Postcards From Lizzie: Meet the Cousins

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Meet the Cousins

Okay, so when I said I would post the Alabama postcards, “tomorrow,” I guess I really meant, “midnight on Saturday while waiting for my brother-in-law to finish mowing the lawn.” *

Many apologies to Lizzie fans everywhere! In the meantime, Lizzie has been doing quite a bit of traveling. In order, the kids received a postcard from Connecticut, a postcard from Alabama, a letter from Alabama, a postcard from Texas, a postcard from South Padre Island (which, of course, is also Texas), another postcard from Richmond and a letter from here in town. So, starting with Lizzie's Alabama adventures:

On Monday, we received this postcard with the following message:

Dear Farmhands,

Just look at this big water bowl!! It's not too easy to drink from but some usually spills over the sides.

I'm going to find the big kitties everyone here talks about. Wish me luck.

Love, Lizzie

After reading this postcard, the kids and I got on the internet and discovered that the University of Northern Alabama are the Lions. We even found a picture of their mascots, Leo and Una. We wondered (my nephew especially) if the lions were friendly and would be happy to visit with Lizzie.

Leo and Una - UNA Mascots

My nephew: They're really very big guys.

Me: Yes they are - lions are pretty big animals.

My nephew: Will they be nice to Lizzie?

Me: I would think so - I mean, they're practically cousins.

My nephew: Oh my goooo , Lizzie's cousins are lions!

My niece: We don't say, "oh my God."

My nephew: I said, "oh my gosh."

My niece: No you didn't. Auntie Anne, did he say "oh my God?"

Me: ...look at the lions! **

Our questions (and my nephew's concerns for Lizzie's safety) were quickly addressed the next day when we received a follow-up letter from Lizzie in Alabama. He even included a magazine article about Leo and Una! My nephew was very impressed. My niece declared that this card is now her, "new favorite letter from Lizzie."

Tomorrow I will post the Texas postcards. *** Also, please note: although I have been slightly remiss in posting, please know that the kids have been LOVING hearing from Lizzie. Thanks again to everyone who has (or is going to) send us a note from our favorite traveling kitty!

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* Why is he mowing the lawn in the middle of the night? Oh, because it’s Easter and here at the farm the Easter bunny has delivered the traditional Easter croquet set. Feeling confused? Here is the CliffsNotes version: My niece and nephew have been eying an old croquet set they spotted in the rafters of the barn for the last few weeks. My sister thought it would be a fun Easter present. But, since it’s not in a box, we are going to set it up in the yard. Which leads to the lawn. Although Butterball (the pony) has been working diligently at keeping the grass down, the weather lately has led to a bit of a growth surge. So, here we sit...

** What my nephew actually said is unclear. However, you can't even say something similar to something on the banned list without being corrected by our live-in, five-year-old manners cop. Just yesterday I was corrected three times in thirty minutes for 1.) saying "stupid" 2.) saying "oh my God" and 3.) talking with my mouth full. HA.

*** Tomorrow (today) is Easter so I can't promise it will actually be tomorrow. But I will do my best. Happy Easter to all and to all a good night!

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The Original Postcard Request Email:

Last May, four kittens arrived at our barn in western Maryland. They were tiny, starving and scared. Two were tuxedo kitties (black & white) and two were gray tabbies. We’ve never known if they were dumped or if something happened to their mother, but they arrived very much alone and in need of help. My niece and nephew, five and two respectively, immediately took up their cause. They made it their daily priority to give the cats food, water and as many squeezes as they would tolerate. They named them: Fluffer Muffin, Midnight, Sally and Lizzie. As they grew, it became apparent that one of the gray tabbies, the one called Lizzie, was actually a boy. We contemplated changing his name but never got the chance.

In early January, we had the four kittens fixed. A week later we found Lizzie’s body at the farm. At first we all assumed that he had simply not recovered from the surgery but, after taking him to the vet for autopsy, we discovered that he actually died from some sort of blunt-force trauma – possibly from being hit by a car. In any case, we buried Lizzie and didn’t tell my niece and nephew. At first there wasn’t really a plan. My brother-in-law told them that Lizzie had wandered off looking for adventure. We hoped that would be enough of an answer. But it hasn’t been... instead my niece and nephew think up at least one new adventure for Lizzie every day. “Maybe he’s in New York working in an office where he has to wear a tie.” “Maybe he’s in New Zealand working construction.” “Maybe he’s in California and married to a nice orange cat.”

Then today, after coming up with their usual silly story about Lizzie’s adventures, my niece looked at me and said sadly, “I don’t know where Lizzie is but I wish he would send me a postcard and tell me he’s okay.” My sister and I looked at each other. My first thought was to send a bunch of postcards (from Lizzie to the kids) to friends around the country/world and ask them to send them back. Then I realized that was the long way around. So, here’s what I’m asking:

If you have a postcard, a stamp and the desire to make a little girl and a little boy very happy, please PLEASE take a minute to send the kids a postcard/letter from Lizzie. It doesn’t have to be long (even if it just says, “Having lots of adventures! I miss you guys! Love, Lizzie”) or fancy, it just has to be from Lizzie and have a postmark that is outside of Smithsburg, Maryland. Please feel free to share this story with anyone you think may want to send a letter - even if we just get one postcard back, we succeeded!

Our Address:

My Favorite Farmhands

P.O. Box 569

Smithsburg, Maryland 21783

We will scan and upload all the postcards we receive from Lizzie to her website (www.postcardsfromlizzie.blogspot.com) so you can all follow Lizzie’s adventures too!

Thanks!

Auntie Anne