This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:00] Amy Daniels: Welcome listeners to the Kitten & Clucky podcast. We are so excited that you've joined us today for more exploring of the world around us. If you'd like a chance to be on the podcast, please call our show line at 321-345-1544 and tell us what you're balking about. Can't wait to hear from you. Kitten, meow, meow, and Clucky, quack, quack, are two best friends trying to make sense of the world around them. Adventures and discoveries around every bend. Come along and explore with them. Season 3, Episode 8 Blooming Spring.

[0:45] Kitten: Oh my, that was a big one. I can't stop scratching. What's wrong with me?

[1:02] Clucky: Squeak, squeak, ha, you look terrible. You have fur sticking up in all directions.

[1:08] Kitten: Sniff, I'm sure I look a mess. I just can't stop scratching and ha, ha, achoo, I'm sneezing. I've scratched so many parts of my fur that spots are missing. Are you itchy?

[1:25] Clucky: Me? No, I am not itchy or sneezy. Stay away from my cage. I don't want to get what you have.

[1:32] Kitten: I don't think I'm contagious.

[1:34] Clucky: I am not being outrageous. I am looking out for myself. A cold could really set back my plans for world domination.

[1:43] Kitten: Not outrageous, contagious. What is this concage-us? You want to be in the cage with me?

[1:51] Clucky: No, of course not. I'm so itchy. Contagious means achoo. Contagious means likely to spread to others.

[2:01] Kitten: Achoo! How do you know you're not contagious? Stay back. I don't want to risk it.

[2:07] Clucky: I would not want my bright white fur to stick out and be all patchy like your fur is.

[2:13] Kitten: Meow, what should I do? I want to stop scratching, but I'm just so itchy. Meow.

[2:21] Clucky: Oh, I hear the human coming. Maybe she can help you.

[2:25] Kitten: I'm going back to my burrow, away from you and your outrageousness.

[2:29] Clucky: It's contagious. Achoo! Never mind.

[2:35] Maddox: Kitten, did I hear you mewing?

[2:37] Mom: Oh, sweet kitten, what's wrong?

[2:40] Kitten: Meow. Achoo!

[2:44] Mom: Oh, are you sick? You don't look so good.

[2:48] Maddox: Come on, stop that. Your fur is coming out in spots.

[2:52] Mom: I had better take you to mom. She will know what to do.

[2:58] Kitten: Achoo!

[3:04] Maddox: What's wrong, Maddox?

[3:06] Mom: It's Kitten. Something's wrong. She won't stop scratching. Look at her fur.

[3:13] Maddox: She has scratched it off in some spots. She is also sneezing. Do you think she is sick?

[3:19] Kitten: Achoo! Meow.

[3:22] Mom: She has little crusties on her eyes, too. Poor Kitten, you're not looking your best.

[3:27] Maddox: We had better take you to the vet.

[3:29] Mom: Do you think it's serious, mom? She was fine yesterday.

[3:33] Maddox: The weather is just starting to turn nice. Have you seen all the buds on the trees?

[3:39] Mom: I really like the pink little blossoms on the trees.

[3:43] Maddox: Oh, and the yellow flowers popping up all over. What are those called?

[3:49] Mom: The pink flowers on the trees are cherry blossoms, and the yellow flowers are daffodils.

[3:53] Maddox: Next comes tulips, which are my favorites.

[3:55] Mom: Oh, I can't wait to see those. It's like the whole world outside is coming alive.

[4:01] Maddox: This is so different from Florida. I want Kitten to be able to come, explore, and enjoy it with me. It seems so unfair for her to be sick now.

[4:11] Mom: Hmm, I wonder if that's the problem.

[4:14] Maddox: What's the problem? Spring? Flowers blooming? How can that be a problem? It's so pretty.

[4:20] Mom: Some people have what they call seasonal allergies.

[4:24] Maddox: What are those? It sounds bad, like you're allergic to the season.

[4:29] Mom: You're pretty much correct. Seasonal allergies means that you have a reaction to the seasons changing. Many people have allergies to different pollens in the air this time of year. When the flowers open up and the leaves bud, there is a lot of pollen that is released into the air.

