Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Friday Fun, With Country Pleasures! #20
Good morning and Happy Friday to all of you! It is a very cool and wet morning since it once again rained most of the night. It is very wet out there now, but some drying weather is on the way. Right now the sun is shining beautifully, such an amazing difference from 2 hours ago when it was still cloudy and with a light rain.
The leaves continue to grow bigger, grass is growing quickly and a few early flowers are beginning to bloom. The bright and cheery dandelion is out and turning lawns a beautiful yellow color. Not too many people agree with my assessment of dandelions. But I like them. And they are very beneficial to the environment.
White-throated Sparrow.
They are a major food source for our wild bees. Even hummingbirds rely a lot on them when they first return. Forget-me-nots have begun to bloom now as well, but their main time will be in a couple of weeks. I did see a couple of yellow violets blooming yesterday, maybe I can get a picture of them today when the sun shines on them. These are all country pleasures.
Harris’ Sparrow.
We need to stop and look and enjoy the beauty of nature around us. Even in the city, in parks and green spaces, beauty can be found. They are all country pleasures. I love to watch the little sparrows hopping around on the ground looking for seeds. There are so many different species of sparrows, and all beautiful in their own way. And some have beautiful songs as well. These are true country pleasures.
White-throated Sparrow, dusky variety.
The awesome call of the loon that I have mentioned before is another of my true country pleasures. The bold and beautiful Blue Jay coming to take peanuts or sunflower seeds. Or just sitting on the branches of various trees, both summer and winter. They are another true country pleasure.
Song Sparrow, it’s song is one of my favorite bird songs.
The little chickadees and nuthatches that come to my hand for seeds or peanut pieces, always with a cheerful little chirp or beep as they leave. I always think they are saying thank you. They are another true country pleasure. Really, there are so many birds that come around, it would be hard to list them all, but they are true country pleasures.
Clay-colored Sparrow.
Then there are the squirrels and chipmunks, filling up with peanuts to eat. The chipmunks taking as many as they can carry in one trip and scampering off home with their prize. Sometimes chasing each other around. The squirrels are especially good at chasing each other and most anything else, including the birds.
White-crowned Sparrow.
But they too are true country pleasures, especially as the chipmunks crawl all over me, dig in my pockets, sit on my shoulders and on my knees. Wonderful country pleasures. We need to slow down sometimes and enjoy the God given pleasures around us. This is only a partial list of my country pleasures, I will do another at some point. I hope you all have a most beautiful day and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
©2023 Steve McLeod.
The Investigators, Inc. The Case of Baldwin’s Murder. Chapter 4. Mandar is Back.
At the chateau, Steve and Sky were happy as could be that the plan was working so perfectly. “Now we just need to collect on my inheritance,” said Steve, “and I will be wealthy beyond my expectations!” “You mean Toledo will be,” Sky reminded him, “after all, this was all his plan and money invested in us to make us look like the real Steve and Sky.
All those operations, all that time, I was beginning to wonder if it was all worth it. But I guess we are going to do okay after all.” “You bet we will,” said Steve, “and it will be just you and me with all this money. Once I have it, then I hire someone to kill Toledo and we are on our own.” “Do you think it will be that easy?” she asked, “Steve has tried for a long time to find Toledo, and without success. How do you know a hit man can do better?”
“Because that is their job,” he told her, “you have to hire the best, not just anyone, and we will hire the best.” “But Toledo might have the same idea,” she added, “and, he might have someone lined up now so that once you get things finalized, that hit man moves in and we are dead. Then Toledo gets it all.”
“Hmm, I see what you mean,” said Steve, “maybe we need to hire someone now and deal with Toledo first so we do not have to worry about him.” “And how do you find this ‘best’ hit man?” she asked. “Advertise in the right place,” he said. And so the fake Steve makes his first mistake. Advertising for a hit man means that Toledo can easily find out what he is doing.
Meanwhile, back to us. The Major called back after talking with Victor. “Okay Steve, I have permission to help out with this one,” he said, “and I will be going right in there myself to make sure things are done right.” “Thanks Major,” I said, “I want to join you, after hearing about Marlene, I just cannot stay here and hide.” “No Steve,” said Major, “you cannot come out of hiding.
If he really has changed the DNA sample on file then you are the imposter, and there is no way you can change that even if you manage to get at that fake Steve. You would be arrested right away and spend the rest of your life in prison. Let us handle things for now.” I thought it over for a couple of minutes. “Okay, for now I will stay back,” I said quietly, “but if he kills anyone else, then I come after him.
Now, Mandar knows you, and we need his help right now too. Go and try to get him to listen, I will have Benson there waiting for you. Take John and Frank too. Oh, Crystal and Aasta will be with Benson as well, sorry, Aasta insisted on going too.” “Okay Steve,” he said, “how long will it take them to get there?”
“They will be there by the time you get there,” I said, “I am going to try something else too, if Mac is willing to do this. I will let you know later. We need a jet or two from Mandar to get around, Rock and some of the girls will be looking for Toledo, we still have a list of his homes, so they will just keep checking until they find him.”
So, Major, John and Clarence were soon on their way and picked up Frank, then flew to London. Benson and the others met them at the airport and off they went right away to Mandar Corporation headquarters. Fortunately Roger was talking with one of the secretaries when they arrived, so he did not see them right away, or he might have had time to lock them out.
“Hi Roger,” said Crystal. Roger turned around and was about to press the button for security, but Benson stopped him in time. “We know that Mandar is here Roger,” said Major, “we need to talk with him, and I am sure you know why.” “Yes Roger,” added Crystal, “this has gone too far already, we want to know why Mandar is hiding from us, we need his help right now.”
He then took them into Mandar’s office without saying a word. “Mandar, some guests for you,” said Roger. Mandar looked up and turned pale. John went over to his desk and told him to put his hands on top of the desk where he could see them. “We are not here to hurt you Mandar,” said Major, “we are here to find out why you are not willing to help Steve and the team.
You know some things, and so do we. And, we need your help to get things straightened out. I am sure you must know that the Steve and Sky at the chateau are not the real ones, they have just moved in to take over and inherit the fortune of Baldwin…”
To Be Continued.
©2023 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 