He is a Trained Seal

Oh my friends.  Sometimes there are just things at the Hotel Thompson that happened that have to be shared.  For instance, the little guy here named Houdini.  He’s cool – most of the time.  But sometimes the little guy gets on my everlasting LAST piggy nerve.  There.  It’s out.  You don’t see a lot of pictures of us two together and there’s a reason.  We both have to be chaperoned.  Honestly that’s the truth.  Mom doesn’t trust either of us with each other without her constant eagle stare.  Like she says, it only takes one time.

Well what mom doesn’t know is the little guy looks to me for guidance – insert evil snort.  He does most of everything I persuade him to do… not that I would do anything to hurt the little rascal.  You see, for the past couple of weeks when he nods off to sleep, I’ve been whispering in his ear that he is actually a seal and likes to balance things off his snout.  HA!  What?  You don’t believe me?  I thought you might not so I have proof.  I so proudly took this picture this morning of the little guy performing his circus routine.  See.  Subliminal conditioning does work.  Evil Snorts.

 

National Animal Cracker Day

 Journalist Rocky the Squirrel here –

Keeping his paws on the nuts of the world –

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April 18th is National Animal Cracker Day.  What a fantastic day!!  Elephants, lions, tigers, bears and monkeys oh my.  These are small little sweet cookies shaped like zoo animals.  They were first brought to the United States during the 1800′s.  The demand for these wonderful little cookies skyrocketed and demand was over the roof!

Stauffer’s Biscuit Company was the first company to produce animal crackers in 1871 in York, Pennsylvania.  Other local bakeries came together under the National Biscuit Company or “Nabisco Brands”.  In 1902, the famous Barnum’s Animals circus theme box came out.  Bacon’s mom says that she remembers her parents bringing her these little boxes as a treat.

Did you know that since their start in 1903, there have been 37 different animals included in the Barnum’s Animal Crackers?  Today, more than 40 million packages of animal crackers are sold each year around the world.

So on this National Animal Cracker Day – enjoy a box OR TWO of these sweet delectable bits.  Just remember though, if you are going to eat in front of the pig, you have to share!  Animal crackers are one of his all time favorites.  In fact, mom buys him the economy bucket size at the warehouse 🙂

 

National Animal Cracker Day

 Journalist Rocky the Squirrel here –

Keeping his paws on the nuts of the world –

.

April 18th is National Animal Cracker Day.  What a fantastic day!!  Elephants, lions, tigers, bears and monkeys oh my.  These are small little sweet cookies shaped like zoo animals.  They were first brought to the United States during the 1800′s.  The demand for these wonderful little cookies skyrocketed and demand was over the roof!

Stauffer’s Biscuit Company was the first company to produce animal crackers in 1871 in York, Pennsylvania.  Other local bakeries came together under the National Biscuit Company or “Nabisco Brands”.  In 1902, the famous Barnum’s Animals circus theme box came out.  Bacon’s mom says that she remembers her parents bringing her these little boxes as a treat.

Did you know that since their start in 1903, there have been 37 different animals included in the Barnum’s Animal Crackers?  Today, more than 40 million packages of animal crackers are sold each year around the world.

So on this National Animal Cracker Day – enjoy a box OR TWO of these sweet delectable bits.  Just remember though, if you are going to eat in front of the pig, you have to share!  Animal crackers are one of his all time favorites.  In fact, mom buys him the economy bucket size at the warehouse 🙂

 

Dear Bacon – Special Edition

Tis the season to be merry my friends!  Today, we have a very special issue of Dear Bacon.  I bet a lot of you know my special friend.  He’s been hanging (literally) around my house since Thanksgiving.  For those that don’t know him, I’ll tell you a little back ground.

The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition came out in 2005 in a children’s book.  The little Elf that comes with the book has a job between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve.  His main job is to watch over the household and report back to the North Pole nightly on if the people are naughty or nice.  He comes back to the household by morning.  There’s one important thing about the Elf.  You don’t touch him as doing so will erase any Christmas magic that has been blessed upon him.  Every morning that he comes back from the North Pole, people in the household find him in different places.  But remember, it’s all magic!

