In twenty five years of marriage to a second generation real estate man, I can tell you I’ve heard many tales of quirky happenings during showings and closings.  My husband, Tim, is at it again with his recollection of this preview on a day last July.   Hope you enjoy reading it as much I enjoyed hearing it.  –Leslie 

Polistes carolinus!  Are you scared yet?  No?  You should be.  RED WASPS!   Tiny little winged creatures who love to build nests under door jams to protect their colony from bad weather.  Non-aggressive insects until their little “paper” nest is disturbed, at which time these creatures become kamikaze homeland defense machines striking terror into the veins of any human to be on the receiving end of  their attack. 

I had the misfortune of accidentally disturbing a rather large nest while showing a Martin, TN property to a lovely family of  four last summer.   While innocently unlocking the door to a vacant house, I noticed a light fluttering feeling on the back of my neck and reached up to see what it was.  Suddenly, a sharp pain ran through the skin on the back of my neck causing my primal instinctive alarm system to take complete control of my body.  My senses knew a wasp attack was underway and initiated an automatic defense response without any conscious effort on my part. 

Flailing my arms and hands about my head and neck, I leapt from the front porch and ran at full speed, all the while screaming at the top of my lungs.  This instinctive evasive maneuver helped to minimize the inevitable physical damage and kept the number of stings to a minimum of six.  Yes, six highly painful wasp stings from a single attack.  Two on the back of the neck, three on the back and one on the arm. 

All efforts to maintain dignity and professionalism in the face of danger, and in the presence of my lovely family, had totally disappeared.  After all, how can you not look insanely silly running and screaming across the front yard while beating yourself about the head and neck?  However, I did manage to attract all of the attacking beasts away from my buyers who, after all the excitement, did show some sympathy and managed not to burst out laughing.  

Of course,  it was the mom who asked, with true concern in her voice,  if I was allergic to wasp stings?  Trying to make a little humor out the situation I replied “I don’t know.  Do you know CPR?”   

Tim Moore

This rather classy and attractive mom, who I think was probably internally panicking over images of mouth- to-mouth resuscitation with a male Realtor® whom she had just met, quickly held up her cell phone and said, “I know 911.” 

Are there weekend warrior home improvement plans included in your Memorial Day schedule?  A few projects to protect your investment will make your home more enjoyable now and life easier when you decide to sell.  Here’s a helpful resource and fabulous tool called houselogic® from NAR I recommend that will start you thinking on your projects.

And, while you are working away at a task or celebrating with friends and family over the long holiday weekend be sure to remember what Memorial Day is really about, and take some time to honor the courageous service men and women who died while protecting our country.    

Have a wonderful week and use this resource to help you plan ahead. As always, you can contact me for more info. on what homebuyers searching for a home in Martin and our surrounding towns are asking about.

2316 Mt. Pelia Road, Martin - Beautiful Cottage- Priced in the low $60s

Tim and I will be hosting two open houses this Sunday, May 23, from 1 to 3 p.m. 

5 Reasons to Visit These Open Houses:

  1)  Two Great Choices:  Martin offers quality housing in all price ranges.   Pick the one that fits within your budget and see the value you can get for your money!

2)  Interest Rates are Great:  Have you looked lately at what you can do with financing?  FHA, Rural Home, Conventional–Rates are low and give you a way to get the most for your money. 

3)  Country Setting-  Do you crave a peaceful backyard view of  rolling land and farms?   Both of these homes provide quick access to all of the best of Martin and still shine in a country setting. 

Gentleman's Farm- Log Cabin and 14 acres

4)  Relaxed Atmosphere – Have you scoured the internet and highlighted one of these homes?  Here’s your chance to just take a Sunday drive and preview at your leisure.  If you want to talk with Tim or me, we are there to answer your questions.  We’ve got the specific in-depth information on these two unique homes.

5)  A Chance to Win $8,000-  Century 21 is working hard to build on the benefits felt by many who got a bit of extra cash with the now expired First Time and Current Homebuyer tax credit incentive.   There is a sweepstakes for an $8,000 drawing.  Read about the sweepstakes online or visit with us Sunday and learn more about it!   Here’s the information.

Buying a home is usually a lot of fun and an exciting time in a person’s life, especially when you work with people who care.  We listen and connect.  Come by Sunday.    Here’s the details on both homes:

2316 Mt. Pelia Road

 Directions:  Turn west onto Mt. Pelia Rd at the BP.  Stay on Mt. Pelia Rd approx. 4 miles to the Mt. Pelia community.  House is located on the right on the corner of Mt. Pelia and Poynter Rd. 

