Country Life

Life  In The Country

If one has never lived in the country, never walked through a meadow, through a forest, or listened to all the animals, then one has never experienced the thrill of nature. The cheery songs of the birds singing while dawn is breaking, watched with wonder as the forest creatures scurry about looking for food, keeping track of their little ones, and the way the leaves of the trees dance in the breeze.

Listen, no road sounds to distract one's most precious thoughts, just imagine how peaceful it is. Our forefathers knew all about nature, how it would affect them on a daily basis. They watched the animals for signs of a change in the weather, the seasons. Listen, do you hear it? Can you hear the grass growing? Can you hear the new leaves erupting from the buds? Be careful, or you will miss the blossoms unfurling as they break free of their buds. Listen, watch, or you might miss it.

As with every thing, nature also has a dark side.....one must be vigilant about their surroundings. There are things living in nature that should be avoided or treated with a great deal of respect.  As long as one considers the importance of respecting nature they should be safe.  Be aware of the animals who reside in nature such as snakes, insects, spiders, lizards, bees, both honey bees and bumble bees which gather Nectar from the flowering plants to take to their hives. Then those with a sensitivity to poisonous plants will need to watch out for poison ivy, oak, and some certain other plants. Some varieties of Sumac can be poisonous. Then, there are the skunks who really dislike having their space invaded. You also might encounter Coyotes, Bobcats, depending on your location you might see Cougars, Bears, and other spirits of the forest.  So enjoy yourself but remain alert so you can take in all the sights and sounds only found in nature.

Being born and living most of my life in the country, I am country through and through. Country life, however, isn't for everyone. The dirt roads are terrible during wet weather, so dusty in dry weather, impassible after a heavy snow storm. 

The stench of organic fertilizer, cattle feed lots, hog lots, chicken and turkey houses can make one not want to venture outdoors. But the rewards far out weigh the negative. Looking out and seeing the new calves, and foals by their mother's side, nudging them to nurse. Many see this as they travel the highways on their journey across the nation but it is not like being there watching them frolicking in the pasture playing tag. In many ways they resemble children at play. 

Tilling the fields for new crops, the gardens for this seasons fresh fruits and vegetables. I love the fragrance of fresh mowed clover hay, honeysuckle on the vine, all the flowers as they burst into bloom, so many sweet fragrances tickle the senses.

One has to experience it to understand the love one has for country life. 
Hopefully many will be able to get a taste of this life during their lifetime, even for a short time.

As you encounter the countryside driving to your destination, take a look at the houses and barns that are decaying and crumbling down.  Some of them are still relatively new but they lost the love that made them a home when they were vacated by the family that had lived there.

You see, a house is just another building until it is filled with love, then it becomes a home.


Bless This House 

Bless this house, o Lord, we pray.
Make it safe by night and day.
Bless these walls so firm and stout,
Keeping want and trouble out.
Bless the roof and chimney tall,
Let thy peace lie over all.
Bless the doors that they may prove
Ever open to joy and love.
Bless the windows shining bright,
Letting in God's heavenly light.
Bless the hearth a-blazing there,
With smoke ascending like a prayer.
Bless the people here within...
Keep them pure and free from sin.
Bless us all, that one day, we

May be fit, O lord, to dwell with Thee.