We Could Be Bearish Forever and Ever

 

            “What did Enid say when she heard about your new job?” Twigg asked Marge one day.
            “It’s not for sure yet, I have to wait for the application to go through and all of that. Mom didn’t act surprised and she didn’t try to stop me. She said she knew I would never do anything normal, that whatever it was would be a little weird,” said Marge.
            “Camp host is weird?” said he.
            “Well, yeah. Livin’ in the woods! It’s weird according to Mom, but at least not disreputable!
            “Part of the problem is that I’m too much like my father, not that I remember him, Twigg,” said Marge, with hands stuffed in her puffer coat pockets.
            “And that’s bad?” asked Twigg.
            “Maybe just sad. He was always going on some kind of adventure. I think he fell off of Mt Index. She hasn’t really explained,” said Marge.
            “Did you already dump school?” asked Twigg.
            “I did,” said she. “It felt wonderful!”
            “What about your room in town? Where are you living?” he asked.
            “I could have stayed there for the rest of the month. But I didn’t want to, so I moved back into my old bedroom,” said she. “I brought all my junk back home! Now all I have to do is wait for my paperwork to go through!
            “Then I’ll have to move it all again, to the campground,” she concluded.
            They had been strolling around the meadow in a big loop, like doing slow laps, while they talked. The Gifting Stump sat by itself in the middle.
            “Ranger Rick told my dad that some guy with a camera crew is coming to the National Forest to do “Bigfoot” research. Dad said it seemed like the ranger thought it would be funny to let him try,” said Twigg.
            “Aren’t you worried about it? What if they catch you outside the Home Clearing?” said Marge, looking up at Twigg as they kept walking. He winked down at her.
            “No. I’m not worried. They never catch us and if they’re getting close we may do the bear thing. Most of them think we’re bears anyhow. It’s a short hop to convincing them that we are bears!” Twigg said.
            “Um, what kind of bears?” said Marge, who had never seen a bear of any kind out here.
            “Oh, little black bears. Not very scary, not likely to get shot either!” said Twigg.
            “What is the bear thing and how do you do it?”
            “The bear thing is when one of us needs to look and smell like a bear and we make a kind of atmosphere of illusion. They think they are seeing a bear. Hard to explain. I’m not sure if we just look like bears or kind of are bears for a while.
            “Would you like to be a bear for a while, Marge? It might be an adventure!” said Twigg.
            “Well. OK. Maybe. After all, I don’t have classes today,” said Marge.
            “You sure?” said Twigg.
            “I think so. What will happen to my clothes and shoes? They won’t fall off will they?” wondered Marge.
            “I don’t think so,” said Twigg. “Never thought of that! Hope not!”
            “How does it work?”
            “Dad taught me this song. I sing the song and then I and you I think, if you stay near me, look like bears for a while. We could go visit Ranger Rick and see if Manuel and the boys are there yet!”
            “What’s the song? Sing it, Twigg!” said Marge, grinning.
            So he did, and here it is…
 

If you go down in the woods today, you're sure of a big surprise
If you go down in the woods today, you better go in disguise
For every bear that ever there was will gather there for certain
Because today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic.

           
            Marge broke out in laughter, “Twigg, that’s a nursery rhyme!”
            “Really?” Twigg laughed, but by the time he was done laughing they were both feeling pretty ursine. The laughter kind of ended up being a sort of wuffling snuffling sound.
            “Shall we go?” wuffled Twigg.
            “Let’s,” snuffled Marge.
            They waddled bearishly down to the Ranger Station. It was a little hard for either of them to remember not to feel like rooting through the dumpster. It was like some essence of bear had crept into their minds because of the illusion. The dumpster smelled fascinating.
            Up at the campground, someone threw a pan of water in Marge’s face just as she was sniffing around their tent. She hadn’t really done anything but sniff, but in bears, that’s enough.
            So, they waddled back to the parking lot, and up the path into the forest.
            “I’m tired of being a bear,” said Marge.
            “Let’s go down to the fire circle and see if Mom has anything good to eat,” said Twigg, bearishly, with intense little brown beady eyes.
            “Can we stop being bears then?” said Marge.
            “Wait and see what happens, Marge,” said Twigg, heading for the Home Clearing.
            Cherry saw them first.
            Then Ramona called out, “Hi, Marge! Twigg! Any news on the new job front, Marge?”
            A fully restored Marge said, “I have to wait for the application to be approved, and then I can start, Ramona. Thanks for asking.”
            Blue ran up to them, sniffing them both in detail, and then approving them.
            “See, that stuff doesn’t work in the Home Clearing!” said Twigg. “Only truth works here!”
            “I’m super glad to be me again,” said Marge. “And I’ll never view bears quite the same again.”
            “It was an adventure, though, wasn’t it?” asked Twigg.
            Marge hung around long enough to have dinner with the family, and then Twigg walked her almost to Enid’s house, staying just out of sight.
            “Goodnight, Marge,” he whispered.
            “G’night, Twigg,” she said and slipped in the front door.

