More Coonskin Dreams

Mason's mom just sent this picture. Sweet dreams, Mason! 

Wild Coon Chase

All of the tough boys from Garrett's book club admitted that they each shed a few tears when they reached the end of Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls. In fact, many said it was the saddest book they had ever read. But, with the tears behind them, the boys were ready to don their coonskin caps and try out their hunting and hounding skills.

First, the boys created labels for tin cans that would serve as banks to hold money they could earn for something they truly wanted, just like Billy used a K.C. Baking Powder can to save $40 over two years to earn money to buy his pups. Zach decided he would save up for a gun, while Garrett decided to save for his own TV.

As they finished their banks, they each got a chance to try their skills at training the book club guest of honor: Garrett's beagle, Lucy. Lucy had a ball as she got as many milkbones as she wanted simply by running around the room a few times. Lucy helped the boys understand that it wasn't as easy as they thought to train a hound dog.

Once all the boys had tried to train Lucy, they learned that a wily reading raccoon who had read Where the Red Fern Grows had created his own coon trail for these beginning coon hunters and their hound to follow. (You can download the clues for the hunt, here.) Luckily, the coon lead them right back to Garrett's house and a treasure of their own gold cups, rock candy, and the book for next month: Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume.

Since moms wouldn't arrive for another few minutes, Garrett's mom quizzed the boys on Where the Red Fern Grows, giving them a chance to earn old-fashioned candy for each correct answer. The root beer barrels seemed to be the most popular, but Caiden courageously tried the Hoarhound candy and liked it.

Amid all the old-fashioned candy confusion, Garrett's mom forgot to have the boys vote for October's book until one of the boys had already left. The boys who were able to vote, however, chose to read The 100-Year-Old Secret by Tracy Barrett. (If you were not able to vote, please vote at the poll to the side for the book you would like to read for the October meeting.)

All-in-all, however, despite the confusion at the end, the boys seemed to have a great time on their coon hunt and in their temporary roles as boys running around the foothills of the Ozark mountains. Now, all they can do is sleep and hope to dream about more coon hunting adventures. 

(Spencer's mom captured this great picture. Spencer was sound asleep.)

Postponed

Since Garrett's having his own back woods adventure in Yellowstone this week, we are going to postpone July's book club one more week.

Our new Where the Red Fern Grows meeting time will be Thursday, July 22 at 4:30 p.m. at Garrett's house, at which time we'll hunt for coons and do everything else a boy and his dogs loves to do. See you then!