Professor Brumbles Backyard Inventions

In Willowood Forest, Professor Brumble, an endearing inventor, navigates a world of whimsical mishaps with his loyal friends: Dotty the dear, Pip the adventurous blue bird, and Whiskers the clever rabbit. Together, they tackle hilarious inventions and unexpected adventures, proving that creativity and friendship make every challenge worthwhile.

Music by Villatic Music

Transcript

Hello friends,

My name is Wendy Bee,

I'm glad you are here.

It's time for adventure,

So come gather near.

Get comfy now,

Snuggle in tight,

Close your eyes and let your dreams take flight.

New wonders and magic will soon unfold,

Feel your body relax as the story is told.

Professor Brumwell's Backyard Inventions The sun was just beginning to peek over the tops of the trees in Willowwood Forest,

When a faint whirring sound floated out of Professor Brumwell's Backyard Workshop.

It was a quiet morning,

With the birds only beginning to chirp,

And the mist still wrapped itself around every branch and leaf,

But in Professor Brumwell's backyard,

Things were far from peaceful.

Inside the workshop,

Brumwell,

A grey squirrel with a wild tuft of fur on his head and a pair of goggles perched on his nose,

Was adjusting the gears on his newest invention,

A bubble-blowing bicycle.

To anyone else,

The bicycle might have looked like a strange contraption of pipes,

Gears,

And a big brass bubble-maker attached to the back,

But to Brumwell,

It was a masterpiece.

Today's the day,

Brumwell muttered,

Tightening the last screw,

The day the whole forest gets to see the brilliance of the Bubble Bike 3000.

Just as he said this,

Pip the Bluebird flitted through the open window and perched on the handlebars.

Good morning,

Professor,

Pip chirped.

Is it ready yet?

Oh,

Pip,

It's more than ready,

It's perfect,

Brumwell muttered.

Brumwell beamed.

Imagine,

Bubbles in every colour floating through the forest.

I'll make it so beautiful,

Everyone will thank me for bringing a little joy into their day.

Pip ruffled his feathers in excitement.

That sounds wonderful,

Brumwell.

Will there be blue bubbles?

Green ones?

Every colour you can think of,

Pip,

Brumwell said proudly.

With a quick hop,

Pip settled onto a nearby shelf,

Ready to watch the first test.

Brumwell climbed onto the bicycle and placed his paws on the handlebars,

Grinning from ear to ear.

Ready?

Here we go,

He called,

Pedalling furiously.

At first,

Everything seemed to work perfectly.

Little bubbles started to pop out of the bubble maker,

Glimmering in the sunlight as they floated around the workshop.

But as Brumwell pedalled faster,

Something odd began to happen.

The bubbles started getting bigger and bigger,

And popping with louder and louder splats.

Oh dear,

Brumwell muttered.

But before he could do anything,

The bubble machine let out a loud pop,

And a giant bubble formed around him,

Lifting the bicycle off the ground.

Help!

Help!

Brumwell cried as he floated up,

Trapped inside his own bubble.

Pip zoomed over,

Trying not to laugh.

Hold on,

Brumwell.

I'll get Dottie and Whiskers to help.

As Pip flew out to find the others,

Professor Brumwell floated helplessly in his bubble,

Watching the world from his wobbly airborne perch.

Outside Brumwell's workshop,

The forest was waking up to the sounds of morning,

Birds singing,

Leaves rustling,

And the faint scent of fresh pine on the breeze.

But these peaceful sounds were soon interrupted by a small bluebird,

Flapping madly through the trees.

Help!

Help!

Pip called as he spotted Dottie the deer and Whiskers the rabbit,

Munching on breakfast near a patch of clover.

Professor Brumwell's in trouble!

Dottie lifted her head,

Her big gentle eyes widening.

Oh dear,

What's happened now?

It's the Bubble Bike 3000,

Pip explained out of breath.

It,

Um,

Sort of lifted him into the air.

He's stuck in a giant bubble!

Whiskers' ears perked up.

A bubble?

Like a soap bubble?

That sounds fun!

