Friday, May 29, 2015

Canadians Shoko and Kali

MICAH:  What a week.  We've been trying to work ahead of and in between storms so we're prepared for today's interview.

RUSTY:  Oops, we better get offline and shut down again.  Oh, wait, no, that was Tuesday.  Hope everyone has forgiven us for not being around lately.  If Jan isn't bent or broken, it's something else.

CYNDI:  We're pleased to interview Shoko and Kali from the Canadian Cats blog.  It was fun getting to know them better.


PERCY: We tried to pre-post their story Monday but one slip on the paw got us locked out of Mousebreath until Tuesday.  We did finally get it finished.  You can read their story, Smiling With Shoko and Kali, exclusively at Mousebreath, the ezine for cats. 


Friday is also time for the Pet Parade blog hop, hosted by by Rascal and Roscoe.  It is co-hosted by Bionic Basil, Barking From the Bayou, Love is being owned by a husky, and us (Jan's Funny Farm).

There are two parts to the blog hop - your blog url and social media, so be sure to sign up for both. 

When you link up with the blog hop, we encourage you to visit other participating blogs.

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Madi and FLUFF

MERCI:  I wonder why Jan made us a graphic for Madi and Mom but forgot to put her mom's picture in it?  I hope everyone won't think her mom is a Madi look-alike.

MARCUS:  You know Jan, she forgets everything. Perhaps no one will notice Madi is there twice but her mom is missing.

SAM:  Don't complain.  At least Jan put the right pictures in it.  She did use the right pictures, didn't she?  It will be so embarrassing to explain if she didn't. 

BUDDY:  Relax, Jan put the correct photos in the graphic and Madi's mom sent us the pictures, so she is okay with not being included.  Let's just start the interview.


Today we are interviewing the lovely Madi from the Madi and Mom blog.

Funny Farmer Canines:  Please introduce yourself and your Assistant.

Madi:  Hello friends, it is I, Madi(son) D. Cat.  I am the smart, younger half of Madi and Mom: Down Home in NC.  The other half and older one with thumbs is Mom/Cecilia.  She has some aliases - Ceal, HiC, NOSEY Rosey and Ma.  I am purrty sure she has a price on her head.

Funny Farmer Canines:  We have fired Jan a few times in the past. (And she doesn't even help us with our blog.)  On a scale of one to ten how would you rate your personal Assistant and have you ever considered firing her?

Madi:  Mom is evaluated on a daily basis!  At this writing I give her 9.999999.  I have considered firing her many times. Then she does something really sweet for me.  I have a demerit system in place. If she ever gets too many (total changes daily to keep her on her toes), she will be on 'official probation'. The good news is demerits are deducted by good deeds. So she has a very clean record.

Funny Farmer Canines:  Under the auspices of Hiz Honorz the Mayorz Murphy and Stanley, you hold the Office of FLUFF Affairs (Fellowhip of Loveable United Feline Friends).  What exactly does that mean and what are your duties?

Madi:  My duties in THE OFFICE OF FLUFF AFFAIRS are to promote all things Feline.  After Mayorz Murphy and Stanley were elected, they asked if any of the folks who were currently serving blogville wanted to continue. I raised all four paws and said 'we do, we do'!  They said okey dokey fine by us...what do you want to call your office? I thought about all the good things about felines and lo and behold it hit me smack in the head.

My goal is to see that THE World knows we felines are LOVEABLE in spite of the misconception that we are aloof, snobby, solitary, anti social and hissy.  I am here to say we are not...we just have a different way of expressing ourselves.   Most of the kitties are very active in Cat Blogsphere. During my term as mayor I tried to encourage more kitties to get involved in Blogville. I am proud to say that effort was successful.

Funny Farmer Canines:  Do you have any special plans to make the Office of FLUFF Affairs memorable?

Madi:  Earlier this year my good buddy Sammy from One Spoiled Cat invited me to be a member of a wonderful organization, CAT SCOUTS. My guy Raz and all the members of Cat Scouts opened up their paws to welcome me and help me get involved.  Being an active member of Sammy's Den, Wild Cats, has given me the ability to become friends with more wonderful felines.  I hope, through my office of FLUFF Affairs, I can return their kindness by getting more kitties involved in activities in Blogville. I want all kitties to know my Office of FLUFF Affairs in Blogville is always open. We love having furs everywhere.

