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Sunday, February 27, 2005

Sunday drive on Saturday

LJ and I went for a leisurely drive yesterday. We wanted to find the roads to get us to Shagbark. We wandered some hilly, curvy Missouri backroads that will be lovely in spring, summer and fall.

Previously, I wondered what sort of creatures we might encounter on this land of ours. One that I hadn't even thought about practically met us at the front gate. There was a nice size flock of wild turkeys. They were off in the trees but the sound of the jeep scattered the 15 or 20 turks and they didn't waste any time fading into the scenery. I couldn't get a hold of my camera before they were gone and even if I had, I'm sure I wouldn't have gotten a good picture of them. They dress in camaflouge.

We did spy a blue jay yesterday and saw, again, our cabin mouse -- tho his days are numbered. LJ has been called to battle and I will put my money on LJ. Mouse has a unique way of exiting the cabin. He runs up the screen and squeaks out through a gap at the top of the door. I get a bit excited watching a mouse run up a screen.

LJ and I again walked the timber. There are signs of spring -- some green, small shoots unidentifable by me, yet. And it is too early for Dutchman's britches or other early flowering plants. I imagine one of the first I will be able to identify will be the lowly dandelion but didn't even find him yesterday.

We sat on the front porch and tried to imagine how black it will be at night, without electricity to push back the dark. Being of the baby boomer generation, we don't remember a time without street lights and porch lights, only tales from our folks. We spent time at the lake, complaining that one of the first things lake new comers do, is to install a big, all night, bright security light. Now, will we decide to do the same at Shagbark? Or will we find the darkness comforting and familiar?

Shopping list: 2 milk pails
26-1/2" X 72" outhouse door
wash pan
journal
broom
mouse traps

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