Mr. Muddle's Befuddled Universe

Kinglet testlet

Tickle:

Mrs. Muddle and I went for a walk on Saturday, and discovered a small flock of ruby-crowned kinglets. Ruby-crowned kinglets are tiny (4 1/2") and plump birds that flit about in an apparent erratic fashion as they pursue flying insects.

There are two kinglets in the photo to the left. Can you find them? (Click on the photo to view a larger image.)

The two kinglets in the photo are shown below. They both have a bug in their beak. (Click on the photo to view a larger image.)

   

Cold Case #1: Thomas Wilburn

Rampaging Rumors Rage: Was Thomas Wilburn a Phony Boy?

Paola, Kansas. Investigations by the Miami County Spirit have determined  that the 1931 championship Bucyrus High School basketball team (pictured above) did not include a team member named Thomas Wilburn. Sources have revealed that ``Thomas Wilburn" is an alias frequently used by Dudley Muddle. Muddle, now deceased, was born near Roosevelt, OK at home on the family farm. His mother died shortly after giving birth to Muddle, and Muddle was brought to Kansas by his Aunt Susan, his mother's sister. Muddle was raised by his Aunt Susan and Uncle Emmett on a farm in Miami, County. Muddle's father also died. In his case, it was from a farming accident a few months after Muddle's birth.

Muddle didn't show much aptitude for farming, but he excelled at school.

In the picture to the left, notice that Muddle is standing directly behind the principal, and he has his hands on the Principal's shoulders. Clearly Muddle was the principal pet at Bucyrus High.

Muddle's skill as a basketball player has never been substantiated by a third party, and remains suspect.

No recent photos of Muddle are available. Below is a photo of Muddle taken in 1935, when he was married.

Muddle's former occupation is unknown. It is known that the best man at his wedding, has been called ``Uncle Rob"—clearly an alias, also, he has a daughter-in-law who apparently does not have a first name, and a granddaughter called ``unidentified daughter." It is quite possible Muddle was involved in some sort of espionage, and his family continues in the trade.

The Miami County Spirit will keep you posted on any new developments in this matter.

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Note: I wrote the above bit of fiction, because some readers seem to be interested in determining Thomas Wilburn's identity. Let me state, for their benefit, that ``Thomas Wilburn" is a first and middle name. I have omitted the last name. Remember I mentioned that the Muddle family is shy.

Also, while I'm at this, Mrs. Muddle and I would like to say ``Hi" to Bob S., and to Diane's beautiful daughter, Jessica (if I recall correctly). When we were in Kansas a few years back we regret that we missed Katie, Darrell, Ron, Diane, their kids and spouses (or SOs); not to forget the other S. brothers/spouses, sons, daughters, cousins, out-laws, etc and so forth. I hope there's another time, while some of us still have breath to breathe.

PS— My brother still talks about Floyd's pancakes, but as far as I'm concerned nothing can hold a candle to Bob's hand-cranked ice cream.

It followed me home

Mother can I keep it?

Mrs. Muddle and I took a hike at Quicksilver Park. You can see a picture of Mrs. Muddle at one of  the pathways below.

I'm not sure what happened with that photo of Mrs. Muddle. I guess my aim was off a bit, and I ``cut" her head off, so to speak.

On our way back down the mountain trail, we ran into this fine fellow pictured below.

I asked Mrs. Muddle if she'd didn't think this little guy would make a good pet. She replied, ``Not if you want to live." I then asked the little guy if he'd like to come home with us, but he was a little lost for words. Mrs. Muddle told me to leave the little lizard-guy alone, and so we continued on our way.

The next morning, when I got up to get my Shredded Wheat, I saw the strangest thing. The little lizard-guy must have followed us home, and somehow got himself stuck in between the screen and the glass in the kitchen window. Take a look at the picture below.

I don't how the little guy got himself all the way from Quicksilver Park to our house, let alone wedge himself between the screen and the window like he did.

I rounded up the whole family to look at the little lizard-guy. They all concluded he had to be a different little lizard-guy than the one Mrs. Muddle and I had met at Quicksilver Park the day before, but you and I know better. We know this little lizard-guy took a shine to us, and followed us home.

Later Mrs. Muddle and I went out on the porch, and after a thorough look-see, we concluded that it wasn't humanly possible for anyone to slither in between the screen and the window. After waiting several hours, we concluded it wasn't lizardly possible to escape either, so I went outside, and took the screen off, so the little lizard-guy would be free to romp around the yard. As far as I know, he's still romping.

Kerrville Folk Festival: I'm a Newbie

May 26 — June 12
Quiet Valley Ranch
Kerrville, Texas:

What vacations Mrs. Muddle and I take usually involve either some family event (weddings/funerals), or extra days tacked on at the end of business trips. Most of these excursions are quite pleasant, but they never quite seem like true vacations.

This year I wanted to do something different. I've often thought a folk festival might be fun. I've heard that the Kerrville Folk Festival in Kerrville, Texas has the reputation of being one of the best. Kerrville also has the advantage of being near San Antonio where a dear family friend lives. Kerrville is also near Austin. One of Mrs. Muddle's nephews has recently moved to Austin, and we could visit him and his new bride, while we were in Texas.

So going to the Kerrville Folk Festival seemed like a fun and practical thing to do. Mrs. Muddle could see friends and family, and I could enjoy some exceptional folk music.

The acts at the Kerrville festival I hope to see include Eliza Gilkyson, Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion, Freebo, The Greencards, and Small Potatoes.

If you have attended the Kerrville festival, I'd love to hear from you. You could tell about your experiences, or give me some pointers on where to stay and eat, etc.

I enjoy email from readers. Recently a reader encouraged me to attend the Jesse Winchester concert being held locally on 7 April 2005. Mainly due to the encouragement, I went ahead I purchased a ticket. (If you noticed the singular in ``ticket" stay tuned. There will be more on that in a later posting.)  Another reader has given me an idea for a posting. I've started working on that posting, and it could show up any day now. 

So, as Dean Martin used to say, ``Keep those cards and letters coming."