Bob Muncie wrote:
> notbob wrote:
>> On 2009-10-07, Gloria P > wrote:
>>
>>> Look around carefully before you go outside and don't go out after
>>> dark without a big stick and a flashlight.
>>
>> After dark, I don't go out without a BIG flashlight and my 12 gauge
>> shotgun. Bears don't play.
>>
>> nb
>
> I'm guessing you don't live in downtown Atlanta or some other highly
> populated area :-)
I should have thought the shotty was sop' down town Atlanta ?

"notbob" ha scritto nel messaggio
> On 2009-10-06, Gloria P > wrote:
>
>> than usual so there are fewer berries, seeds, and other preferred food >>
>> than usual and the bears are hungry.
>
> More than just bears. I'm not a longtime resident of CO, but after a
> couple> Winters it's strange to see young bucks coming right up to the
> house> to feed on young foliage. I was delighted and amazed to see a
> ptarmigan right outside my glass door on our deck. It walks around> the
> park like an old friend. A young eagle perched in a low tree in> our
> yard. They don't usually cruise the river until the first snow.

The wildlife here is driving me nuts. Wild boar, antelope and deer dig up,
chew up, screw up the garden and they yell at each other in the middle of
the night.

notbob wrote:

>
> Even I had considered buying a bird feeder. When I saw the
> shark-like feeding frenzy at the feeders, it shocked me. None or the
> casual flitting of male and female birds amongst the branches,
> searching, feeding, mating, etc, in the idyllic pastoral scene I
> witnessed last Summer. At the feeders, it was beak-to-beak chaos, a
> vicious, brutal, dust raising, feather ripping, end-of-the-world
> display of bird violence I would have never imagined, had I not seen
> it.
>
> Sorry. This is not natural.
>
> nb
>



1. It's not mating time.

2. It's migration and the birds need all the nutrition they can get
right now.

We have two thistle feeders out all year; they're the only ones the
squirrels won't destroy. Some weeks we get hardly any birds, other
times they fight for position. Purple finches and an occasional
goldfinch. We have flickers on occasion poking in the lawn or tree
trunks. Some times of year the magpies come, then there are the
annoying crows, ravens, abd starlings.

nb, if you are near a wooded area (You're in/near South Park, aren't
you?) a hummingbird feeder should win you lots of visitors and as long
as you have sugar and water, you'll never run out of nectar.

gloria p

Janet Bostwick wrote:

> You mean like the guy in a new sub in our city who went out to his car to go
> to work? Saw a large pool and streak of blood across his drive and a
> mountain lion dragging a deer away. We are moving up into their territory
> and they are moving down into ours. I won't walk our dog after dark, my
> husband doesn't worry about walking after dark.
> Janet
>
>


You got it! I'll never forget the news item when we first moved here
in the 80s. They interviewed as hysterical woman who lived in the hills
above Boulder. She was distraught because she had seen a mountain lion
attack and drag away her miniature poodle from her deck. She kept
saying "My Fifi, my Fifi!"

Of course my kids thought it was hysterical and for years every time a
wild animal attack was reported, they would yell "Fifi"!

Yeah, we're pretty cynical.

gloria p

In article >,
Becca > wrote:

> Animals are wild and people should stop feeding them. This morning a
> woman in Lakeland, Florida was attacked by 5 raccoons. She was covered
> in blood, you could see the bone in one of her legs and her achilles
> tendons was torn.
>
>
> http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/wor...-raccoons/stor
> y-e6frf7lf-1225783434309
>
>
> Becca

I learned to shoot raccoons in my yard on sight years ago.
They are not the cute little creatures Walt Disney makes them out to be.
--
Peace! Om

"Human nature seems to be to control other people until they put their foot down."
--Steve Rothstein

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/home?tab=mq>

Subscribe:

Om wrote:

> I learned to shoot raccoons in my yard on sight years ago. They are not
> the cute little creatures Walt Disney makes them out to be.

You mean like the cute raccoons in the Disney film "Old Yeller"?

