Sccrrrrratttchchch!!! Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-scratttchhhh… ssccccrrraaaaaape!! This is a weak and mild imitation of the sound we woke up to this morning. Declan was sure it was outside the window – I swear it was near or under my side of the bed! This went on between stretches of silence for about 40 minutes. Having seen no evidence of the presence of any rodent type creatures in the house all summer, my hope is that Declan is right and we just had a bit of bird activity in the stones outside. Perhaps the pheasant, which paid our house guests a visit each evening in May but has only darted past our car a few times across our bumpy road, has returned to prepare a winter home nearby. Yes, that’s the ticket. It had to be that beautiful pheasant!
The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh courtesy oes.org
Just as every cloud has its silver lining, several hours earlier Eoin and I stood in the darkness of the wee hours outside our country cottage gazing up at a clear, night sky that sparkled with billions of stars of every size… glowing, twinkling and even shooting! Eoin had never seen such a sight in his entire life and I only have vague memories of viewing it as a child. I wouldn’t trade the starry night for a quieter morning, no matter what was making that horrifying sound!
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August 9, 2011 at 2:38 pm
Kate
Yikes! well at least your new bedframe is off the ground. Although it is yucky to have a rodent-type housemate, I cant blame any visitor for wanting a look at that scenery!
August 9, 2011 at 4:19 pm
bloggingfromthebog
Well, rodents are in the country, suburbia and city – but you don’t get a night sky like we had anyplace other than the country!
August 9, 2011 at 4:36 pm
lifeonthecutoff
Your starry night sounds heavenly, Janet, and certainly not the likes of what we see in this area. I’ve only seen a shooting star a few times in my life – a sight to behold. How special it is that you shared such a wonder with Eoin.
August 9, 2011 at 4:56 pm
bloggingfromthebog
Penny, being out in the country with no lights around and catching a glimpse of the amazing universe that is invisable most of the time, is quite an experience isn’t it? I think Eoin was even a bit overwhelmed by it! But he said if he wakes up again during the night tonight he’s going to be sure to look outside again! Alas, we’re surrounded by clouds at the moment.
September 7, 2011 at 9:42 pm
Janet (Country Mouse}
Since I live in the country, I love going out at night to watch the stars. When my son went to college, I asked him if he missed the country. He told me that he missed the stars. I can just sit outside and stare up at the sky. It is the most relaxing thing in the world. We try to find out when there are going to be meteor showers so we can watch the falling stars. What a beautiful memory you and Eoin can share. I hope your unidentified visitor leaves.
September 10, 2011 at 12:13 am
bloggingfromthebog
Janet you are so lucky to be able to see that sky so often! As for our unidentified visitor(s) – they were voles, 3 of them dragging dry leaves into the house through a hole in the wall we didn’t know was there! We spent the morning watching them drag the leaves back and forth across the stone floor making a noise you wouldn’t think capable of such a tiny creature. The hole AND the voles have been dealt with!