Here's why I like living in the country:

About 30 minutes ago, the wife said "how about some fresh corn on the cob for supper?" I agreed that it sounded great. City folks would then proceed to shop for some corn. Here's how our adventure went down.

1. We gathered up our visiting grandson (5) and granddaughter (4) and walked back on the farm toward the corn field. And, yes, I did get permission from our renter to get some "roasteneers" (Southern for roasting ears) when the corn got ready.

2. On the way, just behind the barn, a doe bounded across the road. The kids missed her, she was so quick, but they did not miss the tiny fawn that followed her a minute later. He could barely walk in the tall grass, he was so small.

3. About 50 yards farther on, we spotted two fat raccoons who just ambled across the farm road, in on particular hurry. The kids said "this is like going to the zoo".

4. We got to the corn field, and had a great time showing the children how to find an ear that was ready to pull, then how to pull it without breaking the corn stalk. You know, nothing smells like that fresh ear of corn you have just pulled from the stalk, either.

Now, we are back home, the corn is shucked, and ready to go in the pot. We will be buttering those ears in about an hour and digging in. I am just sorry that we did not take a camera and document the trip. But, the grandkids had a wonderful learning experience.

covingtontiger Wrote:Here's why I like living in the country:

About 30 minutes ago, the wife said "how about some fresh corn on the cob for supper?" I agreed that it sounded great. City folks would then proceed to shop for some corn. Here's how our adventure went down.

1. We gathered up our visiting grandson (5) and granddaughter (4) and walked back on the farm toward the corn field. And, yes, I did get permission from our renter to get some "roasteneers" (Southern for roasting ears) when the corn got ready.

2. On the way, just behind the barn, a doe bounded across the road. The kids missed her, she was so quick, but they did not miss the tiny fawn that followed her a minute later. He could barely walk in the tall grass, he was so small.

3. About 50 yards farther on, we spotted two fat raccoons who just ambled across the farm road, in on particular hurry. The kids said "this is like going to the zoo".

4. We got to the corn field, and had a great time showing the children how to find an ear that was ready to pull, then how to pull it without breaking the corn stalk. You know, nothing smells like that fresh ear of corn you have just pulled from the stalk, either.

Now, we are back home, the corn is shucked, and ready to go in the pot. We will be buttering those ears in about an hour and digging in. I am just sorry that we did not take a camera and document the trip. But, the grandkids had a wonderful learning experience.

You forgot the part about having to pick the ticks off of your legs when you returned and the chiggers that are now attached to your hair follicles in tight spaces. They'll be "burn" itching in about 12-24 hrs.......and there could be hundreds.

Chi-Town Wrote:You forgot the part about having to pick the ticks off of your legs when you returned and the chiggers that are now attached to your hair follicles in tight spaces. They'll be "burn" itching in about 12-24 hrs.......and there could be hundreds.

Ticks...yep, like the song says - "I want to check you for ticks." That could be a problem but I'll take a few ticks. In Memphis the problems might be car-jackers or panhandlers. Ticks are much easier to get rid of.

I've spotted deer, ferral pigs, racoons, fox, rabbits, etc. on my property. Until I find women living in the wild, I won't be satisfied.

I wasn't raised in the actual country but more like the semi-country. We lived on 2 1/2 acres on a lake and always had a veggie garden. My Dad was a hunter/fisherman so we always had all types of animal/fish meat in the frig and freezer. Funny, he loved cooking and after he would come back from hunting he would always experiment with different ways to cook the animal meat. If he ever said "come in here and try this" from the kitchen you could bet he was cooking a part of the body that you really didn't want in your mouth. He fooled us a bunch of times like that. We would have goat, quail, frog legs...you name it.

My Mom's best friend when I was about 10 years old lived in the true country...as in the outhouse country. They had no inside plumbing. They had 2 horses and a mule. Her 2 daughters rode the horses and I learned to ride on their mule, Sam. During the day Sam would plow and on weekends I would ride him. One summer afternoon we were riding bareback and laid down on the horses/mule and just let them take us wherever they wanted to go. After about 30 minutes of walking down paths in the woods and fields they abruptly stopped. Ends up they had taken us to a whiskey still. Evidently the hired help man had built it and used the horses to go check it each day so they were used to going there. It was really weird to see and I remember the smell was awful !!

I love the country and some day hope to be living there. My brother/business partner moved to Marshall County in the country and loves it. I think he has about 25 acres. He has a bunch of dogs, cats and 5 horses. He also has alot of deer and all kinds of critters. There's nothing like country life.

georgiatiger Wrote:I've spotted deer, ferral pigs, racoons, fox, rabbits, etc. on my property. Until I find women living in the wild, I won't be satisfied.

The eternal optimist. If you find them, keep it to yourself, or you will be overrun with us other guys wanting to share the experience.

covingtontiger Wrote:

Chi-Town Wrote:You forgot the part about having to pick the ticks off of your legs when you returned and the chiggers that are now attached to your hair follicles in tight spaces. They'll be "burn" itching in about 12-24 hrs.......and there could be hundreds.

