THE ADVENTURES OF PERIWINKLE & STINKY: PART CCCXXVI

Snow Day

Stinky is always excited and anxious on Tuesday mornings, as he knows he gets to spend the day with his gorgeous and fun fiancé Periwinkle. He has planned a super fun adventure for today and cannot wait to get started. He bounces from paw to paw as he waits next to the teleportation tunnel. When he sees it begin to vibrate, he lets out a big “whoop,” which is quickly followed by the familiar whoosh from the tunnel and Periwinkle’s arrival. He rushes to grab her as she tumbles out. They tumble around on the rug together as they giggle. This gets the attention of the kittens, Tali and Gibbs. They rush in to join in the fun.

 

 

When everyone finally settles, Periwinkle and Stinky spend several more minutes whisker kissing and paw hugging.

Finally, Periwinkle speaks, “I sure hope you are taking us somewhere warm today. This cold is awful.”

Stinky frowns, as his plan is to stay at home. He knows he has planned a super adventure, but he is now unsure how Periwinkle will feel about it, so he hesitates to answer her.

Periwinkle continues to stare at him, and he finally blurts out, “No, we are staying right here, but I promise you will have fun!”

“As long as we are not venturing out into all that piled up snow and ice,” replies Periwinkle.

Stinky begins to stutter and stammer and gets a sheepish look on his face.

“Oh no, we are going outside,” moans Periwinkle.

“Yes, but I promise it will be fun.” Stinky helps Periwinkle into her coat and boots and then gets into his own warm clothes. Then he takes Periwinkle’s paw and leads her to the front porch.

 

 

Wasena Walter

Stinky tells her they are expecting a friend to join them. Moments later, he arrives.

 

 

“You remember our groundhog friend, Wasena Walter,” Stinky says to Periwinkle.

“Sure, but what is he doing here today? Shouldn’t he be hibernating?” asks Periwinkle.

“Yes, but he got up today for us, as I was hoping we might get a better prediction from him than Punxsutawney Phil gave us yesterday when he saw his shadow.”

“Oh, you mean when the prediction was for six more weeks of winner,” says Periwinkle.

“Right!”

At that point, Walter speaks up. “I was hoping I could offer a different forecast, but as you can see, the sun is brightly shining here today, as it was yesterday.”

“Phooey,” exclaim Periwinkle and Stinky in unison.

“Since I was unable to help you out with a better prediction, would you be interested in learning a bit about the Groundhog Club that existed here in Roanoke?” asks Walter.

“Yes, please,” replies Stinky.

Roanoke Groundhog Club

“It was in existence for 40 years and in the 1920s the group’s annual meeting at the American Legion was attended by several thousand card-carrying members. The meetings were filled with jokes, stories and entertainment. Your followers can read an article about the club in the Rockbridge County News published on February 9, 1933, by clicking on the link. The article reported that at the time, the club had been in existence for about 20 years and had 4,500 members. I am not exactly certain how long the club existed.

“In 1998 the Mill Mountain Zoo introduced a rehabbed groundhog, Tweeter, who saw his shadow. A few years later, a prairie dog named Kylie was used as the prognosticator. The zoo’s education curator explained at the time that as prairie dogs do not hibernate, they were better forecasters.”

The tabbies and Walter giggled at that.

Hats & Pumpkins

“Hey, Stinky,” says Walter, “I really like your hat. Is it supposed to be a groundhog?”

“Yep, my mom thought it would be cute to wear it today.”

While Stinky and Walter are discussing the benefits of a warm hat, Periwinkle notices the pumpkin on the steps and raises her eyebrows to give Stinky a quizzical look.

“That’s for Walter when he officially comes out of hibernation in the spring,” replies Stinky.

“Has it been here since Halloween?”

Stinky just nods, as Walter heads back to his burrow. Stinky and Periwinkle wave. Then Periwinkle takes Stinky’s paw and starts to lead him back into the house, but Stinky stops her and says. “We aren’t going inside yet. We have a couple more things to do.”

Periwinkle gives him a petulant look, which Stinky totally ignores. He takes her paw, grabs a grocery sack his mom has left on the porch and leads her down the steps to the side yard.

Beverly Bunny

 

 

“What are we doing now?” Periwinkle inquires.

“We are waiting for another of our friends,” says Stinky, as he points out lots and lots of paw prints in the snow. Before he can say more, a bunny hops out from under the porch.

 

 

When Periwinkle sees her, she claps her paws together. “I remember you, You were at my tea party, and we have met a few other times. I don’t think you ever told me your name.”

“Yes, we have met a few times. I am Beverly. It is nice to see you again.”

Stinky says, “My humans, fursibs and I have been seeing your paw prints in the snow and ice everyday and on two separate nights my mom and dad saw you slipping and sliding across the icy yard. Have you been living under our porch?” (This is a really good article about where rabbits go in the winter.)

“Yes, I have. It is so cold and my metabolism is super fast, so I often go out at night to find food. The monkey grass, sticking above the ice and snow in your yard, has been my main source of food. And I can burrow down in the dirt under the porch and stay fairly warm. It is nice that you have a critter door to make for easy access.”

Stinky laughs and tells Beverly Bunny that when they had the lattice replaced, the carpenter put in the little door so that critters like her could get in and out without digging under or gnawing through the lattice. Stinky then hands Beverly the grocery sack, which is full of leafy green veggies. Beverly thanks Periwinkle and Stinky and asks them to thank the clever carpenter. She then grabs her sack and hops back under the porch.

“Is it time to go inside now?” Periwinkle asks.

Sledding

“Not quite. We have one more thing to do, and I swear you will enjoy it.” Stinky then leads Periwinkle to the backyard and to the incline where the ice and snow have covered the steps from the driveway up to the grass. “I wanted to take you sledding on the huge hill that is just two blocks away, but both Mom and Dad said, ‘No!’ So, we are going to have to make do with this little incline.” Stinky helps Periwinkle onto the sled, and they make their first short run.

 

 

After a few more runs, Periwinkle begs to get out of the cold, and Stinky agrees that he too has had enough. They head into the house where they shed their winter coats and boots. From there, they are off to the kitchen for a snack.

Snack Time & Good-Byes

 

 

“Periwinkle, I am sorry for these snack crashers.”

“I don’t mind. It gives me the opportunity to visit with them. It is, however, bad manners for men to wear a hat at the table,” Periwinkle admonishes.

“I didn’t know that, but it is fun, and it won’t be appropriate to wear again until next year.”

“Well, okay. You do look super cute,” says Periwinkle and gives Stinky a whisker kiss.

With snack time complete, Periwinkle gets ready to head home. But first, she says, “good-bye” to Stinky’s parents and all his fursibs. After several minutes of paw hugs and whisker kisses, the tabbies whisper, “I love you,” to each other. Then Periwinkle enters the teleportation tunnel, and with a wave, blown kiss and whoosh, she is gone.

Stinky heads to the bedroom for a nap and dreams of his day with Periwinkle.

The End

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