🐻🐻

It Was A Lazy Catfurday in Milltown, Washington!

 Doggone it! Foiled again!

March 4, 2023. Uphill somewhere around here.

Probably around Concrete, WA.

As, usual, I am waiting for snow!

So, any exciting plans for the holiday coming up?

🦃

Catfurday Greetings From Charley in Arizona

 🤍

           

             Charley sends her best wishes to all the cats, and their people too. 
            "Things are going well," she says, "especially since it has cooled down into the 70s. Madam and I go strolling quite often!"

            "There was some stormy weather, as you can see from this shot of Tucson at sunset," she adds.

            "These are everywhere! I keep my distance. No plant should look that hostile!" 

            "Now, while I have your attention, cat cohabiters, Catfurday is the day to make sure that your cats are thoroughly brushed. Just a friendly reminder!
            "I guess that's all for today. See you at the next Purring™!"

⭐

Whose Birthday Party Is This Anyhow?

 

On location!

            As was always the case when Ralph came to the ranger station to talk to Ranger Rick Swanson, he stuck his head in the door, stooping a bit and called out to warn the guy.
            “You in there, Rick? There’s a bunch of us. We need to talk to you. Got time?” said Ralph.
            “Uh, yeah,” said Rick from behind his desk. His laptop had been opened, but he shut it and looked up. “Come in!”
            First Ralph, with Maeve still on his shoulder, then Marge, and last of all Twigg entered the office. Rick waited behind his desk.
            “If you go get that other chair in the backroom everybody can sit down. I assume this will take a minute or two,” said the ranger, as Ralph pulled his oversized chair over in front of the desk, after seating Marge in the regular type chair. Although Twigg hadn’t been in Rick’s office before, he fetched the third chair and sat on it on the other side of Marge.
            Marge wriggled out of her backpack, putting it on the floor between her feet. She took off the rain hat and set it on her pack. She looked all around the office, taking note of everything.
            “Rick, this young woman is our very good friend, Marge. We’ve known her for a couple of years. Ramona vouches for her as do I and Twigg too. Twigg and Marge met in the meadow when they were kids and became friends. Maeve, here, also sees Marge in a favorable light, doncha, Birdie?” said Ralph by way of introductions.
            Maeve made some encouraging raven knocks, but kept her beak shut.
            “It’s Marge who needs to speak with you, we’re just here to help her along if we can,” Ralph continued.
            “OK. So, Marge, hi. They call me Ranger Rick around here. It’s a little bit of a joke, for obvious reasons. Good to meet you. How can I help?” said Rick, cheerfully. His day had been pretty boring so far and this was certainly diverting.
            Rick thought Marge looked like a sensible young thing. He observed her Carhartts with approval. He liked her demeanor  and expression. She seemed, to him, to be direct and at ease in unfamiliar surroundings.
            “Hi, Ranger Rick! I guess that only makes sense, doesn’t it?” said Marge.
            “It’s a little bit of a story, Sir. I am an art major at the community college. I’ve been doing that for nearly two years.
            “Recently it has seemed to me that living in town and doing college courses just isn’t me anymore. I’m only myself in the forest, if that makes any sense. I don’t want to waste anymore time doing something I don’t want to do, you know?”
            “I do know,” said Rick. “I had a similar realization several years ago. But, I was working on a biology degree which was a good enough fit, that I was able to apply to train as a Forest Service ranger.”
            “The reason I’m here is that I was reading up on working for the Forest Service, and it seemed to me that I would like to be a volunteer camp host, possibly. That’s plan A. I don’t really have a plan B. Anyhow, the website advised people who are interested to first talk with a Forest Service  ranger. So, here I am. That’s why I, or we, actually, are here,” said Marge, finally.
            “We don’t really have a camp host right now,” said Rick. “He packed up and went back to Wisconsin suddenly. My trainee has been doing that job in addition to whatever else he is supposed to be doing. I think Dexter would be thrilled if we had a camp host up there in the camping area!”
            Ralph got that look on his face he gets when things are going well, as if, “yes!” things should be going well. Twigg visibly relaxed. Maeve gronked a bit under her breath, but said nothing.
            “When are you available?” said Rick. “You know you still have to apply. I can’t make that go away, but I can sure send in my recommendation.”
            “I’m available right this minute,” said Marge. “Thank you! I’ll try to wait calmly, but wow!”
            Right on cue, Dexter the trainee popped through the office door. He froze for an instant, and then smiled at everyone.
            “Whose birthday is it?” said Dexter.
            “Yours, maybe!” said Ranger Rick.
            “Cool! I never knew! No, really, what’s up?” said Dexter.
            “Well, we just might have ourselves a new camp host,” said Rick. “If the stars line up right. You’re looking at her right now! Marge this is Dexter. Dexter this is Marge, who wants in the worst way to live in the forest. Sensible, don’t you think?”
            “I sure do! I’m here, during the day anyhow! We need a camp host in the worst way, Marge, hello by the way,” said Dexter, who was just about hopping up and down. If anything, he was more excited than Marge.
            “It’s a real shame we don’t have a happy forest cake, coffee will  have to do for now,” said Rick. “But in the meantime, Dexter, why don’t you take Marge up to the campground, Twigg can go too, we don’t have anybody up there today. Show her the little mobile that comes with the job, take the keys so you can get into it. Tell her what a camp host’s duties are and all like that.”
            After the young people took off to explore the campground and the one bedroom mobile home that came with the job, Ralph and Rick had a quiet moment.
            “Thanks, Rick. I feel really good about this,” said Ralph. “And I won’t worry about her with you and Dexter in the area.”
            “I do too. I think it’ll all work out fine,” said Rick. “I’ll go start some coffee and pull out some Oreos. I forgot I had cookies. They’re likely to be out there for a while. We may as well have coffee.”
            And so they did!

