My Dad likes to sing this song, The Bear Went Over The Mountain.


The bear went over the mountain,
To see what he could see.
And all that he could see,
And all that he could see,
Was the other side of the mountain,
The other side of the mountain,
The other side of the mountain,
Was all that he could see.


Here are two extended verses that I made up:


The owl flew over the mountain,
To see what he could see.
And all that he could see,
And all that he could see,
Was the bear on the other side of the mountain,
The bear on the other side of the mountain,
The bear on the other side of the mountain,
Was all that he could see.


The hunter went over the mountain,
To see what he could see.
And all that he could see,
And all that he could see,
Was dinner on other side of the mountain,
dinner on The other side of the mountain,
dinner on The other side of the mountain,
Was all that he could see.

Judge Puppy and The Ice Cave


In the realm of towering peaks and whispering winds, there lived a brave little Chow-Chow known as Judge Puppy. His name was whispered across the land, not just for his wisdom but for his daring spirit. One day, a legend caught his ear—a tale of a mysterious blue diamond hidden deep within a gigantic ice cave atop the highest mountain.


With a heart full of courage and a backpack filled with essentials, Judge Puppy embarked on his grand adventure. The journey was arduous, the paths steep, and the air thin, but his determination never wavered. After days of climbing, he finally reached the entrance of the ice cave, its mouth gaping like the gateway to another world.


Inside, the cave was a labyrinth of crystal walls and frozen sculptures. Judge Puppy knew he needed a system to navigate this icy maze and safely return after seizing the diamond. So, he devised a clever plan. He used several spools of bright red, white and blue thread—tying one end to the entrance and unwinding it as he ventured deeper into the cave. This thread would be his lifeline, his path back to the world he knew.


As he delved further, he encountered the fabled guardian of the cave—a fearsome Yeti. But Judge Puppy was not only brave but also wise. He knew that monsters were often misunderstood creatures. So, he approached the Yeti not with a sword but with an offering of food and a warm blanket. To his surprise, the Yeti, touched by the kindness, became an ally rather than a foe.


Together, they navigated the treacherous paths, facing challenges that tested their wit and will. They slid down slippery slopes, solved riddles of ancient ice spirits, and even traversed across fragile ice bridges. Finally, they reached the heart of the cave, where the blue diamond rested, its glow illuminating the icy walls with a celestial light.


Judge Puppy, with the Yeti's help, carefully retrieved the diamond. But as they turned to leave, a sudden collapse partially blocked their path. It was then that Judge Puppy's red, white and blue thread proved its worth. Following the vibrant trail of the red, white and blue thread, they found alternative routes, bypassing dangers and obstacles, until they emerged triumphant into the daylight.


The blue diamond brought Judge Puppy wealth beyond measure. The the red, white and blue thread became a symbol of hope and ingenuity, a reminder that using a system is sometimes the simplest of solutions that is the most effective way in guiding us through life's darkest ice caves or problems.


The End on the web.  The full version  of this story will be in  Judge Puppy Adventures 3! It will have the extended version with seven serious challenges to overcome!  Judge Puppy and The Ice Cave 2 – The Return Trip will be only in  Judge Puppy Adventures 3!

In the meantime you can listen to Judge Puppy Adventures on sale on Amazon as an exciting audiobook or thrilling e-book.

https://www.amazon.com/Judge-Puppys-Adve...200&sr=8-1

Judge Puppy and the Druids

Judge Puppy was not an ordinary dog. He was a highly respected judge in the city of Barkville, where he presided over many cases involving humans and animals. He was known for his fairness, wisdom, and compassion. But he also had a secret: he was a druid.

Druids were the ancient priests of the Celtic people, who had a deep connection with nature and magic. They were also the guardians of the sacred groves, where they performed rituals and ceremonies. Druids were revered by some, feared by others, and misunderstood by many.

Judge Puppy had inherited his druidic abilities from his ancestors, who had escaped from Britain during the Roman invasion. He had learned the secrets of druidism from his grandfather, who had taught him how to shape-shift, heal, and communicate with plants and animals. Judge Puppy had always used his powers for good, but he had to keep them hidden from the public eye.

