The Joy of Summer and a Cat and Rabbit Game...

- What pleasant and refreshing weather the last few days....brilliant skies....highs in the 70s/lows in the 50s....low humidity.....mid-July? Go figure. Below average temps are forecast for the next several days, with perhaps a bit of rain tomorrow. Normal day/night is 85/66 this time of year on the mountain properties (about 2,000'-2,200' above sea level).

- Driving from Stone Creek this AM, spotted a mom turkey and maybe 12-15 litttle ones....going under a fence after crossing the road. The young appeared to be 5-6 weeks old.

- Anyone living within our mountain developments has no doubt noticed the nighttime serenade in the trees. This annual nocturnal expression is that of the Katydid (Order: Orthoptera...Family Tettigoniidae). There are several similar species in this family. Though it started some time ago, the decibel level seems to be peaking, and at times the din is almost deafening. These scratchy sounds will continue through most of the summer and then begin to subside by September. Only the males make the noises. The top photo is of a Katydid perched on my doorstep this morning.

- Sitting in my backyard recently and enjoying the pleasantness of the late afternoon with yet another good mystery novel, I watched, and attempted to photograph a standoff between a house cat and a rabbit....Beginning with the bottom photo.....

- The cat rests silently at the base of an oak...the rabbit emerges from the thick tangles of vegetation......

- Vantage points have changed a bit....now the rabbit seems to be losing interest at this latest threat in its life...while the cat seems to stare intently.......

- The rabbit rears on its hind legs for a better look, and now the cat seems to have lost interest.......

- While understanding the predator/prey relationship is a necessary part of all ecosystems...it is hard not to feel a bit of compassion for the rabbits.....seems most of the animal predators, both winged and terrestrial, are always interested in them as a food source. As the afternoon faded into twilight, the rabbit disappeared into the weeds without the cat making an attack.