🎂

Purrsday Report For November 20, 2025

 

🙀🧡😸

 
            It had been a while, so our agents felt that it was time to get together to compare notes. It was evening, which, of course, comes stupidly early late in November. Suzy had the sliding glass door to gaze into, and Toots had her shiny window in the shop.
 
            Agent Suzy wrapped her tail tightly around herself in loaf position, looked anxiously behind her back, and whispered, “Anything new to report, Agent Toots?”
            “Why are you whispering, Agent Suzy?” said Agent Toots.
            “I don’t want either my brother or Mr. Fluffbag to hear me. Do you have a report?” said Suzy.
            “It’s been quiet. Too quiet! That can only mean one thing, Agent Suzy. They can’t fool me. They’re being quiet. Do you understand!!” said Agent Toots, with conviction.
            “Then there’s no way to tell! Anything is possible!” said Agent Suzy. “That curls my whiskers!”
            “Under cover of November darkness, Hairy Men shamble down the highway calling out in the voices of owls, dogs, wild cats, cars, people talking! It’s impossible to tell. But, all I saw was some raccoons looking for trouble, and if I was outside, Agent Suzy, I tell you they would have found it! I’m not afraid of those fat things,” said Agent Toots. “I would come at them!”
            “That’s kind of an open ended report. Shall we say raccoons for sure then?” said Agent Suzy. “I don’t think the Hairy Men shamble. They have special hips and knees. They move kind of like a train car.”
            “There’s an idea that bears looking into,” said Agent Toots. “Do you have anything to report? Anything scary going on up there in the land of mountains and deep dark forests?”
            “Nothing besides the usual. Oh! In the house here? Well, there have been outrages. Mr. Baby, the Fluffbag, is still here. That’s bad enough, but they’ve been talking about taking him outside on a leash like a dog! I would laugh because no cat should be on a leash. But still, I wouldn’t bite or scratch if they took me outside on a leash. Beggers can’t be choosers, Agent Toots,” said Agent Suzy.
            “Shall we drop the agents bit, Suzy? Neither one of us has anything to report, said Toots, quietly.
            “I guess so, Toots. In fact, the scariest thing that happened yesterday is that she made more sauerkraut,” admitted Suzy.
            “That’s appalling though,” said Toots. “Whoever heard of eating spritzig cabbage, but they do it!”
            “Hard to believe, bye for now, Sweetie,” said Suzy, who was getting sleepy.
            “Talk to you soon, Suze,” said Toots.
            So everything was actually peaceful on Kittycomm!™ And, that’s a good thing!

