Ralph Sends His July 4th Congratulations

 

 

            I’d like to take a moment to say, “Happy Birthday, America!” Why, looking back I remember when America was only 200 years old. Has it really been 50 years? I was just a little guy, hanging out with my mom and dad, and Uncle Bob, before we called him that.
            But, I remember the hoopla! Even up in the forest, we sensed the excitement, heard the loud booms, and if you looked in just the right direction, we saw the colored explosions in the sky over Milltown way downhill.
            Mom said, “It’s like a big birthday party. Humans like to mark the days and the times with big celebrations.
            “200 years ago, these people’s ancestors broke off from another older country, because they were not being treated fairly, and they started their own country here on this land. And here we are!
            “Now, we Forest Keepers were here all along, and way before too, so we’ve seen it all, mostly from a distance. But, we have our ways of knowing, don’t we?”
            Dad said, “We’ll see what it looks like in 50 more years.” Can’t argue with that.
            Ramona and I, and, in fact, all of us here in the Great Forest wish all of you busy humans the very best. Have a Bang Up holiday! I know you will, because I’ve been hearing the warmup, and smelling the smoke, for days.
 
            We’ll be watching! We always are!

Love, Ralph 💚

A Star, Sky, And A Blossom

 

            It was not like Cherry to get lost, and maybe normally she couldn’t. But, she was learning to track, and one thing led to another.
            She had noticed a set of small canid style footprints in the very Home Clearing. She figured that they must have been visited during the night by someone very small and doggish. She wondered if it might be Sky, Jumpstart’s son, and she was very curious about him coming around alone.
            Ralph was off hunting, and Ramona was in close conversation with Thaga at the fire circle. Cherry was left to her own devises, so, she decided to track the creature and see if it was, in fact, Sky. Maybe he was lost, and needed help.
            Maeve was busy elsewhere too.
            Where there was soil she followed the tracks, and where there was grass or clover or whatever, she looked for pressed down leaves or blades, until she got to the next set of tracks. She followed them out of the Home Clearing on the path by the Rabbit burrows, where the prints were very clear, but they kept on going.
            Soon she was clear of the forest, standing near the Silver River. The tracks continued down to the riverbank among the river pebbles and the great erratic boulders. It wasn’t a straight trail. Small canids don’t travel in straight lines. This creature had visited many rocks, turning some of them over. Maybe he was hungry and looking for food, Cherry thought. There were signs of digging here and there.
            It took some thinking, but she could see which tracks were the older, and which the newest. She followed the newest.
            They led directly to the biggest boulder facing the river and stopped right there, as if her quarry had passed right into the substance of the rock. She was stunned and confused. She put out her hand as if to confirm that this was a boulder by touching it.
            Cherry’s hand didn’t stop at the surface of rock, it passed on through, and she fell right into it. It was dark, not like her pleasant world. It was like no world at all. She fell some distance, and landed on a damp cold stoney surface. A chilly breeze blew in this darkness. Cherry had never felt so alone.
            There was no light. It was utterly dark. And when she put out her hands, she felt nothing. Nothing, utterly, nothing.
            “Mama?” she said, but it was like her voice was swallowed. She brought her arms in to her chest because it was so cold. She made herself as small as she could. “Mama,” she thought to herself. She closed her eyes, so as not to see the blackness. “Help me,” she whispered, finally.
            A small cold nose poked her in her cheek. It sniffed. Then she heard whimpers.
            “Sky, is that you?” Cherry said.
            “Yes. I’m lost Lady Cherry,” Sky said sadly. “I fell down here and I don’t know how to get out.”
            “I don’t know either,” said Cherry. But, she gathered the little coyote into her arms, and they shared warmth with each other.
            “Somehow, we will get out of here, I know it,” said Cherry.
            “I want my mama, and I’m hungry,” said Sky.
            Cherry told him she felt the same, and they waited together for a time.
            When that time was over, there was a speck of light far off, like a star. It was blue, and it was coming to them. It was the most beautiful thing that Cherry had ever seen. 
            “I’m afraid,” said Sky, shivering.
            “Don’t be afraid,” said Cherry. But she shivered a little too, because she didn’t know that blue star, and it was getting closer very quickly.
            When it was right before them, its light cast some illumination over both Cherry and Sky. They could see each other, and the shining blue light, which seemed round one moment, and covered with many points the next moment. It pulsed slowly and peacefully.
            “Don’t be afraid. There is a way out of  here,” said a soft young voice. “I heard you cry out and I came to you.”
            “But, who are you,” said Cherry, in astonishment.
            “I am Koba. You must follow me,” said the blue star.
            “How can we follow you,” said the girl child, still holding Sky.
            “Close your eyes, don’t let go of Sky, and come with me,” said Koba. Then he laughed a little boy’s sweet laugh.
            So, Cherry held on to Sky, and he didn’t wiggle at all, and she closed her eyes, determining to go wherever Koba led her.
            Eyes still closed, the first thing she noticed was warmth. And a dry soft breeze. Then there was light. Then there was the sweet smell of the forest, resinous and familiar. It felt like home, so she opened her eyes.
            And there, before her eyes, around the fire, were Ramona, and Thaga. Also, there was Ralph. Maeve was just landing from above and Jumpstart was trotting into the Home Clearing from the Meadow. No one said one word at first.
            Cherry put Sky down, and he ran to his father. Together they trotted off to find Sky’s mama.
            Koba settled down on the forest floor, becoming once again a small golden child, taking Cherry’s hand as he stood beside her.
            “I don’t understand,” said Ramona. “You’ve been gone all day..”
            “We were lost, Mama, and Koba found us in the dark,” said Cherry.
            “Mouth of the Mountain,” said Maeve. “No wonder I couldn’t find her!”
            “Sky fell in, then I did too. We waited and Koba brought us home,” said Cherry.
            “I still don’t understand,” said Ramona.
            Just then, Twigg and Leely appeared. Leely gathered Koba into her arms.
            “Remember what Mak said, Mona. When he is with us he will be like our children, when he is with human people he will be like a human child, but if he needs to, he will be like a star.”
            “I do remember,” said Ramona. “But, hearing and seeing are two different things, Baby.”
            “Yes!” said Ralph. “That’s for sure!”
            Looking around at the group, Ramona started thinking that she should make dinner. When she mentioned it to Thaga, that lady said, “Let’s have everyone come up to my house. Ooog will love the company, and I already have a big pot of bean soup on the back of the stove.  You’ve had enough for one day. Your daughter lost and found. Your grandson revealed to be a miracle. Let me do this for you, Ramona.”
            “You’re right, Thaga. I am still stunned,” said Ramona.
            So, Thaga invited everyone up to the stone cabin for dinner, including Blue. They had Thaga’s good soup, with bread and butter, and some baked apples she made while they were eating soup. Ooog had a great time telling stories and playing host, after he had heard the best story from Cherry and Koba.
            After dinner, Twigg and Leely and Koba, who was getting sleepy, were the first to leave.
            Ramona sat holding Cherry like she used to when Cherry was smaller.
            Ralph looked thoughtful, but didn't say much. When it was getting dark, he walked Ramona and Cherry home.
            “I’m going to the river for a few minutes, Mona,” he said.
            “You want to come along, Maeve?” he asked the Raven. She did, of course.
            In the near dark, with Maeve on his shoulder, Ralph confronted the Mouth of the Mountain for the last time. He began to sing and people down river thought that there must be a thunderstorm up in the mountains.
            “I send you to your own darkness,” he said at last. And he watched until the boulder was no more.
            “Amen,” said Maeve. “For evermore!”
            Then they walked home, and Maeve spent the night in the cave with everyone, because Ravens don’t really like to fly in the dark.

