Are you all getting tired of seeing and hearing about “my” bears yet? Don’t worry, in a few days I’m going to be giving you something entirely new!

Last evening we were sitting watching TV and Rick saw something black walk by outside the sliding glass door in the sunroom. His first thought was “Oh, must be Alex walking by” and then he realized that the dogs were not outside. Then he saw two little black cubs and we knew for certain that Myrtle was up on our deck. Again. This time there wasn’t a bird feeder either.  Rick made a quiet (so the dogs wouldn’t know) mad dash for the video camera and I for my camera. By the time we got back, Myrtle was on her way to the back yard.

Here they are in our back yard. I love the way the two cubs peek over the hostas at the end of the video. Curious little things.

Higher quality link:
http://gallery.mac.com/bmtndog/100114

Just once I’d like to see the path she takes through the yard and up all the steps to the deck, but I can’t always be looking out the windows. Maybe I should be! I feel like I’m living inside the grounds of a zoo!

Tonight, just as we finished dinner I looked out the front window and saw Myrtle with the babies. I quietly went back into the kitchen and told Rick who promptly took up our new hi-def video camera. Here is the result as he stood outside to take this video. Myrtle hisses at him a short time into the video and he loses his focus a bit, but all in all, it’s pretty good. Take a look. (Note: I’ve included two different ways to view it; via PhotoBucket or via this link that is higher quality. Take your pick.

Quality link first:
http://gallery.mac.com/bmtndog#100108

Normal one here:

Two days after Memorial Day work began on our kitchen remodel. Cabinets came out and we were left with a big empty space. A dirty, somewhat messy big empty space. Here are some photos of before and during. Things to notice in the following three photos are
1) lovely BLUE formica countertops
2) outdated sink
3) large microwave on countertop
4) wooden hood over cooktop
5) old wall ovens on their last legs
6) hanging pot rack over island
7) large overhang on center island meant to be an eating place but not enough room to do so
8) ceiling fan / light combination

These are things you won’t see in the new kitchen!!

During photos: the cabinets come out.

During photos: the new cabinets go back in.

Our new countertop still in the warehouse:

Granite close-up:

Hopefully the countertops will go in just before we leave next week. If not, I guess we’ll have to wait to see our completed kitchen after we return from vacation. Can’t wait!

Okay. I am first to admit I am not a politically active type of gal. For the better part of my life I have not been interested in politics at all. Even worse, [and please don’t hate me for this!] I was not even registered to vote for many many years. I just frankly didn’t care.

This year I care. I really wanted Hillary as President. I think we need a woman running this country. Men have governed for 200 years now. It’s never happened before, (a woman in control) and exactly why is that? When did men take over and we became the lesser, “weaker” sex? Too long ago to even try and keep track. It’s very sad. Women in ages long past were held in high regard as healers, rulers. Then we became “witches” to those who wanted us out of the picture. Mostly by the male gender.  uh oh. I feel my hereby dormant feminist side raising its nasty fangs. Excuse me! But I digress ...

Having a black Presidential candidate is as ground-breaking as having a female one. I am probably sorely dating myself here by what I am about to say. When I was a child in the early sixties and we drove to Florida from our home in New York for vacation, we stopped in many southern locales. I clearly remember stopping at a motel in North Carolina and going into their adjoining restaurant which displayed a sign saying “No Blacks allowed inside. Service for Whites only.”  I remember it like it was yesterday. [ahem, just when was that little tiff between the North and South?]

I have to admit I haven’t really paid much attention to Obama as focused as I was on Hillary, so I need to start listening and decide which is the lesser evil. I am a Democrat, but at this point does it make sense to vote for McCain? I don’t really like Barack that much from what I have seen and heard. His religion for one scares the pants right off me. Maybe scarier than a Republican viewpoint. ouch. How can I even be thinking of changing sides? But Reagan was a great President and he was a Republican, but the Republicans have had control now for many years and they just seem to be running this once great country right into the ground. On the other hand, McCain is pretty old to be taking on a Presidency. Then there is the unfortunate resemblance in names between Obama and that guy we have all been taught to hate (I’m sure I don’t have to mention his name here.). I am not the first one to mix his name up with the other one. Decisions, decisions.

Does it matter if Obama takes Hillary as his running mate? Just what does runner-up mean in the whole scheme of things, either in Miss America or the presidency? What are the odds of something happening to Obama and she takes over? Not very likely, so that doesn’t even sway my vote.

What a year to go down into history. Too bad it wasn’t a woman. bummer. Sorry, Hills.

I hereby announce the first sighting this year of a firefly (or fireflies). Just now I walked out on our back deck. It’s nearly dark at 8:43 p.m., but not quite. I’ve been watching and waiting this past week for their arrival. Tonight I saw my first firefly of the season. It started in the darkness of our woods. Before long it was tracking across the yard towards Hailey who was chewing on her bone. It passed by her unnoticed.

Winking. Blinking. Tiny, but bright, flashlights in the night.

Welcome back. I’ve missed you.