Bruno Returns
We have had four visits in a week from Bruno the Bear. He is beginning to resemble an old friend who drops in now and then.
On his last foray Bruno discovered the lower branches of our little pear tree were plundered by marauding deer. We watched him standing on his back legs craning his neck looking up, up, up into that tree.
Then Bill and I watched the bear’s agile ascent. Bruno literally “went out on a limb” and we could see the tree waving around a bit, and then he dropped to the ground to begin the harvest of shaken down pears.
I am always stunned into inactivity at the sight of a bear in my back yard. It’s like watching a live National Geographic film only we are right here in rural Virginia!
Can you see Bruno in this photo as he was heading home to his forest?
Making Human Friends
Have I told you I am “aquasizing?” It’s a whole lot of jumping around in a pool and supposed to be easy on the joints.
Most of my fellow attendees quietly and even grimly follow the instructor. There is one lady who cracks jokes at just the right moments to make us all laugh. It’s Pauline! She is alert, animated, beautiful, active, kind, and most of all – funny! I have decided I have found a new friend and mentor.
Pauline even led me up a secret grassy hillside to get to the class faster from the parking lot. A shortcut you know. And she looked back to inquire, “Are you all right?”, as I followed her up.
And was I amazed when I learned that Pauline is 90 years old!
I love it that I have a 90 year old human friend I admire so.
Donkeys or Mules?
There are two new additions to the neighborhood. I think they are donkeys. Maybe they are mules.
One is splotched colors like some horses they call “Paint” and the other is almost universally black. Both have very big pointed ears. They almost look like horses but you know right away they aren’t horses. I wonder if they are mules. Never did know the difference really.
These two are always together in the cow pasture and I believe they are there to guard the cows against coyotes (and maybe bears?).
At any rate, they look lonely even though they have each other. I stopped to get a picture but did not capture the full effect of those big sad eyes and only got the rump of the black one.
O.K., I know I am stretching it to seek friendship from two mules.
Times like this I am grateful for those of you who stick with me in cyberspace.
“Good friends are hard to find”.
Virginia Views 
How can you bear to have Bruno stealing your pears? I suppose you have to bear with him, lest he decide to come in and raid the pantry, instead. I laughed at him skulking off. His profile reminded me of the fuzzy pictures I’ve seen of Bigfoot, loping off into the wilds of wherever.
I finally remembered the verse that begins, “Fuzzy-wuzzy was a bear…” I’m sure you know it, so I’ll not inflict it on you. But if you don’t, I’ll add the rest.
My mother’s grandfather plowed with mules. They had both a jack and a jenny. A friend and I figured out once the differences among donkeys, mules, burros, and horses, and how they interbreed, but I couldn’t tell you without working it out again. It’s quite complicated — at least, it seems so to me. The animals sort it out, though.
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No bear here on the Eastern Shore. This morning while having coffee on the porch with Ben, (Standard Poodle 9 mos. old) a Red Fox came out of the bean field, crossed the street , through the Cemetary and into the woods behind the neighbors house. Just prior to Mr. Sly’s arrival, neighbor Jim was feeding his cats, I’m guessing Sly was joining in for breakfast. I think I’ll do peaches and Yogurt, the bear has aroused my taste buds.
Keep us posted on life in the mountains.
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Bruno is not only cute but he’s also very smart, climbing up in that tree to shake down the pears :). However, I can honestly say that I would probably need a change of undies if I saw a bear in my backyard (even though they are adorable). Oh, and if you asked my exercise coach, who I have taken some group classes from in the past, she would say I was always the Pauline of the class LOL.
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Ok, the friendship with Bruno? Let’s keep that one a friendship from afar, alright? Too close for comfort, I say. The mules (or donkeys because I can’t tell the difference either), perhaps you should keep your distance from them too because they can be kinda mean from what I hear — you know, mean girls and all that. 😉 Now, Pauline, your 90-year-old busting with energy friend, THAT’S a keeper! Wow! She sounds very inspiring! And I love her name because she has my mama’s name. She has to be amazing just because of that.
