Thanks, first, to the weather.  In the midst of predicted daily storms, we have had a reprieve.  It is gorgeous.  Bright, sunny and just a bit o’ nip in the air.  It’s like a Norman Rockwell painting only better.  Way better.  ‘Cause it is real.

Seems ol’ Norm used to paint with artistic license (according to the Smithsonian).  He’d take photographs and paint-copy them adding whatever ‘cute’ and ‘American’ he could to get the right effect.  We don’t have to do that.  We have ‘cute’ up the wazoo and enough natural beauty to make your eyes hurt.  Makes me want to smash a squirrel with a splitting mawl now and then just to get some gritty reality into the picture.  But, so far, I have resisted.  I am starting to get more comfortable with the Disney version of reality anyway.

I half expect friendly bears, noble wolves and funny, courageous raccoons to come dancing out to greet us sometimes.  Sick, eh?  Maybe a catchy little tune playing in the background?

But, honestly, it’s almost understandable.  Especially if the deer are anything to go by.  They stand on the side of the road and just look at you if you are driving by.  If you stop, they may move on.  They may not.  They sure aren’t afraid of you.  Some of our neighbours have to ‘shoo’ the bears and the deer out of the garden.  They aren’t frightened, they just make some noise and ol’ Pooh or Bambi just amble off.

Cougars, it seems, are a treated a bit more circumspectly but I am afraid we are becoming just a bit disrespectful of the wolves.  A couple of months ago a couple of wolves grabbed the mid-sized dog of a friend of ours.  Bella yelped.  Paul heard it and jumped to her rescue kicking and chasing the two predators away in the process.  Bella survived.  So did Paul.  We’re starting to think our wolves are just a bit on the wimpy side, tho.  “Pshaw……..just an old pack o’ wolves…….”.

Yep, lots to be thankful for.  And we are.  Hope it’s all working out for you, too.