It's That Time of Year Again

Several times a year we must allow nature to take its course.
Living in the country has a few drawbacks but on the whole, I love it and would hate to live in a city with all the hustle bustle.

This morning I had to make a quick run to the post office to mail a package of books and CD's to a friend who is unable to be out of bed due to an injury. I felt happy and light hearted as I headed out and saw all the daffodils in full bloom. I also noticed all my longed for tulips which had been making great headway were no longer visible. On second glance I saw that they had been eaten to the very bottom by our friends, the deer. Beautiful animals but deadly to plant life.

Anyway, as I was about to say, we have a large farm between our house and the road to the post office. Unfortunately the nice farmer had been spreading his fields which encompasses both sides of the country road. Trying to dodge around all the droppings and tracks full of good old cow manure, I managed to get it under the car and some flew onto the sides. I tried to remember to get out of the car very carefully when I arrived at my destination. Alas, for the senior mind.

I hopped out of the car (when I say hopped, you can envision an elderly grey headed lady trying to manipulate her way out of a small car without too much embarrassment because of the knees and girth). When standing, I reached over the driver's seat to grab hold of the package and completely forgot about the farmer's gift along the side of the car. Natch it got on my jeans. If I was capable of putting smell0vision in this diatribe, believe me I would so you could share that glorious scent of what makes the crops grow. Thank goodness I had no other errands to make and could make a speedy getaway home.

The gal in the post office asked me if I lived on a farm. I just looked at her straight in the eye and asked in return, "Why, do I look as if I just got off the honey wagon? Or was it my new perfume perhaps?" I had none on. I admitted it was just pure manure on my pants leg. We both burst out laughing and I paid for the postage and left. Then I remembered the bank and quickly drove into the ATM drive through. Man those things really are a blessing aren't they?

Now here I am at home, safe and sound. Before I can relax though, I have a little chore to do. Hose off the car as best I can so that we don't carry that little gift anywhere else. I mean, when you get out of that car, the smell really hits you right between the eyes. You can only hold your breath for so long. Believe me, I've tried and failed. Oh, to have bigger lungs!

As for our little deer critters, I have found a site that gives me fourteen pages of plants, trees and shrubs that the deer rarely touch. Notice it says RARELY. If they are eating my pine trees I think anything is fair game for them. I'll let you know after I go shopping for these special deer resistant flowers. So far I do know they don't like daffodils because mine haven't been touched. Now I call that a blessing!

The Visitor

Tonight as my hubby was going out the back door to the garage, I noticed he opened the sliding glass door a bit and then quickly closed it as quietly as possible. I looked at him inquiringly and he pointed his finger at something just below where he had been standing. Of course I got up from the computer to see what he was in a dither about. There he was, in all his black and white glory, gustily eating out of the feral cat's dish.

Just last night I had told my hubby not to put any more food out at night or we would attract unwanted visitors. Now we have had problems before and it almost always involved hubby. He would look very carefully before opening the patio door,and would shine his huge flashlight all over the back yard before venturing out. However, over the long snowy winter, he seemed to have forgotten his little pal Phewy, or as he calls him, The Phantom. Phewy always shows up and seems to be heading in the same direction as hubby or so it appears. I have never run into him but then, I'm not afraid of skunks and they must know it.

Our cat on the other hand, has lost a few battles in her zeal to show off her territorial rights to her property. On three occasions I had the pleasure of standing out in the dark in my shorties while struggling to hold Sweet Miss in a five gallon bucket filled with water, peroxide, Dawn Dish Detergent and baking soda while washing her with a small towel or two to remove the stench. With her eyes streaming and my nose running and eyes afire, I did the best I could seeing as how I was nearly blinded by the strong odor and fighting to hold onto a squirming cat. Although I have to admit, she was pretty cooperative for a cat in water. After double dipping, it seemed to be enough for the both of us! I brought her in the house and we both jumped in the shower together. She had no choice, I wasn't about to let her go nor she of me.

Hubby was a big help through all of this. He adjusted the shower so I wouldn't scald us and he was big enough to bring a large towel to gather the wet and dripping cat when we were finished, while I was on my own. After she proved to be our sweet little angel again, she was granted a seat beside Dad on the recliner. Me, I was chopped liver as far as she was concerned. She didn't want any part of me. She left me to clean up my scratches by myself!

This tale hasn't ended yet. We still have the summer to get through and Phewy has a mate. Much bigger and bolder I will say for the record. I smirk now but how quickly that smirk can be erased if Sweetums gets touchy about territorial rights again.

Have a great day.