Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Tuesday’s Tails #16.
Good morning everyone! It’s a beautiful, sunny (and smoky), summer morning. Everything is once more covered with that orange/yellow glow from the smoke of forest fires that are getting more active again now that the hot, dry weather has returned. However, according to the forecast, there is a fair amount of rain coming by the weekend. Hopefully that rain will hit the areas where the fires are worst. A lot of new fires have started recently. There are 110 forest fires burning at the moment, 20 are either under control or being held, and 90 are not under control. One of the new fires is 30 miles (50km) from our town, but is being held, which means it is not growing in size.
Two of my gulls were here for their breakfast, the chickadees were also here and a couple of blue jays. But they don’t stay long. The chipmunks are certainly busy however! It’s just non stop coming and going of the various chipmunks these days. Slim hasn’t been around for a while now, neither has any other squirrel. I thought maybe some of the other squirrels might have checked things out and discovered that Slim was gone. I guess they are just too scared to come back. I’m sure that eventually a squirrel will come back again, hopefully it will be Jasper.
I just went to put more sunflower seeds and peanuts out for the chipmunks and Scooter managed to get in the door. That’s why I like to really pay attention to the chipmunks, so that doesn’t happen. Anyway, I stomped my foot right in front of Scooter which scared him and he ran back out with Muffin right behind him. Good thing the chair was right there, Muffin has to duck a bit to go under the rungs of the chair, so it slows her down just a bit. That gave me time to grab her and get the door closed. But it was very close, almost lost a chipmunk, that wouldn’t be good.
Oh well, everyone is safe, so that’s a good thing. And I praised Muffin for chasing the chipmunk back outside, even though that’s not really what she had in mind. Sitting inside enjoying my morning coffee is not quite the same as being outside, so it’s back outside for me. Can’t waste all this nice weather sitting inside with the doors locked. I do that all winter. Summer is for being outside, and summer is almost gone. Not really much happening these days. I hope you all have a wonderful day and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
©2021 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 
Here in Western Washington where I am located it’s odd to welcome a grey day with rain but it’s so dry here and it would surely help the forest fires. Looks like it rained a little overnight but not a lot and it is overcast right now. Hoping for some more.
I love watching the wild life here too. Yesterday morning I woke up to an owl hooting and that day I saw the cutest bunny hopping across my yard.
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Sorry to hear you have forest fires too, we never get any news about that, only what happens in California.
Hey, that’s great! I have heard owls here, but have yet to see one to get a picture. A lady I meet often along the river path saw a barred owl one day in a white pine, I was a day late! Would love to get a picture of one. We have rabbits here, but oddly I have never seen one, lots of tracks in the winter though.
Have a great day!😀😺🌞☕☕📷
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I have yet to see an owl here too but hopefully will someday. Two baby bunnies were playing in my yard yesterday though! You have a great day too!
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2 of them now, that’s cool! Thanks so much!
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My youngest daughter is looking forward to cooler and wetter weather. Montana has experienced some air-quality alerts in recent days from the increasingly smoke-filled skies.
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Yes, it has been a summer of much smoke in the air. Very smoky here again today, should clear up tomorrow with a change in wind direction.
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Hot weather means more chances for forest fires, nowadays the weather is unpredictable. Take care Steve.
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Yes, more fires keep starting up every day. But these hot days are only here until Thursday, then back to cool and rainy. Thanks Suni! Have a wonderful day!😀😺
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That’s great that the cool days are coming. Have a great time Steve. 🦊🐻
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I’m not quite so excited about having the cooler weather, even though it will help the fires. But it means an end to summer as well.😁😺🌞☕☕
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Have a great day too Steve
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Thanks so much Sheree!
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that’s odd about the squirrels – and good job keeping Scooter out of the house, and away from Muffin!
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Yes, I wonder where all the squirrels went? That really got me working fast! Too close!
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I’m sure Scooter is grateful for your quick reaction…
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I don’t think he even saw Muffin, but he would be grateful if he knew, I’m sure!
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Muffin probably had dreams about the encounter that night 🙂
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I wouldn’t doubt that! Only her outcome would have things a bit different I’m sure!😂😹
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I’m sure she would have been the conquering hero in her dream!
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Undoubtedly that’s true!
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👍
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