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| OBVIOUSLY, CONSIDERING THE TITLE, I HAVE LIVED IN THE CITY MOST OF MY LIFE, ALTHOUGH I SPENT MOST OF THAT LIFE PACKING AND UNPACKING AS THE DAUGHTER OF A NAVY OFFICER, WIDOW OF AN ARMY OFFICER, AND A WIFE OF A RETIRED ARMY OFFICER. HOWEVER THIS STORY IS NOT ABOUT OUR ADVENTURES WHILE TRAVELING FROM POST TO POST, RATHER MY AWAKENING TO LIFE IN THE ROLLING VIRGINIA COUNTRYSIDE, ABOUT THIRTY MILES WEST OF RICHMOND. WE KNEW IT WAS TIME TO MOVE ON AS THE HOME WHERE WE RAISED OUR CHILDREN FELT EMPTY, LONELY, AND FAR TOO LARGE WHILE WE LIVED IN ONLY THREE ROOMS! THAT LEFT FIVE ROOMS WE BARELY ENTERED, AND CERTAINLY NO LONGER FELT THE NEED FOR A FORMAL LIVING ROOM FOR PROM PICTURES! YES, IT WAS TIME TO MOVE ON. MY ONLY PREREQUISITE WAS A NEW HOME, AND NOT MUCH FURTHER WEST THAN FLAT ROCK........YES, GEORGIANS WE HAVE ONE TOO, EXCEPT IT IS FLAT AND NOT JUST "THE ROCK"! DICK WANTED MORE LAND, LESS HOUSE, AND A LOT LESS MAINTENANCE, AND REALLY HAD FEW WORRIES SINCE I WAS ALMOST AS INTERESTED IN CULTIVATING THE LAND AS I WAS IN SNAKES! THEREFORE, JUST BEFORE THE WEDDING OF OUR OLDEST DAUGHTER, WE MOVED TO A SMALL CAPE COD ON TWELVE ACRES, A LOT FURTHER WEST THAN ANTICIPATED, BY EITHER OF US. FOR SOME REASON, THOUGH, I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE SMALL COTTAGE SURROUNDED BY 50' VIRGIN OAK TREES, SO WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS RAPIDLY ADDING OUTBUILDINGS, A GARDEN SHED, A TWO STORY, TWO CAR GARAGE WITH A WORKSHOP, I ASKED FOR A SCREENED IN PORCH FOR BLISSFUL AFTERNOONS PATTING OURSELVES ON THE BACK FOR HOW SMART WE WERE. THEN A PATIO BECAME A NECESSITY WHEN WE REALIZED NOTHING WOULD GROW BETWEEN THE GARAGE AND HOUSE, THUS CREATING A YEAR ROUND 'BOG'. IN DEBT AGAIN, AFTER WE SPENT OUR PROFIT FROM SELLING THE OLD HOME, WE NOW REALIZED THAT OUR 'ROAD' OR 'DRIVEWAY', DEPENDING ON HOW ONE CONSIDERS ONE HALF MILE IN LENGTH, WOULD COST THOUSANDS TO KEEP IN REPAIR FOR SEVERAL YEARS, UNTIL WE HAD A GOOD BASE DOWN AND COULD BRING IN LARGER GRAVEL. YES, WE WERE OUT IN THE WOODS! IN DEEP WOODS WITH A 'TRIPLE' CANOPY OF TREES AND BRUSH, THE FIRST DICK HAS SEEN SINCE VIETNAM. IT WAS THAT SECOND SUMMER I BEGAN TO DREAM OF FLOWERS, AND NO, I WAS NOT ON ANY NEW 'MIND ALTERING' MEDICATION; I JUST THOUGHT THE HOUSE CRIED OUT FOR NOT JUST ANY GARDEN, BUT AN ENGLISH COTTAGE GARDEN, COMPLETE WITH WHITE PICKET FENCE AND ARBORS! WITH DICK'S HELP, I CREATED