It's also an unusually quiet night. No coyotes, no owls, no annoying animals scurrying across my roof....... but they will inevitably show up - just after I crawl into bed and snuggle comfortably under the covers. They wait patiently until they're sure I'm nearly asleep.
Then I jump out of bed, run outside, and bang on the roof with a rake or mop or whatever the hell is handy.
That discourages them from scurrying........
......until I go inside and get back in bed. Then the scurrying begins again.
It's an unwholesome nightly ritual.
Anyone who's in favor of gun control should live out here in the boonies and be subjected to overhead scurrying every night when they're in bed.
Trust me - you'll be loading your Remington 870 and aiming to kill.
Well, that statement probably inspired some people to scratch me off their reading list.
Relax. I'm (basically) a pacifist. I don't like bloodshed of any kind. But not every animal in the wilderness is Bambi.
And if I ever catch any human (or half-human) invading my property and threatening me with bodily harm, I won't hesitate to blow their sorry ass off.
I look deceptively sweet and innocent, but I'm armed and occasionally dangerous.
Yesterday afternoon there was a fair amount of gunfire nearby. Probably hunters. I was outside taking a few pictures, when the shots inspired me to go back in.
Here are some of the photos:
(nothing spectacular)
I love these tall trees and often photograph them simply because they're right near the back porch. That's the afternoon sun in the western sky.
I'm extremely tired tonight and think I'll go to bed early. It's presently only 1:30 a.m.
That's early for this hardcore night owl.
Never a dull moment in your area, that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteI thought things would be peaceful and uncomplicated when I moved to a rural area. Wow, was I wrong!!!!
DeleteJon, love the pretty pics! (Just thought I'd attempt a bit of silly word play - I despise quick and easy responses as much as you do - only one of the reasons I no longer blog, etc.)
ReplyDeleteBut your pics and posts are MUCH deeper than pretty. That's why I remain grateful for every single word you post. Intelligence. Creativity. Honesty. Sensitivity (the good kind). That's what I always know I will find when I visit your blog. And it is such a rare thing. I am so glad you continue to blog. We need more good music in the world.
Also, I agree with the wise readers in your previous post: You need to blog! You are way too isolated as it is. It would only make things worse if you suddenly stopped. Plus many people are so loyal to you: It would be like losing a dear friend if you decided to vanish without a trace, etc.
I am lucky: I live downtown. There are 1001 people right outside my front door! I only have to be alone if I choose to do so. But you are much more isolated, so I hope the kind words of your MANY faithful readers offer you some solace and comfort?
Forget about the harsh critics. You have many sincere and intelligent readers that need to know what's up with Jon and his sweet cats. And what about all those dangerous roads he must travel in order to survive? Is he still managing to navigate them safely? Did he make it back home again?
Dylan
Dylan, you and I are both know that our critics are bitter, hateful, jealous, insignificant people. They derive strength from putting others down. It's all they have.
DeleteI derive sustenance from kind, sensitive, tolerant,understanding, intelligent people such as yourself - and all those others who are courageous enough to put up with my enigmatic self. When I blog, I'm merely thinking out loud. What you read is the real me.
I really like my present solitary life, but - of course - too much isolation isn't always a good thing. We need the input of others to help sustain us.
Anyway, thank you (and the others) for being there. You have my love and appreciation...
It's like I said. When the New Year strikes and once we enter January more...there is this new quite that falls over. Even here I noticed that it has gotten very quite at night, like a dead quite. I enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteI could never picture it being completely quiet at the Casa, Maddie, but the first months of the new year are always mundane and.....well, quiet. I guess it gives us a chance to take a breather after the frenzy of the holidays.
DeleteI always enjoy the silence.
Oh, that cloud is wonderful. I like to see clouds like that as long as there aren't too many of them.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I never see as many clouds (or sunsets or sunrises) as I'd like to, due to all the trees around here. And because of the incessant rain. But I really do love the forest.
