Mystery solved...

Well, the mystery is solved!  Sneezy, apparently, started out down in the 'holler' at our neighbors house.  He was harassed by the neighbor's cat and must have grown tired of it and "ran away from home". LOL 
We don't have an outside pet nor any other animal to aggravate Sneezy, so he has latched onto Giles and the safety of the trees behind the barn. 
Our neighbor said the first time he saw the turkey, it seemed a bit tame.  A bit? I think this turkey would come inside for dinner if we invited him/or her. 
Sneezy is welcome to hunt his bugs here and we will continue to give progress on his visit...he/she is quite entertaining and we feel honored he chose us for his sanctuary...I also look forward to finding out if he is a he or a she... May have to change his name to Sneezette!  Blessings...

Oh my! I had not planned on continuing to post about 'Sneezy', but that  turkey is just plain funny!  We had not seen him for a few days, so thought he had moved on. NOT SO! 
This morning, he was back at the barn, hunting his bugs and waiting for Giles to appear. He has followed him around all day, like a puppy running here and there. One time, he was sunning himself just inside the barn doorway while Giles had saws and drills going full blast...how can a wild turkey be so calm amid so much noise and activity?
This afternoon, I walked out to the barn (with camera ready) and took a seat on the old bench on the porch.  Up runs 'Sneezy' to stare me in the face, then began to preen himself only a foot away...guess he was trying to make an impression.  Silly bird!
The funniest and strangest thing 'Sneezy' does is when Giles pats his feet in time to bluegrass music (via the radio station in Galax, VA)  'Sneezy' comes running (seems he runs toward Giles a lot : ) and then watches the feet as they tap away...I'm sure he thinks the laces might be worms, since he pecks at them, but mostly, he watches the feet and sort of moves with them.  Perhaps he's trying to pick up his own rythmn...go figure! A wild turkey who loves blusgrass music and humans! 

Apparently, 'Sneezy' feels quite secure here and loves his new 'family'. Maybe one day, some fellow turkeys will pass through and lure him away, but in the mean time, I guess we have a new pet.  We still will not feed him or do anything to take away his wild nature, but evidently he chooses to tame a bit of that 'nature' by hanging out at the Cabin In The Woods.  Blessings...

Well, 'SNEEZY' is still hanging around, and getting braver every day. Today, we were loading the trailer for our show this weekend in VA (SUMMER IN THE VALLEY) and he strutted around among all the goodies, curious to see if anything was for him...LOL  He kept coming up to me, staring into my eyes...don't know if it was a challenge or he found me 'mother-like', but he ended up flying  onto my shoulder for a brief, up-close visit, then onto a table he found more interesting. 

Later, as we had the door propped open to bring goods out of the basement, 'SNEEZY' couldn't resist, so in he walked and started checking things out among our junky storage...Enough!  Out he went after Giles shooed him away.

He is certainly charming and interesting, but as with all wildlife, we're trying not to encourage him to be our pet. Already, he is sure to become easy prey since he clucks loudly with every step while he is hunting for bugs.  He obviously is not afraid of humans, loud noises, sudden movements and strange piles of old stuff sitting in the driveway, awaiting their place in the trailer.

SNEEZY is young and curious and cute...but he will get bigger, wilder and more aggressive as he matures and when mating season begins, it would not be a 'good thing' for him to feel at ease around us. He needs to move on and find a 'family' more like himself... Besides, the season of giving Thanks isn't far off, so if he knows what's good for him...Well! 

BTW...everytime he gets close to us, he sneezes...YEP!  So checked and read that 'stags' (males) make the sneezing noise as a way to show off...Thus, the name 'SNEEZY'... And he has been showing off!

As for those who think it is fun to 'adopt' wild animals, please think before you do. They are wild! They need to enjoy nature as God intended... Let's all enjoy these wild creatures from a distance and hope they don't all try to 'adopt' us!  BLESSINGS!

Well, looky what has been hanging around Giles and his workshop/barn today... We had noticed a lone turkey poult wondering around the yard for a couple of days (don't know what happened to his family) Today, Giles was working on some things for our show next weekend and buzzed me on the intercom...said a young turkey had come inside the barn...the poult was in and out for quite awhile...then Giles buzzed me and said the poult had flown into the barn and settled down on one end of the work bench. By the time I got out there with the camera, our new friend was exploring Giles' tools and saws. Think he wants to learn how to create make-dos?  So tame...didn't mind my joining in. If he keeps hanging around, I guess we'll get some corn to feed him. Apparently, he/she likes the homeplace for now!

Just a reminder that Summer In The Valley is soon.  Giles has made a few, new make-dos and we'll also have some great old stuff, so hope we see you there!

                                                  http://picturetrail.com/antiquesinthevalley
p.s.  Sorry for the blurred show card image...don't know what happened to it, but go to the show website and it will be "big as life".  We're looking forward to seeing you soon!

All dressed up for a big celebration?  Hope your Independence Day is filled with thankfulness for the great country we live in, the amazing people we call our 'neighbors' and the freedoms we enjoy every day! 

Don't eat too much, drive too fast or set anything on fire with all the fireworks... Be safe!

HAPPY JULY 4TH!