Wordless Wednesday

Cam and Mags

In Conclusion

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie.  We hope you've enjoyed following the Case of the Missing Ocean.  It's not every day we have a mystery of this magnitude here at Ao4 Headquarters!  We are really thankful our FBI (Feline Bureau of Investigation) friend, Teddy Westlife, was willing to travel all the way over here from Australia to help us solve the case!

When we left off yesterday, we were all at the scene of the crime.  The Kansas Ocean was missing - that much we could all see.  Teddy was going to do some further exploring, and Mags and I were going to go home, think deep thoughts, then meet up with him later.  That afternoon, Maggie and I went back to see what our special agent friend had come up with.

"Teddy?  Are you out there?  Special Agent Westlife?!?"
"Down here on the shoreline!"

He's down there on the right - behind some weeds, right in that big shadow.  Can you see him?  He has great camouflage!

He said he had done lots of observing - mostly he saw men with trucks and digging machines, but also some birdies.  He tried very hard not to get distracted by the birdies.  Here's a shot of him up on the beach over looking everything before we got there:

"Another truck full!  Interesting!"

He said they filled up truck after truck with dirt and mud, then hauled it off somewhere.  At first, he thought maybe they were putting in another sea-side casino, but they always put the road in first, and there's no road over on the other side of the defunct ocean.  He said he had reached his conclusion and was ready to tell us.  Mom thought we should all pose for a photo to mark the occasion.  Here we all are on the Boardwalk:

"I can't even look."
"Are you quite through, Aunt Karen?"
"This is so serious.  I'm bracing myself for bad news."
"Oh, c'mon.  One photo.  Could you all just look at the camera and smile?"

Anyway ...

It's Teddy's conclusion that they're replacing the original Kansas Ocean with an even bigger, better one!  He said it should be ready in a few months -- that oceans just aren't born overnight.

Wow.  That's mighty exciting.  I sure hope he's right; we know the birdies will really enjoy that!

And with that, we end the Case of the Missing Ocean.  Thanks so much for following along!

Cammie!

PS: All photos of Teddy Westlife used with permission.

PS again:  If you missed any parts of our mystery, here are the links!
They Didn't Just Take The Snow
The Game Is Afoot
Waiting, Watching, Looking
He's Here!
Working Sunday
To The Scene Of The Crime
and In Conclusion

To The Scene Of The Crime!

Greetings to all!  It's me, Mags.  After getting some well-deserved rest and a thorough briefing on the history of the Kansas Ocean, our special agent from the FBI (Feline Bureau of Investigation) decided we needed to hit the scene of the crime!  Awesome!

Cam and I got our harnesses on and headed out.  Mr. Westlife ... um ... let's just say that based on this photo from when he was a kitten, we decided it would be best not to try to put him in one.  Check it out:

"No!!!  I won't do it!!  I WON'T!!!!!"

Yeah. He went off-lead.

So, here we are on the Trans-Oceanic Bridge:

"See that?  All the water ... is gone!"
"Lots of mud down there, though."

"Yeah.  Too bad we can't go stomping around in that!  But the ocean ..."
"I know.  What do you think, Teddy?  Teddy?  Where the heck ..."

At that point, we started to think maybe we should have insisted on a harness ... but then we heard him call us from the other side of the missing ocean.  We skirted around the mud pit that was once a lovely ocean and found him on this gravel path!

"C'mon!  What's keeping you two?  Oh, right.  Leashes."
"Yeah.  We can't trust Mom and Dad to be off-lead."
"Enough about that!  Did you find anything?!!?"

Mr. Westlife found a whole bunch of digging machines over there!  He did a lot of investigative stuff and a lot of "uh-huh"-ing and then said he needed to go check the ocean floor.  Mom said we weren't allowed to go  play in the mud  examine the scene with him, so he said we should go on back to Ao4 Headquarters, get some rest, then meet him back over on the other side later in the day.  

