Off for Another Adventure

Here we are ready to go on our new adventure to Barcelona and the Camino de Santiago.

Yes, and Mom found some new clothes for us to wear, so I'm happy.

You are pretty high maintenance aren't you HB?

Well, a girl always has to look her best you know.

How about "come as you are?"

Come as you are is not nearly good enough!

Whatever you say, HB.

And you didn't even notice Mom's spiffy new Celtic shirt, did you BB?

Ahem, . . .Well, of course I did. Pretty shirt, Mom. (Nice save, aye?)

Back for a Breather

Well,, it is about time! Our loyal fans have been waiting too long!
Now, Honey Bunny--you know how busy Mom and Dad have been. First Scotland. Then Catalunya.
Isn't that spelled Catalonia?
Depends on if you're Catalan or English...
Oh.
As I was saying--Catalunya—
But you're not Catalan. That's pretentious!
No it isn't. I'm trying to honor the Catalans. PULEESE let me continue.
Okay.
Catalunya, and then Galicia, and then Barcelona for a weekend Chi Gong intensive with Ferran, and now they're home, recuperating.
Yeah, Dad says that they forget they're just old fogies with young minds.
Which really burns Mom up! SHE says that you're as young as you feel--well, up to a point....
So back to us, Brown Bear. And the photos.
Right. The photos are us having a picnic of salmon cream cheese and an empanada near the holy well at San Andrés de Teixido in Galicia.
"Where if you don't go while you're alive, your soul will have to make the journey when you're dead!"
Yeah--as a bug or something. So nobody squashes bugs en route to San Andrés.
Humans sure do have weird beliefs, don't they, Brown Bear?
You said it, Honey Bunny.
Well, it was nice to get out and see the sights at San Andrés. We usually get stuck in the hotel room.
They let us out of the bag in the train, don't forget.
But what a train ride! It about did Mom in, taking the night train twice. Smells, noise, lots of movement--she was exhausted. Even though they had a private first-class compartment.
I heard her tell Dad, "Never again. Nunca jamás."
You said it.
No, she said it.
Whatever.
Well, all I can say is I'm glad we're getting a chance to catch up and rest for awhile. But not for long--Thursday they take off for Barcelona and then back on the Camino on a special esoteric study trip.
Walking?
No, Silly. With their friend Ferran and 3 other people, in a minivan.
Great! We'll get lots of attention, don't you think?
I think so. Dibs on riding in front!
Brown Bear!

Terror in the Night

"Oh dear oh dear! Last night was SO scary! I'm still all atremble."
"You're not kidding, Princess."
"I don't know what I would have done without you, Brown Bear. You're my hero."
"Well, I'm glad I've been practicing with my knife so I was able to draw it really fast."
"When those beasts came at us--I thought I would die!"
"Good thing we can't, Princess, or we might have."
"They were so big and ugly and fast--"
"And hungry. Don't forget that."
"It gives me the shivers to remember! I think I'll faint. If I could. I'm in your debt forever, Brown Bear."
"Thanks, Princess. Glad to be of service. And I'm also glad that Dad woke up and wondered what all the noise was about."
Dad: "Indeed I did. Around 4 a.m., I heard something really strange in the living room, like nails scratching on the wooden floor. I got up to check it out and two furry creatures dashed down the hallway, through the bedroom, and out the open window in the sunroom."
Mom: "Then I woke up and wondered what all the noise was about."
Dad: "It was cats. Two cats who had decided to explore our home."
Mom: "And the first thing I said was, 'Oh no--are the kids okay?!'"
Dad: "And then you ran out to the living room and they were just fine."
"That's because I defended us with my knife. They didn't dare get close!"
Dad: "I'm sure that's the case, Brown Bear."
"I felt so traumatized!"
Mom: "From now on, we'll only open the window at the top. Otherwise, who knows what else might decide to pay us a visit!"

Home from Scotland

Here we are back home from Scotland. I'm so happy to have my knife back! We left it behind because our parental units were afraid it would be confiscated by Airport Security. It is hot here in Spain so we had to strip down a little bit.

