Ice Cream and Reality TV

I have a family. A good family. A family that sometimes talks deep. Our usual discussions are held at the dinner table.

I know I'm the daughter of Andy Tenney when he states to the family that he wants to buy property and build his own cowboy town so he can be the marshall. I mean, I can't argue with that.

If any of you people watch The Biggest Loser, the weight loss reality show, you can probably relate to this. Here we are, at the dinner table. Jake, my brother, declares that he wants us to buy ice cream, like he always does at dinner time. 

Me: "Yeah, we can have ice cream while we're watching Biggest Loser!" 

Mom: "You know, this show is supposed to motivate people to lose weight." 

Dad suddenly joins in: "No, that show is for entertainment." 

Mom: "No, it actually helps people. It motivates them. But the sad thing is, like, seventy percent of Americans probably eat ice cream while watching The Biggest Loser." 

                      

                                                

               

                                                         You know it's true. 

Ice cream is an addiction. I get to have a mom who is also addicted, and that really helps. You know what I mean. 

Once again, here we were, in the frozen dairy section of the Post Falls Walmart, the "wonder store". Jake, my brother, had 

recently gotten a haircut before then and decided to take a picture of himself to send to his friends from 

his cell phone ~ right in front of the rows of the many ice cream flavors. He didn't mean for the picture to be taken in that particular area. 

He started getting texts back, and he grew eager to know what they thought of his new do. 

He started receiving answers like: "What kind did you get?"

That was a weird answer. Another text came in. It read: "OOH ice cream! What flavor did you get?" 

Jake wrote back with meaningful answers, such as: "What do you think of my haircut?!" 

By the way, Jake looked spiffy in his new hairstyle.




I must wrap this up, so rather than ending this post in the subject of hairstyles and ice cream and weight loss, let me just say this ~ Happy Thanksgiving. 

  

Fall and.... :)

Where has the time gone? What has happened to summer? All I can say is... YAY! It's fall. I'm so happy. It has been such a blessed time so far, especially this last weekend. You have probably heard it was my birthday a couple of days ago. Yep. I'm fourteen now. People sometimes ask... "How does it feel?" Well, to answer your question, it doesn't feel that different. I just feel that I can do more, I suppose. It's weird. I don't know how to explain it, but that is the only difference in feeling for me on my fourteenth birthday. I remember how excited I was just a weekend ago... planning to go to Riverstone with my crazy best friend Gabby... before I knew it a lot of changes occurred. Riverstone. Coldstone. Aeropostale. Zumiez. Real Steel. All. Gone. Seriously. My mom told me I couldn't go shopping if I were to see a movie. Problem #1. I have to admit, I felt disappointed. Real Steel looked like an amazing movie, don't you all agree? I asked if we could go to the Valley Mall instead. Mom said no, because it would close just a couple of hours right after the athletic Gabby finished volleyball practice. Problem #2. Oh well. Mom finally told me we could hit the Silver Lake Mall in CDA. Oh great. I was thankful we could go somewhere though, even if we did hit a speed bump after finding out that it didn't have an Orange Julius. We still had a great time, and I was able to get a couple pairs of earrings. Family came over on my birthday, and I was able to show them the "sunset", my beautiful and fantastic new guitar. The acoustic had a sunset color of wood, which makes its victims' jaws drop in awe. I have to say, it's the best guitar ever. It suits me, and my voice. So far, it has indeed been a wonderful fall.

Callie's Cases: Mystery of the Blue Stone

Callie, her mind black and pensive, paced around the room of her treehouse. The sun began to set, casting long shadows through her small window making it look like a ghost was entering. She heard Joy yawn from the one other room. 

“Thinking?” 

Callie didn’t answer at first.

“Cal?” Joy tried to sound impatient, but a purr rumbled in her throat.

Callie vigorously shook her head. “I’m sorry. Yes, I am.”

“Is it about an investigation?” Joy asked as she started to tidy up the room, dusting the window with her pads and flinching at the smell of her paw. 

“No. Just for something to do is all.” 

“That’s it? Why don’t you go see some friends. Go to the towns. I think you just need to get out a little more. I mean look at you!” She pointed her nose to Callie’s clumped fur that hadn’t been groomed for some time. Callie snorted. 

