C-A-T-S, CATS, CATS, CATS!

Kentucky Greetings, WoodyWatchers! What about those Wildcats??? You should have heard our doghouse today! Chloe and Frannie had their blue and white pom-poms barking out all kind of cheers! I was howling, "RUN, THROW, CATCH, BLOCK..." Dad was biting his fingernails and Mom was clapping and squealing! It was an exciting win for my favorite team!

In case you aren't a CAT fan, let me fill you in. The Kentucky Wildcats played arch rival Louisville Cardinals today. Today was the 21st time the CATS and Cards played each other in football. It was the 15th time they played for the Governor's Cup title. If my facts are correct, the CATS have won 12 of the 21 games while the Cards have won 9.

Even though we love the CATS, we also like Hunter Cantwell, the quarterback for the Cards. We don't know Hunter, but he is a Paducah boy like me, so that makes him A-OK!

I am still hoping to play football for the CATS one day. Here is a photo of Joker Phillips and me. Coach Phillips is the offensive coordinator. That means he helps us score touchdowns! We love scoring touchdowns!

I better go. My bark is hoarse from all the cheering! I will be having sweet blue dreams tonight!

GO CATS! And Work and Dream like a BIG DOG!

WOODY

TAILS from Richmond

Kentucky Greetings, WoodyWatchers! Hope you are having a super Saturday! Chloe, Frannie, and I have been hanging out today, enjoying the holiday weekend! Today is the official start of football, so Dad - and Mom too - have been watching lots of players throw the pigskin down the field.

I thought I would take a minute to tell you about our day at Daniel Boone Elementary in Richmond, KY. We felt right at home at Daniel Boone since we had been there a few years ago. Mrs. Morris, the media specialist, always plans the perfect day for us. (I posted a photo of Mrs. Morris and me.)

After school, we were getting ready for the evening program when Mom got a phone call from one of our friends. Mom explained that we were in Richmond. Mom's friend thought we were in Richmond, Virginia! It made we wonder how many towns were named Richmond. So, I came home and asked Mr. Google. He said there are 45 towns all over the world named Richmond - everywhere from Canada to England to South Africa to the United States! We haven't been to any towns named Richmond outside of the United States, but we have been to several Richmonds in the USA - like Richmond, OH, IL, IN, and of course KY - which is our favorite!

Since I was asking Mr. Google some questions, I asked if there were any towns named Woody. He didn't think so, but we are still studying. We will keep you posted!

I better say Arff for now! There is a big football game tomorrow! Our CATS are playing arch rival Louisville Cardinals. I have my blue football jersey and Chloe has her pom-poms ready to cheer the CATS to victory! We will let you know how it goes!

Oh, before I forget, here is the clue for our announcement on September 8th - universe. Can you guess?

Almost time for dinner! ARFF! Have a great day! Enjoy the football game, cheer loudly, and Work and Dream like a BIG DOG!

WOODY

TAILS from Cold Hill

Kentucky Greetings, WoodyWatchers! We are singing our theme song - On the road again, just can't wait to get on the road again... Our family is in the Woody Bus yet again. Destination - Richmond, KY. Daniel Boone Elementary School to be exact.

While we are riding down the highway, I thought I would take a minute to tell you about our visit to Cold Hill. We had a PAWS-atively perfect day. It was our very first day back in the schools. We had a few minor issues that made us yowl - like our projector wouldn't turn on and our camera wouldn't work, but those were minor pests. The day was so fantastic that we forgot about our technical difficulties! Ms. Brown, the media specialist, let us borrow her camera for the day. I bet she was surprised when Dad took over 100 pictures! Here are a few of our favorites.

The first one is from the assembly. The second photo is of our friend Saylor. He gave me a pink pig named Wilbur. Wilbur and I have become best friends. I have played with him all day long! He doesn't oink or eat as much as I thought.

Can you guess what Cold Hill had for lunch yesterday??? We couldn't believe it either!

The last photo is of Mom pretending like she is giving a CARDINAL fan a hard time. Everyone knows how much we love the WILDCATS! Speaking of the Cards and the Cats, there is a huge game coming up!!!

Oh, I can't forget to give you a clue about our big announcement. In case you didn't hear, we will be making an exciting announcement on September 8. Your first clue was globe. The clue today is gold.

Dad is pulling the bus over to stop for gas. Hopefully I can get a snack. My tummy is rumbling! Have a great day! I will tell you all about Daniel Boone (the school that is) on Friday! In the meantime, Work and Dream like a BIG DOG!

WOODY

The 2008-09 Woody Tour

Kentucky Greetings, WoodyWatchers! Well, it's back to school for our family! In fact, we are in the Woody Bus at this very moment! Dad is at the wheel driving down the highway. Destination - London, KY. Our first school for the year is Cold Hill Elementary! We can't wait! Chloe and I have our backpacks packed, our pencils sharpened, a new box of crayons, new shoes... Well, that might be a stretch, but you get the picture! Going to back to school means early mornings, miles on the Woody Bus, and plenty of new friends - and lots of diary entries, so stay tuned!

Both Mom and Frannie the BodyGuard are telling me it's time to put up the laptop and rest. Busy day tomorrow! I will be sure to post photos in the next few days!

Also, we will have a big surprise announcement in early September! I won't tell you what it is, but I will give you hints from now until the announcement is made. Here is your first clue: globe. Can you guess???

Have a great day! Work and Dream like a BIG DOG!