🧡

An Audience With The King

 

            Sitting there between Ramona and Twigg, Marge gathered her thoughts before speaking. She knew that Ralph wasn’t rushing her into it, so she sat quietly. The fire was warm on her shins, the flames flickered pleasantly. She was at peace, right where she was.
            Ramona did make coffee to go with the pastries, which were a great success with the family. Blue wanted a piece. The cats did not, pastry being much too lightweight for pumas.
            After the treat was eaten, and the coffee drunk, Twigg put the bakery box on the fire.
            Finally, Marge, spoke, “I’m happy here in the forest. The forest is the only place where I have felt as if I belonged and was a part of it. I never fit anywhere else.
            “This was a surprise to me. I thought that my life would be the usual path, school, college, job, maybe family. But after I went home the last few times I visited here, that path felt hollow and sad to me. It’s not what I want.”
            “So, what do you really want? Be really sure. There are not too many ways for a young woman to maker her way in the Great Forest. Do you have any ideas how you might do that?” said Ralph. “And how can I help you?”
            “My mother has been paying for everything. Before I change everything and leave college I want to make sure that she doesn’t have to spend any more money on me. This leads me to looking into the Forest Service. It’s a little bit of a long shot, but I did some research and there is a chance that there might be a volunteer job with them. It pays less than even a trainee ranger receives, but enough because it’s typical for housing to be provided,” said Marge.
            “Well, Marge,” said Ramona, “I can see why you would prefer to be here. I’ve never been down into town myself. Maeve tells me that it’s very busy, with many people moving around and talking and busily doing many things and that there are few trees, only a little grass and only a few plants in gardens. I don’t think I could live there either.”
            “Who is Maeve, Ramona,” said Marge.
            “Oh, haven’t you met Maeve? She is our friend, a very special sort of a Raven. She brings and takes the news. She observes the world from high in the air. I believe that she has seen you! In fact, I’m sure of it. She misses nothing,” said Ramona. She had taken a seat again after the coffee and all.
            “I would very much like to meet her,” said Marge. Then turning to Ralph again, she said, “The reason that I came to you, Sir, is that I have heard that the ranger in this section of the National Forst is a very good friend of yours.
            “They said, on the website, to speak to someone at a station and see if there was a position opening. I thought my chances would be better if you introduced me to him! Would that be possible?” she said at last, getting to the point.
              “Of course, I will take you to speak to the ranger,” said Ralph. “Do you have another plan in case this one doesn’t work out?”
            “Not really. I’m not a Forest Keeper, no matter how much I might want to be. If I can’t work for the Forest Service, I’m not sure what to do next,” she admitted.
            “Marge, you’re the first human who ever said that to me!” said Ralph. “I wish that you could be! I would change you into one of us if I could, but I can’t do that!”
            “Your mother wouldn’t like that very much,” laughed Ramona.
            “Then she wouldn’t believe in me either!” crowed Marge, enjoying the idea. “I would be impossible, imaginary, mythic! Mom can’t see those things at all.”        
            And as if it were written into the script somehow, right on schedule, Maeve wafted down out of the opening to the sky over their heads and landed on Ralph’s shoulder. She folder her wings neatly and looked around. If a raven could have raised her eyebrows, Maeve would have.
            “What’s up, Boss,” said she. But she was looking right at Marge while she said it.
            “Marge, this is Maeve. Maeve this is Marge. It’s about time you two met. You probably know, because you see it all, that Marge is Twigg’s good friend.
            “Now, Marge would like to work for Ranger Rick, so I’m going to go introduce them. Want to come along?” said Ralph.
            “Of course I do, Boss,” said Maeve. “Let’s go!”
            Therefore, looking nothing at all, not really, like characters from the Wizard of Oz, towering Ralph, with Maeve on his shoulder, Twigg only slightly less imposing than his father, and Marge in her puffer jacket, rain hat, and Carhartts, and backpack all set out for the ranger station together.
            “Oh, this isn’t far from the Home Clearing!” said Marge when she saw the Forest Service station come into view.
            “Sometimes the path is shorter than at other times, but yes, we are near neighbors in a way, Rick and I,” said Ralph.
            Rick’s service vehicle was parked by the dumpster at the out edge of the parking lot, so it looked like an interview was coming up.

🍀

A Fabulous Tootsday To One and All!

 

⭐A friend's kitty, when he was very young.⭐

The cats got together to wish you all a great day!

"We love you will sniffs, chomps, licks, all the usual!"

The Purring™ was intense and heartfelt!

Happy Tootsday!

Meow!

🤍

🌸