Skunks

Lancaster, PA

Hello,

Leaving the mall and almost hidden in the grass was a black and white animal. Looked almost like a cat. Then it became two animals that actually sported four tails when the group turned away. It was a mama skunk and three babies. They undulated under a fence and disappeared from view. What a treat to see them and not smell them.

In the course of the last few days we have seen three of them flattened on the road. These animals do not have much need to run since they can scare most opponents, consequently they are no match for cars.

In another spot in this beautiful Pennsylvania countryside we saw an Amish team of four mules pulling a machine that picked up the large round bales. After it was securely in place, the bale was wrapped in plastic. I had no idea that the Amish would use such a machine. They seem to just have probation against machine having motors for transportation. This could be a totally inaccurate guess. By the way I call this country beautiful, in part, because it reminds me so much of the NW Illinois landscape where I grew up.

It has been great fun to revisit this area and the people since we have not been here for almost 15 years. More people seem to be on the roads and building houses making it more crowded than we remember.

Paula