Stay tuned - I think Mr. Westlife will have the Case of the Missing Ocean wrapped up in no time!

Yours sincerely,

Margaret Thatcher

PS:  All photos of Teddy Westlife used with permission.

Working Sunday

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie.  Normally, we'd have Serene Scenery Sunday, but with Teddy Westlife here, we're also working.  His time is limited - and we must get to the bottom of the Case of the Missing Ocean!

First, however, a little R & R.  I mean, he did have a long trip, coming over from Australia and all.  Since he's our guest, we let him choose our mode of recreation.

"Oh, yeah.  This is awesome."
"Right, awesome.  Do you have room service here?  I sure could go for some tunas."
"They aren't getting treats, are they?"

Anyway, Mags and Teddy boxed for a while, then we thought we should have an official "Investigation Team" photo taken.

Me, Teddy Westlife, and Mags

After that, it was time to get to work.  Teddy wanted to hear everything there was to hear about the Kansas Ocean, so we set him up with some great research material:

"Gooooood.  Very good."

Teddy read up on the history of the KSO (you can, too; just click here) and looked at our more recent photos clearly showing that someone took the Kansas Ocean! 

It was a lot of information to mull over.  He said at the FBI (Feline Bureau of Investigation) they stress the importance of  napping  resting the brain, to get a fresh start.  He suggested we sleep on it, then take a trip out to the former site of the KSO tomorrow.  It sounded like a great plan to Maggie and me!

Please join us tomorrow, as we investigate the scene!!!

Cammie!

PS:  All photos of Teddy Westlife used with permission.

He's Here!

Greetings to all!  It's me, Mags!  Well, OK - false alarm yesterday -- I thought I saw our FBI agent friend arrive, but I was mistaken.  So then, it was a really warm day and Mom and Dad thought we should go on another long walk in the afternoon.  Not having much else on our agenda, Cam and I agreed.  Were we ever glad we did!

We had rounded around up by the shopping center and spotted the trolley.

"I think the trolley moved since the last time we saw it."
"Yes ... I think we need to go investigate!"

It seemed like the right thing to do!

"See anything, Cam?"
"No ... but I smell something ... or someone!"

"REALLY!?!?  Let me smell!"
"HEY!  It's us - Cam and Mags!  Come on out!!!"

And then ...

"Mr. Teddy Westlife!!!  You took the trolley!"
"Hey, mates!"

That's right - it's Teddy Westlife!  He's not just my favorite man-cat, my mentor, my bestest friend in all of Australia, he's a Special Agent for the FBI --- the Feline Bureau of Investigation.

We had a great visit with Mr. Westlife a few years ago and now he's back to help us solve the Case of the Missing Ocean.  Now that he's here, we'll have this mystery wrapped up in no time!  This is going to be GREAT!

Yours sincerely,

Margaret Thatcher

PS: All photos of Teddy Westlife used with permission. 

Waiting, Watching, Looking

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cam.  As part of our on-going effort to figure out what on earth happened to the Kansas Ocean, Maggie put a call in to a friend of ours who just happens to be a special agent with the FBI.  He didn't say exactly when he'd be here, but he will be here.

"Any sign of him that way, Mags?"
"No ... I don't see him yet.  I'm starting to get worried."

"Don't worry, Peep.  He's OK."
"I sure hope so, Cam."

"He just probably got distracted; you know how he is."
"Wait ... I ... is that him??!!??"

Stay tuned!  We are sure to get to the bottom of the Case of the Missing Ocean!

Cammie!

The Game Is Afoot!

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie.  As we told you the other day, we've discovered that the Kansas Ocean is missing.  MISSING!

"We were as shocked as all of you are - believe me!"

Cam and I have thought long and hard about our best course of action.  I watch a lot of British detective shows on TV, so I do know some of the methods for solving mysteries like this.  With a case this big, though, I really thought we should call in an expert.

"Yeah.  An expert.  Good idea, Maggie."

