Creatures in the Mountain Shadows

A stroll into the mountain shadows can at times be not only interesting, but exciting as well; for one can encounter some of the delightful creatures that dwell in those shadows.

First one must wander into a wooded area, deep enough so that the only sounds heard are those made by the wind rustling through pine needles overhead. Then one must find a comfortable place to sit. With your back against a tree is usually a good place.

Let your legs lay out flat and take a few deep breaths letting them out slowly. Do not make a sound now and do not move. Breath very slowly and wait.

After a bit on a rock nearby, a brown and white chipmunk just might appear, sitting with his back up as straight as a ruler and his tail arched up into a perfect “S”. He will sit and chatter for a bit.

He has pouches in his cheeks and most always has an acorn tucked away for moments like these and he takes it out now and holds it with his finger like little claws and munches away while carefully keeping one eye cocked upon you.

After a while a spotted fawn might appear with a doe browsing nearby while far back behind some bushes you just might get a glimpse of the points of the buck’s antlers as he carefully watches the fawn, the doe, and mostly you.

Just about now you notice something crawling right below your nose and so slowly you brush it away and a tiny black fly called a “no see em”, then flits annoyingly about your face ruining the tranquility of the moment.

You flail your arms at the fly while a blue jay high in the top of your tree starts announcing in no uncertain terms to all of the woodland creatures to be on guard because a human has invaded the area and therefore all should beware.

All you saw of the doe was a flash of her white tail as she and the fawn bounced along after the buck and into the bushes neither to be seen again.

The fly left too, but now you hear a buzzing near your ear, for a nasty mosquito has stumbled upon the carbon dioxide in your exhaled breath and knows there is blood nearby and is looking for a landing spot on you neck.

And so after swatting at the mosquito you realize that your visit into the mountain shadows has come to an end and so you walk back out into the sunlight and to those noises we live with every day.

Still, it was an interesting and an exciting experience and once again you congratulate yourself for living so near the, “Mountain Shadows”.