Happy St. Patrick's Day!

We're Still Here!

Deb:

Okay, okay, we know. We haven't been around much this past month. I've been taking care of some writing stuff, and Freckles has been busy working on her photography project. Stay tuned...she's got some terrific new photos and observations to share with you! Here's a hint:

She's discovered how difficult it is to compose a subject for her photo, but she's learning quickly. (And chewing as fast as she can!)

Home, Sweet Home

Freckles:

I've been busy studying up on photography. It took me a bit of time to figure out how to snap the picture without thumbs, but I think I've got it now. I position the camera, hold it down with one paw, and push the button with my nose. Here are some pictures I took of my cave.

Here is the ceiling. I haven't done much remodeling there. I need to figure out how to climb ladders next. That flap is just crying out to be chewed!

This is an inside wall. I've been trying to decide how to decorate it. I could chew a hole, or I could learn to paint a lovely picture. I'm just not sure which direction I should go. Suggestions?

Here is the lovely door I've constructed (or destructed -- however you prefer to look at it!) It's wide enough to give me a view, but small enough to provide me with all the privacy a queen desires.

Why Deb Doesn't Draw Pictures for the Blog

Deb:

Freckles is still trying to figure out how to work the camera. She's got the buttons down, it's the aiming and focusing that have her confused.

Anyway, while she is occupied with her new hobby, I thought I'd share a picture I found while going through some of my childhood papers. According to my mom's faded notation, this is the very first picture I drew. What does it look like to you? (I'm thinking bunny rabbit, maybe chewing on a piece of grass.)

How Does This Stupid Thing Work???

Freckles:

Okay, let me see ... I'm smart ... I should be able to figure this thing out. Deb's been too busy to update the blog, so I'm just going to take things into my own paws and post myself. Got the computer figured out, but how the heck do you work this camera without thumbs? Here ... I think I've got it. YES! Success! Well, sort of success. I think people will know that it's me. Maybe they'll just think they aren't wearing their glasses.

Hi, everybody! As soon as I get this all sorted out I'll post some more. I don't need Deb. I'll just call it the Adventures of Freckles. That'll teach her!

We Spoke Too Soon!

In our last post we said we hadn't had any snow. We made the snow gods mad.

The snow started falling yesterday afternoon and surprised the whole area. Everyone panicked. Traffic gridlocked.

Deb & Big Guy had tickets to the opening show of Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles. It took them 2 1/2 hours to drive 15 miles to downtown Portland (and that was using Big Guy's secret knowledge of back roads...if not, they would still be sitting on I-5 which quickly became a parking lot!) They arrived one song before intermission.

Freckles watched the snow from the warmth and safety of her cave. She was not phased by the snowstorm chaos. She still expected her carrots and lettuce to be delivered to her door on time. She was not disappoiinted.

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays!

Created by Freckles & Deb with Make-a-Flake by Barkley

Here is a snowflake that we made for you for the holidays. We haven't had any snow around here this year (and are we ever happy about that!) Neither of us really like the snow very much. No, we haven't fallen off the face of the earth. Deb's been a little under the weather (pun intended!) and hasn't been on the computer much lately, but we'll be back in gear, up and running, fully operational, and here to serve you after the new year.

In the meantime we wish you all a very happy holiday season. May you and your friends find joy and cheer in 2010.

A Stinky Layer of Fluff

Freckles:

The creature came to my home with a strange object. This object looks soft and flexible. At first I thought it might be another fluffy creature that the creature had destroyed. But the way the creature shakes it convinced me that it is only a loose layer of fluff that was, hopefully, never alive.

The creature brings it to the humans, standing in front of them and looking at them with his big sneaky eyes until he has hypnotized them into grabbing it and playing tug of war with him.

He tried his silly game on me, but I cannot be hypnotized. Finally, he had to go off with his stinky layer of fluff and play by himself.

Ha-Ha! I am victorious once again!

Minding My Own Business

Freckles:

I was just minding my own business, eating, sleeping, begging, rearranging stuff, eating again, etc., when suddenly this creature invaded my world. It had ears like a bunny, but it was like no bunny I had ever seen.

I hopped into my cave and turned my back to the doorway, ignoring the creature and hoping it would go away. 

It didn't go away. It jumped right up to my doorway and tried to attack me!

It's Deja Vu All Over Again!

Deb:
A couple of people guessed correctly...the pictures Freckles posted were of our friend's Papillon dog, Figs, who spent a week visiting us.

Figs is a great dog. But, Freckles was not being a great hostess, especially since Figs stole her carrot and ate it in front of her. Those who have followed our blog probably just had a feeling of deja vu. Our dear friend Scrambles also ate Freckles' carrot. This is getting to be a pattern!

Here's what Freckles looked like when watching Figs with her carrot:

An Invading Guest

Freckles:

We've been pretty busy over the Thanksgiving Holiday. Hope everyone had a yummy meal and a wonderful time with all of their relatives and friends.

We would have had a great time, except we were invaded! What kind of rabbit is this????

A hint

Another hint!

An Award!

Way back in October we got this great award from Razzy, Sugar, and Shell over at The Raspberry Rabbits!  Thank you for the wonderful award!