[4:43] Maddox: Some people, when they breathe it in, have an allergic reaction that can cause sneezing, watery eyes, stuffy nose, and other symptoms.

[4:53] Maddox: Can it cause itching? It looks like poor Kitten is scratching herself to pieces.

[4:58] Mom: Look, she has spots of fur that are missing.

[5:01] Maddox: I'm not sure. I think the best thing we could do is call the vet and get an appointment.

[5:09] Maddox: What's this? There are blossoms everywhere. And look at this, little buds popping up here and there. Oh, what a wonderful time of year. It must be spring.

[5:27] Clucky: Spring, spring, it makes me want to sing, sing. The sun filters through the trees, and there's a light little breeze bringing scents to make you sneeze.

[5:46] Clucky: Kitten, isn't it glorious? Everywhere you look, there's new things to see. There's buds on the trees and flowers up to Xander's knees. It was green before, but there's even more green now, and other colors too. The pond has even grown these big leaves and bulby green pods. I think they might be flowers. And the noises. The frogs are like a symphony at night. So many other new sounds and creatures are showing up. I love being able to roam around and to discover all these new things. I think there might even be a fish or two in the pond. It's like the whole world is waking up from a nap. Everything is popping up to say hello.

[6:27] Brigitte: Hello. Hey. Cheerio, my kitten. Whatever is wrong with you? Did you get in a fight? You look just dreadful.

[6:36] Kitten: Nice to see you too, Brigitte. What? Oh, sorry, kitten. I was so focused on what was going on all around, I didn't even look at you. Whoa, what happened to you?

[6:51] Brigitte: Seasonal allergies. Attacked by killer bees? Are there more? Do we need to defend ourselves?

[7:02] Kitten: No. She said serious biting fleas. I heard attacked by flying geese.

[7:10] Brigitte: No, no, you're all wrong. She said hazards of climbing trees.

[7:16] Kitten: Really, kitten? I thought you would have learned your tree climbing lesson after you got stuck chasing Chip up one last fall.

[7:23] Kitten: Me? Oh, no. I have not been climbing trees, bitten by fleas, or attacked by geese or bees. The vet said I have seasonal allergies.

[7:33] Brigitte: What is that? More importantly, can we get it? I really hope not. You look dreadful.

[7:40] Kitten: No offense, darling, but I've never seen you look so out of sorts.

[7:45] Brigitte: No offense taken. And no, you can't get them from another animal. My body is having an allergic reaction to one or more of the pollens in the air. It's causing me to have uncontrollable urge to scratch myself, watery eyes, and sneezing.

[8:08] Brigitte: That sounds terrible. What can be done? Will you be like this all spring?

[8:16] Kitten: Hopefully not. The vet has given Maddox some awful tasting medicine for me. I have to take it twice a day. But I should start feeling better once the medicine has a chance to take effect. It will also probably get better once this plague of cherry blossoms is over.

[8:29] Brigitte: What? There's a plague of cherry blossoms? Is this something we need to be concerned about?

[8:35] Kitten: Plague? Isn't that a contagious bacterial disease characterized by fever and delirium? An uncontrollable outbreak?

[8:40] Brigitte: Outbreak? Like COVID? The plague of the sneaky ninja germs? Will we be back in lockdown?

[8:47] Kitten: No, no, I'm sorry. I was being dramatic. There's no plague.

[8:54] Brigitte: But you just said there was a plague of cherry blossoms. Wait, a blossom is a flower, right? Aren't cherry blossoms the little pink and white flowers opening up on the trees all around us? I love those ones. They are so pretty. And when the breeze catches them, they look like delicate colorful snowflakes falling to the ground. How could those be a plague?

[9:16] Kitten: I'll tell you how. It's the plague of cherry blossoms. They make you itch and scratch.

[9:31] Kitten: It's the plague of cherry blossoms. And now I have a bald patch.

[9:40] Brigitte: You're all excited about the flowers and the leaves. And I feel excited because I constantly sneeze.

[9:49] Kitten: It may not be a real plague, but it's a plague to me. I wish they'd all blow away and leave me be.

