Travels in the South

Hello sweet friends.  Today we continue our Travels in the South series with our friends Fozziemom and Fozziedad who visited all the way from Australia.  Now this little piggy is jealous over today’s adventure.  I think I could have had a ball roaming the grounds with everyone exploring the way they did.  You see, on this day everyone visited Ft. Pulaski National Monument which is a national park near Tybee Island in Chatham County.

 This is an aerial view of Ft. Pulaski National Monument courtesy of Ft. Pulaski 🙂 Thank you Ft Pulaski!  Ft. Pulaski was going strong in the days of the American Civil War.  It is over 5,000 acres consisting of tidal marshes and mud flats.  There are canon and musket reenactments throughout the day.  The park is open daily from 9AM to 5PM.  

You can go throughout the yards either on a guided tour or you can venture around by yourself.  

Your tour really starts when you park your car.  The grounds are absolutely beautiful!  You start down paths walking to the entrance and you also see the moat.  Now, go ahead and raise your hands my friends.

How many of you want a moat around your house?  I’m raising my piggy hoof.  I think it would be kind of cool for sure.  I bet back in the day they didn’t have solicitors knocking on their drawbridges – snorts with piggy laughter!

 Now when everyone first got there, they heard loud noises that sounded like cannon shots.  But, upon further investigation, mom/dad found out that actually it was from muskets being fired at a kind of show and tell.  Even the guy shooting the musket, was dressed in attire from the Civil War days.  Cool huh?  

But after the shots of the musket, things were silent.  Mom said that you could close your eyes, smell the musket from when it was fired, you could feel the wind blowing around you, the water hitting the moat and you could almost visualize life as it was in the fort.  Mom might have said a moan from a soldier could also be heard.  Was the place haunted?

The fort was built in 1861 and is still in remarkable condition.  You do see some of the stonework falling inside of the casemates as you can see in the picture with the fireplace.  But overall, it is still an overwhelming fort.

 Some people – like Fozziemom and Fozziedad – climbed onto of the fort to get a better view and to take some amazing pictures over the wall looking out over the water.  If you look closely at the picture with the cannon, those two specks at the top – that would be Fozziemom and Fozziedad the adventurers.

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And as Fozziemom was taking pictures, mom captured her in a picture of her own.  This is Fozziemom in her glory, aimed and ready to shoot something fantastic.

So the question remains. Is Fort Pulaski haunted? Is it spooky – yes. Do you pick up “feelings” of days gone – yes. Mom said they could close their eyes and hear and picture in their minds the activity that happened once upon a time.

Since mom/dad have been back home, I’ve done a lot of research on Fort Pulaski.  To my amazement, there have been many encounters with the unknown at the Fort over the years.  There was a story about a mother and son visiting the fort that were crossing over the draw bridge to enter into the fort.  They met a Confederate sentry dressed in uniform with his sword.  They spoke to him about his outfit and the fort.  The mother then inquired about a restroom and he advised that he could not leave his position to show her.  She thanked the man and with her son she continued into the fort to ask about the restrooms.  There she was advised that the restrooms were at the entrance.  She became upset and told the man about the soldier she spoke to at the drawbridge.  The man advised her that they had no soldiers dressed in Confederate uniforms at the fort.

Then there was a time that a group of Confederate reenactors placed a wreath at the graves in 1994.  They then settled down for the night and camped out.  During the night, a young 12 year old boy couldn’t sleep and was walking around the fort.  Nearing the graves, he saw a figure of a Confederate soldier in uniform on his knees near the grave they had put the wreath.  The soldier had his hat in his hand, then stood and faded away into the air.

Then during further research, I learned that an actor that you might have heard of did a movie at Fort Pulaski back in 2009.  The movie was called The Conspirator and the actor was Robert Redford.

It’s up to you to decide if it’s haunted or not.  Maybe someone needs to let the worker at the shop know that there has been some cases of mysterious sightings.  It was definitely an adventure!

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Paw Time with Houdini

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Hello my sweet dear friends.  I hope that your week has been exciting and great.  There are lots of things going on here this week at the Hotel Thompson.

One thing was – coughs – I was in trouble last weekend.  Okay, I’ll admit it.  I’ve been in trouble for this for some time but mom really was upset with me last weekend.  You see, when I was younger – don’t laugh – when I was younger and in my teething stage, I might have chewed some zippers off of mom’s pillows on her new sofa.  Might is a strong word because no one really saw me but mom told me if she needed to take bite marks for comparison she would so I fessed up.  I did it.  All five of them in fact – barks!  Well, last weekend mom sewed each one back to the way it was suppose to be.  And yes, mom might have poked herself while sewing several times and given me looks.  Of course, I tried to give her my cutest not me look mommy.  So there is a firm rule set in stone now here at the Hotel Thompson – no touchy the pillows Houdini.  Can you believe she used my name like that?  Hangs head low.

