Marla Bishop: The Bear-atitudes and the Blessing of the Animals in Crawford

Crawford United Methodist Church

 Marla Bishop:  The Bear-atitudes and the Blessing of the Animals in Crawford        

Harvest time, fall, autumn, you name it, it’s here!

The bears are just about to call it a day and hopefully when they come out of hibernation they will find it a more prosperous year higher up in the hills. Everyone has had a bear tale to tell and more than one has come to no good end. John’s bear came into the kitchen and helped himself to the wine coolers, Shirley and Orval’s bear tangled with the dog, Doug and Anna’s took down the grape arbor, Deborah’s ate out of the cat dishes and bird feeders, Syd and Keith’s bear tore up the garden shed and the dumpster. My little bear was trapped and taken into custody; hopefully it is the truth that he went to the sanctuary and not the one in the sky. I wish for all of us to not interact as much as all of this, which means we have to be more careful to hotwire against the bears next year.

          On a domestic animal note, Crawford’s Methodist Church held a blessing for the animals in our care. What a lovely event it was! Pastor John Heistand led the well attended and well behaved four legged (one three-legged) dogs and cats and their people in a heart felt blessing of the beasts. I’m not a church going sort of person but I felt welcomed and the message was received with the deepest sincerity. Neighbor John (Barcus), who recently turned ninety and had a big party, took bad little Pee-Wee to see if he could get some of the devil out of him. I took Pig, the cow-dog mix, because she followed me over to John’s. I cried during most of the ceremony. It was so sweet a gathering on such a beautiful morning in my small town.

          Kudos to Kids’ Pasta Project for a fundraiser benefiting the Crawford Town Hall renovation. A fabulous dinner was served up and fun was had by all who attended especially those of us who begged to get in the MONEY machine! You’ve seen them but probably have not had the chance to actually get in and try to grab the flying money. Of course I begged to be in that windy booth and came out with some cash but more importantly, a coupon for an ice-cream cone at the Creamery in Hotchkiss!

          The mad canning and freezing continues! Neighbor Gail reports that she has spent countless hours canning peach/jalapeno salsa, tomatoes, applesauce and more. I went over and had a sample of those treats and man oh man! Yummmm! So far I’ve bagged and frozen nectarines and peaches. Next, the apples! Can’t wait to make fall and winter’s cold night suppers complete with a bowl of cinnamon applesauce. This month I will prepare the best soups ever and have them ready for company by the fire. Looking forward to chilly times in the Valley with warm friends and local food harvested right about NOW.

          The moisture as of late has brought the most glorious skyscapes to us in rural Western Colorado. Sunrise and sunsets have been otherworldly. I thought it was only happening up here in Crawford but I’m seeing pics on social media and they say this just isn’t so. I don’t think a day can go by without giving praise to the box of paints we live in. We are blessed! Wide open spaces, wildlife, we exist in an area others only hope to spend a weekend visiting.

          Some thank-you’s are in order this month, as usual there is always someone who’s kindness touches me or someone I know or even sometimes just someone who you witness being the person who restores your confidence in the human race. I have a thank-you to each of those. So Gabby for the help, Bad Dogs for the entertainment and cheese/cracker supply, thank-you for all the positive energy. Thank-you to my community for caring about an old building, the Crawford State Park and for supporting the arts. Thank-you to the young man who stopped heavy traffic on Rogers Mesa to lead a frightened old dog to safety. I love you and those like you, forever. Your mama raised you right.

          Enjoy the colors, the harvest, The Harvest Festival, the cool evening air; be thankful for goblins ringing your doorbell. If you are like me and don’t have one, go ring a few yourselves! Happy Halloween.