It's not fun when you're floating up,

Up,

Up,

Pip replied,

Already turning back towards Brumwell's workshop.

Come on,

He needs our help!

Dottie and Whiskers exchanged a look,

Then hurried after Pip,

Their curiosity and concern with each step.

When they arrived at Brumwell's backyard,

The sight that greeted them was even more bizarre than Pip had described.

Professor Brumwell was indeed floating,

His bicycle suspended in mid-air,

Inside a massive bubble.

He waved frantically when he saw his friends.

Hello down there,

Lovely morning,

Isn't it?

He called,

Trying to keep calm.

Brumwell,

What have you done this time?

Dottie asked,

Trying not to giggle as she craned her neck to look up.

It's the Bubble Bike.

I must have adjusted the gears a bit too tightly.

Or maybe it was the soap to water ratio.

Brumwell trailed off,

Scratching his head.

Never mind,

Just get me down.

Whiskers hopped closer and squinted up at the bubble.

Can't you just,

You know,

Pop it?

I would if I could reach it,

But every time I try,

It just bounces me higher,

Brumwell said,

Attempting to stretch his arm towards the bubble wall.

As he pressed against it,

The bubble wobbled and bounced,

Sending him bobbing helplessly higher.

Dottie sighed,

Her warm smile never fading.

OK everyone,

Let's think this through.

We just need something sharp enough to pop the bubble.

Pip looked around,

Fluttering his wings thoughtfully.

How about a thorn?

I saw a thorn bush near the clearing.

Dottie nodded.

Good idea,

Pip.

Bring one over,

And Whiskers,

You can climb on my back to reach Brumwell.

Pip zipped off to fetch the thorn,

Returning moments later with a particularly pointed one in his beak.

Dottie knelt down,

Letting Whiskers hop onto her back and take the thorn carefully in his paws.

All right,

Here goes,

Whiskers said as he balanced on Dottie's back,

Reaching up towards Brumwell's bubble.

With a careful jab,

He pressed the thorn against the side.

Pop!

In an instant,

The bubble burst,

Sending Brumwell and his bike tumbling down.

He landed with a soft thud in a bed of moss,

His goggles askew,

But his grin still intact.

Well,

That was exhilarating,

Brumwell exclaimed,

Scrambling to his feet and brushing himself off.

Thank you,

Friends.

Dottie and Whiskers shared a look,

Trying to hide their amusement.

Brumwell?

Dottie began gently.

Maybe your inventions need a little more,

Um,

Testing before you show them to the whole forest.

Brumwell looked thoughtful,

Then waved a dismissive paw.

Testing,

Schmesting.

That's part of the fun,

Isn't it?

Besides,

I already have plans for my next creation.

Pop tilted his head,

A mixture of admiration and caution in his eyes.

What's it going to be this time,

Brumwell?

Oh,

Just wait and see,

Brumwell replied with a wink.

True to his words,

Professor Brumwell was back at work the very next day,

Hammering,

Twisting and clanking away in his workshop.

His friends kept a cautious distance,

But couldn't resist their curiosity.

By midday,

Brumwell's excited chatter could be heard from inside as he put the finishing touches on his latest invention.

At last,

Brumwell threw the door open,

His eyes gleaming with excitement.

Friends,

Gather around,

For I present to you the Butterfly Bouncer 5000!

Dottie,

Whiskers and Pip gathered around as Brumwell unveiled his newest creation.

A giant trampoline,

Decorated with flowers and leaves all along the edges.

Um,

It looks like a trampoline,

Whiskers said,

Scratching his head.

Oh,

It's so much more than that,

Brumwell replied,

Barely able to contain his excitement.

This trampoline is specifically designed for butterflies.

Just imagine,

The joy of seeing them bounce and flutter with glee.

With this invention,

Every butterfly will be able to reach new heights,

Literally.

Dottie lifted her head thoughtfully.

I suppose that sounds interesting,

But how do you get the butterflies to use it?

Brumwell pulled out a tiny container filled with sweet nectar.

I'll just sprinkle a little of this around the edges.

