April Showers
We’re three weeks into April, and spring is well underway. With all the hopes the new season brings, it has not disappointed.
April has brought the challenge of running weekly half-marathons. Three down, one more to go. And with those runs has come the patient touring of local country roads, revealing the magic of the farmlands and woodlands in action.
As the morning sun lights the sky, large herds of whitetail deer bound over the growing grasses of resting fields. In the cleared fields, farmers have tilled and planted crops of tobacco, cotton, and corn. On our last run, we spotted a large wolf spider on a dirt road, carrying hundreds of babies on its back. We also marveled at two large vultures perched atop the aluminum roof of an old country home. And in an empty crop field, a wild turkey gobbled at sunrise, splaying its brilliant feathers to attract a mate.
Baseball is here, and a nearby city opened a newly built stadium, welcoming the city’s new minor league team, the Wilson Warbirds. My wife purchased season tickets, and this past weekend, we enjoyed our first two games, complete with ballpark food and cold draft beer. This, we discovered, was an excellent way to recover after a long run.
When we returned home from the stadium one evening, we saw a beautiful red fox in the front yard. It sauntered off into the treeline, stopping in the bushes, turning to watch us get out of the truck, its eyes still glowing in our headlights.
This weekend, I made it to the local reservoir, taking out my new fishing kayak. When I pushed off, the water was smooth as glass, and I spent the next four hours reeling in several catfish, both channels and blues, and a few white perch. It was a good day on the water, although the temps pushed up over 90 degrees.
Yesterday morning, the dogs found an opossum that had birthed babies underneath my writing room. The dogs injured the mother, but she made her way off, taking one live baby while leaving another behind in our yard. I waited several hours for the mother to return, but finally had to rescue the abandoned opossum, worried it would die from in chilly morning temperatures. It was only five inches long. Thank you to the folks from nearby Bailey who came to pick it up and take care of it.
Spring is also in the air. Currently, the chinaberries are in full bloom, making the entire property smell as sweet as French perfume. This, I admit, is my favorite week of the year. I just can’t get enough of that smell. It really is intoxicating.
Early spring is always exciting, and I feel lucky to live out in the wild. I hope you and yours are also experiencing a great opening to the new season. May Mother Nature continue to shower her blessings upon us all.