Landed in Oregon XXVI

Good Morning -

February 12, 2008

Walked up to get the mail. 100 yards. In the trees near the top of the hill live the doves. They like the dirt road. I think for gravel, dusting and sunning. It is hard to believe (like quail) that in some states doves are game birds.

Yesterday Buddy chased the turkeys. They saw him. He didn’t see them. I kept pointing. He would look at my finger. Finally I held his head. After a long while he saw them. They nearly got away. He closed the distance quickly. They squawked and flew. He loved it. Saw nary a one today.

February 13, 2008

We have woodpeckers working the snag in the lower pasture. We also had the arrival of a dozen reconnoitering robins. Buddy chased them both.

February 14, 2008

County official arrived today to look over the lower pasture holes that are soil samples as part of the drain field system. Buddy and I went out to say hi. Like so many people he said Buddy was a good looking critter. But Buddy would not be petted. Earlier, he would cringe. This time the kept out of reach more like a puppy.

When we got him he would heel closely -- like Shadow. Like a teenager he runs -- galloping like a herd of horses -- Gallop. Herd. He runs full out -- like a Jet, or even a Black Jet or Flash. Gotta Run. Watching Sharon and I eat he drool Drool. When put in the garden he tries to dig out -- Digger. He loves to walk in the creek -- Wader. He can’t just stay in one room on the house. He got to check what I’m doing, and Sharon, and Manny and Capper. Nosey. When he checks, he doesn’t just go and do it. He sneaks. Sneaky. He also has got to itch. Gotta Itch. He was clearly abused as a puppy. He fears lots of things. A Scaredy Dog. He is still too much of a puppy to be a vain young male. Soon enough.

He discovered the squirrel that raids the bird feeders. The squirrel evades him. He loves it. He now watches for the squirrel and other critters. On his own today he went out to the squirrel path and peed. First time on his own! (Embarrasses me to say it.) We have been holding his paw -- so to speak. He patrols out there. Very proud. Big chest. Ears cocked. He wants to do the same with the cats in the house. We disappoint him.

February 17, 2008.

Yesterday and today, clear skies. Above sixty. First yellow crocus today! Cut stove wood from some of the downed trees. Plan to plant peas before end of the month. Sharon is walking Buddy several times a day. Good for both of them. She has had what is probably the flu. It is going around. My theory is that some viruses migrate each winter. They go from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean. There was a time when the Isthmus of Panama did not exist and the viruses would just follow the current. Now they must travel overland. They hitch rides with people. People are just bags of water so the viruses travel from person to person. They can’t be too deadly because then they would lose their source of transportation. Our winter influenza viruses are the original Snow Birds. There was this virus named Sam...

Have a good week,

Marc & Sharon