Life in Rural America

[Lynne]

I thought it would be fun to share about my life in rural America.

For five years, my family and I have lived in upstate New York. We live in a dairy-farming community nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains The "hollers" and dells are calendar perfect with small white Greek Revival churces, 200 year-old farmhouses, red barns and blue silos dotting the landscape. In fall, the hills are on fire with the brilliant ruby leaves of sugar maples. Woodsmoke is in the air, promising farm day events, hayrides, Civil War reenactments, and pumpkin festivals. By mid-October, we've already had our first hard frost and it isn't unusual to go trick-or-treating in a few inches of snow. In December, our spruce trees are laden with snow, the sky is a clear Kashmir blue, and scarlet cardinals flock to their feeders for homemade suet. Come January, the ground is frozen solid down to 42" or so. The creek behind my house is reflecting the sun like so many diamonds on its frozen surface. Beautiful indigos and deep purples form the shadows on the surface of the ice, occasionally bouncing back warm orange light. It is now February and I wonder why I haven't seen many deer lately. I'm used to seeing deer everyday here. I see their tracks in the snow by the creek and follow them. Ahhh - they have been crossing the creek to reach the field on the other side, Mr. Haney's farmland. There's lots of vegetation under the 24" of snow and plenty of choice ground for huddling and hiding. Those rats with antlers better be on guard though. Last night, coyotes came to visit us for awhile. One mournful howl pierced the quiet at 11:00 pm, quickly joined by at least four or five more voices, until the whole pack were yipping and whooping in a frenzy. The tricksters' song climaxed in unison soon enough as it always does. I always wonder if they are fighting over a kill or whether it's sibling rivalry? Anyone know coyote-speak? Perhaps the coyote's song is what woke the squirrels above my bedroom ceiling, for as soon as the coyotes were quiet, the racing began. Squirrels were skittering back and forth, playing with hickory nuts. Bounce, bounce, bounce across the rafters. Pop, pop, plunk down the walls. Skitter, skitter, zoom, zoom, pop, pop, pop for an hour! Finally, I'm dozing off. Oh no! Clump! Clump! BOOM! There's someone walking on the porch. "Wayne! Wayne! Wake up!" I hurriedly whispher to my husband. It's a skunk making all that noise? He must be a big fella! PU! Now I get it. He and the groundhog family regularly fight over the porch and the territory underneath. More boom and flumping sounds....."Reeeeooow!" Now, the neighbor's tomcat wants to play with the skunk. They go running off into a field. It's 3:00 am, time for some sleep. But not for the Great Horned Owl. There's a hoo-hoo-hoo-hoot here and hoo-hoo-hoo-hoot there. I wish his hooting were more predictable, have a rhythm or something. Doggone it! I wish he would fly into the field and cart off the neighbor's cat and that skunk. Skunk is the favorite delicacy of the Great Horned Owl. Why can't he get this one? My eye are burning from the fumes. Asleep again at 4:00 am. You know what happens next, don't you? Wrong! You were going to say roosters would wake me! Not. The dairy trucks wake me with their diesel engines (blodda, blodda, blrrrr), downshifting and braking around the hairpin curve 1/8 of a mile from my house. My husband and I sleep right through the roosters' crowing every morning, except July and August when we sleep with our windows up. In summer, we hear dozens of crows cawing, come sunrise. Surely, it is a contest to see who can be the loudest and the most obnoxious, akin to a burping contest amongst teenage girls! Crows do make the most interesting calls though. Very occasionally, they make an unusual garbling sound that sounds like a complaint, an oath muttered under the breath....

Surely, you didn't think it was quiet in the country?

Hope you enjoyed this silly snippet from my life. I just dashed this out...no iterations, no great writing (writing WAS my forte).

Lynne

[Dorian]

I miss home!!!

[Lynne]

Originally posted by Dorian
I miss home!!!

Coyotes in B? Why not? The skunks and deer are everywhere. Did this really remind you of the area? I would think you'd have the same scenic beauty where you live - unless you live in "the city." Yuck.

