Hidden Life in a Country Place

I looked.  And then I looked again.  Is there some kind of building in there?  Why haven’t I seen it before?

It seems to be a small shed.  Yes!  Within steps of my home is a hidden shed that lights up my imagination.

MOM’S HAPPY POTTING SHED

A Story of Life in a Country Place

It was built at the same time the owners designed and constructed their new home in the country.  The kids took lessons and loved horseback riding.  Dad was a teacher at one of the local colleges.  Mom learned to can things and make blackberry pie with the fruit freshly picked from that clump of wild berries down the lane.  And of course there was a garden.

There was a potting shed too – a place to store all the tools – the hoes and shovels and pruning shears.  Dad built it with his own two hands and the family called it Mom’s Potting Shed.

Mom loved the shed and the garden and all the land around the new house.  She planted roses and dahlias and even an herb garden.  She joined the Master Gardeners, and for many years Mom’s Potting Shed was a bustling happy place indeed.

The kids grew up and moved away to nurture families of their own and the little shed stood idle, and Mom and Dad finally left their Virginia home for parts unknown. 

Even so, Mom’s Potting Shed stayed happy for the longest while, but eventually stopped waiting for the family to return.   Time and weather did their work and the little shed slowly declined. Rotting boards collapsed and the door broke off from repeated storms.   The floor sank to the earth and blowing leaves composted to soft places on the ground.  Wild vines crept along the inside walls to join invasive shrubs and sapling trees.  

And now the little shed is a hidden place I found – a secret sanctuary buried in the brambles. Has it discovered new purpose?  I wonder. 

Do the birds seek shelter there from brutal winter storms?   Is other wildlife welcomed inside for protection from the cold or blazing sun?

 I like to think Mom’s Potting Shed is happy once again, hiding life in a country place. 

 

LOOK CLOSELY.

CAN YOU SEE MOM’S POTTING SHED?  

 

Advertisement

Read Full Post »

Tale of Terror in a Horse Pasture

It was reported that a naked woman, bleeding from the shoulders, was seen running in terror through my neighbor’s pasture – a horror story for sure.  The report was called in to our local sheriff and I don’t know what action was taken, but rumor has it the real story was somewhat different.

As you may have noticed, part of the fun of living in the country is in observing people with idiosyncrasies?  You have to be slightly strange to live in our neighborhood and of course my husband and I are the only normal persons residing here.

One of our very sweet neighbors has a crow’s nest (different from crow’s feet), which is a viewing area at the top of her house that allows her to see far off into distant horse pastures.  Things from a distance look closer than they are.  Isn’t that the message on the rear view mirrors of your car?  Well, Louise (name changed to protect the innocent) saw what she saw.  And what she saw was a terrified naked woman bleeding from the shoulders and running for her life.  And that is what she reported to the sheriff.

Later it was learned that a horsewoman named Jan (name also changed), clad in tan riding breeches and a tan blouse with red designs on the shoulders, had lost her horse.  She dismounted for some reason and the horse got “spooked” and took off.  Jan ran after him to keep sight of his approximate direction. She knew when he calmed down, he would respond to her whistle.

So, picture this:  a naked woman (actually clad in tan riding clothes), running for her life (really running across the pasture after her horse), bleeding from her shoulders (actually red designs on the shoulders of her blouse).  Add imagination and the distance to a crow’s nest and you have “Terror in a Horse Pasture,” an apt name for a prize winning, fictional thriller.

And later, “All was well,” said Jan with a grin, “I got my horse back in good time. And I suppose from a distance, you might think I was bleeding and maybe naked too.”

Well, it makes for fine dinner conversation among us normal folks in the country.

Country Tip for City Dudes:

Things are never what they seem.

Read Full Post »