Siggy's Blurbs: Siggy's Edge of Country …

I had several encounters with creatures near my house. First I ran over a box turtle not hitting it in the road and then stopped and checked on it. Someone must have hit it not too long ago. It was dead. The red blood was still fresh under it. I did not want any car hitting it again so I kicked it to the side of the road. It was about five inches long and must have seen a few years.

Last week I walked into my den and to my surprise there was a bird flying around it frantically trying to get out. That was a mystery to me how it flew by us without us first seeing it (through the open garage door). First I gave up the idea of trapping it. Finally I opened one window and released the screen window and it flew out. I think it was a house wren.

Today’s encounter was in my car. A wild turkey hit the front of my car and made it across the road wings flapping wildly. I passed that spot several minutes later and it was gone. I must have stunned it. It was no longer in that spot.

You never know what creature you will see next. I live on the edge of country.

Tags: box turtle, house wren in the house, wild turkey
Posted in animals, beauty, nature | No Comments »

I made sure the turtle made it to the other side.  I almost ran over it.  It was on the right side of the road.  I decided to turn around after driving an hundred feet.  It had walked a little further towards the center of the road.  It was about a five inch long box turtle.  I grabbed it and carried it safely to the other side of the road.  It stood motionless for about sixty seconds, decided it was safe and disappeared into the undergrowth.

Tags: box turtle, I made sure no one ran the box turtle, turtle, turtle on the road
Posted in animals, local, nature | No Comments »

I spotted the box turtle crossing our road. I had not seen one near our house in several years. I shouted out to my “other” so she could run out and see the six inch turtle. Occasionally in the past another turtle would show up at our doorsteps but this one was a little smaller. When the turtle saw us, it scurried across the road and hid behind our garbage cans. We briefly saw it between two cans. We left it alone and it vanished. I always wonder how old it might have been. My guess it was at least twenty years old. We don’t see them too often in front of our house. There is a small creek in back. It came from our neighbor’s yard. You never know when you will see them. They are reclusive: they usually run away from you. I just make sure when I see one in the road, they make it safely to the other side. It is amazing how quickly they can run once they catch sight of you.

Tags: box turtle, small creek, turtles
Posted in animals, local, nature, time | No Comments »

Twice I drove into town to put gas into my cars.  On both of those trips I spotted several rabbits and one baby one just on the edge of the meadow.  It immediately disappeared into the undergrowth.  I just got a glimpse of it.  It was tiny–only a few inches wide.  Then on my way home from church I took the back road and I passed a turtle and then I stopped to go back to make sure he will safely make it to the other side of the road.  When it saw me it scurried quickly to the other side of the road.  The box turtle measured approximately six inches from the tip of its nose to the end of its tail.

Tags: baby rabbit, box turtle, creatures, edge of the meadow, rabbits, this morning, turtle, wildlife
Posted in animals, beauty, local, nature, time | No Comments »

I wanted the turtle to be safe.  On my way home, I drove over a turtle that was near the middle of the road.  I was concerned about it.  I didn’t want anyone to run it over, so I pulled over and went back.  It was a five inch long box turtle–fairly big as far as box turtles are.  It was about 2/3 of the way across, and when it saw me it scooted the rest of the way across, heading toward a brook.  When I approached it again it just withdrew into its shell.  I was glad it was safely across the road.  Then I drove home.

Tags: box turtle, brook, safely across the road, turtle, turtle in its shell, turtle in the road, wildlife
Posted in animals, local, nature, relationships, time | No Comments »

Every time I glance out the front window I await the entrance of the first hummingbird.  I just put out nectar the other day for it.  In the past, the first one of the season came by the end of April so I know it could come any day now.

Yesterday (or the day before) I saw three cottontails munching on the grass viewed from the back window.  I never saw three at one time so I was thrilled.  Now every time I look out into the backyard I am looking for those three bunnies.

Nature has a way of surprising you:  when you least expect it, there it is another surprise.  It may be a northern mockingbird (you have never seen before in the yard) or some totally other different sight like the large orange salamander that we spotted twice.  Somewhere in back near the creek lives a large box turtle.  You never know and all you can do is live and view life with an expectant attitude.

Tags: April, bird feeding, bird-watching, birds, box turtle, bunnies, cottontails, creek, expectant attitude, front window, grass, hummingbird, life, nature, nectar, northern mockingbird, orange salamander, rabbits, seasons, spring, surprise
Posted in animals, beauty, birds, knowledge&learning, life, local, nature, seasons, time, wisdom | No Comments »

I wonder who will show up at my doorsteps.  Each year toads, of all sizes, from tiny to humongous, show up attracted by the insects the porch light collects.  Every year or two a large box turtle comes from the tiny creek in back of our house.

Sometimes it can be found sunning himself on the slab of concrete in back.  I never (???) exactly what creature will make an entrance.  Twice we saw large orange salamanders in the yard.

We usually uncover them accidentally:  they like moist environments.  I had no idea of their exact identity.

Once my wife saw a wild turkey in the front yard.  They are in the area but I never saw one being in the yard before.  A few weeks ago a possum was discovered by the dogs.

I shooed then away.  I thought it might be dead and was relieved when it was gone the next day.  I never know exactly what will appear in the yard.  I just enjoy and welcome the next creature who comes to our doorsteps.

Tags: animals, box turtle, creek, dogs, doorsteps, my wife, orange salamander, pets, porch light, possum, toads, wild turkey, wildlife, yard
Posted in animals, beauty, birds, God, knowledge&learning, local, nature, time | No Comments »

Somewhere in the backyard buried in the woods is at least one large box turtle.  Every year he visits us.  Last year I saw him sunning himself on the concrete one hot simmer (summer???) day.  He must be at least eight inches long.

