Chicken Thief Leaves A Calling Card???

Saturday Morning Excitement!

Click on photo to enlarge - © 2008 jim otterstrom

There's a very agile young black labrador who lives somewhere nearby and gets loose almost every morning for a little romp around the neighborhood. He comes down our street to chase the Cottontail Rabbits who live across the road and I've seen him effortlessly jump our next door neighbors 4 foot fence. I'm sure the only reason he hasn't come into our yard is that Dallas always challenges him at the gate.

I know he's been interested in our chickens for some time because I've caught him casing the joint and trying to figure out how to get closer to them. So, I only let the chickens out in the main yard when I'm here, with Dallas, to keep an eye on things.

Well, Saturday morning, I let the birds out about 7:30 and went back in the house for a few moments, to do something or other, when our friend Meredith called with some questions about caring for her young hens.

Mer, and her partner Deb, have acreage on the outskirts of civilization at the east end of the valley, and, at the very moment that I was suggesting they should be observant---for coyotes, bobcats, stray dogs, or any other critters which might jump their fence (not to mention hawks) while their hens are out free-ranging---I looked out my own front window to see the escape-artist labrador running up the street, toward our house, with our little red banty-rooster, Boris, in his mouth!

Dallas ran to the fence to confront him as I was coming out the door, but the obviously jubilant dog just ran on by at full speed.

Sure enough, I looked all around, and the hens were contentedly hunting and pecking about the yard, but there was no sign of Boris.

I was feeling very badly for the little rooster, who, as a sickly chick near death, had been nursed back to health with a shot of vodka, and I was also wondering how I was going to tell Jordanne, the young lady who raised Boris and gave him the vodka cure. I had promised her he would have a good life! I was wondering too, how the dog got in and out of our yard without Dallas noticing, and why I didn't hear any commotion.

Just then, the lab came running back down the street, but I couldn't see if he still had the rooster until he got right in front of the house, and no, he no longer had Boris in his jaws.

Then, after I came out from behind some trees, I saw the reddish pile of animal lying lifelessly in the road, dead-center of our property. I was heading out to pick up the remains of my deceased rooster when I looked down, and there was Boris, standing right in front of me, whole, healthy, and all full of himself.

I ran back to the house, to grab my other glasses, then returned to the scene of the crime where I found the above-pictured Halloween wolf-mask heaped in the road.

That show-off dog had found this awesome looking mask somewhere and was carrying it, snout first, in his mouth so all I could see was the fake red fur, which, from a distance, with my reading glasses on, looked to be the same size and color as little Boris.

Needless to say, Peggy and I both had a good long chuckle over our little tragedy turned comedy, the Resurrection Of Boris, and that rascal lab with his delightful wolf-mask, which is now in our possession. Peggy was especially giddy (actually in tears) because I'm always teasing her about not being able to see without her glasses.

But, the would-be chicken thief has left his calling card, and I've taken his blunt warning seriously.

The chickens will not be in the front yard unless I'm out there with them!

I must admit though, that I'm learning to admire this little black lab who so aptly communicated his desire for some fresh chicken.

The honesty in his cleverness (whether intentional or otherwise) has somewhat endeared the wayward dog to me, but I'll be watching him very closely, Jordanne.

I guess this was our belated Trick or Treat!

~PEACE~

Two Views Of Yesterday...

Rainbow Over Lucerne Valley - Monday, 9:48 A.M

Click on photo to enlarge - © 2008 jim otterstrom

One of my obligations as a friend and neighbor is to take Cheri, who lives across the street from us, down the mountain to her monthly doctor appointments. Cheri owns a car but she's disabled and cannot drive herself.

Yesterday I drove her down to Victorville for an appointment and we were treated to this breathtaking view as we came down the Cushenbury Grade, just below the Mitsubishi Cement Plant, and descended into Lucerne Valley.

It was snowing heavily when we left Big Bear Valley and made our way slowly through a white-out of wind-blown powder as we skirted Baldwin Lake (normally dry) and then began winding our way down a very slippery Highway 18 toward the Mojave Desert.

When we came around the last bend, where the narrow pass finally opens to the desert, snow and clouds gave way to a big desert sky being cleansed by fierce winds. A fine mist blown from the clouds behind us allowed the landscape to be decorated with the magical whimsy of a rainbow, of sunlight refracted through atmospheric water.

Oh, the Blue Planet!

3 Hours Later - Back On The Deck At Home

Click on photo to enlarge - © 2008 jim otterstrom

We got between 6 and 8 inches of new snow Sunday night and Monday, but it was somewhat difficult to estimate that measurement because the wind was blowing so hard that the snow piled up in uneven drifts.

ONE FOR BILL...

GET WELL SOON BILL!!

The Deck & The Margaritas Await Your Return

Click on photo to enlarge - © 2007 jim otterstrom

The guys next door, Grant and Bill, built this deck last month, finishing it just three days before Bill fell out of a tree he was trimming at his place down near the ocean.

Bill was only about 7 feet up when he fell but he landed very badly, breaking his back in several places, his neck, a couple of ribs, both wrists, and fracturing his skull.

The good news is that our friend and neighbor is going to be OK. The doctors say he's really lucky there was no spinal cord damage and he's home now, recuperating down at his full-time residence, after several weeks in the hospital.

The cabin next door belongs to Grant, and he and Bill use it for week-end getaways, nearly every week. Grant was up over this past weekend to put a coat of varnish on the deck, but Bill won't be traveling for awhile yet, so I thought I'd post this picture for him so he can see how nice the deck looks stained.

Bill has the carpentry skills, doing most of the work on the deck, and he and I much enjoyed gabbing and exchanging ideas as it took shape. We also had a blast christening it over Margaritas.