Lynne

[Dorian]

I would go to the foothills near Ross park and there were plenty of howls.
I would go to the dam and spend the nite and you could hear them running right by the tent.. ( whitney point)
No coyotes here. Just deer and all. No rolling hills , no milk trucks. Thats why I am looking for more land to be secluded within.That way I can be able to look outside and see serenity and peace. and No Neighbors!

[Dorian]

my gandads homestead was on star route in appalachian. He had land as far as the eye could see. I remember the rolling hills and all. The cows out in the meadows and the corn growinfg in the distance. I would walk up in the evening to the clearing near the corn feild and sit there waiting for deer and all. It was sso nice. My gandad died when I was 4. My gandma owned it forever and then my uncles took it over. When my gandad died he gave many acres to me but my dad had to keep it until I was 21. Which meant paying taxes on it. But after the years went by the amount of taxes was too much. He finally gave it to the state. He gave my land away, if not I would be living close to you right now. I think it was like 150 acres or so.

damn it all!!!!

(thats where my uncle andy who recently died lived)

[bruno]

i want to go to some rural area sometime. i have never been out of the city. i have only been oiut of the state once to go to another city. never been in a rural area ever. wonder what it is like

[AceCoomBooM]

that was very nice lynne ...dont think it WAS your forte @ all ..seems like it STILL is to me...
ps. im in the adirondacks

[Lynne]

Originally posted by bruno
i want to go to some rural area sometime. i have never been out of the city. i have only been oiut of the state once to go to another city. never been in a rural area ever. wonder what it is like

Bruno,

Never been out of the city? You are missing so much. Alas, you're only 17, so you have plenty of time. One thing that would really surprise you - how the air smells! I can't describe what it does to your senses to smell country air. I think it alters your consciousness or something. I grew up in a rural area and later lived in the Seattle area for 7 years with the noise, light pollution, and heavy traffic. Upon returning to the country, it was like coming home for the first time. For me, it is a spiritual experience.

One day you should take a weekend and visit a rural area. It would be a shame to go through life without experiencing such.
Having said that, a lot of people take it for granted. They don't see what I see and they aren't at all impressed by creation. I'm an impressionist and record what I see in paint. You wouldn't believe the purples and reds I see in the hills in winter!

L

[Lynne]

Originally posted by Dorian
my gandads homestead was on star route in appalachian. He had land as far as the eye could see. I remember the rolling hills and all. The cows out in the meadows and the corn growinfg in the distance. I would walk up in the evening to the clearing near the corn feild and sit there waiting for deer and all. It was sso nice. My gandad died when I was 4. My gandma owned it forever and then my uncles took it over. When my gandad died he gave many acres to me but my dad had to keep it until I was 21. Which meant paying taxes on it. But after the years went by the amount of taxes was too much. He finally gave it to the state. He gave my land away, if not I would be living close to you right now. I think it was like 150 acres or so.

damn it all!!!!

(thats where my uncle andy who recently died lived)

Hi Dorian,

Did you know that a coyote family cross the Susquehannah every evening to Hiawatha Island? Evidently, they've been doing that for years. Must be good eatin' on the island. Was Waterman Conservation Center (Hilton Road in Apalachin) here when you were around? They manage Hiawatha. Also Brick Pond which is in Owego (near those train tracks you were speaking about-the little girls) falls under their care. The first summer we were up here, my daughter and I were coming home about 10:00 pm and saw a coyote go into our garden. He was probably after the cantaloupes as they have a sweet tooth. He was a gold scraggly guy, about 35 pounds I guess. My neighbor is in his seventies and has never seen a coyote, so I feel fortunate. They were howling last night about 12:30 until the showmobilers ran them off. A Johnson City police officer recently killed a coyote that was "lurking" in a JC cemetery. I guess his mate is at large. The Press and Dumb Bulletin is making too much out of it I think. People are starting to panic.

That is sad about your family losing their acreage. 150 acres! OMG, I would die for that. We have neighbors on either side and it really isn't quiet. That would be my honest complaint - too noisy, plus one neighbor has a yard full of cars, trailers, bulldozers, and junk. People use WC Road as a back road for Maine and Berkshire and it is very noisy, especially in summer when you're trying to sleep. I'm not sure how much longer we can afford to live here due to the taxes. More and more people are having to leave the area. The Press publishes the names of all who are delinquent on their taxes. Isn't that nice?