• Craftsman style brick cottage in the country features nine ft. ceilings, hardwood floors, wide moldings and French doors.
• Three bedrooms, central heating and cooling and spacious rooms. In addition, you’ll love the roomy shop, workshop drive-in basement and low maintenance exterior. 
• Priced in the low$60′s, don’t miss this exceptional home ownership opportunity. 

303 Collier Road

Directions:  Turn west onto Mt. Pelia Rd. at the BP station.  Stay on Mt. Pelia Rd. to Collier Rd.  Turn left onto Collier Rd.  House will be approx .3 mi on the left. Watch for signs! 

• Custom log home on 14.6 acres.  Country living at its finest! 
• Large wrap-around porches overlooking a stocked pond with fishing pier.  Custom built throughout. 
• Ceramic tile, salon bath with jetted tub and tons of custom cabinets and vanities. 
• Guest house or mother-in-law cottage comes with full kitchen and bath. 
• Land is ideal for horses or cattle.  40 x 80 shop plus RV and boat storage. 

Need more information.  Feel free to contact me at 731-225-2619 or leslie@lesliehaywood-moore.com.

See you Sunday.

New sidewalks and trees-A Sunday downtown 2008

“What’s in it for me?  I don’t have a business down there.” 

“Money is being spent to install new sidewalks and lighting.  How does that help my business?

“How does all this effort going into the downtown business district help my business outside of downtown?” 

Admit it, if you don’t work in or own a business downtown these may be some of your thoughts as the City of Martin continues to push forward in revitalizing our downtown business district.  All of the efforts of past downtown projects and now the launch of the city’s involvement in Tennessee Downtowns, a revitalization program operated under the principles of the successful Main Street ® program, raises questions.  Of course it does.  It is change.  Someone will benefit.  Who will it be?

The answer is:  All of us. 

When you describe Martin to others outside our area, do you include a glowing recommendation to visit our downtown area for shopping, eating, business services and entertainment? 

Do you include downtown Martin as part of your stops when you are holiday or back-to-school shopping or simply looking for a birthday party gift for your child?

Do you consider downtown Martin as one of the places to go when you bring guests or family members into town on the weekends? 

Downtown Martin is growing!

Answer these questions, and ask yourself  if you are actively supporting what is happening downtown right now to help it grow?   Are you willing, but unsure of how you can help? 

You may have read in the newspaper, recently, that Martin was one of ten TN towns selected for the Tennessee Downtowns grant.  Yesterday was the first planning session, and the steering committee and the coordinators involved with Tennessee Downtowns met in the conference room of Office Products.

My main take-away from this meeting was that comprehensive revitalization takes time.  We should begin our endeavor by taking “baby steps,” as one of the coordinators described it and questioning what we like about our downtown.  So, I am asking you to help with the homework.  Take a look at what downtown means to you.  Find the positive qualities of our downtown, and focus there for now. 

Here’s how you can join in.   A suggestion was made for the steering committee to complete a list of The 100 Things You Can Find In Downtown Martin.  There is now a list growing on Facebook on the Historic Martin page.  If you aren’t a friend, join and add to the list.  Start the process and get involved. Visit our downtown area.  If you aren’t satisfied with what you see, think about where your skills and interests may help bring change.  And if you aren’t on Facebook,  you can email me your suggestions, and I’ll add them in.  Email 100Things@lesliehaywood-moore.com or add as a comment to this post.

Add beautiful architecture to our list. Window above entrance at Weldon Public Library.

A vibrant downtown is a drawing point, a source of pride, a centralized location representing the very heart and soul of a town.  And revitalization efforts are not just for the people who own and operate businesses downtown.   My business location isn’t downtown, yet I want downtown Martin to continue its efforts in growing as the center of our community more than it already is.  The results affect my business and my quality of life in Martin, TN.

As a Realtor®, my perspective  is that a healthy downtown brings life to a community.  A vibrant downtown is a tremendous selling point and attraction for newcomers whether they will be working with existing business or bringing a business to town.   (Follow the progress of a new business under renovation now in downtown Martin on their Facebook page, The Looking Glass Coffee & Curiosities. )  

Plus, an increase in successful businesses downtown can increase revenues to our city and contribute to a healthier economic condition.  Remember, new businesses provide an upswing in opportunities for the many people who provide goods and services to Martin residents.  The more people pulled to Martin to work, or to open new businesses or to visit means increased needs for housing, food, entertainment, lodging, shopping, and the list goes on and on.  

