Lookin' Out My Back Door

We've got what I would guess to be four acres on the Mississippi. The lots around here were one acre and sold for 15 grand a quarter century ago. All had good river access. A lot hadn't been sold in awhile, and Barbara and I were looking for something at the beginning of our marriage that would be a compromise of me wanting to live in the woods, and she wanting a neighborhood for our daughter. While looking at a place where one would only need a twenty foot dock, and neighbors a little too close for me, a friend who lived next door said "why not take a walk out on the peninsula?" "Peninsula?" says I. "It's got "lousy" river frontage" said he, "but it sure is pretty". We took the walk. I knew immediately it was perfect and knew right where I would put the house I built in Gemmell, and would have Skinny Mohler move to this site.

We found we were looking at two lots that formed this grand peninsula. The one on the tip where we would place our house, and a lot in-between the tip and my friends home. The asking price was 13.8 thousand each. I called my friend the "Judge", and he said if you can get out of your car after work and relieve yourself without worrying about shocking the neighbors...Buy It! Well, to the front both left and right was river far across river from other homes because of the "lousy" river frontage. To the left and rear was backwater swamp with a road beyond unseen, never to be built on or near, to the right would be an empty of structure heavily wooded lot, a buffer, before my friends place, and to the rear was 500 feet of woods before one hit the entry street.

We offered 15 grand for the two lots and they took it. The buffer lot is 1.75 acres, and the other one is bigger. I don't know how big, because it has so many angles and I so poor at geometry, have never figured it out. We cannot see a neighbor period, but we are city residents. Oh yes, we have "lousy" river frontage requiring a 300 foot dock, but in it's stead, we have plants and critters way beyond our neighbors. A large ecosystem. The waterfowl are uncountable, swans, geese, pelicans, ducks, several kinds of frogs, fish, eagles, musk rats, beavers, great blue herons and loons nest out front. There is a chorus in the Spring. We have turtles, and raccoons, porcupine, bear signs, deer, fox, squirrels, wood ducks, wood frogs, pileated and other woodpeckers banging away, keeping rhythm for the critter symphony and the wind in the trees.

We will not cut down another tree, dead or alive, for our critters. (Unless they endanger human life or property) We leave them for the woodpecker luncheon, the squirrel nests, and the eagles perch, eagle eyeing the fish surfacing on the Father of Waters. And the trees, birch, popal, three or four different kinds of oak, maples, huge pines, ash, willow, diamond willow, and more. Many types of berry bushes line our driveway which we gladly share with our brother and sister critters. Everyday I look out our panoramic windows at our good fortune and thank Providence for it's gift. Nine out of ten pizza drivers find our place to be the most awesome to which they deliver. And so I know it's true.Migizi (bald eagle) leaves his perch from a dead tree near our dock. Perhaps he has spotted a fish.
Not a natural tree in our yard, but a pretty flowering crab for a week or two in the Spring. The lower branches feed the deer in the Fall, and the upper branches feed the robins in the Spring.
Deer and squirrel forage in our yard for goodies to eat. From time to time, we help them out to encourage a visit.
Our friend squirrel sits back for a short meal. I always warn Barbara when there is a squirrel in the yard looking for nuts.

Mother and fawn like the green of our grass and make themselves right at home, sometimes, they like our flowers, but they have a right to live here too, maybe a greater right, so fruits and vegies and flowers we don't want to share, well...we protect.

Little spotted fawn takes her cue from Mama, don't we all.
And off they go to the backwater...a little safer so they think, but we'll never take a shot at them save a camera.
The Red Maple. Nuff said.
The Red Maple from our refurbished front porch. A scarlet beauty on a peninusla.

with respect to John Fogerty

Just got home from Illinois, lock the front door, oh boy

Got to sit down, take a rest on the porch

Imagination sets in, pretty soon I'm singin'

Doo, doo, doo, lookin' out my back door

There's a giant doing cartwheels, a statue wearin' high heels

Look at all the happy creatures dancing on the lawn

A dinosaur Victrola list'ning to Buck Owens

Doo, doo, doo, lookin' out my back door

Tambourines and elephants are playing in the band

Won't you take a ride on the flyin' spoon

Wond'rous apparition provided by magician

Doo, doo, doo, lookin' out my back door

Forward troubles, Illinois, lock the front door, oh boy

Look at all the happy creatures dancing on the lawn

Bother me tomorrow, today I'll buy no sorrow

Doo, doo, doo, lookin' out my back door