“Well, you don’t look to delightful either.” Although her sister did, she tried to sound disgusted. Joy purred with amusement. “Yeah, right. Don’t you give me any of your bad comebacks, girl. Why don’t you help me clean up?” Callie kneaded the ground. “Uh, I’m gonna go out. See you at supper.” She ran outside without hesitation. She’d rather jump in the river then clean up with her bossy sister. Every time she did Joy would point out the spots she missed, and if she stayed, she would correct her all night long. She crossed the bridge into the towns and looked around for anything out of the ordinary. It ALWAYS happened when she occasionally visited civilization. It was very quiet... too quiet as she set foot on the cold stone of the street. Although the silence made the tip of Callie’s tail quiver, she felt quite serene at the same time. She was always on the case, and she never really took a nice quiet stroll by herself. The twilight sky was lightened with clouds, and when Callie looked up snow flakes made her nose freeze. She ignored the freezing weather, her pads crackling every time she set foot on the icy road. The snow looked magical, dancing around her feet as she started to jog at a reasonable pace, not a bit disturbed, but feeling very free as she started to canter, her fur fluffed up with winter covering. Only to almost trample one of her closest but most annoying friends, Juliet. 

“Look where you’re going!” Callie blurted, hiding her embarrassment. 

“Me? Ugh, enough of that. I have something to tell you!” She looked like she was going to rip her fur off. Callie sighed. “What is it?” She kneaded the ground as she started the story. “Today when I was going to the coffee shop, I saw somebody holding something blue. It looked magical, like a stone.” Callie nodded. “Go on.” Juliet nodded back, taking a big gulp. “Okay. Well, she was going to trade it for something at the store, apparently. I turned away knowing obviously there’s no way I’d be able to put my paws on something that valuable. Until...” Callie leaned forward. “Yes...?” Juliet swallowed again. “I heard a screech. I looked back, and the dog with the stone was on the ground, with a hole in his back. Callie, you MUST find out what happened.” She was breathing hard and unsteady. Callie sat down, her tail covering her front paws. Her whiskers quivered as she peered down in thought. “Well. Apparently someone sneaked behind her. It must not have been the stone.” 

Juliet tipped her head to the side. “Uh, yeah I’m pretty sure it was the stone!” 

Callie blinked at her. “That doesn’t make any sense. Honestly, Juliet, do you think I’m crazy?” 

“So you’re calling ME crazy?” Callie didn’t answer but stood up after a moment of thought. “I will start my investigation in the morning. Murderer’s have to sleep sometime.” Juliet looked uncertain. Callie breathed a heavy and tiresome sigh. “Look, I’m cold, tired, late for supper, with an impatient sister waiting for me. I must go home. I will speak with you and the authorities in the morning.” Without waiting for a reply, Callie turned tail and fled toward home, but slowed as she crossed the bridge. She had to slow down, the chill of the nighttime breeze was almost unbearable. Finally, what seemed like hours, she arrived home. She dug her claws in the bark and started to claw her way up into her house, eager to get inside, but frightened by the thought of the possible greeting her sister would throw at her. She pushed her way through the thick cloth covering the entrance to the house, and found two bowls on the table, but one of them was empty. She didn’t care. All she thought of was lapping warm soup, and resting her pads on warm ground. She heard Joy’s pawsteps as she stood beside Callie, looking at her expectantly. 

“I got carried away,” Callie muttered.

“Where were you? I thought you’d been kidnapped!” 

“You’ve got to be joking.” 

“Well?”

“I was in the towns!” Callie was bothered by Joy breathing down her neck as she licked her warm soup, feeling like a tongue warmer. Joy backed away and walked through the cloth that separated the kitchen and the living room. They both slept in the living room, even if there wasn’t much room. Callie looked forward to slinking down in her nest, comforted by the warmth of fleece. 

