In The Neighborhood

 M.R. Ducks

Right now, the only thing in our area that is brilliantly colored is the sumac (below). As you can see in the photo of Dallas Pond, above, the maples and oaks are just beginning to turn color. 

Audrey went missing today. She ate breakfast on the porch and then disappeared. Maybe she's out hunting again. I suppose the habit of fending for oneself is hard to break. Cats are not people. Our higher intellect allows us to adjust to that much more easily.  We'll see if she turns up again. I do hope so. It's been a very windy (but sunny) day, and perhaps the wind chimes on the porch scared her away. We took the wind chimes down, Audrey. Please return.

It was not a hot day, but cattle always like wading or standing in a stream, especially if a DNR or EPA agent is not in the vicinity. This fella seems to be enjoying his sunny afternoon. I would imagine that this little water run is grandfathered in, so to speak.

Cool, clear wadda (wadda wadda wadda)
Well it was, before he decided to stand in it.

 View of farms from 20th Street, Barron County

Barn and fence on 20th Street

The color isn't richer because it was a very sunny day and my photo editing program is ancient. Trust me, the scene was beautiful. Deep blue skies, deep red sumac, etc.

Audrey, you're back!!!!  Yea!  Audrey just came walking along the ledge of the screen porch and is now eating and drinking on the main (unscreened part) porch. I wonder where she was all the time that I was searching for her behind the shop, inside the barn, under vehicles, etc. Cats are so darned independent!  But still, I'm very glad she has returned.

 These little munchkins are very excited about  meeting

Audrey on the 15th of October, our

Early Thanksgiving.

Audrey

Introduced on THIS blog post.

Linking to: Theresa's Good Fences

and Tom's Barn Collective

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Meet Audrey

 Meet Audrey

I know that I shouldn't name a cat that someone obviously dropped off at the end of our long driveway because they thought no one would notice until they were out of sight (which is true, of course), but this is such a sweet little cat, it seemed that she was at least deserving of a name. We think she is young, and we've already observed her hunting abilities, for she actually caught and ate a red squirrel, leaving only the bushy tail as evidence.

 I think the resemblance is in the eyes.

Do you see it?

(source)

Mr. Cranberry, the man who does not want to be tied down to animals, is the one who immediately started feeding her and giving her water. We're not quite sure what we're going to do about Audrey at this point. She rubbed up against the outside glass of the patio doors, and when Tuppence saw her, she became as a cat possessed, trying to kill the cat on the other side of the glass. I think there was enough reflection on that side that Audrey hardly noticed and went on being sweet natured as Tuppence went on trying to kill her.

At this point, we don't dare have the door to the screen porch open, or it's pretty certain that we'd have a huge cat fight and screen shredded to bits.

IF we keep Audrey (and you know it's harder to part with a sweet cat you've already named), we would have her spayed and then somehow, very slowly, introduce the two cats separated by doors and walls at first.

Anyway, that's the exciting news here at Lake Woebegone.

 Cornfields and bins

Other than that, it's been the beginning of the colorful northwoods for which NW Wisconsin is famous (among other things like serial killers, beer, and brats). I think peak color will be in a couple weeks, but we're getting a nice preview of coming attractions.

 Sumac and birch against a blue sky

What did I tell you?

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Linked to Thursday's Favorite Things 

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