Cam was all for it, as I knew she'd be.

"It's settled then!  I'm calling the FBI!!!"
"Zzz ..."

Really.  It's our best course of action.  And it just so happens that I know a special agent with the FBI.  

"I feel better already ... zzz ..."
"Zzz ..."

Please stay tuned ... the game is afoot!

Yours sincerely,

Margaret Thatcher

Wordless Wednesday

Mags and Cam

They Didn't Just Take The Snow!

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie!  Remember the other day when I told you that someone took all of our snow?  The good news is that we had a lovely Winter Storm yesterday and it's back.  Before I get to that, though, Cam and I discovered the snow wasn't all they took!

We decided to head to the Kansas Ocean.  When we got to the shopping center, we did what we usually do up there ...

"What's up, Cam?"
"Let's act like Crazed River Otters!"

Please note I was NOT the instigator!

"You're on!"
"Launching in 3... 2..."

Anyway, Mom didn't get any good action shots.  It was a rather dark, dreary morning, as you might be able to tell.  Trust me when I say we had a GREAT time!

We walked past our favorite meadow ...

Cam and me

... into the woods ...

Me and Cam

... and then wound our way around to the ...

"GREAT DANE IN THE MORNING, CAM!  SOMEONE TOOK THE KANSAS OCEAN!!!!"
"First our snow and now all the water from the KSO?!?!?"

This is serious, folks!  Someone took ALL the water out of the Kansas Ocean.  Can I even call it the Kansas "Ocean" anymore?!?  There's no WATER!  We have no idea what's going on, but we WILL get to the bottom of this.  We are on the case and promise to keep you posted.

Yours sincerely,

Margaret Thatcher

Quick Question

Hello, everyone.  It's me, Cam.  I have a quick question for you.

"Does this photo make my feety-feet look big?"

"I am so totally staying out of this one ..."
"No, really.  How about now?"

What do you think?

Cammie!

Serene Portraits Sunday

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie.  Did you notice Mom changed our header again yesterday?  First she subbed this photo in on the left ...

Me and Cam by the fireplace

... then she changed the background from the greenish one to blues (it brings out my left eye, don't you think?), then she moved the birds around a bit. She didn't think you could see the Snowy Plover well enough and both Mom and Dad thought the log the Bald Eagle was perching on looked like a woodchuck or something. You can see Mom's favorite duck - the Northern Shoveler - better, too. All three birds are among Mom's faves. ANYWAY ...

Where was I? Oh, right. The photo by the fireplace.  I came into the living room the other day and saw Mom and Cam were doing something.  Naturally, I wondered what was going on!

"Hey, Cam!  Whatcha doing?"
"I'm posing.  Mom?  Can you still see me?"
"Yes, I ... Maggie!"

Oh!  Mom mentioned me by name!  I assumed, as I'm sure all of you would, that meant she wanted me in the photo!

"Wait!  Let me make sure I look OK!"
"Sigh."

Once I had checked myself in the fireplace glass, I got into position.

"How's this, Mom?"
"A portrait of both of us is even better, right, Mom?"
"Perfect, girls!"

Then Mom had to push the session even further and asked us to do a "down".  That was when I realized there was something missing from this photo shoot and ...

"What do you mean, you don't have cookies?"
"Better take that shot fast, Mom!"
"Who's a good girl!?!?"

I can't believe Cam was posing like she was without cookies!  I mean, I assumed there would be treats involved along the way -- right?  Sheesh!  But yes, in keeping with the serenity mentioned in the title, afterwards, we did get a couple of those tiny Zuke's treats, so it wasn't a total loss.

The next time I see Cammie posing for Mom without me, remind me to check for cookies first -- OK?

Have a serene day!

Yours sincerely,

Margaret Thatcher 

Deck Pose

Hello, everyone.  It's me, Cammie.  It was so warm yesterday that all the snow melted off our deck.  That's the bad news.  The good news is that Mom, Maggie, and I got to enjoy some time out there!