Hope you find your peace and serenity.

L

[Lynne]

Originally posted by AceCoomBooM
that was very nice lynne ...dont think it WAS your forte @ all ..seems like it STILL is to me...
ps. im in the adirondacks

Hi Ace,

Thanks for the nice comment. I have so many interests, art, painting, music and so little time left. I wish I had the patience to write, but I just can't do 30 rewrites of anything .

I have not yet been to the Adirondacks, but I know I will someday. Have you lived there long? Do you go hiking? I hope you don't take if for granted where your live. I come across countless people who do not appreciate the natural beauty of this state. To me, experiencing nature is one of those things that makes life worth living. I never tire of seeing deer, red-tailed hawks, bald eagles, or the exceedingly ugly turkey vulture. In the spring, our property is covered with wild violets. I've never seen anything so beautiful!

L

[bruno]

Originally posted by Lynne
Bruno,

Never been out of the city? You are missing so much. Alas, you're only 17, so you have plenty of time. One thing that would really surprise you - how the air smells! I can't describe what it does to your senses to smell country air. I think it alters your consciousness or something. I grew up in a rural area and later lived in the Seattle area for 7 years with the noise, light pollution, and heavy traffic. Upon returning to the country, it was like coming home for the first time. For me, it is a spiritual experience.

One day you should take a weekend and visit a rural area. It would be a shame to go through life without experiencing such.
Having said that, a lot of people take it for granted. They don't see what I see and they aren't at all impressed by creation. I'm an impressionist and record what I see in paint. You wouldn't believe the purples and reds I see in the hills in winter!

my parents and brother go to rural vacations all the time but i never wanted to go with them. me and some friends are going to go to Galena,il this summer so that will be an experience. i am excited a bit. my friends parents got a house in there and we gonna go crazy
L

[bruno]

Originally posted by bruno

that last paragraph quoted is my response. i am an idiot. damn 65 second rule. more like 5 minute rule

[AceCoomBooM]

i didnt take this pic but ..its right down the road..hard to belive its n.y... ive live here for 6 yrs..came back from alaska 4 yr. tour of duty( us army )...sucked ..the army that is ..alaska was awsome ..wish i could go back .. but the wifeys fam is here so you know how that goes..lol

[AniMaLiZeD]

Lol, amazing.

Definitely very cool to hear about this, since I've lived in a city all my life.

[AceCoomBooM]

looks cold ehh? it is!!!! upstate ny

[Lynne]

Hi Ace,

Both pics are beautiful, high peaks and the sun. Reminds me of the Shenandoah Valley.

It was -18 this morning (2/16), the coldest morning yet. Binghamton is next door and it was -7 there, but we are in the valley and had a clear night! I love the snow but am looking forward to warm enough temps to go outside for awhile.

L

[devman27]

That was an excellent story and I'm really glad you shared that with us. I'm currently in college but rural areas are the best. I love visiting my relatives in rural New Hampshire. I'm curious where in NY this is. I didn't think the Appalachians went into New York. I always think of the Adirondacks, the dominant mountain range upstate, and most of New York.

[Lynne]

Originally posted by devman27
That was an excellent story and I'm really glad you shared that with us. I'm currently in college but rural areas are the best. I love visiting my relatives in rural New Hampshire. I'm curious where in NY this is. I didn't think the Appalachians went into New York. I always think of the Adirondacks, the dominant mountain range upstate, and most of New York.

No doubt I could be wrong about our foothills being the Appalachians (ooops???). I am in Newark Valley (Tioga County) which is central NY, 18 miles from the PA border, next to Binghamton. The foothills would have to be part of some mountain chain. I don't know. Let me know so I can correct my story. Maybe I am confused because of the Appalachian atmosphere here - the hollers, toothless people.......

Thanks,
Lynne

[devman27]

Originally posted by Lynne
No doubt I could be wrong about our foothills being the Appalachians (ooops???). I am in Newark Valley (Tioga County) which is central NY, 18 miles from the PA border, next to Binghamton. The foothills would have to be part of some mountain chain. I don't know. Let me know so I can correct my story. Maybe I am confused because of the Appalachian atmosphere here - the hollers, toothless people.......

