I...Wish... you wouldn't.... : )

What a Beautiful Morning....

Sunday's Was...!!!

I worked outside... picking up... Grapevine... we had cut back...

and I cut the Clematis... in the Greenhouse...back....

{It's quite a Monster! }

and piled Bushels...of it... on the Ford...

The Sun...was So Warm...

it was... lovely...

I headed down by the pasture... where I toss... branches... and yard clippings...

As I was working at my job....

Talkin' to Scout a Roo... and Basking in The Sun....

I noticed... on the little road... across the way... by...the little Creek's... bridge...

a Pick up...

sitting...on the shoulder...

I wondered... what that truck... was doing there...

My gut... told me... what... I was pretty sure... it was doing...there...

I thought.... it was probably....

Trappers...

{I don't like trapping...

I have seen too many maimed Critters... from traps...

if...they are lucky enough... to survive... the jaws...

They chew their legs off... to escape...}

or...they were seining... for minnows....

in the little creek... that runs through our pasture...

I thought about it...for  a minute... then... pulled the Ford around...

to talk, to whoever was there...

I pulled up... nose to nose... with the truck... then saw...the people were inside....

so... pulled up...door to door...

with the driver....

He was a little younger than me...I suppose... and I saw...he had a young boy... with...

I thought... probably...his son...

about 12, or so...

: )

I said... "Good Mornin'!"

 he said...

"Good Mornin!" back...

I asked...

"What are you Guys...doin' on this Beautiful Day?"

He said... " Aww.... were runnin' a few traps... : ) "

I asked......

"What Ya Trappin' for?"...

"Aww...Coon...Beaver...whatever..." he said...

I asked...

"What ya gonna do with 'em?"....

He... paused....

looked... ahead... then...back at me...

and said...

"I'm gonna skin 'em...and sell the pelts..."

I looked ahead... then...back at him...and asked him...

"What's a Pelt...worth...these days? : )"...

He sat there... eating a cookie... as he was thinkin'....

and said...

"Well... I guess... I don't know"....

I sat there...for a moment...

lookin' down the road...

thinkin'...

then I said...

"I sure wish... you wouldn't... : ) "

I went on to say...

"I live... right there... and we sure enjoy... watching the Beaver...

 they take care of our... brush...

 and we watch an Old...Ground Hog.. every year... raise her brood...

 We sure enjoy...the Wild Life..."

He said...

"You live here? We aren't goin' on your property.... we go under the bridge...and North... "

I said...

"I see that.... : )

 and... I sure wish... you wouldn't... : ) "

I looked at him... and his son....

and said...

"My Dad.... hunted when he was young.... fished and trapped... too.... it was a way of life....

to put food and money... on the table...

he shared many stories...with me... while I was growing up...

but... I'll never forget.... the day...about 30 years ago...

I went fishin' and caught the Biggest Catfish... I had ever seen..

I was So Proud...of that Fish!!!!

John wouldn't skin it for me...

{He hated cleaning fish....

: ) he catches...and releases...}

I knew my Dad would... so...I proudly...took the Big Fish... to him...

and.. Dad... Cleaned him...

no questions...asked....

When I came back... to get the fish...

Dad handed it to me...

all cleaned...

with tears... streaming down his face...

yet...he was smiling... at me... 

He said...

"That...sure was an Old... Fish....

 I wonder... how long.. he swam that Old River"....

My heart...sank....

That was the last time... I kept a fish....

I went on...to say...

 That was the day... I realized... there comes a time... in your life...

you'd rather see the Beauty... of Nature...

alive...

A Lesson taught... by two... Big...Old... Fish..."

I  smiled... and told the Guys... to have a Great Day....

they said... I should...to.... : )

 and I drove away....

There are some... that are going to say... I stepped out of bounds....

but...

The Critters... don't speak English.... so... I spoke...for them....

Kindly...Quietly... Respectfully...

from my Heart...

That's all...

They...can take it... or leave...it...

John said...

when I shared the story with him...last night....

"Hey... some people have to trap,
 and hunt...to eat... these days... "

I said... I knew that.... and that's why....

I asked the question...

"What's a Pelt worth today?"...

for that reason....

Dad... would have known... before he trapped... to put food...and money on the table...

what a pelt was selling for...

Love to ya....

Barb C.

{I shed... tears... when I think about that day... with Dad... I have few... regrets... in life...

That... is One...

a Big... 'One'...
{The song I posted...really.. was  my Dad... every...word.. : )}

{ Scout a Roo... Sure Enjoyed Sunday...as Well!!!
 and The Apples... Bud and Renate have been Bringing!!! Oh Boy!!!!!!

He's Spoiled...Rotten!!!

Just...as He Should Be!!!

: ) : ) : )  }