Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Daily Pics #249.
Good Saturday morning everyone! It’s a nice fall morning, the sun is shining, the moon is shining, the sky is a very brilliant blue, there’s no wind. It’s nice to see that strong northwest wind has stopped, and that means warmer weather for the weekend. It should hit 66F (19C) today. But Monday it really starts to cool off with temps colder than before. Oh well. Fall is here. That turkey is staying around here these days, definitely not a smart thing to do. Last evening he was in our yard so I was out there trying to get a picture. That was a waste of time really, he would not stand still. But I tried. This morning he was in the neighbors yard getting his morning exercise running around. He was being chased by a small black cat that roams the area. The cat does have a home but he spends more time outside than he does at home. Anyway, he was chasing the turkey, a rather futile attempt, that turkey can run fast. It did look rather comical though watching that little cat chasing this huge bird around the yard. Muffin was having fun watching them. Probably saying to herself, “I could catch that turkey bird”.
Speaking of chasing. All the chipmunks and Jasper were out here this morning. When Jasper first showed up Pocket was already in the box filling up with peanuts. The chase was on! Pocket easily got away and Jasper decided not to jump off the deck this time. But as he turned around he spotted another chipmunk and off he went. As they were going one way Skamper came by going the other way. Poor Jasper, he spotted Skamper but as he was trying to turn around he ran right into another box, smack! He shook his head and continued the chase. By this time Skamper was picking up his second peanut and getting ready to leave. Skamper and Jasper flew over the edge of the deck. Meanwhile Coffee showed up and got his fill of peanuts and left just before Jasper returned. Jasper got up and looked all around but couldn’t see any chipmunks so he started to go into the box. As he was going in one end Chester was going in the other end. Poor Jasper. He jumped, hit his head and then was in a mad scramble trying to get back out the door. I couldn’t believe how much trouble he was having. Meanwhile Chester was hiding behind a flower pot. Jasper finally got out and turned around. He couldn’t see anything so he went slowly back to the box and peered in the door. Finally he was brave enough to go in, grab a peanut and run off. I think Jasper must be getting nervous, or something.
It is a nice fall morning. The featured image at the top shows more island living on our beautiful lake. Then in the picture above is another zinnia, this time in a nice bright pink. There are many different colors of these flowers which I will be showing over the next few days. I hope you have a nice relaxing Saturday and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
©2020 Steve McLeod.
20/20 Investigations, Inc. Missing! Chapter 3.
We waited until it was getting quite late and still no sign of Harvey. I guess we may as well leave, I said. Everyone agreed and the cats were first to the car. They really were nervous about something and yet there didn’t seem to be any sign of danger around. It was getting dark by the time we got back to the little town. Hey, the coffee shop is still open, maybe we can get something to eat, said Karin. Not a bad idea, I’m hungry too. We went inside and I asked if the cats could come in. Sure, said the young woman. They were quite relieved that they didn’t have to stay in the car alone. We got the special of the day, which was very good. Earl came in while we were eating. Hi there folks, did you find Harvey? No, I said, guess we missed the place, but we had a nice drive anyway. Karin looked at me very puzzled.
Yeah, it’s kind of hard to see from the road with all those trees in front, said Earl as he sat at the table next to us. Interesting, he said that he had never been out there. I guess Harvey must have been a bit lonely way out there after his wife died, I said. That was about 6 months ago, wasn’t it? Closer to 8 months, said Earl. Yes, it was 8 months, said the young woman as she brought us more coffee. Still don’t understand why he bought such a big grave stone, it must have cost a fortune. And those two were always fighting about something, she added. It was just a small funeral though, said Earl, just a few folks from town. Buried her in the garden out back, nice spot anyway, he continued, and it was a huge grave stone.
This is all very odd, we only saw a small wood cross and the grave was behind the garden shed. We should probably get going Steve, said Karin, it’s getting late. Too bad you don’t have a hotel in town, I said to Earl. Betty rents out rooms upstairs, don’t you Betty? Yes, but I only have one room left, the other room is rented out. That’s perfect, I said, it will save us a lot of driving since we want to try and find Harvey tomorrow. Is it good fishing in that river?, I asked Earl. Naw, Harvey and I have been up and down that river and never caught much of anything. He sure has himself a nice boat though. Hmm, we never saw a boat, so maybe that’s why he wasn’t home. We said good night to Earl and headed to our room. It was quite spacious and really very nice. I motioned to Karin not to say anything. I looked around and plugged in a small electronic item I had recently bought. Okay, I said, safe to talk now.
What’s that gadget?, asked Karin. If there are any listening devices in here that will cause so much static no one will be able to hear what we say. Saves looking around for any bugs. Any other new gadgets?, she asked. Possibly, I said with a smile. Okay cats, I need you to watch out this window tonight and see if anyone goes near our car, just like you have done before. Meow!=Yep, I remember, we do good job. Meow, meow.=Not want to sleep anyway, still feel nervous, something not right. Meow.=I agree, feel real strange. Thanks Muffin and Mr. Cat, now I won’t be able to sleep tonight, said Karin. Meow!=Welcome!, they both said together. Elsewhere…why can’t we hear anything? There’s nothing but static. I don’t know what’s wrong, it was working fine before. We need to find out what they really want. I don’t like this, not one bit! Meanwhile…someone knocks quietly at the door. I answer, Betty is standing there.
May I come in and talk? Certainly, said Karin, come and sit down. She did, looking very nervous, almost scared. I really don’t know what to say, but I’m scared, she said. Something is going on but I don’t know what. My parents suddenly disappeared 8 months ago, just 2 weeks before Alice died. I think it’s connected somehow. I mentioned this to others and was told to keep quiet and mind my own business. Who said that?, I asked. It was Dave, he owns the service station. Did he know Harvey and Alice? He sure did, Harvey often had his truck in there getting fixed. Dave told me he had never seen Harvey before, I said. Betty looked puzzled, why would he say that? That’s a good question, but obviously he’s trying to keep something covered up. I better leave, she said, I don’t know who you are, but please be careful, and off she went in a hurry. What do you think?, asked Karin. She could be genuine, or she might have been trying to find out why we’re here. We need to be very careful now. Meow, meow.=I not trust her.
To be continued.
©2020 Steve McLeod.