The Opera House Restaurant - A highlight downtown

2) Additionally, the renovation of existing streetscapes is an investment in the physical elements of our city and adds to the beauty and charm of our area.  Spending money to upgrade our town in this manner makes sense.  A well-kept and appealing downtown area only boosts the attraction quality of Martin to others.

As a long-time Martin resident, my perspective is that I want a vibrant downtown filled with shops, businesses and restaurants that offers me and my family ample,  in-town opportunities for entertainment and business.   How many of us travel to other towns and cities in Tennessee and end up in the downtown area due to the variety of businesses, shops, restaurants, entertainment outlets, art and music fairs, special events and more—all in one central location? 

My wish for our downtown?  I see a place where people fall in love with our own unique Martin downtown.   I want visitors to ooh and ahh when they go home and describe the excitement and life they saw in our business district.   Think about a downtown you have visited in the past year or so.  Have you ever described for someone what you loved about the area?  I always talk about Paducah’s downtown with its brick-street alleys and antique shops, its restaurants and Kirchhoff’s deli-bakery–a have-to stop on every trip. 

The Art's Co-Op - A welcomed addition to downtown

(P.S.  Another thought for those of us who have businesses located outside the downtown business district and wonder how all the attention to downtown helps them.   My experience has been that Paducah’s downtown may be the attraction for me, but I’ve become acquainted with the town because of my trips there and have found other shops, restaurants and activities outside of downtown where I also spend my money and time.) 

The point is there are towns all over the nation where people started out small with big ideas toward enhancing their downtown area.  I believe Martin is a part of this forward-thinking group.

The amount of work already done to downtown has infused energy and excitement to the area.  I offer kudos and a big thank you to everyone who has worked to bring new life to our downtown.  My family has enjoyed the benefits from the existing businesses downtown and the positive effects of a new downtown look, a new restaurant, a new arts facility and several businesses that have entered the scene over the years.  

The first step is to change how we all look at our involvement in supporting additional downtown revitalization efforts.  These are my personal observations as a business owner and resident of Martin.  Will you join me in helping to promote growth downtown by taking a small baby step and help build our list of The 100 Things You Can Find in Downtown Martin?

Much to See at WLJT-TV’s Wedding Wonderland Bridal Vendor Show.

For my readers who have wedding bells in their future, here’s a chance to gather in the best ideas for every part of your special day–all in one location.   WLJT-TV’s second annual Wedding Wonderland Bridal Vendor Show is this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Lindell, downtown Martin.

Admission is free.  Plus, vendors have taken every booth available promising brides and their families a full array of wedding necessities and services to preview without the hassle and expense of traveling out of town.

I had a chance to ask Katrina Cobb, WLJT-TV’s assistant station manager and bridal show coordinator, about Saturday’s event:

Who should attend ?  ”This show is for everyone.  The bride is an absolute must.  She can bring her bridesmaids, and they can help her pick out the best cakes.  She can bring her mom and dad, and they can help her choose a photographer.  She can bring the groom, and he can help pick out his tux.  There’s something for everyone.”

What is a favorite of yours at the show ?  ”Last year, we all had a wonderful time.  It was so great to see these girls planning for their big day!  Some only brought one or two people with them, and there were others who brought the whole family.   One girl introduced me to her group of about eight people, and she pointed out her father to me.  I commented that he was the first father of the day.  He was quick to tell me that he was writing the check, so he wanted to see what he was paying for.”

Katrina continued,  ”This event just puts a smile on your face.  It’s beautiful, first of all, because the vendors take such pride in their displays.  The brides and their friends are all so excited.  And, well, it’s just something different to do on a Saturday in Martin, Tennessee. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

What prompted WLJT to begin offering this event ? ” With the state of the economy, we’re all looking for new ways to raise money – especially not-for-profits like WLJT.  Each time we consider a new event like this we ask ourselves several questions.  Is there a need for this?  Is there a “following” for this?  Is it a service that we can provide?  Can we be involved in this sort of event and still hold our heads up high and feel with spent our time and efforts respectfully? In the case of our Wedding Wonderland there was definitely a need.   No similar events closer than Jackson had been held in several years, and there’s always a following because there’s always new brides.  This is something that we can coordinate and be of service, not only to the brides, but also to the vendors who look at this as being a different avenue of promotion for their business.  We work with the absolute best vendors, so we’re very proud of the company we keep!”

