The Agnew Family aboard the "Dog House"

Ernie and Wendy had an outdoor but very friendly cat named George Wendy said that George comes and goes at will and they don’t usually see all that much of him. George decided that since there was suddenly 2 dogs at his house he was going to hang around and insure that no dog got any ideas about moving into his home. It was a gorgeous day so we spent most of it just sitting around the picnic table — with George staying under the table, hissing whenever a dog got too close. Ernie decided we needed to do something other than sit around, so out came the bocci ball set. Following the “Ernie’s Rules for Bocci Ball” (we’ll need to read the real rules before we play again), Colin, Margaret, Ed and I played an exciting game — I won!!! Zaph dragged Wendy around the yard so he could watch the action — ok he really just wanted to grab the balls while George sat on the edge of gardens watching as usual– I’m not sure if he was watching us or Zaph. A rematch was played with Ernie substituting for Ed. Initially it looked like Ernie was going to win without much of a contest but Colin came from behind and won. Next the croquet game was dragged out. The first game was played by Ernie, Colin and Ed with Ernie whopping the other two — they followed “Ernie’s Croquet Rules”(any wonder Ernie won?). We decided a second game was necessary and that all six of us would play. Ed and Colin decided secretly to play as a team so that they could “tie” for first, Ernie lost about 10 turns as he took a break to cook burgers otherwise he would have beaten them. Wendy gave up trying to get through the gates and just tried to stop Colin and Ed (unfortunately they kept hitting her ball away), Margaret and I kept slogging along just hoping we would catch up to everyone else. George followed along only having to dodge the ball a couple of times.

The “Nose Olympics” was the next exciting event of the day. While we were sitting around the fire and Margaret pulled out a present she had received for her fiftieth birthday. It was a pair of eye glasses with an arm that stuck out in front of your nose to which different items were attached to. One was a basketball net and ball that you had to wiggle your head to get the ball into the basket. Another one was two rings that you had to get spining in opposite directions and yet another one was “clackers” that you had to get to clack. The expressions on the person’s face when they attempted these feats were priceless. If you ever see “Nose Olympics” and need a gag gift pick it up. George, of course was present and as Zaph was sleeping under a chair, he decided to check the dog out — unfortunately Zaph woke up and started barking, scaring George away.
The cat won in the end as we left the following morning taking those nasty dogs with us.
Ernie and Frances plot the next few days driving route

Splash has a conversation with George the cat


Under Ernie’s Croquet Rules, is Ed really allowed to use Colin's head as a ball?
Nose Olympics