Small Town Living and Chores

My persistence goes on following up on a multitude of projects I have yet to do and it seems Fall is closing in quickly. Does this sound familiar? I rise in the morning with gratitude that I could....I first attack my list before the mid-day heat. Wandering out to the hummingbird feeders to wash and fill....starts out good. Along the way I see the step ladder left out, grabbed it to put away, turn around, head further out, saw the wagon right side up, turned it over, headed out again, saw the brush pile had dried, broke it up for burning, headed out (again to the feeders)....saw the shed doors open...on the way to the doors I saw rocks, on the small wall, out of place in the garden.....I relocate the flat rock and to my surprise, the hornets I tried to negotiate with last month would have no part of their rock being moved...they won...I got stung....no more negotiations.....and continued to shed doors...closed them, headed out.....saw the extension ladder still up along the eaves from repairs, took it down and headed out to the feeders.....saw the barn drive way spot light needed repair....made note, ...now what was I doing and where was I going....????

Ahhhh...think I'll just sit on the porch and soak in the rest of the morning.....just as I sat down...peered outward and saw the feeders....I remembered..I had to fill the feeders....I headed out with no stops......Success.

I know I'm not alone in having multiple inspirational and disciplinarian thoughts interrupting my daily routine. In my 35 years living in Hampton I have never had a straight run to accomplish a task with out the relentless sights and sounds altering my direction.

Everyday life. Enjoy.

jurn

Life in a small town......

What a morning....up at 3:45 a.m....out the door and on the road at

4:12 a.m. to help with someones barn animals...... a feeding....Saw the cutest

2 or 3 week old fawn near the barn. Came back home at sunrise......crashed ON the bed jeans and all.

Suddenly...thump de thump...Oh no, I know that sound at this time of year.......fledglings hitting the window....two because of the double thump de thump. Sure enough 2 of them on the ground.....but they crashed into and through a white faced hornets nest on their way down. I quickly grabbed the hornet spray but that, and the extras, were empty as well from repairs being done on the eaves. ….....oh my...now what? I navigated through the garden to move the fledglings to a safer place. I tried to negotiate with the hornets but they wouldn't hear of it. Now ... what to do about the hornets nest which happens to be 2 feet from the dog tie. Cool outside at 55 degrees and now it's only 6:30 a.m. …...the answer......burn the huge 8 inch nest. I did...with a long handled lighter for the wood stove. Success...but after 3 times. Now I turn my attention back on the fledglings One died. Broken neck. The other I comforted until it flew off. I buried the poor little dead one. 6:45 a.m. Now...back On the bed...jeans and all.

Now that's a Life!

jurn

Fire Alert - Friday, 14, November

Sixth Sense or Science?
Well, I came home on Friday night after work as usual for my "chill" night after a long week, of course , they're all long weeks to me. Anyway, some dinner, news, and just being with the dogs hanging out. Later I put them out to relieve their bladder, I call it "peeing the dogs".

Dogs peed, lights out, etc we all went to bed.

At 2:15a.m., My bigger dog Pate came and woke me up. I was first somewhat grumpy, thinking, "didn't you pee already? Now you've got more?, Well, maybe you have an upset stomach"
SO I bring him out to the deck area and instead of turning right for the steps, he went left to the far end of the deck, smelling the air ...........sniffing constantly.

It was silent outside so I thought he caught wind of some animal. We do have fisher cats, coyote's, bear, bob cats, and some stray wolfs (they actually got free by accident from the local university study program). He sniffed the air constantly, but was only slightly alarmed. Dogs, in general, (varies with species) have a 1000 times greater sense of smell than humans.

I brought him in. The next morning was Saturday and while I was watching the news, there it was, a story about a house that burned to the ground, at exactly the time Pate was sniffing the air. The house is about 3/4 of a mile away through woods, on another road that runs parallel to mine.

These animals of ours DO have a sixth sense. No doubt in my mind. However, perhaps it's not a sixth sense but a enhanced version of the 5 senses. I've read articles that explain, perhaps as I said, animals have an increased ability in all their senses, they are JUST BETTER than us. Either way, I feel lucky to have my fiends along with me in my travels through life.

The cats and dogs that find their owners miles away, the dogs that predict illnesses, cats predicting death, ....wow, there is so much more to our animal friends.

Well, I was proud of Pate and if there ever was a fire here, I am comforted he would wake me immediately.

Have a Good Week, and drop by to say hello, but remember to give extra hugs to our feathered and fury friends sharing the planet with us.

jurn

July 4th Boom Box Parade

July 4^th Boom Box Parade - A small towns’ antics with doing a parade without a band. Accomplished by all folks having a boom box radio. Oldest continuous Boom Box Parade in the country for 23 years straight. No rules, anyone can march or drive, motor vehicle or tractor, Just have to wear red, white and blue. There’s water sprays on hot days. Candy for the little folk. Political banners with satire for the adults. Of course there is music, how you ask? The local radio show plays marching music through speakers on Mian St. and all the Boom Boxes folks brought tune in.

So, my corny friends and I came up with a - .................

“Planet Theme” - “Don’t Step on the Bugs”

We all decorated our Honda Elements are insects with hairy legs, long antenna, etc. and drove in the parade, just to make a statement. And this is how a small New England town has fun, although this town is MUCH, MUCH bigger than my town.