Funny Farmer Canines:  Before Hiz Honorz were elected to serve in 2015, you were the Mayor of Blogville.  What did you most enjoy of your tenure?

Madi:  OMCs I chartered unexplored territory as Mayor of Blogville.  I was the first female, feline Mayor.  At the time I was in office Blogville was mostly K9, too. I enjoyed every single minute of every single day of my tenure.  Everyone is funny and loving.  I got a warm 'fuzzy' (fuzzier than I already am) feeling every day.

Funny Farmer Canines:  What do you think was your most popular decision or mandate as Mayor?

Madi:  I am very proud of my Queen of Hearts Dance in February 2014.  I actually got the idea from my human sis. When she was in high school, their most popular event each year was Queen of Hearts Dance.  I threw out the idea to Blogville and in true blogville fashion EVERYONE was ready to help, promote, photoshop, provide flowers, sweet nothings quotes or do whatever it took to pull off a most successful event. WTG blogville. OMCs this was the very first time we had 87 million cats, dogs, pigs, crabs, donkeys and even a few humans at one event.

Funny Farmer Canines:  Were you ready to "retire" as Mayor when your term ended because the job was physically demanding and mentally challenging, or was it energizing and stimulating?

Madi:  MOL MOL I love this question.  My peeps are both retired...and there I was a senior kitty working hard or as mom said I was hardly working. Mom and I were totally energized and stimulated my entire time.  We learned so many new skills on the computer.  While I was on my mayoral soapbox, mom was stepping outside her box everyday.  We are two seniors...we love using our brain!!

Funny Farmer Canines:  If you have the opportunity, would you run for Mayor again?

Madi:  Well of course I had oodles of fun being mayor so I would not hesitate to run again.  That being said, I would really love and support any candidate who ran and maybe down the road there will be another feline ready to throw his/her feline catnip pouch into the race. In the meantime, I say Mayorz Murphy and Stanley, you are doing a super duper job of uniting everyone and I'm here for you for as long as you need me.

FROM MADI TO: Dear Ms. Jan and Funny Farm critters...kudos to you for your excellent efforts with each interview for every occasion.  You find the best question suited for each interview.  Thank you for having me.  It has been a pleasure, as always.  Hugs to your wonderful human and all you critters.  Madi your bfff

Funny Farmer Canines:  Thank you for taking the time from your busy schedule to interview with us.  And for noticing, Miss Madi - we do try hard to come up with individual questions for each interview.

You can visit Madi at her blog, Madi and Mom.   She is also a Cat Scout

We did an in-depth interview with Madi in 2013.  If you would like to read more about her, check out her Mousebreath.com interview, Madi Diva Mayor Cougar Khat.  

Monday, May 25, 2015

Friday, May 22, 2015

Amarula, Biltong and Zula

RUSTY:  We're glad the weekend is here.  It's been a long, boring lifetime ... um, week locked up in a hot house with an irritable Jan.

MICAH:  Talk about unable to please!  Don't run.  Don't walk.  Don't stand on your head.  Don't make any noise.  Don't bump the chair.  Don't breathe so loud I can hear you. We couldn't do anything right.

CYNDI:  Does anyone know if we can trade Jan in for a younger model human with no aches and pains?  We don't have a contract, so it's permissible to dump her, right?  Do we have a volunteer?


PERCY:  Despite our about to be voted out human, we did manage to put together an interview with an interesting fur family that moved from South Africa to Canada.  They write the Hairballs and Hissy Fits blog.  As you can tell by the title we gave their story, Amarula Kids Biltong and Zulu. Amarula has a sense of humor.

Their interview can be accessed from the Home page of Mousebreath.  http://mousebreath.com


Friday is also time for the Pet Parade blog hop, hosted by by Rascal and Roscoe.  It is co-hosted by Bionic Basil, Barking From the Bayou, Love is being owned by a husky, and us (Jan's Funny Farm).

There are two parts to the blog hop - your blog url and social media, so be sure to sign up for both. 

When you link up with the blog hop, we encourage you to visit other participating blogs.


Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Commence Eating


MARCUS:  Hey, why is my picture in black and white?  It's supposed to be in color so folks can see how handsome I am.

