Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Wednesday’s Wanderings #9.
Good morning everyone on this beautiful Wednesday! Most of the smoke cleared away overnight and we even had a light shower. Not much rain, but it helps to wash the dust off the plants, and my deck. But perhaps other areas received more than we did, that would be nice. It is so dry here now that the wildflowers are not doing well either. Most are just withering down to nothing, the few that are blooming have very small flowers or flowers that did not form correctly. That’s making it harder to get pictures.
Not much in the way of bird pictures since I’m not feeding them right now, and now not much in the way of wildflower pictures. I usually like to get as many different pics as possible in the summer to help through the winter months. There’s not a lot of variety in the winter, especially if we don’t get many birds, so having some extra summer pics is nice. That’s why some pics don’t get shown in the summer, I deliberately save them for winter. The dryness is even affecting the insect population. Dragonflies that were so abundant earlier are now getting hard to find. There should be new varieties showing up now for the summer but I have not seen any of them yet.
Mushrooms are another one that are just not growing this year, they need more moisture in the ground. However, that could change yet for mushrooms. But other things will be lost for this year now. So far the butterflies are doing okay, except they are very hard to photograph, at least certain varieties. But some will soon be gone, like the swallowtails. I’m still trying to get their pics, and also the white admiral, which isn’t white, but that’s what they call it. Every year is different and has it’s own challenges. But if it was always easy, it wouldn’t be as much fun. A little easier would be nice though. Hehe.
My internet is working properly now, it was definitely the right choice switching to a new ISP. It’s going to warm up a bit this week, up into the 90sF (32-33C) by Friday. Then back to normal summer temps next week. The squirrels are out there fighting over the peanuts and Chuck the crow is trying to get in there too since he also likes peanuts. There is at least 4 squirrels, Jasper, Freddie, Slim and Chase. Jasmine hasn’t been here yet or she would get rid of those other squirrels in a hurry. In between, the chipmunks come and get some peanuts. There are no peanuts out there however, I’m trying to discourage some of the squirrels.
But when the chipmunks show up I hand them some peanuts. The squirrels are still fighting after 20 minutes, and there’s nothing to fight over. Guess I will have to go and sit out there for a while so the chipmunks have an easier time. Have a beautiful day everyone and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
©2021 Steve McLeod.
The Investigators, Inc. Married. Chapter 15.
But Katharina and the cats were ready, they knew what was going to happen, a guy would be in there hooking up a gas canister to knock everyone out so we could be taken prisoner to Gisela’s secret hideaway. Katharina went to the door of the closet and threw it open. The guy was totally surprised! Kat shot him with the dart gun and he fell to the floor. “I like this gun,” said Kat, “it really is very silent.” Meow.=Yep, just can’t be too far away when shooting. They tied some wire around the door that led to the other room, with an explosive attached, so if anyone else tries to get in that way that will stop them. There are still 4 more men and Gisela to deal with.
Kat sits down next to the bed and holds my hand again, Muffin is lying beside me purring loudly. Mr. Cat is sitting with Kat. Meow.=Maybe you come back with us. “After this is over M.C., I will surrender to Steve and he can hand me over to the police,” she said, “then it will be prison for a very long time.” Meow.=But you help us now, maybe they not send you to prison place. “Somehow I don’t think that will make a difference,” said Kat, “but I am glad to make a difference for all of you anyway. Hopefully I can help keep Steve alive so he can make it back to Lena in good health.”
Meow.=Well, I know you change now, so I hope you not go to prison place. Kat smiled at him and gave him a big hug. “Should be just about time now guys,” said Kat. Muffin and M.C. went to the back door and waited. The door opened slowly and quietly and…”Thwock!” “Thwock!”, down he went to the floor with a thud. He was a big man so both cats shot him just to make sure. Then Kat dragged him outside and shut the door, putting wire and an explosive on it too. Kat came back and sat beside me, holding my hand again. After about 20 minutes I moved a bit and opened my eyes.
I looked around and saw Katharina sitting next to me. She smiled and said, “welcome back Steve, how do you feel?” “I, I’m a bit confused,” I said slowly. The cats had been away and came running and jumping back onto the bed, both meowing constantly. “Hey, slow down you two,” said Kat, “give Steve a chance.” Meow,meow!=It okay, Kat on our side now, she helping us fight bad Gisela! Meow.=Yep, that right, Kat change, like new again. I look over at Katharina. “What brought about this change?”, I asked her. “I never wanted to kill you Steve, or Lena, I only wanted to hurt you because you sent my parents to prison which made me totally angry with you.
But they deserve to be there, and so do I. So after this is over I will surrender to you and you can hand me over to the police. I know there’s a big reward out for me which you would get. I know what you’re thinking. I was your enemy, now I’m your guardian angel. Strange things happen Steve.” “So I see,” I said quietly, “come here you two cats.” I could barely move enough to hug them, but I did it. “Is Gisela still here?”, I ask. “Yes Steve, and with 3 men, we got the others,” said Kat, “she has been here all along and doing all the extra things that we each thought was the other, but it was her. It was her man that shot Lena.” “Hand me my gun,” I say to Katharina, “I may not be able to do much yet, but I can help protect myself so the rest of you can fight Gisela.”
“Okay, if that’s all you’re going to do,” said Kat with a smile, “and you can call me Kat too, I already told that to the cats.” “Sounds good,” I said, “now, you need to go on the offensive and attack her, all 3 of you, and make sure she doesn’t get away again.” They all looked at me. “Hey, if we want to survive here, that’s the best way to do it,” I said, “that is something she won’t be expecting.” “Hmm, good thought,” said Kat. So they all got ready and went out the back door and went around to the kitchen door. No one was in sight and the door wasn’t locked. In they went quietly. Kat shut the door and turned around, Gisela had just come back into the kitchen. They both pointed their guns and shot at the same time…
To Be Continued.
Previous chapters and stories can be found on my home page under “The Investigators, Inc.” More stories under “20/20 Investigations, Inc.”
©2021 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 