Thick curls of dark clouds rolled over The Mountain from the west early yesterday morning, hinting at incoming storms but bringing nothing but a few big drops. It was windy, though, and I watched the treetops wave madly in the stiff breeze.
A flash of bright yellow streaked in front of me — an American goldfinch, a male of the species sporting his spring-summer plumage. He lit in the listing thistle and gorged on a seed head.
The small bird was unbothered by my presence, just ten feet away. Taking that as permission, I stuck around awhile.
From the moment my feet hit the floor, I had the strong sense that the Heeler and I would take another quiet day.
We plodded through our normal wake-up routine. I sat at the kitchen table with my coffee. Smudge occupied the upholstered chair in the living room.
She’s a furniture dog, and I allow it.
The sight reminded me that I still had two items left to launder — the covers on the dog beds. Even though Smudge is far more likely to choose the love seat or the chair, I zipped the covers off and ran them through the wash.
Once dry, they went back on their respective cushions. I had an audience for the awkward task — Smudge was strangely interested in what I was doing.
What happened next was remarkable and touching. She hopped down from the chair, walked over to one of the beds, sniffed it, then lay down on it and let out a sigh.
This was the soft, familiar place where my girl Scout rested during her last weeks.
There have been other moments like that since Monday. They capture the essence of things here, now.
I first thought, from a distance, that these were black-eyed Susans blooming along the driveway, just up from the wood yard.
Actually, they’re woodland sunflowers (Helianthus divaricatus) — another welcome, native volunteer.
So I found this weird little knife:
I was putting away a Victorinox paring knife that I didn’t deploy, and in the storage bin I ran across this odd blade from now-defunct Wyoming Knife Company. I seem to remember that it was a freebie with the purchase of a collapsible survival saw.
It’s the size of a small parer — three-inch (stainless?) blade, seven inches overall. Two brass rivets secure a hardwood handle to a half-tang.
What’s got me scratching my head is the blade. It’s a recurve, first of all, an unusual choice for what appears to be a small kitchen knife. Then there’s the grind, which looks to me like a Scandi-sabre or double-sabre. (I don’t know how else to describe it.)
I could find no information about this knife online. Nothing even close.
It’s gone unused for over 20 years. The thing’s almost homely, and yet I’m intrigued.
I kept it out. I put it in my knife block. And I’m gonna work it some and see if it’s good at anything.
I’ll let you know.
Take care of yourselves, Patriots. Stay calm. Stay sharp. Stay free.
#WiseUp #LibertyOrDeath #Ungovernable