RUSTY:  Don't worry, Your Handsomeness.  You look great in black and white.

MICAH:  Yes, Jan was given the old camera with a 4 or so gb card, but it is evidently incapable of handling too many pictures at once.

CYNDI:  The picture quality has deteriorated so badly with it only 1/3 full, she turned you black and white so we could at least see you.

PERCY:  On the other hand, the camera could be getting ready to ... *whisper* die, so don't complain. You're the only canine whose picture made it into this post. 


MARCUS:  Okay, this is me waiting for the word so I can commence eating.  Notice how I'm crouched over the bowl in order to be closer to the food.  A cunning tactic for a smart dog.


MERCI:  What is so enticing to Marcus?  We dogs are about to taste test some Hill's Ideal Balance Crafted Shredded Beef Stew canned dog food.

    High-quality protein helps maintain lean muscle & is easy to digest
    Provides a nutrient rich taste that your dog will love
    Made in Small Batches
    Slow Cooked
    Perfectly Balanced Nutrition
    Made in the USA


PERCY;  Well, when Jan opened the can, I did some taste testing of my own.  I know I'm a cat but it was pretty good.



BUDDY:  It does look tempting in the can, doesn't it.  I wonder what is in it?

SAM:  According to the label, the first ingredients listed are: Beef Broth, Beef, Carrots, Pork Liver, Green Peas, Rice, Potatoes, Rice Starch, Spinach, Powdered Cellulose, Chicken Fat, Sunflower Oil ... etc. 

MERCI:  Wait!  Powdered cellulose?  Isn't that sawdust?

MARCUS:  Yes, according to a web search, it is.  It's an indigestible fiber used as a filler.  Jan just discovered there is powdered wood pulp in her parmesan cheese.  She said she'll switch to the shredded but that has it too, to keep it from clumping. 

SAM:  It's evidently used in a number of pet and human foods, including some breads, ice cream, puddings, baked goods, crackers, and I don't know what all else.  So if the humans can't get away from it, let's dig in!

BUDDY:  Hmmm, this is good.  What is it called again?  Hill's Ideal Balance Crafted Shredded Beef Stew canned dog food.

We were not paid for this review.  Chewy.com did provide samples for us to taste test, but any opinions are strictly our own.

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Idaho Ranch Press Secretaries

MARCUS:  We are in protest!  The cats sneaked in and tried to take credit for the time we invested in writing the questions for the following interview.

SAM:  Yes, we just learned they signed their name to our list of questions.  They claim it was just out of habit since we only recently started the dog interviews on Tuesday.

MERCI:  But was it really out of habit or were they trying to hijack our interview?  We're going to have to have a serious talk with the Funny Farmer Felines.

BUDDY:  Don't worry, we'll forgive them, but we want them to sweat a little so they don't do it again.  Percy claims we canines signed their names to the email ourselves but we would NEVER be that confused ... would we?


Funny Farmer Canines:  Please introduce yourselves and your human.

Bailey:  Hello Merci, Buddy, Sam & Marcus. Thank you for having us! My name is Mr. Bailey and I am the oldest here at the PugRanch at 12 1/2 yrs old. My two sisters are Hazel, she is 10 1/2, and the baby of the family is Mabel who is 6 months old. Our Mom's name is Linda and in addition to working full time, she helps us with our blog

Funny Farmer Canines:  How did you come to live together?

Bailey:  Our Mom is a confessed Pugaholic. She & Dad have had pugs in their lives for more than 20 yrs. Mom's human daughter had a hand in finding all three of us for our pawrents. I was born in a town near the daughter and I lived with her for a few weeks till Mom & Dad could come and get me. The daughter thought  I was so cute she decided to adopt a pair of pugs that needed a home. One was pregnant (the other was the dad). Hazel was the first born and Mom fell in love with her and knew we needed to be her furever home. After the tragic loss of our sister Greta, it was again Mom's daughter who found some puglets in Oregon. Mabel joined our family in January and has helped Mom smile again.

Funny Farmer Canines:  As you are from the Idaho Pug Ranch, we assume you live in Idaho.  Please tell readers a little about the area where you live.