Thanks,
Lynne

Haha ok. I think you're actually correct though, judging by your location. See, I always get confused when people say "Upstate New York." I think Albany and above while many people just mean anyhting but the city. However, because you live near Binghampton, you do live near the Appalachians. I was just thinking you lived farther north. Speaking of Binghampton, my greatgrandparents lived in Corning and I used to visit them several times a year before they died. It was such a nice place.

[Gym King]

excellent writting Lynne,..(i wish i could write like that)

[Lynne]

Originally posted by devman27
Haha ok. I think you're actually correct though, judging by your location. See, I always get confused when people say "Upstate New York." I think Albany and above while many people just mean anyhting but the city. However, because you live near Binghampton, you do live near the Appalachians. I was just thinking you lived farther north. Speaking of Binghampton, my greatgrandparents lived in Corning and I used to visit them several times a year before they died. It was such a nice place.

I haven't been to Corning yet! It isn't even that far away (maybe an hour, hour and a half). I want to visit Corning Glass. I've heard the little town there is very charming and clean.

L

[Lynne]

Originally posted by Gym King
excellent writting Lynne,..(i wish i could write like that)

Thanks! For it to be really great writing, I'd have to edit out the part about teenage girls burping. I just couldn't leave my daughter out of it.....

Lynne

[Jimineye]

I used to live in a rural area, until they tore up the fields and orchard around my house and put subdivisions in their place.

[Lynne]

Originally posted by Jimineye
I used to live in a rural area, until they tore up the fields and orchard around my house and put subdivisions in their place.

That's always sad when that happens. Hope you had some pictures. In another 20 years, you won't even be able to recognize the area probably.

L

[Jimineye]

Originally posted by Lynne
That's always sad when that happens. Hope you had some pictures. In another 20 years, you won't even be able to recognize the area probably.

L

Yeah we have pictures of it before all of the construction. Yeah we were 1 1/2 outside of city limits before all of the construction, now city limits are about 1 mile past my house. What I think is really retarded is in one of the subdivions that they put in my by my house there is this mini wetland, and there was a sign put up by a government agency saying that they couldn't build on that land. Well what do the contractors do, they ignore the sign fill in a part of the wetland stick a road through it and place houses 50 feet from it.

But I guess it's all progress.

[bgzee]

Ive always lived in the city, but if i had enough money id get a second house in the middle of nowhere to get away from everything.

[Dorian]

devman it is Binghamton.. not binghampton.I come from there myself. many years ago.
It used to be a farm land so It is not surprising to still have them there. I saw that anylize this.. the movie is filmed in the beggining in appalachin new york where my dad was born. across the road from owego.

[Lynne]

Originally posted by Dorian
devman it is Binghamton.. not binghampton.I come from there myself. many years ago.
It used to be a farm land so It is not surprising to still have them there. I saw that anylize this.. the movie is filmed in the beggining in appalachin new york where my dad was born. across the road from owego.

Dorian,

What movie was filmed in Apalachin? What am I missing?

L

[Quagmire]

Originally posted by Lynne
Maybe I am confused because of the Appalachian atmosphere here - the hollers, toothless people.......

"squeal like a pig, now, Squeal! squeal!

Hillbillies scare me now...

[thor93]

i like alot of wvkr tunes.that's my radio station here in orange county,ny.i wanna use that new deadlift bar,cause it looks innovative.it is a hexagon shaped circle that you go into(enter).
and you then proceed to easily position yourself with full fledged leverage and deadlift upwards of 475-485lbs,cause the bar ends are too small to accomadate additional poundage.maybe in near future they'll innovate something that'll hold more in the realms of 900-10000 lbs.that would be highly suitable towards my level of enthusiasm towards this innovative gadget of precision towards the human skeletal formation.after all,you need not bend way forwards and scrape your shins as well.it's perfectly sculpted with sheer and utter leverage in mind.cant wait to use it tomorrow.
i'm pounding brews right now so,i cant go in there now obviously.
however,when i do,i'll be sure to post my progress on this contraption of human efficiency development progression!!!
also,i would like to state that the gym gets boring without intense characters to enlighten the environment.such individuals who are highly motivated towards a specific and highly enlightening purpose or goal in mind.