Butterflies love nectar,

So they'll come right to it.

With a flourish,

Brumwell began sprinkling the nectar along the trampoline's edge.

Within moments,

A few curious butterflies flitted over,

Landing gently on the soft fabric.

At first they seemed content to sip the nectar,

But as soon as Brumwell bounced the edge of the trampoline,

The butterflies bounced too,

Flittering up with tiny squeaks of surprise.

See!

Brumwell cried,

Clapping his paws together.

It works!

They love it!

But just as he spoke,

More and more butterflies started landing on the trampoline,

Drawn by the scent of the nectar.

Soon the whole trampoline was covered in colourful wings.

With each bounce,

The butterflies went flying up,

Only to land again in a jumble of wings and legs.

Oh dear!

Dotty said,

Backing away slightly as the trampoline started to shake from all the activity.

Brumwell,

I think there might be too many butterflies!

Dotty exclaimed.

Before Brumwell could respond,

The trampoline stretched and wobbled under the weight.

Then,

With a loud twang,

The fabric snapped.

Butterflies went zooming in every direction,

Some landing in nearby trees.

Others flapping about in dazed confusion.

Brumwell scratched his head,

Looking sheepish.

Well,

Maybe I didn't quite think that one through.

Whiskers,

Shaking his head with a grin,

Patted Brumwell on the back.

Don't worry,

Professor.

It was a good idea.

Just maybe a little bouncier than expected.

Dotty chuckled,

Helping a bewildered butterfly off her antlers.

Brumwell,

You certainly know how to keep things interesting around here.

Despite the mishap,

Brumwell smiled,

His inventive spirit undeterred.

You know,

That was still quite an impressive bounce.

Maybe I just need to make a stronger trampoline next time.

Pip looked at him with a mixture of admiration and concern.

Just let us know before you try it out,

OK?

Of course,

Brumwell replied cheerfully,

Already mentally planning his next creation.

And I've got another idea that'll top even this.

Wait until you see it.

Professor Brumwell didn't waste any time.

After the trampoline fiasco,

He spent the night scribbling in his notebook,

Brainstorming his next invention.

This time,

He was determined to create something that would impress his friends and maybe,

Just maybe,

Be a little less chaotic.

The following morning,

Dotty,

Whiskers and Pip gathered near Brumwell's workshop.

A mixture of excitement and apprehension in their eyes.

What do you think he's up to now?

Dotty asked,

Peering cautiously towards the workshop door.

Well,

As long as it doesn't involve bouncing or bubbles,

I think we're safe,

Whiskers said with a grin.

Just then,

The workshop door flew open and Professor Brumwell stepped out,

His eyes gleaming with excitement.

This time,

He held a peculiar-looking contraption,

Shaped like a cannon,

With a tube on one end and a funnel on the other.

The entire device was decorated with spirals and painted in bright red.

Friends,

Brumwell announced proudly,

I present to you the Tomato Tornado.

Pip tilted his head,

Trying to make sense of the new invention.

A tomato tornado?

Indeed,

Brumwell replied,

His tail twitching with excitement.

This machine can harvest tomatoes,

Peel them and launch them into the air in a perfectly tossed salad.

Ideal for our forest picnics.

Dotty raised an eyebrow.

Are you sure it's safe,

Brumwell?

It seems like every time you invent something,

Things get a little out of hand.

Oh,

Pish posh,

Brumwell said,

Waving his paw dismissively.

I've double-checked everything this time.

Now,

Allow me to demonstrate.

With a determined look,

Brumwell positioned the Tomato Tornado near a patch of tomatoes growing in his garden.

He twisted a lever and the machine hummed to life,

Whirring and clanking with a steady rhythm.

At first,

Everything worked smoothly.

One by one,

Tomatoes rolled up into the funnel,

Where they were quickly peeled and sliced by a set of spinning blades.

Brumwell grinned as the neatly sliced tomatoes popped out of the cannon.

Landing in a bowl,

He'd set up a few feet away.

See?

Perfectly sliced tomatoes.

Isn't it marvellous?

Brumwell said,

Beaming at his friends.

