T. Harrington Takes a Break

For blog followers wondering why T. Harrington has not been updating his blog, please know that he has not abandoned his post, but merely has been delayed by a natural disaster in the human world. While on vacation in Haiti, T. Harrington was buried under a bit of rubble and it took several days for rescue workers to find him. After recovering in a human hospital for several weeks, he returned to the Feltie World for further recuperation. He will be back in his office at the beginning of March. We look forward to his return!

Positive End to 2009

I would like to take this opportunity to wish happy human holidays to all of those Felties who have relocated to the human world during the last two months. Feltie World News reported a record number of adoptions this season, especially among the more unusual Felties, like goblins, gnomes and sasquatches. Congratulations to all! May you be very happy during your stay.

Surely it is a positive sign that humans are responding to Felties despite their skin color, horns, or other unhuman aspects. While humans continue to deny each other rights based on age, color, gender, socioeconomic status, and beliefs, they are beginning to demonstrate better behavior at least toward the Felties in their midst. Every small kindness is a step toward greater compassion.

In other news, the Feltie Dryad Association held their annual Solstice fest after laying to rest the remainder of their fallen leaves in an enormous bonfire. Mead and honey ale were consumed in great quantities and the food, provided by Chef Cormac Cormorant, was superb. Toasts were drunk to the bounty and good fortune of the new year, and every Feltie present made their wish for the upcoming year by tossing a pair of old shoes into the bonfire. (For those unaquainted with the custom, old shoes are burnt to symbolize paths no longer trod, and the new shoes made by Harry Hornblopper, resident cobbler, are meant to take the wearer on to trails of great adventure). May you all find new roads to travel in the upcoming year!

Feltie Founder Celebrates Birthday

The entire Feltie World would like to wish Max Feltiemaker many happy returns of the day for tomorrow, Oct. 3rd. Max's tireless efforts on behalf of Felties everywhere, particularly the mammoths, bunnies, squirrels, and pirate Felties, have not gone unnoticed. The Felties have established Max as a member of the Feltie Hall of Fame with all of the rights and benefits therein. Congratulations and best wishes on a fulfilling next year to Max!

There will be a special party for Max on Sunday to commemorate this event. Much food and desserts will be served, and all Felties are welcome.

Preparations For Fall Fest Underway

When the first of October rolls around every year, Felties begin readying themselves and the Forest for a festive ritual to lay summer to rest and celebrate the beauty of autumn. The festivities begin with a sacred spiral swaying of the trees, followed by juggling monkeys, acrobatic rhinos, poetry readings, and several well known bands which perform original songs. A great feast follows, with every kind of food and drink imaginable.

According to Elmera Dryad, Feltie Forest's first grand fall festival took place 25 centuries ago when a group of faeries decided to perk up the trees, who had been losing their leafy children for weeks and were weeping copious amounts of sap everywhere. To get the tree's minds off their losses, the faeries began an impromptu dance with refreshment and much ale. The trees were so moved and entertained with the festivities, they proposed hosting a celebration each year at the same time. Every Feltie is invited, and visitors are always welcome.

See you at the celebration!

New Editor Settling In

I want to thank all of those Felties who have given me such a warm welcome to the Feltie World News Blog, and I wish to bid Nigel Wappett III hopspeed on his new journey to the halls of academia. Best wishes!

On to Feltie World News, it has come to my attention that many old timers in the Feltie Forest are undergoing wool grafts to heal old gouges and thin areas in their pelts, and I wish them a speedy recovery time. Having lost an eye in my old pirating days, I know what it is like to live with a long term injury. Although I have not elected to undergo an eye transplant myself, I understand the urge to do so. I know there are those who believe such surgery is unnecessary and the whole subject raises vanity issues, but I believe it is not another's place to interfere in such matters, unless the safety of the Feltie undergoing the procedure is in question.

There have been many more incidences of trees releaving themselves in the Feltie Forest this month. Despite the advent of autumn, many Feltie Trees have grown new leaves even after their old ones have dropped. This odd rebirth has been occurring more frequently in later years and is believed to be a sign of global warming. Trees are retaining their leaves well into winter, and the extreme cold appears to be hard on the little leaflings. In response to their suffering, Abigail Ostrich has recruited several knitting fowl to make branch warmers for the trees. Thank you Abigail!

Nigel Wappett Quits Blog

Our esteemed editor, Nigel Wappett, recently announced that he will be returning to the collegiate life, pursuing an additional degree in Arts and Film. Nigel may consider doing brief vignettes of college life from a canine perspective, but such contributions will depend upon his work load.

"I hate to leave my fans bereft, but I'm just not sure I'll have the time to blog properly. I would like to thank my readers for their support and loyalty, and hope that my replacement, T. Harrington Bunny, receives as gracious a welcome. Thank you all so very much, and tallyho!"

T. Harrington Bunny, a graduate of Feltie University, holds a bachelor's degree in Journalism, a masters in Pschology, and a doctorate in Ethics. His thesis, The Ethics of Fertility, has been a bestread book throughout the Feltie World, as well as being required reading for bunnies everywhere. T. Harrington will be taking over for Nigel as early as next week. Welcome, T. Harrington!

Chester Elephant Book Signing

Chester Elephant, illustrious star of the newly released Feltie Tales: Chester Elephant and the Peanut Patch, will be participating in a book signing May 2nd, at the Eugene Saturday Market. Chester invites Feltie fans of all ages and species; photography will be allowed, and he also welcomes offerings of peanut-related products.

This is Chester's first major role as a book character. His previous acting experience includes the one-pachyderm play, Melancholy: An Elephant Never Forgets, and Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream (as Bottom). I shall never forget Melancholy's opening night, at which point I was the drama critic for the Feltie World News, and was moved to tears by Chester's performance as the lame circus performer turned peanut oil addict. I was particularly touched by the line, "I can still hear the applause of the delighted crowd, and the sound of rogue peanuts hitting the circus tent floor" -- [sob]. Bravo, my friend. Bravo.