So in honor of Christmas, we have the Thompson Elf – Don Juan – representing in the Dear Bacon issue.  We hope you enjoy.  XOXO – Bacon

Dear Don Juan,

You’re a fellow Elf.  You know times are hard working for the fat guy.  We work once a year.  It’s hard to make a living like this.  Sometimes we gotta do what we gotta do, right?  Signed Elf Burglar

Dear Elf Burglar,

Step.away.from.the.pig.  Don’t make me call the Elf Union.  Elves do not steal in the houses that we are to watch over.  Your special Christmas powers can be revoked with a snap of a finger.  You know there are other jobs you can work while in the off season.  I’ve heard Walmart is looking for door greeters.  Or perhaps you can join a traveling circus during down times.  Anything but stealing my fellow Elf.

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Dear Don Juan,

Last night, the humans they stayed up until the whee hours of the morning making cookies.  I just thought I would make my mark.  You like?  Signed Droopy

Dear Droopy,

I like and I approve.  This is what I’m talking about.  Good little elves help out around the house not steal.  Way to go my friend!

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Dear Don Juan,

I’ve read on Bacon’s blog that his human father likes to play Angry Birds.  Well, I thought I would share this photo for you to take notes on future escapades.  Enjoy my friend.  Signed Angry Elf

Dear Angry Elf,

That’s what I’m talking about!  Thanks for the idea.  I definitely will pursue this one tonight.. perhaps 🙂

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Dear Don Juan,

When you have to go, you gotta go.  The humans, they caught a picture of me in mid dunk.  Thank goodness I was holding on and the humans didn’t see me in action.  Signed Pepper Elf

Dear Pepper Elf,

Hey, you’re right.  It’s nature.  It’s part of life.  At least you’re potty trained.  Tis the season for magic in all forms.

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Dear Don Juan,

What?  We get kind of bored at night staying up all by ourselves.  Sometimes we get back from reporting in at the the North Pole early. We gotta do something in our spare time for just us.  I met this chick named Frankie Stein from Monster High.  Dude, she has some moves!  Signed Pole Elf

Dear Pole Elf,

Oh dear.  This can’t be good.  Where did you get that money?  And dear Lord, you’re sitting on baby food.  There’s a baby in the house.  Step away from the pole and tell Ms. Stein to put on some clothing.  Shakes head.. I may need to investigate this further.  Can you email me Ms. Stein’s telephone number?  You know, for my paperwork.

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Dear Don Juan,

It’s just a little nick and tuck.  What can I say?  He was on the naughty list.  I had to do something to snap him into reality that this is the Christmas season.  Thoughts?  Signed Barber Elf

Dear Barber Elf,

Are you insane?!  We can’t do that.  That poor fellow is going to be scared for life.  Listen here you young Elf, report back to the North Pole ASAP.  I’ve gotta get this taken care of with the humans.  Where’s is that Easter bunny when you need him?

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Dear blogville,  I hope you enjoyed this special of Dear Bacon – Elf on the Shelf.  Remember, tonight is the big night.  Make sure you’re extra good and leave out cookies.  I’ve heard Santa likes chocolate chip and macadamia.  Well, that’s what my human daddy tells me.  XOXO – Bacon

Note:  Pictures were sent in by friends of mom who emailed them to me with questions.

 

Dear Bacon

Dear Bacon,

I’m sorry darling to be showing you my most private pictures but I need to do something.  I’m sure your mother would not allow you to continue lying in such a small sleeping quarter.  Am I right?  I do believe I have outgrown this petty little thing they call a ‘bed’.  I need a bed made for the Egyptian kitty I am.  What say you?  Signed Cleopatra

Dear Cleopatra,

Surely that is not your bed princess.  Someone of such high feline equality must have something just as luxurious to lay themselves down at night.  You deserve it all – canopy with curtains and everything.  Please show your master this blog.  Only the best for the Queen!

Dear Bacon,

I swear it wasn’t all me.  My master left me alone for an extreme period of time without food and toys.  Really, we can throw a lot of the blame on him, right?  The couch showed resistance.  I had to show it who was in charge.  Signed Spots

Dear Spots,

I won’t even ask what the consequence of that challenge was with your master.  You should have taken a picture of his face when he saw it.  I’m sure it would have been pricesless.  Take it from me, blaming the master for something you did stupid just doesn’t fly. 