And we have visitors this week.  Two friends that mom/dad went and met last year are in our area again visiting.  Mom has taken some time off of the worky place so they can all play together.  You do realize that this means trouble right?  Cause I just know they may need bail money this week… and probably next week because they are all going out of town for a couple of days and leaving all of us.

Oh I shouldn’t say “all” of us because a certain oinker – not mentioning names – has went to camp this week and all of next week.  Why?  So mom/dad could have fun with these friends – which I will tell you about later with some pictures. You see the purr things – they can take care of themselves.  And me well I can take care of myself but Nana will watch me a couple of days next week.  Bacon well he’s like a little kid as mom described it.  He doesn’t take being by himself too well and Nana can’t watch him while she has her hands full with me and her two pooches.  So, mom/dad called the farm where Bacon went to camp last year.  They have other anipals that Bacon had a blast with and that’s where he gets to go for his adventure.  So, I’m sure he will have a blast.  I hope so anyway.  He did bring his computer so don’t fear about his correspondence.

And friends let’s talk about something that I keep seeing on the television all day long.  Something that mom/dad and even Bacon have talked about.  The presidential election.  Shakes my doggy head.

Does anyone really enjoy all of this arguing and calling names?  I really don’t.  Why can’t we all just get along?

I’ve come up with a solution.  Since people running are called politicians and we can’t really trust anything they say – barks!  Why don’t I run for president?  I think I have just about the same qualifications – you think?  And look – mom took this picture of me over the weekend.  Don’t you think it screams “Houdini for President”.

And of course, with that being said I have to leave you with another priceless Jokes with daddy video.  The man does need to go out and play with others more.  Shaking my head.  Enjoy my friends.   I hope you had a wonderful week as well.  Happy weekend!

 

Heads Up – The Pig Has Left the Building

Snorts!  By the time you read this my friends, I will have left the building… AKA Hotel Thompson.  We have a surprise coming here to the Hotel Thompson… or should I say someone coming here – snorts with piggy laughter.  I’m keeping my snout shut though and not saying a word about who it might be.

And this time of the year makes me ill.  You might have heard that from me before. And I do have something to say.  After this picture was snapped, I might have snapped myself at daddy and bit him.  Don’t worry – it wasn’t bad but it wasn’t the first time in the past couple of weeks.  (This picture was taken last week).  I’ve had a few aggression problems lately with this weather – some days cool and some days hot.  So mom called my friends that I went to the camp with last year and they have suggested me come and visit them for about a week.  Which is really good since mom/dad have friends coming anyway – that way they can play with them more and I can take some time to run with fellow anipals.  Make sense huh?

But don’t worry.  Everything will work out – I’m sure of it.  And I’m taking my laptop with me so I can check in and still have fun my friends.  Think about me okay.  Love you guys.  ❤  XOXO – Bacon

 

I’m BACK!

Oh my dear sweet friends – I’m BACK!  YES!  Summer Camp was really interesting.  Mom kept telling me that she wanted me to know what it was like to feel like a regular pig.  I couldn’t understand that at first.  But let me tell you.  I completely understand now.  COMPLETELY!

Do you know that there are some pigs that have never been inside of a house?  They don’t have centralized heat and air conditioning – let alone their own room with a flat screen television and bed.  I was shocked to learn that!  Of course, I did meet a lot of new friends at camp.  Some were really cool – except for Scout.  He ate my huge container of Animal Crackers – can you believe that?  The nerve of him – but don’t worry.  Ninja pig came out and got even with him on tent night – insert evil snort.

Mom, dad and Houdini picked me up Saturday night.  I so couldn’t wait.  And you won’t believe the surprise mom sprung on me – WOW!  I’ll have to show you in a couple of days once I get a good picture of it.  After lots of hogs and snout kisses, I said my goodbye to my new friend Scott and to Binky – a girl I met 🙂

The first thing I did when I got home was beg mom for an apple.  I went the entire week without having one – can you believe that?!  That was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.  I ate that apple so fast it wasn’t even funny.  Then I oinked at Hemi and Mouse Girl.  Don’t let them fool you – they missed me too.

I gotta say thank you for Houdini for taking care of my blog while I was gone – you rock kid.

And I gotta say to all of my friends here in blogville – I missed ya’ll!!!

 

Simpler Times

While Bacon is a camp this week, I want to focus on a few things that as adults we have forgotten about when we were children. LOL – this only makes sense since my little guy is away at Camp.  He grunted like he didn’t want to go but I think he secretly loved getting away and traveling like his pet rock.

