Bear and I saw another bear today. (see Another episode of Wild Kingdom for Bear’s first bear encounter.)

A black bear.

A BIG black bear.

So.

Bear and I were in the Jeep returning from a brief outing to our walk on the empty subdivision road a bit to the north.

Shortly after we entered the “tree” part of our road, Bear’s nose was in the air and he was doing the scent gulp thing.

It had just registered in my brain that he was smelling a bear when we rounded a corner in the road and THERE WAS THE BEAR!

I am fairly vigilant for bears and particularly in the Fall and Spring. But as I think about it, I have NEVER seen a bear when I was expecting to see one. No, they are always a surprise.

And today was the first time I’ve ever seen one on a road.

The ever alert Bear sounded with the bear bark.

The bear turned toward us briefly…Bear was barking loud and continuously…the bear exited stage left off the side of the road, down a steep incline and into the woods.

Somewhere in there I was fumbling for the camera on the seat beside me.

Rats! Another bear story without a photo of a bear.

But…we cannot have a post without a photo…oh, no!!! THAT would not do.

So…a bit of a teaser…

What I did with that extra pumpkin:

I don’t think I have ever made a more beautiful little loaf of bread.

Oatmeal Pumpkin Sunflower Seed Cranberry Bread.

More later.