PIP & PUDDLES BUCKET TOUR..ITS FRIDAY!

Early Friday morning we woke up to the sound of a car engine roaring in our driveway!  Dietzman ran under the table and hid, and Magpie and I started to shout, “They’re here, they’re here!!!”  Puddles and Pip had arrived in Van Buren County, Iowa.

After welcoming hugs and smooches we helped them get all settled into the hotel room Mom had reserved for them at the Manning Inn.  Mom had to pay an extra fee

because the innkeepers had heard about Pip and Puddles reputation and  they told mom she would need to provide a large deposit that would insure coverage for any breakage or damage.  I swear I heard Puddles say under her breath, “those Ioway people aren’t all that friendly….”

 

They slept most of the morning away cos they came from Goose’s house BEFORE arriving here, so that alone speaks for itself.  After some much needed rest, they picked Magpie and Myself up and we tooled around the county.  They had never heard of the "Amish" so we stopped by to see they they could catch a ride on the back of the plow.   Pip kept asking them questions about their lives, and Puddles kept shaking her head cos she just couldn't believe there was NEVER EVER beer in their refrigerator for company that might just show up.

Our next stop was the local airport, where Dad had secured a plane for us to tour the county above the highways.  He thought that might be a little safer.  Puddles and Pip both decided to walk on the wings of the little plane, it must have been on Pip's check off list.  Maggie had one foot out the window when I caught her just in time and I threw her butt back in the plane.  I mostly kept my eyes shut real tight cos I just knew something terrible was gonna happen!!!!  

  Puddles even thought she could talk the pilot into letting her steer the plane, she had her special smile out to help persuade him.  Thank the Lord it didn't work.  Those Iowa men are made of strong stuff!

Finally, we were back on the ground and driving around through the town.

Puddles drove us right down by the river, where the fireworks are stored for the 4th of July celebration.  Her and Pipster (Mag's name for Mr. Pip) thought it would be a great idea to provide a big bang later on in the evening so we climbed through the window and scooped up just a few big-bangers.  Maggie was laughing and giggling and I was just plain nervous. Just then my cell phone rang and Dad was calling us home, cos he had cooked his special cheeseburger, deer burgers for Pip and Puddles to try.  I tried to sound like we hadn't been breaking any rules, or laws or anything but my voice kept quivering.  By the time we arrived back home, the table was set and the deer burgers were a waiting.

  

After dinner we went for a long walk along the river and watched the sun slowly sit.  The next thing I knew Puddles and Maggie had cooked up a plan to climb up the water tower to ring the town bell.   Pip climbed onto the roof.

   Well, the wind started to blow…and the tower started to shake and I had to call 911 to help them out of their pickle!  

 Sheriff Danny showed up and started to write them out a citation but Mom and I begged talked him out of it.  Actually Mom whipped out of her pocket one of those “get out of jail free” cards she had made earlier in the week. The sheriff just gave us a warning and told Maggie that she knew better.  Mom shook her head and promised they would head back to the hotel. Mom went on back home to take a tranquilizer, to rest , cos I told her I would get them safely back to the hotel.....I thought I was telling her the truth!

We went back to the hotel room, to calm down Maggie cos she kept laughing and laughing and hugging Puddles cos she just loves and admires her.  We decided now was a good time to break open the snacks that our guests had brought us.  I told Maggie when our guests leave she is going to be in big trouble with our Mom and Dad!  She snickered and called me "an ole stick in the mud" and just ignored me the rest of the night.

Later on Pip looked out the window of the hotel room and saw the cannon that protects our town from four-legged terrorists  visitors and decided he would like to be shot out of it just one time across the river.  Puddles lit the fuse and away he flew, laughing all the way!  Maggie wanted the next turn and I told her ABSOLUTELY NOT!! ( I was exhausted!!!)

Finally it was almost midnight and Puddles got out her handy dandy lighter that she carries everywhere with her.. just in case......and she lit the little pile of fireworks, we had stolen  borrowed from the building where they are stored.  I wonder what the townspeople thought when they looked up in the sky to see that in the middle of January.

I will always remember Pip and Puddles every time I look into the heavens at fireworks or a January night sky.

Thank you for coming to visit Mag's and myself.  You have left us with wonderful memories nightmares and promises of seeing you again.  I am going to sleep the weekend away, but first I had better go check that Maggie didn't sneak into the Puddles suitcase.  Later I found laying on my pillow this note from Puddles and Pip.  I couldn't have said it any better.

STELLA ROSE