Dotty and Whiskers exchanged impressive glances,

Nodding approvingly.

It actually works,

Whiskers said,

Hopping closer to get a better look.

But just as Brumwell was about to celebrate his successful invention,

The machine began to shake.

The hum grew louder,

And the cannon started to twitch and rattle.

Um,

Brumwell,

Is it supposed to be doing that?

Hep asked,

Wishing backwards.

Brumwell's eyes widened.

Oh dear,

It seems the motor might be a tad over-enthusiastic.

Before he could turn the machine off,

The tomato tornado let out a loud vrrr and began launching tomatoes at lightning speed.

Bright red tomatoes shot through the air in every direction,

Splattering against trees,

Bushes and,

Unfortunately,

Brumwell's friends.

Splat!

A tomato hit Dotty squarely on the nose.

Splat!

Another landed right on top of Whiskers' head.

Soon,

The entire forest clearing was a mess of flying tomatoes.

Brumwell!

Dotty squealed,

Trying to dodge an incoming tomato.

Turn it off!

I'm trying!

Brumwell shouted,

Frantically pulling levers and twisting knobs.

But instead of stopping,

The tomato tornado sped up,

Launching tomatoes faster and faster until the whole clearing looked like a chaotic red storm.

Finally,

With one last tug on a lever,

Brumwell managed to shut the machine down.

The whirring stopped and the clearing fell silent,

Save for the sound of squishy tomatoes sliding off leaves and branches.

Brumwell looked around,

Taking in the sight of his tomato-covered friends.

Dotty was dripping with tomato juice,

Her normally neat fur sticking out in every direction.

Whiskers tried to wipe a tomato off his ears,

But only succeeded in smearing it further.

Pip,

Who had wisely flown up to a branch,

Gave Brumwell a sympathetic look.

Well,

That didn't go quite as planned,

Brumwell said sheepishly,

Adjusting his goggles.

Dotty let out a soft sigh and then burst into laughter.

Oh Brumwell,

You do have a knack for making a mess.

Whiskers joined in,

Giggling as he tried to clean his fur.

We're like a bunch of walking salads!

Next time,

Let's invent something that doesn't involve food,

Okay?

Brumwell chuckled,

His inventive spirit still undeterred.

Alright,

Alright,

Maybe the tomato tornado was a bit ambitious,

But don't worry.

I have another idea for an even better invention.

It's something small,

Simple and completely mess-free.

Dotty raised an eyebrow,

Smiling despite herself.

Well,

I suppose we'll just have to wait and see.

The next morning,

Brumwell was at it again,

Hammering and tinkering away in his workshop.

This time,

He was determined to make something that wouldn't cause a mess.

After all,

How much trouble could tiny inventions cause?

His friends,

Curious as ever,

Gathered outside the workshop,

Waiting to see what Brumwell would come up with this time.

The door swung open and Brumwell stepped out,

Holding a tiny pair of shoes with small wings attached to the soles.

Ladies and gentlemen,

He announced proudly,

I give you the Hover Shoes for Ants!

Dotty blinked.

Hover Shoes?

For ants?

Precisely.

These little beauties will help ants carry heavy loads with ease.

Just imagine,

The ants will be able to float from place to place,

Making their work so much easier.

Whiskers stretched his head.

But,

Do ants ever need Hover Shoes?

Oh,

They will,

Once they see how fun it is,

Brumwell replied,

Already searching for an ant to try them on.

After a few minutes,

Brumwell found a tiny ant named Andy,

Who agreed to try on the Hover Shoes.

Brumwell carefully slipped the shoes onto Andy's tiny feet and twisted a small dial on each one.

With a soft hum,

The shoes began to vibrate and slowly but surely,

Andy started to lift off the ground.

The little ant looked delighted,

Waving his tiny arms as he hovered a few inches above the dirt.

See,

Isn't it marvellous?

Brumwell exclaimed.

Andy's as light as a feather.

Dotty,

Pip and Whiskers clapped,

Watching as Andy floated gently around.

