Catskills and Cousins

Andes, Delaware County, NY
August 11, 2008



Cousin Alexander and I discovered three dogs: one called Cisco, one called Luna, and... I forgot the other one's name - it was midnight black. They were really nice. Luna was especially nice. Cisco looks like part wolf. He's bristle-y. Luna is a golden Labrador. We think she might be a mother. She keeps going under the porch so she can have some alone time.

Cisco is sitting on my foot right now.

When we first got here we didn't know which house was ours. Our cousins weren't here yet. Then they arrived. Alexander gave me handcuffs. Now I'll have three pairs.

Cisco's greasy. I bet from Cisco's point of view, he's getting so much attention. Good Cisco, good boy. Cisco looks like a wolf right now - he's worried about something and he's pricking up his ears. He's following something...charge!

A pheasant-like bird suddenly flutters, flushed from out of the underbrush.

Hear how hard my heart is pumping!

One day we decided to walk to the reservoir. We walked through a dark tunnel. I lost one of my toys I got in a cereal box. It's in the water somewhere.



After we came out of the tunnel, we followed the creek for a long time. At the end of the creek, we came to the reservoir. We kind of got scared of some bears, but nothing came of that.

We're not allowed to swim in the reservoir, but my dad and cousin did. It was bending the rules. We traveled a bit around the reservoir and found an old road. Then we came out on civilized ground. Daddy started kissing the concrete. We were worried about never getting out of the forest. At least I was. The others thought we would get out in a moment. They were not quite right. It took three moments.

Cisco is sitting on my foot again. I've noticed that Cisco has green gums.

August 12

We went to town for Andes Day and had a great time. I got a rock candy and Mommy got a bracelet. We was a lot of things, really cool things. A kitten sitting on a shelf. It was alive, but it looked fake. Alexander claimed that the kitten was his friend. There was a pet and baby contest, but Cousin Larry Ann didn't want Twinkle to be in it because she didn't have her special clothes. Twinkle is a miniature poodle, blind and deaf, but still fashion-conscious.
Alexander objected and said, "But she does have her weird hair-do."