For the first time since I have been an “adult”, managing my
own household, I actually have a front porch sitting area, it’s like all of my
wildest dreams are coming true! Though it’s still a little on the chilly side
in the evenings, it’s nothing a hot cup of chamomile tea, and a fuzzy blanket
can’t fix. One of the reasons I am jumping for joy over my portico of solitude
is the spring peepers. If you have never
experienced an evening of silence, accompanied by these chorus frogs (yes, it’s
a frog not an insect) you are lacking some serious happy place moments. For me, it’s one of those things that take me
back to simpler times, kind of like Laura Ingles Wilder, only a bit more
stylish.
For me, yesterday was a particularly trying day. After
working, I wanted desperately to get into the woods. One of my favorite
activities up here is to go hiking, as we have some of the best hiking spots in
Maine! That unfortunately didn’t happen, because of the lovely rain we have
been getting. Like the winter wasn’t long enough, now we seem to be living in a
dimension where it’s raining from all sides of the universe, and is never going
to end. The warmth of the sun is just a distant memory, much like The Macarena
(only way hotter). I then had to deal
with a four year old, whose mood swings these days are comparable to those of
Russell Brand. Yeah, yeah, she’s a bit cuter, but you get the picture. So for
me, once I tamed my daughter’s temper, and snuggled her into bed, I headed for
my sprightly sitting area as quickly as I could, before I had a Russell Brand
moment myself. As soon as I stepped onto my porch and heard those peepers,
suddenly all was right with the world. It was as if my front porch had become a
utopia, and the only other living creatures were these musical angels, sent to
deliver a song specific to me. I know
that sounds a bit intense, but the feeling accompanied with their song is
intense.
So what is a peeper? I have clued you in to the fact that
they are actually a frog, not an insect, as I’ve found most people
believe. Peepers are found in Eastern
United States, and Canada. There are two different species of spring peepers,
here in Maine; we have what is called the Pseudacris crucifer, which sounds
more like the name of a terrible rap singer, than a musical genius. I have
never heard them referred to as anything other than a peeper, but apparently
there are a number of different names used to describe a peeper, depending on
geographic location. On Martha’s Vineyard, they are commonly called
pinkletinks, in Canada, tinkletoes or pink-winks. For me, they can’t be
described in anyway, other than a peeper. These other names are all too
reminiscent of something you’d see in a ballet recital, and though I am pretty
great at making connections, I struggle to draw that line. So for me, they’re simply “peepers”. Peepers
frequent forests and regenerating woodlands. They require marshes, ponds, or
swamps to support the aquatic environment the eggs and tadpoles need. One of
the coolest thing I’ve discovered about peepers, is that they can tolerate some
of their body fluids freezing, how cool is that? I feel like this would be super helpful for
the crazy people who live way up here in Maine!
We are some lucky peeps here in Maine. I know people who
have lived in the concrete jungle for so long, they don’t even know what the
big dipper looks like. This sounds ludacris to all of us up here in God’s
Country, but it’s the truth. We are so blessed with all that Mother Nature has
to offer, all available as soon as we skip out the front door. I encourage you
all to become more aware of what we are offered here in the North Woods as a
playground. Instead of turning on the latest episode of Hell’s Kitchen, step
outside, and just listen to nature’s calling. I promise, it will be far more
relaxing than Gordon Ramsey’s shrieking as though he is a spider monkey calling
to his mate.
I’m off, searching
for my next new adventure, maybe it will involve something with a little more
zing than sitting on my porch, tea in hand, and my fuzzy blanket. Any suggestions on adventuring in our little
piece of paradise are more than welcome, I promise to write an at least mildly
intriguing blog about any adventure you set me off with!
Amber
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