It seems like when we were younger, that was the more simpler times in our lives.  As children we didn’t have bills or a lot of toys but it seemed like we had the world at our feet.  We went outside and played.  I mean ran around and played ball, climbed trees and searched for bugs and watched the moonlight. We played hopscotch and hide and go seek.  We socialized with other kids, screamed outside and had a blast.  As long as we were in ears reach of our parents when they called, we were rich with our nature.  Do you remember staying out late and catching lightening bugs? Or do you remember chasing frogs?

And oh should we discuss riding in the family car with our parents on long trips.  We didn’t use seat belts and look – we all survived which was amazing.  I remember going on vacation and we would leave at night and drive to our destination.  Us kids would be sacked out in the back of the car.  One of us would lay across the floorboards, one of us would get the seat to stretch out and one of us would sleep in the back window  The horror of not wearing seat belts!  Now *those* were the days.  And what about going to the lake.  You would throw a bunch of blankets in the back of the pick up truck so that you had a place to lay down after swimming all day so you could watch the stars in the sky.

We played so hard as children that when we went to bed we would have ‘growing pains’ in our legs from running all day.  Do you remember those?  But hey it was all worth it because the next day we would be out doing it all again.

And we watched the *good* cartoons like Scooby Doo, the Jetson’s, Tom and Jerry and the Flintstones.  Cartoons that actually made sense and are still fun to watch this day. And after dinner, we watched television with the parents until bed time.  Awesome shows like Happy Days, Fantasy Island, Mork and Mindy, Chips, Wonder Woman, the Facts of Life and Alice.  Who could forget Alice?  “Kiss my grits!”

What do you remember from childhood.  What did you do that you don’t see children doing these days?

 

Dear Bacon

Dear Bacon – There is *always* that one friend.  You know the one that ‘dares’ you to do something and says, “What are you afraid”?  Why did I have to fall for it.  Can you tell me that?  And then if that wasn’t bad enough, Ethel has to then photobomb me and take a picture for her Facebook account.  Dude, I long for the days before all of this social media.  Signed Jack

Dear Jack – WOW.  I see that you are in a predicament my friend.  I don’t even know Ethel dared you to do but the how the heck did you get out of that funky position?  Of course, for payback and before she photobombed you all you had to do was lift that left leg in a strategic position and that would smack that smirk right off of her face – snorts.  You know friend, this just screams for payback.  And make it GOOD.  I mean really GOOD.  And then post it on your Facebook account… or perhaps get Christmas cards made.  Now that sounds like a plan of destruction.  Keep me posted with the results and don’t take any more dares anytime soon okay.

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Dear Bacon – HA!  This will teach my humans.  I ran away from home and they have yet to find me.  What do you think?  Am I the master of disguises or what?  Signed Hide N Seek Master

Dear Hide N Seek Master – You are the boss my friend.  I had to take several looks myself to see which ‘rock’ was you.  And your parents haven’t found you yet.  That’s so awesome.  Just remember to come out in time for dinner okay.

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Dear Bacon – They said I could do and be anything I wanted.  So I decided I wanted to water ski.  And let me tell you something – it is fantastic!  So invigorating.  It makes me feel like I weigh nothing at all.  I highly recommend it my friend.  Signed Weightless

Dear Weightless – You know you have my interest piqued now my friend.  I think I may try this soon… especially since mom/dad are sending me to this awful thing called C.A.M.P.  Stay safe.

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Dear Bacon – Have you ever just had one of those days that you needed a little something to take the edge off?  This was me last weekend.  I just couldn’t take chasing the postman anymore… or tying up and blaming the cat for everything.  I needed a little liquid refreshment in a place where everyone knew my name and it was a fun place.  And hey, this wine is awesome.  Have you ever felt like this?  Signed Stud at the Bar

Dear Stud at the Bar – Oh yes indeed.  There are days that I feel the world is overcoming me… especially this past weekend.  We could have met up my friend.  Perhaps split a bottle of Francis Ford Coppola wine and whined on each other’s shoulders or downfalls in life in general.  I’m sure it would have been a blast.  Call me next time okay.

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Dear Bacon – I’m not sure my son gets the full effect of my look here.  This is my what.do.you.mean.you.want.to.stay.out.all. night.long.partying.look.  Does it work for you?  Do I need to change something for more of an effect?  Any suggestions?  Signed Dad in Charge

Dear Dad in Charge – I think you have the look down pact.  Did you follow it with, “Not while you are living under my roof?” and “While you are living under my roof, you will obey my rules”?  That usually works when my dad uses them on us anipals here at the Hotel Thompson.  Maybe take away his allowance.  That *always* hurts this little oinker where it counts.  Good luck with your son my friend.  Just think of these as his teenage rocky years.

