandolfs window.  Which they seem to spend their every waking hour fighting over. But my wife was right it is a lot cooler.
--Maybe sometimes it pays to look at the big picture before jumping. I guess it's another in the long line of things I have to work on....

Where's your mama....

PEEK AND THE BOX FILLED WITH BABIES....

--Apparently when there's babies about Peek takes it upon herself to keep a eye on the little darlings.
-Some how her and the mother have figured out a schedule and take turns when one is getting food. It's probably good that they have it worked out. It keep the male cats from getting to close.
--Alien cat and Brownie have already learned their lesson about looking in on the babies. They have each been swatted a number of times.
--Now if they can figure out how to keep my wife and children from looking in on them they'll probably be alright.....

Just enjoying the walk through a good day ....

THE RETURN OF THE BIG MOUTHED CRICKETS....

--I suppose it was bound to happen. The question was when I guess. But as usual in the House of Whack a  Doodle when something goes wrong it goes all the way.
--Now don't get me wrong I get along with just about anything, although there are some creepy crawlies I prefer to keep my distance from. And expect the same from them. There are those few instances when we're forced to share space, with in reason I give everything a far chance. And on those rare occasions where we reach a impasse I usually let karma sort it out.
--Myself I don't really mind cricket's, in fact I find their chirping quite relaxing. My wife and children for some reason don't, go figure.
--So of course when we got invaded by a bunch of the little darlings the other day it made for a frantic evening trying to round up the little fellas.
--But as with everything with a little patience,we rounded them up and set them outside where they could be with their friends celebrating the night.
--I tried to get Waffles to sit under the old maple with to lessen to their singing but he followed the children back into the house. I guess sometimes it the little moments that matter the most....

Charming little stories....

THE FRIENDLY LITTLE BLACK ONE.....

--Usually the children rush to name all the cats who hang round the house. Sometimes there names I really couldn't pronounce if I tried.
--Apparently they forgot the little black one, because when I asked nod seemed to know the little darling name.
--Which is kind of sad I guess because she sure is friendly. Every time I go out she's the first one to come running. And always is more than ready for a pet or belly rub.
--The other cats are more stand offish, oh they like their pets and belly rubs they just like to make sure you work for it.
--I'm hoping the children come up with a name for little Blacky, before long. Until then I'll probably just keep calling Little Blacky.......

Alien cat's people aquarium....

THE GRASSHOPPER INVASION.....

--The tiny grasshoppers have grown up, and boy have they ever.
--Walking outside it's a toss up witch is more of a pain in the neck, the whack a doodle cats or the grasshoppers. Right now their running neck and neck.
--Even the dang fool cats are growing tired of the little whack  doodles. I guess getting constantly plated by the dang fool things is getting on their nerves.
--I know I tried to sit outside for awhile and had four land in my coffee. Talk about a nerve racking experience. I still not sure if I didn't drink a few.
--I image once the birds get hip to our dilemma the grasshoppers will be a thing of the past.
--Until then I'll be sure to drink my coffee from a cup with a cover.....

A place to rest....

SERENITY TREE AT SUNSET....

--Watching the sunset over the front lawn in one of my favorite things to do. Yeah I know I need a hobby.
--One of the things I like about it is it casts a glow to the old serenity tree, and sort of puts the day in perspective.
--Good or bad doesn't really matter, because seeing that glow sort of makes everything just right.
--Especially when I think about how hard that dang fool tree had to fight to start upright after the flooding it took with all the rain last year.
--Of course the sunrise isn't to bad either but that as say is another story ......

What a day full of morning light....