Oh, I do wish ...
It has been such a lovely summer this year, Sometimes it has been a very warm affair - but that is all the more reason for driving out south of town and walk under the shade of the big green trees in the woods there.
And here comes my wish; I do wish that I could bring ALL my Johnny-fan friends - and of course the babe himself - erm - MAN himself with me when I go out walking in the woods.
That we had a World Wide Wood as well as a World Wide Web so to speak and that we could arrange to meet under the big old oak in Sherwood Fo....
... he :-) Just any old oak :-D
But since we canīt I have written this babbling story - invented while walking beside a babbling (and contagious ;-) ) brook - so if you like woods and donīt mind long stories and me please come along :-)
We have to get on a bus first. Number 19 to be exact.
Which in this case drives us to a place with such a romantic name as The Eagle Nest.
But before you start fantasizing about medieval castles high up on a melodramatic mountain top I better bring you back down to the ground and tell you it is a red wooden building where a nice woman sells hotdogs, burgers and other thing like candy and soda pops.
Anybody hungry before we start walking?
Tshe :-)
If we walk along that unfortunately rather narrow path over there we can walk listening to the eternal surf bashing against the big rocks ten yards below us down at the beach. That is; if those in the back could be quite a bit!
Thank you, my sweet :-)
Yes, it is nice to have our friends with us, but now be a silent boy for a moment so we can hear the squirrels discussing in the treetops whether or not Meeps owe them at least ten nuts for taking their picture last we were passing here.
But the wise mama squirrel informs her little fur pellets that up-rights are not good at collecting nuts. They are much better at going nuts. "Just remember, little ones" she chatters "How our relation - Johnny who stands blushing there beside Meepsie - yelled and screamed at the poor Daredevil once just because the unfortunate horse by accident dumped him off in some mud because one of you - yes, you, Kevin - spooked him".
Kevin then reminds mama that Johnny - after yelling - became a sweet oversized squirrel again and kissed Daredevil on the nose smiling that jeans could be washed after all.
Hm. Maybe we better go on before my darling goes "coconuts" again ;-) "Coconuts" being more than normally nuts, that is :-D
Over there in that stack of firewood waiting to dry out sufficiently to be carted home I once met a little brown mouse.
I was about to sit down on the bench in front of the stack and enjoy the view when I suddenly stood blue eyes to big surprised brown eyes and heard her squeak to herself "A big job? No, I must be seeing things. Me think me saw a human ... Where are my glasses - ah, here!" With that she fumbled a pair of pincenez onto her cute nose and starred "No - I did. I really did ... And that other behind her could make a very handsome mouse if he tried with those big, sweet brown eyes ... What am I saying! Big jobs kill mice! SQUEAK !!!"
And off she went into hiding while Johnny and I laughed and shook our heads.
Further down we earlier in the summer met a deer crossing our path. It stopped and glared at us. Quite clearly daring me not raise my camera to my eyes and take her picture.
Then she rushed off too in among the trees with some impolite words about mamarazzi photographers in general and those sneaking quietly around in HER wood especially. Johnny claimed she gave us the finger too - or at least the tail. ... but that must be because that is what his real life double would have done ;-)
Oh, just look at those white butterflies there. But they donīt want their picture taken either. I have tried but they flitter away every time. They are of course also the super models of the insect world and expect to be paid very handsomely if one wants to take a picture of the beautiful pattern on their wings.
It is much easier to take pictures of the trees. I just love trees.
They might not be the sharpest knife in the drawer but they are so quiet and patient. Just stand there as long as we humans or the occasional storm will let them. And just look at them ... Tall and proud and so beautiful I wish I could take them home with me. I of course have - in the shape of pictures, that is ;-)
But try looking at how many shades of green there is in this wood. And not only the treesī leaves are different shades but the bushesī too. And the weed ...
Now I very well know weed arenīt highly regarded in the botanic world. It get mowed down left, right and centre. But tried looking at it for once. Not only is there several shades of green evident. But also so many different shapes of leaves. And size and - ouch!
Yes, Baby - that was a nettle ;-)
Talking of weeds I better listen to what those mobster flying up there want.
What? Yes, they are seagulls. But that is natureīs flying mob. Just a moment ...
"There are a big school of herrings out past the surf? No, thank you, my dear Godfather. But I am a chicken and prefer to keep my feathers dry. But thank you very much all the same for the offer"
One better be polite - or one get screamed at. And perhaps some yucky bird - thing ;-) - will be dropped on our heads. Forgetaboutit :-D
"Whether Gunpowder would like some seaweed? You might ask him. He is eating that bush over there by the little lake. And since I think that horse is half pig or goat or something - at least eats everything including Johnnyīs hats - he may like to chomp on some seaweed for once"
Oh, look at those dragonflies - normal dragonflies this time ;-) - flying around, dipping and diving and playing flier aces from First World War including all the "ra-ta-ta!" and "Gotcha, Herman Goering!"
That last thing might not be so good ... Since old Herman graduated to be Hitlerīs Field Marshall and that way getting in a position to not only get mad, but also get even.
Well - the dragon flies are only playing. Around Daredevilīs ears. "Hi, horsy!"
Dragonflies are definitely not as steady as the busy bumblebees. Never get in the way of a bumblebee!
The scientist might claim that the bumbling insect is not at all built for flying so you may think it was you who has the right of way - being bigger and all too - but the bumblebee is the civil servant of the bug society and as such not civil at all ...
They are impolite though in a very polished and extremely long winded manner. I have been lecture for two minutes straight just because I picked the dandelion the bee was about to land on ...