He must have seen quite a few winters.  When I think of box turtles I usually think of small ones.  I did not know they grew so big.  I am waiting to see if he will appear again.

It is just another mystery like those toads who also appears at our doorsteps all sizes from tiny to humongous and everything in between.  They like to feed on the insects the porch light attracts.

I wonder whether they hibernate in the cold weather?  I don’t know.  And how old do they get?  They appear when I least expect them to and I make sure none of the dogs harass them.  I want them to come back.  As well as the turtles.

Tags: backyard, box turtle, dogs, insects, pets, toads, wildlife
Posted in animals, knowledge&learning, local, nature, time | No Comments »

I made several discoveries the last two weeks.  I accidentally discovered a large patch of wild raspberries on a large tract of land adjacent to our property.  My dog was sniffing around and I turned my head and there it was in plain view from the road.

I was not the only person picking berries there but I did not feel too guilty picking raspberries there.  It was not on my land but the neighbor opposite the patch did not own the land.  There was evidence there was someone else picking berries.  There were plenty to go around.

The patch was less than an hundred yards away.  I never noticed it before.  Last year I came across a large patch of raspberries on my property.  I had lived there for four years and did not notice or know it was there:  it was in the far right corner of my property–an area I usually do not frequent.

My wife had made already two raspberry pies.  I was taking them for granted.  If she makes another this time we will freeze it so we can eat it long after the raspberry season is over and maybe appreciate it more.

Today I spotted a large five inch box turtle sunning himself on the concrete in back of our house.  I left it alone.  I usually see one or two a year.  I wondered how old this turtle was.  I had no idea but I imagine it saw a few summers:  it was at least five inches long.

The discovery of the turtle made my day.  I kept checking on it and was hoping I could show it to my wife when she got up.  It was just another discovery that made life interesting.

Tags: box turtle, discovery, dog, God, my wife, pets, picking berries, raspberries, raspberry pie, turtle sunning himself, wild raspberries
Posted in animals, beauty, God, knowledge&learning, local, marriage, nature, pets, seasons, time | No Comments »

Familiarity breeds discontent.  Sometimes paradise is in your own backyard.  For example I had no idea a large patch of raspberries lay in the furthermost right corner of my yard.  I discovered that accidentally when a surveyor came in because we had to know the exact boundary of our property.

I considered driving twenty minutes to go to a state park to go fishing.  I looked around and realized I only had to drive a few minutes to be at the shore of the River, which usually was deserted.  Paradise is always somewhere else.

I decided to stay put.  I plan on watching the sun go down on the mountains of the nearby Susquehanna River.  I simply will bring my Coleman lantern for light.  I may even build a fire to enjoy the darkness which will descend on the River.

I also considered camping there.  There is even a closer area for me to camp only mere minutes from me–Lake Heron.  Sometimes you have to take a closer look at your surroundings to determine you do not have to go far to find paradise.

Toads of all sizes keep appearing in front of our garage attracted by the night light.  You never know when a box turtle will turn up at our footsteps.  We discovered that another bird built a nest only steps away from our door.  Today I saw a bird alight on it but was not able to identify it for it flew away too quickly.

There is so much beauty in our own backyard.  I simply have to open my eyes to see what is actually in front of me.  I really do not have to go far to land in paradise.  It is here.  Right in front of me all along.  I just have to pay attention.

Tags: backyard, beauty, bird nest, bird-watching, birds, box turtle, camping, Coleman lantern, familiarity breeds discontent, fishing, God, Lake Heron, open my eyes, paradise is in your own backyard, pay attention, raspberries, see what is in front of me, state park, surveyor, Susquehanna River, toads
Posted in animals, beauty, birds, God, knowledge&learning, life, local, nature, time, wisdom | No Comments »

I was looking out my back door window and just thinking.  A large section of our front yard no longer has grass and for a short time my wife was considering laying down sod.  I really do not care.  I always felt American’s obsession with having a large neatly manicured lawn was and is an exercise in futility.  I want a garden not a lawn.  In fact, a landscaper is going to help us with developing that.

The back yard is another story:  most of it is wild.  Toads appear at our doorstep every year–all sizes from tiny to humongous.  They are attracted to the bugs that come to the porch light.

There is a small creek in the back–most of the time just a trickle. You never know when a box turtle will appear.  We also saw wonderfully orange colored salamanders at least twice.  Rabbits play in the undergrowth.

I do not want to cultivate this area.  I love not knowing what I will see next, what unusual bird or whatever comes my way.

I love the wild.  It gives me a sense of the mysterious, the unknown, a feeling I love.  That is why I won’t cultivate the back of our property.

Last year after living here for over four years, to my delight and amazement I discovered a large patch of wild raspberries on the far corner of my property.  And I love raspberries.  I even picked enough berries for two pies.

I do not know exactly what lives there but I am always expectant when I peer out my kitchen window wondering what will come along next.  It is out of my control.  That is the way I want it.  This is one plot of land that will grow wild.  I rejoice in it.

Tags: bird-watching, birds, box turtle, bugs, creek, exercise in futility, garden, God, grass, landscape, lawn, manicured lawn, my wife, nature, rabbit, raspberries, raspberry pie, salamander, the unknown, toads, wild, wild land, wildlife
Posted in animals, balance, beauty, birds, God, knowledge&learning, local, love, nature, relationships, seasons, time | 2 Comments »