Ticks...yep, like the song says - "I want to check you for ticks." That could be a problem but I'll take a few ticks. In Memphis the problems might be car-jackers or panhandlers. Ticks are much easier to get rid of.

I had a BAD CASE of chiggers about a yr go and the mental scars have not healed yet. If you knew what I do for a living, you would see the humor in that.

Chi-Town Wrote:

covingtontiger Wrote:

Chi-Town Wrote:You forgot the part about having to pick the ticks off of your legs when you returned and the chiggers that are now attached to your hair follicles in tight spaces. They'll be "burn" itching in about 12-24 hrs.......and there could be hundreds.

Ticks...yep, like the song says - "I want to check you for ticks." That could be a problem but I'll take a few ticks. In Memphis the problems might be car-jackers or panhandlers. Ticks are much easier to get rid of.

I had a BAD CASE of chiggers about a yr go and the mental scars have not healed yet. If you knew what I do for a living, you would see the humor in that.

Well, we don't so it wasn't funny.

georgiatiger Wrote:I've spotted deer, ferral pigs, racoons, fox, rabbits, etc. on my property. Until I find women living in the wild, I won't be satisfied.

The only place I have seen wild women are at nightclubs.

covingtontiger Wrote:3. About 50 yards farther on, we spotted two fat raccoons who just ambled across the farm road, in on particular hurry. The kids said "this is like going to the zoo".

That's a nice story and it is always good to count your blessings. Could you come over and tell the raccoons that under my shed that they aren't allowed in the city.

mphsfan Wrote:That's a nice story and it is always good to count your blessings. Could you come over and tell the raccoons that under my shed that they aren't allowed in the city.

You need to get yourself a box trap and trap those suckers then release them in a different location.

In my neighborhood we get the usual things like raccons, deer, possums, armadillos, hawks, buzzards, ospreys, and wild turkey. But the kicker is when you have to keep your pets on a leash around the lakes because there are gators in them that like the occasional poodle morsel for a treat.

J-villeTiger Wrote:In my neighborhood we get the usual things like raccons, deer, possums, armadillos, hawks, buzzards, ospreys, and wild turkey. But the kicker is when you have to keep your pets on a leash around the lakes because there are gators in them that like the occasional poodle morsel for a treat.

Makes you want to let your children play outside.

I grew up in the country. We lived in-town but my family has a farm about 8 miles away of about 350 acres in northwestern Tennessee. The animals are so abundant that you can sit on the back patio and shoot them as the walk by. I am lucky enough to own part of it now. The nearest home is about 2 miles away. River frontage on the property. Stocked pond. 200 acres of woods and 100 acres of grassland. At night, all you can hear is crickets and birds. You can actually see the stars. House with an indoor bar and swimming pool too.

My friends, THAT is peaceful living.

J-villeTiger Wrote:In my neighborhood we get the usual things like raccons, deer, possums, armadillos, hawks, buzzards, ospreys, and wild turkey.

We also have wild turkey in our neighborhood. We've captured it and put it in our liquor cabinet.

georgiatiger Wrote:

Chi-Town Wrote:

covingtontiger Wrote:

Chi-Town Wrote:You forgot the part about having to pick the ticks off of your legs when you returned and the chiggers that are now attached to your hair follicles in tight spaces. They'll be "burn" itching in about 12-24 hrs.......and there could be hundreds.

Ticks...yep, like the song says - "I want to check you for ticks." That could be a problem but I'll take a few ticks. In Memphis the problems might be car-jackers or panhandlers. Ticks are much easier to get rid of.

I had a BAD CASE of chiggers about a yr go and the mental scars have not healed yet. If you knew what I do for a living, you would see the humor in that.

Well, we don't so it wasn't funny.

No, but that was funny.

I get home to the farm as often as I can. I'm not a fan of field corn, but the sweet corn should just be coming in.

J-villeTiger Wrote:In my neighborhood we get the usual things like raccons, deer, possums, armadillos, hawks, buzzards, ospreys, and wild turkey. But the kicker is when you have to keep your pets on a leash around the lakes because there are gators in them that like the occasional poodle morsel for a treat.

I grew up in a town of 2500. The nearest shopping mall was an hour away. The nearest Wal-Mart was 30 minutes away. Two gas stations where the owner still pumps the gas for you. Town square around the courthouse. My high school had a farm attached to it. Nearest liquor store is a 60 mile round trip. No liquor sales or liquor by the drink. Over 100 baptist churches in a county of 35,000. The city mayor was a part-time position. 2 stop lights in then entire town.

All part of a small-town southern man.

Couldn't agree with you more covingtontiger.....was out at our place yesterday to go trail riding and couldn't have been happier. Saw a herd of 8 deer less than 150 yards from the house ambling across the cotton field, taking their time. That's always fun to watch.....

"Green Acres is the place to be,
farm livin' is the life for me!
Land spreadin' out so far and wide,
Keep Manhattan (Memphis) just give me that countryside."

georgiatiger Wrote:I've spotted deer, ferral pigs, racoons, fox, rabbits, etc. on my property. Until I find women living in the wild, I won't be satisfied.