Tortoise Cat blurs her head cleverly

Tortoise Cat: That MONSTER CRITTER "Racowlly Dog" -- I fear -- might trespass here again! I'm still scared, Chameleon. But the Big One is unconcerned!

Chameleon: That mysterious mid-night encounter happened in a dream, Tortoise Cat. You, the Big One, Raccoon, Owl, the Dog Next Door, and I were all dreaming up a storm together, within the energy clouds of a powerful thunder and lightning storm blowing over, along with an unsung host of giant to tiny nature-dreamers that live around here, though all our versions varied.

Tortoise Cat: But what happened on the back steps then, really?

Chameleon: Just the usual blur of everything, everywhere happening at once, Tortoise Cat.

Tortoise Cat: OK, I'll blur my head and shake the dread.

Tortoise Cat tiptoed through tulips

Tortoise Cat: The cat-grass is lusher than ever!

Chameleon: No one shows up to pull weeds anymore. That's why.

Tortoise Cat: The Big One said weeds are food. There's a long, long, long while of some big, big meals, and more for later, then, Chameleon.

Chameleon: For me, too, Tortoise Cat, this green hideout offers an ongoing feast, on the crawl (or on the fly).

Tortoise Cat: But the Big One said we'll be moving west near the end of this best-ever Cat-Grass Season. Why? Here's purrfect.

Chameleon: But the Big One hasn't learned to purr yet.

Tortoise Cat shows bright furs amid lush ferns

Tortoise Cat: I could elude the Big One by creeping deeper into the lush ferns, shrubs and hedges of this garden territory, Chameleon.

Chameleon: Tortoise Cat, I would tattle-tale your location, for your own good!

Tortoise Cat: But I would only disappear for a while...or two...or some...just for fun.

Chameleon: The Big One is too busy to wander around looking for you...while worrying.

Tortoise Cat: So, what does worrying mean, Chameleon?

Chameleon: It's like fright, without flight, happening and happening, again and again and again, before any scary happenings actually happen.

Tortoise Cat: EYOW! Beyond comprehension! I shall play on.

Tortoise Cat: Early cat-grass gnashing is a YUM-rush!

Tortoise Cat: Gnash...YUM...This is the best new cat-grass patch, Chameleon!

Chameleon: I must take your word for it, Tortoise Cat. Maybe, later in the season, we can discuss chomping and gulping fresh, plump, tasty bugs.

Tortoise Cat: In a while, there will be more and more cat-grass, but these early stalks blur and ruffle me through and through!

Chameleon: And I'm glowing greener as my tongue dreams of the first, juicy fly-ZAP!

Tortoise Cat helps arrange the outdoor rock garden

Tortoise Cat: Here I am on the rocks, showing the Big One where to put another tile where a pot of selected cat-grasses can grow, right on our territory.

Chameleon: Rock garden clean-up begins tomorrow!

Tortoise-Cat: EYOW...Chameleon...I might wander next door and visit Tiny Terrier after the Big One gets busy. Were you watching when I leaped into the yew-bush after a sparrow?

Chameleon: I saw the sparrow zoom-fly away, Tortoise Cat. So...I am gathering clean-up isn't your favorite activity.

Tortoise Cat: OK, Chameleon. I'll stretch out and supervise a while...until the Big One becomes preoccupied.

Tortoise Cat rearranges the indoor rock garden

Tortoise Cat: Chameleon, do you like the new rock and rug arrangement I convinced the Big One to make?

Chameleon: You, Tortoise Cat? You're taking credit?

Tortoise Cat: Well, I cat-nap dreamed the Big One unrolling the pretty green and purple rug I noticed humming at me, stashed away where I was hiding out a while some days ago. After retrieving the rug, the Big One also shifted some rocks and cushions at my direction.

Chameleon: Purple? The orange and green rug is what I'm staring at!

Tortoise Cat: You see it your way. I see -- and hear -- it my way.

Chameleon: So, Tortoise Cat, this rug was humming at you?

Tortoise Cat: Uh-hum...Humming as purple as flies swarming, Chameleon!

Tortoise Cat did not see her shadow!

Tortoise Cat: I braved the giant snow drifts to seek my frozen shadow!

Chameleon: Tortoise Cat, it's the Groundhog who seeks his shadow today.

Tortoise Cat: Well, two years ago, when I heard the Big One tell about Groundhog Day, I started searching for my shadow, too. Now I hope Cat-Grass season begins a while sooner this year, since I could catch NO glimpse of any shadows.

Chameleon: That might happen, Tortoise Cat, if there is anything to this tradition, because when Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his den during today's dawn, he didn't see his shadow either.

Tortoise Cat: While I was out I heard Tiniest Terrier bark "No shadows!" so that makes three who agree Cat-Grass Season probably will come early.

Chameleon: Tortoise Cat, your're telling tall tales!

Tortoise Cat: No, my tail is on the short end of the scale -- the Big One says.