Hazel:  We live in Southeast Idaho where they grow lots of potatoes and wheat and sugar beets. Mom even works at a place that turns potatoes into french fries! The Snake River is close by and mountains are not far. We get snow in the winter, and hot in the summer Although Mom sometimes calls me her little cow, cause I like to graze around in the grass, we really don't live on a ranch. We do live just outside of town and have a little yard for us and a big yard we get to run around in sometimes

Funny Farmer Canines: Do you have any nicknames?

Hazel:  Oh Yes! Mr. Bailey - Mister, Buddy, Bailey Man.  Hazel - Baby Girl, Hazelbutt. Mabel - Mabes, Skinny Minnie, Little Girl.

Funny Farmer Canines:  Mabel, you are the newest member of the family. Were Hazel and Bailey receptive to having a new sister?

Mabel:  Hazel welcomed me right away. She likes to play with me, but will let me know when she isn't it the mood. The longer I am here the closer we get. I like to snuggle with her and love it when she lets me. Bailey took a little while to warm up to me, but I played it cool and did not push him. He is not much for playing with me, but once in awhile he will let me snuggle with him too.

Funny Farmer Canines:  Bailey and Hazel, you were Murphy & Stanley's campaign managers when they ran for Mayor of Blogville. Your firm was named B H & G Management for the two of you and your sweet sister Greta.  It was quite a blow when Greta tragically went to the bridge during the campaign.  Did you consider withdrawing, or did you push on in Greta's memory?

Hazel - Yes it was a terrible blow to lose Greta. It was just before the "Road to the Great Debate" and we were asked by the candidates if we would like to postpone that adventure. Greta was such a big part of everything and she was all about having fun and living life to the fullest. We made the decision to carry on.  She would have wanted that and we knew she was still with us in spirit

Funny Farmer Canines:  It was a clean and friendly race between Dory and Murphy & Stanley.  You must have been very proud to be an integral part of it.   Was it all work or were there some fun times?

Bailey:  We did work hard, but it was so much fun it really did not feel like work. Murphy and Stanley are just the greatest.  We were honored to work with them, and with Angus McConnell driving the campaign bus things were always interesting!  Then meeting Dory and her brothers -  well let me say that Bilbo, Arty and Jake are great, but meeting Dory was …  Well, I have to say meeting Dory was just wonderful ( blush).

Funny Farmer Canines:  Did working the campaign together bring you closer together?

Hazel:  Yes I think so, especially after losing Greta.  Bailey & I really had to lean on each other to help us continue on.

Funny Farmer Canines:  As Blogville's Press Secretary under Hiz Honorz the Mayorz Murphy & Stanley, what are your responsibilities?

Hazel:  Our job is to write and release statements to the press about impawtent goings on in the Mayorz Office or any other information that the Mayorz feel is impawtent for us to get out to the Blogville community

Funny Farmer Canines: Is one of you "in charge", or do you share duties and decisions across the board?

Bailey:  I, Mr Bailey, was the campaign manager during the campaign and Hazel & Greta kept everything in the office running like clockwork. In our new position as press secretaries, I am still the main spokesperson and Hazel my right paw gal.  Mabel is still in school.  She graduated from puppy kindergarten a while ago and is now in Basic Obedience Class.  Soon she will be able to join B H & G Management as a full pawtner.

Funny Farmer Canines:  When you're not working, what kind of mischief do you each prefer?

Mr Bailey:  I love to bark at the neighbor dog and make him think I am tough! I also like to watch TV and bark at any dogs and cats that are on the TV.

Hazel:  Dad has to keep me away from the garden cause I like to pop the peas and cherry tomatoes right off the vine and eat them.  Ooooooh I love the tomaters!  I also like to eat dandelions.

Mabel:  Mom says that after Naughty Greta I seem like an angel! BOL! But I do like to tease Hazel. Sometimes I steal her toy and like to get her to chase and play and sometimes I tease Bailey too!

Bailey:  Thanks again, Merci, Buddy, Sam & Marcus for having us over!

Funny Farmer Canines:  You're welcome.  We look forward to when Mabel is able to join you, Mr. Bailey and Hazel, as a full-fledged partner in the furm.  Visitors are welcome to drop by the Idaho Pug Ranch any time.

Friday, May 15, 2015

Cyndi Poses, Felix and Maggie Speak

MERCI:  It's National Straw Hat Day again.  Time to dust off our straw hats and ...

