Mother Nature: Giver and Taker!

The sweat dripped down my face. I had to take a break. I had been working in the yard, first helping my wife pull weeds and then pruning our bushes and had moved onto mowing and the work was kicking my butt.

I bent over to take a quick break and cursed my youngest son for not mowing the yard before he left for college. Oh, yes, he was right, the grass wasn’t all that long when he was still at home, but it was long now. How dare him decide to go to college five hours away from our home! 

I was still cursing when I looked up and into the forest. Our yard sits at the bottom of a small hill, if I look east, I look up at the house, if I look west, I see a small woods. The trees give it a shaded, cozy feeling. If you didn’t know any better, you would think that you’re in the deep woods.

I studied the woods to see if I could see anything. I was hoping to see two small fawns, who have visited a few times lately, but they’re getting bigger, and I suspect their momma and them have moved onto better grazing areas. The woods is small and there’s a larger state forest nearby that I’m sure poses better feeding areas. 

Despite that, I still looked, hoping for a visit. My anger at my situation soon disappeared. Oh, two days later, I’m still recovering. My back cries out every time I try to stand up too quickly. My ankles itch from where I cut down a small tree and must have come into contact with poison ivy or poison sumac. Yes, the yard beat me up pretty good.

The fall and the end of mowing can’t come soon enough for my tastes, but it was nice to spend a little time outside and take everything in. Yes, Mother Nature kicked my butt, but she also gives too.

She reminded me of the beauty of getting outside and taking in all that she has to offer.

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