Bear Sighting

After awakening from a little nap this afternoon, I went into the back bathroom to watch chipmunks in the lawn through the window with Ava (my littlest kitty). Suddenly, I saw a big furry black leg start to amble around from behind my cherry tree.... our bear came to visit us... in the daylight! I hollered to Mike who brought the camera. Here is one of the shots of her/him taken from the side kitchen window. The plant you see hanging is now on the metal post that used to hold the birdfeeders. The bear was stymied and got no food. He/she did not seem to mind hearing us talking through the window. My cats were not bothered to see it either (they probably see it often!!). Then the bear ambled up the front slope of our yard, across the street and up the path that trucks dug out over a year ago to haul out some trees from the land across the street from us. All speculation is now officially over - we have a bear! I am glad we were not outside! We will figure out what to do now. (Maybe I will just stitch Long Dog Samplers' Do Bears? in its honor! LOL)

The first step I have taken is to do a whole lot of research on black bears. What I have learned is positive and simple. They are not known to be aggressive. If they are fed, they become habituated and lose their bear-like behaviors (which isn't good, meaning it could become aggressive!). So, all temptations must be removed (and have been). He or she will wander over 100-200 miles, depending on its gender (males apparently wander further). If we encounter the bear outdoors, we are to stand our ground. Make noise so he or she knows we are there and it will likely depart. I don't wish to encounter the bear, but now I know what to do.... There is no information to be found on my state's wildlife sites that indicate that a bear minding its own business should be reported. That would only lead to harmful, likely lethal, consequences for the poor beast. We sure don't want that! So, for now, education and taking a wait and see stance is what we plan to do.

Several of you have emailed me asking me why we have not called the authorities. Well, what good would that do for the bear? After all, it is just a bear doing its thing as a bear and has not harmed anyone. If the authorities are called, it will be harmed. And the websites I read suggested that bears simply need to be left alone, not to upset them and they will not harm you... as an animal lover who does not even like to kill insects, this works out well for me... This, after all, is life in the woods... except until now life in the woods has meant deer, for the most part :-)
In stitching news... well, there isn't much. I got a really late start tonight on stitching. Not sure why, just wasn't feeling ready until late... but I worked a lot on the big center house. Once that is done, it will feel like I have turned the corner on Part 9 :-)

I was really happy today to learn that Sugar Maple Fabrics has reopened her Treat of the Month (Mindy's version of Fabric of the Month)! I signed right up for the fat quarters of linen each month - and gave her my preference list. I signed up for this over a year ago, received my first shipment... with a note in it saying this was her last month doing TOTM...what a let down... well, it is back and I am thrilled!

In other good news, I faxed my registration for the Liz Turner Diehl class at CATS in Hershey, Pennsylvania on Tuesday, first thing at 8:45 AM...first day of registration. I had an email in to them about something else, and yesterday I got a reply about my question... and an extra note that my registration was received, all looked "great" and confirmation letters were going out next week... I hope that means I will be in the class :-) I also hope that Leslie gets in the class too (I am sure she will - she was right on it with getting her registration faxed out too - how cool!)

Stitched on today: Medieval Town Mandala