Peggy and I send our love, Bill...

GET WELL QUICK!

Our kind of folks! Unsung heroes of The Stanfield Marsh

Click on photo to enlarge - © 2007 jim otterstrom

Meet Joe, Jim, and Charmaine

We encounter these folks almost every morning on our walks along the marsh, where they can often be found picking up trash and repairing vandalism to the boardwalk.

Jim is 82 years young and Charmaine is 78. Their autistic son Joe (on the left) is 51, and never developed the ability to speak.

Rather than institutionalizing Joe, Jim and Charmaine have dedicated much of their lives to caring for him, which has included taking him out daily for long walks, and the healthful benefits of fresh air and exercise.

A couple of years ago Charmaine fell down a flight of stairs, breaking her neck, and I worried that she might never recover. But, as soon as possible, Jim had her back out on the boardwalk, in a wheelchair, pushing her along while holding onto Joe at the same time.

Charmaine has been walking again for quite some time now, out there every day like the trooper she is, but they still bring the wheelchair along in case she gets tired.

The kind of care Jim and Charmaine give their son, and each other, is also evident in the way they care for their environment.

Every week-end, especially around holidays, hoards of tourists flock to the marsh to picnic and view the beautiful scenery & wildlife of Big Bear. And every Sunday they drive off in their humongous rolling trash-bins, leaving behind, literally, mountains of garbage along the lakeshore.

Consequently, throughout any week, you will find Jim and Charmaine, walking Joe, and selflessly collecting trash without thoughts of recognition or reward for their work.

Some people also enjoy vandalizing the boardwalk by tearing the wire fencing loose from the wooden railings but Jim is soon there, with his hammer and a pocket full of horse-shoe nails, putting the fence back together again (see photo below).

For years, Peggy and I have also gone out with our bike trailer (and an extension pole with a home-made hook, fashioned from an old paint-roller, for snagging floating trash out of the water) picking up trash behind thoughtless humans who think nothing of desecrating nature and beauty.

While I completely understand that, for Joe and Charmaine, doing this work is its own reward, I personally want to thank them for being the kind of people who restore my faith in humanity.

As a society we seem to look for some hero, or leader to solve our problems for us, but Joe and Charmaine, by their caring example, demonstrate that each of us, through personal responsibilty, can make a huge difference in the world, if we choose to.

If the human species is to survive the 21st Century, I don't believe it will be through the efforts of celebrities, politicians, technologists, or philanthropists.

I believe any future we have is in the hands of average men, women, and children, who can change the world profoundly by caring enough to change themselves.

Click on photo to enlarge - © 2007 jim otterstrom

Jim, at a young 82, repairing fence along The Stanfield Marsh boardwalk.

Click on photo to enlarge - 1954 photo credit unknown

52 YEARS AGO

Charmaine and Jim on their Wedding Day

The very lovely young Charmaine, and her handsome Jim, were married on September 25th, 1954 and will be celebrating their 53rd Anniversary this year.

Jim, a B-24 pilot during World War II, later earned an engineering degree and went on to a career with Rockwell.

A veteran with a conscience, Jim is rightfully proud of his WWII service but also thinks the Viet-Nam and Iraq Wars should never have been waged.

Charmaine was a personnel manager for Atlantic-Richfield before she married Jim, thereafter becoming a devoted housewife and mother.

They also have a loving daughter, Nancy, who lives in Colorado.

Thank You Jim And Charmaine!

For Caring...

Postscript 2-26-07

When Jim gave me the wedding picture to scan, he also pointed out that his father had painted the beautiful landscape scene hanging on the wall behind the newlyweds.

Cheri's New Guitar...

Click on photo to enlarge

Friend and neighbor Cheri Williams playing her brand new Martin guitar for us on the deck this afternoon.
Cheri's soulful bluesy voice and tasteful rhythmic guitar are a real treat for us when she has the strength to play.
Cheri has a terminal disease of the pancreas which makes these impromptu performances even more special.
Cheri and Kenny Hamsley (see the entry below) have met only twice, but they instantly clicked, belting out several spine-tingling duets here during those two encounters.
We're working on the idea of making another CD, this time featuring duets with Kenny & Cheri, and they both would love to do that, but each has serious health problems which overshadow the scheduling of rehearsals and studio time.
So we'll just take it slow and see what happens.

Xeriscape Info Table

Click on photo to enlarge
Christy, Peggy & Bill manning The Xeriscape Garden info table on Saturday at The Big Bear Discovery Center.
There was a good-sized crowd at the Discovery Center Earth Month event today but I managed to get a picture of the entire Xeriscape display in between visitors.

Working The Crowd!

Click on photo to enlarge
Christy, Jim & Bill sharing xeriscape, native plant and drought tolerant gardening tips & experiences with visitors at The Discovery Center today.

Sol Food Market

307 steps from our front gate (we counted) is Sol Food Market.
A car-free couple's dream came true when our friend Susie opened this health food store a block from our house last year. Susie caters to her customers with attentiveness & care, it's people like this who make a community.

Susie & The Apple

Susie tempting us with one of her organic apples like Eve in The Garden of Eden, look out Adam! If you don't find what your looking for at Sol Food Market Susie will order it for you.
And, by the way, I must say in an act of shameless self promotion, that you'll find my Native Plant Notecards (see photos & descriptions at Feb. 26th post) for sale here too! See the little green box on the shelf at the far left side of the picture?

Triple JJJ Feed

Gene, owner of JJJ Feed, loading a bale of alfalfa into our wheelbarrow.
The store is a block from our house, location is everything for those who are car-free.
Click on pictures to enlarge.
photo by Peggy