"We need the tonic of wilderness; to wade in the marshes where the bittern and the meadow-hen lurk, and hear the booming of the snipe."
Henry David Thoreau
This is a quote that is on my Susan Branch calendar for the month of April, and for me it is so true. Raised in the country, I miss it terribly sometime.
This morning I was treated to a rare sight.
Mele began barking and ignored me when I tried to stop her. That is usually a warning that there is something important going on and I'm to come and see...
I have her trained, and usually just a "shhhhh!" from me does the trick. Not this time! She glanced back at me but turned and continued to bark. I called but she didn't respond. Unusual....so I walked out to see what was causing all the alarm..and there on the wall under our old Cyprus tree was this little Possum.
I sent Mele to the house and started back to take a closer look and remembered my camera and rushed back inside to get it.
Surprisingly she had not moved. I kept edging closer and spoke very softly to her..then I realized she was NOT alone!
She stayed watching me while I snapped pictures and after a few minutes..she sounded a low clicking and I stopped taking pictures and backed away..
I was reminded that I really was not all that far from the wilderness..even though I am in the city. Her nest is just behind the tree. At least I think it's hers. I see that it has been improved. It was a tunnel good sized tunnel of twigs that lately has been filled in. Now it appears cave like.
She turned and headed that way. I counted at least six, perhaps seven. As she left I whispered " I know just how you feel. I've been there!"
What a really wonderful treat it was! I needed that. I really did! :) Have a wonderful Sunday.
Love,
Mona
P.S. I'm so sorry I haven't been posting. I've been ill, tummy flu and then on top of that an infection on my face..a bad one! Two different antibiotics have made me feel terrible much of the time. It's nearly gone now and I am grateful. The whole side of my face has been swollen... poor, poor, pitiful me! :):) Beginning to look human again. 
sorry to hear you have been sick. hope you are better today. this post made me laugh, because this morning at 4 am, bob took the dogs out in the yard and Jake went tothe far corner and would not come back, he was shaking the fence and growling. we had the same thing you do on the other side of our fence. mom and babies. i did not take photos, it was dark and we had to drag our obedient dog in the house. he refused to leave the fence. made me smile when i saw this post.
ReplyDeleteHi Mona, I love nature so much. That was a lovely little scene to see so close to your home. As long as they stay outside. We often get them making nests in our ceilings. It hasn't happened to me, but it does to many people, then in the night it sounds like a heard of elephants going across the ceiling.
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely day.
Hugs Kay
What a nice treat to have photos of a pack of possums close up. I have never seen one in real life in someone's yard, so this is a real treat. Hope you are feeling better since our phone chat - it sounds like you are on the mend dear Mona.
ReplyDeleteYou are going to laugh when I tell you I was shoveling snowbanks in my shorts and tank top yesterday. Yes, spring n summer came overnight. The temp soared up to 72 today and the sun beat down on the snow and ice banks. I decided to break that up a bit so I can open the gate to the back yard and prepare to get my motorbike ready for its first run. I am happy now to be able to walk on sidewalks as the tremendous rainstorm this past week took care of that. We are supposed to have another mess of rain some time today and the sun was brilliant red, reflecting on the sky this morning, so that tells me something is coming and it'll be rain. Tell Buddy PH thanks for shining that mirror's reflection way up here, cause it put quite a dent in the snowbank in the back yard. I am most grateful for any help :) Have a wonderful day.
p.s. Jack would have never stopped barking, had it been him in Mele's place.
I'm glad that You're better now and hope this last of it will go away quickly!
ReplyDeleteHow cute they are :-) I've never seen a possum and these photos are delightful!
Have a great day!
Christer.
teddy would have torn the tree down as well as the fence to get to those possums! i am so sorry to hear you were not feeling well. how did you get a face infection? hope you are better soon!
ReplyDeleteSomething going on in your corner of the world
ReplyDeleteALL THE TIME, isn't there . . .
Possums in your back yard you say!
Mele is going to be ON ALERT from now on . . .
Love the Quote . . .
Happy your infection is better my sweet friend!
That is one critter that is a little scary to me! Sorry you haven't been feeling good:( Hope you'll be all better really soon! Sending hugs and prayers your way!
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear that you have been ill. Prayers that you will be completely well soon. You got some great pictures of the possum family. Have a blessed day. Madeline
ReplyDeleteHow amazing is this Mona! Even though you have been feeling bad, you always seem to keep your sense of humor and lovlieness!
ReplyDeleteHi Mona....Hope you are feeling better.
