.... I promise to write an entry in this blog every blessed day. However, there may be some days when there is absolutely nothing to write about. (In that case, I promise not to make anything up.)
Country life. That's what we have out here on 23 acres in the Hill Country of Texas.
City wife. That's what my husband has, here on 23 acres in the Hill Country of Texas.
First thing this morning, I swept up a dead scorpion. In my dressing room, of all places. Within the last ten days, this was the sixth scorpion that found its way into the house. All six were dead, or barely moving, thanks to the bug-stuff that my husband mixes up with water and we spray all over the house, inside and outside. It kills the scorpions, but I swear it's making the wasps multiply like rabbits. I cannot even begin to count the number of wasp nests that are scattered like Christmas decorations around the outside of the house. My husband has sprayed and knocked down the nests he could reach, but there are still more (and larger) nests up near the third floor of our house. I don't even want to think about the staggering number of wasp-babies that are safely cocooned in those nests. (That old song "Fly, robin, fly...." comes to mind, with the substitution of "Wasp" for the robin.)
I just re-read that last paragraph.... you would think I'm very calm about finding and sweeping up dead scorpions. And I am, for the most part. (For the other part, no one sees me cringing anymore, and I don't scream bloody murder anymore either.) We've been here on this property for a little over four years now, and I guess I've gotten used to the scorpions. They aren't all that big, and I've never been stung by one of them, but the possibility still exists.... both for finding a scorpion on steroids and for getting stung. In case you are clueless about scorpions, they sting you with their tails..... that long tail goes up in the air and they point it in your direction and unless you can move faster than they can, you're going to get stung. Neighbors tell me it's no worse than a bee sting. Oh goodie. I can hardly wait. I am allergic to wasp stings. I have no idea if I'm allergic to bee or scorpion stings. We are twelve miles from the nearest hospital. Once again: Oh goodie.
Country life..... it's supposed to be tranquil and quiet and serene. No one mentioned scorpions and coyotes. Ditto for armadillos and snakes and bob-cats. And neighbors' cows and goats breaking down their fences and getting into your yard. We had seventeen cows in our front yard last Christmas Eve morning, one of which was standing in the flowerbed around the fountain in our courtyard. When our neighbors were told that their cows were loose, he said "But we're busy here.... it's Christmas Eve." The neighbor was told: "Well, the cows don't know it's Christmas Eve, so go down the road and round up your blasted cows, especially the little one that's eating all the yellow marigolds."
City wife..... we moved here from Clear Lake, which is halfway between Houston and Galveston. We used to drive into Houston all the time, have lunch at one of the ethnic restaurants sprinkled around the city, and then we'd spend the afternoon at one of the museums. And I would wear my 'city' clothes...... dark jeans, high heels, pretty top, cute little jacket, long necklace, good purse. (Right about here is where I let out a long and sustained sigh.) I still have those city clothes, but they haven't seen the light of day in a while. Especially the high heels. I still wear the dark jeans (but not in the summer because it's nearly always over 100 degrees out here in the hills)... and the tops and the jackets aren't so citified...... and the really good purses are in the closet. (Another sigh.)
We were in Houston this past June for a baby-welcoming party given by our friends V and S, for their first grandbaby. Big party.... at one of the big Houston hotels. I got to wear some of my city clothes: black skirt, black and white top, heels, pearls, and a good purse came out of the closet. We hadn't seen most of V's friends since we moved out here, and we all hugged hello in the lobby of the hotel. They were excited to see us.... they asked us how we were liking "country life up in the Hill Country."
I don't know why, but the question took me by surprise. My husband said my eyes puddled up and I let out one big long sigh... and then I started in about the scorpions and the coyotes and the snakes..........
No comments:
Post a Comment