Robin Wall Kimmerer writes of this experience in Braiding Sweetgrass. Beautiful story Janisse. Love the paintings too! Please share my praise with Raven.
30 years ago I had a similar experience. My then toddler daughter and I were coming home from a church ladies' Mother's Day dinner in the cold, rainy Spring dark. Just before the turn to our house, I had to stop at the top of the hill. The road was full of torpid bullfrogs. Never one to miss a teachable moment, I got out and got one and we had a mini-biology lesson by the dome light of the truck. Afterward, I had an Oh No! moment. After instilling a love of all things froggy, I couldn't very well just drive on. So there I am in my Sunday dress, heels and nylons picking up over 25 bullfrogs and walking them to safety on the other side of the road.
Love this! I have experienced a few of those frog-filled rainy nights back when we lived in eastern NC, not too far from the Chown River and Merchant’s Millpond. Frogs everywhere!
People actually used to say they should just move the verbal pools to new locations in that long ago, now paved over, vernal pool-less former farm town I grew up in
When I was a little boy, Daddy taught us to watch for frog reflections on the road at night. Your eyes open for triangular shapes reminded me of those long drives to Allendale, SC with him.
Jenks, sometimes what I'm looking for is a kind of reflection. The frog's body lights up the smallest bit in the headlights. I started to mention that in the story. I didn't know your dad loved nature too. You were a lucky kid.
Ha! Jim, it's a matter of the mailbox being a mile away because the USPO doesn't want to come down our road. And some days are diamonds, some are stones.
Thank you for saving a beautiful living being, Janisse. May that sweet karma follow you.
Saved that one!
I love your immense reverence for life. Prayers for your mama 🙏
We've got you beat We don't have a mailbox at all. The post office is about a 12-minute drive away. But at least it's on country roads.
Not many frogs or toads in my area as it’s quite dry compared to other parts of the UK. Lovely to read this!
Yasmin, I experienced a stab of sadness, thinking of you & so many other people who don't get many amphibians in your life. I had not thought of it.
Robin Wall Kimmerer writes of this experience in Braiding Sweetgrass. Beautiful story Janisse. Love the paintings too! Please share my praise with Raven.
I'll tell Raven, Mary.
30 years ago I had a similar experience. My then toddler daughter and I were coming home from a church ladies' Mother's Day dinner in the cold, rainy Spring dark. Just before the turn to our house, I had to stop at the top of the hill. The road was full of torpid bullfrogs. Never one to miss a teachable moment, I got out and got one and we had a mini-biology lesson by the dome light of the truck. Afterward, I had an Oh No! moment. After instilling a love of all things froggy, I couldn't very well just drive on. So there I am in my Sunday dress, heels and nylons picking up over 25 bullfrogs and walking them to safety on the other side of the road.
Ha! I laughed out loud at this story, imagining you doing the great work even in hose & pumps. Thank you, Nancy.
Love this! I have experienced a few of those frog-filled rainy nights back when we lived in eastern NC, not too far from the Chown River and Merchant’s Millpond. Frogs everywhere!
Yes, poor souls, they too are on the decline. I'm glad you got a chance to see the big migrations of them.
Your writing mesmerized me and then the sound bite sealed it. Even our dogs loved it. Thank you for the smile on this beautiful early May afternoon!
Thank you so much. A dark & stormy night makes any story into a thriller! :)
People actually used to say they should just move the verbal pools to new locations in that long ago, now paved over, vernal pool-less former farm town I grew up in
Lord, I have never heard that. We humans think we rule the world, don't we?
When I was a little boy, Daddy taught us to watch for frog reflections on the road at night. Your eyes open for triangular shapes reminded me of those long drives to Allendale, SC with him.
Jenks, sometimes what I'm looking for is a kind of reflection. The frog's body lights up the smallest bit in the headlights. I started to mention that in the story. I didn't know your dad loved nature too. You were a lucky kid.
You walked a mile in the rain and there was no mail? I would have had a hard time getting over that. :)
Ha! Jim, it's a matter of the mailbox being a mile away because the USPO doesn't want to come down our road. And some days are diamonds, some are stones.
You have the most amazing experiences.