A walk in the woods is very different these days for the dog. Usually she's bounding ahead, stopping occasionally to sniff the ground or raise her head to catch some airborne scent. She's learned not to chase the deer - but, boy, does she want to. She'll sit there quivering, eyes fixated, as she overcomes the innate instinct to give chase.
Now, though, she keeps her head to the ground as we walk, snuffling back and forth, searching for the perfect specimen.
She is on the hunt for her autumnal prize.
She'll sniff, but then pass by, several of the offerings, waiting to find the one she wants. I'm not sure what criteria she has locked inside that Labrador brain, but when she discovers the one she desires, she surreptiously - even guiltily - snatches it up and, mouth slightly agape, starts hurrying towards home.
Only when she's reached the safety of the Oriental rug in the living room will she settle in to devour it...a task which requires no small amount of work.
But she has her treat: the perfect hickory nut. Not for her the green or damaged ones. Nor will she take the easy road and go for the already-shelled nut. She likes hers whole, dark, big, and round.
A word of warning - these can be nature's banana peels. Step on one, and your foot can go rolling right out from under you.
And one more thing: remember to pick up the remnant shards of the extremely hard and thick hickory nut shell left on the rug. If you forget, your bare foot may pay the price.
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