The Slice: Don’t underestimate canine conversation

When Ken Marcum is out walking and dogs start barking at him, he believes it behooves him to listen.

“They’re probably trying to start a conversation,” he said. “And chances are, they’re smarter than I am.”

Three key questions: Do you have a rule about not raking leaves before Halloween, so trick-or-treaters will be able to create that rustling sound as they trudge to your front door? Ever tried to get out of raking leaves by claiming you had a groin injury? Has anyone in Spokane ever tried to make a jack-o’-lantern resemble a local politician?

Sizing up the seasons in Spokane: “My tell about winter is how soon and how often the ski report is on the local TV,” wrote James McDonald. “Fall ends with first ski report and spring begins when there is no ski report on TV.”

We’re walking, we’re walking: “I live near the Centennial Trail, and always see something magical on my walks,” wrote Diane Stutzman. “One fall day last year, I saw a magpie. I love magpies – they’re my ‘totem animal.’ Then I saw another, and another, and several more and more again. We were all heading in the same direction.

“Then, to my wonder, I came upon a giant old Ponderosa pine, filled with chattering magpies. Dozens and dozens were gathered there in the pine. It was a magpie celebration.”

Karen Mobley shared an animal sighting of a different kind.

“This summer, I went for a short walk from my van when I was in Yellowstone. I sat down on a good sized rock with my binoculars to look around. I observed a family of wolves (mother and pups) take down a calf bison. I wasn’t expecting this but stayed around for an hour or so to see what they would do. I am glad this isn’t a regular activity on Lee Street, but it was fascinating to see. Nothing like seeing a baby predator with blood on its soft, cuddly looking fur.”

Warm-up question: What’s your grocery shopping system?

A) Illegible paper list written by someone else. B) Photo of illegible list on your phone. C) Child-like faith in your Swiss cheese memory. D) Aimless wandering through the store, randomly gathering as you go. E) Always get the same dozen items. F) Other.

Today’s Slice question: What did you do with the collection of vintage vinyl after you inherited someone’s record albums?

Write The Slice at P. O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210; call (509) 459-5470; email pault@spokesman.com. Lots of baby boomers who grew up far from ranch country wore cowboy boots as 5-year-olds.