Time Flies, Flies Fly, Skeeters are Meat Eaters and We Don't Say the "S" Word!

(In the picture, good ol' Buster loves to enjoy a good butt scratch!!! He has no shame and I guess at 10 years old, he doesn't have to! He's quite the character!!)
Summertime in Coastal North Carolina can be an interesting experience. "Interesting" might be a nice choice of words. Even when it's hot, I can't complain. The heat hasn't been as intense as it usually is this time of year until this week. We've had some nice evening thunderstorms and that has been a good thing. BUT! All good things must come to an end. The flies are out in droves, the mosquitoes have decided to bombard us and bugs abound. You get that here. We like to say it's part of the "ambiance!" (giggle!)
I am reminded of someone who moved here from the north and (clearly) didn't check out the area very well. I'll never forget being asked, "YOU MEAN YOU HAVE MOSQUITOES HERE?????" (SHRIEK!!!) Gently I broke the news...yes. They're at least mannerly mosquitos. They will actually tap you on the shoulder and ask permission to eat your arm off. (Real estate agents may forget to tell you that part.)
Lots of our friends from the north migrate down this a'way to live near the water. And I don't blame them. The climate is mild in the winter, the landscape is gorgeous and folks are friendly. (NO! I DO NOT SELL REAL ESTATE! I AM NOT A PAID REPRESENTATIVE FOR PAMLICO COUNTY! I just happen to love where I live.)
There are a few things we do have to contend with when choosing to live in this area and NATURE is one of those things. Nature is wonderful in all her glory and in all her reality. She can be gentle or she can reign fury like you wouldn't believe. I respect and honor those characteristics.
This time of year, we don't say "THE "S" WORD...which by the way, there are several "S" words. One of them has to do with skeeters...the other...well, it has to do with lots of wind, rain, flooding...you get the picture. Oddly enough, we begin to prepare for the unknown. Wayne always says "plan for the worst, hope for the best." I tend to agree with him too.
We learn to live in our environment. I have been asked why we would choose to live in an area where bugs, storms, etc. are a fact of life. The answer is easy. I'd rather be right here more than any place else in the world. Cities? I've done that already. Too much traffic, too busy, too crazy, too big, too much of everything. That's not for me anymore. It's a big deal to go to Brantley's Village Restaurant and get all excited to see what Mrs. Sil has on the lunch buffet. It's a great thing to go into the Town and Country and see someone who says "HI ANNE!" It's a great thing to live your life according to the weather and what it may bring, how it will affect us and how nature truly dictates what goes on.
I can sit on my porch and see any number of wildlife! Heron, geese, deer, bear, even bobcats come to our pond to drink. You sure don't get that in the city.
I love VISITING cities now. I get a good dose of it and then come home.
A big Saturday morning is when my pal Frieda and I decide to hit the county seat, Bayboro, then venture toward the thrift stores, the Habitat store, lunch at Charlie's, and just a good old ramble about the county. No agenda, no plan, just being out and about.
This is my life now. I am blessed to have it. I am blessed with good friends, a gorgeous landscape that surrounds me and I am blessed to call Pamlico County home. I DO love Pamlico County and I do my very best to show it in every way possible...and MEAN it. GIVING back to a county that gives me such pleasure is a great part of my life now. I find myself looking at many possibilities of "giving" and knowing what I get in return is far greater than any dollar amount.
The land here deserves respect. Many feet have trod these grounds long before mine. Native Americans had a village along the banks of the water on my very property. I walk these hallowed grounds with respect and honor and thank God every day for the opportunity to live here.
I can live just fine with the Skeeters, the Storms, the Coyotes (well, sort of on the coyotes!) and all the other creatures I cohabitate with. I'm glad they let me share this place with them!
If you ever get a chance, visit here and you'll know exactly what I mean. Life is good on the Dumb Bell Ranch. We are enriched every single day by some new experience, sight, or person we come in contact with. There is no other place in the world I'd rather be.
And that's a big statement!
I hope that you too will find your place in the world and embrace it fully! That's the stuff "a beautiful life" is made of!

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