[10:00] Brigitte: Bravo! Most dramatic indeed. Do you feel better now?

[10:06] Kitten: Thank you, but no. Maybe I should head back into the house.

[10:14] Clucky: Look out below! I'm coming in hot!

[10:17] Clucky: Cock a doodle doo!

[10:18] Clucky: Oh my brakes!

[10:19] Clucky: Invader!

[10:20] Clucky: Oh, no. I've overshot the pond.

[10:24] Clucky: AHHHHH! TREES!

[10:26] Clucky: Feathers!

[10:27] Clucky: Ow! Ow! Ow!

[10:29] Clucky: Ow! Ow! Ow!

[10:30] Clucky: That's mine.

[10:33] Clucky: I really have got to stop doing this.

[10:36] Piper: Piper?

[10:37] Clucky: Piper, is that you?

[10:38] Piper: Plucky? How can this be? Of all the birds to crash into, what are you doing here?

[10:45] Clucky: Oh, no. Am I got off course? I'm sure we're almost to our spring summer like in Washington. Did we make a wrong turn? Are we somehow back in Florida?

[10:56] Piper: Oh, wow! Piper!

[10:58] Clucky: It's okay. You're in the right state. We moved to Washington last summer.

[11:02] Piper: I was wondering why I'm not seeing you this winter. We went back to the same pond near your old house and were sad to see you were gone. There was a new family there. They had a bunch of little humans, but no pets.

[11:13] Clucky: I never thought I'd see you all again.

[11:15] Piper: Oh, my. Kitten, are you okay? I'm not sure Washington agrees with you. You're a bit of a mess.

[11:21] Kitten: Meow. I know. It's not Washington. It's spring.

[11:30] Piper: We moved here last summer and it was fine all fall and winter. In fact, we really enjoyed a lot of the seasons. But spring is just awful.

[11:42] Clucky: How can you say that? Spring is amazing! All the new flowers and tree buds and new critters and now Piper!

[11:51] Clucky: I think spring may be the best season of all. I am enjoying it so far too. Hi Piper.

[11:58] Piper: So far spring has been pretty good for me, but I don't know. We are just starting it.

[12:04] Clucky: I don't love the sudden changes in the weather. Just last week it was cloudy and drizzly and raining in the morning and then it was sunny and warm for a couple hours and then it started to snow in the evening. I did not know you could have all that in one day.

[12:21] Bridget: You are right, Clucky, spring certainly keeps you guessing. Oh no, have we arrived too early? We tried to time it so we were back after all the snow.

[12:27] Bagheeta: It's gone. It's hard to tell. Every day is something new. However, it does seem to be staying warmer. I'm Bagheeta, by the way. I don't think the hens and I met you last time in Florida. Thank you for saving Kitten and Clucky from that awful snake.

[12:45] Bella: I'm Bella. It's so nice to finally meet the brave and beautiful Piper. Clucky has told us so much about you.

[12:49] Piper: It was nothing. I had forgotten about the snake.

[12:56] Bridget: Well, Clucky certainly has not. I'm Bridget. He loves to tell us about your bravery and beauty.

[13:02] Clucky: Ladies, ladies, you're embarrassing me. Now that you've met Piper, you can see I was not wrong.

[13:09] Bella: I think you've grown more beautiful since the last time I saw you. I can hardly believe it's been over a year since I saw you. I had hoped I'd see you again when I found out we're moving to Washington, but I never actually believed I would. It's like a dream come true.

[13:27] Piper: Well, well, it certainly was a huge surprise for me to crash into you again.

[13:34] Sensei Chu: Bubble babble. Thee doth toil over no trouble. Thee all maketh such a racket. My slumber is disturbeth. Who goes there? Tis I, Sensei Chu. Wander of thy waters most of you.

[13:47] Sensei Chu: Verily thee all babble with much vigor. My peace hath flown off with thy big white fowl crashing on the edge of my waters.

[13:52] Clucky: Say what now? Is he speaking our language?

[13:58] Bridget: I think I recognize some words. Who are you calling foul? Me? Yeah.

[14:03] Clucky: Ah-choo! Calm down everyone. I think there's been a bit of a misunderstanding. Yes, Brigitte, he is speaking English. It's just very old English. More like the times of Shakespeare.

