mmmmmmmm

"mmmmmmmmmmm
mmmmmmmMOMmmmmmm
I can smell them again.
Can we go get some? Pleeeez?"
Mom raised her head from her lunch, testing the wind and scanning the scene.
She started a slow journey toward the goal, stopping often and looking.
He cavorted around her, hoping to hurry her progress.
"C'mon. The crows will have them all gone."
She was not to be hurried.
Bite. Glance. Munch. Sniff. Chew. Listen.
Finally, she deemed safety to be assured, and set off toward the apple tree.
Despite her leisurely fashion, they arrived at the fruit soon.
He bit into another apple, now knowing what they were and how good they tasted.
"Yummm....."
He raised his head to chew and saw the Two Legs come around the side of the barn.
With no thought, he flagged his white tail and took off for the Big Woods, his mother in his wake.

Tag!

"Tag! You're It."
He jumped straight up into the air, landing on the leap around the meadow.
His sister restrained herself for only a second, before she, too, bounced after him.
Twisting, turning, obvious joy in their capabilities, the youngsters rode with the wind. Their mother raised her head from her grazing and watched them placidly. They were young, free, and alive. They had no worries or cares. She knew she was their lookout and protector, and she continued her watchfulness.
Mom is on Guard.

But....

He bumped his big sister with his shoulder as they grazed on the sweet grass.
"Why? Why did Mom make us run to the woods and leave those juicy apples? Why?"
She looked at him contemptuously from her yearling height.
"Didn't you see the Two Legs? Don't you remember you are to RUN whenever you see one of those?"
She tossed her head and lowered it to munch once more on the vegetation.
He hit her shoulder with his head. "No, I didn't see anything like that."
"Well, you'd better be learning this stuff. Mom has been telling you every since you were born."
"Why do we run from Two Legs?"
Her eyes got big and round.
"Because sometimes Two Legs have noisy sticks and they hurt us. You are such a baby....don't you remember anything?"
"Well, I've heard about that...but I never saw it. I just ran because Mom gave the signal. I wasn't scared. I'm not scared of anything."
He reached up into the tree and chose a few delectable leaves.
"Did that Two Legs have a noisy stick? Huh? Did it?"
"I'm not sure, but you have to obey the signal. It's how you can stay alive."
They lowered their heads and got back the the important business of feeding themselves.

Elusive

"Smell them? Over there, in that grove of trees."
She raised her head and pointed daintily with her nose.
The Little One tried to do the same thing, in the same direction.
"All I can smell is the grass. Oh, and tree smells."
He sniffed again.
They walked warily toward the grove.
He gradually became aware of a new hint of something.
They arrived at the trees, and there on the ground were big roundish lumps of something. Something smelling very good.
She took a tiny bite of one of the lumps.
"Mmmmmm"
He licked the spot where she had broken the skin.
"ooohhh...yummy"
He found his own apple and took tiny bites of it.
His mother flipped her white tail and signaled "Run".
With no question, he followed her back to the Big Woods.

Truth is Stranger....

Nobody would make this up. The Republican candidate for governor who won the primary will not be joined by his choice of Lt. Governor. Seems people voted for "the other guy's" Lt. Gov. They are both from "upstate", so it should be interesting. The other party's opponent is the son of a former governor and is from the NYC area. A classic example of "upstate" vs "downstate".

"Take Out the Trash"

We now have a candidate in New York who has promised to go to Albany, the capital city, to clean it up and take out the trash. He promises to serve only one term (4 years) and lower our taxes by 10%. He pledges to get the legislature to pass an on-time (April 1) budget. He plans to fire many government workers and set up a Dignity Corps, where out-of-work citizens could receive training in basic humanity and learn to work.
Watch this coming campaign. It should be at least as interesting as "Survivor" or "Celebrity Dance". Perhaps even something permanent could come from it!

Primarily

Today is our state's primary election. One of my political information sites called it the "Primarily Election". I'm sure it was just a typo, but at least, first and foremost, we will be voting. We get to choose who will be our party's representative in November. In a normal year, there would be relatively few people going to the polls. I'm thinking this may not be considered a "normal" year. With all the Tea Party activity that is going on, this may be considered an extraordinary year. The polls don't open upstate until noon. I'm hoping to see landslide statements for the conservative candidates. Should be interesting!

Dust

What is it?
Why does it keep accumulating?
I would really be in favor of a device to remove all the dust from the air, so I wouldn't be forced/encouraged/required to remove it from the books and the desk and the top of all the junk just sitting there.
We don't have a dog, so we can't blame an animal.
Our wood stove isn't in operation at this time of year.
So....why do we have dust?
I guess it's sort of like mosquitos....a penalty for the fall.
Of course, Eve probably didn't worry about dust, in her arboreal atrium.
If I didn't have a house, I wouldn't worry about dust.
But...I don't think I'll become an outdoor dweller.
Especially with winter coming on.
So, get out the Swiffer and hope it does the job!

How Sweet it IS!!

One of the best things about this time of year, gustatorially speaking, is sweet corn. Our local farmer and corn grower plants every three days in the spring, so that he can keep his large clientele happy in the fall. And THIS client is very happy. Guests from Plattsburgh and Virginia took corn home with them. I put some in the freezer. It will be even more appreciated in November and December!

Diversity

It really wasn't a boring week. Just lots of different activities and emotions. Daughter and dog visited Thursday-Friday. We had a chance to stop and see one of her high school friends and 3 sons. They are a busy family, but seem happy.
I received word of the death of a long-time church friend. I had visited her twice at the hospital, and I'm really glad I took the opportunity to do so. Her condition didn't appear that serious, but she had told her doctor, "Make me better or euthanize me!" I don't think he did that, but apparently God had decided it was time for her to come home. Her memorial service will be this Tuesday.
I had the job of telling another friend in the nursing home about her death. I was somewhat worried about doing that, but she was resigned. I guess when you get to be over 80, "surprise" is not an option about a friend's death. I remember my grandmother and later my dad both said, "All my friends are gone and I'm the only one left here."
I also spent some time trying to arrange openings for musical friends who were planning to be in the area. Thank goodness I couldn't do so, since they never got here. The people in the area they were serving wanted them to stay and help work out some problems.
I attended a ladies' mission meeting yesterday, at which a husband and wife team reported on the maternity home they manage. It's a Christian option to abortion, and the mothers and babies are allowed to stay for a year after the child's birth. During the time there, the ladies learn housekeeping, parenting, personal finance, etc. I found their report interesting. They work in unision with the local Care Net organization.
Last night we tried out a new cafe with another couple who wanted to treat us because my husband had spent several hours finding an item for them out in a hay field!
And on that note of mystery, I will close this post.