Tuesday, October 30, 2007

The Rut in Full Swing

WPXI News Bulletin: "Pa. Residents More Likely For Deer-Related Accidents Than Other States"


And, "Pennsylvania drivers beware: The state holds the top spot -- again -- for the highest number of deer-vehicle crashes." We're Number One!.... We're Number One!....


This, after a lovely weekend trip to Ohio, in which Aunt Emma and I surveyed the fall sights.



Her, as we round a bend on Hwy 77: "Oh, look at that hillside. The sun on those sycamore trees is magnificent!"

Me, craning to get a better look as we whiz by yet another dead deer: "Was that a buck? Could you see an antler in that?*"

*note, at this point, Emma is in road-kill reaction mode, simultaneously snapping her eyes and the car vents shut.



A perfect illustration of one of the differences between the hunters and non-hunters

To Them, such carnage indicates renewed danger to life, limb and property and possibly a sudden triggering of the gag reflex.

To Us, 10 roadkill bucks in a weekend means one thing:

The Rut is On!

Finally.

Hunting in earnest.

Enough of this warm weather yuck.

Hello Crisp Leaves who signal the approach and location of woodland animals.

Welcome Cooler Temperatures as you rekindle the fauna's fall mating season, sparking fire in their loins... and keep our meat cold while it hangs from our deck.

Hail Rut!
Your ephemeral charm,
works temporarily to disarm
the habitually wily and wary big Buck
rendering him loopy
, dumbfounded, lovestruck.

You shamelessly transform the confusing noise
of my grunt call and rattling antler decoys,
into ungulate poetry, the likes of Lord Byron's,
calling ever so sweetly, the Song of their Sirens.


Meanwhile, the Report from the Treestand...

I missed an 8pt this morning.
Buck fever strikes again.

Several deer pranced in the far corner of the field near dusk- the mating dance continues.

Finally, not one, not two, but three gray foxes trotted through my treeline. And, even from 20ft up, I couldn't help but notice that Foxes 2 and 3 had hearts in their eyes as they caught sight of Fox 1's teasing tail twitch.

What a rare treat -
too be reminded that their cautious, deft, and light movements suggest cat, not dog; to notice the black stripe down the back of their tails, the bright rusty orange and white markings, brilliant against their gray coat, and the surreal bubbly sound of their laughing bark.

Just look at that picture...

I think I'm
a little in love too.





Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Need a Lift?



Coffee & Cornflakes in the am

Kick starting the day

Kami & I saw her @ IUP.
She played 2 pianos simultaneously.
I was Thunderstruck.

Oh that I could play like that... What I would GIVE to play like that...


(For starters, how 'bout giving it lots of hours of practice? There. That'd help.)

That's right, it takes WORK people!

As Cosmo so eloquently expressed yesterday, in my 1st ever Bilingual Txt Msg~


"...toma bastante esfuerzo, pero con el tiempo es 'rewarding'. ..la recompensa es grande si el esfuerzo es grande. Y si se tiene las herramientas necesarias, como un diccionario- o google je je."

Kick it!

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Tiny Triumph


Tiny T has been getting straight Unsatisfactories on his Report Card.

He has been "Unwilling to Participate" in:
  • trotting
  • cantering
  • walking
  • frankly, any and all activities involving a rider
Montana Stacey, Tiny T's owner/trainer/slave, has changed tactics. Embracing her Inner Peppermint Patty, she's showing him some tough love... with "miraculous" results.

Go Stace!


Smells like...


Guess what came in the mail ...besides Netflix.

There was also a "Fall Blend" ~ appealing, in a Martha Stewarty way.

Soon, it will be time for the one that gave Jen & Stace the giggles.

Note: in select instances, giggles are appropriate.

And finally, there's this year's favorite among the deer. Bless their hearts, the rascals... still can't read very well.


ps: now, has anybody seen my hammock?

"There's Always More to the Story"


I lifted this, title and all, from rblog


Monday, October 08, 2007

All 4 The Best!


"Yes! It's all for the Best!"

I just love youtube. This song (click on the picture) has been a constant companion in my life. Our more memorable moments:

  • the cousins, in the basement at Mt. Hope, singing AND dancing AND operating the Record Player by ourselves!
  • including it on a mixed tape for a friend @ college- a preemtive strike of optimism/hope.
  • tha-rilled, as an adult (circa Alias Frenzy) to realize that our beloved SpyDaddy was, in fact, Jesus.
  • singing it in the car w/ Liz- each taking one part until the end when it's a free-for-all w/ the extraneous comments

and now....

something new.


Post 9-11. Closing shot. Twin Towers. All for the best?

a thought I return to constantly... where is the Good in this? this? this? this? this?...

Where is the opportunity in disaster? What is this situation (pick one) asking of me? of us? who IS "us?" In the end, how will the hard events -and our reaction- reveal who we were? Did we fold to our worst fears? Or, did we listen for a Higher Calling, and respond?

Postemptive Hope Strike
- 3rd vid, "Looking for the Helpers"

Sunday, October 07, 2007

Turkey Feathers Abound

I found 3 turkey feathers on my way out of the woods Friday morning.