Monster in the Grove

Spring is wonderful in western Iowa.  The plump robins return gobbling up wiggly worms.  Red winged blackbirds make their appearance to serenade the morning.  Baby bunnies hop out of their nests to munch on troublesome dandelions.  Spring is a peaceful time.  Except for the monster hiding in the grove.

The first sign of spring is the red breasted robin.  (Actually it looks orange to me, but who am I to argue with the experts.)  One day a lone robin is hopping in the yard and the next day his friends have joined him.  They flutter from spot to spot pulling up worms for their feast.  Worms are good for the ground.  I have to open the window to holler at them not to be so greedy.

Baby bunnies seem to appear out of nowhere.  I do not have a yard.  I have a dandelion field.  Those babies get fat dining on all those yellow weeds.  The baby bunnies do not have as much fear as they should have.  My son was able to pick one up, hold it, pet it, try to bring it in the house and name it.  The son had to return back to his home.  Without the bunny.

My son is not the only one who would like a baby bunny has a pet.  So would my cat, Snuggles.  She is a ferocious huntress.  She crouches in the grass stalking the unsuspecting babies.  Like lightening she pounces on the bunny.  Snuggles thinks she has a new toy.  She carries it to the driveway tossing the terrified bunny into the air.  The bunny gets swatted around and carried some more in her mouth.

That's when I show up.  Snuggles knows this routine.  As soon as she spots my big toe Snuggles charges through the grass with baby bunny captive.  I may be technically an antique, but I can run.    My dash across the yard results in the capture of Snuggles.  I nab her by her scruff and shake the baby bunny to freedom.  Snuggles is then hauled into the garage for kitty time out.

Spring in Iowa also brings ear deafening storms.  Lightening slashes across the sky.  Thunder booms, rattling the entire house.  The wind howls its discontent.  Rain pounds relentlessly on the windows.

I am not a fan of these spring hostile occurrences.  But with a good book and four cats snuggled by my side, I can get through anything.

My son called during such a storm.  I peered out the window during our conversation.  "Holy @#%*!  There's a monster in my grove!"

"Mom, what are you talking about?" my worried son inquired.

"There's a monster out there.  It has taken it's sharp claws and attacked the largest tree I have!"

"Mom, have you been drinking?"  I could hear my son rolling his eyes through the receiver.

"No!  There are giant claw marks on my tree.  There's a huge monster out there waiting to get me!"

"Take a picture and send it to me," replied my unruffled son.

Take a picture?  He wanted me to go outside with that monster and take a picture?  I'm smarter than that.  I snapped a picture through the window.

His answer came quickly enough.  "Lightening has hit your tree."

Lightening?  Lightening stripped rows of bark off my tree?  I  suppose he could be right.

My heart rate went back to normal.  My sweet son continued to assure me there was no monster lurking in my grove.

The storm eventually subsided.  All was back to a peaceful spring.

Now when I go outside I carry a bat.  I am not totally convinced there is not a gigantic monster creeping around my grove.  While a bat may not kill the beast.  It will stun him.  And as I mentioned, I can run!