I know the admission is free, and that vendors pay for their booth space. How does WLJT-TV benefit from this fundraiser? “The vendor booth revenue goes directly to the purchase of programs seen on WLJT and to the cost of outreach programs that we provide.  So we’re taking the vendor’s money and investing it back in to the services we provide for West Tennesseans.”

It takes a lot of time and organization to make an event like this successful.  To what do you attribute your success ?  ”A great group of people at the station doing something they love – meeting and serving the community – coming together with a great group of vendors that are dedicated to providing quality products and services to their customers.  It’s a winning combination.”

The Lindell is a special event facility offering an elegant venue in downtown Martin.

Any other information you would like to share about the event?   “We’ll be open Saturday, January 23 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at  The Lindell in downtown Martin.  Cost is absolutely zero, and the brides can register for some fabulous door prizes, make some new friends and take care of a lot of the wedding “to do” list.”

One of the most charming streets in our town is Poplar Street, a residential historic district off of Main Street and a quick stroll from downtown.  Although small in size with only twenty-eight homes, Poplar looms large for anyone who appreciates older homes and a residential area surrounded by schools and shopping.

Warner Pace is a Martin resident and Chairman of the Board of the Martin Historic Zoning Commission.  He has lived on Poplar Street since the late 1980′s when he bought a dilapidated, historic home on a run-down street.  I asked him his thoughts on reviving this neighborhood and living here:

Poplar Street Beauty

What do you like most about living in the downtown area of Martin and on Poplar Street?      “It’s close to area schools with the elementary and primary within walking distance.  Downtown  is only a block away, so you can walk to work and/or shop.  Plus, the neighbors are wonderful.”

What prompted you to buy an older home? “I love the charm and warmth a period  home offers.  When I first bought my house it was in ruins, with windows out, dogs living in it, etc.  The street was mostly rental property with the larger homes being divided into apartments.  There were only four family homes in 1987.  This was all before any historic zoning overlay was established.  With the families and I who were left, we worked on establishing Poplar Street and later downtown into historic districts with zoning overlays.  With this established, future residences (homes) on Poplar Street would have to be single family homes.  As of 2010, the whole street has been restored, except one property, back to their original state and are single family properties. It has been a long journey, but worth the effort.”

Springtime On Poplar St. Lovely Older Home

Since Poplar is part of the Martin Historic district, I know there are guidelines provided to help maintain the integrity of the “historic district” title.  How restrictive are these guidelines and what challenges, if any, did you run into with them while renovating your home? “The Martin Historic zoning is an overlay zoning to the city’s regular zoning laws.  It protects the property owners from new development that would not be period to the area.  The guidelines address anything that is on street view.  The theme is to restore, not remodel.  The Historic board will work with the property owner prior to the board meetings to offer suggestions and show samples of what has been approved in the past.  A Certificate of Appropriation (COA) must be submitted on each project.  The board was very helpful during the process of restoring my  home.”

You have taken a huge role in renovating buildings both downtown with your businesses, The Lindell and The Gallery, and on your home on Poplar.  You recently provided me so much support while I was working with a prospective new business owner on a building downtown.  Speaking from experience, what do you think are the most important factors someone needs to consider before buying an older home or building? “First, do you really love it?  Next, do you have the passion and the finances to see it through?”

Historic Home Marker, Winter 2010

What are the best resources for people who want more information about historic homes, etc.  I know you mentioned the link to city hall I can provide.  Any others?    ”There are state and national websites and agencies that we work with who will provide expert advice.”

Warner’s home now is a shining example of a successful restoration.  His example led others to join in recreating an area offering the closeness of downtown living within a well-kept and desirable neighborhood.  Like many Martin streets, Poplar offers an eclectic blend of styles from two bedroom cottages to sprawling two story homes.  The problem is homes don’t go for sale that often on Poplar.  Perhaps, this neighborhood is just too comfortable to leave.

Feel free to contact Warner at wpace@utm.edu for more information or visit the sites he suggested:  http://www.cityofmartin.net/historic.htm;      http://www.tennessee.gov/environment/hist/

___________________________________________________________________________________

Here are the Poplar Street stats*:

Current Listings:                 1

Asking Price:                          $118,900
Htd. Square Footage:         2430

________________

Current Pending: 0

______________

Closed Sales (Past Year Jan. 2009-Jan. 2010): 0

Every one of our neighborhoods has its own story.  Join in the conversation and comment on what you love about our area.  Looking for more information?  Send me a note, and I’ll be happy to provide you with a detailed report on the homes on this street or other neighborhoods in Martin and surrounding areas.  And, if you know of a neighborhood you would like to see highlighted, just let me know.