But as Brumwell reached to turn off the shoes,

Andy suddenly zoomed forward,

The shoes lifting him higher and higher until he was bobbing near the tree branches.

Uh-oh,

Brumwell muttered.

It seems I miscalculated the power level.

The friends watched in awe and a bit of worry as Andy zipped through the air,

Narrowly missing branches and leaves.

The little ant looked both thrilled and slightly terrified,

Waving down at them as he floated above their heads.

Brumwell,

Dotty said,

Stifling a laugh.

If you don't get him down soon,

He'll be flying around all day.

Brumwell scrambled to adjust the controls,

But it took several tries before he managed to turn off the hover shoes.

Andy floated down,

Landing safely back on the ground,

Looking a bit dizzy but smiling.

Thank you for the ride,

Professor Brumwell,

Andy said with a tiny salute before scurrying off.

Brumwell sighed,

His inventing enthusiasm only slightly dimmed.

Well,

I suppose hover shoes aren't for everyone.

Pip patted Brumwell's shoulder with his wing.

Never mind,

Maybe you'll get it right next time,

Brumwell,

But no matter what,

You always make things interesting.

Brumwell grinned,

Already dreaming up his next invention.

Oh,

Just wait,

My friends,

The best is yet to come.

After the tomato tornado and the hover shoes mishap,

Professor Brumwell was more determined than ever to create something truly helpful.

He wanted an invention that would make life easier for all his friends and leave them cheering instead of dodging tomatoes or tiny flying ants.

One morning,

Brumwell called his friends together and announced,

Today,

I present a tool that's both practical and exciting.

A true breakthrough.

Behold,

The great grapple gadget.

Dottie looked sceptical at first.

What is it supposed to do,

Brumwell?

Ah,

I'm glad you asked,

Brumwell said,

Holding up a small device that looked like a slingshot with a metal claw at the end.

This gadget can grab anything from far away.

Imagine,

We won't have to climb trees to reach fruit or ask Pip to fly and fetch things for us.

With just one pull of this lever,

Brumwell pulled the lever back for demonstration,

The great grapple gadget will extend and grip onto anything.

Pip fluffed his feathers in approval.

Finally,

Something useful.

I could definitely use a break from playing fetch.

Brumwell grinned with pride and aimed the gadget towards a cluster of apples hanging from a tree.

Observe,

My friends.

He pulled the lever and with a springy whizz,

The metal claw shot towards the apples,

Grabbing one and bringing it back.

His friends clapped,

Genuinely impressed.

For once,

The invention seemed to work just as Brumwell promised.

Finally,

Dottie said laughing,

You did it,

Brumwell.

It actually works without a hitch.

Encouraged by their praise,

Brumwell decided to test the gadget further.

Let's see what else it can grab.

I'll try something a little further away,

He said,

Spotting a tiny pebble on the other side of the clearing.

But when he pulled the lever again,

He accidentally aimed a bit too high.

The claw shot out,

Zooming past the pebble and disappearing into the bushes.

Before Brumwell could reel it back in,

They heard a very loud crash,

Followed by a grumpy voice bellowing.

Who dares disturb my nap?

Dottie gasped.

Oh no,

That sounds like Mr.

Grumbleton.

Mr.

Grumbleton was a large and rather grouchy tortoise who valued his peace and quiet more than anything else.

He lived in a burrow near the clearing and he did not appreciate being disturbed.

Brumwell's face paled.

Oh dear,

I didn't mean to.

Just then,

Mr.

Grumbleton appeared,

Wearing the metal claw around his shell like a makeshift hat.

He scrawled at Grumble and his friends.

What is the meaning of this?

He grumbled,

Glaring at the gadget.

Brumwell fumbled with the lever,

Trying to release the claw,

But it only tightened its grip on Mr.

Grumbleton's shell,

Making the tortoise even more irritated.

I demand to know what sort of foolish contraption this is,

He said,

Stomping his foot.

Dottie stepped forward,

Trying to smooth things over.

Mr.

Grumbleton,

It was an accident.

Professor Brumwell just got a bit too excited with his new invention.

Mr.

