Eau de Pepe le Peu

What a fantastically beautiful morning for mid July! Cooler dryer air, sunshine, birds all singing away. Escaping my box at work, I exited the building glad to be away from Alarms going off for 16 hours. Each step brought me closer to my car and home. Crossing the crosswalk (defying death) I headed to the employee lot, watching the cross guard near the barns stopping traffic, and the beautiful race horses headed towards their morning exercise. I'd love to have a morning ride, but settled for one in my car.(rats. I really miss horseback riding)

The grounds have some gorgeous landscaping, a joy to look at as I drive by. A smart little bird crosses the street everyday in almost the same spot ahead of me, beady black eye watching me as he hopped onto the curb. ( I softly say to myself "ok bird, you are pressing your luck" and laugh.) I think that bird waits for me. Rounding the curve, the morning sun is bright, almost bringing a sparkle to the town spread out before me. I breathe deep and....gasp! "SKUNK!"

No lie, there are more skunks per square mile in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, then I have ever encountered before. I think we have had a migration. One skunk told another, and another until they all moved in. I don't think there are any natural predators here that like to eat skunk, including humans. In the course of one car ride you can regularly take a whiff of Pepe le Peu. They are everywhere, and I can sometimes smell them inside the building at work, which means that was one dang potent skunk. ( I have often stopped to ponder if they have found a way into the ducts, lol) There is even a rumor of a 'giant' skunk almost all white..our very own Loch Ness  monster of 'Stinkydom'.

There is a gentleman who routinely traps the stinky buggers and removes them from property. I have even seen one crossing the field in the middle of the racetrack as the sun was setting, no fear of crowds or thundering race horses for that skunk. (The barn cats stay well clear of those  co-inhabitant as well.)  I am presuming that they somehow find their way back here, because the population always seems to be on the increase. Too bad there is nothing we can do to discourage their interest in the fair city of Charles Town. if this keeps up..we just might have to change the city name...I'm not going to say it, but you can think it, lol.

hugs, and have an unstinky day

k