Crumpled Home

We’ve looked, but we can’t find this one anywhere.

Click to enlarge.

(RJ runs in from outside)

RJ: It’s not good, Dad! Our family has some BIG problems.

Dad: What do you mean?

RJ: Well, I tried to lay the cat down in the dog’s bed.

Dad: No luck?

RJ: She just wont stay in there. She does NOT like it.

Dad: Maybe it’s the smell or something. Weird.

RJ: Yeah! And when I put her in, the dog started freaking out and got out of the bed too! Our family does NOT get along.

(extremely excited about a new idea)

RJ: … it’s just like the rice we found growing in Bali, except with the grass and leaf bits taken off and we could plant it in our own garden and have small fields in there, some with rice and some with wheat and some with alfalfa and we could collect it up each year and gather it into big bales and we could have Scarlet carry it around on her back, she’s super strong you know, like one of those animals… called… what are they called again?

Dad: Umm… I’m not sure exactly what you’re talking about…

RJ: You know! Those animals! The ones that carry stuff!

Dad: Animals? That carry stuff?

RJ: Yeah! Hay dogs! That’s it! She could be our hay dog and carry it all around for us and then we could sell it to people at the market!

Cody, Wyoming is home to the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, a marvelous set of museums which we spent a while exploring. Out front, a blacksmith worked a historically accurate forge and anvil making nails by hand (a job that I do not envy), while someone cooked up some buffalo stew over a campfire. The smells were delicious!

We also had a great time watching the Fourth of July Parade, complete with cowboys, horses, skiiers, cowboys, hamburgers, horses, cowgirls, poodles, horses, Shriners in little zoomy cars, cowboys, marching bands and horses!

We visited the Buffalo Bill Historical Center. It houses several museums in the same building.

(RJ getting increasingly agitated attempting to attach porcupine quill to large inflatable hedgehog)

RJ: I need to stick it on. Hedgy wont be safe.

Dad: Safe from what? He’s in our living room.

RJ: He has no spines. He isn’t safe from predators.

Dad: (get increasingly worried about Hedgy getting punctured) We don’t have predators in here. The worst Hedgy has to deal with is that pile of unfolded laundry on the couch.

Mum: RJ, he’s a fuzzy hedgehog. They’re bred specially for living rooms.

RJ: He isn’t safe! What if… if… a lot of hungry dogs come in here… through the window?

…

Dad: (under his breath) Better Hedgy than us, then. We’ll remember him in heroic verse after we make our escape.

Every year, we head off to the Perth Royal Show to see the animals, ride some rides, watch some wood chopping, cheer on the sheep dogs, and of course, pick up a couple of showbags. If you haven’t been, it’s just like a state fair in the US, but perhaps a little smaller with fewer crazy rides. It’s great fun, and we haven’t missed it yet.

RJ challenged one of the Australian Defense Force underwater operations specialists to a game of tic-tac-toe.

LR got her hands on some very cute chicks.

"Whoah. This came from one really big chicken."

LR cuddled this guinea pig for nearly half an hour. RJ discovered that it loved carrots.

RJ's uneaten sandwich had the undivided attention of this Australian Shepherd.

Mum and LR queue up to buy some tickets for the rides.

LR makes some waves in the bumper boats.

"Hey! Look out! You're going to *BUMP* ... crash into me!"

RJ and LR take a wild ride on the kids' roller coaster.

RJ shows off his fantastic new hat from his Backyardigans Showbag.

LR gets to work right away with her new paper and pens from her showbag!

LR jumps on Mum's back for a fast getaway! That's all until next year's show!

Dad: What should we make for dinner RJ?

RJ: Ummm… Pasta… sauce… and something special.

Dad: Special? Like what?

RJ: Let’s cook Scarlet! She’ll be very juicy.

Dad: What!? We can’t cook the dog! Mum would freak!

RJ: How about just her tail?

Dad: Like a dog tail soup or something?

RJ: No. Just chop it in pieces.

Dad: I think Scarlet would miss her tail.

RJ: Yes, but it’s too waggy. She wouldn’t bump us around so much any more.

Scarlet - Without Tail