View From The Bridge 11/28/12

“VIEW from the BRIDGE”
 By Muncie
11/28/12

CHOUTEAU COUNTY CHRISTMAS
There are many very busy people around town preparing for the annual Chouteau County  Christmas.  I picked up a schedule, (available all around town,) and there are two pages of events.  It will be another of those great weekends when you do not have to cook Ladies.  In fact, it is one of those weekends like Summer Celebration and the Chouteau County Fair when you can eat anything and everything that your little heart desires.  (Thank goodness for Pepto Bismo. Just kidding!)  There is great food to eat not only at the designated places on the schedule but the “Eateries” around town.  Not only that, most of the businesses have treats.

BLACK SATURDAY
While the rest of the world has “Black Friday,” Chouteau County Christmas will have “Black Saturday.”  I do not like the term however, I understand the meaning.  May everyone involved come up in the black. 

One of my favorite thing to do, is to walk down Front Street and visit every establishment.  They all have “Gift Certificates” and that is the easy way to shop for most of us older folk.  However, do not let me influence you one way or another.  It is wonderful to receive a gift that is “Made in Montana, Fort Benton, Highwood, Geraldine, Shonkin, Loma, Big Sandy, or Virgelle”.  In other words, shop local.  I know that I nag on that subject and I promise that this will be the last time I remind you until next year. 

DEER, OH DEAR
I have heard several stories about deer in town.  I suppose that you have seen them too.  I just thought that I would mention it so you would be a little more careful driving around town.
On Sunday the 18th, we were returning from Great Falls about 9:30 p.m.  We were talking about several happenings with deer.  Many years ago, we picked up my youngest son at the airport and he was spending the night here in Fort Benton.  As we came down and through the underpass, there was a deer at the left hand side of the road.  Now being a city boy, he had never seen a deer at that close range.  He was excited at the sight and as we were to have him see it.

In early fall, we came down the hill about 5:00 p.m. to see at least 20 deer in the cornfield on the right (after it had been cut.)  As we came down into town, we were talking about these incidents.  As I drove around the curve, I spotted a deer next to the road on the right on the Allen’s lawn.  I applied the brakes and the deer ran across the road in front of us.  It was a close call.

A neighbor told me a story that happened this past week.  She went out onto her porch and saw a buck deer on the lawn.  He attempted to charge her.  That was another encounter of the weirdest kind.  She quickly reentered her house for safety. 

I think that all the deer have found refuge in town rather than out somewhere, out there, where the hunters are. I live across the street from the new location of the M & B Processing Plant   I spend a good deal of my time in the kitchen and it seems every time I look out the window that is over the sink, there is another vehicle with a deer in/on it.  Mike has been especially busy since the day after Thanksgiving.  Hunters said it was actually too warm to hunt when the season began. 

One of our relatives was lucky enough to get a deer.  I will not see any elk in my freezer this year because my grandsons only had one day to hunt and did not bag one.  Last year they both were successful and well as my daughter.  They shared one of the elks with us.  What a grand treat and of all the wild meats, my favorite is elk.

BIRDS and MORE BIRDS
I did not fill the bird feeders this summer because I read they could manage on their own.  I began feeding them about the 1st of November and have had hundreds of them visiting.  They are such a joy to watch.  How those tiny creatures can survive the Montana winter is such a mystery?  Somehow, they manage although I do not see any nests in the trees around the house.  Two doves feed with very small black colored birds.  They are not wrens.  Perhaps one of you bird lovers can identify them for me. 

GOODBYE NOVEMBER
Can you believe that Saturday is the 1st of December?  It has been a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.  I like it best because it is a four-day holiday for most of us.  Christmas is on a Tuesday this year.  That will be another four-day holiday, as most will have Saturday, Sunday, and Monday to do the last minute things that always come up. It will be here before you know it and we will slide into 2013 wondering what happened to the 13 years since we wondered what was going to happen when the clocks chimed out midnight and we entered 2000.  It passed without incident and without all the dire predictions.  Again I say, enjoy every minute of every day

WEAR RED ON FRIDAYS
I do not seem to be getting very far with the plea for support of our Troops by wearing red on Fridays.  There are so many ads on TV, in the newspapers, and magazines about how much they need our support.  Take some time out to buy yourself a red shirt, blouse, sweatshirt, t-shirt, or sweater and wear it proudly.  If someone asks you why, tell them.  Everyone is asking for donations at this time of year and all that is asked for Troops Support is wear something red on Friday.  You could look for something in the newspaper that tells you where to write to one of our Troops and perhaps you can even send him a package.  It would mean the world to them. 
GOD BLESS AMERICA AND OUR TROOPS.  WEAR RED ON FRIDAYS.