Watchin' You Wednesday

Summertime and the livin' is easy......

......... Hush, little doggies - don't you cry! Chester's still here! Summertime is great but does not allow much time for weavin' fantastic tales of adventure and suspense at the keyboard. I'm hopin' you are all out there frolickin' in the great outdoors yourselves and have not had time to miss me. Would we really want to be stuck inside while the summer days hold out their paws stuffed with fantastic bone-shaped trinkets of joy? I think not.

So what have I been up to, you ask? Where to start? Hmmmmmm.............

First of all I think I'll show you my new camouflage outfit for groundhog hunting. It has proven to be quite effective. Since donning this new get-up I have jumped the kill status from 19 to the current 23. I definitely think it was worth the effort it took to acquire this piece of stalking attire.



Next up-choppin' some wood so's to have a little cook-out at the fire pit.



Here we have some fresh pulled sweet corn roastin' on the coals. Sounded like a grand idea at the time-and it did taste good-but it was hard to husk when it's hot and blackened. Anybody have any tricks up their sleeve for that? I don't really need to know for myself but Mom and Dad are curious. To me it's fine right off the stalk-no need to cook it at all.



Then I have this picture showing summer's bounty being held in captivity. Red beets all canned and patiently waiting the cold of winter to be released from their prison.



When the chores are all finished it's always fun to hunt for washed up treasures at the water's edge of Lake Marburg. Even though it takes us awhile to get there, we find ourselves drawn back frequently to enjoy the beauty of Codorus State Park.



And last but not least, what could be more fun than gettin' to swim with Dad? Since his hair is shorter than mine, he doesn't have to worry about gettin' it wet. We had a blast!

That pretty much sums up the latest happenin's in my little part of the world. And again, I hope you are all havin' some great adventures of your own. When the temperature starts to drop, we'll all have to get together again and share our inner thoughts around a cup of hot coffee - or gravy if you prefer.

Soakin' up the sun,

Chester  ;0=)

Wee Ones Wednesday

Chester and the Bandit

What a Thursday morning this turned out to be! Let me fill you in before I get to the good stuff.

My Pappy has a farm down the road from where I live. On this farm live barn kitties. I've been taught since I was a pup that I'm not allowed to chase the barn kitties. I've also been taught early on that I am not allowed to eat from the kitty food pans. They get not only real kitty chow that the 2 leggers buy for them but they also get yummy leftovers that Mom and Dad keep in the 'fridge in a special bucket. Barn kitties are a good thing-they keep rodents like mice and rats away. Mice and rats-YES.

Raccoons-NO. The last week or so a night visitor has been showin' up and makin' a mess with the kitty food pans. This visitor has also got into the turkey food that my Uncle Terry stores in the barn. And sorry to say, the night before last, one of the kittens had a run-in with this visitor and did not fare well. I'll say no more about that.

Dad and Uncle Terry decided it was time to take action. They set a trap for this visitor. Guess who showed up again last night? Not to worry-it is a "live" trap. No-silly dog! The trap is not "live", this means that whatever happens to step inside, is not killed. So what does one do with a live raccoon? Supposedly it is wise to take them at least 5 miles away so that they don't find their way back into your area and cause more trouble.

So Dad left for work early so that he could take him to a nice area that might keep him happy. I think he said something about a woods with a creek runnin' thru it. Before he did, Mom was able to snap a couple pictures of him. He was breathin' pretty hard and seemed quite unhappy about the situation he found himself in.

WARNING: It pretty much scared the poop outta him too. So if you are of weak stomach, this might not be an area your eyes should dwell on.







Chester's Mom: One may take note that Big Brown is not in any of these pictures.

Chester: I noticed! Whassup with that?

Chester's Mom: Don't you think the poor little raccoon has been through enough stress without you showin' up?

Chester: Maybe so. But I coulda saved you the trouble - and the gas - of takin' him 5 miles away. And by the time winter rolled around you coulda had yourself a nice raccoon hat to wear to keep your noggin warm.

Chester's Mom: My loss, I suppose, but I'll survive. Trust me.

Chester: Yeah, I guess there's no sense heatin' an empty house.

Toot-a-Loo!
Chester ;0=)

Summer 2009 Update

Summertime and the livin' is BUSY! Whassup Dawgs? I'm sure you're all takin' advantage of this great weather we've been havin'-although as I watch the Weather Channel, many of you have been dealin' with rain. Sorry 'bout your luck 'cuz it just couldn't be any better this summer. Blue skies, mild temps, cool breezes-just right for opening the windows and lettin' the night air wash over your tired bones. It's been awhile since I've had a "real" post so I'll do a little catchin' up here.

You may remember seein' Grandma at my football game the other Sunday. She has now returned to her homeland but not before passin' down a family heirloom to me.

I was humbled as she gave me her scarf which has been in the family for years. I will treasure it and wear it on special occassions only. I thought it would be great to wear to formal events such as when Truffles and I attend black tie dinners and when she makes me go to the opera. (Yeah, I do opera but only because I'll do anything for a Chocolate kiss from her. Her cat crunchy breath really turns me on.)  Anyway Grandma, thank you from the bottom of my chocolate heart.

My Uncle John needed dirt to backfill some new sidewalks he poured at his house. Dad loaded the dirt with the tractor and I did the inspection so that he was safe on the road.

According to my calculations the weight has been evenly distributed....





.... so I gave my stamp of approval so he could take his load on the road.



I've also been keepin' an eye on the red raspberries. Mom is fanatical about makin' sure she knows when these are ready. She eats them with her yogurt and Kashi cereal every day so we need to be out there pickin' as soon as they look like this:

Of course, first and foremost there is always my job of homeland security. Not only do I scan the perimeters constantly, I also am not afraid to get right into the heart of the matter and place myself in dangerous outposts where groundhogs may be lurkin' about.



After a long hard day in the fields, you'd think I would be able to come home, plop down in the recliner, pick up the newspaper and take it easy, wouldn't ya? But Nooooooooooooooo, Mom has chores for me around the house too. Here I am doin' a taste test and havin' to make an important decision about what our pack eats. One is "regular" and the other one is "all natural".





I really can't tell the difference so I think from here on out, this household will be buyin' all natural 'cuz it has to be better for us.

I'm not tellin' you all this to make you feel sorry for me. Just givin' an update and lettin' you know this dawg does earn his keep. Startin' to think it's time to ask for a raise................

Woofs and all natural slobbers,

Chester ;0=)

It all started with a Pink Pig stuffie

Washout Wednesday

Sunday Afternoon Football

If you didn't get to watch the big game today, here's a recap of the highlights:

It's Team Downtown Brown vs.Team Two Legger.



Listening to the roar of the crowd.



Grandma even came out to watch the game.



A quick prayer by starting quarterback Chester Hoover (me) before the game starts.



Headin' out of the locker room.



Stickin' out my tongue at the opposing team.



Ready for the snap.



Gettin' a pep talk from the coach after the first half.



Halftime show with the State Turkey Poult Cheerleaders. (Check out those thighs!)



TOUCHDOWN!



Victory celebration at the local Dairy Queen.



Oh, the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat!
Happy Weekend!
Chester ;0=)

Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,

O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?

And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,

Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,

What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,

As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,

In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:

'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore

That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,

A home and a country should leave us no more!

Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.

No refuge could save the hireling and slave

From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:

And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand

Between their loved home and the war's desolation!

Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land

Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,

And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Have a wonderful 4th of July and be safe!

Chester ;0=)

Why Chester, why? Wednesday