Princess now a prince?

Her name was Princess, but now she's called Prince. Some relatives from Washington were having coffee out on our deck one beautiful morning recently. Everything was peaceful until suddenly a large gray and black bird flew right into our circle of people and then it laid down on the floor and started to shiver. I recognized Princess as the turkey next door but she had changed since I last saw her.

I reached down and stroked her pretty feathers and she began to quiver all over and while she arched her neck her head turned blue and her wattles wiggled. She fluffed up her feathers and suddenly raised her tail feathers into a beautiful fan with colorful plumage.

Dolly Schreckengost owns the two turkeys that live next door and she said that when I petted Princess she became aroused and began shaking all over. Whoa, I didn't mean to do that. Could it be that Princess is now a Prince? Dolly's two turkeys are about a year old now and "things they are a-changing." I think a real live turkey has fallen in love with me.

I hear that "gobble, gobble, gobble" under my bedroom window and I look outside to see the big, handsome gray and black turkey bird. When I'm outside he follows me everywhere I go. Yes, I think that big boy loves me.

I talked to Dolly about her two turkeys, Princess and Lucy. She believes each of the turkeys have laid eggs. That presents a problem. How's that possible? Won't she be surprised if one of those girls is really a boy?

Dolly said when her little silky hen was about 6 months old she started crowing like a rooster. So the question of the day is: "Is it possible for some animals to change their sex?" We'd like your input on this. Thanks.

Keep Fish Springs dark and quiet

We always think of Fish Springs as having very quiet, dark nights. It certainly is dark with no city lights but sometimes the quiet darkness is pierced by the barking of loud dogs. I've had a few calls about the barking dogs and it seems the problem is mostly at nighttime and the noise seems to be coming from the north end of Fish Springs. Perhaps the owners of the dogs work nights and don't even know about the problem. Anyway, neighbors have told me they've not been able to sleep with all the nighttime barking and perhaps this notice in the paper would help. I hope so. Let's keep Fish Springs dark - and quiet.

Kudos to Karen

Congratulations to our Fish Springs neighbor Karen Aleman who won first place in pastels and also the People's Choice Award at the Western States Horse Expo Equine Dream Art Show last month. Her large painting titled "Mustang Morning" beautifully depicts a family of seven mustangs out in the Pine Nut Mountains. What makes this painting so extra special is because it really is one of the wild horse families that we see frequently here in Fish Springs. Karen took a photograph of them and then painted a replica from that photo. Way to go, Karen!

Tidbit

My thanks to Rose Carini (I think!) for the great birthday card. I'm sorry you had to "wipe a tear from your eye."

-- Linda Monohan can be reached at 782-5802.