One brisk autumn day the truck cried for a road trip. I rushed through my chores-fed and watered the cats-and backed out of the garage. I slammed on the brakes at the end of my driveway. My own yard was awash with shades of yellows, oranges, reds, and greens. The mums surrounding the house were opening their green buds into oranges flames of color. I needed to get out of the house more.
Thirty minutes later I found myself at the county park, Prairie Rose. I strolled around the lake admiring all the foliage glistening onto the water like a mirror. I have lived in the big city most of my life and am extra cautious when hiking alone. So when the bushes began to rustle and shake, I wondered what I could hit someone with besides my powerful fists. A doe bounded out of the brush twenty yards ahead of me. Tall and graceful she swished her stubby white tail at me. We stood there for a full five minutes assessing each other's beauty until another doe peered around the bush. I am certain I heard her tell my new deer friend, "Idiot! Run!" They leaped back into the dense trees to find safer places to romp.
Later that afternoon I arrived home looking forward to a quiet relaxing cup of tea. My first sip of tea scalded my fingers not my tongue. There was a horrible ruckus outside. An ear deafening humming, followed by clanging, and roars. The noise was headed down the road towards my house. The Trojan army must be attacking!
I sprinted to the window. My eyes did not find a wooden horse, but a large green combine. It maneuvered into the field on the north side of our house. The parade didn't stop with that bumpy implement. No. It had loyal followers. A massive green grain cart being pulled along by an equally bouncy huge green tractor. Two empty semi trucks braked to a halt waiting to be loaded with yellow gold.
The hungry combine set to work eating corn and making dust. It ate, then spit the corn into the grain cart. The grain cart lumbered over to an idling semi and spewed corn into the trailer. The semi tore down the hill with dust swirling in its wake. The yellow gold was deposited into the shiny grain bin. Then the entire process was repeated hundreds of times.
Now that the corn was gone, I again have a view of the area. What a beautiful view it is! But, being a realist, I know that the vegetarian combine has scared critters out of hiding.
That night I was sleeping peacefully with a cat by my back, a cat by my feet, a cat between my legs and a cat by my neck. I was cozy and warm and happy. Until the scratching started in the wall. Scratch, scratch, scratch. Up and down the wall all night! Darn that combine. He had scared the mice out of their habitat.
Blurry eyed the next morning, I tramped down the basement stairs in search of my treadmill. That's when I spotted it. A mouse! It looked like a scene from "I Love Lucy." I hopped on the treadmill and opened my mouth to scream.
Wait! Who will hear me? The cats. Last time we had a mouse in the house the cats were terrified. They would be no help.
I spied an empty orange juice container within reaching distance. (Please don't ask why there was an empty orange juice container in my basement.) I gingerly stepped off the treadmill, snatched up the jug and hurled it at the offending mouse.
No movement. Was it dead or playing opossum? Hiking up my big girl panties, I tiptoed toward the mouse. Still no movement. Yup, it was dead.
Poor mouse! It really was kind-a cute.
Yes, autumn is a wonderful time in Iowa. I give thanks for all the colors and cool weather. And I give thanks to my wonderful husband for planting mouse poison in the attic.
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