No adventure is good that starts with a car trip. I have learned this the hard way. In fact, I have learned that no adventure is good. Capybaras were not made for adventures, and I am no exception.

One thing that made this car trip better than most wast that Flopsy the Killer Cat came with me. Melly and Coral are always saying that Flopsy is good in the car. I don’t know about that. He seemed a little stressed out. Maybe he knew we were going to have and adventure.

Flopsy can crawl around the car much better than I can. I wish he would have stayed in the back with me and Melly. He came back a little and rubbed his head on my chin, but then he left. Melly said she wouldn’t get a photo of that because we were too close. I don’t know how that even makes sense but then I don’t really understand photography.

There were too many cars in the driveway.

Philip is Melly’s son. He and his little family, including wife Monica and daughter Celeste, moved into their first house a couple of months ago. This was my first visit to it, although Melly threatens–I mean “promises”–there will be more.

The house is a bit of a mess. Melly said Philip and his family are trying to ruin it. It was beautiful when they moved in but they feel the need to change everything so that means they can’t unpack and really move in for a long time. Maybe never judging by how much work they’ve already done and how much they have left to do.

I liked the back yard the best. Philip put out a little pool for me. A little, tiny pool that I could hardly sit in. Still, it helped me remain calm to be in water, even if it’s not much.

It isn’t as big a yard as my yard at home, but it is still good sized and more wild than I am used to. The grass was nice and tall but I was too nervous to eat. And what’s on the other side of that fence?

Philip has a lot of bird feeders and squirrel feeders out and yet none of the birds or squirrels would come land on my back.

After I was done with my exploration, I took a short rest enjoying the nice mix of sun and shade and the grassy ambiance. Very pleasant.

Then it was back to the turtle pool for a little cooling off both physically and emotionally. I wanted to roll but there just wasn’t enough room.

Time for a little quiet conversation while admiring nature, such as it is.

Human conversation can be pretty boring so I did another survey of the yard.

When I came back, I found Coral had moved and was now sitting in the grass. I like that. I sit in the grass all the time.

Coral offered to share her iced tea but she said I have to drink out of a straw! I can’t drink from a straw! She must know that. It seemed like a nice thing but really it was mean. I had to go back to my pool and drink from that. Since it was 104 F outside, we were all a little thirsty.

Like I said, it was 104 degrees outside, which is fine for me but Melly decided to go inside and I decided to follow her. There’s more to a house than a yard, although the yard is the most important part.

When I came in the house, three people were sitting on the couch: Monica, Celeste and Celeste’s friend Kate. After I sat down, only Kate was left. I don’t know why. I was willing to share, as long as they gave me enough room. I guess it was better with just the two of us anyway. (Celeste might be a little afraid of me.)

Of course Melly brought my bed so after a while I got off the couch and got in my own bed. Philip and Monica (behind that stuff) are both sitting on the couch, but do you see Flopsy the Killer Cat?

Flopsy spent the whole visit under the couch! I am not a brave capybara but I am braver than that! (Or I don’t fit under the couch, take your pick.)

Finally it was time to go home. Just when I was used to being there! Well, I was looking forward to my own pool, which is more than three inches deep.

Flopsy was more relaxed on the drive home, and so was I. I wonder if we’ll both be calmer next time we go over to Philip’s. Maybe. Maybe not.