For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Good morning to all of you on this beautiful Saturday! The sun is shining, but it is cool and windy and…what happened to the sun? As I look up the blue sky has disappeared and either clouds or smoke has come to block the sun once more. That happened fast. Though I admit, I wasn’t watching the sky, it was nice blue sky just a few minutes ago. Now it’s cloudy everywhere I look. And it feels even cooler now too, though the temp hasn’t changed, but the sun is no longer shining on me. Time to retreat back indoors. That sun sure makes a difference. It has been cooler here for the last couple of weeks, all because the smoke had blocked the sun from giving us it’s summer warmth.
So instead of being in the high 80s (F), it was in the mid to high 70s (F). As of last night there are 124 forest fires burning here, 102 are not under control, 22 are under control or being held. Because of the cooler temps and higher humidity, the fires are not spreading much, so that’s a good thing. Apparently it is smoke that has now blocked the sun from shining here once again. I was hoping for a sunny day and perhaps a walk to the river again. I haven’t been to the river for 13 days now. I miss that solitude, sitting on the bench overlooking the river. Listening to the birds chirping and flying all around. Squirrels scampering around looking for the pine cones they have just finished cutting down, or perhaps in the process of cutting them down from those tall pines.
They must get quite a view from up there, a hundred feet or more above the ground. Some of those trees are well past the hundred foot height. There’s those squirrels, hanging upside down at the end of a branch, swaying in the breeze, beginning to gather their winter supply of food. Then of course there’s the dragonflies and butterflies, plus other insects, just waiting to be photographed. And all those beautiful wildflowers…well, okay, there’s not many wildflowers left, they all dried out already. But there is the families of ducks, geese and pelicans on the river as well. And the loons, their calls echoing down the river. Now we’re talking solitude.
Speaking of bears, Thursday evening at about 9:45 I heard a noise on the deck, it was a large black bear. But it didn’t stay long, just looked around and left again, so that’s okay. At about 10pm I hear a crash and Muffin runs to the window. She sees something, but I don’t. Even when I went to feed the gulls in the morning I still didn’t notice anything. But a little later I’m on the deck, the chickadees show up and I put some seeds out for them. That’s when I noticed. The bear had pushed over the apple tree to get at all those delicious apples.
It’s not a huge tree, about 15 feet tall, but it did have a lot of apples, which that bear wanted. The bear came back last night at 9:30pm to finish what it had left the night before. It seemed to be really enjoying himself/herself, just laying there munching on those nice big apples. There didn’t seem to be any apples left this morning, but I certainly wasn’t going down there to check. The birds liked that tree in the winter, it was close to the feeder. Oh well. The chipmunks are chipping, so it’s time to feed them again. I hope each of you has a wonderful weekend and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
ยฉ2021 Steve McLeod.
Have a great day ๐
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Thanks Dusty and same to you!๐๐บ
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It’s raining here!! Finally!! I hope it lasts all day!! We can sure use it!!
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Wow! Actual rain??๐ฒ๐ฒโโโ
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Well… kinda lol…. it stopped around noon or just after. But we do have a couple of mud puddles!๐๐
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Wow! Real puddles! Haven’t seen that for ages!๐๐โ
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Yeah no kidding!! I almost jumped in it!! But then I thought of you and your wet feet!!๐๐๐
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That’s okay, go ahead and do it, just for me!๐๐
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I don’t like wet feet!!๐๐๐
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How strange.๐
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Yes… the feel of wet feet is very strange!!
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I don’t think so.๐ค๐
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That’s cuz you’re used to it!!๐๐
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Oh yeah? Who says so?๐
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You did! You spilled the water yesterday! You said so..
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That’s better, since you have documented evidence from a world authority on the subject.
Sorry it took so long to get back, didn’t plan that, things just turned out crazy busy this afternoon.๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ณ๐ณ๐คฏ๐คฏ
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It happened to me a week ago.. so I know how it goes.. no worries!!