MARCUS:  We have straw hats?  How come I don't have one?  I want one.

SAM:  You want one of everything, but if I, the wearer of most headgear around here, don't have one, you don't get one either.

BUDDY:  Let's face it, Jan is a cheapskate and we have to use Cyndi's hand-me-down straw hat photo.  Let's just be glad we didn't lose the photo since Jan sent the hat back after Cyndi posed in it last year.


CYNDI:  Well, now that I have been humiliated by wearing the same hat two years in a row, let's move forward to our cat interview for Funny Farmer Feline Friday.

RUSTY:  Our new friends Cat Scout Felix and Cat Scout Maggie don't have a blog but they are both on Twitter as @CatsMakeWaves.



PERCY:  The exclusive story, Cat Scouts Felix and Maggie, has been published exclusively at Mousebreath, the ezine written by cats for cats.


Friday is also time for the Pet Parade blog hop, hosted by by Rascal and Roscoe.  It is co-hosted by Bionic Basil, Barking From the Bayou, Love is being owned by a husky, and us (Jan's Funny Farm).

There are two parts to the blog hop - your blog url and social media, so be sure to sign up for both. 

When you link up with the blog hop, we encourage you to visit other participating blogs.

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Frankie and Ernie Speak

BUDDY:  We  can always count on Frankie Furter and his brother Ernest Von Schnitzel to put a smile on our faces and cheer us up.

MARCUS:  Uh, Buddy, isn't Frankie wearing a mop on his head?  Is he training to be a janitor?

MERCI:  He's a judge, Marcus.  He can't go into court naked!  It's no more unusual than some of the strange hats Sam has worn.   

SAM:  Are you poking fun at my wardrobe again?  I think Frankie looks very Hiz Honor Judgelike, even if Ernie appears to be rolling his eyes at him.

BUDDY:  Perhaps we had better just jump in and start the interview with Frankie and Ernie.



Funny Farmers:    Please introduce yourselves and your human.

Frankie:  HI, Everybuddy.... this is Frankie Furter and my Brother Ernie the Attorney.  We live in the Country...  with our Mom and Dad... they are both BeTired of Working so they now just stay here... doing stuffs WE want done...

Funny Farmers:    How did you come to live together?

Frankie:  Boy is that a LONG story....   I used to have these two Tame Rabbits that somebuddy Dumped off...   we three really liked each other... and we had some GRAND times together....  THEY were my FURENDS butt the did not Live IN the house...  they stayed Under our Sun Porch and our Front Porch... Our mom FED them every day... butt NEVER touched them...   then SADLY they  went to the bridge...  about 6 months apawt...  and I was LONELY and MISERABLE... and mom and dad thought I needed a NEW furend... so they made arrangements to get me a PUPPY...      I did NOT want a Puppy... I wanted my FURENDS BACK...      Since mom and dad could not make that happen...    I guess I had to be satisfied with ERNIE...  and it is actually NOT as Bad as I thought it would be...  
 
Funny Farmers:  You two have met a number of Blogville residents and/or their humans in the fur/flesh.  You must travel a lot, or do they come to you to have their photos taken with the infamous ... um, we mean the famous Frankie and Ernie?

Frankie:  We have always traveled to a Central Location to meet up with our furends...    Once at a CASTLE and Once along the Interstate...  and once at a State Park...          We like to travel...    it is fun... and it is even BETTER when we do the MEET in the Furs with Furends thingy.

Funny Farmers:  We know you like to have fun.  What kind of mischief do you like to get into?

Frankie:  Sometimes I steal mom's Socks...   and Ernie and I BOTH love to dig holes...  OFTEN in places that DAD wishes we wouldn't...       Ernie pulled up 10 of Dad's Onions last summer... BEFORE they were ready..   AND he ate EVERY SINGLE one of Mom's Red Raspberries Right from Vines... That was Two Summers ago..

Funny Farmers:  You two are the Judicial Branch of the 2015 Blogville Administration under Hiz Honorz Murphy and Stanley.  Would you tell us a little about the roles you each play?  Hmm, perhaps we shouldn't imply you play on the job.  Would you tell us a little about the work you do to help the Blogville residents?

