Winter is hanging on for dear life in this part of the world, with spring coming in a close second. While outside yesterday, I was listening to the Chickadees singing their pheebee song and nearby, a solitary Robin found the new patch of sunshine just more than he could bear and he gave out the prettiest song imaginable. These old ears, frost bitten and tired, perked up and just plain enjoyed the thoughts of the season yet to come.
By the sounds of the television lately, the world is becoming a much more dangerous place to live. The responsibility of protecting ourselves and loved ones is becoming more evident as time passes. Each country that has been forced to give up their guns, has been followed with genocide and mass murder. Take some good certified training and own a gun. Remember..... the name for unarmed citizen is "victim".
So here in the woods, we feel a little bit safer, and far removed from some of life's little problems. A major decision here is what to have for dinner. Soon we'll have to decide what kinds of seeds to buy for the garden. I think this year we'll resist the temptation to try once again to grow sweet corn. Now how do those critters know? You look at the corn every day and pretty soon it's about ready. You make the decision to have the first taste at next evenings dinner. You even go so far as to get out that big kettle. Next morning, you check once more and find that every coon within 40 miles has come to the party and eaten or destroyed the whole thing. Now, how did they know? How did they know it was ready?
It makes me think of a couple old-timers that I used to work with. A long time ago we were sitting on a log eating our lunch. Vacuum bottles, thermos bottles, had just came on the market.
"Now what's that ya got Frank?"
"Well, my wife bought me this for my birthday."
"What's it do?"
"Not sure. It's kind of a puzzle."
"Huh?"
"Ya can put coffee in it."
"So what's the puzzle Frank?"
"It keeps hot things hot and cold things .......... but how do it know?"

Ya might have to think on that for a bit.
Well, time to go and shovel out the car. So far it's been a 3 shovel winter.
From the land of tall pines and tall tales, I wish you best regards,
Ron
www.ronshepherd.com