💙

The Purrsday Weekly Roundup

 

💙A Thinly Disguised Open Thread💙

 
            “Well,” said Suzie. “Here we are again. She said we could have today for the Purrsday cat news. So, it seems to be me that the most direct method is a list. Don’t you agree, Toots?”
            “I can’t imagine a better way, Suzie,” agreed Toots. “First item, Dear?”
 
            1.      The return of Mr. Baby Sir. This is said to be a temporary incursion. Ahem! It turns out that he is such a bad traveler that he has to be homed with us for a while. Right now he is sulking, said to be sleeping, in the cat tree on the back porch. He is so fat that he fills up the hut section! We haven’t hear the usual “Mrrr-mrrr-mrrr” out of him yet, but he’ll surely get tuned  up later, once he realizes he’s stuck here. by Suzie

            2.      He is still not my boyfriend! Suzie!                                                        
 
            3.      Booker and Sweetie are both bigger than me now, and much heavier. They will not leave my tail alone when I pass either one of them. I protest! Maybe now they will concentrate on the Fluffbag, who is not my boyfriend! by Suzie                                                                             
 
 
            4.      My story is a big negative. No Walkers on the road at night for quite a while. I did hear some out of place bird noises in the middle of the night. Probably nothing. Sometimes there are cats wandering around, but that’s fine. That yellow tomcat is not my boyfriend either! by Toots                                                                                                                                    
 
            5.      I still want to meet an ET. I mean a real one. I wonder if it will look like a cat. I’m pretty sure it should, since the feline form is the most basic and best in all the stars! Therefor I propose a voyage of exploration soon!  by Toots                                                               
 
            6.      The noise level around here continues. I don’t know what’s gotten into Him! Sakes alive, Suzie. Sometimes I think I’ve already met an ET, and it’s making Him noisy! I can imagine what else would cause Him to turn on the Loud Sucking Machine! I must devise a method of testing Him for an alien hitchhiker! by Toots                                                                                    
 
