Friday, January 08, 2016

The Wild East

There are many charms to living out here on the Edge of the Atlantic.

A week can't go by without fish or meat or a pot of stew or some baking being dropped off. And you try not to mention some lack or a problem in your life because it will be fixed, stat. And I'd be beholden, you know?

For instance, I whined about my old office chair a month or so ago, it was literally falling apart, I had replaced it with a $200+ new one a couple of years ago which crunched its own wheels out - much like an alligator chewing its own tail off - within 6 months of purchase. I had put the old beat up one in my shed, like you never know, and I was glad when I hauled it out again, though my sad arse was painful every time I rose up off its hard uneven seat and dicey uncertain back. Anyways, a friend picked up a spectacular government disposed beauty in St. John's for $20. I can assure you our politician's butts are well taken care of if they are getting rid of such fine pieces before their time. I'd say originally $400 or thereabouts of our precious tax dollars. Beautiful upholstery. That's what I mean. Newfoundland people are the best on the earth.

A well placed whine can work wonders out here on the Edge.

So here I am upstairs a few days ago folding laundry (one of my more peculiar habits, I fold every dang bit of laundry down to face cloths) when I hear gunshots. Many gunshots. Around my house.

I lurk behind my windows and spot four or five young people in camouflage across the road and down a bit firing into the hills behind my house.

I go out with my arms up. I'm more angry than afraid as Elder Dog has hidden herself, shaking, in a corner with her paws over her eyes.

"Hey, I say, stop it, stop it!"

I know, script fail.

"Wha', wha'?"

They turn as one to look at me.

"You're not supposed to be here," says the leader, shouldering his rifle.

"It's my house,"

"I know, I know that, but your car's not there!"

This all makes sense to Outeasters in a peculiar way, see here, and isn't the first time I've been challenged for not having my car in my very own driveway.

"You frightened the hell out of me!" I say with an edge.

"Oh we're real sorry, miss, real sorry, but it's the only place where we can target practise, we can't go into the woods or over the water or we'll be arrested!"

"But you can fire across a main road and shoot at private property?"

"The only place allowed, miss, sorry we'll pack up now, but where's your car?

"In the garage."

"Funny place to keep a car."
They're serious.

15 comments:

  1. Strange, indeed, though no comparison to where I live, she says, trying not to laugh...

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    1. Daughter couldn't stop laughing when I told her this story. Some of the happenings around here are so off the map. For instance many people here living by the water in woodlands have cabins 5 miles away so they can "get away from it all".
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  2. Seriously?? That'd be weird even for Montana. Though here there are numerous places to shoot well within sight of town.
    As to the rest, sounds like you reside in a very nice place.

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    1. Oh yes I do Mike but sometimes it gets downright weird. Hunting is big here and practice is needed. The nearest range is 60K away.
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  3. Well that takes the cake, all right.

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  4. You'd think there must be safer (and legal) places to do target practice, other than close to someone's house.

    As for the garage thing, that makes perfect sense here. Virtually nobody keeps their car in a garage, they keep it on the drive or on the road. Garages are generally used for storing garden equipment, washing machines, freezers and junk.

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    1. I put it there because SNOW of which we've had none this year so far. And I have a barn and a big shed too for STUFF.well wood for the fire and outdoor furniture. Country living Nick.
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  5. "A well placed whine can work wonders"

    Ha! I can relate. I have to be careful what I say around my sisters. I need something? They might go out and buy it. I like something they own? They're very likely to send me home with it.

    It's sweet and generous of them, but I don't want to take advantage, so I've started to watch what I say.

    Maybe you'll have to put a big cardboard-car cutout in your driveway!

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    1. I know SJG, I find it difficult to repay such casual kindnesses that have been shown to me here. No one thinks anything of what they do for me or give to me but I certainly do. So jams and knitted dishcloths in the shape of my saltbox house, etc. It is never enough.
      Yes I'm careful around certain friends of expressing any kind of want for next thing....

      LOL to the cutout!

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  6. You sure were not whining when the shooting was going on! But the other whines seem to work well for you. And it was indeed funny that they found your car being in the garage funny!

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    1. I was more angry than anything else but understandably nervous leaving my house. No one uses garages here for cars but for their toys, LOL

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  7. "Funny place to keep your car." What kind of nonsense is that?? Our neighbors are concerned if our cars ARE in the driveway as we always keep our cars in the garage.

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    1. A peculiarity of the Wild East, DKZ where garages are used for "toys", ATVs, boats, skidoos, LOL.

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  8. Funny that, I keep my car in the garage too! I park it in there even when the weather is good because I don't want my husband to fill up the space with his stuff;) We have a next door neighbor who does target practice in his yard but there is enough distance between us that I think we're safe.

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