Dan Antion

Don’t Tell Cheryl – SoCS

Breakfast at Allegro’s – sorry
Modelo draft

Here in the U.S., we’re recovering from too much food, fun and football. Thanksgiving was Thursday, and David and I over-ate, then, yesterday we went back for seconds—or was that third or fourth? This morning, we tried to avoid too-much-turkey syndrome. So, now we’re at the bar. We’re going to relax and enjoy a beverage and some conversation. We might even work on Linda G. Hill’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt,

“Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is ‘on your/my plate.’ Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!”

If we were having a beer, you’d be worried.

“It’s good to see you, Dan.”

“Hi David. I think it should be ‘it’s good to see you again’. We saw each other this morning.”

“Ixnay on the orningmay.”

“Uh oh, Pig Latin. You really need better code words, David.”

“I didn’t see you coming, Cheryl. I was just joking with Dan.”

“Joking? I don’t think so. I don’t know about you, but I know Dan has a picture. Let’s see it, Dan.”

“Picture? What picture, Cheryl? I take a lot of pictures. “

“The picture of what was on your plate this morning.”

“Oh, that picture. Here…”

“Mm-hmm. If I’m not mistaken, that’s from Allegro’s.”

“We were tired of turkey.”

“It’s OK. Until Allegro’s gets a liquor license, I don’t care if you eat there. In fact, it works out better for me.”

“How so?”

“Well, David. When you guys order food, I have to split my tip with the kitchen. This way, it’s all mine.”

“Maybe we should eat before coming here all the time.”

“Don’t get carried away. I’m expected to sell a certain amount of food. Now, John Howell’s Bourbon? Modello?”

“Works for me Cheryl.”

“Me, too.”

“I’ll be back in a minute.”

“So, Dan. What’s on your plate for the coming week. Is your book ready to roll?”

“I think I’m in good shape there, David. I have more leaves to bag, and then I have some winter preparations to finish.”

“Speaking of preparations, here’s your bourbon, your snifter of seltzer, your ice and your cherries, David.  Here’s your beer, Dan. You are the easy one.”

“I would have gone with ‘simple one,’ but easy works.”

“Be nice, David.”

“Yes, ma’mn. Dan, once the leaves are gone, what’s left?”

“I have to put the stakes in the ground, so I know where to go with that snowblower.”

“Is the machine ready to go?”

“It is, but I have to put everything else away for the winter, put the mat down and point the auger toward the door, and then I have to make sure I have enough gas.”

“Are you still going to clear all those weird paths in front of your house and in the back yard?”

“I still need paths to the firewood racks, and I like a path around the perimeter, even if we don’t have a dog.”

“Why? Because you’re an obsessive creature of habit?”

“No. Well, maybe that’s part of it, but we’ve had storms where branches have fallen and damaged our fence. It never hurts to be prepared.”

“But why the paths in the front?”

“I make a path for the mailman and delivery guys. I also cut the snowbank so they can get to that path. Then I clear a path in front of the basement windows. If snow piles up on them, they leak.”

“Sheesh. Anything else?”

“I have to finish the roof cover over the air conditioner compressor.”

“Ok, ok. Now I feel lazy. I’ll tell you what, I’ll pick up the tab.”

“Thanks. But remember to give Cheryl a nice tip.”

The nice thing about late fall and winter is seeing the sunset
Sammy is expecting a delivery
Smokey might fill my trailer with shells
Trapped, or trying to avoid the leaf bag?
My puddle
Black squirrels are all over the neighborhood
I’m being checked out
“Can I help you?”
Walking at sunrise
Someone had some fun
Upper and lower Smokey
MiMi was watching me take the trash out
Ready to serve another day


If you like magical realism with suspense, action and a bit of family sarcasm, you will enjoy these books:

Knuckleheads
The Evil You Choose
When Evil Chooses You

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72 comments

  2. Gorgeous toast with a side of snark. I can’t think of a better start to my day, so thank you. Cats have a way of being both the laziest and the nosiest of beings, don’t they? Based on what you described as your to-do list, I’m guessing she’s going to have a lot to watch out that window! That sunset photo is a beauty!

    Liked by 3 people

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    • Almost all of our cats have enjoyed watching me work. I get the feeling I’m being judged and that I’m not getting a passing grade. Perhaps I should be happy that I’m interesting. I’ll spread that to-do list out over the week. I hope you’re feeling better soon.