[14:15] Clucky: How is he shaking a spear? He's a big fish in the pond. He doesn't even have hands.

[14:21] Bridget: No, Clucky. He's not shaking a spear. He's using the English language the way that playwright William Shakespeare wrote back in the 1500s and early 1600s. It was called the Elizabethan era. It was a time when Queen Elizabeth I ruled England. They spoke very differently back then.

[14:39] Sensei Chu: Hark! Doth mine ears deceive me? Tis there a gentle lady amongst thee knaves? Doth thou suffer from ill humor?

[14:44] Clucky: Kitten has a great sense of humor. I think you should try and be a little nicer.

[14:50] Bridget: No, Clucky. Sensei was wondering if I'm not feeling well. Ill humor translates to feeling bad.

[14:56] Sensei Chu: Verily. Thank you for your concern, Sensei. I'm having a little bit of seasonal allergies and I hope they'll clear up soon. Ah-choo!

[15:11] Sensei Chu: Methinks thou will recover post haste.

[15:17] Clucky: Oh, I caught the big one. To be eaten or not to be eaten, that is the question. Tis the way of the world that turns around and around. We swim along in circles and the world spins too.

[15:22] Bridget: Oh, I think it's Mike. Too big. I can't swallow him. Don't eat him. We're just getting to know him. He lives in our pond.

[15:31] Sensei Chu: Who are you, you big brute? You can't just swoop in and eat someone. Please spit him out.

[15:38] Clucky: Oh no. Let him go. I shall not go quietly into your stomach. I protest most vigorously.

[15:47] Clucky: Dude, you're not worth it. Oh thank goodness. Are you okay?

[16:00] Sensei Chu: Whoa, I'm not sure. It's rare to catch a talking fish.

[16:06] Sensei Chu: I was not talking to you. I was talking to Sensei. I thank thee for thy concern, my new feathered friend. As for thou beast most vile, be gone from this place and nigh.

[16:13] Clucky: Just who do you think you are flying in and trying to eat our new friend? Well maybe not a friend. We can barely understand him. He's more of an acquaintance really, but that's not the point.

[16:22] Bridget: How dare you think you can fly in here and eat whoever you want. Plucky, he is a lot bigger than you.

[16:28] Clucky: Oh please everyone, this is my fault. I'm so sorry. This is Bruce. He's my mate. We met last summer at our summer lake.

[16:36] Bruce: Sure did. Piper, this guy's your friend?

[16:44] Piper: Well yes, we're a part of the same squadron.

[16:52] Clucky: Squadron? Group of pelicans flying together.

[16:57] Bruce: Oh thanks. Yeah, Peps and I met last summer. It was epic. We've been flying together ever since. Bruce, do you remember me telling you about Kitten and Clucky? Weren't they the cat and rooster you hoped to see in Florida?

[17:03] Bruce: Yes, exactly. Well, they moved last summer and that is why I did not see them this winter. As luck would have it, I just crashed into Clucky.

[17:08] Clucky: Sorry about that dude. It's totally how we met too. She's still working on those landings.

[17:15] Bruce: Piper can crash into me anytime. I'll always be here to break her fall.

[17:22] Clucky: No need for that mate. She's got me now. I'm glad you're here today though. I got stuck up in a gnarly wind gust and was a bit behind. It scattered the whole squadron. Look up there. Most of them are regrouping.

[17:34] Piper: We should probably get going, Pipes. Honk.

[17:40] Clucky: You're probably right. It was so great seeing you all again. Our nesting grounds are not too far from here so maybe we can come back for a visit again soon.

[17:45] Bella: We would like that. Laters. Till next time.

[17:48] Clucky: I say. He was off in a hurry. What a nice looking bird.

[18:02] Bridget: Get reddened. I'm sorry. Bruce is not a pelican of many words. He has a real sweetheart though. I better go too. Bye all.

[18:13] Clucky: Bye. Cheerio. Bye. Parting is such great sorrow.

[18:19] Sensei Chu: No, I cannot tell a lie. It gives me great joy to see them fly off. It was so nice to see Piper again and meet her new beau.

