Unfortunately, I seem to have joined the ranks of the infamous Paparazzi. Granted my choice of celebrities will not result in my pictures be bought by the tabloids. I just have to realize that not only people come to these mountains to escape the trials of urban life.

After I dropped Annie off this morning, I saw a lone tom turkey on the side of Highway 9. I stopped to admire him, and thought how cool it would be if he moved into our neighborhood. As luck would have it, after I picked Annie up today, he was in our garden. The poor guy was just looking for a quiet place to hang out and have a bite to eat without be harassed. Well, the Hockanson Resort makes no promises for privacy or anonymity.

We rushed into the house. Annie dropped her backpack and I grabbed the camera. Annie made a point to tell me she closed the door quietly so as not to scare Tom. We went to the garden, and tried to sneak in through the only gate. We weren't stealthy enough. Tom took to running. I was trying to snap off pictures, but he was good. He first positioned himself so the gate was between us, then he ducked behind a tall weed that apparently the deer didn't find very appetizing. He jumped down to the middle level of the garden, but not before I got the only shot that even came close to coming out right. Yes, it is blurry, but it was the best one.



By the way, as you can tell my neighbor's old Volvo is still for sale. Please, buy it. It messes up my ability to turn my monstrous truck around.

I started down the middle section of the garden with Annie, and he jumped to the lower part. Blast it. The garden is currently exhibiting a botanical garden display of weeds. The lower section is dominated by freakin' thistle and I wasn't going to jump into that. I didn't have a chance to consider it, though. He lanuched himself in to the air. He clipped the top of the fence, righted himself and headed into the trees. His wings were pounding the air, and Annie confirmed what I had told her: "He sounds like a helicopter."

I hope we didn't scare him off forever, but I make no promises about taking pictures should he return. Especially if he brings a girlfriend or two that could cause a scandal.

Turkey taking a picture of a turkey...