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

We were looking for alligators.  And red-cockaded woodpeckers who are on the endangered list.  They were in a certain tract of land and we had no luck spotting any.  We went on several paths that also went through marsh but had no luck in spotting any alligators.  It was just too cold.  We did spot quite a few large turtles in the water but that is all.  And one snake.

Tags: Big Branch National Wildlife Preserve, birds, endangered list, marsh, red-cockaded woodpeckers, snake, spotted quite a few large turtles in the marsh, the search for alligators, turtles
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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
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It was the first time I have ever seen two turtles at one time in this area.  They were separated by almost a foot and both were in a straight line facing the road diagonally.  I saw them from my car and both were a foot or two from the curb.  They were about five inches long and almost the same size.  I never know exactly what I will see the at the edge of country.

Tags: edge of country, small turtles, turtles, two turtles
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Every time I glance out my kitchen window onto the backyard and woods I am awed.  There is mystery there. Toads, turtles and cottontails live back there.  And I do not know what else.

Today everything is white and there is calm.  The snow is falling.  If I look carefully, I often see birds alight on some of the bushes.  It is wild back there.

Two summers ago I discovered a large raspberry patch in the corner of my property.  My wife made at least two pies from the berries I picked that year.

I love looking at the symmetry of the trees, how they placed themselves.  I know there is a higher power.  And every time I look at (???) that window I am assured of that fact.

There is a tiny creek back there which sometimes goes dry but the gully it created is at least six inches tall so it has been there for awhile.

Every once in a while I tramp around never certain what I will find.  I love surprises although they generally occur when I am not looking for them.  It is a piece of our property I love. I never know exactly what I will find.

It is wild and I want to keep it that way.  I hate manicured lawns.  I do not know why people are so proud of them.  And work so hard to keep them that way.  To me, it is an exercise in futility. I certainly don’t envy their neat lawns. I just love looking out my window.

Tags: awe, bird-watching, birds, cottontails, creek, exercise in futility, God, higher power, manicured lawns, my back yard, my wife, mystery, raspberry patch, raspberry pie, snow is falling, toads, trees, turtles, wildlife, woods
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