Bob

In article >,
"Bob Terwilliger" > wrote:

> Om wrote:
>
> > I learned to shoot raccoons in my yard on sight years ago. They are not
> > the cute little creatures Walt Disney makes them out to be.
>
> You mean like the cute raccoons in the Disney film "Old Yeller"?
>
> Bob

Indeed... ;-)
--
Peace! Om

"Human nature seems to be to control other people until they put their foot down."
--Steve Rothstein

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/home?tab=mq>

Subscribe:

On 2009-10-07, Gloria P > wrote:

> nb, if you are near a wooded area (You're in/near South Park, aren't
> you?) a hummingbird feeder should win you lots of visitors and as long
> as you have sugar and water, you'll never run out of nectar.

Gloria, I'm due West of South Park, about 8 miles south of Buena
Vista, overlooking the Arkansas R. Our front bay window looks down on
the river, close enough to talk to rafters as they float by.

Last year we had a dozen male/female goldfinches in the tree right
outside my window, all Spring and early Summer. I recall at that time
wondering just what kind of tree it was, being so particularly popular
with goldfinches. This year, I didn't see a single male and only
females a couple times. They were all at the 3 feeders two doors
down.

I realize birds need lotsa feed to see them through the coming winter,
but bird feeders are an unnatural source. The same argument could be
made on behalf of feeding bears, but it's not.

nb

On 2009-10-07, Omelet > wrote:

> I learned to shoot raccoons in my yard on sight years ago.
> They are not the cute little creatures Walt Disney makes them out to be.

Bingo!

I haven't shot any, but our secured garbage cans are a near nightly
target for possums, bears, and raccoons. Whenever I go out at night
to check any unnatural noises that may be garbage raids, I take a 12
gauge. I'm not gonna be the one who is surprised! Sure, I'll put one
over their bow to run 'em off, but if that don't work, it's a pump.


nb

In article >,
notbob > wrote:

> On 2009-10-07, Omelet > wrote:
>
> > I learned to shoot raccoons in my yard on sight years ago.
> > They are not the cute little creatures Walt Disney makes them out to be.
>
> Bingo!
>
> I haven't shot any, but our secured garbage cans are a near nightly
> target for possums, bears, and raccoons. Whenever I go out at night
> to check any unnatural noises that may be garbage raids, I take a 12
> gauge. I'm not gonna be the one who is surprised! Sure, I'll put one
> over their bow to run 'em off, but if that don't work, it's a pump.
>
>
> nb

When I used to try to keep poultry, they'd always seem to target my
favorite birds... I have no sympathy for them. Ferocious, our Lab/Chow,
left a young dead one in the back yard a few months ago.

Good dog. ;-)

I'm sorry if that makes me evil, but raccoons are over-populated in our
area and carry rabies and distemper.

I have about as much use for raccoons as I do Norway Rats...
--
Peace! Om

"Human nature seems to be to control other people until they put their foot down."
--Steve Rothstein

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/home?tab=mq>

Subscribe:

Omelet wrote:
> In article >,
> notbob > wrote:
>
>> On 2009-10-07, Omelet > wrote:
>>
>>> I learned to shoot raccoons in my yard on sight years ago.
>>> They are not the cute little creatures Walt Disney makes them out to be.
>> Bingo!
>>
>> I haven't shot any, but our secured garbage cans are a near nightly
>> target for possums, bears, and raccoons. Whenever I go out at night
>> to check any unnatural noises that may be garbage raids, I take a 12
>> gauge. I'm not gonna be the one who is surprised! Sure, I'll put one
>> over their bow to run 'em off, but if that don't work, it's a pump.
>>
>>
>> nb
>
> When I used to try to keep poultry, they'd always seem to target my
> favorite birds... I have no sympathy for them. Ferocious, our Lab/Chow,
> left a young dead one in the back yard a few months ago.
>
> Good dog. ;-)
>
> I'm sorry if that makes me evil, but raccoons are over-populated in our
> area and carry rabies and distemper.
>
> I have about as much use for raccoons as I do Norway Rats...

How about some raccoon and rat recipes then? <G>

notbob wrote:

>
> I realize birds need lotsa feed to see them through the coming winter,
> but bird feeders are an unnatural source. The same argument could be
> made on behalf of feeding bears, but it's not.
>
> nb



Probably because there's not nearly as much danger that birds
will claw your face off or rip you open from chin to crotch!

I do agree that your neighbors are hogging all the birds but you
did say that said neighbors are "transient" didn't you? Maybe
they'll be gone with the first heavy snow or the next bird season.

You are near the Mt. Princeton Hot Springs. That's one of my son
and daughter-in-law's favorite day trips (they live in Silverthorne.)

Wishing you lots of birds to watch and no bears to battle.

gloria p

Giusi > wrote:

> The wildlife here is driving me nuts. Wild boar, antelope and deer dig up,
> chew up, screw up the garden and they yell at each other in the middle of
> the night.

Antelope? In Umbria? Escaped from a Zoo? Really, what kind of
antelope?

Wild boar and deer can be very tasty, though - and I posted some
recipes. Well, so can be antelope, too.

Victor

On 2009-10-07, Gloria P > wrote:

> You are near the Mt. Princeton Hot Springs.

Yep. I've never stayed/played there, but know where it is.

Gloria P wrote:
> notbob wrote:
>
>>
>> I realize birds need lotsa feed to see them through the coming winter,
>> but bird feeders are an unnatural source. The same argument could be
>> made on behalf of feeding bears, but it's not.
>>
>> nb
>
>
>
> Probably because there's not nearly as much danger that birds will claw
> your face off or rip you open from chin to crotch!
>
> I do agree that your neighbors are hogging all the birds but you did say
> that said neighbors are "transient" didn't you? Maybe they'll be gone
> with the first heavy snow or the next bird season.
>
> You are near the Mt. Princeton Hot Springs. That's one of my son and
> daughter-in-law's favorite day trips (they live in Silverthorne.)
>
> Wishing you lots of birds to watch and no bears to battle.
>
> gloria p

You made me smile Gloria... Thanks!

Bob

Giusi wrote:
> "notbob" ha scritto nel messaggio
>> On 2009-10-06, Gloria P > wrote:
>>
>>> than usual so there are fewer berries, seeds, and other preferred food >>
>>> than usual and the bears are hungry.
>> More than just bears. I'm not a longtime resident of CO, but after a
>> couple> Winters it's strange to see young bucks coming right up to the
>> house> to feed on young foliage. I was delighted and amazed to see a
>> ptarmigan right outside my glass door on our deck. It walks around> the
>> park like an old friend. A young eagle perched in a low tree in> our
>> yard. They don't usually cruise the river until the first snow.
>
> The wildlife here is driving me nuts. Wild boar, antelope and deer dig up,
> chew up, screw up the garden and they yell at each other in the middle of
> the night.
>
>

Guisi - You have a very interesting way to share that sentiment... and I
would have to agree. I stopped gardening in general when I moved to my
current place (ten acres in the subs in 1990). The critters broke me one
night when they chose to take one single bite out of each and every
green tomato before the next morning.

Bob

"Gloria P" > wrote in message
...
>
> Many of these wild animals are more of a problem because there has
> been so much development encroaching into their traditional home
> territory.
>

Exactly.

"Victor Sack" ha scritto nel messaggio
> Giusi wrote:
>
>> The wildlife here is driving me nuts. Wild boar, antelope and deer dig
>> up,>> chew up, screw up the garden and they yell at each other in the
>> middle of
>> the night.
>
> Antelope? In Umbria? Escaped from a Zoo? Really, what kind of>
> antelope?

Daino and capriolo both are very antelopy, although they usually say the
capriolo is a goat. You'd have to be brave enough to go outside in the
night and wrestle one to the ground while the rest were held off by your cat
to eat them. Even if I were licensed, I couldn't shoot next to these
houses. Wild boar are really dangerous.
>
> Wild boar and deer can be very tasty, though - and I posted some> recipes.
> Well, so can be antelope, too.
>
> Victor

"Bob Muncie" ha scritto nel messaggio
> Giusi wrote:
and they yell at each other in the middle of
>> the night.

> Guisi - You have a very interesting way to share that sentiment... and I >
> would have to agree. I stopped gardening in general when I moved to my
> current place (ten acres in the subs in 1990). The critters broke me one >
> night when they chose to take one single bite out of each and every >
> green tomato before the next morning.

The veg garden has been almost given up for a couple of years. The chard
and broccoli eaten to the ground every morning--- etc. I planted hundreds
of summer bulbs and the next morning neat little goat prints and all eaten
but TWO. Twice the boar have plowed up every inch to get gramininia roots,
killing roses, lilies, shrubs, everything but the evil graminia weed grass.

Giusi wrote:
> "Bob Muncie" ha scritto nel messaggio
>> Giusi wrote:
> and they yell at each other in the middle of
>>> the night.
>
>> Guisi - You have a very interesting way to share that sentiment... and I >
>> would have to agree. I stopped gardening in general when I moved to my
>> current place (ten acres in the subs in 1990). The critters broke me one >
>> night when they chose to take one single bite out of each and every >
>> green tomato before the next morning.
>
> The veg garden has been almost given up for a couple of years. The chard
> and broccoli eaten to the ground every morning--- etc. I planted hundreds
> of summer bulbs and the next morning neat little goat prints and all eaten
> but TWO. Twice the boar have plowed up every inch to get gramininia roots,
> killing roses, lilies, shrubs, everything but the evil graminia weed grass.
>
>

Thanks for not pointing out I butchered your name. I realized only after
having hit the send button.

I think it's likely you've seen my misspellings in the past and forgave.

This year, I put tomatoes only (six plants), in large containers, that
sat on the top of a cord of wood this year. The few tomatoes that I
pulled off, were very good. But the plants themselves did not do well
this year. The weather was strange. Heavy rain one day, sunny and cold
the next, etc., so like a love you don't want to forsake, I was burned
yet again.

<heavy sigh>

I hope your day is going well for you.


Bob

"Bob Muncie" ha scritto nel messaggio
> I hope your day is going well for you.
> Bob

Well, lunch was great and is about to be published...

Giusi wrote:

> Daino and capriolo both are very antelopy, although they usually say the
> capriolo is a goat.

They are both deer and, yes, a doe can look a bit antelopy. Not a buck,
though.

> You'd have to be brave enough to go outside in the
> night and wrestle one to the ground while the rest were held off by your cat
> to eat them. Even if I were licensed, I couldn't shoot next to these
> houses. Wild boar are really dangerous.

Yes, and deer can be dangerous, too.

Victor
who is thinking of buying some venison or wild boar meat and making a
brasato, a stufato, a stracotto, or a spezzatino

Christine Dabney wrote:
>
> On Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:12:30 -0600, Arri London >
> wrote:
>
> >We too have a bear problem. The housing developments are moving farther
> >up the sides of the mountains, which pushes the bears and coyotes (and
> >the occasional bobcat) farther into town. Two years ago we had a bear
> >literally around the corner...didn't see it though
>
> Oh now you tell me!!!! Where do I live? The foothills...LOL.
>
> Christine


Surprised you haven't had any by now. We've also had the occasional
raccoon and skunk. The latter reappeared the other night, according to
the scent

Gloria P wrote:
>
> Christine Dabney wrote:
> > On Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:12:30 -0600, Arri London >
> > wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >> We too have a bear problem. The housing developments are moving farther
> >> up the sides of the mountains, which pushes the bears and coyotes (and
> >> the occasional bobcat) farther into town. Two years ago we had a bear
> >> literally around the corner...didn't see it though
> >
> > Oh now you tell me!!!! Where do I live? The foothills...LOL.
> >
> > Christine
>
> Look around carefully before you go outside and don't go out after dark
> without a big stick and a flashlight. OTOH if wildlife hasn't been
> spotted in your area, never mind!
>
> gloria p

LOL that's only true until they *are* spotted. We'd never had a bear
closer than across the arroyo..quarter mile or so, until that night.

George wrote:

> How about some raccoon and rat recipes then? <G>

http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2...asting_18jan18

....with a picture at

http://twobites.wordpress.com/2008/0...coon-roadkill/


There's actually an annual "Coon Feed" in Delafield, Wisconsin:

http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_st...1282008_02.asp

http://skyfullofbacon.com/blog/?p=188


Bob

I wrote:

> http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2...asting_18jan18
>
> ...with a picture at
>
> http://twobites.wordpress.com/2008/0...coon-roadkill/

I forgot to include the fact that there's a video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8i3F4MleHaE

Bob

"Victor Sack" ha scritto nel messaggio
> Giusi wrote:
>
>> Daino and capriolo both are very antelopy, although they usually say the
>> >> capriolo is a goat.
>
> They are both deer and, yes, a doe can look a bit antelopy. Not a buck,>
> though.

It was my boscaiolo neighbor who told me the daino is an antelope. What can
I say? I am only a straniera here, myself.

