Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Little Joys

Living in a county where this is a headline in our weekly paper . . .
Living on a road where I can stop the car slap in the middle to take a picture . . .
Meeting a stray vole on the pathway to our porch . . .
and seeing the flames of volunteer Burning Bushes springing up in unexpected places . . .
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31 comments:

Marilyn & Jeff said...

Each of these may be small joys but they add up to something so huge - they have huge value. Wonderful photos as always.

Michele said...

Ahh, yes, sweet, but maybe the vole, not so much. Think of all the people stuck in rush-hour traffic while you are enjoying the good life - they probably don't even know what they are missing.

Victoria said...

Beautiful photos, and what a cute little vole. I hope he made it back to his home safely!

It's similar here, although I would risk certain death if I stopped on Hwy. 18 or 173. But on most of the other roads, it's no problem...unless it's a holiday weekend! I suspect, though, that the worse aspects of civilization are encroaching much faster here than where you live.

Unknown said...

The vole looks cute. I must google about voles. Those Burning bushes are amazing.. I've spotted them on three different blogs. Laughed at the 'bought'egg. I remember my boys looking at supermarket eggs on their plates once when our hens were off the lay..asked "are these plastic eggs Mum?". Your country life in the mountains looks wonderful.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Michele : voles and other beasties like that are not my cup of tea.
We, people living in the countryside or in a green area, are lucky and must take the best of it. That is what you are doing :o)

Martin said...

Lovely post, Vicki. Perhaps we country-dwellers have a little more time to notice the things that make life interesting and complete. We have a free village newsletter, once a month. Just a few pages, but a window on what's happening locally.

Alan Burnett said...

Yes, I think I would take joy in these as well. Thanks for reminding us that joy can be found in the simplest of things.

Callie Brady said...

I love the country and living in a small town. And I think having a cow supply me with milk and butter would be even better. We are having to buy eggs too and even though they are organic they are still pale like the one you show. I hope our hens start laying again soon, but they are three years old and may take a long break?

Pat in east TN said...

Even with your pictures and description, there is still something indescribable about country living.

Brian Miller said...

awww...but the vole is cute...yeah those are nice...smiles...

KarenB said...

A secret to a happy life is to find joy in small things wherever you are. There are certain small pleasures and treasures almost anywhere, the trick is to stop to appreciate them. You have certainly managed that!

BB said...

And to think when I was a young girl I dreamed of living in NYC in a penthouse. No way!!!!! You can't beat the country. I'm minutes away from the craziness of Myrtle Beach for we are in the country.

June said...

I so agree.
It's these small joys that fill in the chinks of a day and round it out to A Good Day.

Kath said...

The oblivious vole may be my favorite. Thank you for the little joys.

Jill said...

Voles...cute and furry, but hard on the potato crop.

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

We area able to do the same - stop and take a picture in the middle of the road. In the mountains, life is good.

Florida on the other hand....we would get run over before we could focus the camera.
Sam

P.S. This is a true mountain story. We live in a small mountain town with two traffic lights on the four lane. One year on Christmas Eve the UPS man, a local boy, came to our house late in the day with a delivery. We ask him, "How's it going?" He replied, "It's brutal out there," with an emphasis on brutal. We've always wondered if he knew what brutal was.

Tammy said...

Wouldn't trade the country life for anything. I always feel a bit shell shocked when I get home from the big city. So much to take for granted! However--tell me more about the Terrier trapped in the cave!
Tammy

Suz said...

I liked the photo of the vole
sure he can wreck a garden
but I think we are the interlopers
so Im glad you stopped and honored him with a photo on your blog
he's just a part of your wondeful life
there is room for all..right?

Unknown said...

I always read the News-Record Sentinel online - I loved the story about the terrier trapped in the cave - they used the jaws of life to try to get him out!! Thanks for the reminder about the little joys - that's what gets us through the long cold winter ahead.

Vicki Lane said...

About the vole -- I thought at first he was dead -- the cats often display their kills on the walk for our viewing pleasure. But he seemed undamaged and I took a picture of him before administering a gentle nudge. Upon which he trundled off into the mulch beneath an azalea.

Voles did leave toothmarks on some our potatoes but not many. I suspect, however, that they are the reason my English peas rarely sprout.

Burning bush is Euonymus alata -- I think it's native to America but maybe just very naturalized.

About the dog in the cave -- he was rescued unharmed when they found a back entrance. Hurrah!

In terms of finding things to enjoy, I am definitely a cheap date.

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

I love the simple life too, but sometimes the wildlife encroaches a wee bit too much! (Skunks, armadillos) The Burning bush is gorgeous

Stella Jones said...

Yes you certainly are lucky where you live. I have a picture in my mind of the road to your farm as being very steep indeed. Am I right?
I love voles, such sweet little furry creatures.
Blessings, Star

NCmountainwoman said...

And here I thought all those people stopping in the middle of the road to take pictures were tourists!

Tess Kincaid said...

I had to giggle at your headline! But who wouldn't want to live in a place where that was the most pending story?

jennyfreckles said...

Love that headline! A paper with good news on the cover is worth a read I'd say. I'm glad you stop to notice the small things. Much of the joy of blogging, for me, is enjoying the small details that other people share.

Vicki Lane said...

Oh, we have skunks aplenty -- no armadillos though.

Yes,Star, most of our farm is quite steep -- good for pasture and not much else.

Them's bloggers stopped in the middle of the road, takin' pictures, NCmountainwoman!

I too delight in learning the little things about other people's
lives, jennyfreckles -- most useful for a novelist.

Merisi said...

You are a cheap date, now that made me laugh out loud, too funny! Never would have thought of putting it that way, but you are right, of course. *giggles*

Friko said...

Wonderful. Who needs drama of earth shattering proportions when the pooch is safe.

Even less goes on round here, and that's how we like it.

Darla said...

Perfect photo essay of simplicity... reminds me of a song by Anne Murray called "Little Good News"...

Ruthie Redden said...

Isn't it so very precious to live in a place where time is slow enought to take the opportunity to enjoy the small things that really matter. Never a day goes by when i dont thank the lucky stars for the place i live and those special moments too. Beautiful images. thank you so for dropping by my blog. x ruthie

Tipper said...

It really is the little things that make life a joy. It's just sometimes the big things get in our line of vision.