OUR GARDEN, PLANTED IT WITH PERENNIALS, AND WAITED FOR IT TO GROW! WE HAD A LOT TO LEARN BEFORE WE COULD SUCCESSIVELY LIVE WITH NATURE. THE FIRST YEAR I PLANTED TULIPS ONLY TO FIND EVERY STEM GNAWED...RABBITS! I SEARCHED THE CATALOGS AND CAME UP WITH HOT PEPPER WAX, AND THOUGHT MR. RABBIT WOULD GET A MOUTHFUL AND HE WOULD NEVER FORGET THE NEXT TIME HE ATE MY BULBS! WHILE I WAS AT IT, I BOUGHT A CASELOAD OF 6' GARDEN STAKES, AND SOME 'Z00D00', WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT THE LABEL STATES....MANURE FROM ZOO ANIMALS. WELL, MOST CREATURES OF THE FOREST WILL NOT MESS AROUND WITH AN ELEPHANT, OR RHINOCEROS, EVEN IF THEY EVER SAW ONE, BUT IT 'SMELLED' INHOSPITABLE, SO ONCE AGAIN THEY WERE GONE, FOR A WHILE. THE NEXT YEAR MY FIRST MADONNA LILY BLOOMED, AND BY NOON OF THAT DAY, IT HAD BEEN MUNCHED, AND THIS FOR SURE WAS NOT RABBITS. WE BOUGHT A SHOWER RADIO, YOU KNOW ONE OF THOSE RADIOS YOU HANG IN THE SHOWER SO YOU CAN LISTEN TO MUSIC, AND SING ALONG! WE HUNG IT IN THE LARGE GARDEN, KEPT THE BATTERIES FRESH, CHANGED THE CHANNELS REGULARLY, AND ONCE AGAIN WE THOUGHT WE HAD OUTSMARTED GOD'S CREATURES. THE RADIO LASTED ABOUT TWO YEARS, AND ONCE AGAIN WE WERE PROVIDING THE ENTREE' AND DESSERT FOR DEER SINCE HOSTA IS THEIR HOT FUDGE SUNDAE! NOW WHAT? WELL, ACCORDING TO DICK, IF YOU CAN'T LICK EM', FEED'EM WHAT THEY LIKE! HE BUILT A LARGE CORNCRIB, ADDED HARD CORN, NOW WE HAVE REGULAR CUSTOMERS, THE SAME FAMILY, AND WE ARE BEGINNING TO NAME THEM! THAT FIRST SUMMER, "BIG MAMA' BROUGHT HER ALMOST YEARLING TWINS TO FEED, AND SHE BROUGHT THEM DAILY, UNTIL SHE DISAPPEARED AROUND THE END OF MAY. SURELY, WE THOUGHT, A CAR HAD HIT HER SINCE IT WAS NOT HUNTING SEASON, ALTHOUGH SOME OF THESE REDNECKS CAN'T READ, AND USE THAT FOR AN EXCUSE TO HUNT ALL YEAR! IT WAS IN THE FALL WHEN I WAS CLEANING UP THE GARDEN BEDS IN ANTICIPATION OF COVERING THE PLANTS WITH COMPOST AND MULCH WHEN I LOOKED UP AND COULD NOT BELIEVE MY EYES.....BIG MAMA WAS BACK! NOT ONLY WAS SHE BACK EATING PEACEFULLY BESIDE HER ALMOST GROWN DAUGHTERS, BUT ALSO SHE BROUGHT HER FAWNS, STILL WEARING THE WHITE SPOTS, AND THEY WERE FROLICKING IN THE YARD BEHIND THE WOODLAND GARDEN! I SAT, HALF HIDDEN IN THE SHADE GARDEN FOR AN HOUR WHILE THEY PLAYED, MAMA AND BIG SISTERS ATE THE CORN, LICKED ON THE APPLE LICK THAT IS FULL OF NUTRIENTS, AND GAVE ME ONE OF THE MOST PLEASURABLE MOMENTS OF MY LIFE. A SCENE WORTH COMMITTING TO MEMORY FOR BAD DAYS. WELL, HERE WE