Boondock Babble: A Beary Exciting Visitor

Monday, April 7, 2008

A Beary Exciting Visitor

Friday, May 26, 2006

Had a heck of a time trying to get all of us calmed down enough to do school this morning. Just as I was getting ready to get started Daniel told us all to look out the window. I figured there was a cool bird, or the first deer of the season, or maybe even a cat doing something particularly entertaining. I was at least as shocked as the kids though when I looked and there was a very large, very healthy looking black bear! He was just strollling down the walkway, looking around like he was curious what was up. Once he got over the initial shock of seeing this huge beast roaming around our front yard, Nathan declared, "He's Cute!" The bear took his time, looking around, sniffing the air as he sauntered over to the woodshed. He stood up on his hind legs, getting a good look at a portion of the woodshed, then headed inside where he moved the plank of wood around, dug some slugs out from under and dined on them. He then nosed around, gobbled up the rest of the cats' food and a few more slugs. He headed over and had drink from the cats' water bowl then stopped, lifted his leg and relieved himself before slowly heading up the trail, past the pine tree and back down the walk way. He really put on a nice show for us!

Once he was gone we headed out to investigate. The cats followed us into the woodshed where they spent a lot of time sniffing at his tracks. When we left the woodshed, so did the cats. They haven't been back to their favorite hangout since. The neighbor's dog waited 'til the bear was gone before he started going nuts. That dog barked for hours! Of course he had to come over to our place so he could bark at the scent. Such a brave mutt he is!

This all happened about 10 AM and the cats are still spooked! I still can't stop looking out the window, wondering what's going to appear next. Daniel went out with the tape measure and measured where the bear was kind enough to stand up next to the woodshed. He stood right about 6 feet tall. Considering our heights and weights, and the bears appearance, we figure 350-400 lbs. as a conservative estimate.

Oh! If anyone's interested, the kids got right with the program and named the bear. His name is "Bill" :o)

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Ma's Babblin'

Like every good Boondock Ma, I cook, and on occasion, have been known to clean. I knit, crochet, and have some experience with a needle 'n thread.
We play in the garden. Pa tills it the old fashioned way, by hand, with a shovel and hoe. Come harvest time, we can and freeze the resulting bounty.
Don't use those newfangled electronic dishwashers. My dishes git done up by hand, then dry all natural like in the strainer. I make my own laundry detergent, and hang my clothes out to dry. I'll hang my head in shame and admit, I haven't gotten 'round to tryin' my hand at makin' my own bar soap. It's on the list...
We heat with wood, which comes in right handy durin' those wet, cold winter months for dryin' our clothes on the rack. We git our water from a well, although we do leave the pumpin' to an electrical gadget, simply known by most as a "well pump".
Our young-uns git their exercise the old fashioned way as well. They run 'n play outside in the fresh country air. They also pitch in and help with the wood splittin' and stackin'.
No cable tee-vee in our humble home, but lots o' readin', courtesy of the public library in town.
We're homeschoolin' folks, and have a grand time with that. Somewhere down the line we got it in our heads that learnin', like work outta be fun!
I have two young-uns at home, and two all grown up, the oldest of which is hitched and got two young-uns of her own! My second oldest is doin' a great job of forgin' ahead in the big city, and has even started her own bakin' and caterin' business. All four of my young-uns are doin' me right proud!