|
By: Jim Fitzpatrick |
|
Email: jim@nunica.com |
|
Local Farmer in Polkton Township writes for the Coopersville Observer. |
|
Along Brandy Creek By Jim Fitzpatrick
The Coopersville Observer March 3, 2008- - No. 92 |
|
Through the trees, down across the creek and up again; snow covered fields stretch beyond to a far distant fence line. The undulating contours of white are interrupted only by a single Red Pine, standing alone in the endless blanket of white. Large black feathered creatures scratch and peck into the snowy surface, beneath evergreen boughs dancing in the wind.
A little girl, her name is Anne, stands peering through a frosted glass window; still in her pajamas as dawns gray light turns to a world of white. She squints and struggles to see through the frost, between the trees, into the openness beyond. Those fat black birds are moving about out there in the snow and the cold and the wind. She runs to retrieve an old pair of binoculars her dad keeps on a bookshelf in the hall.
Bundled in snow pants, coat, heavy boots, and furry hat; she is out the door and into the morning. The young girl fills an old pot with shelled corn she has saved for her wildlife friends; then plunges knee deep into the snow, crosses the frozen creek before climbing the hill.
The wild turkeys will scatter for a time, some will fly off to the outer woods. Anne will make her trek to the lonely Red Pine, leave the golden yellow kernels behind. She'll soon have her breakfast, too; as soon as the mom hears that girl’s boot steps on the back porch. |
