Even though it rained in the morning, was slightly steamy and a tad too warm, every noisy critter was heard from, especially the two-legged ones.
Weekenders like the Skeeters race to the quiet countryside so they can create a din. I don't think they were shooting skeet, since they were using some sort of semi-automatic guns. The sound made me slightly uneasy, even though I've met some of the guys and they seemed nice enough.
Retreating into the house, with the AC and fans on, I hid out. Itzhak Perlman and the entire Vienna Philharmonic could not drown out the shots.
Once, there was such a boom that they apparently were either letting off some fireworks or had brought a small cannon to liven up the place.
Then there were the four-wheelers racing up and down the road, and motorbikes. This place is miles from civilization, too far to drive here on those puny vehicles. Entire families went by, each on their own noisy motorized kiddycar. This at a time when cars now have comfy seats and air conditioning.
I had to laugh when three huge tour coaches drove past, in a sort of convoy. That was a first for my narrow gravel road. I thought at first maybe they had detoured because of the high water on some back roads, but they were not accompanied by any other large vehicles. Perhaps they were lost. Perhaps they were on a See Rednecks at Play Tour. If so, they should have opened the bus windows for the full effect.
Double-checking my calendar, I confirmed that it wasn't a national holiday.
Rooster's crowing was drowned out by very loud cicadas, now at full volume.
A few days ago, I saw hundreds of the red-eyed insects perched atop grasses and weeds, I thought they were locusts. However, when they started their ear-splitting carrying on today, I knew the truth. I last heard some in 1998 when I lived in town.
Now, looking online, I found an interesting YouTube documentary about them. Apparently, the critters stay in the ground for seventeen years, then come out for their brief mating season. The video said they were one of the loudest sounds in nature. Too true.
Beau has been enjoying crunching on their many exoskeletons under the apple tree.
The hill behind the house had lots of them. Imagine their surprise when the tulip poplar that they dropped from as tiny critters had died and been made into firewood while they were incubating, lo these many years.
I should be so lucky with such an interval for the Skeeters, who come on most nice weekends. Their new cabin is not visible from the road, so I usually don't see them. Like the cicadas up in the treetops, I know when they are active by the reports.
There was another background sound that I think was frogs. We've had so much rain that they may be rejoicing in the several ponds nearby.
Then there were the cows. Recently deprived of their rather over-sized calves, they have been standing at the fence and mooing loudly. Taking their babies makes them low.
So much for the peace and quiet of the countryside. My ears are ringing.