*Stats Info.from MLS Data -Reelfoot Regional Association of Realtors

Martin Business Association Members:  You live in a small town. But, that doesn’t mean you know everybody.  You may have lived here in Martin all of your life, but there are new faces and new businesses around.

That’s why the MBA’s Mix and Mingle events are so much fun.  And this one coming up Thursday night at the UTM Elam Center is one to attend.

Don’t miss out on talking with old and new friends.  It’s a great chance to connect.  (I met a person new to town, at the first Mix and Mingle I attended, who later became a real estate client.  I became a believer in these events from that day on.) Obviously, networking is what it is all about, but getting to do so while supporting UTM athletics during this event is a plus.

Not a member and interested?  Join MBA today.  It is a free membership that is worth the time.

Here’s the scoop for MBA’s Quarterly Mix and Mingle:

UTM’s Department of Athletics, as the sponsor, is graciously providing hors d’oeuvres and refreshments for MBA members during the Mix and Mingle from 5 to 6 p.m.  You can stay afterwards and get free admission to the Skyhawk’s games against Tennessee Tech.  Plus, UTM says the men’s game is being shown on ESPNU, so be sure to show your support for the teams by wearing orange and blue.

Parking and Registration: I spoke with Trudy Henderson from the UTM department of athletics today about the event.   She said the best place to park is in the lot next to the tennis courts off of Mt. Pelia.   Enter in the Elam Center front doors by the indoor pool overlook.   Then, register at the MBA table located before you reach the ticket booth.  From there, Trudy says someone will direct you straight down the Skyhawk concourse to a private reception area.

More Info:  RSVP Deadline is Wednesday, January 13 by noon.  Make sure to email Trudy at trudyh@utm.edu and let her know you are attending.

The Skyhawk Club Room, Elam Center, UTM ; 5 – 6 p.m. this Thursday night, Jan. 14.

See you there.

In many parts of the world, Christmas is celebrated from Dec. 25 through Epiphany on January 6.  Celebrations continue and decorations remain up.  My family honors the twelve days of Christmas.   But, the pine scented greenery placed on our mantle is drying to a prickly, irritating mess.  And, another strand of lights on our pre-lit tree just blew out leaving black holes within the warm glow in the corner.  Only one day to go.

For some, the faster the decorations can come down, the better.   For the first few days following Christmas, Facebook updates spread the relief of friends who had conquered storing the tree and all the trimmings   I guess it is understandable.   Holiday decorations and preparations surround and bombard us months before December 25.  Frankly, by Christmas, many of us, overloaded and almost sick of the fanfare, succumb to the itch to put the holiday behind us and get on with the new year.  (Plus, I think it is bad luck to leave your decorations up PAST the last day of the season, so an early removal strategy could be better time-management.)

But at our house, the decorations are still up, and the lights are on through the bitter end.   The simple act of plugging in the Christmas lights each night helps me linger a bit longer within this holiday bubble. The new year, with all of its rush and excitement, taps at my shoulder whispering that school starts back today.  Vacation is over, and life must revert back to normal.   However, I’m intent on a change in attitude.   I tell my husband I want the peacefulness and closeness to my family and friends I’ve felt over this holiday season to continue on.

And like the familiar holiday song where a true love delights the singer with gifts for each of these twelve special days, the true presence of the holiday season can offer joy day after day if you can sit back, recognize and revisit the moments of what Christmas means to you.

With school out and kids at home, more time together as a family created memories for me as we laughed  through lively Scrabble and Apples to Apples games.  Noisy afternoons full of kids running, yelling and playing hide-and- seek inside and out of the house filled up our vacation days.  And a few, treasured nights of conversation over home cooked dinners with long-time, but seldom seen, friends rounded out a new year’s weekend.

This Wednesday, Christmas ends , as always, with the visit from the wise men.  Maybe the epiphany here is that whether we meet December 26 with a house as bare of Christmas as little Cindy Lou Who’s home when the Grinch stole everything, or if we face January 6 with dried out greenery, malfunctioning Christmas lights and a mid-week task of taking it all down, we can still savor the real beauty of the season and carry it through 2010.

Thanks for reading and for your support over 2009.   Now, take a minute to laugh and enjoy this awesome  acapella group I happily discovered on YouTube this year– Straight No Chaser and their hilarious version of the twelve days of Christmas.