The sun beamed down on Callie’s face as she opened her eyes, exiting the world of her dreams. She yawned and extended her claws in a long tiresome stretch. Time for crimes, she thought wearily, but excitedly at the same time. She set off for the towns, hoping to find Juliet right where she found her. And there she was, right at the other side of the bridge. “There you are!” Juliet exclaimed, suppressing a sigh. “Here I am,” Callie replied casually. “This way.” Juliet directed her to the police station. Melissa, a golden german shepherd and head of the force, walked outside. “C’mon in,” she welcomed them with a southern accent. Callie nodded her thanks and ran inside. The blue stone no where in site. “So... where is it?” Callie questioned. Melissa motioned with her tail to follow her. She lead her to a giant silver vault. Callie was surprised. Surely it wasn’t THAT dangerous? Melissa unlocked the vault with a paw scanner and heaved the giant door open. Callie stared at the mysterious blue gem, it’s beauty reflecting into her eyes. “Wow. Okay, take it out for me would ya’?” She asked Melissa. The cop just shifted her paws and stared at the ground. Callie rolled her eyes. “I have to do everything myself.” She walked in cautiously. “Keep a lookout from behind me.” She didn’t want to take any chances. They nodded and looked back. Callie rolled the stone out, it looked so valuable she thought she would break it just by touching it. She examined it thoroughly, then sniffed. “I don’t understand. How many people have died owning this?” Juliet shrugged. Melissa answered, “Too many.” Melissa’s reply made Callie’s fur bristle. There were too many paw prints to tell who REALLY owned it, and who was the mysterious murderer. She had a different idea. “Come outside with me. And take the stone.” Melissa and Juliet exchanged nervous glances. “Oh you’re all just a bunch of prancies!” Callie hissed. That comment made them bring the precious stone right away. 

As they stepped outside, Callie started making orders. “Juliet, take the stone and walk around. Or try to sell it to someone. Melissa, arm yourself with a couple of your guns. You’re gonna need it.” Callie thought that Juliet was going to shake her pelt clean off her skin. “What are you thinking? Do you want me killed?!” Juliet yowled at Callie’s face. “It’s the only way to see WHO the person is!!” 

“But he’ll see you and know something’s up!” 

Callie slapped her paw to her forehead. “Maybe, JUST maybe, Melissa and I will HIDE!! Gosh, do people know anything...” 

“Okay,” Juliet started. “But he’ll still scent you.” 

“We will cover our scent with foliage.” 

Juliet started to speak, but found no more excuses. Nobody could outsmart Callie, and she knew that. Everybody did. She finally sighed. “All right. You win.” Her tail drooped as she rolled the stone away, following it and glancing around, her pupils wide as the moon. Melissa arrived, a gun attached to her K-9 Unit collar. 

Callie tried to keep her eyes open. It was nearly dark, the sun had set and made Callie’s eyes droop. “It’s not working!” Juliet finally exclaimed. “Hm...” Callie sat in her usual thinking position, her tail over her front paws. Finally a rustle in the distance made Callie freeze solid. “Hide!” she whispered to Melissa and they lightly ran under a bush. Callie rubbed dirt on Melissa’s fur while Melissa did the same to Callie. Callie peered through the brush. She felt sympathy for poor Juliet. She knows what it’s like to be that frightened. Finally she heard pawsteps coming closer.... wait, not pawsteps, but something else. It didn’t sound like a step at a time. It sounded like something was being dragged. Callie squinted her eyes for a better look. It wasn’t a cat, or a dog, or a horse or any animal she thought it would be. A jet black snake slithered toward Juliet, it’s tongue lolling. Callie didn’t dare breathe. She was afraid her heartbeat would give them away. Finally, at the right moment, she yowled and leaped from the lilac bush and extended her claws. She landed flat on the snake, it hissing with rage and slithering under her grip, she impaled her claws in its head first. No venom was going to kill anymore. She finally felt the snake’s body go limp under her paws. Callie yowled with triumph. She had solved this twisted mystery. But deep sorrow and smoldering rage swelled up in her heart for the animals who had perished unexpectedly. She wished it had been sooner that this snake be dead, and that she had been informed sooner. Callie stood up from her crouch and puffed out her chest fur. “Case dismissed.”  

