When did Turkey Season Open?

I must admit yesterday felt like a good day.  I woke up early enough, got all my morning chores out of the way, and was even able to send the hubby off with fresh baked muffins as he headed out to work.

I am sometimes tickled on the inside about how our house hums along to it's own unique rhythm as it is contrasted with the stark differences of just outside our windows at times.  Like the time we are going over our morning text or scripture and just down the street a prostitute was showing her bare bum to one of her customers.  That wasn't necessarily in clear view of the whole family, thankfully, but from my husbands and my angle...yeah we saw it.

Today was such a day of contrasts.

I noticed the mail carrier stopped with his truck in front of our house.  This usually means he has several packages to deliver.  I was expecting some and since we don't have a working doorbell I waited by the door.

  I must admit I am a little nervous about packages being delivered to the house.  I am a mail order, internet shopping queen.  I would have everything delivered if  I would never have to enter into another store.  Shopping leads to so much anxiety for me even before I leave the house.  Anyway I don't want my fellow hoodlums to think we have tons of stuff or tons of money.  I usually think, well if they do break in they would be sadly disappointed.  It is all books, books, and crafts supplies.  Oh but yesterday was our delivery of .....toilet paper!  Exciting stuff see.  I use Amazon's subscribe & save on several household projects that would normally lead to weekly or biweekly shopping trips.  Through much price comparison I have narrowed down that are almost always cheaper than the brick and mortar stores.  I decided to do a double batch of orders to free up money for food shopping later.  So I knew there would be several boxes.

As I stood by my window waiting for the mail carrier to exit the truck, I see at least two mean running on break neck speeds and screaming running past the house.  Immediately my heart jumps.  I think of our poor mail carrier that may be in the middle of whatever blood bath is about to begin.  I couldn't or didn't see who they were running after but I could tell the men were very excited.  I wasn't sure if I should duck, or keep watching.

The men had stopped in front of a neighbor's house and they were looking up.  Hmm, I thought how could whoever they were chasing get up to where they eye were gazing.

By this time, the mail carrier was exiting his truck fairly oblivious to the mayhem.  I opened the door, he gave me a hearty greeting.  I so enjoy my mail carrier really nice guy.  Since he knows we are usually home he'll even double back and knock on our door twice.  We exchanged packages for a signature and I glanced toward the men.  Yes, definitely they were looking up, like really up.  So I bravely stepped out of the doorway and yes they were looking toward a roof.  Know I just plain nosy how did someone get on the roof.  

One of my other neighbors was out now, checking on the happenings so I asked him what was the commotion about.  They are trying to catch a turkey. A Turkey!  Yes a turkey he is on the roof now.
Now I looked toward the roof and yes perched by the chimney was a creature that is so reminiscent to me as the thing from the movie "The Village".  There were laughs,  how much do you think it weighs, and how did it get here.  The men, one a local dealer, talked about how he had chased for about 2 and half blocks.  We all laughed.  I know you can barely make it out.

This little scenario brought much excitement to the kids who made up a cheer for the turkey.  They began to look up and mimic turkey calls and breeds.  About 30 minutes later the kids were in the backyard making a "turkey trap"  and we heard a couple of pops.  Hee, hee they are trying to get the turkey down.  We have a neighbor regularly goes out with a bb gun to scare away squirrels that are on his roof or in his garden, so we assumed it was him.  The kids get to the front of the house but now notice their is an police officer their, hmm maybe he wants some turkey too.

No no here comes my contrast.  A man was robbed in our alley and shot.  He had managed to crawl out of the alley and there he lay.  So the shots we heard were not the opening of our turkey season but the continue disregard for human life season.  The man was not seriously injured the perpetrator(s) ran away on foot.  

So as quickly as our giggles began it disappeared.  And still our mail carrier delivered the rest of the mail.

Eventually the turkey, the real turkey, not the the normal human turkeys that populate my hood, flew down and we got a closer look.  

The view from my road

Today was our bi weekly jaunt about 40 minutes north of our city.  Some of the kids are participating in a science class.

 I was a little hesitant to sign them up at first.  I mean 40 minutes, getting 4-6 kids out the door by 8 am, trudging through possible traffic definite snow delays was enough to send me in a panic with just the thought.  However, in my desire to "get it together" this year, I thought about the kids education first.  So all signed up and we are all enjoying it.

I actually enjoy the drive, at least this time of year.  The contrast between city and country is thrilling.  While the children are in class for about 3 hours, I usually get some household shopping.  The facility is not too far from the typical large box stores and they have them all right in a row.  I can hit Target, Aldi, Michael's, Home Depot, Barnes & Noble and even Costco in one errand and on the way back to the kids there is Walmart, and our two large grocery stores.

The kids are beyond thrilled with the classes which has to be the best part of all.

I need to work on a better routine of getting us out the door. I have to create a bedtime routine, where I lay out the kids clothes and have bags packed the night before.  I also have to better include a set time to do hair, oh boy, the hair probably is a whole blog in itself.

 Today I was happy by saving money and bringing snacks from home.  I directed the two older boys, who stayed home, to have lunch hot and ready for us by the time we got home.

I am attempting to do the impossible with my food budget.  With this in mind I want to get out of the habit of purchasing ready made snacks, with the exceptions of maybe pretzels and the snacks my husband enjoys in his lunch.  So instead of granola bars and fruit leathers.  I popped popcorn and made pumpkin bread, each kid had an orange.  Of course we had our handy day water to drink.  The kids enjoyed these snacks and one the way home I ignored my too fat belly attempt to get me to impulse buy McDonald's french fries, boy could I smell them.

I decided to write this post because of this scence:

This is the road to and from the nature center.  I was overwhelmed with a sense of gratefulness.  Grateful to our God that gave us such beauty, grateful to my husband who through hard to give us the vehicle, the gas and the opportunity to take such a wonderful class.

My life is full of contradictions.  My view into my neighborhood and block is a stark contract.  But today I know I would have not held the above captioned view in such high regard today with out it the view from my home.  So today my contrast that I choose to embrace is the wind strewn trash view from my alley and the wind blown leaves view of our class.  Today I needed both to help me appreciate this life.