Winter's coming!

  Winter is my favorite time of the year..well, maybe second favorite as I do, indeed, love fall as well.  The cooling weather lately has gotten me thinking of all things that go along with this time of year.  You know, things like orange and red leaves, sweaters, geese flying overhead and pumpkin...pumpkin everything!  It just seems like the smells, sights and sounds of this time of year bring such a homey touch to life in general.  I have a tendency to start searching for anything that can remotely remind me of the season.  Today, I heard such a racket outside that I thought that I should investigate.  Squirrels were barking, birds were fussing and even Ms. Ez, the Bayou Dog, was barking.  Hmmm?  Something was intruding in the yard and from the sound of all the critter alarms, it was not welcome.  

  Once outside, I searched and searched.  I figured that it was a tad cool for a snake to be lurking about but other predators could be slinking just out of sight.  I searched high and low but never found anything amiss. After about ten minutes of me being amidst all the clamor, it suddenly quieted and everything was soon back to normal.  Whatever had the critters in an uproar, had obviously slunk away into the woods.  Perhaps a hawk, owl, coyote, fox or bobcat had entered into the relative safe haven of the yard and riled everyone up a bit!  Just as I was turning to head back inside, a glimpse of red caught my eye.  My brain screeched to a halt and thought of predators no more!  I found the prettiest male cardinal sitting in the branches of a small maple tree!  The bright red reminded me of winter! (Of course!)  I smiled at Mr. Cardinal and asked if he was doing right fine today.  His calmness made me wonder how the recent turmoil of the other critters had escaped him.  He sure did not seem to have been in a tizzy!

  Mr. Cardinal watched my every move but never once made any effort to flit away to the treetops.  He let out a few whistles and soon, the Mrs. came to join him.  Right now, he was "King of the Yard" and he was bent on letting me know it!  I figured that he deserved the pedestal he had put himself upon.  I smiled, saluted him and went on my merry way.  Mr. Cardinal, you make me happy.  Your bright red outfit sure smacks of winter!