My new short stories~ Callie's Cases: Case of the Mystery Murderer

Callie’s cases: the case of the mystery murderer

Sunny as it was, Callie felt nothing to do. She had been in her little tree house pacing back and forth, feeling she must do something but could not put her paw on it. It had been weeks since her last investigation, and she felt she didn’t have time to sit around, wishing for trouble on a silver platter. She decided to go out. Her ears tingled as the sun beamed down on her as she walked outside, refreshed by the forest surrounding her private area. She arched her back in a long stretch, diagnosed with morning weariness. The birds chirped with demand, as if waiting for her to pounce for her breakfast. She rolled her eyes with irritation. Idiots. She leaped from her tree house to a branch on a tree nearest her, her heart lurched as she swayed for a heartbeat, then stood still. She was starving, and as if reading her thoughts, a gray squirrel nibbled on the branch nearest hers, and her mouth watered. She wiggled her hindquarters, and leaped, making the squirrel jump off the tree with fear. Callie scrambled down the tree as fast as she could, she would not let this squirrel go. Her mind whirled with hunger as she pursued the fleeing creature. Finally she leaped with a yowl of triumph, and with luck she felt something go limp under her paws. She heard pawsteps sound from the entrance to her treehouse. 

“Did you get something to eat?” 

Callie looked up to see her sister, Joy. She licked her calico colored pelt and answered, “Right here! Want me to bring it up?” Joy shook her head. 

“Nah. I haven’t eaten on the forest floor in ages. Plus, I’m hungry enough to eat anywhere, or any THING!” She sprang and hit the ground gracefully, her silver tabby coat shining in the sunshine. Callie admired Joy, even if they did argue a lot. Callie gulped up her share in one bite, and squirrel was pretty much just a morsel a cat. Joy’s voice broke her thoughts. “So, do you want to go to the towns today? Go shopping?” Callie sighed. 

“Well....” 

Joy stomped her delicate paw. “You never want to go out and have fun! What is it? What do YOU wanna do? I suppose fight crimes, solve mysteries, that IS all you ever do!” 

“Not anymore!” Callie yowled. She glared at Joy. “Maybe it’s because that’s what I do BEST. Do NOT mock what I was born to do.” Joy lashed her tail and began to eat again. Callie continued. “Besides. There’s nothing TO do in the towns.” 

Joy looked up from her morsel. “We could go to that tea shop everyone’s buzzing about?” 

Callie snorted. “Tea parties are for sissies.” 

Joy sighed. “Ok, how about..... we could go visit Juliet. At the gym? Surely she must be training this time of morning.” 

Callie shrugged. “Sure.” As she waited for her slow sister to finish possibly the smallest meal she’d ever had, she looked around her, shivering at the thought that something could just jump out at her any minute. It was too quiet. “Would you hurry up!!” she meowed quickly. Joy had finished. “I’m done! Gosh...” She lashed her tail again, and bit Callie’s ear. Callie fought the urge to pounce on her sister like a kitten. She raised a paw to slap Joy, but a shriek broke her thoughts. They exchanged nervous glances and raced off through the trees. As they crossed the bridge separating the forest and the towns they couldn’t see clearly what all the fretting was about. All she saw was Juliet, a blue gray she-cat, racing over to a limp wolf pup in a puddle of blood, and there was an orange tom standing above the pup, staring in agony. “What did you do?!” Juliet scolded him. “It-it wasn’t me! See there was–” “Get out of here!!” She unsheathed her claws and her fur bristled along her spine. Tiger, the orange cat, raced off, not looking back and leaving a trail of blood from his pads. Callie raced over, and looked behind her, and noticed Joy was missing. She bristled, annoyance cracking her bones. She ignored it and bounded over to the crime scene. Juliet looked up, her eyes frightening Callie. “I cannot believe it,” she whispered, watching Shasta, the wolf pup, being carried off on a stretcher. One of the horse nurses cantered up to them. 

“Well?!” Callie demanded.

Zoey, the nurse, shifted her hoofs, her tone cold. “She’s dying.” 

Juliet stood shocked, then anger pulsed in her veins. “I’ll be back.” She ran to the direction of Tiger. Callie sat, her tail resting on her front paws. Would if it wasn’t Tiger... She thought for a long time over, and stood up. “Of course it was. Who else?” But something seemed to keep her paws on the ground like stone. A voice broke her thoughts. It was Juliet. She had returned. “He keeps saying he didn’t do it! But how can I believe him?? Although he sounded pretty convincing, I’m not gonna believe him! He can rot in–” 

“Go get him,” Callie interrupted, staring at the puddle of blood.

“Why?”

Callie’s paws itched with impatience. “Just do it!”  

