 |
| Newsletter Page 1 of 2 March 2007 |
|
Hey Folks! It's Spring This year spring arrived of February 23. There was quite a bit of snow on the ground and a very cute chipmunk sitting on the back stoop waiting for a handout. (Some things never change).
Newbie was born last spring and it was so good to see my little buddy. What surprised me the most was that after stashing away several mouthfuls of seeds he scooted across the freshly shoveled path to the shed and climbed up the old rusty pole in the back to survey his domain. He stayed out until the last snowstorm and has been snuggled in his den ever since. I'm sure he was looking for the girls, but they haven't come out of their chippy holes yet, except for Babyface, that is. She came out for a couple of days looking for food and then retreated to her den. She was born last fall and not ready for this mating season. Too bad Newbie! I don't think Ears or Sweetie Pie are in any hurry to come out. They're both well stocked with seeds and nuts and all the good stuff chipmunks like to eat. I suspect I won't see either of them until the very end of March or the beginning of April. That doesn't mean they won't be out to meet the boys if the mood strikes them, but that could be for no more than a few minutes considering the snow cover, and then they'll be back in their holes waiting for the spring thaw.
Sugar Plum is completely snowed in. Babyface dug a tunnel right through the snow, but Sugar Plum has made no attempt to come out. She was also a fall of '07 baby, but she was still out at the end of December stashing away sunflower seeds. I think she's got enough for the next two years or more.
Right now, the yard is not the most pleasant place to be. The whole yard is covered in a foot of snow and in some places, where the snow drifted, it's about two feet deep. Around the driveway and the shoveled walkways, the snow is melting and trying to find solid ground to walk on is a bit of problem. I have visions of being sucked down in the muck, never to be seen again. ~~ Sure Signs of Spring The robins returned on March 3rd, and I saw my first Canada goose down by the lake last week. Just before this last snowfall, I caught a glimpse of the jonquils and crocus pushing their little heads out of the earth. I can't wait to see them again. And, just this morning I noticed leaves beginning to bud on the lilac tree out back. I can almost smell the sweet aroma of its flowers wafting through the air. I anticipate every moment of this wonderful season and savor the joys that never seem to last long enough. Surely one day I will wake up to an unbearable heat wave and all these glorious events will have vanished like a dream. ~~ Something New Being a nature freak is one of the many joys I relish in this life. I enjoy all animals except perhaps those that slither. I find beauty in such things as butterfly wings, a spider's web, the vibrant colors of dragonflies, the chirping of crickets and tree frogs, the delightful medley of a mockingbird, the sweet symphony of song birds that awaken me each morning, the colors and smells in my garden, the colors in a rainbow, the sound of waves breaking on a rocky shore, the smell of pine trees, and a vibrant sunset that highlights mountain crests to name but a few. What makes these things so interesting to me is the diversity of all the plants, animals, and materials that are combined to make Mother Nature's crazy living quilt. People, of course, are another factor that makes up this wonderful quilt, and I am especially envious of those who come in contact with nature on a daily basis. People who live off the land. They are a colorful group of individuals with so many stories to tell about their way of life that is so different from what most of us "townies" and "city dwellers" are accustomed to. Recently, we had the good fortune to receive some books about the people of Appalachia. Their stories were documented and recorded by a group of high school students from Georgia as part of their class requirements. The students then transcribed their information into articles for the "Foxfire" quarterly magazine. A compilation of these articles was then published in the "Foxfire" books. What a great opportunity for these teenagers, and what a find for us. The articles cover all aspects of mountain life from recipes and quilting to coon hunting and ghost story telling, and they are all written in the vernacular. As I read these stories I can actually hear their words spoken in a dialect reminiscent of their Scottish-Irish heritage. Many words remind me of those used by my grandmother. who came from the lowlands of Scotland, while others remind me of those used by my Aunt May, who came from the Scottish highlands almost 40 years ago. Neither ever lost their brogue. I am including a short ghost story in this issue from one of the books, along with a true ghost story of my own. I thought they might be fun to share around a campfire - for those of you who enjoy camping - or as a means to entertain the older kids on a night when the lights go out. Future issues of the newsletter will contain a story or two, depending on the size, or perhaps some real country recipe. All the stories will be written exactly as they are recorded in the Foxfire books with credits noted. Please let me know if you enjoy them. A link to the stories can be found at the bottom of this page. ~~ The Chippy Store is under renovation but is still open. I have changed the design for "Who's Got a Problem" and added a few new items so if you have the time stop by and browse. ~~ I have also added an archive for all past issues of our newsletter. To open the archive click on the following link. All the issues will be listed by date with a brief description of the content. Please feel free to read or re-read any of the issues and pass them on to anyone you feel might find them enjoyable. Happy reading! www.chipmunk-pictures.com/archives.htm
Click here to go to page 2 - Ghost Stories Hope you've enjoyed your visit and from all of us at Chippy Tails have a "wonderful" day! |
|
Chippy Tails - The Scoop from the Stoop© 2006 - All rights reserved. This website, it's pictures and content may not be copied or used in any form . www.chipmunk-pictures.com |
