A frolic in the strawberry fields

I live on the Byram end of Lake Mohawk. I work with a company out of Reading, Pa., and on Wednesday, October 18, 2006, I had an early appointment in Chalfont, Pa. Wednesday and Saturday are our leaf recycling days and I had been trying to keep up with the many leaves that come down in our neighborhood. I had five garbage cans already filled (which fit in my Jeep Cherokee) and decided to make an early stop at the Byram Recycling Center which opens at 7 a.m. I left home at 6:30 and took the back way along Wolf’s Pond and saw the many swans sleeping on the pond. I was amazed to see that they actually sleep and rest with their wings folded up in the shape of a heart - like you would see on a Hallmark card. I went home to change and head out to Pa. the back way through Tranquillity. On the strawberry patch field heading south on the left I saw five bears (probably a family) grazing in the field. A very large bear, a large bear, one that was probably a yearling and two cubs. It’s a very peaceful ride to the Byram Recycling Center and I look forward to making the trip twice a week. Over the years I have seen coyote, foxes, owls and hawks close up, along with the usual wildlife that you see in the area. Tom Mulligan Sparta, N.J.