Dear Princess, I regret to inform you.....

......your dearest Bilbo and I have run off together, and we make no plans to return any time soon. Bilbo and I are in love, a love like no other. It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. I do believe I am that lady. Bilbo and I may return to the states when we deem necessary, in the mean time, he sends you his best regards. We are truly sorry that we will not be able to visit Anna's beautiful gardens in North Carolina. There is simply to much to do as of now. Please let Anna know that we may visit her soon.

Sincerely,

Miss Jane Austen

(click photo below for link to Julie's @ My English Country Garden)

http://myenglishcountrygarden.com/2009/07/07/bilbo-in-memorium/#comment-632

Well.........there ya have it. Bilbo has run off with Jane Austen. I am deeply sadden and shocked by this. Bilbo was having such a great time traveling around. I guess that Miss Austen was tugging at his heart strings, and he couldn't bare the thought of leaving her. Well I do hope they he will decide to visit Anna, that was the plan after all, and Bilbo is a stickler for a plan.

(To catch up on Bilbo, please click on pictures on left side of the blog. Each picture will tell you the story)

After this very heart breaking news, I knew that I had to let Bilbo's family know. It wouldn't be easy. Bilbo was the leader of the family, the bread winner, and now he had run off. What would they think????

I ventured way down to Hickory Hollow, where I found them splashing away in the local swimming hole.............

Bingles, Bitsy & Bizzle were surprised to see me. I have been visiting with them frequently and sharing Bilbo's travels. However, it has been a few weeks without any word from Bilbo.

They were not one bit surprised that Bilbo had run off with Miss Austen, it was time for him to find love, after all at 796 years of age, lets face it, Bilbo was not getting any younger.

They too had been traveling as well,

They shared a family photo from their trip to Paris! Bitsy said everyone had a great time, and they want to go back soon.

Bingles wanted to know what happens now that Bilbo has run off?

DP: " Well, I dunno Bingles, what do you think we should do?"

Bingles: "I think I should go in his place"

Bingle:" I have traveled before, and I won't run off with any young ladies."

DP:" Let me think about it"

Bitsy:" Princess, I really want to pick up where Bilbo left off. I have only traveled to Paris and I long to see the world, and tour fabulous gardens. I love to garden. Bingles and Bizzle don't garden."

DP:" Bitsy, you are so young and fragile, and what would Bingles and Bizzle do without you"

Bitsy:" They will make it on their own"

DP:" Bizzle what do you think about Bitsy and Bingles wanting to go travel in Bilbo's place"

Bizzle:" Ah, the heck with them! They drive me nuts! Always so dang happy! Can't get in a days worth of work with them two without hearing about how wonderful, everything is. They need their bubble busted! They live in a cocoon I tell ya'. "

DP:" So we should send them both away?"

Bizzle:" Heck no are you crazy! Send me away and get me the heck away from them!!!!"

I was at a loss. What do I do. Who do I send. I mean look at them, they are so cute! Yes Bizzle is a little grumpy, and rough around the edges, but I think he would come around. Bitsy is just a sweet as sugar, she is very outgoing. Bingles, well, he is a lot like Bilbo. They have the same personality, so I do worry about him running off with a young lady.....no matter what he says! He is quite the ladies man around Hickory Hollow.

Bizzle

Bitsy

Bingles, with the family snail....Smeagol. Smeagol does all the hard work around Hickory Hollow. He pulls the carts, hauls wood, etc.

Bitsy went to ask her best friend Miss Flopolopolus if she should go travel the world. Miss Flopolopolus thought that Bitsy was just the right age to travel alone.

In the mean time, Bizzle and grumpy Mayor Wartbreath, discussed how they were both to juvenile to go anywhere! And how it she be Bizzle that ought to go!

I told them that I felt it was only fair to let Bilbo's friends pick who they want to travel next. It wasn't fair to leave it all up to me. They set off in the wagon to go back home.....

When they arrived home I promised them that by tomorrow night I would let them know who would be traveling in Bilbo's place. They were fine with letting Bilbo's friends pick.

So who will it be Bitsy? Bizzle? Bingles? You choose!

*****Bilbo has yet to reach his destination at Anna's in North Carolina. Julie, Anna and myself are hoping for the best. Hopefully the postal service is just taking their time. In the mean time Anna has asked us to pick up where we left off, and if Bilbo shows up at her house, then we will resume with him. So most of you know the drill.....leave a comment on MY page below if you would like one of Bilbo's family members to come visit you. Please cast your vote either Bitsy, Bingles or Bizzle. I will draw a name tomorrow afternoon, and announce which one of Bilbo's family members will be visiting.

Remember if you get Bitsy, Bingles or Bizzle...POST THE RULES! Rules are below:

Ofcourse we will re-name it Where In the World is ???? once we get all the votes cast. Let's cross our fingers that Bilbo will eventually turn up. I would like to see him finish this.

RULES #1) COPY & PASTE these rules into your post on Bilbo if you receive him. The post must be titled WHERE IN THE WORLD IS BILBO: (your city). If everyone copies the rules, then the person you send it to will know what to do. If each post is titled the same, we can keep track of Bilbo and follow him on his adventure. PLEASE do not forget to copy and paste these rules into your post if you receive Bilbo. #2) In order to participate you MUST leave a comment on the post about Bilbo with the blogger that has him. That blogger will draw names from the people who left comments on that post. Once the winner is selected Bilbo will be on his way to see your garden. #3) When you receive Bilbo please take a photo (or photos) of him in your garden as well as a photo of yourself with Bilbo. #4) Rules are linked to http://northmobilegardensociety.blogspot.com/ . Please leave a comment on The Dirt Princess' page so she can keep track of him and let other bloggers know where Bilbo is, and post where bloggers can see his latest travel. #5) Please try to get Bilbo out the door as quickly as you possibly can. If at all possible please try not to keep him more than 7 days. We want to get him to as many places as we can in 6 months. #6) Bilbo will travel for 6 months, April 21, 2009- October 21, 2009. If you have Bilbo at the end of this 6 month time frame, you will ship him back to the Dirt Princess at http://northmobilegardensociety.blogspot.com/. #7) When Bilbo arrives back with the Dirt Princess, there will be a great post letting everyone know where Bilbo has been, when he visited as well as links to the bloggers posts that had Bilbo. #8) There will be a list enclosed with Bilbo for each blogger to sign once they receive Bilbo. That list will be sent back to the Dirt Princess. #9) Should anyone have any questions please contact Dirt Princess at http://northmobilegardensociety.blogspot.com/. #10) The blogger that is has possession of Bilbo is responsible for shipping him to the next blogger. Please handle him with care. He is ceramic. #11) Bilbo may be shipped to countries outside the United States. We want everyone to join in on the fun! #12) If you would like to throw in a little something with Bilbo to ship the next blogger, please feel free. Add to the excitement. See what Bilbo brings you when he arrives at your door step.

Is anyone confused by this? If so let me know.....

CAST THOSE VOTES!!!!!!!!!!