Sunday, July 1, 2012

WHAT LURKS IN THE DARKNESS~

Last evening's night sky, 3:00 am to be precise...
It began as a quiet evening. I retired early to bed enjoying the sweet fragrance of line dried sheets, as a cool breeze blew through my bedroom window. I turned off the light and soon was on the edge of sweet slumber, when out of nowhere it came...a gnawing and scratching sound coming from inside my bedroom wall...I turned on the light, hopped out of bed and listened, then banged hoping to scare it off, whatever it might be...I must have offended "it" for reinforcements were called in and gnawing began in unison. I attempted to read, bang on the wall and read some more...finally all on the home front was quiet. Light is off, covers pulled up, ready for sleep. But, once again just as I am about to drift off a noise outside of my bedroom window pulled me back to consciousness...the lid to the hens feed container went banging off...I searched for a flashlight, however all I could find was my headlamp...I pointed it out into the darkness when I saw the reflection of glowing eyes... I watched it scurry up the fencing which encloses the hen's yard...I soon felt a serge of panic as I tried to recall if I or Mr. Dog Trot had closed the hens ramp ...murder in the darkness I thought...In my night gown with headlamp in place I grabbed Winslow Homer and headed out into the darkness...my brave blind dog and me...I was shaking in my Muck boots as I quickly locked the coop windows and latched the ramp...above me, sitting on a tree limb was a large possum watching my every move...I ran to the house, locked the door and gave Winslow Homer a well earned treat...Finally, around dawn I drifted off to sleep...Later that morning when I finally made my way downstairs, Mr. Dog Trot was cooking breakfast..."good morning honey" was his cheery greeting," boy did I sleep well last night...how about you"? Life is good!

22 comments:

Farm Girl said...

I am glad you are so brave. After the last run in with the skunk, I will not go outside. When you shine the light and it reflects that gold or green light back, I just can't stand it.
Every night there are eyes around my coop. Nothing can get in but there are lots of eyes.
I think I would have screamed if I saw a possum. I just don't like them either.
That is why I still have my chicks in the garage bathroom at night. I am afraid of varmints.
I hope you got to take a long nice nap today,

Holly Hills Primitives said...

Oh my gosh, sounds like our house! Last night my husband though someone was breaking in. He turned on the lights and opened the curtain and found a baby raccoon between the screen and the glass on the doorwall! Those pesky animals can sure cause alarm. Hope you get a good night's sleep tonight, Dawn

Pondside said...

Oh Julie - this made me laugh out loud. I've made the same middle-of-the-night trip out to the hen house in nightgown with a miner's lamp on my head. What a sight you must have been - but what a good Hen-Mother!

Anonymous said...

Life at Dog Trot Farm is so interesting! I wonder if tasha T. had events like that happen to her?

Anonymous said...

Life at Dog Trot Farm is so interesting! I wonder if tasha T. had events like that happen to her?

Primitive Stars said...

Morning Julie, wow, that was some night, sure sounded great at first when you were nicely tucked in. Well, at least Mr. Dogtrot made breakie, tee hee. Hope your day goes well, and tonight is better for you, love the picture though,Happy July 4th, Blessings Francine.

Kerri Arthur said...

OOOHHHH

What a great story! So sorry about the loss of sleep tho.

I have had nights like that.

have a better day and hopefully, get in a nap!

Hugs!
Kerri

Marguerite (Tina) Smith Hart said...

Haha isn't that just like a man....they sleep like a log while we women folk are alert to every little sound! Brave sweet Winslow, what a trooper!
I hope you day is quieter and Possum free!
Tina xo

Mugwump Woolies said...

My but you're brave!
Have a great week,
Robyn

Janice said...

Pesky 'possums!

Pix said...

Julie I am left without words for this post. I am smiling though. Amused. I have a very vivid vision of you in your Muck's with your headlamp and Winslow. We have been dealing with critters all summer and HEAT and DROUGHT. And a big gray boy cat that was injured that belongs to our neighbors and they don't give a rip about him. I need FALL! Glad you got to the Girl's house and got them secured.

Janet-Olde Crow Primitives said...

Sounds like you had night like mine was last night. Full moon, cats fighting, raccoons fighting, dogs barking, frogs croaking and the list goes on.
Julie take a look at my last post, I may have a couple of roosters in my supposed 24 hens :)
They were sexed, but someone wasn't doing their job.
Janet

Kim said...

Lol. I seem to be the only person in my house who hears night noises too. Glad Winslow Homer was around to protect you

annie said...

Men!
Critters!
Faithful companions!
Joyful home life!

Ginny said...

Oh no, did you ever figure out what was in the wall? Husbands, can't live with them, can't live without them, lol.

acorn hollow said...

Lord I hate that when you are just trying to sleep. It sounds like it has to be something 20 lbs in the walls but when you get it in a trap it is this tiny little mouse.
glad your hens are doing well.
I have been getting caught up on your tasha tudor posts. lucky you that you got to go.
It sounds just wonderful.
I hope tonight is a better nights sleep.
Cathy

Julia said...

Oh Julie, you are a brave girl to go investigate strange noises. Brave Winslow Homer too.

I wonder if you have chipmunks in between your walls.

Sorry about your lost of sleep. How is it that men can sleep through thunder storms even? For women, I think it's the mother instinct.

Happy 4th of July.

Hugs, JB

Ocean Breezes and Country Sneezes said...

OMG, it's a good thing your hubby was cooking breakfast when you got up! Like Julia said, how is it that men can sleep through all that?

We had a situation in our old home in the city once, we were in bed, and I could hear footsteps in the yard! Woke up the hubby, he couldn't hear anything and promptly went back to sleep . . . I kept hearing them - finally he heard them! We peeked out the windows through the darkness ~ there were about 20 kids ages 12-16 in our yard ~ it was after midnight! We were newly married, didn't have any kids (still don't - only 4 legged)! Where were their parents? Needless to say, we phoned the cops!!!

Like you, it took FOREVER to get back to sleep! Thankfully little WH was by your side! Good ole buddy he is!!!

Happy 4th of July!

trump said...

Happy July 4 folks. Richard from the Amish settlement of Lebanon,Pa

Terry and Linda said...

Boy, have I ever done that! I get to thinking I heard something in the hen house and out I go....dogs in tow, usually nothing, but it makes for a better nights sleep if I can check on the girls.


Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com

From Beyond My Kitchen Window said...

I heard things in the wall in our bedroom once and it turned out to be a colony of bees. Better than bats I guess but still disturbing. Good old Winslow Homer, a true protector. Sleep deprivation is terrible. You almost feel like crying the whole day, at least I do when I'm exhausted.

Larkrise garden girl said...

Winslow Homer is so brave! Maulie was growling at the closet like I have never heard her growl. I checked it out and there was a dark green knitted scarf and it had fallen halfway down to the floor. I guess to Maulie it looked like a snake. Lol Cheri