This...My 'lil' neck o' the wood'...

It isn't as though I need reminding of my great, good, fortune of residing in the wondrous, world o' wildlife in which I do. Yet, I am often reminded, of the fortuitousness of my life, when somebody, coming to my home for the very first time, reflects back to me, my own sense of awe, wonder, and, astonishment with respect to one of the 'best kept secrets' in the locality. Unless one is aware of the existence of a house, at the dead-end of my street, and this fact being noted, only, by the mailbox, street-side, one would never expect to discover a home here. The acre+ on which my home sits, and where I reside, presents a sprawling meadow, this time of year, and is filled with an array of wildflowers, the likes of which I'm hard-pressed to find elsewhere. There is woodland, offering the most natural of privacy-fences, sequestering me from the few neighbors residing near me. It is widely known that 'good fences make good neighbors'. My great, tree-lined fence makes for even greater neighbors, still. Often, while strolling about my 'little piece of Paradise', feeling as though I've stepped right into a 'Walt Disney' film, I am surrounded by the little creatures that share my space. Birds of many variety, Butterflies, and Dragonflies, sweep past me, as I investigate the landscape, which, with each season, takes on a new, and different, face. Bunnies, Chipmunks, and, Squirrels, number the many, mammalian, critters which abound; Hence, the frequency of Hawks which soar overhead; not to mention the Wild-Turkey, Deer, Fisher Cats, Racoons, Possums, and the, once, espied, Bobcat. The waterway, which abuts my land, brings about it's own, ever-changing, populace. The water's constant, changing, depth determines what matter of life inhabits it. Often, there are Beaver, whom, all but disappear, when the water level falls, as they move upstream to deeper water. There are great Blue-Heron, and snow-white Crane(s), which, occasionally, show themselves. I've witnessed Cormorants, and, once, a Snowy Owl, as it passed overhead, in an all but silent 'whoosh'. This is my Wonderland. Yesterday's guest, whom I received, for her 'virgin' visit to this place of vestige offering, a sanctuary, which, 'once upon a time', supported a population of Americans, native to this land, expressed her admiration, and, surprise, of this...my own little piece of Heaven. I DO know how very fortunate I am...I do. And, whenever I can share my 'wealth' with anyone, I am more than happy to do so. Just Sayin'...