’Til Next Time = Spring brings out critters

— As I watch the sports highlights, I see fantastic plays, one after another. I think to myself these guys had to stand out there and stay alert a long time before that base hit happened. Same with football, those guys take a lot of hits before that play was made, that was on sports highlights. Of all the sports, softball will always be my favorite.

We’ve all been outside a lot more this week and I’ve had two nature hits.

One was a foot-long snake sliding along side the foundation. I couldn’t really see his color because of leaves, I knew that if I stomped on his head to stop him, the rest of his body would flip up and curl around my ankle.

Didn’t matter what colorhe was, he never should have come down that close to the house. A broken handled shovel had been used last snow storm and still leaned up against the house. He’s history!

There are two big copperheads up in the pasture.

They both got away from my husband and survived. I doubt that they died of old age yet!

The other incident left me thrilled to the bone.

After the school bus left one morning, I stepped over to refill my coffee cup. I saw nine deer comeup out of Sugar Creek and join the others that were grazing. Something about one group caught my attention. The movements were unusual and I had never seen them move like that. I stepped out on the porch to the swing and watched some more. About eight of them would do a follow-theleader in a circle, then all jump and run a short distance, come back and jump to one side and run again. Was this some kind of mating ritual or had they eaten fermented fruit? Then the realization came to me that they were playing! I had been given the chance to see Mother Nature at play! It was an honor and privilege. Then our dogs let out a “woof” and 20 or 25 deer raced offdown the valley toward the Brightwater Church.

They will probably jump the fence at the low-water bridge and head back to the Military Park. I suppose that kind of thing happens often, but who has the time to watch for it? I lucked out on that one!

Charlotte Jones goes back for three more weeks of treatments. Also, keep Alan Latourette on your prayer list.

The Sugar Creek valley was fortunate to hear bout 40 little voices at the Easter egg hunt. They hope to make this an annual event.

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Edith Lammey has been a resident of the area for nearly 40 years. She can be contacted through The TIMES at 451-1196 or by e-mail at [email protected].

Opinion, Pages 4 on 04/07/2010