2 Dogs, a Pig, and an Orchard Store

Today, I drove down to Butlers Orchard to pick up a pumpkin. Since the dog park is on the way, I decided to bring the dogs with me. On my way down there, I encountered a PIG wandering outside its enclosure. I thought I'd seen it all, but a PIG?!?

The Big Woods bridge is still not finished. If they keep working on it, I think it will be done by mid-December.

The dogs enjoyed running around the dog park.

Got Deer?

Just in case you didn't know this already by reading previous entries, deer are a common site on my commuting route. Today, I was coming home between 5 and 5:30pm, and I saw about a dozen dear just south of the intersection of MD 144 and Musseter Road. Five of them were hanging out on the street. I'm glad that deers' eyes are so reflective. It makes them pretty easy to spot. Also, they run off the road pretty readily when they see cars. Thank goodness they don't run TOWARDS cars!

Slowasmolasses

I can't stand it when people think it's their personal duty to travel 10 mph under the flow of traffic, providing an obstruction that all must navigate around and pass. UGH!

Muddy

After the recent rain, the mud is sticking to the tiller when I run it.

Doe, a deer...

Yet another deer spotted today along Boyers Mill. It leapt over the fence that contains the cows. Non-descript day with light rain, drizzle, low clouds... really blah.

Today's Commute

It was back to the normal commuting route today. I got to see the RR crossing in daylight, and there were piles of rocks and those huge railroad ties. Not sure if they're done or if they've even really started.

Gotta give a shout-out to the trash truck driver who allowed me through. That was awesome to see. A black cat with white lower legs was roaming around near the main entrance gazebo. If it were mine, I'd call it "Boots". It also had a little white on its face. Nice looking cat.

Very light traffic today, and even with the light rain, no problems. The only backup was on MD 80 near MD 355 (Urbana Pike) where the road widening project is still underway. The traffic light took several cycles, but nothing horrendous. I heard a radio report that an accident occurred there as I approached the office.

Today's Route

My usual commuting route will be unavailable since RR track work is being done near the intersection of Ijamsville Road and Musseter Road. So, I decided to take MD 75 instead. But first, let's start at the house.

I left the house about 8:30 this morning. It was quite frosty, so I used my car starter before stepping into the vehicle. Pongo was apparently amused by the smell of his frosty gift pile, but we digress. I had forgotten to pick up the yard waste can from yesterday, so I'll have to put that on my to-do list this evening.

Up the street at the gazebo near the trail entrance, a dozen or so parents and kids await the school bus, which for some strange reason, stops at the end of a narrow street to the east, then has to make a painfully slow turn to go down to the gazebo and its nice HUGE parking area. This doesn't make much sense to me. Why is there a school bus that late any way? What time does school start, 9 am?

Down to Boyers Mill Road, and a young buck bounds from west to east across the street. That little spot could be dangerous as he was hidden from my view until the last second, and did I mention he was bounding?

Since I chose MD 75 today, I had to go all the way into town (New Market) on Old National Pike (MD 144). A jogger with 2 dogs and a school bus about to pull out from dropping off kids made it pretty interesting. It was pretty slow going through Monrovia, but once the huge moving trailer (for construction equipment?) turned left, I was moving nicely. An interesting little area is near the Green Valley Vet Center... there's some sort of animal farm with what looked like an ostrich. Now horses and cows are pretty typical along this route.

Everything was honky dory all the way to MD 355, with a poor little dead fox on the way. A quick little jaunt on MD 109 to get on I-270 and I was back up to speed. Nice flow to the traffic, fairly light although it was a bit after 9 by this point.

From there to the office, just typical navigating. I was hoping for a parking spot at the front side of the bldg today to avoid the construction and the new speed bumps, but like I said, it's after 9, so I get an okay spot on the sunny side. My car will be nice and warm when I go to lunch.

Sunday drivers

Ever get caught behind someone taking their sweet time, and of course, it happens when you're running a bit behind? Well, I was joking the other day about how I do a daily commuting blog. Now, I don't commute every day obviously, but maybe that would be fun.

I could do a daily roll call for animals. I frequently see deer on my commute. Sometimes, they're standing in the road, but mostly, right next to the road on the edges of the meadows.

Or, if I happen to come to a complete stop and watch the MediVac land, which happened on Fri, Oct 12.

Anyway, we'll see how this blogging project goes.