Category Archives: Country Life

A Frigid Saturday ~ For Horses & Cats

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Yesterday, was supposed to be the Annual Sleigh Ride, Chili Dinner, and Silent Auction at the West Berlin Church. Friday had started well, but ended with a cold front moving into our area. For that reason, the horse masters called Saturday morning to cancel the appearance of their magnificent animals.

Despite the frigid air, the horses would have worked up a sweat as they pulled their sleigh. When they stopped to rest they could take a chill that could result in pneumonia, which could be fatal. The horses stayed home.

We missed the appearance of this team of Belgian beauties.

And this powerful pair of Percherons.

Plenty of folks turned out for the food and fun. Some of them were unhappy that the horses didn’t come. (There was even speculation if it was the horses or the horse men that couldn’t take the cold.) There was plenty of very good food and enough tabasco sauce to bring the chili up to a good taste.

It was a good day. Okay, it would have been better with the horses. Let’s hope they’ll come next year when we try again.

Corporal Continues to Strike Out


Our cat, Corporal, continues to fail in her attempts to catch a bird. As I watched the other day, she came gliding in as low to the ground as she could get. She came up the path where the tractor tire had packed down the snow as I pushed it out of the way to make a people path to reload the feeders. This gave her fair cover and she quickly was within striking distance.

Our feathered friends have discovered her tricks and they are not fooled. As before they left. Corporal tired in a few minutes. This is not working! She went over to the post and sharpened claws, stretched and they walked gracefully away. You can’t let defeat show. She will try again.

Corporal Strikes Out ~ Again!

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Corporal has done it again! She severely wounded her feline pride by doing a face plant in a snow bank while missing the birds she was going for. So for the following two days she would regularly visit the area, crouching behind the snow. Unfortunately for our gal, the birds were on to her tricks — they stayed away.


When I first saw her she was crouching, but she became tired. By the time I had retrieved the camera she was sitting up — still waiting, but not crouching. The day before, one junco and one gold finch fed on fallen seeds upon the ground. They always stayed out of range — mostly on the other side of the post. Poor frustrated Corporal.

Both days she eventually tired enough to give up on her hunt. Within minutes our feathered friends returned to continue feeding on sunflower seeds.
Will Corporal ever be successful? Only time will tell. I don’t expect that she’s ready to entirely abandon her quest.
Who do you cheer for? Corporal? Or the birds?

Secondary Roads

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Once I decided to take the plunge, I jumped into this world rather quickly. For lack of a better title, I dubbed it, “My World Goes Round.” Now, I realize that the title says nothing about me, who I am, or what this blog is about.

I’ve renamed it, “Secondary Roads.” There are several reasons for that. True, I live on a secondary road. It’s a gravel road, and that means our cars are always dirty. Always! It also means that the snow plow will come through some time after other roads have been cleared. It helps to have a sense of adventure if you live on a road like ours.

I’m officially retired. I work part-time doing outside sales for my local WISP (Wireless Internet Service Provider). I’ve done the Website (www.reliableinter.net) since the company was formed. Now I follow up sales leads and schedule installations from my home. No office to go to and the commute is only a walk to the computer room.

I’ve spent my time in management and board meetings. Today it’s fun to get off the expressway and enjoy the secondary roads of life. Life is more laid back and there is time to smell the roses.

The sights, smells and sounds are more interesting on secondary roads. And there is less traffic. Yes, the road is usually rougher, but just go slower and enjoy it.

I don’t mind backing up and pulling into a handy driveway to let my neighbor have the road. He needs it. The equipment he pulls behind his huge John Deere stretches from one side to the other of our secondary road. A smile and a wave as he goes by. Then it’s back on the way. After all, it’s folks like him that feed folks like us.

Life is good on a secondary road. Not easy. But good!