The Meeting

When we got to town there were two visitors waiting for us. More house guests? Did they have jobs? Would I go broke? What happened to my calm, predictable life before Treacle came...and Harriet...and now.... Sigh.

Treacle, sensing I was quickly nearing the end of my rope (I was already figuring out how much it would cost to ship her back to England), introduced me to Mr Tut, the real estate agent who sold her and Harriet their house. Then Harriet, who was jumping up and down this entire time (a rabbit thing?) said, "Huckleberry, come meet my cousin Chubby."

"Ahem, Harriet, I prefer to go by Checkers now. Hello, I'm Checkers DeFacts, an accountant from England. Our family used to call me Chubby when I was young," said the dapper rabbit sporting a bow tie.

Wow. What did all this mean?

"Are they staying with us too?" I asked in confusion.

"No, no, they're here for a business meeting. We have a few details to iron out and then we have a proposal for you," Treacle assured me.

"Run off to the museum right now while we talk business with these two," advised Harriet.

And so I did. I wonder what this is all about. What are Treacle and Harriet up to now?

Look What Came in the Mail!

I was just returning from a long day on Farmer T's farm when I heard shrieks. And they sounded like they were coming from Treacle. I stopped for a minute to listen. Happy shrieks? Or unhappy shrieks? Happy! Maybe she got a job! I rushed the rest of the way home.

Boy was I surprised. Remember her friend Harriet? The one she keeps calling but can never reach? Well, I know why now. She's here. Here as in at our house. And she's staying.

I guess she and Treacle were fast friends in England--at least they drove fast cars together. When she learned Treacle came to the States Harriet decided there was nothing to be done but to leave her home at The Warren (home to the world famous Widget) and hop a plane.

Harriet seems really nice. She has more than a passing understanding of plants, particularly flowers. Hopefully, she will have a good influence on Treacle who continues to laze away the days, doing nothing to find a job.

Harriet says to tell everyone back home that she's happy, it's warm and sunny here and that she has some big plans. Treacle says to tell everyone back home that she has not stolen any more scrumpy and could someone send her some treacle tarts as they aren't readily available here.

Treacle's Dilemma

Life has not been perfect here at the farm. Treacle awoke from her nap...if sleeping for two days can be called a nap. So far so good. We had a large breakfast. Boy can that little dog pack it away. Then, Treacle made several phone calls to her best friend, a bunny named Harriet. Alas, Harriet has been away and no one at The Warren could say when she would be back. Treacle was pretty bummed.

I figured the solution was work. It always makes me feel better to be tending the plants, plowing the land, racing the tractor. Ahhhh...the life of a farmer. Treacle didn't appear nearly so enthusiastic.

The apple farms weren't accepting applications this week so we tried the Strawberry Patch. Voila! Perfect! Close to home. Lovely work. Pretty flowers. Two 15 minute breaks and a half hour for lunch. Perfect!

Or not so perfect. Treacle worked for part of the morning and then she ran away. I finally sniffed her out in a pot of flowers.

It seems that Treacle isn't much into farming. I have a sinking feeling she might not be into work at all but the court order says she must find a job and I can't afford to pay her room and board. I have a farm to save for! We're going to have to think of something! Drat, she's on the phone again looking for that rabbit! The life of a farm dog isn't easy.

Treacle!

Meet my cousin Treacle! She has come all the way from England to live with me.

Treacle used to live in Dorset with Hotdog Hanna and Me. No, not me Me but Hotdog and Me. It's complicated. Anyway, she used to live in England but then there was this completely misunderstanding with some missing scrumpy. Treacle says she didn't have a thing to do with it and I believe her. The judge told her she either had to be banished to the colonies or serve 67 days hard labour with the Labour Party. I thought a party sounded good but she said she's a Tory and it would never work. The British are confusing...

What I do know is that I'm happy she is here. She knows a lot about apples...I think. I figure if she got a job at the local apple orchard--there are bunches....uhm...bushels? around here, then she could help me save up for my farm.

But right now she says she needs to phone a friend of hers from England--a rabbit named Harriet--something about sowing some seeds and good ice cream.