As a young girl I always waited for our yearly vacation..I knew I would be seeing my favorite aunt Stellena..
She lived in the country about as far back as anyone could live in a small little community called Burks Garden in the high mountains of VA.. the rolling hills were a must to see for someone who did not go often and from the city..
The valley called by those who lived there was originally at one time a volcano..now slumber for probably a million years the little rich fertile land was destine to be a beautiful valley where the Native Americans had once lived..the excitement of getting there was just as wonderful as being there..
I can still remember sitting on my side of the car in the back seat looking out over the valley from my window as we drew nearer..wondering always if dad would have a tire slip over the edge to eventually plunge downward..I would almost cover my eyes as we continued down the mountain..rounding the narrow curves back and forth until it gently levelled off to the bottom road to continue on into my wonderful world of excitement..
As always I was anxious to see my aunt..she was a sweet lady..and in all respects..and the big two story country home with the wrap around porch was always a grand site to see..the house was painted white..with black shutters..and the gray porch with the porch swing as you entered towards the front door..was always a first object to sit in and have a little push before settling in..looking into the long sheered curtain windows to nearly the floor..
Now this was home to me..
The creaky gate with the country smell..I can close my eyes and smell that particular smell of yester year..everything is still so vivid that I can only wish I were back there..
There were the usual cattle..chickens..goats..sheep..geese..dogs..and the never ending assortment for kittens..they were always around..especially at milking time with their ever present meow's..
With the help of my aunt's teaching I did learn how to milk and in time mastered that if you can call it a master in disguise..many a time I wound up with nothing more than a few drops forgetting to move the pail out and away from Betsy's hoof.
The hogs were a different story..dirty and stinky there were not my forte..and slopping the hogs I sure was not crazy about..but this was country and I would try anything.. my other joy were the two Tennessee walking horses and they were the love I felt so dear and near..they would let you love them and in return gave the most fantastic thoughts to a perfect day with a sunny glorious ride..Sam and Pete were beautiful and I was forever wanting one of my own..well that never would be in the city but they were mine with me here for the time being..
Then there was slow sure footed old Mack the work horse..sweet in spirit if not mind ..when the other two horses were not around Mack was my choice to ride..
The daisy's..petunia's..and pansies were always there to see with their vibrant colors and such a choice of many along with others I did not know the name of all ..and the green velvet grass was always full of daffodils..with the two hundred year old oak trees in the yard for shade..
My favorite was always an intertube or a tire around one of the trees on the property around the side porch and I could swing and look towards the mountains pass the wheat fields and see the sun setting low behind them in the evenings..the whipper will's singing there song and the tree frogs shouting there crocking notes..
Just the natural noises of the country..you could imagine all things were out there just staring back at you and at times I would come inside off the porch with goose bumps from my own thoughts..
The weeks went by with slumber thoughts..and merry melodies from nature..listening to the crystal clear brooks and cupping my hands into the cold spring water for drink on a hot summer's day..the reflection from the sun made the water sparkle like diamond's over tiny pebbles..
I never did venture far..there was always so much to just do and see in this mother earth that I was always noticing something new..the little path that went to the hand pump water well..with the ladle and bucket for someone who needed a drink..that was always fun to stand and pump the cold water from so deep in the ground..and with a powerful gush here it was splattered usually all over me..
I wanted to do something just different..not from boredom just different and took off into the direction of the east mountain side with the sun shinning brightly and the wind blowing softly through my hair..I knew that my aunt and I had walked in this direction at times but it had been many years since..and the thoughts of remembering were coming back or I was pretty sure I knew my way..
I had not walked more than a mile but the sun was getting hot..and I wondered to myself was I taking on more than I bargained for..but onward I went..I was never one to give up so quickly..I came to a little clearing and settled down on some pete moss around a tree and thought I would rest and then go back..it was awfully pretty here but a nice rest would be fine and gather my wind back..the weeds were a little high and walking in them made the walk a little harder from the normal..leaning back onto the tree I must have fell a sleep..remembering the breeze blowing and cooling me down..
Hearing a little rustle sound ..there was a fairy..a small tiny figure of a person with delicate wings and a whimsical musical sound to the right as I turned my head slightly..there she was picking tiny lilacs from the ground and making a small head wreath..well I had to stare and watch this was fascinating..I would have to hurry and tell my mom..dad..and my aunt..they would never believe me..with all the wonders of the universe this was just one of those wonders.. listening I hear my dad say .."wake up kyusha".."we were getting worried about you"..looking into his kind face I held out a hand for his help in getting up..and proceeded to tell him my story of the beautiful fairy ..well was it really a dream after all..but then this was my "Garden Secret's"..
By Kyusha2000��
