squirrel season

I've noticed several wooly worms and other critters lately, most of them storing up for winter.  Most of the snakes have retreated underground or at least not crossed my path which is good.  There have been no deer because it's dry and they're hiding in the riverbed like the turkeys and wood duck.  Daddy took me on a wildflower and fern digging hike crawling up the big mound right behind the to-die-for house.  There were cattle roaming the hills then, and when he retired they were sold and he bought a gator with the money.  The last time he and mom came to visit me was on that very vehicle last September.  See how odd it is when you let go and let God?  It's a thing, and it brought him lots of pleasure.  End of story.

Bro and tribe should be arriving home in the next few hours, hopefully with no more stomach bugs or emergency calls.  I'm not sure what just happened around here but I think it was a mighty uncoupling of a family that  has a long history with a farm that they don't own.  Last I heard corporate wanted to move the log cabin up on the hill which would be a ( to-die-for ) kickass spot to watch the sunset.  It's what brought the elders together all those years at the shack. Harry was a banker by trade with a history of land ownership dating back to his uncle's purchase of this parcel around 1917 or so.  Over the years it has been given to the Catholic church, bought back and turned into a pretty decent heritage for the heirs what with the heritage of the original houses and two remaining barns.  T and Yvette's dream was to do a vineyard over on those hills.  Instead, they moved to wine country, publish a good news magazine and have two kids.  There was a lifetime agreement between the elders about housing and that has been honored.  My mother has since moved onto assisted living ( praise Big Ernie ) and continues to accept the new normal.  Life is good.

I ran into Clara's husband and brother yesterday at the sawmill where the volunteers sit and it struck me that Daddy quit when they moved to the central location.  He just wanted to be by radiology and the elevator where all the action was.  Volunteer service is something that Jesus would do and I think now, more than ever, that the powers that be are asking us to be kinder and gentler with each other.  Why else would the Pope be visiting Congress??