Search for Dens
It was bitter sweet leaving Ann’s home, I would love to be with her when she delivers. But I must find at least 4 dens, I need to make sure everyone will be safe. I never want to live through what we lived through this past kill season. I am so happy now, having Luna in my Life, but sad we loss 3 important members of our family this year. As we head to Tom’s, we ate many berries as we travel. The travel is a little faster now, that the cubs have grown some. As we travel Cola is looking more and more like an American flag. We have 2 baskets that we filled for Sue. I’m looking forward to some strawberry rhubarb pie.
When we get to Tom’s he said, dang is that an American flag bear. We laughed and said no, it’s a polar bear that loves berries. This is Cola and she is an albino bear. This is Pandy which is a piebald bear. Tom said glad to meet y’all. Cola said where are the strawberry rhubarb pies, I hear Sue’s pies are the best. Tom agreed yes, they are the best. Luna and Lucille go in with Sue, while myself Bud, Cola and Pandy, stayed outside with Tom. He is working on building a larger smoker. I tell Tom, if he would have us, we are planning on staying at least 2 weeks, to den hunt. He was so excited, that we were moving here. I said yes due to all the tragic loss last year; I can’t live through this anymore. I tell Tom that I know how important a sow is now, to a boar bear. He said yes it would kill me to lose Sue, and I cannot, thank you enough. She was yours, but you made sure she was mine.
Inside the girls are preparing some roasted turkey and dressing, along with green beans and potatoes, and the smell of sourdough bread is diffusing outside, and do I also smell some pies cooking. The barbecue/smoker is all done and is sealed with red clay. Tom throws some kindling and a few small limbs in the smoker. He said who would like to strike a match to light the fire. Pandy said I will but you may need to help me. Tom was glad to show Pandy how to build a fire. He says we just need to keep a low heat, and gradually increase as it dries. I’m thinking I hope he has some ribs to smoke and barbecue while we are here, if not I might have to make a trip to Ann’s again.
Sue says supper ready, the smell of roasted turkey and dressing was amazing, then there was the sourdough bread. We all had a great supper, but then when sue opened the door on the oven, Cola said OMG what’s that smell its heaven. Sue said this is my strawberry and rhubarb pies. As she sets a large pie in-front all the adults and a smaller one for the younger cubs. After indulging Cola said is there another one that was delicious. Luna said not to be asking for more pie. Sue said she made plenty as she gives Cola another one.
The cubs played together as we talked about needing the dens. Tom said he knows of 2 within a mile of here. I was excited for that, but we would need more. Tom said tomorrow we would go and check out those 2 dens, and decide who dens they would be. Tom said he would put some ribs on in the morning, before we leave, and they will be ready, for supper tomorrow evening, before going fishing.
The next morning as I was waking up, Tom was already outside with the ribs on to smoke. Sue is also fixing breakfast, after everyone was awake, we had breakfast and then, den hunting we go. The 1st den was less than a half mile from Tom’s. It was very large and comfortable. It is divided in several areas. Luna was liking this den very much, and then the next area had multiple shelves and drawers, in a cool area of the den. Luna said this is our den. My herbs will fit right here perfect. One down 3 to go. Tom said next one, is only a quarter mile away, we head over there, it’s not as big but still comfy, I’m thinking to keep Susie close to us, this would be perfect for her. This was a short day, but was a good day having secured 2 dens. I hope we can find another close to this one so Lucy would also be close to Susie.
Back at Toms den, the smell was overwhelming. I think Tom just keeps getting better with his ribs. At least that’s what my nose tells me, I cant wait to taste them. Sue has fixed 10 gallons of French fries to go along with the ribs. A feist we had, and the ribs just fell off the bones. Tom said who is ready to go fishing. Bud was the first to say me, yes. We fished half the night; we filled 6 baskets of catfish. No real big ones but up to 24 inches long.
It took us 2 days to find next den, surprisingly it was closer than we expected, less than a half mile from Sam, Jr and Susie’s den. I was obscured by a lot of laurels so it was with lots of searching, that Bud found it. Its larger and will be perfect for James and Lucy. We are now blessed with 3 dens all within about a mile of each other. Now one to go.
For the next week we look for another den close by. We find several that would be good for a rabbit, but nothing large enough for a growing bear family. We beginning to think, we may be sharing 3 dens instead of the 4th den. We were planning to go home in a couple days now. We decided a nice picnic by the pond this evening, and enjoy some fishing. Cola and Pandy have gotten tired of fishing and they see an old soccer ball, as they kick it, it goes in the water, and like a fish Cola dives in and gets it. Then it goes deep into a pine and Laurel thicket. Cola and Pandy go in looking for it. No one else is small enough to find it. We can hear them in there, as limbs crack and snap suddenly, we hear Pandy say, there is a very large den in here. He goes in it, and finds the ball inside the den. We all run over but can’t see it, or even get through the thicket. It’s getting late in the day. It looks like tomorrow we are clearing the thicket.
When we get back, and tell Luna she was so excited, we have now found 4 dens. She was even more excited it was at the pond, she said she may be giving in on her perfect den for her herbs, for lake front property.
The next day we took handsaws and sickles over to clear off the brush, so we can see the Den. Both Cola and Pandy says its huge we can’t wait. Srrr-srrr srrr-srrr chhh-chhh chhh-chhh as we cleaning. It’s so slow going, the thicket is so dense. I can’t fathom how Cola, and Pandy, were able to get through this thicket. Srrr-srrr chhh-chhh we are making some headway. We can make the outline of an entrance now but we are only half way though the thicket. We going to rest for the evening, we will back to it tomorrow.
Srrr-srrr srrr-srrr chhh-chhh chhh-chhh, at noon the next day, we finally made it, to the entrance. The entrance is perfect, just the size a large bear can get through comfortably. Inside there are five large rooms and a smaller one Luna said with some modifications on this small room. Ben you could make this small room even a more perfect herb room. We have done what we set out to do, but while we all here, we cleared more of the thicket. Luna wants to be able to set at the entrance and be able to see the whole lake, well pond. The den that we had first claimed, can be Angel’s and Samuel’s.
With having done what we set out to do, we tell Tom tomorrow, we would go home. But will be back and start moving in soon. I truly hate leaving our old home. Luna said Hey, we can have 2 homes, a summer home at our old home, and a winter home here with Tom. I thought that sounded like a good idea. I told Tom he said, he understood, as I asked him, if he could also have a summer home with us. He could use his old den. He was happy with this. Bud was so excited that we have the summer home, so we could fish in the trout pond. After a good night’s sleep, we tell Tom, that we would be back in about a week, we would start setting up house, as we bring some of our belongings. All 5 dens are within a mile and half circumference. In the morning on the way home, we will stop at Ann’s. Is there a new baby yet? I hope to see Ann’s new baby!
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