W A N T E D

The next day I decided to take action and vowed to recapture my turkey by Christmas:

Dear FV2 neighbors: As some of you may know, my prized Black Spanish Thanksgiving Turkey has escaped my farm and is currently on the lam. I would like to have him back in time for Christmas (dinner), so I have created a WANTED poster to help spread the word. With your permission I would like to post a copy of this poster on each of your bulletin boards when I visit your farm. Please indicate below if this is OK with you. Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in recovering my feathered fugitive.

(Mustering best Tommy Lee Jones voice) "What I want from each and every one of you is a hard-target search of every gas station, residence, warehouse, farmhouse, henhouse, outhouse and doghouse in the area. Your fugitive's name is Sr. Carlos Guajolote. Go get him!"

Several of my neighbors were kind enough to grant me permission to hang the wanted poster up at their farms.

However, it turned out that grocer Cornelius owned exclusive rights to post on these bulletin boards.  He was very angry with me and tore all my posters down!

As if tearing down my posters wasn't punishment enough, Cornelius punished me further by making all of my grocer challenges super difficult!

Postcard from Ibiza

The following day, Nov. 29, I received a postcard!:

"Well, well, well... Look what I found in my mailbox today! Guess Mr. Turkey went home for the holiday. At least we know his name now... Should make it easier for me to track him down.

Watch your back, Carlos Guajolote. I'm coming for you!"

Barnyard Benedicts

A bit later Thanksgiving day one of my neighbors suggested that I check the footage of the security cam I had set up the night prior:

"Jean Welsome suggested that I check the security cam footage from last night, and this is what I found. Looks like Cathy Perry was right, it was the helper owls! I should have known those barnyard Benedicts would betray me! It's like the old saying goes, "Birds of a feather flock together!" I bet they were the ones helping Mr. Turkey all along, hiding my things and playing tricks on me!"

Escaped!

Later that morning I awoke to find my front gate barricade had been compromised, and that my turkey had indeed somehow escaped!:

"OMG, I didn't want to believe it, but it's true! Mr. Turkey is gone, all gone! No turkey! No turkey sandwiches! No turkey salad! No turkey gravy! Turkey Hash! Turkey a la King! Or gallons of turkey soup! Gone, ALL GONE!"

 

Farm Security

Just before going to bed I took some precautions to prevent any escape attempts:

"Well it's Thanksgiving Eve and I simply cannot afford to take any more chances with items or turkeys coming up missing. I need to get to the bottom of this situation and find out who has been helping Mr. Turkey. Therefore I have set up a barricade at the front gate and a security camera pointed directly at the Turkey pen. If anything else goes missing this time I'm gonna catch the culprit in the act! I also stationed my brigade of Helper Owls around the perimeter of the farm to serve as lookouts. Your days are numbered, Mr. Turkey! I don't care how smart you think you are, your goose is cooked now!"

Braggadocios Bird

Finally, just after midnight on November 28, a neighbor informed me in the comments that he had located the remaining missing items (grain sacks, axe & bucket) and solved the turkey's anagram!:

"My very smart neighbor Saxton Hale has located the final three missing items and solved Mr. Turkey's cryptic anagram. "I'll escape," Mr. Turkey says. I knew that braggadocios bird was taunting me! Well my friend, Mr. Turkey, I have news for you: You are going nowhere except on my grill tomorrow morning! We are on full lock down, people. It's Defcon 1 at Korova Farms! I will make the preparations shortly. In the interim, I thank you for your help, Saxton!"

Alec's Pile

Later still on November 27, 2013 a new message appeared:

"I was just replacing my dinner table that Cathy Perry found for me (Thanks Cathy!) and I noticed Mr. Turkey had changed his message yet again! Alec's Pile? Alec who? Alec Baldwin? How'd he get mixed up in this funny business? Any ideas, neighbors?"

I Spell Ace

Later on November 27, 2013 a helpful neighbor had found a few of the missing items:

"Super-Sleuth Sherry Symons Mitchell found my BBQ and Spice caddies. Thanks so much, Sherry! Gotta flavor that bird! Here's where we stand now:

Found: Spice Caddy, BBQ Caddy
Missing: Bucket, Chopping Block/Axe, Grain Sacks, BBQ Grill, Dinner Table"

While replacing the missing items I found the sign had changed again:

"Well here I am recovering the missing items that Sherry found for me and lo and behold I notice Mr. Turkey had changed his message while my back was turned! I still don't get what he's trying to tell us.... that he's a good speller?"

