A Change in the Air

During the last week you could feel something different in the air. The wind came out of the North and the air lightened up a bit. I awoke this morning looking out at the heavy dew on the yard imagining the grass bracing for frost. It was 43 degrees on the thermometer, but the animals know more about the seasons then temperature.

The barn swallows have finished raising their young and developed them into strong fliers for a journey, South to start in the next two weeks. The hummingbird young are struggling to catch up eating a whopping 2 gallons of sugar mix a day, nearly 10 lbs of raw sugar a week on Lee's eleven feeders. Often she is out twice a day to keep them satisfied. Thanks to John and Louise Sauers gift of 25 lbs of sugar we will finish the season without a hitch. By the first of September the male hummingbirds will leave, then the females and then all we will see is travelers until about the 3rd week of September when the hum of wings will cease until next May.

People who stop in during hummingbird season are amazed by their numbers and their bottle rocket like sound as they whiz past your head. There is something about this place they love and it seems every year their numbers increase as does our enjoyment with them.

Today was a perfect day in Leetonia. Many camps were overflowing with people enjoying the dry, picture perfect day. They breathe in the fresh air to restore a bit of sanity before returning to the bustle of their lives in busy cities.

There was a full moon last night watching sentry over a clear, cool night. The kind of night you can walk outside without a flashlight and feel a connection with all of the forest's night creatures. As we drove home last night, one of these creatures an owl, dove quickly across in front of us to grab a small meal and then retreated into the darkness.

The bears roamed around to check busy camps in search of illegal handouts. Bear become like docile dogs getting a bisquit, to the delightment of campers and the fear of rangers, who often must deal with the problems this causes. But who doesn't want to see a 300 lb. bear 15 feet away while holding their young child. Only a sane person who isn't lulled into thinking this giant predator eating peanuts and marshmallows is harmless. Such is the way of the woods and its visitors.

Mountain girl, Paula, enjoying each perfect day of summer while its here.