Ernie:  I've got THIS one Frankie...      fur YEARS all I heard was Frankie Bragging about Being the FURST EVER Mayor of Blogville...and getting to be BEST OF SHOW... JUDGE    fur Mango Minster...   So I decided I needed to do something of my OWN...  and I went to Paw School and became  ERNIE THE ATTORNEY....  and   Frankie  Dusted off his Judgey Wig...  and Headed fur the Court of Common Fleas...
     My ROXY....  the Para Legal... helps ME with stuffs in the Paw Furm...  and at trials and stuffs...       We have done Cases fur MANY of our furends....  Sometimes INTERNATIONAL Law... and that requires ME to wear a WIG TOO...   and Roxy wears her Tiara...     and GUESS WHAT....    our PawFurm average is now....   Wins= 10   and Loses= ZERO...    We have won EVERY SINGLE CASE...  fur our clients.... 

     PEE S....  we work PRO BONE O.

Funny Farmers:  Frankie, we know your heart was broken when both of your wives disappeared from Blogville.  Are you available now or are you still hopeful they'll return?

Frankie:  I will ALWAYS be HOPEFUL of their RETURN...   butt I must admit that I am very LONELY...  I enjoy the company of good lookin and INTERESTING WIMMEN....     there is a Dance coming up in June and I am going to ask YENTE RUBY to help me find a DATE... with some Lady who is looking fur an Older GENTLEDAWG to ESCOURT her...

Funny Farmers:  Ernie, we don't have to ask if you have a steady girl.  You're smitten.  So we'll ask if it was hard to integrate into a family with a brother who at that time didn't want to share the spotlight with a baby brother.

Ernie:  It SURELY was....      he has always been BOSSY  butt I have sort of grown accustomed to his GROUCHY WAYS....      and now that he has moved outta the PawFum offices... to the Court House...   we can have some time AWAY from Each Other...  Not to mention some QUIET time for Roxy and Me...          

Funny Farmers:  You have been blogging since 2008.  It appears your mom opened the blog.  What inspired her to blog and at what point did you take it over?

Frankie:  Mom and I  Both belonged to 3 Writer's Groups....   we used to go to LOTS of Meetings together...    and we BOTH had HOMEWORK from the groups...  One time it was to Start a BLOG  or   to write a Sad Story...  I did the SAD one and mom did the Blog thingy...   butt she was TERRIBLE at it... so I had to take it over...  She wanted to write stuffs that NOBUDDY was interested in.   She had ZERO comments......
       I (Frankie Furter) wrote stuffs that I was interested in, and it seems that I was "WRITE" and SHE was Wrong...   BaaaaaWaaaah..   Butt, isn't that the way it ALWAYS is with Peeps?????

Funny Farmers:  You are experienced bloggers.  Do you have any advice for furry newbies?

Frankie:     Try your BESTEST to always leave NICE comments...    and LOTS of them...
       Get out there and Meet new Furends... and  stay loyal to the ones you have.

    TRY to make your posts FUN and interesting...      It is not Easy some times.... Like in December... when all those   {{{shiver}}} stupid SNOW FREAKS start their annual TAKE OVER...

     BUTT TRY to make your posts FUN...    fur YOU and fur your Followers..      LAUGHTER is the BESTEST MEDICINE...    and some of your Followers may just NEED it  to help them through their day..
 
Ernie:  BUTT, don't be afraid to tell somethingy Sad or Scary...    YOUR furends will want to give  some AIDE and COMFORT....  THAT is what our Blogville Family is all about.

Frankie:  Help others when they need it...    THAT is very impawtant...

    OH YES....  TRY your BESTEST to post as OFTEN as pawsible...   even if you think it isn't worthy...  your readers just MIGHT... 

Friday, May 08, 2015

Team Dash and Grass

MICAH:  We are back with another award winning in-depth interview.  Thank you, thank you.  *bows*

CYNDI:  Micah is just clowning around, but we do have another great cat interview for you today.

RUSTY:  We have the entire Team Dash Kitten family with us.  They live in New Zealand and had to travel from Down Under to Southern U.S.

CYNDI:  That's a long trip, isn't it!

MICAH:  Yes, it is; at least as far as from here to Atlanta.

PERCY:  Why don't you check an online map? 

RUSTY:  Good idea.  Yes, here it is ... NZ ... and Atlanta.  I need a ruler.  They're how many inches apart?