“What kind of critters do you have here?” asked the lady from a northern city after she had settled on a home in a Martin neighborhood.  How many times had I heard that question?  Rolly-polly oppossums, raccoon families, deer, as well as a screech or a barn owl and one big, black snake have all made an appearance at some time or another in my Martin backyard, I told her.  Of course, that is in addition to domestic critters, like the strutting, independent tomcats who visit and the sweet, older neighbor dog who got caught out in a raging thunderstorm once and ended up cowering from the thunder in my garage.  These tame ones aside, it’s those unusual creatures that are a novelty to see when they are way out in the yard, but a closer look?  Well, that’s different.

Let’s see.  Our baby girl was still young enough to be sleeping in a bassinett in the master bedroom on the night of our visitor.  I was propped up on pillows reading.  Tim and the boys were all asleep.  Newton, our big, 80- pound briard, was in the den, and the cats were in the garage where they usually slept.  The house was calm.

Just as I reached to turn off the light, Newton ambled through the bedroom doorway, and I caught the slightest glimpse of a furry ringed tail stuck in the air and headed behind the bassinett and our bed.  Newton was calm with ears alert.  He wasn’t barking.  He ran up to the bassinet and stood there looking at the bed.  “It couldn’t be the cat,” I thought.  Our cats were altogether white.  Of course, in typical southern girl fashion when it comes to wild critters, I immediately sought out my husband to handle the situation.  I shook him awake.  “There’s a raccoon in here,” I whispered, trying not to wake the baby.  Tim, groggy with sleep, assured me it was only a cat and mumbled for me to turn off the light.

Hesitantly peeking under the bedskirt, I saw two wide, black, closely-set eyes staring back at me.  None of my cats looked like that.  I still can’t remember how I was able to snatch up our daughter in her crib and vault through the bedroom in two seconds.  My words trailed behind me as I hit the door, “Okay, if it’s a cat, you sleep in here with it. We are moving to the den!”

Newton, in the meantime, was prancing all around the bed nosing under the skirt trying to see what this visitor could be, but he never barked.  I could hear his paws on the wood floor.  Several long minutes ticked by, and I heard my husband get up, pause, (I assumed he was looking under the bed) and then walk down the hallway into the den.  “You’re right,” he said, wide awake now.  “It is a raccoon!”

And so began the saga of extracting a frightened, young raccoon from our bedroom to his outside home.  After first building a blockade of chairs and blankets to cordon off both Newton and the den, Tim and our son, Harrison, used broomsticks to corrall the creature from behind the bed and through the propped open back porch door.  They beat the floor with their sticks, yelling whatever guys yell at times like this, and pretty much drove that poor raccoon into a hasty retreat.  The last we saw of him was his little bottom and tail waddling as fast as his legs could take him off into the night.

We think our little, nocturnal creature was exploring the roof and fell down through the stone chimney into our den.  Newton simply followed it.  Since that night, our family dog has considered it his prime duty to sound the alarm and chase every raccoon that unfortunately found itself in our backyard.  Barking furiously and leaping at the door, he valiantly would protect his family.  Even now, aged and infirm, he will still stand at the window and issue a gruff warning.  But, that night, magically, he kept calm and close to the baby.  He didn’t knock over the bassinet trying to get to the raccoon.  He didn’t go nuts barking.  A pretty sharp critter there, wouldn’t you agree?  And, the baby slept through it all.

We didn’t have another close encounter with a wild animal until I looked across the street one morning right before school and spied a breathtaking creature in our neighbor’s front yard.  A startlingly, all white deer was regally standing before me.  It had these huge,  flat, broad antlers, I promise, like reindeers in Santa Claus movies, not the typical rack you see on West Tennessee deer.   It stopped for a few moments and then bounded down the street and back into a neighboring field.   I thought I was hallucinating until I ran outside, and my husband and sons, who were leaving for school, also confirmed the sighting.  (Several neighbors also saw the deer, just in case you think we all had something stronger than cereal and coffee for breakfast.)   Was it an escaped pet?   I believe it was, but I like to think of it as a moment of fairy-tale magic right here in my neighborhood.

Critters abound in our area, and every once in a while some get close– even in our town’s neighborhoods.  If you are from the city, just relax, get used to it and enjoy the surprise.

One of my good buddies, newscoma, told me yesterday that she liked to write about critters.  We decided everyone from around here probably has a critter story.  What’s yours?