Grumbleton humphed,

Turning his nose up.

Well,

Perhaps he should take a break from his inventions.

They seem to cause nothing but trouble.

Brumwell managed to unhook the claw,

Finally freeing Mr.

Grumbleton,

Who grumbled all the way back to his burrow.

The friends turned to Brumwell,

Who looked rather sheepish.

Perhaps a bit of practice is in order,

He admitted,

Scratching his head.

Dottie patted his back.

Don't worry,

Brumwell,

It's still a good invention.

Maybe we just need to work on the aim a little.

Despite the mishaps,

Brumwell wasn't about to give up.

After all,

Inventing was what he loved most,

And his friends' encouragement kept him going.

For his next creation,

He decided to make something that possibly couldn't go wrong,

A simple,

Harmless lantern.

It's quite simple,

Really,

Brumwell explained to his friends the next morning,

Holding up a glass jar filled with small holes.

I call it the Glowbug Lantern.

At night,

We'll put fireflies inside,

And their glow will give us light,

No need for dangerous flames or flickering torches.

His friends nodded approvingly.

Even Mr.

Grumbleton,

Who was sulking nearby,

Seemed intrigued.

Let's test it tonight,

Dottie suggested,

Already imagining a lovely glowing forest path.

That evening,

Brumwell carefully placed a few fireflies inside the lantern,

And as they buzzed around inside,

The lantern glowed with a warm,

Gentle light.

It's beautiful,

Pippix claimed,

His eyes wide with admiration.

They decided to take the lantern on a walk through the woods,

Lighting up the path as they went.

Everything was going smoothly until Whiskers gave the lantern a little shake to see if it would make the light flicker.

The fireflies became startled and began buzzing around wildly,

Making the lantern light up like a disco ball.

The flickering light attracted the attention of the local owls,

Who,

Mistaking the lantern for a strange insect,

Swooped down to investigate.

Uh-oh,

Pipp whispered,

Noticing the owls circling them.

I think they think it's food.

One particularly large owl swooped down,

Grabbed the lantern in its claws and flew off with it.

The friends watched in shock as their glowbug lantern disappeared into the night.

Oh dear,

Brumwell said,

Scratching his head.

Maybe we should have put a lid on it.

Dottie burst into laughter,

Patting Brumwell's shoulder.

I think that owl just wanted a bit of light for his nest.

Even Whiskers couldn't help but giggle.

Don't worry,

Brumwell,

You made a good lantern,

We just need to make sure it stays on the ground next time.

Brumwell grinned,

His spirits high despite the mishap.

He knew that no matter how many accidents happened,

His friends would always support him.

And that made inventing all the more enjoyable.

After a few more days of tinkering and experimenting,

Brumwell finally created something that was foolproof,

Safe and incredibly helpful to everyone in Willowood.

He called it the Berry Picker 2000.

It was a simple tool with soft claws that gently plucked berries from bushes without damaging them.

It didn't make any noises,

It didn't launch anything through the air,

And it definitely didn't attract owls.

The Berry Picker 2000 worked flawlessly,

Gathering berries by the dozen.

Dottie,

Pip and Whiskers all cheered as they collected baskets of berries for their picnic.

This is a brilliant invention,

Brumwell,

Dottie said,

Grinning as she sampled a plump blueberry.

Brumwell beamed with pride.

Thank you,

Friends.

I couldn't have done it without your support,

Even when things got a little messy.

As they enjoyed their berry picnic,

They laughed about all the adventures they had had together,

From the bubble chaos to the tomato tornado and even the flying firefly lantern.

They knew that no matter what,

Life in Willowwood Forest would always be a little brighter and a bit more adventurous with Professor Brumwell's inventive spirit around.

And so,

From that day on,

Brumwell continued to invent,

Each gadget a little bit better than the last,

With his friends always there to help and cheer him on no matter what and sometimes dodge a flying tomato or two.

The End Thank you for joining me,

My friends.

I hope you enjoyed today's adventure.

If you would like to hear another story,

Please check out The Monster in the Closet.

Now,

Sweet dreams and good night.