The Adventures of Caleb and Hungry the Caterpillar

Well this week we have been privvy to an extra house guest. Hungry the Caterpillar is a very cute little stuffed toy caterpillar (the very hungry caterpillar by Eric Carle) that arrived home in a big red drawstring bag after PreSchool on Monday. Inside is an accompanying black journal for parents to record anecdotes and experiences that their child has with this furry little fiend (sorry friend (lol)) You have Hungry stay with you for a week, then return to PreSchool the following week!

Photo Courtesy of Barb Stanton (aka Grandma)

Well ... Caleb was over the moon and extremely excited! I even think that the term "extremely excited" was even an understatement for the reaction that my little boy displayed when I picked him up last Monday afternoon!

For the last two terms, Caleb has been coming home wondering when it will be his turn to do something exciting at PreSchool (read ~ open door to parents, be special helper, have special show & tell, or take Hungry home.) You know 4 1/2 year old boys, a day is a lifetime in their experience. I feel he's been very patient waiting his turn for that something special!

Reading this journal, Hungry has been privvy to some marvellous adventures! Certainly one well travelled, adorned green and red furry little caterpillar! If only we all had these wonderful travels! Anyway ... back on track ... we decided that Hungry would go with Caleb and his Granny and Poppy, to one of Caleb's most treasured places - THE BLOCK!

The Block is one of those magical places for children, full of adventure ~ 20 acres of land situated halfway between Echuca and Rochester (Strathallan) on the Campaspe River and surrounding bushland. I spent much of my childhood roaming amongst the gums, climbing trees, swimming in the river (a poor sorry state of a river these days) playing on the sandbanks, riding bikes up and down banks, completely and utterly lost in my own imaginary, fantasy land! Caleb loves the freedom of the great outdoors at the Block, and of course the freedom that comes with Grandma and Poppy! LOL It warms my heart that he's able to have such positive, childhood experiences and hopefully many fond memories!

Hungry goes to the BLOCK!
By Caleb Bourke

I love going to Grandma and Poppy’s Block. Its’ always fun! Hungry got to come along with me one day too. It was fun to take Hungry to the Block! Hungry had fun too …

Poppy had picked up some chaff for the horses. He put it on his trolley and Hungry and I got to ride along as well. Naughty Ozzie the horse, was trying to nudge me off Poppy’s trolley with his nose. I fixed him though with my big yellow gumboot!

Hungry thought the chaff was yummy, he played in the bag when Poppy opened it! Silly old Hungry, the chaff is for the horses, not for hungry caterpillars! Then I had to put some chaff in the special red bucket, Hungry got in the bucket too. I tipped the bucket of chaff into the big steel horse trough. Hungry and I watched Ozzie eat his tasty chaff. Thanks for helping with the chaff Hungry, you were very good!

Once our jobs were over, Hungry and I had some fun, we played together in the hay, rode on Poppy’s big old gray Massey Ferguson tractor (we had lots of fun on the tractor) climbed over gates (Hungry had to stop for a peppercorn snack as all our playing had made him very hungry!) We climbed up onto the round yard fence (where Poppy sometimes keeps the horses) and even helped stack some wood (to take back for Grandma and Poppy's fire at home.!)

Hungry and I were very tired when we got home to Mummy, but we’d had lots of fun together! I’m glad to have a friend like Hungry the Caterpillar!

All Photos in the slide show are courtesy of Barb Stanton (aka Grandma) THANK YOU!