Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Fantastical Friday! #30
Good morning and Happy Friday everyone! It is that time of the week again when people are happy that it is that time of the week again. I think that made sense, even if it doesn’t sound like it. But it is true. Anyway, it is not so cold this morning as it was yesterday, 15F (-9C), with a strong wind again. But it feels much better anyway. The small birds, such as the chickadees and nuthatches, are plentiful as usual which is always nice to see.
There is not many evening grosbeaks though, I’m not sure why they are not around, the rock doves have not been a problem today, or yesterday. But there is a few grosbeaks this morning anyway. A small flock of red crossbills flew overhead, probably a dozen or so. It would be nice to get them down to the feeder. Only once have I had them at my feeder, since I began feeding birds years ago. They do like sunflower seeds, just like all the other birds.
They are an interesting bird, small, not much different in size to the chickadees, just a little larger. And they have unique bills that cross over each other. I would love to get a picture of them too. Some evening grosbeaks have returned I see, they are fun, lively birds to have around. Late yesterday afternoon I decided to go out and spend some time with the chickadees and nuthatches before they went off to bed. And I wanted to see if any would come to my hand. It was a bit colder yesterday, but not bad for winter, the temp at the time was 10F (-12C), and not much of a breeze.
So there I was, my bare hand full of sunflower seeds as I waited for some birds to come along. There were a lot of them and after about 10 minutes they started landing on my hand. Soon there was a steady group of them landing on my hand, one at a time, taking their seed and off they go to their favorite branch to open it. Yes, they do each have their favorite branch to use, though they will go to other branches too. Then a couple of red-breasted nuthatches joined the chickadees coming to my hand. At one point because a chickadee was already on my hand, two red-breasted nuthatches landed on my head to wait their turn.
I was wearing a toque at the time, so it was probably warm for their little feet. I just wish I could get a picture when things like that happen. I guess I could have used my phone, but my hands were so cold by that time I doubt I would have been able to hold the phone, and still take a picture. But I will give it a try next time. I did nearly freeze my fingers though. But it was so much fun! I don’t know how many birds were actually coming to my hand, but there was both male and female in chickadees and nuthatches. It was a beautiful time and I am always thankful for these little bundles of joy. Have a fantastical Friday everyone and God bless!
Steve and Muffin. (two more of my favorite pics today from the last 3 years)
©2021 Steve McLeod.
The Investigators, Inc. Mystery Of Baldwin’s Friend. Chapter 9.
The cats watched, horrified at what they saw. A man with a club hit me and I was down. Then he hit Jennifer hard in the stomach with his club which dropped her to her knees, then another hard blow and she was on the ground. The others took turns kicking her and then they all got in their cars and left. But just before leaving M.C. ran fast and underneath the lead car. Meow,meow!=M.C. come back, you get killed! The cars took off fast and M.C. was left lying on the street. Meow,meow!=EEEEEEK! Muffin ran quickly to M.C., but he got up and they both ran over to Jennifer.
They sat down and looked at Jennifer, then each other. Muffin went closer and sniffed, then backed away. Jennifer was on her side but not breathing. Meow,meow.=You lie next to back, I lie on front, we purr loud, might help, but I think too late. But they did it anyway, just in case. Fortunately the men had dragged Jennifer over to some bushes so she wouldn’t be noticed by anyone. It seemed to the cats that the whole night passed slowly but finally the cars came to a screeching stop. M.C. had gotten out just a couple minutes before to watch beside the street.
Kat and Rock jumped out of the first car and ran over to Jennifer as the cats meowed. Meow,meow!=Men use that club, hit my human, then they hit Jennifer in stomach and on back, then they kick! Rock found the club, it was a piece of iron pipe about 2 feet long. Rock lifted his leg and bent the pipe into a U shape, then tossed it away. Meow!=I put tracker on first car when they not looking! Rock picked up Jennifer and put her in the car, then they all got in. Kat told the driver to turn on their tracker and they picked up a signal right away. Off they went following the signal.
“You did a great job there M.C.,” said Kat, “that tracker will help us get Steve back. I didn’t know you had any with you.” Meow.=I put in at last minute, just in case. “Good thinking,” said Kat, “you did a great job too Muffin, keeping close to Jennifer’s heart kept her going.” Meow,meow?=She be okay now? “Yes, I think she will be fine,” said Kat, “it doesn’t feel like there are any broken bones, but she will need a lot of rest.” Then she put her head down and started to cry.
Muffin went over onto her lap, curled up and purred softly. It took about 20 minutes and the tracker took them to a particular building used by Alex for one of his gambling places, among other things. They quickly surrounded the place, then Kat told her driver to open the front doors of the building, so he immediately drove through the doors, then backed out again while the men rushed in. Kat could hear a lot of gunshots. The cats went in too and Muffin spotted one of the 3 men that had hurt Jennifer. “Thwock!” and he was down, then another came in view and “Thwock!”, and he was down too.
M.C. saw the third one and “Thwock!” and down he went as well. Meow!=That the leader human!, M.C. said to Rock. A couple men brought him over to Rock and he picked the man up with one hand. “Where is Steve?”, he roared, “you only have one chance to tell me so it better be right.” Then he put the man down who then led Rock to a secret room. “You okay Steve?”, asked Rock. I just sat there staring. “You have him drugged, what did you use?”, yelled Rock at the man as he pinned him against the wall.
“I don’t know, the Senator just said to use that bottle over there,” the man said, terrified of what Rock might do to him. Rock took the bottle along to show Kat, then one punch to the man’s stomach and the man was out. “Take him with us,” said Rock, “I’ll bring Steve along.” He picked me up and carried me back to the car. “What is wrong with him?”, Kat asked Rock, who then gave her the bottle. She knew right away what it was, but what could she do? “Anyone left alive?”, asked Kat. “Most of them, all over there,” Rock pointed.
“Knock them out far enough from the building, then burn the place,” she said. They moved the men to the other side of the parking lot. “Torch it,” said Rock and he then proceeded to knock out the remaining men, which didn’t take him long. Rock got back in the car and Kat told the driver where to go. “There’s an old Chinese man that has a small shop not too far from here,” said Kat, “he might be our only hope to save Steve.” Rock just stared at her, then said, “it’s really that bad?” “Yes,” she said, “I just hope we get there in time.” A new day is just beginning to dawn as they arrive at the little shop…
To Be Continued.
©2021 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 