PERCY:  Mousebreath, the ezine written by cats for cats, has the scoop on The Team Dash Kitten Family.  This is the blogging part of the family.




PERCY:  And this is the non-blogging part.  You can meet them all at Mousebreath.


BUDDY:  Below is something we have wanted to post about but we haven't had time.  This is what our dog pen has looked like when it rains for the past two years and it has rained a LOT! 


MICAH: I love it when the yard is flooded.  It makes my canine soccer games so much more fun.  I get to slosh through the water and dig in the mud. And then track it through the house.


MERCI:  The yard slopes so water runs downhill and goes under the house.  It also digs water trenches through the yard.  Marcus digs in the mud, then comes in and wipes his paws off on the washer, dryer, counter edges and Jan's clothes, especially if she's dressed to leave the house.

MARCUS:  Jan blames us (mostly me)  for the mess in the house but guess who is the worst offender?  

BUDDY:  You guessed it - Jan.  She wipes her feet but the mud is so thick, it gets into the shoe crevices and big chunks fall off as she walks.  


SAM:  We don't mind the mud but Jan said she has HAD IT with mud all through the house, mud all over the appliances, clods of mud everywhere which end up in every crevice, including all the electronics (computer too). She says she can't live this way any longer, and since she can't afford to pay someone, and she doesn't have anyone to help her, she tried to dig up the yard herself.

MERCI:  But if you remember, the ground is rock hard and she couldn't even dig a decent grave for Cameron.

MARCUS:  She was able to borrow this electric rototiller machine.  It helped, but between the cement ground and masses of tree roots, the machine leaped into the air in every direction, and was hard to control.  It was kind of fun to watch.  From inside the house, of course. 


BUDDY:  Monday was another day of backbreaking labor, but she ended up with this. 


SAM:  This is the final result after she spread the grass seed and covered it with a light blanket of straw to protect the seed and to help keep it moist.  Except the squirrels and chipmunks (and possibly raccoons) are digging up the seeds and having a feast.

BUDDY:   Jan is exhausted and in pain, and Marcus is going stir crazy.  He isn't allowed to play in the yard until .... supposedly, until some grass grows.  Jan asked a guy who does this for a living and has been doing what he told her to do.  She is heartsick at the thought she might have gone through all this for nothing.  We really need some grass to grow in the pen!  I suggest we pee more.

MERCI:  Perhaps some of you have an abundance of grass and we could help ourselves to some?  Or you could mail us chunks to glue together?

MARCUS:  And soon, please!  I'm young.  I need exercise!  I want to get back to my soccer games so I can dig more trenches.


Friday is also time for the Pet Parade blog hop, hosted by by Rascal and Roscoe.  It is co-hosted by Bionic Basil, Barking From the Bayou, Love is being owned by a husky, and us (Jan's Funny Farm).

There are two parts to the blog hop - your blog url and social media, so be sure to sign up for both. 

When you link up with the blog hop, we encourage you to visit other participating blogs.

Tuesday, May 05, 2015

Dory, Jakey, Bilbo and Arty Speak

MARCUS:  We've been missing a bit lately but we have a good excuse.  No, we're not going to tell you what it is.  Not yet, anyway. 

MERCI:  Besides, we have a fun crew visiting with us today, so let's dress up in a smile and be happy.

BUDDY:  We are interviewing the canine crew from Dory's Backyard - Dory, Jakey, Bilbo and Arty.


Funny Farmer Canines:  Please introduce yourselves and your human.

Dory: I’ll take this one guys! I am Dory, alpha doggy (after Mama of course). I am an 11 year old Lhasa Apso. Bilbo is the oldest of our pack, at almost 13 and is also a Lhasa Apso. Next is Jacob, he is about a 8 or 9 year old Lhasa/Shih Tzu/Terrier mix.  Arty is 100% Shih Tzu and is the baby of the pack at only about 3 years old.  Mama is a fifty something human that likes to take pictures of us, flowers and anything else!

Funny Farmer Canines:  How did you come to live together?