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    • Five or six years ago, they were rare around here. These past couple of years, they are everywhere. Yesterday, as I was taking the trash out (I swear they hear the porch storm door open) five of them and one gray squirrel ran up the driveway. I hope you have a nice weekend, Judy.

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  8. Fun post, Dan! And it’s always a treat to spend some time enjoying your photos. I’m so envious of your black squirrels! I’ve seen a snow white one or two (there are a couple of very small colonies of them a bit north of us), but never any black ones. Therefore, I will enjoy your pics twice as much, knowing you are saving their images for posterity! 😊

    Liked by 2 people

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      • I agree, Dan. I think I love Smokey!(All of them. 😁 ) The interesting thing about the white ones, is they are of two types: true albinos with pink eyes, and the leucistic ones, with black eyes and the occasional sprinkling of black hair here or there. Both are stunning, just like your black ones. Thanks for sharing ALL the cool pics!

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  9. “Lady, you can have Italian or Italian”! Now there’s a one-liner, even on the wrong day!

    Double-decker squirrels waiting for the Peanut Man! Now that’s a sight to see!

    Then there’s Sammy blending in with his environment also waiting for that Peanut Man!

    MiMi watching you empty garbage. She probably took notes. She’ll be in Cat Heaven watching you with the snowblower!

    I don’t think those leave are trapped or avoiding the leaf bag. They’re just lady leaves having a genuine gossip session over the back fence!

    Your breakfast plate looks sooo delicious. I’m jealous! The rest of your plates are filled with chores for the week, but it sounds like you are already well prepared for winter. 🤙
    Ginger

    Liked by 2 people

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    • We’re almost ready for winter, Ginger. November is always a busy month.

      MiMi does like watching me work. I’m sure she’ll get a kick out of the snow blower.

      I’ve assured the squirrels that there will be paths. They can’t find the peanuts in deep snow, until it gets a crusty top. So, we toss them in the paths.

      That breakfast always fills me for the day, but it’s so good.

      Happy weekend!

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  12. Ummmm… I’d go there for breakfast! We aren’t tired of turkey but we’ve learned how to pace ourselves. Today I’ll make something else and we can revisit the bird sandwiches tomorrow, Dan. Thanks for the tip. 🙂 I know you guys are accustomed to it but snow is so much Trouble! 🤦‍♀️

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  13. Good luck with the cleaning up, Dan. I remember days of raking leaves and hauling them to the curb for pickup. I generally enjoyed it and it was certainly a good workout if done carefully. Love all the squirrel shots as we don’t seem to have them here in most places.

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  15. Let’ hope these warmer temperatures hold for a few weeks so we can button up everything. We’re in pretty good shape except for a stretch of gutter that always seems to be filled with leaves. Nice photos, Dan.

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  16. Hi Dan – just glad you had a happy tummy filling day … bet Mimi and Mumu are happy too … now if those black things fill your trailer up with shells … that will set a Guinness record … and I’ll be impressed! Cheers and enjoy the clearing up – it’s that time of year when it’s done, it starts up again – sorry! At least you’re working that tummy off … happy times – Hilary

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  18. Dan, sounds like you have no shortage of winter prep work to contend with. That’s good though as it makes life easier down the road. That plate of food looks mighty tempting! I am sure it was well worth the calories.

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  22. The expression on MiMi’s face…! you’re doing it wrong Cats are so judgey! 😹 Smokey has one big family! I guess he told them he would host Thanksgiving this year. Looks like you/he provided a very nice spread.

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  26. Yay for outside projects to burn off the extra calories consumed this week! 😉😁 That’s so kind of you to make sure the path is clear for deliveries and mail. I choked up thinking about not having to plow a path for the dog 😢
    Beautiful photos – I really like the flag, of course, and the one with the leaves trapped in the fence, nice composition!!

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  27. Those leaves on the fence avoiding the leaf bag made me think of what we do in our township. Residents are told to rake their leaves to the curb and the township’s “vacuum” truck will come around and take them away. The problem is when you have 40 mph winds and the truck doesn’t come for awhile…well, you get it. The leaves do also, and they make a break for it before the truck comes back. Hope you had a good Holiday, Dan.

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