One day, Judge Puppy received a letter from an old friend, who was also a druid. The letter said that there was a group of rogue druids in the nearby forest, who were causing trouble for the local wildlife and humans. They were abusing their powers, stealing livestock, vandalizing property, and harassing travelers. They had also corrupted the sacred grove, turning it into a dark and twisted place.

The letter asked Judge Puppy to help stop them, before they did more damage. It said that the only way to infiltrate their ranks was to go undercover as one of them. Judge Puppy was reluctant at first, but he felt a duty to protect the balance of nature and justice. He decided to accept the mission.

He packed his bags, put on a disguise, and left for the forest. He followed the directions in the letter, until he reached the entrance of the corrupted grove. He saw a group of hooded figures standing around a fire, chanting in an ancient language. He approached them cautiously, pretending to be a lost traveler.

"Who are you?" one of them asked him.

"I am a druid," Judge Puppy said. "I have come to join you."

The hooded figures looked at him suspiciously. They asked him several questions about druidism, testing his knowledge and loyalty. Judge Puppy answered them correctly, using his grandfather's teachings. He also used his charm and wit to win their trust.

They finally accepted him as one of them, and invited him to their camp. Judge Puppy followed them inside the grove, hoping to find a way to stop their evil deeds.

Happy Halloween!

“Animal Court” is A historical phenomenon of legal trials involving non-human animals as defendants.  These trials took place in Europe from the 13th century until the 18th century, and involved animals being accused of crimes such as murder, theft, or damage. The animals were often given lawyers and witnesses, and faced punishments such as execution or exile if found guilty.

Here is a story I wrote about the historical phenomenon.

Regards,

Dave Esler

The Trial of the Weevils

In the year 1545, in the town of Saint-Julien in France, a strange and unprecedented case was brought before the ecclesiastical court. A group of weevils, small beetles that feed on grains and crops, were accused of infesting and destroying the vineyards of the local farmers. The weevils were summoned to appear before the court and answer for their crimes, but they did not show up. The court appointed a lawyer, Antoine Pierre, to defend the weevils and plead their case.

Pierre was a young and ambitious lawyer who saw this as an opportunity to demonstrate his skills and gain fame. He argued that the weevils were innocent creatures who acted according to their nature and God’s will. He claimed that they had a right to live and feed on the fruits of the earth, just as humans did. He also pointed out that the weevils were not aware of the laws of men and could not be held responsible for breaking them. He asked the court to show mercy and compassion to the weevils and spare them from any punishment.

The court was not convinced by Pierre’s arguments. They considered the weevils to be pests and enemies of mankind who caused great harm and suffering to the farmers and their families. They decided that the weevils were guilty of trespassing, theft, and damage, and sentenced them to be banished from the vineyards and relocated to another place where they would not cause any trouble. They ordered Pierre to communicate this verdict to the weevils and ensure their compliance.

Pierre was disappointed by the court’s decision, but he dutifully obeyed their instructions. He went to the vineyards where the weevils were still feasting on the grapes and read aloud the sentence of the court. He warned them that they had to leave immediately or face dire consequences. He also offered them his assistance in finding a new home where they could live peacefully.

The weevils did not seem to pay any attention to Pierre’s words. They continued to munch on the juicy fruits, oblivious to the law and the threat of punishment. Pierre was frustrated and angry. He felt that he had wasted his time and energy on a hopeless case. He decided to abandon his clients and report back to the court that they had refused to obey their sentence.

The court was outraged by the weevils’ defiance. They declared them to be outlaws and enemies of the church and the state. They authorized anyone who encountered them to kill them on sight without mercy or remorse. They also fined Pierre for failing to perform his duty as a lawyer and for being an accomplice of the weevils.

Pierre was humiliated and ruined by this outcome. He regretted ever taking up this case and wished he had never seen or heard of those weevils. He learned a hard lesson that day: some clients are better left alone.

The End.

Why did people believe that animals could commit crimes in the middle ages?

That’s a very interesting question. There is no definitive answer to why people in medieval Europe believed that animals could commit crimes, but historians have proposed some possible explanations. Here are some of them:

One explanation is that the Church wanted to assert its authority and control over the natural world, as well as the human society. By putting animals on trial, the Church showed that it had the power to judge and punish all creatures, according to God’s law. The Church also wanted to demonstrate its role as a protector of the people from the harm and evil caused by animals.

