The Forest Date

Suzy and Dennis started dating in their junior year of high school.That year, they only had one class together and it was Homeroom. The track team was where they really started to get to know one and other. Suzy was a sprinter competing in the 100 and 200 meter dashes. Dennis preferred the middle distance races. They both ran the 400 meter relay. Their first date wasn’t really a date. Dennis asked if he could walk Suzy home after practice one afternoon. It was a lovely walk through the forest. The sky was just beginning to color with the coming dusk. Then they heard the hooting cackles of Edna Featherbottom and Agnes Rufflington. They were arguing about the merits of a first date kiss and rather loudly I might add. The romantic mood was further interrupted by a loud whacking sound. Sure enough, Lumberjack Jack had picked that time to split more wood for his evening fire. Suzy looked at Dennis and shook her head with a little rueful smile. “What do you say, next time we go bowling,” she said. Dennis grinned broadly as he nodded. “There’s going to be a next time!” he thought.  

Cock-A-Doodle-Dandy

 

Cock-A-Doodle Dandy

It’s not a secret, so have you heard

about Sir Edward, that jaunty bird?

With his wattles and bright red comb

around the farmyard is where he roams.

Colorful, flashy, and bright as candy,

he’s one Cock-A-Doodle Dandy!

The Whidbey Whistler

Whidbey Island is a magical place. It’s located north of Seattle, Washington in Puget Sound. The island offers peaceful landscapes that include beaches, hills, farmland and forest. As a person explores the island they might hear gulls crying, harbor seals grunting, pileated woodpeckers drumming, bald eagles calling and cows mooing. There is also the very real possibility they will hear whistling. And not just tuneless whistling but actually something quite melodic. Because in addition to the more common Angus cattle seen grazing in roadside fields, Whidbey is home to a heritage breed of cattle known as the Whidbey Whistler.

Native to and found only on Whidbey Island the Whistler (it’s local moniker), is a gentle breed. Their whistling capabilities range from simple tunes to elaborate melodies. Hattie, a lovely brown and white spotted Whistler owned by Farmer Finnegan in Coupeville, has quite a repertoire songs. All of them are show tunes from famous musicals. A visitor recently asked Farmer Finn how he liked his mellifluous bovine. He replied, “Oh, she’s a right good cow and gives me some lovely milk, but I am getting a bit tired of ‘The Surrey with the Fringe on Top’.”