Thursday, August 16, 2018

Around the 'Hood






Lindsay Wilhite pointed to an area just down Center Valley Road where she was standing with her family. 

"Dragonflies," she said, "go to this spot and you'll probably see hundreds of them." 

That was after I had told the family about the two sets of fawns I had seen earlier in the day, across the road from each other at the corner where South Center Valley intersects with Center Valley Road. 

That was also after Todd Russell had told me about seeing a few bucks, some does and fawns all together in the open field across from the Russell home on Center Valley.

I told Lindsay that it's a rare trip when I don't see something of natural interest on the route from my home to my sisters or on the way back. 

Heck, sometimes I even see my son out jogging with the grandpups! 

Last night, while the Wilhite's were out enjoying family time on an evening walk, the Russells were keeping their eyes open for coyotes while dropping some hay in the field for their cows.

Seems they've lost a calf to a coyote and had another mauled. 

It's just nature at work (predators and their prey), Todd said.  Still, these cattle owners want to prevent losing any more calves. 

Life can be a bit on the wild and gruesome side out in this area, and that's part of the price paid for sharing space with all the critters. 

Then, there ARE the rewards which far outnumber the harsh reality of nature's ways.  That's why pretty much everyone out here is GLAD TO BE HERE.  

It's a simple and beautiful life like no other, and we don't take that for granted, 'cept maybe a few times in the winter. 

Granted, it's ugly out there on these hot August days with the bad air, but we know that, eventually, the haze will fade away and we'll be back to fully enjoying our daily crystal clear sights of awesome rural beauty.

In the meantime, there is still beauty to be found amidst the smoky air.  We just have to search a little harder to experience it. 

Searching for and capturing beauty is definitely a nice and fulfilling pastime. 

I enjoyed an ample supply in my wanderings around the 'hood yesterday afternoon and this morning. 

Life is good.  Happy Thursday.   























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