Decorating for Christmas

Is it important to decorate outside for Christmas out in the boonies? Very few people will see it. The mail carrier, our neighbors next door, and maybe a visitor or two. But, then again, we like the colored lights, the lights in the windows, the wreath on the door. And that is more important. It makes the house warmer and more welcoming when we come home from work. And, it helps to get us in the Christmas spirit.

At Halloween we had no trick-or-treaters. But I was prepared, just in case. I think the kids in the area go into town to do their trick-or-treating. But we got the pumpkins and put up the scarecrow and hung the Indian corn on the door.

I will continue to decorate outside. Even if it is only for me.

Fall Colors

While our house was being built, I came out to the site and the fall colors were perfect! The sun was filtering through the leaves and the beauty was breath-taking. Last year we were in a drought and the colors weren't nearly as good.

This week the colors are again perfect and I went out and took pictures. A deer eating grass on the side of our driveway seemed to be oblivious of me as I snapped picture after picture. I wish I could capture the beauty in photographs of what I can see with my eyes. But, these will have to do.

Ice Cream

Having lived in a city, I am used to being able to go out and getting whatever I might want...like ice cream. My husband came home from work and said "I have a surprise for you." And, we got in the car and drove into town. He was so excited until we pulled into the driveway of the Ice Cream shop and it was closed. It was only 6pm. How can it be closed? We drove all around town and it was like the sidewalks had rolled up and nothing was open. (Heavy sigh) Here it was June, day light saving time, school is out. How can nothing be open? So we went home.

Good news though..A new bar opened up in town. Not an ice cream shop, but it serves food and beer later than 6. The owners are really nice and the atmosphere is comfortable. I think it will become our new favorite place!

Hogs at the Dump

Not too long ago, I was at the local garbage collection center. As we drove up a woman was luring 2 gigantic hogs with lettuce scraps. They looked rakish in their bandanas. Obviously, they are pets. As they made their way slowly down the road, the collection center attendant was shaking his head as he told us about the time the "girls" visited and the woman wanted him to tell them that he liked them.

About that time an old beat up truck drove up and an older fellow yelled out that it must be livestock day at the dump. He was a character. He had a chaw of tobacco and was lamenting that his wife gave him an ultimatum...he had to get that trash out of the back yard because she almost stepped on a snake. She said it was a copperhead, but then all snakes seem to be copperheads! So, he was unloading old beat-up lawn furniture, old broken boards, wire, and other trash into one of the open bins. I would have told him to get that stuff out of the yard or else too!

We take our trash up once a week. I have not run into any more livestock up there, but you never know!

In the beginning.....

Having always been a city gal, I never knew what it would be like living in the country. I moved into my new home right before Christmas and I am learning my way around my new home territory and meeting some interesting folks. I live about 8 miles from the nearest town so you just can't just run up to the store to grab something, you have to make sure that you know what you need before you jump into the car to "go to town." And, it seems that everything closes up and the sidewalks roll up around 9pm. So, you just have to make a plan. It takes some adjustment.

I love the stillness out here. When it rains, it even sounds different than it does in the suburbs. I am amazed at how many more stars are visible away from all the lights. Very beautiful! In the winter, I can look out the window from my bed and see them. It is May now and with all the leaves on the trees I don't see them as well.

From time to time, I will be writing about my new experiences. Most folks probably wouldn't see anything special in this, but it is all new to me.