Gus and Woodrow

Gus and Woodrow

Thanksgiving has  gone and Christmas is on the way.The traditional Holiday meal of Roast Turkey always puts me in mind of two turkey folk I once knew. Gus and Woodrow were Heirloom Bronze Toms that came to live in the Hollow as youngsters. I watched them grow into fat and sassy Turkey Dandys.  The boys would march along behind me whenever I was  in the garden or performing outside chores. I was  flattered that they enjoyed my company so much.  No matter what business they were about, as soon as I stepped outside, there they were, just behind me, gobbling away, fanning out tail feathers and strutting in a style that would put a peacock to shame.

 At first I thought it was rather endearing that they'd follow me around the yard, until I realized they were stalking me with evil intentions. VERY EVIL INTENTIONS.  They began to shadow anyone who dared step into the yard. First, they would coyly do the gobble -gobble routine, giving the impression of complete innocence and sweetness. But then, as they crept ever closer, they would emit a Gawd awful screech, and literally Fly at the unsuspecting victim, claws splayed, spurs at the ready. It got so we couldn't step into the barnyard without a broomstick in hand to protect ourselves, as they would literally be lying in wait to attack!  James just hated them and threatened to wring those boys necks if they assaulted him ONE MORE TIME. It seemed as though our Turkeys REALLY wanted to do us harm.

It appeared that Gus and Woodrow's days were numbered.  Then, one day, I discovered what their problem was. Lying in the yard were several dried-out bird -house gourds. Shapely, butternut colored gourds.. about the size of a large blond hen. Gus and Woodrow spied  the gourds and   began  amorously attacking them, seriously,  they literally broke the gourds to bits in a mad frenzy of  mating! Poor love starved souls!

Eventually, Gus and Woodrow walked into the woods  behind the barn, never to return. We believe the wild Turkey Ladies were crooning them, like the sirens in Ulysses.  I was proven correct in this assessment, when several months later, at least a dozen young turkeys appeared in our meadow, they weren't quite wild turkeys, they had the look of Gus and Woodrow. I guess all those Turkey Gents wanted was to be Family Men.

 

I don't have any video of those ol turkey boys, but I made a short video to kiss summer goodbye... set in the Hollow, with some of our farm friends, to the music of Jay Unger, ( one of my favorite composers).