ARE, WELL INTO THE FOURTH YEAR WE HAVE FED THEM, AND EVEN WATERED THEM DURING DROUGHT, AND YES, WILD DEER WILL DRINK WATER OUT OF A BUCKET IF DESPERATE ENOUGH! THE FIRST TWINS I NAMED POLLY AND MOLLY. POLLY HAD A FAWN OF HER OWN THIS YEAR, BUT NOT MOLLY. ONE OF THE TWINS FROM LAST FALL IN NOW A BEAUTIFUL BUCK WITH SIX POINTS TO HIS RACK , BUT HE IS A YOUNG 'UN' AND HE WILL ONLY GET MORE BEAUTIFUL AS HE GROWS......IF HE LIVES THROUGH HUNTING SEASON. HOWEVER, WE ARE NOT BECOMING ATTACHED SO HE REMAINS NAMELESS. DICK SAID JUST THE OTHER DAY BIG MAMA, WHO AGAIN DISAPPEARED TOWARDS THE LAST PART OF MAY, IS BACK WITH TWIN FAWNS AGAIN! NOW OBVIOUSLY ATTRITION IS NOT KEEPIN UP, SO DICK ASKED ME THE OTHER NIGHT HOW MANY DEER WE WILL BE FEEDING IN FIVE MORE YEARS, AND I DECIDED I DID NOT WANT TO HEAR THE ANSWER! I ENJOY THEM TOO MUCH TO DEAL IN STATISTICS! NOW DEER ARE NO THE ONLY 'CRITTERS AROUND HERE. IN THE PAST TWELVE YEARS, WE HAVE HAD THREE BEARS.....MOSTLY WHEN DROUGHT DRIVES THEM DOWN FROM THE MOUNTAINS AND THEY FOLLOW THE JAMES RIVER TO CIVILIZATION! TWO YEARS AGO, A HUNGRY BEAR HELD THE EMPLOYEES OF GOOCHLAND COUNTY HOSTAGE, WHILE HE POLISHED OFF TWO APPLE TREES ON THE COURTHOUSE GROUNDS.! FRIGHTENEND THAT HE WAS GOING TO DECIDE TO TAKE A NAP RIGHT THERE, ANIMAL CONTROL SHOT HIM FULL OF TRANQUILIZERS AND TOOK HIM BACK UP RIVER! THAT SAME YEAR, MAYBE THE SAME BEAR, RIPPED INTO OUR BERRY ARBORS, ATE EVERY SINGLE RIPE RASPBERRY ON THE VINES AND THEN TWISTED THE TOMATO CAGE AROUND THEM LIKE A PRETZEL! YES, I WANT TO AVOID MR. BEAR! DICK BUILT STRONGER ARBORS THE NEXT YEAR. NEXT ON MY 'NOT CRAZY ABOUT' LIST ARE THE RACCOONS WHO USUALLY HAVE RABIES! WE KNOW, A 25LB. RABID MALE BIT OUR DOG! SUPPOSEDLY THEY DON'T LIKE HARD CORN, BUT I GUESS FREE IS FREE, SO NOW WE HAVE ANOTHER LARGE RACCOON, WHO PROBABLY HAS A NEST NEARBY, PROVING MY FRIENDS LIARS! NEXT ON THE 'STAY AWAY FORM ME' LIST, ARE THE SNAKES! ANY SNAKE! NOW WE DO HAVE A 6' BLACK SNAKE LIVING UNDER OUR POWER TRANSFORMER, BUT THE ELECTRIC CO-OP TOLD US TO LEAVE HIM THERE. HE WILL KEEP OUT ALL THE LITTLE CRITTERS THAT GNAW WIRES, AND HE WILL NOT HARM US! WELL I WISH HE WOULD TELL THAT TO THE BIRDS WHOSE NESTS HE ROBS OF EGGS, BUT FOR NOW, WE ARE KEEPING HIM. MAINLY BECAUSE OF THE COPPERHEAD, A MUCH SMALLER SNAKE FULL GROWN, ABOUT 2' LONG, THEY ARE HIGHLY POISONOUS, AND BOTH OF US HAVE HAD NARROW ESCAPES! NOW MINDI, WHEN SHE WAS FOUR MONTHS OLD, WAS TOO CURIOUS AND WAS BIT IN THE