Last night, just as I was taking off my socks and preparing to put on my pajamas for bed, I remembered that the chickens had not yet been shut away. A. was already huddled in bed, so I put my socks back on, threw on the first coat I found when I got downstairs (A.'s nice wool overcoat, because I am all about the classy), shoved my feet into some shoes, hunted down a flashlight, and FINALLY made it outside, where I trudged somewhat grumpily up the lane to the chicken coop.
I didn't bring any of the dogs out with me. I thought about it, because it's really, really dark out there, and the dogs make me feel safer. Unlike when I lived in a city and had to be afraid of human predators, I now feel just a twinge of fear when I'm out after dark because of wild animals. Not, actually, as much fear, as those wild animals may be wild, but they aren't armed and are much more easily scared off. But I still like to have the dogs with me, because they can sense things way before I can. Things like raccoons, or even coyotes. And they're not afraid of those things, either.
But the dogs were totally zonked out by the fire and I didn't have the heart to make them get up and out into the 14-degree dark. So I went out on my own, and OF COURSE as soon as I got to the forsythia hedge I heard something sort of large rustling around in there. And saw a reflected glow in some critter's eyes when I shined my light in that direction. But as there was no immediate attack by whatever was in the hedge, I elected to suck it up and master my fears. So I continued along the hedge to the chicken coop, expecting all the while for a large raccoon to launch itself out of the hedge and attach itself to my face.
This did not happen, of course, and my face is still thankfully raccoon-less. But next time, I'm waking the dogs up.
7 comments:
I had a similar 'scare' a couple nights ago. Boy, that one or two quick beats of the heart till you realize it was nothing, almost hurt. Beth
Eek! I am glad you won't have raccoon wounds for the holidays. Don't feel guilty waking the dogs up -- isn't stuff like this in their job description anyway?
I'm with ya on taking the dogs along at night! I've been getting better about going out at night on our new property in the woods, but it still gives me the heebie jeebies. You're braver than me! I still like to carry a nice big stick! :)
I totally would've woken up the dogs. That's what they're for. But I admire your bravery! (P.S. The chickens may have scared me if I were out there all alone at night. Can't imagine what I'd do if faced with a raccoon.)
That reminds me of a Blockbuster Video ad I saw last night where a raccoon attaches himself to a man's arm and the man rushes to the hospital only to be told he has to wait 28 days for help. It was pretty funny. Though if I faced a wild raccoon in the dark I don't think I'd be laughing!
Uh, yeah - take the dogs. They'd probably be pissed if they knew you went without them and there was a FUN CREATURE TO CHASE out there...
I was getting over my fear of the dark when one night the horses in the barn started making a fuss. I gamely took the flashlight and went out sans dogs and checked every horse and found nothing amiss. The next morning I was rewarded for this foolhardiness with the sight of large boot prints in the soft dirt of the barn aisle. Apparently I walked right past a large intruder on the dark. Yep, back to being afraid of the dark and requiring a canine escort.
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