Emerson and the Back Yard Bears

Originally published 8.21.14

I've posted video of Peaches on my author page on FaceBook. I'll try and figure out how to post it here later... but now to this week's blog.

So I have this writing room in my back yard. It's supposed to be my room, a sanctuary from the noise and chaos of the household grind. My wonderful Hubs made it for me with the strength of his hands and sweat of his brow, seriously... he sweats a lot! I can hop inside and disappear into worlds that only exist in my mind. It is a writer's dream come true and it is mine, all mine...or so I thought.

Because the best time to catch the muse is in the early morning when the rest of my world sleeps, I often find myself ascending the stairs in the dark, before the sun rises. It was within my first few pre-dawn writing sessions that I knew my room would never be just mine. Apparently the wildlife in Leavenworth like my writing room too. My most frequent companion is a squirrel that I have since named Emerson. I'm sure there are more squirrels than just him, but he is by far the one most interested in the habits of an aspiring author. It's like I am his cuppa morning coffee... he wakes up and shimmies down the tree to squawk at me and see what I'm up to. I love him so much! I knew he needed a name right away but I was torn between Emerson or Thoreau (Frost was a distant third but didn't make the cut). I went with Emerson only because it's easier to spell.

So, my frisky, little muse of mirth comes to me almost each morning just after sunrise and dances up and down the trees and squeaks and squeaks... and squeaks, proclaiming to the animal kingdom that I am hard at work. Sometimes I'll step out of my room and into the forest and talk to Emerson about how the story is going, he makes lots of suggestions but sadly, I don't speak squirrel so the world may never know Emerson's point of view only the inspiration he stirs within me.

Mama Peaches, standing up to Mr. Muscles

Emerson is harmless but Mama Peaches, is a-whole-nother story! Mama is the newest neighbor. She moved in a few weeks ago and brought her baby with her. Mama, aka, Peaches (because Mr. Muscles decided to feed some to her), is a beautiful black bear and I think she thinks my mountain belongs to her. I don't argue but I do try to remind her that the back yard, at least, is mine. We think it may have been the local fires that brought them down into our little draw and we have no idea how long they'll stick around but they sure are fun and intimidating to say the least. The Hubs was the first to notice them, he thinks there's a male wandering around too, but we won't name him because once they're named they're not harvestable by our rules so the big male bear will not be a friend, but just might be dinner. Peaches and her cub are safe from our freezer but the real question is are we safe from them? I've never been this close to a big wild animal before, even in a zoo, it's kind of crazy. All I know is I couldn't feel more at home as I do nestled in the cleft of the mountains with my wildlife peeps... if I can call wildlife my peeps.

Anyway, between my three woodland friends and my human visitors who come to see the animals and visit me, my room has become a more like a community center... I guess I don't mind so much, there's always that time just for me right before the day breaks!

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A view of the room during construction. Mama Peaches and her cub have come right up to the fence!