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A grand response to my continuing bear stories. And it appears you are familiar with the donkey/mule question. I admire such knowledge. 🙂
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Mr. Sly evidently thinks he is a cat! What fun to see him skulking around though. 🙂
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You are DEFINITELY a budding Pauline…. a best friend though, who lives too far away. 😦 I need you to drop in on a regular basis, kind of like Bruno. 🙂
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Hahaha! You are so right about so many things Cindy! Bruno is not a friend I would invite in…. and the same for the donkeys/mules? Pauline may be a different story. I do believe she is a keeper. 🙂
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Even with your ‘new friends, ‘ remember these words to a song from the movie Toy Story – ‘you’ve got a friend in me.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIYOJ_hSs0o
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Your rural neighborhood is never dull!
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Maybe you could introduce Bruno to the mules/donkeys and he could bring them pears as a treat. Hmm, do donkeys/mules eat pears? I think bears eat anything that doesn’t eat them first. Personally I’d invite Pauline over for a conversation about your other new friends – bet she’d have lots of interesting insights on them.
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You were shaken down by a bear!!! I didn’t see him carrying anything, so I’m guessing he gobbled up everything he stole from you.
Pauline sounds like a hoot. How marvelous that you’ve come into her orbit!
I don’t know much about stubborn animals, but I’ll bet they enjoy seeing you. We have relatives who keep Sicilian donkeys in NC. They call them the Ass with Class.
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Busy summer for you, Dor. I’m not surprised that you make friends wherever you go!
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Oh Dor, we have no such visitors here. But this week I am dog sitting the Beautiful Miss Bella (you may remember I left her with a friend while I went to Florence and now she lives there permanently) and catching up with friends who live in this lovely part of our country. So human friends and their dog friends; no bears.
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Oh, how I wish I could, and I would definitely be a much less dangerous visitor than Bruno LOL :).
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I do remember that song and the melody sticks in your head! Also the meaning. Thanks Cindy!
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You are onto something here…..
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I have a feeling the mules/donkeys and Bruno have already met. Bruno seems to know the neighborhood as he is a “yearling bachelor” scavenging the area. I will invite Pauline over to shed new light on this (thanks to your ever valuable suggestions) but we will avoid Bruno’s pear tree. 🙂
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Hahaha! Yep – we were shaken down by Bruno! We are on his regular route now. A friend just told me that bears watch people in their houses at night (like watching t.v.). And they become so complacent they lose fear and begin marauding decks and bird feeders. Eeeeek.
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Thank you Eliza. I wish you were here to add to my list! 🙂
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Dog friends are the best (except for friends across the world of course)! How grand that you are sitting with Beautiful Miss Bella and how lucky she is to have a safe warm home and people all around who love her.
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I wish you could too (minus the Lizzie Borden axe of course). 🙂
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Do be careful!
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Aw, xo!
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Bahaha 🙂
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You really live on the wild side!
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I don’t think there’s a difference between mules and donkeys except that mules tended to have been used historically to pull carts and carry loads, so maybe it’s just a different name for them.
A bear in your garden (yard) – ouch! I think I’d hide! Not that there’s any likelihood of it in Wales.
Anyway, I’m glad I have refound your blog, Dor… you might remember me from one of my old blogs (Arty Old Bird, or Absurd Old Bird) from years ago. I thought I’d stopped blogging for good, but I’m back now.
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I do remember you Val and your beautiful art work. I am so glad you’re back! I love your restored old photos now and will folloow you again too.
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Oh, my you live quite the exciting life! I’d have a cow if I saw a bear! The most exotic thing I’ve seen around here lately is a hawk, which all the neighbors are up in arms about. They worry it will snatch their little dogs but I think they are mainly looking for rabbits. My little shorkies weigh a good 10lbs each, so I’m not worried about them. You be careful and keep watching Bruno from a distance!
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Thanks, Dor.
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That is different visitor 🙂
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Interesting company for sure! Thanks Joshi.
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We think Bruno has exhausted the pear tree’s supply. Haven’t seen him in a few days and the other critters are back visiting – squirrels, birds, ground hogs, turkeys. Life is calm again. 🙂
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Good! Keep your eyes peeled anyhow!
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