Life in the country--I just flat-out love it. Having just enjoyed a leisurely walk around our place in "the woods," I can't think of another place I'd rather be on this earth. Oh sure, it's steamy, but it
is an August afternoon in North Carolina - it's
supposed to be steamy! For those of you city dwellers, try to find a chunk of time one afternoon and visit a rural area. There are plenty of long, rambling roads just waiting for you. But do us (and yourselves) a favor--turn off your canned, man-made music and surround yourself with God's songs. Notice how the sun peeks through towering trees and plays on lush ferns while cicadas and birds serenade you. Watch dragonflies, butterflies and even grasshoppers put on an air show like no other. Yes, grasshoppers. We grow 'em BIG in the country and they have a killer vertical jump and impressive hang time. Makes our cat crazy!
If you do come to the country, be sure to slow down a bit. You'll want to take your time to enjoy the natural world around you, but we'd appreciate it if you'd keep an eye out for wild turkeys, peacocks, an occasional escapee bovine, various barn cats and a deer here and there.
My camera and I wandered a while this morning, looking for - and finding! - treasures from Mom Nature. The photograph here appears to depict some sort of seed pod beginning to burst open. I've no idea what sort of plant this is, but judging from the number of pods hanging from its limbs, there will likely be several more of them next season. Another pod's seeds were fully exposed and undisturbed by birds or other berry-munchers, so these must not be tasty treats. Perhaps this plant survives from one season to the next just because its shiny, red seeds don't please the palate. Mother Nature is such a protective mom. If anyone knows what sort of plant this is, please let me know! I'll try to post another photograph below - of the portion of the plant with the fully exposed berries. In the meantime, get outside and see what surprises you can find! 
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