We are supposed to tell 7 things about ourselves and then share the award with 7 of our friends so here goes:

7 Things We Think You Should Know About

Freckles and Deb

1. We both like carrots and most fruit.
2. We both like the morning newspaper (Deb to read and Freckles to shred.)
3. We both are early risers in the morning, and we share a little treat together in the living room.
4. We both are kind of bossy – sometimes.
5. We both have ears that are sensitive to noises.
6. We both like roses (Deb likes to look at them and Freckles likes to eat them.)
7. We both enjoy sitting and sharing the quiet after a long day on the job (Deb after working and Freckles after shredding.)

Now we have to pick 7 blogs to share this award with. This is very hard, because we love visiting all of the blogs on our Blogroll. But, we think these blogs need a little extra recognition. Please go to visit them and say, “Hi!”

1. Medicated Rabbit, Bipolar Bunny
2. Crafty Green Poet
3. Bunny Bliss
4. Diary of a (Slow) Triathlete
5. Meezer Tails
6. Jan’s Funny Farm
7. The Furry Kids
All of these blogs are terrific!

The Retreat, part 3, in which Freckles meets a bear

Freckles:

The last morning of the retreat I headed off into the woods in search of this bear all the animals had been talking about. I ran into a lively group of chipmunks who told me they'd seen bear tracks down by the stream. Off I went down the path to the stream, but all I found was a field for volleyball and horseshoes.

Scattered over the field were numerous mole holes. I dug one up and shouted into it, "Anybody down there heard a bear thumping up here lately?"

One of the moles stuck his head up and rubbed his eyes. "He went thataway," the mole said, pointing across the field and into the trees.

So, off I went again into the underbrush and through the dark scary forest. "Yoo hoo, Mr. Bear, are you here?"

No answer.

I hopped and I hopped and I was about to give up when I tried one last time. "Mr. Bear, where are you?"

"I'm over here," a voice said.

I turned and, sure enough, there he was, standing directly in front of me.

"Hello," the bear said, "I'm Baxter."

"Hello," I said, "I'm Freckles."

"You aren't from around here, are you?" he asked.

"Nope," I answered. "I'm visiting with a human friend. She's at the Conference Center."

"Yeah, I try to stay away from there. Can't stand all the screaming and those stupid little bells they wear that are supposed to scare me away."

I nodded. Those bells really hurt my sensitive ears.

We chatted for a bit and then I knew I had to be getting back. We said our goodbyes and I promised I'd come back to see Baxter next year. He wasn't so bad for a bear. And he wasn't scary at all.

bear image http://www.ILoveClipart.com

The Poetry Hop

Freckles:

It was up early the next morning and off to breakfast. Deb, once again, headed inside while I munched the scrumptious clover at the edges of the field.


After breakfast, I joined Deb inside the meeting hall and while she took notes and mapped picture book structure, I nibbled on the edges of the picture books. Who needs autographs when bunny-nibbled corners provide a longer lasting impression.


Then it was retreat time -- more writing for Deb and a restful nap for me.

After a delightful lunch back at the field, Deb returned to the meeting hall to learn more boring exciting stuff from an editor about how to reveal secrets in your novel. Meanwhile, I headed off in search of some forest secrets. I found some wild bunnies and we staged a poetry hop over the logs in the woods. I never knew there were so many words that rhymed with log -- hog, bog, polliwog...

From there it was just a hop, blink, and a thump until critique time. While Deb and some other retreaters critiqued one another's manuscripts, I curled up under a huge fern and took a little nap. Guess what I dreamed about? That big old brown bear. Hmmm, I wondered if I'd see him before we left.

Freckles and Deb Go Retreating

Deb: 
From October 8 - 12 Freckles and I attended the Society of Childrens Book Writers and Illustrators - Oregon Fall Retreat at Silver Falls State Park Conference Center. While I spent my time mingling with the other writers, attending workshops, and writing, Freckles found other ways to entertain herself. But, here...I'll let Freckles tell her own story.

Freckles:
Yup, Deb finally took me along on a writer's weekend. Usually I get left at home while she goes gallavanting off without a thought about my welfare. But, on October 8th we headed off together for the land of woods and waterfalls.

Dee picked us up and drove us there. A nice woman, that Dee. she didn't even fuss about me leaving bunny furs on her car seats! Deb & Dee talked and talked. But not me. No siree, I took the opportunity to rest up for the adventure ahead.

When we arrived, we headed for the meeting hall to sign in. We got our badges and found our rooms. Then it was off to dinner. Deb went inside the dining hall to eat with the other human writers. I stayed out in the beautiful grassy field, nibbling on some lovely dandylions around the edges and getting the lay of the land from some friendly, high-energy chipmunks.

Deb stayed for the evening meeting -- lots of announcements and a meet & greet writing exercise. I didn't really need any exercise, so I followed a trail into the woods in search of other animals to chat with. I heard rumors of a bear in the neighborhood from a group of bunnies who showed me a lovely patch of ripe berries, but I had no luck spotting the bear.

I returned to the grassy field just in time to walk Deb back to the lodge where she nestled into her super comfy bed. I thought the cave beneath the bed was just the ticket for a restful sleep after my busy day. I fell right to sleep and dreamt of a big brown bear running around the field with the speedy little chipmunks, cheerful brown bunnies, and me.  Tomorrow I'd need to get down to business and go in search of that bear!