Season of Greetings

 

This is my little outside tree I picked off the edge of the woods last Saturday. It's a scruffy little blob of cedar that was begging to be a decoration. It was beautiful out and I got to drive my tractor to pick up some boughs, hauled yard debris away and puttered along on the trails. I haven't had time to do anything like that for so long and it was a wonderful change of pace before the last big push that was going to be the coming week. 

Now, it's a week later and the last Saturday before Christmas! I ran to town for a few things and found a strange truck parked at our service drive to the hay field. Mmmmm. Was still there when I got back so I snapped a pic of the license plate and headed home. A few minutes later a neighbor dropped in and reported someone told him of a couple apparent hunters had gone in and we might want to know about it. That led to a quick call to the sheriff's office and soon we heard back from a deputy. He was just wrapping up a situation with an inebriated person (at 11 in the a.m.) and that he would be on his way. Not knowing where the trespassers might be, he called in the local game warden and within an hour they had located the  interlopers.

The vehicle was local, but the "gentlemen" were visitors from Kentucky. They were driving an ATV on their way ice fishing! There are MANY places to ice fish but they, probably tempted by Google Maps, chose about the worst place possible. They had gone across two posted properties, crossed the railroad tracks (also illegal), and were then on State property, with a vehicle that is not allowed on State property. To top it they were STUCK with the ATV and couldn't get themselves out! I

We were given the option of pressing charges, or, as it was suggested, let the warden issue citations for their offenses. We chose the latter. I would be curious if they had fishing licenses, but that's the wardens call!

After that little kerfuffle I was ready for a break. I headed out to the shop to finish up the last few orders and was merrily soldering along when Don called. My talented herbalist friend, Susan, was on her way to visit! YAY!! It has been way too long since I have seen her. The past three years have been so hard on her.  First she lost her husband to cancer. Then she had a house fire that required a year long process in the total rebuilding of her house. After that she had a stroke and nearly died! All this grief on a tiny woman who is about 80 pounds of pure grit and strength!

Friends foto from 2014

We have tried to visit many times but there was always something that would happen to prevent it. Today was the day I would finally get to lay eyes on my dear friend. She tiptoed into the shop and, to heck with Covid, we hugged a long embrace and just breathed, laughed and did it again! She runs a very successful herbal tincture business all by herself and we compared notes on the demands of all that, and how it never seems to let up, and how lucky we are to have that opportunity. So much more than we ever would have guessed or expected. We went to the house for coffee, talked with Don, and the state of stuff these days. The Covid. Vaccinations. We are all of "that age where....things could happen". The round table concurred that we choose not to live in fear. 

We walked back out to her giant black Ford truck and had another long hug. Promises followed to not let so much time pass before the next reunion. Forward thoughts to spring and herb hunts to come. Reminiscence of past gatherings of the cinquefoil and horse rides. She hoisted her tiny body onto the booster seat of the massive vehicle and maneuvered down the driveway. Waves and hand hearts to you, my friend. The best gift of the season.

Walker Herbs, Arkansaw, WI