Hunting Season

The funny "hunting" story is really nothing special. It's what Poppy said when he got home that made me laugh.

You know what kind of hunter Poppy is...sitting in a tree for hours, three or four days a week.  He has done this for many years.

2013

But, the last deer he killed was in 2013. Oh, he could bring home a deer every day, but he won't kill a doe, or a young deer, or a little buck with small antlers...no, he sits and waits patiently for that trophy buck to walk past, and the chance of that happening is pretty slim.

Anyhow, sitting in a tree for hours could get boring but not for Poppy. He loves being in the woods. He loves nature. He comes home with unusual mushrooms or weeds or wildflowers he thinks I might want to root.

He has tons of bird stories, like the time he was sitting in the tip top of a huge oak tree that had fallen. He walked up the length of the tree and sat in the branches. Remember, he is totally camouflaged, head to toe. So, he is sitting there perfectly still when a mother Quail followed by a row of baby quail came walking up the trunk of the tree. Poppy said it was all he could do to keep from blinking an eye or moving. She walked right up to him before realizing that something wasn't right. She quickly turned and moved her babies away.

What made me laugh the other day...Poppy came in from the woods, stopped at the dining table to take off his camouflage and lay his gun down, along with all the other stuff he carries...

(and yes, this is how the table looks all during hunting season) Anyhow, I asked if he had seen anything. No, he said, but I did save a little inchworm. He said the inchworm kept twitching, like something was wrong, so he picked it up and there was an ant biting the poor thing. He got the ant off then watched as the little worm rested a minute, then went back to measuring. But wait, that's not all...

The next day was the same, except Poppy said, what is it with these inch worms! Today I've saved an inch and half worm. A yellow jacket had caught an inchworm...but not to worry, Poppy stole the worm from the yellow jacket, saving it's life. It took a little longer for this worm to recover, but it did and went right back to measuring. I asked about the inch and a half worm. He said one was an inch long the other one about half an inch. :(

There are old sayings about inch worms, you know. Like, if you find one walking on you, it's measuring you for new clothes. Another meaning is that it's measuring you for your coffin. My brother-in-law Jimmy says he heard an inch worm walking on you means it is measuring you for a suit to bury you in. 

Can't believe I have spent my hour and a half sewing time tonight, writing this nonsense. And I have a new follower. Thank you! After this, I may have no followers. :)  Well, the little inchworm story was sweet at the time.

Love,
Henny