Rural Routes, Blog Version

It happens every year. You’d think I would learn.

In August, when both young and mature hummingbirds are at the feeder, I cannot keep up with the demand. I am boiling sugar water at all hours of the day and night.

We try to count the birds frenziedly fighting for space at the feeder. We can almost see the liquid level go down in the glass tube as we watch.

Then the numbers decrease and we are back to feeding two or three birds at a time. Sometime around the Labour Day long weekend, the birds will disappear.

And every year I put up a full feeder when it is no longer needed. It’s as if they drink the last drop, say ”That’s it till next year, folks” and leave for the south. But I’m too busy making one more batch of juice to notice.

FIRST MEAL

We had our first family gathering at the new place. It was weeks ago now, but I have lost track of time. It was still high summer then.

Our son brought the Chinese food and other family members brought the lawn chairs.

We sat in the otherwise empty living room and gave thanks for air conditioning.

We had brought in a truckload of tubs, the first of our belongings to make their way to our eventual residence. It took three or four trips with a dolly and that was more than enough effort for a day with temperatures reaching the high 30s.

Movers were busy moving in another family and the sweat dropped off them as they walked back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.

“Not a good day for the job,” I said as I walked past one of the men.

He agreed.

BEAR FACTS

I think I saw a bear yesterday.

I could have been mistaken. It could have been a black cow. We have those in the pasture south of the house.

But if it were a cow, it had much shorter legs than I would have expected and it was wider across the back than your average bovine. Its gait was also different.

We found bear prints in our driveway several weeks ago. We know they are around. But I cannot be sure that what I saw yesterday matched the prints.

CAT SHORTAGE

I may or may not have seen a bear, but I have seen no barn cats. Not one.

Usually the female cats disappear for a while after giving birth, but then begin bringing their kittens out to see the world, often ending up on our deck where the world includes food that does not need catching.

But not this year. The cats have never returned.

Granted, the toms may come back when the weather turns towards fall. I have often seen that happen.

Still we are not the only local residents who wonder where the cats went. I have heard from several who have a similar story to tell.

Thankfully, the indoor cat is still here. And easy to please. Give her a small box and she’s set for hours.

HONK HONK

I heard geese this morning as I took out some garbage.

The calendar shows September; the hummingbirds are gone; and the geese are flying. I may have lost track of time, but it is passing without me.

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