Before I begin, I'd like to let you all know that I'm doing a giveaway of my upcoming book, Bubba and Squirt's Big Dig to China. The publisher has three extra review copies, and we thought it would be fun to give you a chance to win one. This is open to US residents only. If you are interested, please say so in the comments below. The winners will be selected on Monday, June 18th. If you are selected, I will contact you for your email address, which I will give to the publisher. The book will come directly from the publisher. Good luck!
Now for the story: Some of you who are friends with me on Facebook may have seen the photo of a snail crawling up my back door. We had affectionately named this snail, Gary. Here he is:
Gary was a very messy house guest. He left trails of snail poop all over the door. When he disappeared for a day, we thought he was gone. But he wasn't. He reappeared leaving more trails of snail poop. Quite frankly, I was getting tired of cleaning up after Gary. My husband decided he'd had enough, too. He peeled the snail off the top of the door and relocated him under a bush.
But poor Gary didn't fare so well. If you are a sensitive soul, you may not want to read the rest of this story. Our ferocious cat, Bootsy, decided to take matters into his own paws. Bootsy is a critter killer. He kills anything he can find: frogs, chipmunks, birds, cock roaches (which we don't mind). . . and snails. We found poor Gary's shell in pieces, deposited outside the back door. We are quite certain that Bootsy is the guilty party. Guess Bootsy didn't like the poop on the window, either!
One more thing I heard about which I thought was interesting: Do you remember how I told you that my son had to get a permit to sell lemonade at his stand? Lots of kids get fined if they don't. Well, Country Time Lemonade is taking a stand to raise money to pay lemonade stand fines. It's called Legal-Ade. Kids can get help here.
Good for them! A lemonade stand permit is dumb.
ReplyDeletePoor Gary. We hardly knew you.
May he rest in peace.
DeleteGood luck with your book Sherry,
ReplyDeleteLoved the story about the snail made good reading. Never heard of a permit for a lemonade stand here, good for the kids.
Yvonne.
Maybe we'll send all our kids across the pond so they can have lemonade stands free of charge. :)
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ReplyDeleteNow that cat of yours is going to demand escargot for dinner! Your "China-digging" book sounds interesting.
ReplyDeletewww.thepulpitandthepen.com
Escargot with garlic sauce! Won't he be a stinky cat!
DeleteGary would've met the same fate at our house. May he rest in pieces...
ReplyDeleteHaha! Cute!
Deletemy cat is afraid of messing with the snails as they like to leave their nasty goo in his plate of food during night, so he's probably afraid of their revenge.
ReplyDeleteMy cat is ferocious. No snail would dare to leave goo on his plate!
DeleteHey, everyone, Sherry's book is so good and a ton of fun! So, enter, enter, enter! :D
ReplyDeleteOh, but poor Gary.
Thanks for the kind words!
DeleteYes, poor Gary!
Hi, Sherry!
ReplyDeleteI am always sad to read about the death of a critter, but at least the deed was done by another animal and not a human. You guys tried your best to relocate Gary and it just didn't work out.
Yessum, please enter me in the drawing to win a copy of Bubba and Squirt's Big Dig to China. A middle grade reader lives next door to me and I would like to gift it to her.
Thank you, dear friend Sherry!
Thanks for your interest in entering the contest!
DeleteYes, poor Gary. His life was cut short by my ferocious beast!
I don't know if I feel so sorry for Gary. Bootsy might have thought he was doing you all a favor.
ReplyDeleteI like the lemonade stand legal aid idea. I hope it works out in the kiddos' favor.
Oh, and I would be interested in winning the book.
DeleteI'm sure Bootsy was only trying to be helpful.
DeleteLegal Ade is a good idea. I wonder how many kids will use it.
I can't believe about the lemonade stand. That's ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteIt is ridiculous. Just another money-making scheme for the city government.
DeleteYes, life isn't easy for a snail, but that's mother Nature.
ReplyDeleteYes. I'm so glad I'm not a snail.
DeleteI just realized they need permit for lemonade !
ReplyDeleteI heard about it a few years ago and was really surprised.
DeleteAwww, poor Gary! :(
ReplyDeleteAnd wow, had no idea that lemonade stands needed permits. That's awesome how Country Time Lemonade wants to help!
Yeah. If they didn't help, a lot of kids would probably think lemonade stands weren't worth it. Country Time might lose some business.
DeletePoor Gary :-( I loved that you named him. I had no idea that snails left "residue" behind.
ReplyDeleteI was shocked at the amount of residue Gary left. He was a big snail, but still, it was ridiculous.
DeleteNothing against Gary but I can't say I'm as enthusiastic as you are. Having eaten several of his plants, Mr t, even less so. On a positive note though, his type make a wonderful snake for our hedgehogs who, in decline, need as much help as they can get.
ReplyDeleteWonderful news about the book. Good luck everyone.
Sorry to hear hedgehogs are on the decline. They should immigrate here. We have plenty of snails to feed them.
DeleteGood to the people for your book!
ReplyDeletePoor Gary! I feel bad for him!
Way to go Country Time! That's excellent!
Big Hugs!
Yes, poor Gary. Little critters don't fare well in my yard because of our ferocious cat.
DeleteI too, found Country Time's Legal Ade commendable.
I meant to say, good luck to everyone, for the chance on winning your book!
ReplyDeleteI figured that's what you meant. :)
DeleteCan't say I blame Bootsy. The snail poop was obstructing the view.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't read what happened to Gary- so thanks for the warning. He looks so cute in the photo.
ReplyDeleteGetting a permit for a lemonade stand seems excessive for kids.
~Jess
It's totally excessive! Let kids be kids and don't burden them with adult expenses.
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