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Remember my friends – Dear Bacon can’t happen without YOU.  Please continue to send me your letters and pictures to my email address.  🙂

 

 

You’ve Got to be Joking, Right?

Oh friends.  It was worse than I thought.  Oh my pigs!  I may need your help and a quick plan B.  You see mom/dad had the “family” meeting Saturday night.  I really thought they were joking.  Really I did.  I even started snorting waiting for the punch line.  Of course mom has to zip up with her wonderful phrases such as, “This will be good for you”; “It’s a growing experience”; “Here’s your chance to shine”.

Yeah right mom.  It doesn’t matter how much you sugar coat it, it sucks.  There I said it.  It sucks.  What sucks you ask?

Mom and dad are sending me to camp.  Outside.  In nature.  With other peeps.  No television.  No air conditioning.  In Nature – did I mention that?  And they expect me to participate in the entire ordeal.  What is up with that?!

Look friends.  I’ve seen enough horror movies on my television.  I know about Jason.  I know about not turning your back to anything.  I’ve seen movies where other campers have tied their friends up to floats and set them out on the lake.  Or put them out in nature covered in honey.  This little oinker is not amused.  This can’t turn out good for me.  This piggy will not start campaigning for I ❤ camp anytime soon.  No way.  There’s no way I can survive this.

What if a UFO comes down and gets me and tries to probe me?   What if they take me to their place and not bring me back?  I can foresee so many potential problems here my friends.  Can you help me out?  Can one of you kidnap me or persuade mom/dad not to send me.

 

 

Dear Bacon

Dear Bacon,

Just the facts little guy.  Nothing but the facts.  We’ve been watching too many repeats of the movies Men in Black.  Don’t ask me which is which.  We just like to dress like Kay and Jay.  You know, just for fun and giggles.  The neighborhood doesn’t know how to act when we roll into it – bark.  What do you think?  Do you like to dress up like any of your favorite guys?  Signed Kay/Jay

Dear Kay and Jay,

Oh dudes – I love the look!  That is so neat.  I’ve seen those movies and ya’ll kind of look just like the two.  I think it’s the ties and sunglasses.  I would love to roam around in my costume too.  I secretly want to be a piggy super hero.  I keep asking mom to make me a cape.  I know with a cape, this little piggy would have special powers and be able to fly.  Stay cool barky things!

 

Dear Bacon,

This little pup couldn’t take it and fell asleep.  When I woke up, there was the hunny jar near me and I was passed out.  I don’t know what happened and I don’t know why it’s so funny.  The humans keep laughing.  Can you explain?  Signed Pup Dog

Dear Pup Dog,

Snorts – it is kind of funny little man.  Your humans are really playing with you.  It’s cute.  You need to ask the humans to read you the story of Winnie the Pooh.  You look like Pooh.  He liked his hunny.  No, that’s wrong.  He LOVED his hunny.  Hey, I would keep the costume for Halloween.  You’ll get lots of candy!

 

Dear Bacon,

It doesn’t matter what kind of cat you are, we love boxes.  It’s that simple.  We will get in them and play with them.  I just wanted to let you know.  Signed Kitty Box

Dear Kitty Box,

I’m not hating you on that.  I know the purr things here at the Hotel Thompson love to play with their boxes all of the time.  Mom/dad area always asking them why buy little purr thing presents when you can just give them the box.  Shrugs shoulders.  It’s a kitty thing.  I completely understand.  I tried to do the box thing too.  I didn’t get it.  I destroyed the box in less than five minutes.  Now that’s my fun time!  Enjoy the box my friend!

 

Dear Bacon,

I know the purr things like their boxes buy I prefer daddy’s guitar case.  While he plays, I crawl in there and the music puts me to sleep.  It’s actually more comfortable than it looks.  Does your human have a guitar case for you to try this?  Signed Squishy

Dear Squishy,

You do look most uncomfortable.  I think I’m going to let you call this one and let you crawl in.  Dad does have a couple of cases but looking at this body, there is no way I will fit in there.  I don’t care how much I try.  Sleep on my friend!

 

Dear Bacon,

With summer comes doggy camp.  I thought I would snap this picture of all of us on the bus headed to camp for the week.  It’s a ball!  We get to do lots of neat things and have fun.  There really isn’t any time to miss the humans.  Do you get to go to camp?  Signed Campdoggers

Dear Campdoggers,

That looks like so much fun!  As far as I get to camp is when I go to nana’s for a couple of days.  She always fattens me up so I can’t oink. 🙂  It’s fun and you know what they say.  What happens at nana’s, stays at nana’s!  Have fun at camp!

 

Remember Friends – Keep sending your pictures/questions to me at Baconthompson@gmail.com