Katy Didn’t

Susan Coolidge wrote the series of books beginning with “What Katy Did”. I read them as a kid. The part I most remember is the very start where the author overhears two insects arguing back and forth about “Katy did” and “Katy didn’t”. I picked up the books to read again. That is one of the great things about second-hand bookstores, you can always find old/ classic books.

Out of curiousity I looked up Susan Coolidge to see what kind of quotes she is known for. There was a very meager selection and most were too whimsical to really stand the test of time I felt. But, one thing she does have going for her is did and didn’t. At the end of the second book, “What Katy Did at School”, she writes:

“How much room for ‘Didn’ts’ there is in the world, I thought. What an important part they play! And how glad I am that, with all their own and other people’s doings, so many of these very ‘didn’ts’ were included among the things which my Katy did at School!”

All Your Coffee and More!

You inherit a coffee plantation in Argentina. It’s great! You can finally have all the coffee you can drink. The coffee is good too.

Also, the employees are pretty… nice to watch. All men, all young men… all shirtless young men with the muscles and good looks to make you glad you have good eyesight. But, the binoculars were a good idea too.

One thing… the men never seem to get paid for their work. Maybe it’s some kind of barter thing. You leave it, figuring you will find out when the dust settles on taking over the business. There are so many other things to do meanwhile. Moving to Argentina is an adventure in itself.

When the dust settles and you discover your Aunt Maudine was one busy lady! The men are not employees – she owns them all!!! They come with the plantation. Of course, it’s not official, keeping slaves isn’t quite legal after all. Still, all those nice young men belong to the coffee plantation which belongs to you.

It is expected that you make use of the men… any way and for as long as you like. Do you stick to coffee or do you find a few more things a man might be good for around the place? There were some loose boards in the front steps and there are a LOT Of insects to squish, after all, as long as they are here they might as well be busy doing something… right?

All Your Coffee and More!

You inherit a coffee plantation in Argentina. It’s great! You can finally have all the coffee you can drink. The coffee is good too.

Creepy Creatures of the Floor

If you’ve been good and doing your Spring Cleaning this year chances are you have come across a few of the fun things like dust bunnies, deceased and non-deceased insects and cobwebs. You may have lucked out and found something even more fun which I haven’t thought of or just didn’t notice (I’m only just getting started on the Spring Cleaning thing).

Draw the grossest, ickiest bug (insect) you have seen or can imagine. If you have kids think of them and draw something truly horrifying, you know how much they love the gross stuff.

No one has to be great at drawing for this. Anyone who can pick up a pen can draw something bug-like. (If I can do it, you can do it).

Creepy Creatures of the Floor

Draw the grossest, ickiest bug (insect) you have seen or can imagine. If you have kids think of them and draw something truly horrifying, you know how much they love the gross stuff.

No one has to be great at drawing for this. Anyone who can pick up a pen can draw something bug-like. (If I can do it, you can do it).

Tired of Flying Rats? (Aka Pigeons)

Have a look at these pigeon spikes. Fairly nasty, even I think impaling them could be a little extreme. However, not so long ago they used to be an ingrediant. So this is the lazy person’s way to hunt for pigeons. I bet you could be cooking up pot luck for the whole neighbourhood in some city areas. Feed the homeless potluck pigeon pie!

Although, I think people who live downtown sometimes get confused. There are so few wild animals down there, other than rats, pigeons, insects and the odd raccoon that they consider pigeons to be a real bird. They even feed them, on purpose. It’s really too bad and someone should suggest that they get out more. Out of the city that is. There are real wild animals still left. You don’t have to settle for flying rats who poop all over everything and everyone. City people… there are real birds just a little north of you (everything is north of the cities here in Canada).

I don’t know why these people want to hunt crows. I actually like them. They keep to themselves and clean up roadkill.