There was a terrible act of violence in the night in Toronto.  A young man, minding his own business was brutally murdered.  I have left condolences on pages for the young man, I can not imagine what his family is going through.  A sadness has over come me every time this enters my mind, and it does often. 

This boy, all of 25 years was out celebrating his sisters birthday.  He was reported to be a great guy, easy going, there if you needed him , just an all around nice guy.  He was beaten by 4 young men and then purposely run over to kill him.  The police feel he had slowed the 4 by crossing the street in front of their vehicle and they felt that they should beat him down and end his life.  Brutal, less than human in their act.  Police are looking for the suv they were driving.

My son had posted on his face book page and seeing he is very vocal in pointing out what he feels I left a note there,  Condolences for the family and how could these men live with themselves knowing they had done this terrible thing.  But just now my daughter reminded me, Chris,  ... Mom you remember him?  Oh my Lord, not that this should happen to anyone but he was my son's friend and still was, they hung about together.  Chris, the gentle, curly haired,  sweet boy?  His life ended in such a cruel way, so needlessly???  My heart goes out to his family, my heart is broken.

Ahhhh, slow around here isn't it?  So I was sitting trying to wake and thoughts came to mind... haaa,haaa such a rarity!  I was thinking of stages and what you have to take out of them.   Then my mind drifted to chipmunks, yes,  really it did!   I love the little creatures, the only really acceptable rodent i think.  They are so cute, and quick, flashing here and there, stuffing their cheeks with acorns and nuts to go store.  If the activity is any indication we are in for a long harsh winter.  The chipmunks up at the cottage and here in the yard are in a flurry of activity stashing every thing they can find.  Best of all was Janice's reaction to the chipmunks!    She had to travel stocked with peanuts in her pockets to hand out to the small darters!   As if they didn't have enough food already!  When we got to the cottage walking was like riding massive amounts of ball bearings!  The ground was covered!  The beauty of the fall mornings up at the cottage is something dear to my heart.  To grab a coffee and go out into the crisp morning air is such a treat.  The quiet becomes broken very fast as life starts up at the breaking of light.  The first sun rays reveal the colours, sending beams to cut through the heavy mist to light the reds and oranges and yellows.  My eye follows the sun to watch the mist break way.  It lies heavy and thick covering all the treasures of Mother Nature in a protective grey wrap until the sun warms the air.  The water takes the beams and releases it's blanket and you watch it float above the water to disappear into the heating air.  The water then becomes alive with fish taking the breath of air on the surface and starting the hunt for food.  The herons step from the small earth mounds in the marsh and tip their heads looking for the waking fish. So stately they lift their long legs with feet curled down and place them just so to move ahead unnoticed, not even moving the water as they stalk and watch for food.  A quick stab of the head into the water and they toss their heads back in a shake.  I have sat and had the pleasure of listening to the loons speak.  Takes your breath away to hear the vocalizations of these truly amazing birds.   I think the native peoples understood very well what we as a culture in homes,cities and cement have lost.  True beauty and wonders at our feet and all we have to do is look and see.

Accidents happen so I am told but I always feel so responsible.  Dog was goofing about and he spun and caught his nose of all things on a shelving unit we had just picked up and where going to assemble.  I had left it where I was going to put it together, careless.  When things happened with the kiddies I would feel the same, if only, could have avoided it all if I had done this.  You do that, hope this doesn't mean I have replaced my missing brood with the dog!!!!!  Hummmm, could be!

Well the nose had lost it's skin in a even strip down the side so I decided first aid was in order.   I used the paint on bandaid  that we had and it worked fairly well if dog did not lick it.  The big tongue flicked out over the nose and off came the skin. So I stayed up until the dare thing stayed and he had healed fairly well by the morning.  All that you could see of the wound was a slight line!  He was playing right after he did it and it didn't affect him or Hubby. Hubby thought I was too.... well too!  He always figures oh well with these types of things....men.

So yesterday all had recovered and I felt better knowing that he was mended. Until.  Until the evening.  Good Lord!   I was writing my daughter and the noise that started would have scared anyone.  The screaming, growling and banging!  I got up in terror and ran to the back!  Dog had opened the slider and attacked a huge raccoon.  I was terrified but not as terrified as the huge raccoon who was now in the pool!  Yup.  There he was, a huge, furious, scared raccoon flattened on the bubble blanket in the middle of the pool.

What to do?  Called dog and he of course ignored me, he was trying to figure out why his prey was floating out there.  He wasn't aggressive now, just interested in the whole scene. He had secured his food and that was that.   I stepped out to get him to have raccoon raise and hiss at me. He flattened down again as his action towards me started him sinking on the bubble blanket, he was smart enough to flatten himself out to stay afloat!  So....dog, raccoon and now what?   I step out and calm down,  I gently call dog and try moving towards the dog way around the side of the pool.  I am sure the whole neighbourhood heard me screaming when I was first on the scene.   The flying bodies and the thought of injury to the dog or raccoon was too much for me to remain calm.  But the calmness now seemed to be working.  I think the raccoon saw me as the only way out of his odd position.  So off around the pool and I kept talking to the raccoon and dog.  Got dog and he came in and we both watched the raccoon from the closed slider.  Poor thing gathered itself after a few moments and started to move towards the edge of the pool.   They are beautiful creatures and this big one, about 30 pounds I think, soaking wet, seemed fine.   He figured out to shimmy along flat and as he started to sink the blanket near the edge he was close enough to reach the deck.  I figure that basic raccoon training would probably not cover this situation that this guy found himself in so I was impressed with his learning curve, very smart!  But they are known to be clever, using their hands quite well to get into everything!  They have a bandit black face mask on the most beautiful grey fur, a rather slim muzzle and lots of sharp canine like teeth!  Bright brown eyes and a beautiful striped black and grey tail, big and fluffy when they are not wet!  They don't like to get wet although they often wash their food before eating it.  The hands and feet are black, beautiful, stunningly clever animals. 

I watched him get out and then checked the deck.  No signs of blood and he was walking off with no sign of injury.  I turned and looked at the dog, he was all spunky and happy .... with a strip missing off his nose.  Arrgggg, don't mess with raccoons!

I have been in the house over two hours!  My butt is still frozen and that takes some doing!  I got supper and did all those things trying to suck up a wee bit o' heat!  It was a beautiful day.  Autumn at it's best, bright, sunny and just glorious!  The trees are just starting to turn so here and there you are greeted with a blaze of joyous colour!  Love this time of year!  I also love the water and decided that it would lift spirits and soul to get on in!   So I did that!  Stayed about an hour in the 67 F  degree water enjoying it totally.  I cleaned the pool, swam and laughed at dog keeping guard.  it was wonderful!  Enjoying the water that was several degrees warmer than the air while watching the birds.  It was 14 here today.  We have the birds coming through that migrate, all different types and it is so neat to spot the new guys!   When the junkco's come through winter will be here...alass!   Well it will seem like winter even if it is not yet!  We just formally started our fall!  Anyhoooo, about my butt!  In several hours I have gained no heat!  Oddly wonderful!  LOL!!!  I remember going in water much lower in temperature and feeling fine.... I was much younger!  So here is I, totally frozen and enjoying it a lot, much neater than hot flashes... getting old sucks.