Dress To Impress

On any given day, wild turkeys have really beautiful plumage.  Feathers glisten and shine in the sun with tones of bronze, purple, and blue.  The hens are not nearly as colorful as the males, but they have something else working in their favor.  Yesterday I looked up when I heard the sounds of seduction.  A tom was in the driveway with a few of his ladies and was looking to add more to his harem.  Talk about a showoff!  Dressed to impress, he'd puffed himself up to the max, tail fanned out, parading slowly back and forth, and periodically striking the ground with his wing tips and then dragging them with a now-familiar boom-hiss sound.  His girlfriends followed dutifully behind, but the intended beloveds played hard to get and didn't even turn their heads to admire his macho display.  After the preliminary courtship, turkeys are discreet and keep their love life private.  Just as well, TMI.

Arden and I have been friends for so long that I didn't have to change out of my bibbies when she came over in the afternoon.  It's a pleasure to have a friend with whom you can discuss darned near anything.  As it is with Camille, agreement isn't necessary.  If a person doesn't listen to opposing views, it's easy to fall into "I am right" and nothing is learned.  As it is, we were in accord on almost everything yesterday and I am right about that.

With primary elections coming up, the mailbox is stuffed with campaign literature, the phone rings with those irritating robocalls from candidates or supporters, and so much TV time is devoted to political ads.  Do they ever influence voters?

Nature herself is dressed up for spring.  The front pasture and south field are spread with a blanket of yellow.  Even though I know they are a variety of dandelions, it is a beautiful, cheery sight.  There is a horse ranch just down the road and a number of the big pens are covered with lupine and poppies.  I'm impressed.