Dear Bacon,

It was like this.  I was looking in the closet as mom got dressed.  Clothes were hanging off of these weird looking things.  I’ve seen those before but just not up close.  I got in to investigate because you know that’s what I do, I’m a cat and I’m curious.  Next thing you knew, I was stuck.  It took a few minutes for me to call mom and this is how she found me.  After she got done laughing and taking pictures, she helped me out.  Have you ever done anything stupid?  Signed Curiosity

Dear Curiosity,

WOW!  That is a predicament to get jammed up in and get stuck.  I myself have been in tight places as well.  One time I went behind the couch where mom had put a pillow so I couldn’t get back there.  Well I jumped the pillow and would have been fine if it wasn’t for my darn pot bellied pig.  All you could see was my butt and hind legs up in the air moving.  Mom did the same.  She laughed, took pictures and then rescued me.  Thank goodness for moms, huh?

Dear Bacon,

I got caught.  It’s as simple as that.  You know when your parents put you to bed and you try to sneak back out to watch television or to get a snack.  Dad was around the corner and caught me with his camera.  Darn those cameras!  Have you ever gotten caught doing the same?  Signed Walking Tall

Dear Walking Tall,

Well, not for sneaking out to watch television.  I have my own television in my room.  But one night, I did sneak out into the kitchen after everyone had went to bed.  Mom thought someone had broken into the house.  I even got as far as getting into the freezer since ours is on the bottom of the big cold box.  Just my luck – everything was frozen.  She did catch me licking ice cubes in the middle of the floor.  How much fun was that!

Dear Bacon,

So much for you being the only ‘strange’ pet that someone has.  Our parents rehabilitate owls.  This is my family that was rescued from the woods.  You know our eyes glow in the dark.  How would you like to wake up to that in the middle of the night?  LOL – Signed The Who

Dear The Who,

WOW – Don’t your heads turn all the way around too?  Now that would be wicked fun!  I think it would be a hoot to be in the same house – LOL – drum roll – HA HA HA  Good luck on that rehabilitation my friends.

Dear Bacon,

Bet you never met hamsters like us before.  We are a circus act.  We use an apple so we thought that might get your attention.  My two bro’s hold the apple, I stand on it and then hula hoop.  Hey man, it’s a lot of talent.  You don’t think so?  Try it sometimes fat boy – oh that’s right you can’t because of that big belly.  Giggles… Signed Tres Amigos

Dear Tres Amigos,

No my friends I can’t hula hoop.  But, I can eat that apple and make you fall.  Snort – no seriously that does look like fun.  What circus are you in?  The flea circus?  Animals Gone Wild Circus?  LOL

 

MMMM – Thanks Nana!

Nana came and saw me Saturday.  She even brought me a gift.  I *knew* it was for me.  I was so happy to see her… and my gift.  Four pounds of happiness is in that container.  I love it when nana visits.

I was cute for her too.  I laid down at her feet and she rubbed my belly, back and my ears.  I love it when people rub my ears.  It’s one of those places that people forget about.  She asked mom if this was what I do.  Yep, I’m a pig.  I eat, sleep, use the bathroom and lay around.  It’s what I do. 

When nana left, I used my snout and pushed my animal crackers all over the house, up and down the hall.  I was trying to hide it in my room so I could get into it later on that night but mom caught me.  Darn it – I was that close too.

I bet you didn’t know I liked animal crackers, huh?  There’s not much I don’t like – LOL.  I usually get a few during my snack times throughout the day.  If you didn’t know it by now, you should.  My belly gives me away *every* time.  If you want me to do something, use food.  If you want to train me with something, use food.  Food is the highway to my belly.  I can’t help it.  This is how mommy has trained me to do a lot of things around the house. 

And do you know, I even caught mommy eating one of my animal crackers?!  It’s okay cause I don’t mind sharing with her.  She shares food with me all of the time. 

Do you like animal crackers?  Which animal do you like the most?  I love the ones that are shaped like elephants…. or maybe the giraffe or horse or lion or maybe its the zebra.  Okay – I like them all 🙂

Oh, and can you believe that when mom was younger, nana used to buy her some as well.  Of course, the packaging looked a little bit different.  Do you remember these –

THANKS NANA FOR MY ANIMAL CRACKERS –