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I don’t mind a busy day if I plan it, but these unplanned busy days are, are…well, they are!๐ณ๐
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A pain to endure? Yes they are!!๐คช๐คช
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That’s IT!!๐คฏ๐คฏ๐คฏ๐คฏ๐คฏ๐๐๐
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What’s it?? Where??๐ณ๐ณ
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What you said.๐ค๐๐
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I did?? Really?? Oh wow! I didn’t even realize it!!๐๐๐ Thanks for noticing Steve! ๐๐
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What? I noticed something? And I wasn’t even paying attention!๐๐๐๐๐ฅณ๐ฅณ
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Saving money too??๐ฒ๐ฒ
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I’m always looking for the best deal.
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You’re good at it!!๐๐
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I try hard, but it’s not easy. I’m usually too soft for something hard.๐๐๐๐
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I’m gonna be careful here! I understand! I’m a softy too๐๐๐
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You did mention gaining weight.๐ค๐๐ณ
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Yes I did… but actually I have been losing weight… just don’t have an appetite or feel like cooking anymore and I’m tired of restaurant food. I only had a small salad with the burger and only ate the thin lower half of the bun. Easier than walking too.๐ฅฒ
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Since you only ate the thin lower half of the bun on your burger, wouldn’t it have been cheaper to stay home and eat a slice of bread?
But I agree with the first part, no appetite, don’t feel like cooking and who wants to walk up and down the driveway?๐๐๐ถโโ๏ธ๐ถโโ๏ธ๐ถโโ๏ธ๐ถโโ๏ธ
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Well I did eat the meat, mushrooms , onions and cheese too..
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AHA! I thought so!๐๐๐
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I was trying to make you less envious๐๐๐
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That was nice of you. I think.๐ค๐๐
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Thank you for thinking that!๐๐๐๐
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I was trying to be nice.๐๐
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And you were!! Very nice and kind!๐๐๐๐
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Thank you for thinking so. As they say in the old country, “laughing is better than sitting in a cold rain.”
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I will take that anyday!!๐๐
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But not too far!๐๐
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As far is can take me!!๐๐๐๐๐
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Oh, just across the street, no problem then. I noticed you didn’t like my Saturday’s Smiles post.๐คจ
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You just posted it 20 minutes ago!!๐๐
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Who said?๐ค
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My phone!! It tells me when it posted!๐
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Oh sure, and you’re going to believe a piece of mechanical technology that can’t even give a proper forecast.๐๐๐๐
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Uh huh!! Sure am!๐๐ I have been checking regularly all day for new posts by you!! And I had just checked 30 minutes before you told me.๐ค๐ค๐๐
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That proves you can’t trust your phone!๐๐ I was going to do another chapter of my story today, but then I didn’t have time. So sad. Waiting till Monday is just so hard!๐ฌ๐ฌ
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It is very difficult to wait!!๐๐
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That depends how much a person eats!๐คฃ๐คฃ
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That’s the only kind of weight I don’t have trouble with!!๐๐๐๐๐๐
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I apparently can’t spell tonight! As far as it can take me
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I figured that’s what you meant.๐
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Thank you!๐๐
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Welcome!๐
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My friend came home from the hospital last night. He’s still having a very hard time breathing… I sure hope he has the strength for this battle.
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Yes, doesn’t sound like it will be an easy one.
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I guess you can’t be blamed for the bear wanting to take apples off of your tree. Hopefully he’ll find somewhere else to go now that there are no apples left…
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He’ll probably keep coming back for a few nights, they always do that when they have found some good food. But he will stop eventually. At least this one comes at night, that’s not so bad.
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I like how you find something positive to say about the bear coming around… ๐
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They are a beautiful animal, like the one that showed up today, but they are best viewed from a distance.๐๐ป
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I couldn’t agree more…
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Thanks!
