Today, as I was driving to work, it struck me that I live in the country.

Now, I know that many of you really live in the country, whereas I live in merely the gentlemens’ country – I can still run to the store if I need supplies – but I do live a country lifestyle that I didn’t even know existed previously.

I had to learn about Auntie Country Living (Sister of Mother Nature) as an adult…

For example, when I first moved to the country, I put the wire on the wrong side of the fence – so the animals could just kick it out…  Once, I drove my city car into the field to bring supplies to where I was working – and it got stuck.  I’ve tried to mow wet grass, I’ve run my well dry and I’ve planted in the wrong season…

You know what I mean.

If in those early days I hadn’t been flanked by two ‘good ol’ boy’ neighbors who felt sorry for me, I’d probably still be a city slicker stuck in my inappropriate car in a muddy field somewhere in Oregon.

TODAY

What put a smile on my face this morning was nothing special.

It was all of it~

My routine is to wake up, pull on some ‘barn wear’ and go feed the herd.  Blindly I stumble outside and automatically count the adopted feral barn cats who fall in line behind me.  One, Two, Three, Four, Five and Six.  Phew.  They are all here.

I do this without even thinking.

Today I saw a peahen and said to myself, “Ahhh, it must be Spring!”  She was working her way through the tall grass and I noted that I needed to wait a week longer this year before calling in the weed whacker guy (the idea is to whack the grass just as it has decided to not grow a centimeter taller but before there is any fire hazard – a real challenge).

On my walk to the barn, I noted which fruit trees had buds already.

I also heard the distinct buzz of a bee.

Hmmmmm.  Early.

A few hawks circled above and I wondered the fate of some woodland creature.

THE RADIO SHOW

But what drove the “I live in the country” point home more than tall grass, wild fowl and a herd of hungry horses was the radio program playing on my curvy, countryroad drive to work.

It was a fishing show.

Every Saturday, I listen to a fishing program on the radio.

Not for the content… for the entertainment.

The host of this fishing show (I’ve never caught the name of the show nor it’s host) with his distinct California drawl, waxes on about every fishing hole, every kind of pole, bait, tie, boat, lure, resort, stream, mud puddle and lake all around these parts.  He tells you what bait to use, what time to go there, who you’ll see, where to get the best locker, which fishin’ motel is running the best deal, what gates closed early, which streams are running good and what to wear when you get there…

My favorite part is when he breaks away to talk about the special sandwiches available in the tiny shop next to the canoe rental place – or some other little nugget of fishing lore that makes me snigger or suck my coffee through my nose.

I swear… I listen because I cannot help smiling.  I just love to hear this guy get so enthused about all things related to the world on golden pond.

Even more, I love his guests…

He’ll bring on local park rangers or fishing hotel managers or the guy who caught the largest whatever somewhere.

This week, he had a guy from the Parks Dept who knew of this very special place where the fish were biting unusually early in the season and blah blah blah but the best part was when the guest suggested that everyone go over to ‘Mary’s for her special coffee cake’ before getting in the water.

If I didn’t know I lived in the country, that right there brought me back… such a smile, such a smile.

A SUNDAY VIDEO… ‘WHAT IF ANIMALS ATE FAST FOOD’

Some fun for your Sunday!!

What if Wild Animals Ate Fast Food?  click here

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