            7.      Another thing; both Booker and Sweetie continue to attempt an entry into the bottom level of the fridge whenever it’s opened. I am at a loss! Why? When I was young, climbing into the fridge never crossed my mind! They say these two are special, like part wildcat. But, that can’t be it. Wildcats don’t have access to fridges. It makes no sense to me! by Suzie                           
 
            8.      I have not hidden for several days. I was feeling extra Cautious™ that one day. Everybody told Her I was fine, but Ol’ Softy couldn’t take it. by Suzie                                 
 
            9.      You ought to see all of them chase the red dot! I do not indulge. They must think it’s alive, like a red bug or something. I believe it’s an orb and I want  nothing to do with it. by Suzie                                                                                                                                         
 
            “I think that just about wraps up the cat news for this week, unless you have something else,” said Toots.
            “No. I guess not. It has been a quiet week. I didn’t see or hear any Walkers, or Mimics, or Haints of any description either,” admitted Suzie.
            “I guess we’ll sign off for this week then,” said Toots, signing off. *

* PS, Suzie has very small toes!

😸💚😸

A Day in The Forest and Meadow

 

            Ralph woke first for once, while the dew was still on the leafy ground cover in the Home Clearing. He grinned because he was first to awaken. He didn’t bother Ramona, but just slipped carefully out from under the big quilt.
            Blue opened her eyes and looked at him. He just said “Shhh” and kind of glided out of the green door, closing it very quietly behind himself.
            Outside, he took a big breath of still cool morning air, stretched mightily, and grunted happily. He could see just a few glints of the sun through the trees in the east. He could smell a little smudge from the fire pit. There was just a little column of white smoke ascending from the coals of last night’s fire. It wouldn’t take much fuel to start burning properly again.
            Taking an armful of medium sized pieces from the stacked branches and so on, he began to build up the fire for morning. The pitch in the dry fir branch sections made little hot sparks as it caught and began burning brightly. So far, so good.
            Ralph had never made coffee before, but he was pretty sure he could do it. How hard could it be to boil some coffee in water? This meant a trip back into the cave, risking waking Ramona, and the whole crew still sleeping in there.
            So, he walked as quietly as he could back into the cave. He was looking for Ramona’s coffee supply when he heard some rustling behind him.
            “Why are you up, Baby,” said Ramona, still under the quilt.
            “I just woke up. You were still sleeping so I went out and got the fire going. I was thinking about making some coffee,” said Ralph.
            “I’ll do it,” she said. “Why don’t we go out and not wake everybody?”
            Ramona got her blue enameled coffee pot, and dumped a judicious amount of ground coffee from a jar she had on her shelf, thanks to Thaga, into the pot.
            Outside, she filled it with river water from her bucket, and put it on the fire to boil.
            “Thanks for starting the fire,” said Ramona.
            They sat together as the sun came up, watching the fire and smelling the coffee.
            “I’ve been thinking,” said Ralph.
            “That doesn’t surprise me,” said Ramona. “What’s cooking in there today?"
            “I think it’s time to go visit the Alder Tree House. It’s been a while, and I want to see Koba. You know, and how everything is going?” said Ralph.
            “I do too,” she said. “I’ll just slice up some of that roast haunch we had last night. That will do. Then we can walk over there and surprise them!” She smiled at the thought.
            “I didn’t want them to feel watched, you know?” said Ralph, looking at her with his kind brown eyes shining in the morning light.
            Ramona opened the cave door, fetched out the left over roast, and her big knife and some bowls. She called “Wake up everybody! We’re going to go see Twigg, Leely, and Koba today! Let’s eat and get ready!”
            They had the cold roast for breakfast, with coffee for Ralph and herself, and water for Cherry and Blue, and the Pumas. Then Ramona combed everyone’s hair, including Blue’s and Bob and Berry’s until they all looked their very best.
            About the time they were ready to go, Maeve flew down out of the sky. She decided to go with them. She was curious about Koba too.
            The sun was well up in the morning sky when they all set off in a sort of majestic procession. Bob and Berry walked first, tails swinging in unison. Next came Cherry with her hand on Blue’s head. Ralph and Ramona came last, holding hands. Maeve rode in her usual place.
            They passed up out of the Home Clearing and into the morning meadow, and all was heart-breakingly lovely. They could smell the earth and all the dwellers therein. As they walked crushing grass and scented herbs, the odors rose up around them. The flowers of midsummer were all in bloom, white, yellow, and lavender.
            They stopped at the old first-growth stump where Twigg and Leely had first become friends, and as they did a flight of B’s surrounded them. The B’s seemed to be examining them.   
            At last, a Betty spoke to Ralph, “Oh, Twigg’s Father and Mother! We will fly to him and announce your coming arrival!” And with that the golden humming cloud of tiny souls flew away as fast as they could fly.
            After a few more minutes of walking through the meadow the Alder Tree House came into view. It had leafed out beautifully. Birds called from within its canopy of branches, berry vines spiraled up the trunks of the circled alders. A bit of white smoke lifted skyward from the small chimney. Tall grass surrounded the house. A path led from the open doorway.
            Twigg was first to step outside. “The B’s said you would be here soon!” he called to his family.  "Please, come in!"
            Then, a stately dark haired young woman, who in some ways resembled little Marge, stood in the doorway wearing some of Marge’s Carhartt’s. In her arms was a child. The child, a shining golden haired small person, threw out his arms to Ramona when he saw her approaching. She ran to him and gathered him into her bosom, and it must be admitted that Ramona wept happy tears.
            “Come in,” said Leely, and everyone did go in, including Blue and Bob and Berry, and Maeve, naturally!
            Leely made a nice big lunch, Koba was finally passed from Ramona’s arms to Ralph’s and then to Cherry’s. Everyone admired him and said how big he was growing and how smart he was. He was even beginning to talk in short sentences.
            The family talked for many hours, and the day was perfect.

