Category: Nature
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The Big One: Part 2

[Source: Mine] Somewhere, in the wild world of the Troposphere, it all begins. That’s where The Big One originates. There’s water involved, cold temperatures, wind and a waiting winter, already mostly frozen. Everyone in the North Country is awaiting the arrival of the first significant snowfall, To us, it’s The Big One. I have my…
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Waiting For Some Friends

Yes, I know. We went to Lowes in Plattsburg and purchased a fire-engine red snowblower. It has all the ‘stuff’ a person would want in one of these babies. It drives itself and controls the direction the snow is blown (away from your face for example). We waited for the Big One. After all it…
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Autumn Comes First, Right?

I learned a valuable lesson early this morning. No more preparation. Sometimes things make no sense. It doesn’t do much good to try and snow blow a 1/2″ of drizzling rain. The scheduled delivery from Lowe’s arrived on time. In fact it not only arrived on time, it was early. The truck was at our…
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The Bearded Man Beholds The Autumn
[Photo is mine.] He sits on the front deck of his home. Despite recent chilly weather, this particular Wednesday proved to be mild…even warm. He has spent the last half-hour watching a red squirrel scurry about a pile of chipped wood. Doubtless, this is to be his winter den. The bearded man is sitting…
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A Beautiful Day in The Neighborhood
[Our beautiful neighborhood] Did I ever tell you that I have a sore back? Surely, I did. The other day I was sitting on the edge of the bed pondering how long a nap I should take when I chanced to hear the sound of big truck-like things and chainsaws. I decided to investigate. I…
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Christopher Robin Held in Custody For Alleged Trophy Kill
SPECIAL NEWS ALERT [PICTURES AT 11:00.] [The alleged perp poses with his trophy kill. Robin is on the left.] The way I see it through my news-weary eyes is that Robin made the mistake of posting his kill on Facebook. A friend recognized him and using GPS coordinates pinpointed the exact location as somewhere in…
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The Gift Of The Troll
[Source: google search.] I tried to be as quiet as a cat as I approached the Barnum Brook Bridge. I put my foot on the first plank and sure enough, my stealth was inadequate. Out from under the bridge, so fast I missed it because I had blinked, emerged the Troll, blocking my way. “Who…
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What To Do?
[The puzzle as of April 9.] Dear Dr. Fauchi, I am in need of a motivation transplant. I know that isn’t your field but I felt it wouldn’t hurt to ask. And I ask this at this particular time because you probably have little or nothing to do since the pandemic situation is totally under…
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The Troll Of Barnum Brook Bridge
[The only known photo of the Barnum Brook Bridge Troll. Photo source: Google search.] I stood in my kitchen staring at my Costco weather monitor. Mariam was busy looking for a container of low-salt broth. For twenty-two minutes I glared at the humidity reading. It was our eighteenth day of self-isolation. Except for a small…
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The Two Garbage Bins: A Winter’s Tale
[Iceberg Landscape. Photo source: Google search.] In the U.K. they call it “Bin Day”. That’s when you put your rubbish and recycles out at curbside. I think that is a very cute way of putting things, but then the English are so cute anyway. On March 22, they will celebrate “Mothering Day” instead of “Mother’s…