Delete:..... if I ever catch any human (or half-human) invading my property and threatening me with bodily harm, I won't hesitate to blow their sorry ass off." GOOD for you!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm not all that fond of blue, but your winter sky looks positively magnificent!
You'll probably be disappointed to know that blue is my favorite color - - but I don't see very many blue skies here due to the eternal rain, cloudy days, fog, and mists. I always grab the camera when a blue sky appears.
DeleteMy second favorite color is yellow.
And threatening trespassers will be blasted to smithereens.
I think the photos ARE spectacular!
ReplyDeleteThey're on the roof, right? Not inside the attic? Or do you have an attic space?
I wonder what they are? Raccoons? Possums? What other night critters do you have around there?
Glad it warmed up a little down there. :)
I sometimes worry that all of my forest photos are starting to look alike. But I still enjoy taking them.
DeleteI have never figured out exactly what those scurrying animals are on my roof. There are lots of 'possums around here, but I don't think they run that fast. I'm wondering if they could be squirrels (but I don't think squirrels are nocturnal). I've never seen any raccoons here, but it's a possibility...
Hi Jon. I know what you mean about scurrying. If they didn't scurry things would be better, I don't even like the word scurry. I must admit I will shoot a rat if I get the chance. Those varmints (I believe that's what they are called in the USA :) )need to be kept under control. Sleep well.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, John - they're called varmints here in Tennessee....and they scamper endlessly every night. I'm not sure if they're 'possums or perhaps little gremlins and gnomes from the forest. But they annoy the hell out of me.
DeleteI'll TRY to sleep well.
I came home from work one day and noticed things knocked off the top of my frig and a shelf. I started walking to my living room & got buzzed bombed! I thought my parrot some how got out of his cage. I looked in the living room & yelled Kiki how did you get out then I saw him safely locked in the cage. Again I got bombed. It was a big blackbird I never did figure how it got in the house. Must have been in there for quite a while cause I was cleaning up its droppings all over the house.
ReplyDeleteWow - did this happen recently? I can't imagine how a blackbird could get into your house, unless there's an opening in the roof that you don't know about. Or maybe it came from your "farmer" neighbors across the street (haha)
DeleteThat is really weird!
It was in the summer. I think it might have come through the gas heater outlet pipe that goes into the small chimney because I saw part of a birds nest coming out from under the eave next to the chimney a few weeks ago
DeleteI agree totally with your assessment of Jon blogging. The world would be a lesser place without Jon’s blog.
ReplyDeleteJon,
ReplyDeleteMore beautiful pictures of your wooded oasis. Thank goodness I don’t have critters scurrying over my roof. Used to have loads of squirrels when we lived in the middle of the Felix’s in Pennsylvania here in the flat coastal plain of southern Delaware, nada squirrels thank goodness. A nice quiet neighborhood, just the way I live it. You have many friends out here in the blogosphere Jon, keep blogging. We would miss you terribly if you stopped. Your blog is a shining light.
Ron
I'm wondering if my midnight friends could be squirrels - - but I don't think squirrels are nocturnal (or are they??). My only other guess would be 'possums.
DeleteI always appreciate your kind words, Ron. I'm not sure if my blog is a shining light - but hopefully it's at least a flickering candle.
Beautiful photos, Jon. When it comes to majestic clouds, the sky's the limit --and that's at least close to spectacular.
ReplyDeleteWell, I'll have to admit that I saw more spectacular clouds when I lived in Texas. Here in TN all the spectacular trees get in the way. I love the forest - and the positive and soothing effects of nature are always a revitalizing force.
ReplyDeleteI can relate. I often hear rumble thump thump across the roof (raccoons) when I am trying to go to sleep here in the Missouri Ozarks. And I have also done the mop head on the ceiling routine. I can relate
ReplyDeleteI used to live in the Missouri Ozarks (near Springfield) and I occasionally had animals scurrying across my roof there, too.
DeleteThanks for visiting my blog!