I'll just entertain myself

Especially true when the pressure of the shared workplace and massive successes and failures are thrust upon them.

I can reflect on the dynamics of our family and various age gaps had on how close or distant we became. One half-sister was 15 years older than me, the youngest...and the rest were a little closer spaced. Different generation were children of the 40s an 50s styled thinking, whereas the youngest of us were children more of the 60s.

I only know for sure where one of my sisters is. My other siblings are scattered from Oklahoma to Oregon.

For a long time I had trouble buying a simple coffee maker that's reliable. Bought different brands, spent varying amounts of money. For my use very few ever were satisfactory. Some only worked at all for a number of weeks. Last time my wife and I selected a Black and Decker with a stainless coffee pot. Right away I liked it. We just use a store brand of coffee that we both like. What makes this pot suit me better than the others is the pot. It is designed like a thermos. So you can make a pot and immediately click the off button because the pad it rests on is never hot. It keeps the coffee hot like a thermos for a few hours and it's still good.

Walked in the park today. Didn't see a squirrel or a blue jay. I distributed peanuts in certain strategic spots just in case any happened along later in the day. We gave ducks and geese cracked corn. There were turtles sunning themselves on a sort of island in the lake. Just an uneventful but good time of getting out for a spell.

Any alligators in the area?

Several years ago there was a gator in the lake where I walk. It was probably three feet long. After it was moved we didn't have more. We are mostly away from where they like to live.

The largest free roaming carnivore in Britain is the badger.

I’ve only seen a live one in the flesh once.

Unfortunately I’ve seen quite a few dead ones on the road.

There are animals living near me that I only see as roadkill, in thirty years. Armadillos, for instance.

I once saw one walking, and I was only in Texas for two weeks, so I must have been very lucky.

The closest encounter I had was driving down a narrow country lane when a deer shot right out in front of me. I had to brake otherwise I would have hit it. I could have patted it on the head had the windscreen not been there.

They’re incredibly shy, I have seen them before but only in a field some way off, I’ve never got close.

I've lived in the hill country of Texas where armadillos are more common. As a teen we caught them to eat. They taste good. Last live armadillo I saw I stopped the truck and walked up behind it. It was totally unaware as I stood watching for five minutes. Then I drove off and it hadn't moved the last glimpse I caught of it.

Oh, and deer. Once, coming out of San Marcos I counted two hundred deer on the right side of the way. I am certain another two hundred were on the left.

In so FL (Sarasota) in our complex it’s not unusual to see a fair amount of wildlife including armadillos during the warm months. ‘Dillos are fairly shy but make their home (burrows) nearby. Up north in mid-Hudson valley NY, we have quite regular appearances of deer especially at night and at dawn.

Let’s not even talk about daily viewing of gators,

With all of the narrow country and mountain roads it’s nerve wracking to drive at night. When you see one dar out in fron of you, there’s often a few more who’ll follow. You have to keep your foot poised near the brake.

We also have various appearances of wild cats, mountain lions, and a bear or two. A few Bird feeders and a metal hammock has been destroyed by bears.

Thank heavens for the cars accident avoidance software. I was a serious naysaying doubter but o more than one occasion it has saved our bacon. I’m talking side-approach danger, too

My foraging has always consisted of plant life.

As a scout we all heard about how you can cook a hedgehog in clay, but I couldn’t bring myself to hurt one, let alone cook the bugger.

I’m not a vegetarian though.

I gave a shout-out Cuisinart coffee maker. They last for 3-5 years. B&D average 2-3 years in my experience.

Once the coffee is made ( with a metal carafe only), I shut off the heat or remove the carafe and let it rest on its own as it’s got a thermal jacket and stays hot.

We ate armadillos and anything edible we could get because groceries were scarce.

I wasn’t criticising.

Not to be an alarmist but...in Brazil and Texas where it’s common, they have warnings from researchers (Colorado St) that eating Armadillo meat can transmit leprosy (Hansen’s disease).. I think it’s not easily transmissible but Armadillos have got it quite commonly 20%)

One day my oldest sister went out with a single shot 22 rifle and got us a deer, rabbit, and armadillo if I recall correctly. The deer jumped up when she approached it, causing the rifle stock to break off. It fell dead after that.

Wow!

I know. I've been told if the contents of the stomach come in contact with meat you eat off an armadillo it can poison you also. No problem. But we haven't done that in nearly 60 years.