Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Saturday’s Solitude #3.
Good morning everyone! Happy Saturday! It’s another beautiful, sunny, spring morning. It is completely calm, what a time to be down at the river. No, I’m not there, going early in the morning is definitely not on my schedule. That would be a good time to meet the bear, and I really don’t want to do that. Still, it would be interesting to see what kind of action is going on down there on an early morning. I’m sure there would be much more going on than there is when I go after lunch.
I was at the river yesterday afternoon, it was so beautiful. I sat on the bench overlooking the water, there was only a light breeze that put little ripples on the river. Then it would calm right down, then the breeze would blow again. There were several mallard ducks out for a swim, 2 were sitting preening their feathers in a sheltered bay. The female was sitting on a rock and the male was standing on an underwater rock right beside her. It was such a tranquil moment watching them relaxing like that, the water so calm.
There was also a lone male common merganser over closer to the bench, but he flew past when he saw me. There was also several common goldeneye ducks across the river, too far for a good picture. I just sat enjoying all that was going on. A pair of crows are nesting in a tall red pine behind where I sit, not too far, but a little up on the hill. The female is sitting on eggs right now and the male made several trips bringing food to her.
Canada geese were honking away around the far bend in the river, in a shallow reedy area where they like to have their nests. There are actually several that nest in that bay. Then I went a little farther than usual, up a steep slope in the path to an area I really enjoy. It’s sunny up there, with a small clearing and a mat of pine needles several inches thick, making it so soft to sit or lie down and enjoy the scenery. Our first summer coffee post will be in that spot next week. Muffin is looking forward to seeing all her cat friends again and we both are looking forward to seeing all of you at our summer coffee posts, most will be in parks again this year, but I will try to add some other spots as well.
Back to the river now. After taking pics up there I came back down, which is like walking on ice. It is so dry here now and because of all the pine needles, they tend to slide while walking downhill. It was easy to see where people have slid and fallen on that steep slope. But I took it easy and stayed on my feet. I’m hoping next time to go even further to another favorite spot where I used to spend a lot of time a couple years ago. Back at the bench to relax a little longer, I really didn’t want to leave it was so nice. Then I heard a noise in that bay where the mallard ducks were before so I headed back that way, since it’s on the way home anyway.
I wasn’t quite careful enough I guess and scared a family of Canada geese that had been relaxing on shore, so they swam out a bit. Their goslings were still so small and it was obvious they didn’t want to go out in the deep water, too dangerous for their babies. So I just took a few pics and left so they could come back. They don’t like being in deep water as fish can come up and grab those little babies for a meal. Also snapping turtles are another threat, as are eagles, so staying close to shore is the best thing. But that was such a nice country pleasure.
Really, there were many country pleasures down there yesterday, the ducks, the scenery with all the new bright green leaves coming out, shining so nicely in the sun, the light breeze, the clear water, listening as the crow brought food to his mate. Then all the birds singing all along the river and the path. There were several song sparrows singing in different places along the shore of the river, they like being near water if possible. And so many different warblers are back now singing their bright songs high in the trees. They are among our most brightly colored birds, but they are small and usually stay high in the trees where I can’t get pictures of them. But it’s such a pleasure to hear them back again.
Solitude. That was a perfect example yesterday at the river. This is long today, my apologies, and I didn’t even talk about everything. Well, I hope you all have a most wonderful day and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
©2021 Steve McLeod.
The Investigators, Inc. The Square House. Chapter 6.
Pictures of Mr. Cat are kindly supplied by his human, Nina.
Previous chapters of this story and other stories can be found on my home page under “The Investigators, Inc.” and “20/20 Investigations, Inc.”
Now to continue with our story, Muffin has been kittennapped…
After checking to make sure of the room number up we went to the second floor. I knock on the door, but there is no answer. Then we use the key and go in quietly. But no one is there, and then, that laughing again. “You’re a no good PI, you shouldn’t be allowed to look for a lost pen!” Then more laughing. “You lost your precious cat, she’s already dead and buried, right under your nose!” Mr. Cat’s ears went straight up when he heard that! I spotted the recording device on the desk so I grabbed it and we all left in a hurry. “Where are we going?”, asked Caren as we ran back outside to her car. “To hopefully find Muffin quickly”, I answered, “let me drive.”
She tossed me the keys to her 1993 Jaguar and we started off. “How did you afford a car like this?”, I asked. “My parents bought it for me, it’s one of the first produced in 1993, I liked it because of the name, I love jaguars, they’re beautiful cats,” she answered. “This car will fly,” I said. “Not on the roads around here,” she said, “by the way, don’t you trust my driving?” “You’re too slow,” I said, “we need to move fast.” She just stared at me, “but we don’t know where to go”, said Caren. “Back to your house,” I said and started to push the car. “You can’t go fast on these roads Steve, it’s too dangerous!”, she yelled. “Just watch,” I said, “hold on Mr. Cat.” Meow!=Me holding! SCREECH!
“Forgot how tight that curve was,” I said to Caren. “I’m sure I was on air that time,” she said shaking a bit. “It wasn’t that bad,” I said. She just stared at me, “you weren’t on this side! Please watch the next curve, it’s also bad.” We went screeching around that one too. “They don’t believe in straight roads around here,” I said calmly. “Steve, these are mountains, there are no straight roads possible,” said Caren nervously. “Have they never heard of tunnels?” I asked. Caren just stared at me. “Are you trying to kill us?”, she asked. I didn’t say anything more until we got back to her house. I came to a screeching stop and sure enough, by the front steps was a fresh little grave with a cross marking the spot and Muffin’s name on it.
Mr. Cat was out of the car so fast, ran to the grave and started digging as fast as his legs would go. I got there next and started digging with my hands. “I have a shovel,” said Caren. “Please bring my backpack, in the main compartment is a cylinder of oxygen and mask,” I said. She got it out. We got down to Muffin and pulled her out and quickly hooked up the oxygen to her. “I’ve never seen such a small mask,” Caren said quietly. “It was specially made for the cats,” I said, “is there a vet in town?” “No, but the doctor will sometimes look at pets if it’s an emergency,” answered Caren. “Let’s go then,” I said and we all hopped back in the car. I showed Caren how to hold Muffin, “keep pushing here to help her breathe.” So she did, and Mr. Cat curled up around Muffin and started purring loudly.
The trip back was just as fast though I did slow down a bit through town. We stopped at the doctor’s office, he didn’t have any patients at the time so he took Muffin in right away. Just then my phone rang so I went out to the waiting room to answer while the others stayed with Muffin. It was Lena, nice and cheerful asking how our vacation was going. “It’s not a vacation,” I said, “more like a nightmare.” Then I told her about what had happened so far. She started crying and handed the phone to Baldwin as he and Calanthe were in the room too, all waiting to hear about our vacation. I told Baldwin the news.
“I hate to say this,” I said slowly, “but I need help.” “Hey Steve, you got it, whatever you need,” said Baldwin. It was decided that he would send 3 of his men and they would stay at the hotel, but wouldn’t communicate with me until I wanted their help. They would leave me a note at breakfast tomorrow just so I would know who they were. Baldwin asked about me as I had mentioned getting hit on my old wound. “It’s kind of hard to stand right now,” I said, “there’s a lot of pain.” “Get the doctor to look at it,” he said. “No time right now,” I said, “maybe later.” “Not later, now, I’m doing what you wanted, now you do what I say,” he said firmly, “if not for me or yourself, do it for Lena, that poor girl is sitting here crying right now.” “Okay,” I said, “as soon as he’s finished with Muffin.”
To Be Continued.
©2021 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 