The Country Mice

Snakes have charmed me for a long time.

Their simple streamlined scaled beauty appeals every time they coil around my wrist — a gentle squeeze. My feelings would adjust if the squeeze compressed my chest in the moments before a boa made me its weekly dinner but as always, I love my country.

If you watch children with a garter snake, the first one will hold it, the second, third and fourth clamour for a chance to hold as well. Then the adult begs for reptilian clemency.

We walked through a green patch of Bowen last Friday, learning about some edible plants found in the woodland — Miner’s lettuce, Salmonberry shoots and maple blossoms. Who knew? A few days later Homeboy told me he got hungry on his way home so snacked on some wild greens. Lesson learned.

And some wild flowers, out of deer’s reach.

I didn’t know Bleeding Heart grew wild in the woods. I think of it as a country flower from my father’s sister’s garden, a very long time ago. Perhaps she too found it in the woods.

And we learned a fire blasted through here about a century ago, leaving behind great shells of cedars. Fine hiding places if you’re a gnome.

Nice to land in a place where you can unlock a few secrets and know there’s more to come.