💚

Highway 21 Revisited

 

            It was July 1 of 2016. My daughter and I were out driving in eastern Washington. East and West don't really resemble each other in Washington. You could think you were in Montana, or any other wheat country. 

            Here is a Wiki on highway 21, just in case you'd like the details.

            I wouldn't mind being out there today, flying those big open spaces in some over-powered big rental car!

            I wish you a very good day!

            💮

Higher Level Cautiousness™

 

 

            “Psst, Toots,” said Suzie very early one morning, via KittyComm™.

            “Shhh!” Toots answered very quietly. “What’s up?”

            “I’m hiding from Them,” said Suzie. "They're acting weird again."

            “I’m hiding from Him! I’m not sure he’s Him. He looks changed!” said Toots, in a psychic whisper. “He might be able to hear me!”

            “She gave me a bowl of disgusting food. I think She might have been trying to transform me into a dog or something! And, that’s not all,” said Suzie. “Where are you hiding?”

            “I can’t say,” said Toots.

            “In the Bug engine compartment?” asked Suzie.

            “No! Too easy! He'd find me there,” said Toots.

            “But if he’s not Him, he wouldn’t know that,” said Suzie. “Unless, he’s an amalgam of some kind, and the new one knows what the old one knows!”

            “Ew! Stop talking like that, or I’ll never come out!” whispered Toots. “Say, where are you hiding? Behind the piano?”

            “Here she comes! She’ll never find me!” said Suzie. “I’m way back in a tiny cave behind stuff! She’s talking, but I’m not answering. She doesn’t even know I’m within three feet of her!”

            “That sounds like a closet! Is it the one in the bathroom?” guessed Toots.

            “Nope! They always look in closets when I’m in Higher Cautiousness™” said Suzie. “I’m in a place they never think of!”

            “Oh! I want to be in Higher Cautiousness™ too!” said Toots, eagerly.

            “Toots, honey, you are the queen of Higher Cautiousness™! You haven’t even told me where you’re hiding!” said Suzie. “I’m not likely to, pardon the expression, rat you out, am I?”

            “Not on purpose, but if your lady has been highjacked by 'aliens' she might be able to read your mind, then she might rat me out!” said Toots.

            “Nah, don’t worry about that. She’d probably highjack any ET silly enough to try her. Can you imagine? They’d be zapping around between dimensions, and she’d be going along for the ride. She put flea collars on us. That’s about it,” admitted Suzie.

            “Ew,” Toots shuddered delicately. “How can you bear it?”

            “Consider the alternative,” said Suzie. “That’s how I bear it. Besides, I’m getting very hungry. I think I’ll run out when she has her back turned. She’ll never know where I was!” said Suzie.

            “Oh, I don’t think any alien could get inside Him either,” said Toots. “Real ETs don’t do that, and fake ones would probably regret the attempt, and I’m hungry too!”

            “How do you know real ETs don’t do that?” said Suzie.

            “Come on, Suzie! We’ve been Out There! Did any ET grab us and bend our minds?” said Toots.

            “No. I didn’t even see any ET’s Out There,” said Suzie.

            “I bet they saw us! Maybe one day we’ll meet some of them! But right now, I want breakfast! Talk to you later, Suzie!” said Toots, ending the KittyComm™ conversation.

            Suzie was left with more questions than answers, but she decided to just go have some kitty soup, and then have a nice nap with P, and think about it all later!

 

Das Ende!

💙

Just Some Pink Roses for Suzday

 

            Suzday greetings! 
            Whether it's hot or not, wishing you a lovely summer day.

            Suzie is very proud of  her day, and she hopes it lives up to its reputation!

            Love, p

💮💚💮