Yes, BB, I like your new summer kilt. It shows just enough leg and the bare (bear, get it?) top is most becoming.

I was a little embarrassed by all that skin showing, but I'm getting used to it.

You aren't showing skin, silly, we're fuzzy kids, remember?

Oh, I forgot for a moment. Speaking of showing it all, your sequined bikini is really sexy.

Do you think so, BB?

Well, I like your summer look. It is quite becoming. We do make a handsome, if somewhat mixed metaphor, couple don't you think?

What has meta . . . whatever it is have to do with it? You sometimes use pretty big words, BB.

Metaphor. That's like . . . well, its like . . . oh, never mind.

You explain things so well, BB.

Really? I thought I was at a loss for words.

Well, I'm never at a loss for words--even if I don't always know what they mean. Use it three times and it's yours--that's my motto.

Well, I'll leave it at that. We have to get ready to go to Barcelona tomorrow. The parental units just can't stay in one place for any length of time. Still, its going to be a great adventure.

And we'll be traveling with Boulder Anne. She is a good friend and understands us completely.

So its bon voyage all over again.

Oh, my heart goes pitter pat when you speak in French, BB.

Hmm, well, yes indeed. Ahem. Uh.... By the way, Feelie McCool, we are missing you! Send us a photo or a comment!

Leaving New Friends Behind

Here is our final posting from the tour of sacred sites in Scotland. We have found many new friends, including Feelie, and Hannah, who is holding us in this photo. We are sad to be leaving all these wonderful companions behind. It seems we have just gotten to know all of them and we have to say goodbye.

Yes, HB, I feel I have a new buddy in Feelie McCool. We had many great conversations in bars all across Scotland, not to mention nights in our hotel rooms.

And all the beautiful new clothes. Especially the new stole Hannah knitted for me.

And my new bagpipe, which Feelie and Mara gave me. It came in handy holding off wild animals in one of the hotels.

I'm just so, so sad. Parting is such sweet sorrow!

Don't be over dramatic, HB.

I'm not being over dramatic, I'm being literary.

Well, I wouldn't know about such things. We bears don't go in for literature, except for stories about our cousin Pooh.

We bunnies read a higher class of literature.

Whatever you say, HB.

New Stole

My new best friend, Hannah, saw how I was being deprived of my daily new clothes. She hand knitted me this lovely stole.

You say you stole it from someone?

No, silly, you know better than that! You're just trying to get a joke line in to take attention from my glorious garb. Mom even bought me a special pin to wear with it. I'm just beside myself with pleasure.

Well, HB, you are often beside yourself in one way or another.

You're just jealous, you silly bear.

What's Hannah holding? Looks like a lollipop.

That's my thank you gift to my new best friend--Hand made soap.

Hmm, I'll bet she is going to smell good tomorrow!

Animals!

Yikes! We're surrounded by all these wild animals. Some are just heads on the wall and some are in glass cases. Pretty scary!

It's OK, HB. They aren't alive (or even enlivened, like us). They are just the whims of some person who liked to have them around. I actually sort of like this guy behind us who looks like he just caught a fish. I can relate to that.

Well, I can't! I think they are creepy.

Well, as for me, I'd have to say that things have just gotten stranger and stranger since I hooked up with you guys. What do you think, Puffy?

I'm speechless. (And I hope that guy doesn't take a liking to me and put me in one of his glass houses.)

We will all have to stick together and protect each other. We'll make it through this scary place, you'll see. (I wish I had my trusty knife with me on this trip. Looks like it might have come in handy here.)

Oh, Brown Bear, you are my hero as always! (I think Feelie is pretty sexy, but there is nothing like the presence of a true friend in times like this.)

OK Fuzzy Clan, let's all pull together and watch each other's backs! We'll make it through this jungle. (What is that Bengal Tiger head doing up on the wall? Brrrr. Pretty creepy.) Maybe if I play a piping tune on my new bag pipes we can make it through this.

OK troops, Clan McFuzzy goes into battle led by Brown McBear screeing a tune on his pipes.

(Thanks, Feelie, for the great gift. You and your friend Mara are the greatest!)