"Victor Sack"

> Victor
> who is thinking of buying some venison or wild boar meat and making a>
> brasato, a stufato, a stracotto, or a spezzatino

I think I should thaw the cinghiale I have in the freezer and invite the
donor to dinner, so I can get some more the next time it's available. I
never get venison, just pig.

On 2009-10-09, Bob Terwilliger > wrote:

> There's actually an annual "Coon Feed" in Delafield, Wisconsin:

Bah! Food for the hoi-polloi....

http://www.asis.com/elmer/poodsub1.html

nb

On 2009-10-09, Bob Terwilliger > wrote:

> I forgot to include the fact that there's a video:

That was soooo blatantly pretentious and stupid, I couldn't even
finish watching it. Racoon is gamey cuz it eats garbage? Hey.
Before it was garbage, it was MY dinner. Gin is synonymous with the
woods? Well Hell, where's my sleeping bag and Vermouth!? I'm going
camping.

nb

Christine Dabney wrote:
>
> On Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:19:58 -0600, Arri London >
> wrote:
>
> >
> >Surprised you haven't had any by now. We've also had the occasional
> >raccoon and skunk. The latter reappeared the other night, according to
> >the scent
>
> I think skunks have been around here, but don't know about anything
> else. No word of any bears...or raccoons..
>


No one ever told me about the raccoons either LOL. Heard someone moving
around the stones next to the house one night. Looked out the window and
there was a very handsome, very large raccoon looking for food. It took
up residence under the house for a few days, greatly upsetting the local
cats who were lodging there at the time. It moved on eventually.

Arri London wrote:
>
> Christine Dabney wrote:
>> On Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:19:58 -0600, Arri London >
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Surprised you haven't had any by now. We've also had the occasional
>>> raccoon and skunk. The latter reappeared the other night, according to
>>> the scent
>> I think skunks have been around here, but don't know about anything
>> else. No word of any bears...or raccoons..
>>
>
>
> No one ever told me about the raccoons either LOL. Heard someone moving
> around the stones next to the house one night. Looked out the window and
> there was a very handsome, very large raccoon looking for food. It took
> up residence under the house for a few days, greatly upsetting the local
> cats who were lodging there at the time. It moved on eventually.

Several years ago when Sleepy, the fearless Rat Terrier was still with
us she woke me up one night. I went to the patio door and pulled the
curtain back. There stood a monstrous coon with his hair all puffed up
and a snarl on his face. Sleepy immediately got behind me and indicated
quickly that she had my back.

I quietly went to the dog door and slid the security panel into it and
went back to bed. Having been raised in East Texas I knew enough not to
get involved in a raccoon fight.

"Arri London" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> Christine Dabney wrote:
>>
>> On Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:19:58 -0600, Arri London >
>> wrote:
>>
>> >
>> >Surprised you haven't had any by now. We've also had the occasional
>> >raccoon and skunk. The latter reappeared the other night, according to
>> >the scent
>>
>> I think skunks have been around here, but don't know about anything
>> else. No word of any bears...or raccoons..
>>
>
>
> No one ever told me about the raccoons either LOL. Heard someone moving
> around the stones next to the house one night. Looked out the window and
> there was a very handsome, very large raccoon looking for food. It took
> up residence under the house for a few days, greatly upsetting the local
> cats who were lodging there at the time. It moved on eventually.

Some friends of mine that live in Aurora Colorado had to have raccoons
removed from their chimney. A momma raccoon took up residence and had
babies. They had to call a "wildlife removal specialist."

She's also seen foxes in their neighborhood.

Ms P

Ms P wrote:
>

>
> Some friends of mine that live in Aurora Colorado had to have raccoons
> removed from their chimney. A momma raccoon took up residence and had
> babies. They had to call a "wildlife removal specialist."
>
> She's also seen foxes in their neighborhood.
>
> Ms P


We live in Aurora and have had raccoons in our chimney. We
scared them out and put a wire cap on. They knocked off the cap
the first day and went back in. The next time we put it on, we
screwed it into the masonry and they haven't gotten in again.
They do tromp across the roof most of September to get at the
Concord grapes just before they ripen enough for us to pick.
It sounds like people walking around up there.

