Gifts

People keep giving me gifts lately.  Sunday one of the guys that works in our campground gave me three roses that he found growing nearby.  He said that his church sermon that day had been about single people and how they might be lonely, so he thought of me.  Blah.  I told him I was not to be felt sorry for!  But I did appreciate the flowers regardless.

Today, Jack, my 84 year old neighbor knocked on my door at 4:30 and asked if I wanted to go have supper with him at the Speak Easy in town (he's 84, so 4:30 wasn't an unreasonable time to eat supper I guess).  After a delicious supper of pan-fried walleye he showed me his workshop.  He makes incredible bowls, vases, pens, and wine stoppers out of exotic woods from Africa, New Zealand, and even Minards.  He showed me some wine stoppers he had made that day and told me to pick one.  I protested of course, and he said it again, this time a little stronger.  So I have a beautiful wine stopper in my purse.  That, in addition to the pen set he gave me a few weeks ago.  And the bread and butter pickles.  And the pickled beets.  And the Lemoncello and Grand Marnier.

When I got home I went for a golf cart ride.  Part of the campground property is a former golf course that has been left to nature, with the exception of a mowed "walking path" that winds through the hills and prairie.  Nobody I know actually walks on the walking path, but it's nice to sometimes ride the golf cart there.  I braked first for a skunk.  Luckily the skunk went the other direction.  Then I saw a red fox in the distance leaping through the tall grass towards the woods.  The maintenance guys here saw this little guy this morning and got a great photo of the fox leaping on prey.  And I saw a deer too - second one in two days.    These sights were also gifts.

Just as I walked in the door, another neighbor came over holding a shepherd's hook with a cardinal on top as a thank you gift.  I said "thank you for what?"  I had given her access to my wireless is all, so she didn't have to drive to the community building to check her e-mail.  Oh, and the half a loaf of zucchini bread I gave them might have something to do with it as well.