ERIC: This is what I’m calling 2020: The Lost Year. Trying to stay positive when not much is going right lately is getting hard. For me it all started around the time when Tom Brady left the New England Patriots. Seriously. I must be in bizarro world. Everyone thought it could happen but it would never really happen. Then it did.
Shortly before this, Lynne’s uncle passed away and cousin Kerryn flew out to join her on a road trip back to New Hampshire. While she’s up north, the world pandemic arrives. She leaves early to get back home—with her mother keeping her company for the long trip.
Next, basket workshops, my livelihood, are canceled one by one all across the nation. Toilet paper shortage, meat shortage you can’t touch this or that. Masks, no haircut, wash your hands twenty times a day. And NO sports! But plenty of depressing covid-19 news or commercials on every channel. I sleep in the shop so my wife stays safe. She hasn’t been off the property in two and a half months.
And don’t get me started on all the Black Ash being destroyed in this county from the Asian Emerald Ash Borer!
Trying to keep a positive attitude and and think about a day when we can get back to normal has been an effort. We are very lucky as we have five acres and have plenty of room to move around here in rural Tennessee. Our tomato plants are in along with the hot peppers, green beans, spinach… and the luffa crop is off to a great start. Every little good thing that happens you become extra grateful for.
And then the bluebirds. For the past six years, we have a mama bluebird and a papa bluebird that return to nest in a house outside of the basket shop. They usually have 2-3 sets of baby birds every year. They enjoy their setup since I created a nice pole that the cat cannot jump up and they hang out on a power line to overlook their home at all hours. Lynne and I had just been talking the day earlier about how the current three baby birds look like they are ready to leave the nest. Every day we hear them inside their box chirping away as mama comes back and forth with worms while papa watches. Then this afternoon happened…
Lynne and I were standing on the shop porch talking about 5 questions. We noticed a lot of commotion going on around the Bluebirds’ house. The adult birds were really squawking and dive bombing towards their nest and staying mid-flight and zooming back away. Lynne said “I think she is trying to encourage them to leave the nest. Is that how they do it?”
After watching both of them swooping down numerous times and making so much noise, I saw it. A snake was wrapped around and climbing the pole! I ran back into the shop and grabbed the first long stick I could find and a huge metal ruler in the other hand. I got the snake off when it was about six inches from the opening. I knew right away it was a gray Rat snake and it was big. I kept it from getting into the box and thought that that was a close one! I hauled it off the property.
But when I got back, I found out the snake was going back to ‘see’ if there were more but there wasn’t. Mama bird and papa bird watched us from up on the wire. I think they already knew it was too late since they watched the whole thing. I thought just the other day that nature and our pets go on with their lives totally unaffected by the pandemic. This family of Bluebirds just had their own natural pandemic.
However, one thing I know for sure is they will be back and try to raise more baby Bluebirds. How do I know that? Because they have had loss before and it never has stopped them from trying again. So I cleaned out the house to help give them a fresh start.
Now onto Five Questions Friday…
Q: Are these baskets new? I like them.
Eric: Yes. These are two new sizes of my Legacy ovals. I’m getting ready to finish the handles over the next few days.
Q: I see your new coffee mug… you like it?
Eric: I don’t like it, I love it! When I drink my coffee in the morning it gives me focus on my goal. I know I had you pay more for the blue color on the handle and inside but it’s an extra nice touch.
Can’t wait until you get you “Get America Making BASKETS Again!” face mask for Tony’s.
Q: Do you think we’re the only ones in the country that hasn’t seen the whole Tiger King series?
Eric: No. There’s other smart people out there.
Well, I must not be one of those smart people because I really want to try to watch the second episode to see if it gets better.
Q: Are you happy to finally get your hair cut next week?
Eric: Yes. Had I known everything was going to be shut down shortly after I cut all my hair off I would’ve waited. It looks terrible. Kari said I should go no more than six weeks. I think it’s been over 2 and a half months.
Q: What irritated you?
Eric: Ratsnakes. And just learned why they are also called chicken snakes. Because they are known to raid chicken coups for eggs and tiny chicks. Not a big fan today of snakes.
good writing guys! this is one of your best. k
All Eric.
Like Eric Lynn don’t get me going on the Emerald Ash Borer from China. we also have a small lake behind us with a great deal of wildlife lately A Mama Mallard had 4 babies she now has 3 and she’s fighting to keep the 3 of them alive. Mud turtles trying to bring her down not to mention 2 very aggressive hawks Ah the nature of life it’s wonderful until you have to watch the predators do their thing and then it’s horrifying so with that long sob story I will return to my Eric Taylor basket tomorrow because it seems to be the only place I find peace and quiet lately. Thanks for listening guys.
You did a great job editing my story- teamwork makes the dream work. Love You!