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Those would have been good pics of the bear munching on the apples ! Glad you remained in the house ! And I am sure Muffin is happy too !.Sleep safely ! ๐ด๐ผ๐ป๐๐๐
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Well, it was kind of dark at the time, so no way I would go out there. If it had been during the day I would have tried for a picture. Have a good night!๐๐๐ด๐ท๐ป๐
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Bears ๐ป seem to love your area ๐ฎ๐ณ
I do not have bears โฆ up the Mountain more there are bears – but not where I am โฆ Instead during fall and winter โฆ and into spring – I have coyotes ๐บ
They are loud and just scream all over the place ๐คจ at like 2am ๐คจ๐
During day is fineโฆ not much to attack you lol โฆ however we also have rattle snakes ๐ in the summer so they are a thing that is scary ๐ณ๐ฎ
I just have memories of cotton mouth snakes from Florida – they would attack – is a python type.
So snakes make me really nervous lol
Snakes ๐ โฆand spiders ๐ท โฆand bears ๐ปโฆ oh my!! Lol
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I wish our bears were somewhere else too,๐๐ป they make it hard to get out and enjoy the summer.๐๐๐ณ But really it’s just close to town where they are bad. They come looking for food all the time. Further from town you hardly see any.
Yep, we have coyotes too,๐บ but not as many now, mange killed off a lot of them and our foxes.๐ฆ But both are making a come back now, especially the foxes, which is fine.๐๐บ
Our snakes are safe, no poison.๐ I have laid down right beside them to get pictures.๐ท๐ Nice and friendly. I wouldn’t like having poisonous snakes around.
Something for everyone I guess!๐๐ป๐บ๐ฆ๐๐ฆ๐
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In Maine โฆ I was staying with my brother one time (he now lives in Texas) but I was visiting him in Maineโฆ
It was foggy ๐ซ and eerie looking night โฆ I had his German shepherd on a leash outside with me before bedโฆ
When all of the sudden there is this SCREAM like is a woman being murdered ๐ฎ omg and it was foggy and Iโm in a deep dark forest ๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ฎ
Just like screaming – I had to pull the dog inside and get my brother to help me lol โฆ
He said it was a red Fox or something
I donโt have foxes around the area I am in – or if I do, they do not be noticed.
We occasionally will have a lone mountain Lion ๐ฆ once in a blue moon – lost his way or food or something? Thatโs always a big deal lol
We also have bobcats but they donโt bother with you and are more afraid of you.
The bobcats I have seen have been small, like a housecat (little bigger) but sleeker and big ears with little hair whips on them lol
Very cute – but you still stay away.
We have skunks ๐ฆจ..
โฆand opossums lol ๐โฆ they are funny with how they are ๐๐โค๏ธ they remind me of something but I can not think of what?
We have deer ๐ฆ galore!! Omg โฆ a lot of babies around this year!!
Some of the older ones are not afraid and will be right there when I come home and just stand there and watch me go to my door lol ๐๐
I have tons of rabbits ๐ and Jack rabbits – maybe some hybrids of the 2? Because some look like a mix of the 2 ? But I canโt tell
One rabbit has taken liking to me lol โฆ he meets me at my door most mornings and then comes up to my car with me lol
His color on his body is brownโฆ but he has the cutest looking bum ๐๐ it has this little tiny white cottonball tail and when he sits it disappears ๐๐ he makes me laugh so much โค๏ธ he is soooo adorable โค๏ธ
Heโs not even afraid of me at all – I think I have been adopted or something?
I donโt feed him or anything, he just likes to do that every morning lol ๐คทโโ๏ธ for like a month or 2 now โฆ at first I thought was fluke but he does every morning lol โค๏ธ
I have a friend ๐๐โ๏ธโค๏ธ
I believe he is Jack Rabbit because of his ears – super mega long lol
He must be baby or something – because he (or she) is on the small side.
Heโs always by himself and waits for me on my porch in mornings lol โฆ as soon as he sees me โฆhe knows I be walking to car โฆso he just comes with me – itโs sooo funny ๐โค๏ธ
As soon as I get in the car – he goes into the strawberry patch lol ๐โค๏ธ he keeps schedule too ๐๐ like clockwork
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