...and on the eighth day God created the horse in perfect image, to romp, graze, gallop, play and make manure wherever it darn well pleases, in divine grace.
One of the most beautiful times of the year, courtesy of Pymatuning Lake and the surrounding countryside, can be seen in all of its radiance right now, as the leaves change in spectacular shades of color and the lake and sky match to suit. Frosty mornings greet our sleepy selves, wild geese fly into a brisk wind and bucks run wild through the browning fields.
Jack o’ Lanterns and scarecrows peek out from front porches and modern day Threshermen harvest the fields by the light of a full Hunter’s moon. Owls hoot, witches fly, and jovial Ladybugs gather in tiny crevices as they prepare for a brush of frost.
Autumn is just the best time to go horseback riding and the cool, country air makes the horses all frisky.
Days are shorter now and as Daylight Savings time ends for the year, harken the firemen as they remind everyone to change the batteries in all smoke detectors.
Change the Clock, Change the Batteries is no less than a lifesaving endeavor, since no one should be hurt or die in a fire, because of an inactive smoke detector. Working smoke detectors greatly improve the chances of surviving a fire and are instrumental in saving lives.
According to surveys, over 50% of those taking part said they have removed batteries from smoke alarms without replacing them. House fires kill 7 people every day and that’s a creepy statistic.
The NSVFD has had many calls so far this year and they are always busy maintaining equipment and keeping up with ongoing training.
Remember, they are all-volunteer, so please think of them and give generously.
Something of interest to fire departments appearing on local municipal meeting agendas is the issue of “sky lanterns.”
Sky lanterns are home made paper balloons with parafin or Sterno cans inside of them. The candle is lit and wishes or special intentions are made before the balloon is set off. The sky lantern then lifts and floats away.
These can be a fire hazard. They are unpredictable and may descend unexpectedly. This is dangerous for farms that have hay drying in fields or dry brush on the land. Barns filled with hay would be in peril should a sky lantern suddenly descend and the candle ignite the barn.
Farmers and horsemen should follow this issue closely, as the sky lanterns seem to becoming more and more popular.
I haven’t mentioned Karen the Cougar lately, but even she knows there is a wind of change blowing with the season, as she has now ensconced herself in the middle of her Cougar Steelers fleece, seldom seen for days on end. No longer lounging at the window in the afternoon sun, she has taken to wrapping up in a tight ball, hoping the furnace will turn on soon.
We have only gotten to light the lamp once so far this year, and Brian is threatening to flip some Ben Worthlessburgers out on the grill if the Steelers’ record doesn’t improve soon. Can’t think of anything witty to say about Michael Vick, so I’ll move on.
I did get to stop yelling, “Troy Pola-Where-Are-You?” and change it to, “ Troy-Pola-Glad-Yur-Gone,” as the #43 defensive player has officially retired. This doesn’t matter if there is no offensive line, but a pigskin chaser can’t expect to slide by on his hair all season long.
And my poor baby Shaun Suisham is out indefinitely, so I can’t scream and yell, “Squeeze me, Shaun!” much to my dismay.
Why, grown men can be seen crying in their beers around Pymatuning Lake, every time BigBen throws on 1st and goal, and that dark mushroom cloud exploding over the trailer is Brian’s temper unleashing itself whenever the lateral pass is thrown behind the line of scrimmage - - I think the plume can be seen all the way to Smoky City.
Before I close for this week, I want to take a moment to remember the late John Herman, a local Veteran and farmer who passed away a year or so ago, after a valiant battle against cancer.
Funny how you never know when the last time will be that you ever get to see someone again.
Funny how you can still hear the sound of their voice, like John saying, “Do you think it’s going to rain ‘n’ that?”
John deserved to have many more tomorrows and the fields all seem to be a little bit emptier now that he is gone. He was only 64 years old.
Folks, you should take my advice and go kiss the dog, fly the American Flag and thank a Veteran. Hold your temper, but let go in waves of mirth, stay for one more story, and go visit your parents, for you never know when they’ll be gone for good.
And from my old Buzz column, stick around in Espyville, where the people are friendlier, the fish are bigger, the beer is colder, the cows give more milk and old Steelers fans never die.
Keep the rain off your bumper and the mud off your tail.
Thanks for reading Horsin’ Around and keep on buying the Community News.
Leaving you for now with the immortal sounds of the Glenn Miller Band and a little “Moonlight Serenade,” sponsored by Chesterfields.
Wait a minute, where’s Roy and Dale?
We’ll talk soon; “Happy Trails to You.”