We have a neighborhood fox family that cruises through our yard
almost daily looking for food. There has also been a report
of a "white fox" which I suspect is a coyote. We have a pond in
the middle of the neighborhood which houses ducks and migratory
geese. Every once in a while there will be evidence (lots of
feathers) on the shore that one of the fowl has been killed and
eaten.

gloria p

Gloria wrote:

> We have a neighborhood fox family that cruises through our yard almost
> daily looking for food. There has also been a report
> of a "white fox" which I suspect is a coyote.

There's a pack of coyotes living somewhere near my house; sometimes I hear
them howling at night. Several of my neighbors have dogs which bark whenever
anything passes by, but they're surprisingly silent when the coyotes are
running around.

Bob

George Shirley wrote:
>
> Arri London wrote:
> >
> > Christine Dabney wrote:
> >> On Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:19:58 -0600, Arri London >
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >>> Surprised you haven't had any by now. We've also had the occasional
> >>> raccoon and skunk. The latter reappeared the other night, according to
> >>> the scent
> >> I think skunks have been around here, but don't know about anything
> >> else. No word of any bears...or raccoons..
> >>
> >
> >
> > No one ever told me about the raccoons either LOL. Heard someone moving
> > around the stones next to the house one night. Looked out the window and
> > there was a very handsome, very large raccoon looking for food. It took
> > up residence under the house for a few days, greatly upsetting the local
> > cats who were lodging there at the time. It moved on eventually.
>
> Several years ago when Sleepy, the fearless Rat Terrier was still with
> us she woke me up one night. I went to the patio door and pulled the
> curtain back. There stood a monstrous coon with his hair all puffed up
> and a snarl on his face. Sleepy immediately got behind me and indicated
> quickly that she had my back.

LOL!

>
> I quietly went to the dog door and slid the security panel into it and
> went back to bed. Having been raised in East Texas I knew enough not to
> get involved in a raccoon fight.

Fair enough! This one only stayed for 3--4 days and moved on. No
aggression displayed and the cats moved back in.

Leaving the library this afternoon, a roadrunner was poking around the
parking lot. First one we've seen in months.

Gloria P wrote:
> You got it! I'll never forget the news item when we first moved here in the 80s. They interviewed as hysterical woman who lived in the hills
> above Boulder. She was distraught because she had seen a mountain lion attack and drag away her miniature poodle from her deck. She kept
> saying "My Fifi, my Fifi!"

What do you expect? We encroach on their territory removing or
displacing their other food sources and providing them with new ones.
They are doing what is natural to them. So they eat what is easily
available to them. Anyone who does not realize this who lives in such an
area and still lets their pets out is an idiot.

Omelet wrote:

> I learned to shoot raccoons in my yard on sight years ago.
> They are not the cute little creatures Walt Disney makes them out to be.

So were these raccoons you shot threatening you in any way? If not you
are just a trigger happy fat redneck. You must live outside the city
limits of where you are in podunksville otherwise you would have been
arrested for discharging a firearm within the city limits which is
illegal in civilized cities.

notbob wrote:

> More than just bears. I'm not a longtime resident of CO, but after a
> couple Winters it's strange to see young bucks coming right up to the
> house
> to feed on young foliage. I was delighted and amazed to see a
> ptarmigan right outside my glass door on our deck. It walks around
> the park like an old friend. A young eagle perched in a low tree in
> our yard. They don't usually cruise the river until the first snow.
>
> Looks like a long hard winter.

This post opened up when I entered the newsgroup yesterday ...
boy, were you right. You said this early last October. Maybe you
can get a consulting job with Farmer's Almanac.

nancy

On 2010-03-19, Nancy Young > wrote:

> This post opened up when I entered the newsgroup yesterday ...
> boy, were you right. You said this early last October. Maybe you
> can get a consulting job with Farmer's Almanac.

heh heh.... and I didn't even look at any furry caterpillars. Having
so little experience with snowy climes, I was jes making observations
that seem a bit out of the ordinary from what I noticed the two
previous Autumns. I guess if I live long enough I'll be able to make
sage announcements like, "I 'member back in ought nine, I think it
were....".

It looks like ol' man Winter isn't through, yet. It's really coming
down, right now, and is already 6-8" and not supposed to let up till
tonight. I've already been out and shoveled once. Sure glad I bought
those Sorel boots about a month ago at an end-of-season sale. Hey!
Maybe I do have a gift!

nb