JAW BY ONE ANGRY COPPERHEAD, BUT FORTUNATELY, THEIR BIT IS NOT FATAL TO DOGS! WE TOOK HER TO THE VET WHERE SHE HAD AN ANTIBIOTIC SHOT, AND SHE FINALLY HEALED. LAST SUMMER I HAD TWO FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCES WITH THE SNAKES. FIRST, I WAS POTTING A PLANT, AND USUALLY, I WILL NOT LOOK INTO A BAG WITH TOPSOIL FROM THE NURSERY BEFORE I DIP MY HAND INSIDE, BUT THIS TIME IT JUST FELT 'FUNNY'. I OPENED THAT BAG, STIFLED A SCREAM TO WAKE THE DEAD, AND RAN FOR DICK! THERE WAS A FULL GROWN COPPERHEAD LAYING IN THE BAG, HIDING FROM HIS QUARRY, THE FROGS! THEN IT WAS JUST A FEW DAYS LATER I WAS SITTING UNDER THE BERRY ARBORS PULLING WEEDS WHEN I FOUND AN OLD ABANDONED MOLE HOLE, OR SO I THOUGHT. I DECIDED TO SHOVE A FEW LEAVES DOWN THE HOLE TO CLOSE IT UP, BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN, AS I SHOVED, SOMETHING SHOVED BACK! THEN CAME THE TIP OF A SPADE-SHAPED HEAD, AND I KNEW IT WAS TIME TO GET OUT OF THERE! WELL, I COULD NOT STAND UP BECAUSE OF THE BERRIES, SO I SCOOTED BACKWARDS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, OUT POPS A LARGE TOAD, WITH A SPADE-SHAPED HEAD, AND A MUCH SMALLER ONE BEHIND IT! WHEN MY HEART CAUGHT UP WITH MY BREATHS, I DECIDED I HAD ENOUGH OF NATURE FOR ONE DAY! THEN THERE ARE THE NEVER-TO-BE-SEEN AGAIN, ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME MOMENTS THAT MAKE UP FOR ALL THE ABOVE! ONE NIGHT I WAS LATE FOR THE GARDEN CLUB MEETING SINCE I DECIDED THAT WATCHING THIS LITTLE SPIDER WEAVING A WEB FOR HER SUPPER WAS FAR MORE EDUCATIONAL THAN LEARNING HOW TO ARRANGE FLORIST BOUGHT FLOWERS! I SAT MESMERIZED FOR AN HOUR AS SHE EXTRUDED THE MINUTE SILKEN CORD AND WOVE AN ELABORATE TRAP, AND WHILE SHE RESTED, THREE VICTIMS WERE SNARED AND WAITING FOR HER TO EAT! I CANNOT EVEN BEGIN TO DESCRIBE HOW THE SILK COMES OUT AND HOW THEY KNOW JUST WHEN AND WHERE TO ATTACH EACH STRAND TO THE OTHER, BUT THEY DO. LAST SUMMER, RUSHING TO GET READY FOR GUESTS FOR MY HUSBAND'S BIRTHDAY PARTY, I SAW ANOTHER MIRACLE! ONE I KNOW I WILL NEVER FORGET. I KNEW WE HAD A SMALL BOX TURTLE LIVING IN THE GARDEN, AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF PLANTS TO SHARE, SO I DO NOT MIND, BUT THIS DAY, I FOUND HER LYING AT THE JUNCTION OF TWO PATHS, AND SHE WAS JUST SITTING THERE....BUT THEN I SAW SHE WAS REALLY DIGGING. SHE WAS DIGGING AND SCOOTING THE DIRT OUT FROM UNDER HER, BUT I HAD NO IDEA WHY! WHEN SHE FINISHED, I SAW THE FIRST EGG COMING OUT AND