Men in black

 Shortly after John left for work this morning there was a phone call from him warning me that it was "dangerous out there."  There was black ice everywhere, streets that looked like merely wet asphalt in the sun were actually coated with sheets of ice. So I stayed put.

Actually, to be more precise, I went out and played with the dogs on a nearby hill.

When I came back I heard the noisy resident turkeys crossing the road in front of the house, disregarding the melting ice. I bet there were 50 of them, streaming up the neighbor's driveway like they were going to a party. I laughed, but as I went to grab my camera Ed and Reub started going crazy.


I usually make them be quiet when they bark madly through the window by the front door.

But this time they were barking at two men in black, carrying guns, peering up the driveway where the turkeys had hurried off. I let the dogs bark because it's not a bad thing for your dogs to dislike armed men in front of your house, right?

Well, they were police officers. I've known for a long time that, besides keeping the peace, the local police are charged with lowering the turkey population. I've just never seen them in action. Would they shoot into my yard?

No. The turkeys must know this because they traveled into the neighbors' yards and back into ours.

Meanwhile the police cruised back and forth, hunting the nearest thing we have to criminals around here. I never heard a shot, but then I haven't gone outside since. I really am staying put now.