Life Forms

Yesterday morning I took a walk all over the grounds.  It is lovely in the cool of the morning.  As I walked down a particular path towards the back of the property I was shocked to see a dead fawn in the middle of the pathway.  There isn't much in the way of life forms here that could manage such a big kill so it left me wondering who could have done it.  The lovely creature was freshly dead, with only a small piece of it missing; I assume in something's belly.  There are coyotes and foxes here but I've never seen signs of them attacking the deer.  I suppose they could...

During the day we watched the Lord's clean-up crew at work.  The vultures and other birds gathered around the carcass and feasted.  They often didn't agree as to who had priority.  Such activity filled the day.  Later in the afternoon I saw a creature slithering through the grass not far from the feasting place.  I had not seen such an animal here before.  As we looked closer we recognized him as a badger.  He seems to be a new guy in the neighborhood.  We've decided that he was the killer.

I began this morning's walk by heading out our front door.  The cat, Cherry, was there to greet me, as usual.  She is what Layne calls a "cadog".  She follows us everywhere outside, much as a pet dog might do.  She was my companion this morning as I walked around the grounds once again.  I put off walking near the dead deer.  But finally I approached, dreading what I would see.  What do you know; I saw NOTHING!  It was as if the fawn had never been there.  Not even a bone.  Wow.  What an amazing clean-up the life forms of our hill accomplished.  In one 24 hour period!  

The "cadog" Cherry, asking for a belly scratch
before beginning our walk.

Cherry waiting patiently for me to return
from the bottom of the driveway, where,
for some reason, she chooses not to go.

The scene of the dead fawn, who, just 24 house ago,
lay dead, but almost complete.

Feathers were all that remained of yesterday's feast.

Lately I've been investing in the agony and ecstasy of planning a cousin camp/family reunion.  Each year Layne and I have planned a Cousin Camp for all of our grandchildren that can come.  We spend 5 days with them, feeding, playing and generally caring for them.  It is a massive undertaking and I've discovered that it isn't very bonding for us.  The kids have a great time together but for us it is just work.  This year events have played out to involve the parents as well.  It has become a default family reunion.  Son Gerald and his family will be here from Taiwan, along with 8 Chinese students.  Daughter Jessica, from Seattle, and her family will be here as well. So, combined with the three local families, that makes all of us here at the same time!  How can we possibly pass up the chance to make a thing of this.  So, beginning with July 4, we will be together, in various combinations, for a week!

You can imagine what kind of planning this will take.  This year we are doing pretty much all of it.  Part of the plan is to include our grown kids in some of the grunt work.  I find that the anticipation of it has taken over most of my thoughts these days.  I know now from past experience that my vision of things is never the reality.  So I'm trying to hold myself back from expecting magical moments all during our week.  Let's get real.  If we are blessed, there will be some magic.  But most of it will be work.  Magic is the ecstasy, work is the agony of such things.  So is worry.  But if I'm busy enough in my preparations it leaves less time for worry.  Once Layne got engaged with this undertaking, he became a ignited engine of activity.  He has made lists of all sorts and has plans for sleep quarters and activities.  We are enriching the yard with all sorts of options for the kids, hoping that they will spend most of their time there.  Of course things never turn out as planned, but maybe it'll be better!  My hope is that we can have regular family reunions, with each family taking a turn at planning it.  Then, when Layne and I are gone, it has a great chance of continuing.

So the planning and preparations continue and will, no doubt, lead right up to our July 4th beginning.