After Mags and I played and snoofed around, we posed like this:

"It would have been better if the snow was still here!"
"Who took my snow?"

It's warm again today, but fortunately they're calling for snow Sunday night.  

Cammie!

Warm Up!

Hello, everyone!  It's me, Cammie!  Yesterday, our temps started to warm up - we even got above freezing for the first time in a long, long time.  To "celebrate", we went for a longer all-family walk!

"Remind me again why Mom and Dad think it's good that it's warming up?"
"They aren't Siberians, Maggie."

Sometimes we forget that.  And not that we wanted to spend a great deal of time outside when it was 25 or 30 degrees below zero - I sure didn't - but we are better equipped to handle the cold than Mom and Dad.

 

"Look, Maggie!  There's still plenty of snow to walk in over here!"
"There's ice up ahead on the path -- I'm zeroing in on that!"

It was great to get out for a longer walk.  We're supposed to keep on this warming trend for a couple days -- I predict some great walks over the weekend!  Do you have any plans?

Cammie!

How Did She Know?

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie.  The other day, Mom ran downstairs to get something - and closed the door behind her.  I have no idea how, but she knew I was waiting for her at the top of the stairs!

"Hi, Mags!"

"Mom?  But ... How ..."

How did she know?!?!  Amazing.

Yours sincerely,

Margaret Thatcher

Wordless Wednesday

Cam and Mags

Snow Posing

Hello, everyone.  It's me, Cammie.  The other day, after our snowfall, it was important for Maggie and I to go out and inspect things, maybe do a little posing for Mom.  We thought we'd share a few of those pix with you today.

First, we inspected the job Dad did, clearing the snow off our driveway and sidewalk:

"Nice, safe footing!"
"Excellent job, Dad!"

Then Mags and I thought we should do some exploring in our yard.

"Hey, Cam, look!  I have a snow nose!  Ha roo roo roo!"

While Maggie snoofed a bit, I struck a pose by the pines:

My regal, serious look

Mom thought it would be nice to get a shot of us girls in front of the ornamental grasses.  By then, not only were we getting a bit ... bored, but some of the other neighbors were out clearing snow.  This is the best Mom got:

"Hey, look!  Neighbors!  Let's stare at them!!!"
"Never mind them; Mom's got treats!"

She had been holding out on us this whole time - can you believe that?!?

Anyway, a little more snow fell last night, which is the good news.  The not-so-good news is that our windchills are supposed to be between -10 and -25 degrees Fahrenheit (the -23 - -32 degrees Celsius range).  That means Mom and Dad don't seem to want to be outside much for some reason.  Time for some indoor games!

Cammie!

The Best Snow Day!

Greetings to all!  It's me, Maggie!  Yesterday, we had the BEST snow day ever!  It started with fresh snow!

"No ice this time, either!"
"Except for what's underneath."

Cam and I were so happy, we did LOTS and LOTS of zoomies when we got inside.

"That was awesome!  Oh.  And Cam started it!"

"Wait just a minute, Peeper!  I did not!"

"Yeah, right.  Does this look like the face of an instigator?"

"Not touching that one, Mags."

Yeah ... whatever.

Cam suggested we act all cute and innocent for a while, so we did this:

"Zzz..."
"Zzz..."

Then Dad said they plowed the streets but didn't put chemicals all over them this time!  That meant that where people didn't shovel sidewalks, we could walk in the street without hurting our feety-feet! AWESOME!  So... we did this:

"The City people even plowed our trail!"
"This is so great!!!"

And then ... things got even BETTER!  Check out what came for me!

"I have no words!"

Mom and Dad know I've been wanting one.  I admit - I got a bit choked up!

"I, Polargold's Margaret Thatcher, declare this the BEST SNOW DAY EVER!!!"

It really was!

Yours sincerely,

Margaret Thatcher