But I said "almost all." Guess which one remained at large. Yes, Mattie. That enormously pregnant cow broke ranks with the others and stayed in the tall corn. Mrs. Day and family friend Tom Harris spotted her at the field's edge and tried to urge her back home, too.

"But she turned ugly," said Mrs. Day. "Then she swung around and ran right back into the corn. Probably she's had that calf and has it hid in the middle of the field. Now she won't leave it."

Oh, my. I guessed the job now would be to find that hiding place, get a rope on the calf, and lead it out. This, I hoped, would not incite a new, nine-hundred-pound mamma to violence. But Maggie's homecoming turned out differently, and with all the drama that the other cows' return had lacked.

Tom Harris went into the tall corn on his own, determined to find the cow-and calf, too, if there was one. Well, he confronted Mattie, and she was still in a foul mood. She baulked and ran, crashing through the corn stalks. Tom took off after her.

Tom's pursuit involved trips and falls, much mud, and wading through the waist-deep waters of Fly Creek. Finally he caught up with Maggie, who'd been slowed by heavy underbrush. Tom got a rope on her, and soon she was back with her sorority sisters. They were grazing in their home pasture as if nothing had ever happened. I'd like to think those girls are contrite, have learned something. But they are cows, so I doubt it.

And the calf? Maggie had delivered, no question. But unanswered is whether it was a still-born or whether the calf, now alone, is still out there in the tall corn. At this writing, good-hearted Tom Harris is back among the stalks, hunting for the offspring. I'll keep you posted.

Now let me tell you about a wonderful, offbeat coming event. It's not too far from here, in Hobart, out Route 23 and a few miles from Stamford. On this Saturday, Sept. 9, Hobart is hosting an event well worth the drive. Anne and I learned of it last weekend in Hobart. We were there for the Autumn Book Signing-six of us scribes signing our books, plus Anne displaying prints of her fine illustrations.

We two were set up comfortably with author Barbara Gale in "The Library Shop," which, besides shelves and shelves of books, also houses owner Don Dale's harpsichord and his harmonium. (Don's more than a bibliophile; by all accounts, he's a splendid musician, too.) It was a fine spot to be. Outside, Ernesto was bending trees and blowing pedestrians along the sidewalks; inside, it was all coziness and good talk.

Now, about Hobart. Not many years ago, the village was suffering the same fate as hundreds of others in the State: dwindling population, plummeting tax base, a main street of empty shops. It's not out of the woods yet, but good changes have taken place. Many of them are due to Don Dales.

Don owned several of those vacant stores and racked his brain for some way to bring them to life. Why not, he thought, an expansion of his own used-book store? Why not several stores? (Now he was getting excited.) Why not make Hobart "The Book Village of the Catskills"? And that's just what Don and enthusiastic friends have done.

Main Street, Hobart, now boasts, not only a supermarket and a couple of good coffee houses, but three excellent bookstores, one specializing in antiquarian texts. Another, a bookstore-cum-cafe, is called "Cook the Books." It's added fun that the two women who run "Cook the Books" also staff the local bank.

The success of the Book Village concept got Hobarters thinking about other ways to highlight their village. Last month, for instance, was their annual Horseshoe Tourney; it now draws hundreds, including big names in shoe-throwing.

This month it was the Authors' Signing. And next month it's the Art Walk, with displays of original works all along Main Street.

And this week? Why it's Hobart's celebration of Finland! What? Yes! All day on Saturday the 9th, Hobart is celebrating the fact that a Finn is taking over as President of the European Union. Tucked into the edge of the Catskills, little Hobart is dabbling in internationalism, and adding to its own sense of place, too. Hurray for Hobart, I say!

Anne and I are driving over there on Saturday as honor escort to Lady Ostapeck, Fly Creek's resident Finn and local treasure. Lady, who has been several times to Finland and displayed her photography there, will be attending in Finnish national dress. She'll also be taking along lots of Finnish artifacts for display.

Displays and the like will be all over the town, starting in the morning. The day's big event is a one o'clock gathering at the Community Center on Cornell Avenue. There'll be a talk on Finnish life by author Kirby Olsen, Finnish prose and poetry by Actor Thomas Hill, a moving documentary on Finland during WWII, and more.

Oh, and the Finnish Cultural Attache to the U.S. will be in attendance. Coincidentally, he has a home in Stamford. Who would have thought?

When I mentioned the cultural attache to her, Lady said offhandedly, "Oh, sure, I know him." She is full of surprises, that one.

Anyway, if you want a wonderful, off-the-wall experience in a charming village that has really found itself, head for Hobart on Saturday. We'll watch for you. And plan on celebrating till the cows come home.

Read Jim Atwell's new book, "From Fly Creek - Celebrating Life in Leatherstocking Country" along with Anne Geddes-Atwell's charming illustrations. Books are for sale at your local bookseller. Anne's prints from the book can be purchased by contacting her by phone or e-mail.