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My first overnight in our new house in the country was quite disturbing. Being a city dweller most of my life did not prepare me for the solitude and deafening quiet that country life brings. Where I was used to hearing the background rumble, beeps, honks and shouts, there is nothing and crickets. That night I got no sleep at all.
There was also darkness. Deep black darkness you can never get outside in the city. It was a new moon and overcast that night. The sky at night was black and featureless. The trees felt imposing if I could see them at all. It could only have been creepier if there was an illuminated fog. Thank God for small favors.
I stepped outside my door on the second morning and walked straight into a spiderweb. I truly came unglued. Flailing my arms every which way, I tried to get the sticky funky feeling off of my face. In the middle of my epileptic fit, I realized that the spider could still be there, ready to bite. It wasn't.
Pill bugs are everywhere. They are what we used to call "rolly-pollys."
I am not quite sure what to do about them, but my front porch has one avery other foot or so.
One thing I have not seen is roaches. I used to have a problem with them in my apartment.
I just got a visit from our nearest neighbor.
It seems they had not been informed that the house was sold. They were concerned abou this new person in a car that was not designed for dirt roads. It seems that neighbors in the country really do watch out for each other. I couldn't tell you the first name of the guy in the next apartment in the city. My neighbor here is Valerie. Her husband is Matthew and he works at the water supply company from whom I get my tap water.
I think they just wanted to make sure I wasn't setting up a meth lab or something.
I have started a garden. I am not sure if I am doing it right or even planting in the right season, but here it goes. I hope to grow some nice veggies for the table.
Another neighbor's cows got loose. These stupid things don't work. It turns out that this happens relatively often. I was making coffee when I looked out the kitchen window and this wet goopy nose was looking in. I dropped my cup. There is nothing more startling than looking into a pair of eyes that you didn't expect to see.
It was only about an hour before I had a knock at the door and apologies about the cows. I told him, Jacob from across the road, that it was okay. It wasn't. Not only did they scare me, but they ate and trampled my garden. Oh well. I will try again.
