I have to say, this quarantine time has brought many positive moments to my life I wouldn’t normally have seen or potentially had. For one, I had time to set up a game camera (received from Moultrie last year) on my patio and I caught the local fox coming right up to the house. Now my husband and I are wondering where else to place the camera to see what else we can catch on film.
We’ve seen other wildlife entering our space this spring, too. It could be because we are spending much more time on our patio. The Traeger grill has already smoked two briskets and a multitude of other items. (This smoked queso dip from Meat Church is AMAZING, but makes a lot, so be warned.) Last week, we stepped out onto the patio and stopped dead in our tracks as there was a very large snapping turtle RIGHT THERE. We moved to the outdoor table to eat our dinner, all the while giving the turtle a side eye and asking where it was going and what it was doing. We never received a response. Then she (pretty sure it was a female looking to lay eggs) was in my little pond! For a slow species, they can move fast. We Googled how long turtles can hold their breath and discovered it was 30 minutes. We moved out of there so she could figure out how to get OUT of the pond. It wasn’t long and she was bumbling her large body up and over the pond rocks (kind of funny to see) and
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on her way to the retention pond behind our property. Yesterday, I learned from a neighbor she did lay her eggs in their water garden in the back of their property. They also utilized Google and discovered we will see the eggs hatch in 72 days, which we will all be here to see because what else are we doing? My neighbors also discovered what was happening to the plants in their bog. It seems every year they planted new varietals only to see them dead or completely gone. Turns out, the local mallard bachelor group uses it as a bachelor pad. Mystery solved.
By the way, I live in suburbia; although I’m probably equally distanced from Target as I am from a farmer’s field. It fascinates me to see the vast amounts of wildlife in our area. Some people also claim they see wolves in our area. Although most people can’t tell the difference between a coyote, wolf, or even a fox. So there’s that.
Another benefit during this time is that I was probably busier than I ever was before, which may sound odd. Looking back, I think it was because all my clients – who normally are traveling – were also home and we had time to tackle those projects that were always on the back burner. I felt like I finally got caught up on my projects and a handle on my schedule. So much so it is making me question how much traveling I was doing prior to March – and what the benefits truly were…in other words, what is a priority for me?
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Before sheltering-in-place, I was working nights – especially Sunday nights - in order to get caught up for the week. Now, I have a regular schedule during the day, and I log off Friday at noon and try not to join again until Monday morning. I absolutely need that schedule barrier for my sanity. At night, instead of sitting in front of the TV with my laptop open, I am catching up on my scrapbooking projects (I’m in 2018!); practicing my piano skills and even seeing about taking up French lessons again. Without the quarantine and sheltering-in-place, none of this would have happened.
It is not all sunshine and unicorn kisses over here. I lost three very important trips this year – including one to South Africa, which would have been a first for hubs and me. Losing those trips took a lot out of me and I needed to grieve for those lost moments with friends and family. I’m not sure if they’ll be rescheduled in 2021…or 2022…but I do know they will happen.
We can all dwell on the negatives of the last few months – or take a moment and really gaze into a snapping turtle’s eye, then notice their intense claws, and then take three steps back and return to your home, where you are safe and loved.
Au revoir, mes amis,
Michelle Scheuermann, editor, Archery Wire
