AHHHH CHOOOO--UP THE HILL FROM THE ZOO SERIES

I walked through the woods and down the hill

To visit my friends that live in the zoo

Making all the rounds as I walked down the path

Stopping to chat and say hello too.

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The day was windy and the weather had a chill
As I slowly trod the steep stone trail
It was nice to have a visit with all of my good pals
Seeking my good friends each week without fail.

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At the end of my visit almost time to head home
One more stop at the home of the cats
I cannot stay long for a will begin to sneeze
Being allergic to those cats- AHH CHOO-drats!

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Back up the hill and through the woods
Arriving at home with a Kleenex in tow
I bound up the stairs quick as a flash
Before my nose becomes a bright red glow.

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Late that night as I lay sleeping
I hear a strange scampering sound
As if thousands of little feet
Seem to be running around.

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I switch on the light and sit up in bed
Looking and listening and trying to see
What could be making all this noise
That is awakening me?

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Then all at once my nose starts to itch
My tears begin to flow
As I rub my itchy eyes
AHHH CHOOO--my nose needs a blow.

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I hear another noise this time it is outside
A noise of something as it slowly creeps
As I look out the window to see what is here
Eyes are glowing all around as they lurk and they peep.

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AHHHH CHOOO it has to be some cats
Surely not the cats from the zoo down the hill
Again I hear the little feet bounding all through my house
AHHHH CHOOO I think I know the story but still.

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Could it be the noise in my house is mice
Who came in from the cold?
Could it be the cats came to hunt the mice
Why that would be so bold!

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I put on my big coat and walk out in the yard
Sitting in a circle with a hungry look
All the cats came from the zoo
While all the mice shook.

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Back down the hill and through the woods
I slowly lead the cats back to their home
AHHHH CHOOO time to go back to the zoo
I will stop sneezing if they will not roam.

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Back to my bed in the dark of the night
Oh No! much to my surprise
The mice are still scampering and keeping me awake
QUIET! Or I will get the cats and you will meet your demise!

GOOD NIGHT!!!

PEEPING IN MY WINDOW--UP THE HILL FROM THE ZOO SERIES

I hope you all remember

The place in which I live

Up the hill and through the woods

Not far from the zoo.

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My home is at the top of the hill

It is a big old house

My home is in the second story
As high as the treetop.

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From the windows here oh so high

I can see all that is below

But you cannot see me as I peek out

The awnings hide me from below.

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There is no need for any shades
No use for blinds or drapes
I can see you from way above
But you cannot see me from below.

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I often visit my friends at the zoo
All the animals are quite a delight
Stopping and talking as I make my rounds
They all seem to know just what I say.

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As I slept in my home up the hill from the zoo
Late one night in the dark and the quiet
I heard a strange noise and saw a strange sight
A shadow was passing in front of my window.

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How could this be-when I live so high up
No one could be peeping in my window you see
Without a tall ladder to climb up to me
It is far too high to stand and look or peep.

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I saw the shadow and shot out of my bed
To glance out the window at the shadow I saw
Bobbing back and forth and looking in to see
What I was doing in the dark of the night.

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OH GOODNESS-what should I spy
A giraffe was peeking in the window so high
His long neck proved to be as good as a ladder
As he studied what I was doing in the dark of the night.

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I ran down the stairs and out the door
It was time to take my friend back to the zoo next door
He gave me a start and quiet a fright
When he peeped in my window in the deep dark night.

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My friend looked down and seemed to say
You came to see my home in the zoo
I came to see where you lived too
I was curious just like you

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Back through the woods and down the path

I led my friend Slim back to his home
It was quite late and no time to peer
In the window of the friend  up the hill from the zoo.

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Back up the hills and through the woods

Walking in the deep dark of the night

Back to my bed with covers pulled tight.

To all my zoo friends, I say Good Night.

THE LURE OF THE PEANUT---UP THE HILL FROM THE ZOO SERIES

SIDE NOTE--FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ASKED THAT I WRITE A CHILDREN'S STORY---THIS IS MY FIRST ATTEMPT---HAVE SEVERAL IDEAS FOR BOOKS--BUT HAVE TO PRACTICE THE ART--BEFORE TAKING THAT LEAP

MY DEAR FRIEND GLENDA--CONTRIBUTED ALL THE ANIMAL PICTURES

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I live on a hill  by the woods that is all part of the zoo.  If the wind is blowing, I can smell and hear the animals that live at the zoo.  There are times that I make the trip down the hill and admire all those animals that live oh so close. There are all kept at a distance and I am not allowed  near to those wonderful animals in their home just down the hill.

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It is fall and fall is in the air all around.  Fall brings many fun things to do-jumping in piles of brightly colored leaves.  Building a bonfire and roasting wieners for a hot dog and then toasting marshmallows.  I love to roast peanuts and then sit in the swing in the back.    I shell those nuts as I swing to and fro and pop them into my mouth as I go.

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I spent an afternoon popping those nuts in my mouth and just threw the shells in a pile by my side.  One of the best things about peanuts is you can smell them roasting from miles away.  Roasted peanuts are the best—why even better than peanut butter.  I can never just stop with only one-they just get better and better with each bite I take.

 

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As I slept in my bed that very night—in the deep dark of the middle of the night---I awoke when I heard a LOUD CRASH in the back.  I trembled and wondered what could that be—not daring to leave the warm covers  over my head in my safe bed.

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The noises grew louder and I knew without a doubt something was crashing around in the back.  I slowly pulled down the covers  and slipped to the window to take a peek.  It is dark—so dark---and I cannot see a thing—but the deep dark black of the night—and still the loud noises are coming from the back.

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I pull on my slippers and slip out the door---slowly and carefully wondering what is in store.  I hear a LOUD CRASH and look by the swing –a HUGE shadow is thrashing around in the dirt.  As I creep closer, what do I see—why to my amazement it is Rasha and her baby Belle---the elephants from the zoo down the hill.

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Their trunks are rummaging –sniffing and shuffling in the piles of  shells I left by the swing.   They glance over my way, and then continue to search for one little peanut still in the shell.  OH YES—I forgot—elephants love peanuts!  The smell of them roasting and the lure of a tasting has drawn the big visitors up the hill from the zoo.

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WHAT am I to do?  WHAT will I say if the neighbors discover I have guests over my way?  How will I get this mama and baby back down the hill and to their home in the zoo?  WHY even the police might be beckoned to hear of the story of how the elephants came up the hill through the woods from the zoo.

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Suddenly I remember and run back in the house, for there still is a pan of peanuts on the stove top you see.  I take a big sack and run back out the door and throw one peanut to each of the huge beasts.  I slowly lead them back to the zoo—offering peanuts as we go.  I take them through the woods and down the hill back to their homes at the zoo. 

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All is well and my friends the elephants are home once again.  No harm has been done and no one knows of my guests.  I vow to be careful from this day forward and not eat peanuts in the swing under the tree—up the hill from the zoo.   The lure of the nuts is far too enticing and I might once again find guests who are lurking and searching to share in the treat of the little peanut.