WOODY

Friendship, Friendship, Just the Perfect Blendship

Kentucky Greetings, WoodyWatchers! It is a gorgeous Saturday morning here at our doghouse in Shepherdsville! Even though it is early August, it feels like September. We love this time of year. School is starting, the air is crisp, and it's almost Football Time in the Bluegrass!

I have been telling you about our friend, Cleo. If you remember, Cleo is the dachshund who goes into the nursing home and cheers people up! She lives in Evansville, IN with her mommy, Ms. Diane. A few weeks ago, we were in Owensboro and had the opportunity to meet Cleo. She was as pretty as her pictures. She was in her red wagon and was wearing a cute pink hat. She even had on jewelry - a necklace and a bracelet!!! In fact, Chloe kept talking about how beautiful Cleo's bracelet was, so Cleo just took it off and gave it to Chloe. Now that's what I call a true friend! When we met Cleo, it was easy to see why so many people love her and her mommy. We fell in love with them both! We will continue to write about our new friend Cleo, so stay tuned!

Speaking of friends, today our family gets to help two wiener dogs travel to their new homes. We are involved in the Southern States Dachshund Rescue group. It helps wiener dogs without homes find good homes. In fact, our body guard Frannie came from the SSDR group. Well, Mom received an email saying that two little doxies were traveling to their new homes today. One is going from New York to Tennessee and the other one is going from Ohio to Georgia. Mom and Dad are going to help transport these wiener dogs. I begged Mom if we could go. We haven't been to New York yet. Mom laughed and said that she and Dad were picking up the doxies right here in KY and only traveling about an hour with them before someone else takes over. In fact, 15 families are helping these two little wiener dogs make it to their new homes. It will take them two days to get there, but we know it is worth it! I was sad that Chloe and I couldn't go, but Mom explained we were helping by staying home and letting the travelers have more room in the car. Mom promised to tell us all about when she and Dad returned home!

Maybe Mom will get their address so I can keep in touch with them. I love friends! Thinking of friends reminds me of my favorite song, "Friendship." Chloe and I sing it all the time. It's one of our favorite songs. Here is the verse we like best:

If you're ever down a well, ring my bell.
If you ever catch on fire, send a wire.
If you ever lose your teeth When you're out to dine,
Borrow mine.

It's friendship, friendship, Just a perfect blendship, When other friendships have ceased to jell Ours will still be swell! Lahdle-ahdle-ahdle-hep-hep-hep.

Have a great day! Enjoy the weather, say hello to a friend, and Work and Dream like a BIG DOG!

WOODY

The Bus Has Moved!

Kentucky Greetings, WoodyWatchers! Don't you just love our new home? We think it looks PAWS-atively perfect! Mr. Nathan, the man who makes sure our doghouse looks so great, told us yesterday that he thought the renovations were almost ready! Our entire family was so excited! We couldn't wait to see what it looked like! Just like on the TV show Extreme Makeover, we stood together and said, "Move That Bus!' (There wasn't a real bus to be moved, but it was fun to say it anyway!) Mr. Nathan unveiled the new look and we Oooohed and Aaahhhed for a long time! All the colorful illustrations give you just a tiny hint of our upcoming story, Heads and Tails! Feel free to visit our online doghouse as much as you like. You have an open invitation. No need to even take your shoes off at the door!

After we looked all around, Mr. Nathan said, "Well Gang, there is only one thing left to say, 'Welcome Home, Woody, Welcome Home.'" We were so happy to hear those words!

I will write more later - I promise. In the meantime, enjoy the renovations and Work and Dream like a BIG DOG!

WOODY

Extreme Makeover: DOGHOUSE EDITION

Kentucky Greetings, WoodyWatchers! Hope everyone is having a great Monday! I have so many things to tell you about - like our trip to Broadway, our trip to London, how we met our good friend, Cleo, the list goes on and on. Our family has been so busy lately. We have been putting the finishing touches on our latest newspaper serial story titled HEADS AND TAILS. Already, 71 newspapers have signed up for the story! I will put a list of participating newspapers soon. Since we had a new story, we thought we would freshen up our doghouse a bit. So, Mr. Nathan, the man who takes care of our doghouse, is giving our site a brand new look. We just wanted you to know in case you wondered! Right now we are in the renovation process, but hopefully our new look will be ready soon. Chloe and I have been practicing the "MOVE THAT BUS!" chant like they say on the Home Makevover TV show. Mom says that when the renovations are finished, we won't be moving a bus. Oh well...

We will keep you posted on everything! Have a great day! Work and Dream like a BIG DOG!

WOODY

Woody's Snap-N-Win Photo Contest

At the Teacher Workshops we present, we are going to give teachers a disposable camera. If they snap photos of their students reading the stories, develop the shots, and send them to us, we will put them on the web and they will be entered into a drawing for several different prizes.

Prizes
Grand Prize:
Class party with Woody

2nd Place:
Set of Woody books

3rd Place:
A signed illustration from "Heads and Tails"

Directions

1. Snap photos of your students reading and listening to "Heads and Tails" starting the week of September 15.
   
2. Develop the film onto a CD or scan printed photos.
   
3. Email photos to leighanne@thewoodybooks.com or mail CD to: Hot Diggety Dog Press P.O. Box 747 Shepherdsville, KY 40165
   
4. Include with your submission: Your name, school, email address, and phone number. Be sure you have permission to photograph your students before you send photos.

Participating teachers will be entered into random drawings for prizes. Winners will be notified.

Deadline
The deadline for submissions is Friday, December 5, 2008.

Cameras - thanks to the Lexington Herald-Leader!