 Cathy Perry also found my dinner table a bit later...

Lace Piles

On November 27, 2013 I awoke to find a bunch of things missing and cryptic new message from the turkey.  I posted the following message, asking my neighbors for help:

"Egads! I come to my farm this morning to find it's ALL gone! No chopping block, no BBQ grill, no BBQ caddy, no dinner table, no spice rack... nothing! Even the sacks of grain are missing from the turkey pen, as well as the bucket I was going to use to hold his giblets! And what is this new message from Mr. Turkey? "Lace Piles?" What the heck is that supposed to mean? Ugh. I'm too upset to even think right now. I'm going to breakfast... Maybe you guys can make some headway on today's baffling mystery by the time I'm back. I'm at my wit's end with this turkey's shenanigans!"

Easel Clip

Even later still on November 27, 2013 a new message had appeared:

"Mr. Turkey is at it again. Lice Leaps? WTH? That's gross! I don't wanna eat no lice-infested turkey! Oh wait... bet that's what he wants me to think... Turkey reverse-psychology! I ain't fallin' for it!"

Then Cathy Perry then found my  BBQ grill.

Subsequently the turkey changed his message yet again:

"Another odd message. Each different, but using the same letters. Cathy thinks it may be an anagram!"

 

BBQ Grill Found!

Later still on November 26, 2013 I learned that my BBQ grill had been found by a neighbor, and I let everyone know:

"The ever-brilliant Sherry Symons Mitchell has proven herself to be a master detective, locating my missing BBQ grill in record time! It's a good thing too, seeing as it was hidden amongst some fall leaf piles behind my crafting kitchen. Total fire hazard! This turkey and his anonymous cohort(s) have gone too far this time. My whole farm could have burned down! Something must be done, and soon. What do you guys think?"

Where's the Grill?

Later on November 26, 2013 I had received information about what was missing from the photo and posted the following:

"The very clever and observant Sherry Symons Mitchell noticed from the previous photo that my BBQ grill has gone missing! Can't believe I didn't notice it before, but sure enough, it used to be right there next to the BBQ caddy and now it's gone! I really need to get it back, as it's crucial to preparing my Smoked Turkey Surprise recipe! If you visit my farm please take a look around let me know if you see it. Thanks, neighbors!"

On a Diet

 On November 26, 2013 another new message had appeared in the turkey pen, I posted:

"LOL, Mr. Turkey says he's on a diet today. Guess he figures I won't have him for dinner if he's too skinny to eat. But with 3 days to Thanksgiving, isn't it a bit late to start a diet Mr. Turkey? Oh well, I encourage you all to feed him when you visit and help me fatten him up for the big day. Diet or not, I know he can't resist a handful of feed!"

 I later posted the following comment:

"I keep looking at this picture and I feel like something is missing.... Can't put my finger on it. Anyone notice anything out of the ordinary?"

Spice Caddy Found

On November 25, 2013 I found my spice caddy, posting:

"Found my spice caddy! Spices back in hand, I'll surely prove Mr. Turkey wrong - He'll taste great!"

In Poor Taste

On November 24, 2013 I posted:

"Today Mr. Turkey claims he tastes bad. Coincidentally, my spice caddy has vanished! Anyone seen it?"

Buried the Hatchet

On November 23, 2013 I posted:

"Aha! I've found my missing chopping block and axe hidden behind the boat house! Mr. Turkey's still locked in his pen, so how did it get over here? Hmmm... He must have an accomplice... But who?"

Don't Eat Me

On November 22, 2013 another new message had appeared in the turkey pen, and my chopping block and axe had gone missing!  I posted:

"Turkey doesn't want us to eat him. Too bad he's so tasty! Hey where's my chopping block and axe?"

Rescue Me

On November 20, 2013 a new message had appeared in the turkey pen...  I again warned my visitors, posting:

"He's at it again! Clever bird - But don't fall for it! Leave Mr. Turkey to his delicious fate!"

Save Me

As of November 19, 2013, I noticed that my sign had been changed somehow.  My prized turkey seemed to have figured out what was going on and started using my sign to ask for help.  I warned any visiting neighbors not to pay the turkey any heed with the following post on Facebook:

"Dear visitors: Pay no attention to the messages being posted by my fine feathered friend, here."

Thanksgiving Turkey

It all started on November 7, 2013.  I reserved a special pen for my prized turkey and placed him inside along with my chopping block & axe and a sign that said "Thanksgiving."  I posted a picture of the scene on Facebook along with the following comment:

"Looking forward to Turkey Day now!"