A
Anonymous
Guest
Yesterday, my grandbaby and I spent the afternoon building a "club house." We built it out of bent over sapplings, and limbs and branches from all over the 'back forty.' (I have just less than nine acres!)
After three and a half hours, we had the frame up. We will complete the project when she visits again, weekend after next. She is really excited. But that's another story to be posted soon.
After the sun had set, it was getting just beyond twilight-dark when I noticed a pair of mallards on the pond about 150 yards behind the shop.
Now I know from my buddies that these critters have GOOD eyesight and that not much gets past them. I was in dark clothing and the leaves were still damp from the morning rain so I decided to see just how close I could get to them. (That's the bowhunter in me I guess). I picked out a tree that was about 30 yards from them and decided that if I got THAT far, I would call it a success, since they would have been at the outter extent of my bow range.
I began my quest, creeping ever so slowly. I positioned my body behind a willow tree that shilded my approach a bit. It acted like a screen. So far, so good. I would watch them and take step, and stop. I played this game for a good ten minutes.
Before I knew it I was past my 30-yard tree and closing in on twenty! I couldn't believe it! I made a couple more steps. Now I could see the pair good and surprisingly they didn't seem to see me or at least, mind that I was there.
I was not within FIVE YARDS of the edge of the water and the ducks had positioned themselves a bit furthe out to where they were about 30 yards from me. Great viewing. Then I heard something approach from behind.
I turned my head slowly to reveal a stalking yellow long-haired cat Virginia has called Butterscotch! It knew I was there was was intent upon the ducks. I could not turn him at all for fear of spooking the ducks. That devil went to the water's edge with a sudden lunge and, of course the game was over. The ducks lit out like greased lightning into the next county.
I looked at that blessed cat with disgust. He, like all of my animals are kerrs who just happened to wander up for a free meal. Then they stayed when Virginia fed them. I didn't know this animal very well, but I did approach him, thinking I would just pet him.
As I reached out my hand and touched his shoulders, he, somehow reached around and clawed me, my hand still being on his back. That was a tactical blunder on HIS part.
Instinctively I slid my hand on down over his hips and onto his tail and latched on GOOD.
Now remember the scene with John Wayne in True Grit, where he took that rattlesnake by the tail and hurled him around about three times, giving a rebel yell and letting him go, to sail out over the canyon?
Yup! You guessed it. When the ole' tom tried to bite me, I got in my very best hammer throw form. Here we go...around one full 360 turn. Son, I had enough torque that when I politely released him, he sailed, pretty as you please, like a yellow, furry frisby, right out into that pond, by a full 20 yards!
KaaaaspLLLAAAAATTTTTT!!!!!!!! That yellow devil became a submarine just for about 3 seconds and then this wild-eyed cat lunged through the water with a quick pulsating motion. I was waitin at the bank when he made landfall and attempted to give him a 'boot' just for good measure. I missed.
But let me tell you what. That cat set out for the ajoining 400 acres through the honeysuckle at such a blistering pace, that the bushed just smoked as he passed.
Good riddence, I thought. I knew I could never be so lucky.
I made my way back up to the house and could hear my mother saying, "lil-lo-thang." I just smiled.
I told Virginia and the kids about it at supper. They took it pretty well. The kids smirked and Virginia tolerated. <img src="/metal/html/grin.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=":grin">
Not fifteen minutes after supper I looke out the back door and there he was, waitin' for one of Virginia's soft-hearted handouts. He was still a bit damp when Ms V and I went to the door where he could see me. Sheer TERROR came into his eyes. Son, he lit a shuck!
Ole' Butterscotch shoulda known about bitin' the hand that feeds him.
He didn't swim so good, and he isn't the smartest cat I've ever encountered, but boy did he look pretty sailin' over that pond. <img src="/metal/html/lol.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=":lol"> <img src="/metal/html/lol.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=":lol"> <img src="/metal/html/lol.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=":lol">
Thanks for comin' along.
Arkie John
After three and a half hours, we had the frame up. We will complete the project when she visits again, weekend after next. She is really excited. But that's another story to be posted soon.
After the sun had set, it was getting just beyond twilight-dark when I noticed a pair of mallards on the pond about 150 yards behind the shop.
Now I know from my buddies that these critters have GOOD eyesight and that not much gets past them. I was in dark clothing and the leaves were still damp from the morning rain so I decided to see just how close I could get to them. (That's the bowhunter in me I guess). I picked out a tree that was about 30 yards from them and decided that if I got THAT far, I would call it a success, since they would have been at the outter extent of my bow range.
I began my quest, creeping ever so slowly. I positioned my body behind a willow tree that shilded my approach a bit. It acted like a screen. So far, so good. I would watch them and take step, and stop. I played this game for a good ten minutes.
Before I knew it I was past my 30-yard tree and closing in on twenty! I couldn't believe it! I made a couple more steps. Now I could see the pair good and surprisingly they didn't seem to see me or at least, mind that I was there.
I was not within FIVE YARDS of the edge of the water and the ducks had positioned themselves a bit furthe out to where they were about 30 yards from me. Great viewing. Then I heard something approach from behind.
I turned my head slowly to reveal a stalking yellow long-haired cat Virginia has called Butterscotch! It knew I was there was was intent upon the ducks. I could not turn him at all for fear of spooking the ducks. That devil went to the water's edge with a sudden lunge and, of course the game was over. The ducks lit out like greased lightning into the next county.
I looked at that blessed cat with disgust. He, like all of my animals are kerrs who just happened to wander up for a free meal. Then they stayed when Virginia fed them. I didn't know this animal very well, but I did approach him, thinking I would just pet him.
As I reached out my hand and touched his shoulders, he, somehow reached around and clawed me, my hand still being on his back. That was a tactical blunder on HIS part.
Instinctively I slid my hand on down over his hips and onto his tail and latched on GOOD.
Now remember the scene with John Wayne in True Grit, where he took that rattlesnake by the tail and hurled him around about three times, giving a rebel yell and letting him go, to sail out over the canyon?
Yup! You guessed it. When the ole' tom tried to bite me, I got in my very best hammer throw form. Here we go...around one full 360 turn. Son, I had enough torque that when I politely released him, he sailed, pretty as you please, like a yellow, furry frisby, right out into that pond, by a full 20 yards!
KaaaaspLLLAAAAATTTTTT!!!!!!!! That yellow devil became a submarine just for about 3 seconds and then this wild-eyed cat lunged through the water with a quick pulsating motion. I was waitin at the bank when he made landfall and attempted to give him a 'boot' just for good measure. I missed.
But let me tell you what. That cat set out for the ajoining 400 acres through the honeysuckle at such a blistering pace, that the bushed just smoked as he passed.
Good riddence, I thought. I knew I could never be so lucky.
I made my way back up to the house and could hear my mother saying, "lil-lo-thang." I just smiled.
I told Virginia and the kids about it at supper. They took it pretty well. The kids smirked and Virginia tolerated. <img src="/metal/html/grin.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=":grin">
Not fifteen minutes after supper I looke out the back door and there he was, waitin' for one of Virginia's soft-hearted handouts. He was still a bit damp when Ms V and I went to the door where he could see me. Sheer TERROR came into his eyes. Son, he lit a shuck!
Ole' Butterscotch shoulda known about bitin' the hand that feeds him.
He didn't swim so good, and he isn't the smartest cat I've ever encountered, but boy did he look pretty sailin' over that pond. <img src="/metal/html/lol.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=":lol"> <img src="/metal/html/lol.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=":lol"> <img src="/metal/html/lol.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=":lol">
Thanks for comin' along.
Arkie John
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