The best time I ever had with my kids was when we went to live in a house that we were going to remodel while living in it. It was 7 miles out of the little town. We had 40 acres to play on. There was a road between 2 ridges. From the road we would drive down to the house. Behind the house was a creek then a gradual climb to the top of a ridge. On the other side of the road it just started climbing, gradually, but without any valley. Only on dry days could we drive down the driveway. Most of the time we had to leave the car in the little lot across the road. If it was dark, it was really really dark! You couldnt see one step in front of you.unless the moon was out enough to help. I remember on night, having gone to the grocery store, and coming home after dark. It was wet on top of being dark. I slipped and hit the ground hard but didnt break the eggs. We learned our limits quickly. Its okay to read about Daniel Boone, but another to walk in his steps. Its easier to wrap a rope around the locust tree and pull it down with a Chevy Bronco than to whack it down with an axe. Then some guys had mercy on us and gave us a chain saw that I would pour oil on as my husband sawed. Either way, that wood had to get to the house. There was a kitchen wood stove. It looked like an old timey gas stove with a warming oven. Put wood in the side compartment and heat up the top as well as the oven. It took an hour to make a box cake. It tasted so much better coming from that oven than any cake I ever had. I certainly had a lot of 1st time encounters. The black snake that invited itself inside. Shouldnt have done that to greenhorns. Just shouldnt have done it. The chipmunk that also invited itself inside. It challenged the cat. It ran circles all around me! Then it landed spread-eagle on the fireplace screen, till it realized that was a mistake and found its way outside. They are so cute. There was the flying gray squirrel that came inside. I really didnt like that too much. One of those dreadful yet cant stop watching in fascintaion ordeals. Again, with the cat chasing it. Remember, we were going to remodel, so the walls had been gutted out and insulation was ready to be put in. There was the mouse that seemed to make nightly visits after 11pm. One night I watched it come down the wood in the corner, across the sink and down to the floor. Then, it went over to the table (metal), climbed it, stole a homemade noodle, and departed in the same manner. When we wanted to go mountain trekking we only had to go up the ridge behind the house and head west. None of us ever got tired of that hike. Sometimes I wonder how many dangers the Lord protected us from. We certainly werent prepared for anything. My 2 favorite things were playing keep away from my toddler, with the dog during the day. And, watching my little boy trek up the driveway everyday, with dog and cat following him, to get the mail directly from the mailman. The mailman would have a little chat with him and wave at me. I dont know who enjoyed that event the most. Think it was a toss up. To get the best out of our errands we went to town to do the laundry. But, we went along the Blue Ridge Parkway to a different town to go to the store. The little savings paid for the gas and an outing. Each time we would leave the parkway and see where the country roads went. One time it was an event to be held up by a herd of cattle meandering down the road towards us without any sign of a man. There was the day I was doing dishes and looking out the kitchen window at the trees. Whats that? I picked up the binoculars to be sure, and Yes, it really is a FLOWER? on a TREE? So I went outside to make sure. My first time seeing a TULIP flower on a Tulip tree. Before we were educated in the ways of the wild, we decided we wanted to see Caudill Cabin up close. To do that we would have to descend the mountain. Well, we were used to our ridge. We went down only so far one Sunday, but went back the next Sunday with Canteens and sandwiches and a rope. Not a sturdy rope but we could keep track of the kids. We made it all the way down to the cabin. We explored the cabin and cooled off by the creek. It was about 7pm when we made it back up the mountain to the Park Trail. JUBILANT! Glad we didnt see any bears that were probably coming out of hibernation, or rattle snakes, (yes, rattle snakes!), and heaven knows what other inhabitants of the forest we could have ran into. We topped it all off with regular trips to the river and enjoying canoe rides. Playing in the water. Riding out the shoals. I may not live there now, but I think there is nothing that is more peaceful to me than coming home after work, rolling down the car windows, putting the seat back, turning off the engine, and just listening to the sounds around me. Ive seen a few critters doing this. Im older now, it doesnt take much. But I sure do miss the Blue Ridge Parkway!
Posted on: Thu, 12 Jun 2014 00:14:19 +0000
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