[18:26] Clucky: Nay, I could have foregone meeting the big knave.

[18:32] Bridget: What does that mean? He said no. He'd rather not have met the big idiot.

[18:37] Clucky: Really, Sensei, calling others knave is not very polite.

[18:44] Sensei Chu: Neither is trying to eat one while swimming leisurely in their pond. He does have a fair point.

[18:53] Clucky: Wait, did you call all of us knaves earlier?

[19:00] Sensei Chu: Aye, but I withdraw my first utterance. It was most unkind and untrue.

[19:07] Clucky: Huh? Kitten?

[19:16] Sensei Chu: He says yes, but he takes it back. It was unkind and untrue.

[19:24] Clucky: Oh, it's so strange. I hear you saying words I know and some I don't, but I find it very hard to understand you.

[19:41] Bridget: Plucky, are you okay? We're staring off into the sky in the direction Piper flew off.

[19:47] Clucky: She's, she's gone.

[19:54] Bridget: Yes, but she said she'd come back to visit. What's wrong?

[20:03] Clucky: No, you don't understand. She's gone. She's found someone new. I'm all by myself. She's gone with someone new. Oh, what shall I do?

[20:21] Clucky: I thought my dreams had come true. Now I am so blue.

[20:28] Bridget: Oh, Plucky.

[20:37] Sensei Chu: Oh, Plucky indeed. You have not seen Piper in over a year. Love knows no time.

[20:45] Clucky: I've thought of her often. She is also a different species that migrates for six months every year.

[20:54] Bridget: You're right. It would never have worked. Oh, Piper, Piper, wherefore art thou, Piper?

[21:06] Sensei Chu: Deny thy Bruce, choose thy Plucky.

[21:17] Clucky: I still have no idea what you're saying.

[21:23] Sensei Chu: He said, oh, Piper, Piper, where are you? Get rid of Bruce and choose Plucky.

[21:28] Bridget: Verily. Oh, that's so nice of you, Sensei. Bridget's right. I'm not the bird she needs. You will always have us, Plucky.

[21:45] Bella: Thank you, Bella. You're all the best friends a rooster could ask for.

[21:54] Clucky: What you talking about? This is a new segment where you get to tell us what's on your mind. Tell us a joke or share a fun fact or ask us your burning questions.

[22:10] Bridget: Plucky, no one has burning questions.

[22:18] Clucky: You never know.

[22:28] Chloe Janecki: Hello, my name is Chloe Janecki. I'm 13 years old and I'm from Kansas, Washington. Washington, us too. I have a joke for you. OK.

[22:43] Chloe Janecki: What do you get when you push a bunch of Easter eggs down a hill? I don't know. Spring rolls.

[22:57] Avery: Hi, my name is Avery. I'm 10 years old and I'm from Kansas. And my joke is how can you tell spring flowers are friendly? Hi, Avery. How can you tell spring flowers are friendly?

[23:05] Avery: They always have new buds.

[23:10] Clucky: Now, listeners, don't forget you can be featured here, too. Call or text our balking line at 321-345-1544. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Leave us a comment on our website at kittenandclucky.com or leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform.

[23:26] Amy Daniels: Thank you for joining us for today's show. Voices for today's characters were performed by Matt Daniels as Sensei Chu. Bubble Babble. Christine Rosen as Piper. Who are you calling foul? And Bruce. It was epic. Parker Daniels as Maddox. It's like the whole world outside is coming alive. Bella. I think I recognize some words. Bridget. He does have a fair point. And Brigitte. Who are you, you big brute? Amy Daniels as Mom. Hmm, I wonder if that's the problem. Kitten. Seasonal allergies. Clucky. Why, I think spring may be the best season of all. And Rubix. I'm going back to my burrow, away from you and your outrageousness.

[23:35] Amy Daniels: The Kitten and Clucky podcast was created, edited, and produced by Amy Daniels. Today's script was written by Amy Daniels. Special thanks to Henry Johnson, our theme song composer. Did you know he wrote that when he was only 12 years old? Wow, he's so talented. Sound effects and song music provided by Epidemic Sound.