Juliet ran off, and what seemed like a day later, she was back, and to her relief Tiger was with her. Callie paced around the scene, thoughts sparking in her mind. “Tiger, so you think it wasn’t you?” She questioned him sternly. Tiger shook his head vigorously. “No! I swear! Cross my heart–” “And hope to die?” Callie asked him. He nodded. She flicked her tail for him to come to her. “Dip your paw in the blood.” He opened his mouth to protest, but her menacing glare shut him up. He gagged as he dipped his shaking paw in the blood and stood motionless. “Now what?” Callie rolled her eyes. “Put your paw on the ground. You know, make a print!” He glanced at her with question, but thought better of it. He stamped his pads on the ground and lifted it to see a red paw print. Callie glimpsed at his paw print, and then the ones of the murderer. “It’s hard to tell. I need a microscope.” She growled at the silence. “Get me a microscope!” She yowled impatiently. Tiger set off, and a moment later came back with one in his jaws. He set it over the paw prints for Callie to take a look. Callie took good long glance, and lifted her head. “It’s not him..” she whispered and looked up at Juliet. Juliet shook her head. “But that doesn’t make any sense! How–” Callie thrust her head in front of Juliet’s. “Just because Tiger was there doesn’t mean he did it, you idiot! He was probably trying to help!” Before Juliet could answer Callie thrust her head back at the blood and the marks. It was smeared. “What about Sylvia?” Callie shook her head. Sylvia was her aunt. She trusted her with her soul. “What about.... Joy?” Juliet suggested. Callie shook her head. “Not possible.” “You should check Joy! Even if she IS your sister, remember your motto!” Callie sighed. “You can’t trust anyone during a crime...” she whispered half to herself. “Alright,” she finally mewed aloud. 

“It wasn’t me!!” Joy yowled with frustration. “Just dip your paw!! I’m not a babysitter!!!” Callie yowled back even louder. Joy hesitantly dipped her paw, and felt blood ooze in between her pads. She stamped it to the ground. Callie looked through the microscope, and once again shook her head. “Not her either. I’m gonna have to solve this case the old fashioned way.” She padded over to the blood, and investigated all the prints. “See this?” she showed everyone Tiger’s foot prints. “He WAS trying to help. And it wasn’t Joy cause she was with me all that morning. It looks like the murderer’s paw prints lead somewhere.” She followed the blood prints as far as she could, and stopped dead. “This is where it ends..” She still scented it. It smelled familiar. She couldn’t put her paw on who it was though. Frustration melted in her fur and made her tail quiver. She finally swept all the dust off of that one spot, where the scent lingered there most off all. She felt something, and when she pressed her paw on it, the floor began to crack... no, the platform, began to crack. Callie stepped back quickly. It opened to a hole, well, not a hole, and tunnel. Callie walked carefully through it, and a scent so strong made her choke. She walked even farther, she had to stop this murderer. As she entered a cave she noticed corpses and skeletons of innocent animals scattered everywhere, and this was the only cave she knew of that was not a pretty sight. The scent was clear now. She knew who it was. “What are you doing here!?” A voice almost made her faint. Callie turned around, growling with hatred. “Sylvia, you TRAITOR!!” She yowled and leaped on to her, claws unsheathed and held her paws across her back so she could not move. “What is it??” She heard the voice of Juliet above the cave. “Call the police!!” Callie yowled. “You are going to be next...” Sylvia whispered to her niece in a deathly voice. Before she could leap out of Callie’s grip she found a piece of boulder that shattered from her entrance and threw it at Sylvia’s head, and finally she went limp in a coma. The K-9 unit arrived. One of the german shepherds grabbed her scruff and another held the cage for him. They locked her up and sent her away. 

“So... what exactly happened?” Joy asked Callie as they were once again at the blood area. Juliet looked eager too. “By the looks of the smears, it looks like it was a surprise attack... Sylvia jumped onto Shasta unexpectedly and bit a wound into her, and it looks like they were rolling about in a attack frenzy. Tiger came over quickly and tried to separate them, causing the blood to smear even more. When Shasta died, it looks like Sylvia retreated back to her base triumphantly. She’s a serial killer. But nobody’s paying her... she’s been hiding this all along, and that’s why she travels all the time, to get more victims to stow away at night in that secret tunnel.” Callie stood up, before she walked away she meowed what she always did after she solved a mystery. “Case dismissed.”  

