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Well... you can't call a trip to PA complete without a "close encounter" with the bear. I'm not talking just any bear... but I think it is the same one that I have been meeting on my nightly walks for the past couple of years. He must live fairly nearby... as I almost always hear him near the back end of the Consistory, and I am told that he is frequently seen (or at least evidence of him is seen) in the neighborhood.

Last night we got back from the hospital around 10:30pm; and realized that we had forgotten to get in the 2 finch feeders just off the patio. I casually walked out and started to take the feeders down off the post... when I realized that I was being watched. I glanced... and there was THE bear about 7 feet away from me. He started sniffing and snorting the air... and I ever so slowly, backed away to the patio door and came inside... leaving the feeders outside.

Well... my mother; insisted that she had to have her feeders... and that she would go get them then. Realizing that this was indeed a futile effort; I made her stay inside and I went to get her feeders. I am not sure if she didn't believe me when I told her that the bear was right there... or if my life is worth about $30 or less in plastic feeders to her... but I wasn't about to let her go.

Fortunately.... the bear and I; having been acquainted before.... were on the same wavelength. I talked gently to him...."I'm only after these blanketedly-blank feeders... don't mind me...."

He sniffed the air; snorting loudly enough so that this time my mom heard him from the patio doorway (it was very dark... so she couldn't actually see him in the shadows of the tree).

The bear... decided that this was too much excitement for the night... and started to climb the tree. This is the massive Norway Spruce I talked about in this post: here

This time my mom was able to see the branches swaying and hear the crackling of limbs from his weight....
I got inside... no harm, no foul... heart racing... and joyful from my eye to eye contact with him.

He stayed in the tree; after being startled by a neighbor coming home late and setting off her car alarm accidently right after I came in.

I fixed him an apple; cored and filled with peanut butter....and threw it out in under the massive tree around 2am, and told him to come down when he felt safe... but that I wanted him gone by the am so that people wouldn't freak out; and too-- so that he would not be scared any more by the people... and that he probably shouldn't come this close to the houses anymore...it just wasn't safe for anyone. He snorted at me again... sniffing the air heavily, and waving the bows in silent agreement.... came down; grabbed his apple.... and went on back to the woods.

According to one source:
"Bears in general teach us to slow down and reserve our energies. Bear medicine also has to do with awakening from within. Bear teaches us that life's answers are no further than your own subconscious. There is no need to look outside of yourself when bear is nearby. Bears are also climbers and can teach us to reach new heights. Bears love honey and teach us to appreciate the sweetness life offers."

Link to info on American Black Bears: here
Link to info on Bears as totem animals: here

85:365

Last night around 9:30pm; it started snowing. Really snowing.

Huge, wet flakes came down ... and it was a beautiful sight.

Of course, by the time I woke up; most all of it was gone... having melted in the morning sun. It never did get much above 35 degrees today... although if you stood in the sun; it felt much warmer.



Today was a rough day... and here I am after midnight... trying to make some sense of it all.

I am failing.

I did have some wonderful moments today... gazing at the snow... the rays of sun peaking through the pine trees in the backyard.... seeing this babbling brook when I took a break and drove around a bit....

Sometimes moments are all we have... and I am thankful that some of them are supremely awesome. Today was a very rough day for my parents. Dad had a horrible night; followed by an equally bad day. Can't eat... can't rest... can't sleep... can't breathe well.... and mom is worried sick. On April 4th; they will be married 58years. Hard to imagine... and I am sure it is even more difficult for them... not only with each of them being sick.... but having to spend time away from each other is very hard for them; as they have rarely been apart these 58 years.

I just feel completely helpless and useless....

Kristin and I went for a drive this evening to Port Alleghany where one of my husband's brothers lives. It was a very good visit. And...It was an easy drive. We happened to pass this sporting goods store on way. The bear was pretty awesome... just odd... and funky and wonderful.



And then we saw this ultra fabulous vending machine out front.... yes sir --ee bob... get yer live bait right here in the vending machine! Cuz you never know when you're gonna need worms....

Mind you ... I absolutely love fishing... but even this was a little too funny to pass up :)

**all photos by Elaine A. Russell

into the woods

photos by Elaine A. Russell

I have been a little upset because one of my goals --photographically speaking -- was to take some shots of all the ferns around the woods here. I am a HUGE fern fan.. always have been.. and there are tons of varieties here that grow in the woods. But it's hard to take photos in the middle of a rainstorm. Today it is actually sorta sunny... so I hope to head out and get some shots. On the other hand.. my dad wants to look for a car.. so we'll see who wins out.

In other news -- my brother has informed me (jokingly I think) that he is reading my blog now.. so I guess I had better watch what I say :) .... Censorship ! .. I don't think so.

And -- the other night Sabrina and I saw the bear on our nightly walk... and he saw us. I don't think either one of us handled the shock very well. On the plus side, I don't think Sabrina is constipated any more.. and probably neither is the bear.

to be known

photo by Elaine A. Russell

I was going to write about something completely different today.. and I have changed my mind. I got a phone call from a dear friend of mine. Probably one of the most influential people in my life... In fact, if I could choose to be like anyone in the world, it would be a combination of this lady and the older lady I spoke about in my blog several days past.
Nancy was my Sunday school teacher as a child, but she left the church (for many reasons) years ago. She was one of the few people in this world who actually understood me as a kid... helped me emotionally through some of the worst years of my life... and still loves me. I have always thought of her as sort of an older sister.. although she is technically old enough to be my mother.
She now lives on a farm near Ulysses PA ( not near anything ). At one time, her father owned the entire valley she lives in. She and her husband own about 70 acres now. They have a horse, a dog, some hens, a beautiful pond, a barn... and an extraordinarly gorgeous home. The home encompasses what was once the farmhouse, but they have expanded and tweaked it over the years. They have these stunning windows that look out over the entire valley.. and a wonderful wrap-around deck to sit on and enjoy the views. She took me on a drive in her truck all around the "back 40" so to speak. We walked thru the woods. We named all kinds of flowers and trees. We walked around the pond. We startled bullfrogs, ate raspberries, and watched the sun set. We talked about life, love, and learning.....We talked about families, and priorities. We talked about illness and death. We talked about the meat and bones of life that most people avoid talking about. We talked about religion, and philosphy.
We also watched as Sabrina found her new-found joy in life... rolling in bear shit. And, we gave her her 3rd bath of the week or so for having rolled in it. ..again.
We went back to the house and had eggs and toast, discussing books all the while. The day ended far too quickly.
As soon as I am able, I will post some photos of her spot of heaven. In the meantime, I am relishing in being known. Being understood. Being loved for who I am. She and her husband are truly some of the best people I know. And some day -- when I grow up, I want to be like them.