Fall in the Ozarks

As Kathy and I drove back into the yard yesterday a strange looking animal darted from the basketball court to the high grass behind the garage. I don’t know what it was, I plan on looking on line for funny dark gray animals with lots of fluffy fur and no visible ears. No tail as far as I can see. This animal was bigger than a house cat, smaller than a German Shepherd. It ran like a dog.

I found out today what the strange animal is in my backyard. It is kind of anticlimactic after looking so hard to figure it out. It is a groundhog, or a woodchuck. Same animal, different names, you call it what you want; it still lives in your back yard. It is a vegetarian, so Kathy is safe from it. So maybe someday I will be able to answer the age old question, how much can a woodchuck chuck? I understand that the woodchuck goes into hibernation soon.

It was so pretty here today. I love the Ozarks in the fall. I love the Ozarks, period. When Kathy and I left to dry clothes today the blackbirds were circling and cawing. Kathy in her wonderful two year old curiosity asked wuz hat? I pointed the birds out to her. The must have been at least fifty flying in a huge circle. When she heard them she wanted to know again what that was. I explained that is how they talk. She wisely shook her head and pointed to the birds and imitated them. So, is caw a new word?

As we were driving to dry our clothes a hawk flew immediately across the road right in front of me. He was a beauty, fierce looking and intense. I have seen hawks and eagles here, but usually up high. In the last few weeks I was honored to see the golden eagle up close, and now this hawk.

After our errands, on our ride home I received a great gift from Mother Nature. I will try to describe it, but words just won’t do it the honor it deserves. I would draw it, but all I am good at with a pencil are stick figures and rainbows.

It was getting dark as I was coming home. There is one last hill to go down before you cross the river and then you go up my hill. The sunset was a vivid orange tonight, and just before I dipped down below the skyline I had a glorious view of this gift.

The sky was darkened and just a band of dark orange was visible. It silhouetted the trees on the top of the hill. Just above all this was one star shining brightly. The beauty of this gift touched my soul.

The Universe gave me beauty to make my soul sing.