Another explanation is that the people in medieval Europe had a different conception of animal agency and morality than we do today. They believed that animals had reason, free will, and moral responsibility, just like humans. They also believed that animals were influenced by supernatural forces, such as demons or witches, who could make them act against their nature and commit crimes. Therefore, animals had to be held accountable for their actions and face justice.

A third explanation is that the animal trials were a way of dealing with the social and economic problems caused by animal damage or attacks. The trials provided a legal framework for resolving disputes, compensating victims, and preventing further harm. The trials also served as a form of public spectacle and entertainment, which could distract the people from their hardships and grievances.

These are some of the reasons why medieval Europeans used to put “bad” animals on criminal trial.

Some examples of animal trials are:

In 1386, a pig was tried and executed for killing a child in Falaise, France. The pig was dressed in human clothes and hanged from a gallows.

In 1474, a rooster was tried and burned at the stake for laying an egg in Basel, Switzerland. The rooster was accused of being possessed by the devil and producing a basilisk, a mythical creature that could kill with its gaze.

In 1519, a pack of rats was tried and excommunicated for eating the barley crop in Autun, France. The rats were defended by a lawyer named Bartholomew Chassenée, who argued that they could not appear in court because they were afraid of the cats.

These are some of the bizarre and fascinating cases of animal courts in the middle ages.

Here is an AI picture of an middle ages Animal Court, well er interesting what it created.

Hi friends,

I am working on Judge Puppy's Adventures 2, and one of the stories I am working on is Judge Puppy and the Lost Children. I let an AI image generator make a picture of what I was working on, and this is what it created. Very interesting!

Regards,


Dave Esler

Hello friends!

Judge Puppy's Adventures is available for sale on Amazon.com, Audible and iTunes.

Get the Audiobook here, if you need to sign up, use this link: https://www.audible.com/pd/B0CDNLNW3S/?s...1608_rh_us

Every sale helps us make our bills every month, and we need more income if we are able to keep our home/apartment from foreclosure.

Thank you and thanks for reading. When you are done listening to Judge Puppy's Adventures, visit this forum and post your thoughts, I would like to read them!

Regards,

Dave Esler
Author of Judge Puppy's Adventures and Alligator Ike and Friends

Hi Alligator Ike fans!

I am working on a second E-Book and Audiobook called Alligator Ike and Friends 2.

I am about 60% to 75% done with writing it, and hope to have it finished and the audiobook version done in the next two months.

Like the first Alligator Ike and Friends E-book and Audiobook, it will have a similar format of short stories with all new adventures! The audiobook version will also be about a 60 minutes also, just like the first Alligator Ike and Friends audiobook experience. If you like Alligator Ike and Friends, you will want to own Alligator Ike and Friends 2 as soon as it is released for sale.

Regards,

Dave Esler

Hi Judge Puppy fans!

I am working on a second E-Book and Audiobook called Judge Puppy's Adventures 2.

I am about 50% done with writing it, and hope to have it finished and the audiobook version done in the next two months.

Like the first Judge Puppy E-book and Audiobook, it will have a similar format of short stories with all new adventures! The audiobook version will also be about a 60 minutes, just like the first Judge Puppy's Adventures audiobook experience. If you like Judge Puppy, you will want to own Judge Puppy's Adventures 2 as soon as it is released for sale.

Regards,

Dave Esler

Hello,

I have been very busy and have not had the time to work on FamilyStories.video as much as I would like.

I have been trying to find a way to make enough income to survive, and I find it very hard these days to make ends meet, or just make the monthly bills every month.

Now that I have got this forum up and running, I will start to work on more services and work on improving the FamilyStories.video website.

Thanks for reading,

Regards,

Dave Esler

Welcome to the Alligator Ike Forum where you can discuss all about Alligator Ike and Friends.

I look forward from hearing from you!

I will look at this website from time to time to see all of the various responses and questions about Alligator Ike and his Adventures.

Regards,

Dave Esler
Author of Alligator Ike and Friends and Judge Puppy's Adventures