Gus and Trudy Meet a Turtle

Gus and Trudy met a new neighbor today. Old Gnome had moved into the oak tree hollow in the front yard. What was the most exciting part was that Old Gnome had a Turtle move in with him.

"I'm so old now," Old Gnome grumbled" I don't want to move too fast or fly through the air or run fast on a rabbit. I just want to take my time, go slow, and smell the roses."

Gus and Trudy helped Old Gnome off of Turtle.

"Hello! My name is Gus and this is my dear friend Trudy. We live in the gnome home in the orderly garden."

Turtle blinked very slowly and said," My.......name....is....Old Turtle....Pleased...to ...meet..you....."

Gus and Trudy thought there could be more coming from Old Turtle so they hesitated.

Old Turtle drew a big breath and let out a sigh. "Old.....Gnome....it....is....time.....for....our...nap....."

Old Gnome patted Old Turtle's back and chuckled. "Yes my old friend it is time for our after-breakfast-but-before-lunch-nap."

Old Gnome waved to Gus and Trudy and helped Old Turtle into the hollow of the oak tree in the front yard.

Gus and Trudy and the Dog Days of Summer

Trudy had spent the morning watching Elane in the garden. She heard Elaine mumbling and complaining about the groundhog who continued to snack on her vegetables. She heard Elaine making plans to make her garden :groundhog proof" for next summer. Then she saw Elaine sit down, take a big gulp from her water bottle, and say,"These really are the dog days of summer."

That got Trudy to thinking. Were dogs going to start coming over to the garden? Did these days belong only to the dogs? Would it rain dogs without the cats? What was it about these days that made it the dog days of summer?

She headed into the little house that she shared with Gus. She asked Gus about the dog days of summer. He shrugged and then started to get worried too. he certainly did not want dogs to spend all the days in his garden. he wanted these days to belong to everyone. This was going to be a problem.

Do YOU know what the dog days of summer are? Maybe you could leave a note for Gus and Trudy and let them know!