Just let me know what you think, if I should publish it or not! thanks!

Christmas Fever

Hey, is anybody else in the holiday, Christmas shopping, candy cane and peppermint mode? I sure am. Ever since we started decorating our home and putting up our Christmas tree. Decorating stockings, watching the snow fall, drinking hot cocoa and lattes, the works. My favorite time of the year. I've been listening to Christmas music and practicing God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen and Silent Night on my guitar. I'm telling ya', this Christmas fever is cracking me like an egg. I love it! The only thing I don't like.... is the deadly cold. Especially when your cleaning out stables at a ranch with NO gloves while carrying a heavy bucket filled with manure, and coat with just a t-shirt underneath it, and sitting on a saddle trying to get warm and can't feel your fingers holding the reins. But, there are three words that relate to that description: I-AM-STRONG. Here is a tour to what we have been doing this last week:

Our Christmas tree before:

Our Christmas tree after! :

I also bought some stockings for my darling animals cause I need SOMETHING to keep their gifts in. I've always just handed their gifts to em, but not anymore. Here are they are..... (Please note: I did the glitter writing myself)

This one belongs to Kikyo (my rabbit)

                                                      This one belongs to Callie (my calico cat)

                                And last but not least, Joy's stocking. (my silver tabby cat)

Aren't they adorable? And such a good price incase you're having second thoughts for your pets and their Christmas. What are some of the things you guys did to decorate? I'd like to know. Just sayin'...... hope you have a great Christmas!

Horse lessons- Minuet

Hey fellow bloggers and blog-followers! It's been nice to get back on Blogger, I like to write and I miss doing a weekly blog. Anyways a lot has changed this last summer, and I'm in a new sport– horseback riding. Yep, my wonderful teacher's name is Elli, and the horse I ride is named Minuet. We call her Minnie for short, she is the best horse. It's pretty easy taking care of a horse, but it's hard in some ways. As in I'm a western rider, and I have to put the saddle on the horse. A western saddle. Do you know how much they weigh?? Thirty-five pounds, mine does. I thought I'd never see the day I would have to lift weights daily, but I like doing it cause I probably look cool and fit doing it. You know how that is...

So yeah horse riding is a ton of fun, I especially like to canter. It's like a circle of motion, I really like it. I finally was able to do a 2-point walk and trot, and it's way easier than I expected it. Here are some wonderful photos taken by my mother:

Isn't she a beauty? She is very fun to ride, even if she does sometimes stop dead with ignorance, or ALWAYS reaching down to eat. (Her nickname is "Minnie Munchy") Other whys she is very good, and obedient. She's my favorite, someday I hope to have my very own horse just like her.

Harvest Party– at horse lessons

Hey blogger people, I have to say, I have not been on this website for quite sometime. Since then a lot has changed– from people having babies to my 13th birthday in about 2 weeks. Is anybody excited for Halloween? Cause I am. Candy, costumes, suckish, lame games..... oh good times. In horse lessons, well, first of all, I became part of a horse club thingy called Riders for Christ, and we're having a harvest party for it tomorrow, which will be Saturday. Your supposed to dress up, and your horse too, which sounds all fun and cute, doesn't it? But first of all I must warn my fellow riders, do not be a princess. We ALL know, that you must wear this pretty long dress when you are a pretty princess, but not this time. No. The thing is, we're having an obstacle coarse in my riding teacher's property, and you could get all tangled up with your "princess dress" and get stuck in the stirrups and all that junk. I REALLY don't approve of being a snake either, if you know what I'm saying....

          So yeah, I'm excited to ride my riding lesson horse Minuet through this obstacle coarse, but I just hope I know where I'm going. At my last lesson I didn't really want to go through the obstacle, just cause I didn't feel like it. Maybe I should have though. Just to get the feel of it, you know? But no. The Abby Moment #1. So yeah, I'm still excited though, sounds like a good time to remember. So.... what are you all going to be for Halloween? I like to gather up info. I'm going to be Yuffie, the ninja girl from Final Fantasy, like with those really long converse shoes that go up to the knee and the cool four blade boomerang, oh, and the head band. Oh yeah. Groovy.

      But anyways I will write another blog tomorrow night telling how the harvest party went. I will have my mom take some pix also and I will post them. Have a great Friday night/Saturday! :D