I COULD NOT BELIEVE WHAT I WAS SEEING....THE MIRACLE OF NATURE PROCREATING BY THE LAYING OF EGGS! FORGETTING ALL ABOUT THE WEEDS, I SAT DOWN NOT FAR FROM THE TURTLE, BUT CLOSE ENOUGH TO COUNT HER EGGS, ALTHOUGH SHE SEEMED TO CARE LESS WHETHER I WAS THERE OR NOT, AND I WATCHED AS SHE LAID FOUR EGGS, COVERING EACH ONE WITH JUST ENOUGH DIRT SO WHEN SHE FINISHED, THERE WAS NO INDICATION ANYTHING WAS THERE. I CALLED DICK, AND HE WATCHED HER LAY ONE EGG, AFTER HE DID NOT BELIEVE ME WHEN I TOLD HIM WHAT SHE WAS DOING. SO WHEN SHE FINISHED, HE FOUND A CHICKEN WIRE CAGE WE USE FOR PACKING LEAVES AROUND THE ROSES, AND HE LAID THAT AROUND THE NEST SO WE WOULD NOT STEP ON IT! I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HATCHED, BUT I DO KNOW THAT SHE CERTAINLY GAVE ME ANOTHER GOLDEN NATURE MOMENT! GETTING BACK TO OUR DEER, WE HAVE NOTICED THAT THEY EXHIBIT LESS FEAR OF US THAN IN YEARS PAST, AND WE DO NOT DARE TO GET CLOSE TO THEM SINCE WE WANT THEM TO BE AFRAID, OR AT LEAST WARY OF ALL AROUND THEM. DICK DOES NOT HUNT, I CRIED WHEN WE HIT ONE WITH THE CAR, AND WAS FRANTIC UNTIL I KNEW, FOR CERTAIN, SHE WAS DEAD! SO FOR NOW, I CAN PEACEFULLY SIT IN THE SPA WITH ALL THE JETS AND THE BUBBLER RUNNING, AND THEY COME TO FEED. I FIND NATURE AT ITS BEST WHEN I AM RELAXING. DEER AT THE FEEDER, HUMMINGBIRDS DARTING IN AND OUT AND ALL AROUND THE CANOPY TRYING TO GET A SIP OF NECTAR , WHILE THE BULLY TRIES TO KEEP THEM AWAY, SQUIRRELS CHASING EACH OTHER IN A SPIRAL AROUND A 50' OAK TREE! I HEAR THE WOOD PECKER MAKING HOLES IN THE DEAD TREES LOOKING FOR INSECTS, THE HAWK SCREECHING AS HE LEADS PREDATORS AWAY FROM THE NEST, DOVES EATING THE CORN THE DEER DROP AND THE OLD HOOT OWL REMINDING ME I SHOULD GET OUT AND FIX SUPPER,BUT I CANNOT, I AM TRANSFIXED! LAST NIGHT OUR BUCK ALLOWED ME WITHIN 50' OF HIM, AND HE AND I JUST STARED AT EACH OTHER.....ME WITH WONDER AND GRATITUDE IN MY HEART THAT HE ALLOWED ME THIS CLOSE, AND HE, SURELY WATCHING FOR ME TO MAKE A SUDDEN MOVE. I WANT HIM TO BE LEERY, AND PERHAPS AFTER THE DREADFUL SEASON FOR HUNTING THESE GRACEFUL CREATURES FROM GOD, HE WILL RETURN IN THE SPRING. WONDERFULLY WRITTEN ACCOUNT OF LIVING WITH NATURE IN HER OWN BACK YARD AND GARDENS BY DIANE S. SANFILIPPO SUBMITTED JULY 27, 2004 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Genesis 2:19 ~ And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. |
| COUNTRY GIRL, CITY GIRL ! |
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