Last Night Was Cool and Breezy
Kind of like that Niel Young song. Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere.
There were fireworks going on at a wedding reception that I was invited to but did not go. I set up the temporary power for the tent in a friend's field and was told by the father of the bride that I needed to come. I had gotten an invitation, but really did not feel obligated or even an interest in going.
I decided to sit out on the swing in the dark and watch the stars move in and out of the clouds. As the title indicates, it was cool and the wind from the North made it even cooler but the small waves on the beach were relaxing.
As I sat and enjoyed the quiet, with a bit of fireworks thunder in the distance, I felt something touch my leg. I looked down and here was the gray fox I had startled a couple nights ago sniffing my leg like a small dog.
"Hey!" I said and the fox jumped back and growled at me. This caused my dogs, who were inside and none too happy about it, start to bark and the little bugger backed away even more. I sat still and just looked at him, wishing I had brought the phone out so I could snap a picture.
After about a 2 minute standoff, he backed further down the beach and began to skirt around my fire pit and slowly, stealthily he (or she, not really sure) crept back up towards the house and began to scratch beneath the bird feeders and eat sunflower seeds that the birds had dropped.
The little shit looked pretty healthy and certainly other than that initial start, did not seem at all nervous. Lots of people feed them around here, so they are used to people.
When I got up off the swing and began to walk to the door, which took me closer to him, he backed off again and gave me that low growl again...not really threatening, but more a "stay back buddy" kind of growl.
I went inside and went to the fridge. I had made a chuck roast a couple nights ago with Italian seasoning and green peppers that I pulled off the bone and had hot beef sandwiches with. There was not much left, but I put everything, bones and all on a heavy paper plate and took it out for the fox.
He was gone, but the next morning so was the beef...including the bones.
My dogs were insensed by the fact that I had a small spot on my jeans that had been touched by the fox's nose...but it did not stop them from sharing the bed.
I think I will put out a bit of smoked fish tonight.
There were fireworks going on at a wedding reception that I was invited to but did not go. I set up the temporary power for the tent in a friend's field and was told by the father of the bride that I needed to come. I had gotten an invitation, but really did not feel obligated or even an interest in going.
I decided to sit out on the swing in the dark and watch the stars move in and out of the clouds. As the title indicates, it was cool and the wind from the North made it even cooler but the small waves on the beach were relaxing.
As I sat and enjoyed the quiet, with a bit of fireworks thunder in the distance, I felt something touch my leg. I looked down and here was the gray fox I had startled a couple nights ago sniffing my leg like a small dog.
"Hey!" I said and the fox jumped back and growled at me. This caused my dogs, who were inside and none too happy about it, start to bark and the little bugger backed away even more. I sat still and just looked at him, wishing I had brought the phone out so I could snap a picture.
After about a 2 minute standoff, he backed further down the beach and began to skirt around my fire pit and slowly, stealthily he (or she, not really sure) crept back up towards the house and began to scratch beneath the bird feeders and eat sunflower seeds that the birds had dropped.
The little shit looked pretty healthy and certainly other than that initial start, did not seem at all nervous. Lots of people feed them around here, so they are used to people.
When I got up off the swing and began to walk to the door, which took me closer to him, he backed off again and gave me that low growl again...not really threatening, but more a "stay back buddy" kind of growl.
I went inside and went to the fridge. I had made a chuck roast a couple nights ago with Italian seasoning and green peppers that I pulled off the bone and had hot beef sandwiches with. There was not much left, but I put everything, bones and all on a heavy paper plate and took it out for the fox.
He was gone, but the next morning so was the beef...including the bones.
My dogs were insensed by the fact that I had a small spot on my jeans that had been touched by the fox's nose...but it did not stop them from sharing the bed.
I think I will put out a bit of smoked fish tonight.
56-60, M