ReplyDeleteI had a possum that came and sat on my window bird feeder for a few weeks. I loved watching him. Mele knows when something exciting is going on in your yard...
I hope you're all better from both ailments QUICK!
ReplyDeleteI love the country feel of our neighborhood, though we're "in the city" as far as location. We back up to a state park, and twice we've had deer trot past the back door, and our yard is entirely fenced save for the driveway.
We also have two cats which have lived about five years out in the potting shed---they're either hes or shes, for we've never seen a sign of babies, and in addition to a whole procession of raccoons Chris has trapped with peanut butter and shuttled back over to the park, there's a resident possum who lives out there somewhere, for he's seen waddling about the yard on occasion.
Fuzzypup, who would DEVOUR each and both of those cats if he could get out the door, just turns a sleepy eye when Mr. P comes up the walk from the garden.
Oh, the little creatures and their doings---I'm such a confirmed country girl that they all even have names.
Feel better and better, sweet friend,
rachel
What a precious surprise... I'm so happy that you were alerted, to her and her brood.
ReplyDeleteSo sweet of her to allow your picture taking. And how sweet of you, to understand her clicks of "that's enough," and back away.
Hope this fun, helped you with your health issues. It must have been a wonderful experience, seeing the Mama and babies. And being happy, must help our immune system! It must! :-))))
Gentle hugs,
Tessa~
I am so happy that you are feeling better Mona! I love nature too...all the birds and 'critters". We don't have possums around here, we have prairie dogs and squirrels.
ReplyDeleteWe spent Saturday at a good ole fashioned Country auction...a nearby community of a few hundred held a auction in one of their barns...so much fun! I found my grand daughter a piano and myself a few goodies! Have a wonderful Sunday...hugs, Penny
Glad you are feeling better.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful opportunity!
Sometimes what we need just shows up doesn't it?
So sorry you have been sick. Hope you are completely well soon. That possum sighting is amazing. Not so sure I would like to be around them.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry that you have been ill and had an infection in your face-Yowwww!
ReplyDeleteYou are right - we are right at the edge of the city and see bits and pieces of wildlife all around us. xo Diana
We also have possums as they come from the park.
ReplyDeleteI do hope you are feeling better Mona. Please take care of your self, sorry I haven't answered your email - been busy Spring Cleaning.
xxoo
Mary
I enjoyed your possum pics so much! Am happy that you felt well enough to go out to see what Mele was telling you about. She knew you would want to see the possum family.
ReplyDeleteHi Mona, been so long.. Hope you get well soon .. Love reading your blog. Hope you still remember the gal from china then migrated here in canada with the whole family.. Miss ya!
ReplyDeleteHi Mona, been so long.. Hope you get well soon .. Love reading your blog. Hope you still remember the gal from china then migrated here in canada with the whole family.. Miss ya!
ReplyDeleteHi Mona! What an amazing gift you were given....seeing the adorable mama and baby possums! And getting pictures, too! I've never seen that before! I'm sorry you've been under the weather, and especially with more than one issue. Big hugs to you!!
ReplyDeleteAhh there you are! Wondered where you had been. Sorry you were under the weather but on the mend now! I live in a small town and sometimes I say it's like living in Wild Kingdom.We once had a deer run thru the front doors at a local grocery store. Doors 0 deer 1. There are deer who walk thru my yard in the early morning hours. Sometimes you can catch a glimpse but it's not easy as they are so quiet. Squirrels, possums,raccoons,skunks...we have em! Would you care for any of these for your backyard garden? I will call FEDEX.
ReplyDeleteDear Mona - I'm so sorry you haven't been well. How wonderful, though, that you were treated to a rare glimpse of mother nature's handiwork! Hugs- Rhonda
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful pictures of the little family. Glad you and Mele stayed back those possums can get nasty sometimes. Childhood memories I guess. LOL! Glad you are feeling better. Have a lovely week and Easter.
ReplyDeleteGee I hope you are feeling better - you know that seems to be going around. Can't stand the stomach flu/
ReplyDeleteAnd you sure did get a possum - how did you get that photo!?
Yuck, that sickness sound awful. Hope you are feeling a lot better! I remember the possums when i lived in Riverside. We always had them in our back yard. We lived close to the Santa Ana River, downtown by Fairmount Park.
ReplyDeleteMona, a little late in catching up on blog reading and sorry to read that you have been feeling bad and fighting an infection. Hope you are doing better and better each day, dear friend. Bet that possum was as surprised as you were to see each other and hope the family survives.
ReplyDelete