Bilbo: I can answer that….Dory and I both came from breeders when we were old enough be on our own (8 weeks old). Mama and Daddy got Dory, because they THOUGHT I needed company….sheesh. Jakey came to live with us when Mama and Daddy found out I DIDN’T need company…and Dory needed someone to play with! Arty came to live with us when Mama started fostering doggies and after successfully fostering tons of pups…Arty whispered to her and Daddy that he REALLY wanted our home to be his furr-ever home!

Funny Farmer Canines:  Do you have any nicknames?

Jacob: I got this one, Mama and Daddy call me Jakey! They call Bilbo, Boney Man (cause he used to like to chew on bones). Arty is called Arty Farty for obvious reasons and Dory, ummmm wellll, Mama calls her Little Missy PooPoo!! BOL!

Funny Farmer Canines:  Dory, you are currently doing a Travel Tuesday about a trip you took with your mom that covered 14 states in 10 days.  That's a lot of travel.  It must have been fun, just the two of you traveling together.  Did this deepen the bond between you and your mom or were you both so exhausted you argued much of the trip?

Dory: Mama and I had a blast!! We saw lots of cool things, stayed in lots of fun hotels and went for lots of cool walks!! We didn’t argue at all, it was a great, once in a lifetime girls' trip! I think one of the reasons we didn’t get on each others nerves is, being the only girls in the pack, we have always been BFF’s! Also, Mama kept the driving on most days under 9 hours and we stopped LOTS so we could get out and stretch our paws!!

Funny Farmer Canines:  Dory, you ran for Mayor of Blogville last year.  You and your opponents, Murphy and Stanley, ran such a clean campaign, we think humans could learn from it.  What impressed you the most about the "politics" of Blogville during the campaign?

Dory: The main thing that impressed me was Blogville politics is about making things better for the town, not about winning an election. I wish humans would use their politics in the same way!

Funny Farmer Canines:  Bilbo, Jakey and Arty, you ran Dory's campaign.  Was it all work or were there some fun times?

Arty: We had a blast!! Although it was hard doing all the grunt work (writing speeches, scheduling press conference, etc.), Jakey got to go on a road trip with Dory, we got to interrogate... um, hang out with the candidates when they visited for the debate and of course there was the debate BBQ!

Funny Farmer Canines:  Did campaigning together bring you closer together?

Bilbo: Oh YES!! It brought me and Sasha….

Jacob: BILBO!!! They mean as a pack!

Bilbo: Oh, well, ok, as a pack too. BUT it did help bring me and my gal Sasha together!!

Funny Farmer Canines:  Dory, what are your responsibilities as Blogville City Manager?

Dory: Wellllll, I help anywhere I am needed, I try to keep Blogville in the know on what is going on around town and fill in for anyone who needs to take some time off!

Funny Farmer Canines:  Do your brothers have any part in helping you run the city?

Arty: We are here for Dory whenever she lets ... er, needs us to do anything!!

Funny Farmer Canines:  When you're not working, what kind of mischief do you each prefer?

Dory: Ok…sometimes I enjoy stealing treats from my brother, Bilbo.

Bilbo: I have been known to “occasionally” use the rug as my personal bathroom.

Jakey: Give me a stuffy with a squeaker and I will dead it in no-time flat!!

Arty: I love to go outside and bark at the, ummm, well at anything and everything!!

Dory:  Thanks so much for the opportunity to talk to you all!!

SAM:  Thank you for being such fun interviewees.   We hope readers will go visit you at Dory's Backyard.

Friday, May 01, 2015

15 Meows and A Hop


PERCY:  I know you won't believe this but we are actually back with another Mousebreath interview today.  15 and Meowing is a large cat family and we had a lot of fun interviewing them.  So many personalities and so many stories.  It was hard to choose what to print.   


CYNDI:  We have always put the cats into one graphic but we thought it would be easier to introduce them if we do more than one picture.  Phoebe is the friendly one waving at you.



RUSTY:  Obviously, Joanie is a tortie at heart.  Notice the tongue attitude.  :)


15 Meows Make A Home, at Mousebreath.


Friday is also time for the Pet Parade blog hop, hosted by by Rascal and Roscoe.  It is co-hosted by Bionic Basil, Barking From the Bayou, Love is being owned by a husky, and us (Jan's Funny Farm).

There are two parts to the blog hop - your blog url and social media, so be sure to sign up for both. 

When you link up with the blog hop, we encourage you to visit other participating blogs.