Sunday, May 18, 2008

Step aside Goldilocks

So...I was at the mall the other night and got a call from my neighbor on the cell that there was a bear in the back yard of my next door neighbor. You heard me right...a BEAR. I was beyond surprised. She said that they (other neighbors) had all stopped in front of the house with cars still running and doors wide open to check out this site. He was up on the playset in the back yard.


My first thought should have been, how cool, the girls would have loved to see it. But Oh no, my thought was, Chuck is miles away in another state and I have to get home before it gets dark so I can water the garden with out running into our new neighborhood mascot. I am playing out the whole imaginary scene in my head. How would I ward off a bear with my garden hose and BB gun??? We quickly ended our trip and got in the car and headed home. All the while I was trying to down play the whole thing so the girls wouldn't be scared.


As soon as we got home I got my garden boots on to get out there and water those veggies. Just as I was another neighbor lady drove up in her golf cart to say she heard there was a bear over here and wanted to see if we had seen it. I am thinking to myself, the sun is going down and I need to get these plants watered so I can get inside, I don't have time for chit chat. Instead I say, come on into the garden and we can visit while I water. She does and we do. I turn around and notice the door on the guest house (above the detached garage) is WIDE open. First panicking thought...the bear is up there. So with my neighbor in tow, I climb the stairs (listening first) to check it out. Now I would be lying to you if I said my heart wasn't pounding just a little faster than normal. By now the sun is down and it is dark. I lean in and turn on the lights. Whew. I thought for sure I would find remnants of scenes out of Goldilocks and the 3 bears. I was just positive there would be the table thrown over to the side and the cupboards wide open and a big ol' black bear sleeping in the bed. But, nothing. No bear. No mess. The door must have swung open in the wind or something.


What a crazy night full of drama. I have enjoyed living out in the country. I guess it does have its ups and downs. I am all the more praying for out home to sell so we can reunite with Chuck. I mowed our 2 1/2 acres myself yesterday and felt pretty proud of myself for getting that done and being brave enough to investigate the possible bear in the guest house. And I am not sure what I would have done if I did come face to face with a bear sleeping in the bed. I hadn't gotten that far with my plan.


Here is a picture from my neighbor of the bear. He is cute, but look at those claws.

19 comments:

Ginny said...

Now that's excitement!!!

Twyska said...

He is cute in the picture. Don't think I'd want to see him in my yard though.

leslie said...

Lions and Tigers and BEARS! OH,MY!!
Sorry I couldn't resist!! That would have freaked me out a bit!!!!
I think I would have stayed at the mall! LOL

Rachael said...

How cool and SCARY all at the same time. Times like this where you need a big scary dog for a pet. And, I'm impressed that you mowed 2 1/2 acres all by yourself -- you go girl!

Christy said...

You can do it! Anyone who can give birth, can protect her young. Next time, jump on the lawn mower and chase him!

Shaleen said...

Cris, I can't believe it! We just have snakes, skunks and an occational fox. But a bear in the neighborhood would be very exciting. Maybe more excitement than you are up for right now. Still praying and HBOM.

Salzwedel Family said...

Bears freak me out! You are much braver than I for checking out the guest house.

Tim and Susan said...

Wow, that is so funny and you tell the story SO well. Did the girls get to see the bear? My boys would have loved to see it...he doesn't look too big and scary. What happened at the end??? Did the bear wonder off to another neighbor's house? What a fun story, thanks for sharing it with us. Sorry though you were a little scared and Chuck wasn't around to be your protector and bear hunter...good job on mowing all 2 1/2 acres!! Hang in there lady!

Tim and Susan said...

I am trying to imagine how that fuzzy bear BEARS that tropical heat? Somehow I don't think of bears and Florida together.

crispy said...

I want to get some more pictures of him. I talked to my neighbor who's tree fort he was hanging out in (which we can see from our window). She said he was there for a few hours. And he had quiet a crowd watching him. I am bummed we missed it. She said he seemed thirsty (panting and such) so they put out a huge 5 gallon bucket of water and by morning it was gone (we need the rain to come, not only for the grass but for those animals too).

And Leslie, I thought of naming this post "Lions and tigers and bears! Oh my!" But thankfully we don't have lions or tigers in our back yard. =)

Kristie said...

I am so behind! Ad me to your Blogging Buddies please. I sure don't want to lose touch with you:-) I always enjoy your daily happenings!
Love you, Kristie

Anonymous said...

AHHHH. That would have freaked me out!!

Tiffany said...

Wow! That's pretty cool to have a bear practically in your backyard. A bit scary too, but a fun story to share!
You are one brave mama to go in that guest house! I'm impressed!

Lulu said...

Um no. No thank you. Bear, please go back to the woods.

My dh tells of when he was little and had a babysitter and they heard a mountain lion outside. Now, we live in the PLAINS...what is THAT?!? I hope they never come back...

Bless you for your bravery because my garden would've been very thirsty too!

A Girl, her God, and a Gift! said...

We had a similar experience a few years ago when Emma was a toddler. 3 afternoons in a row our neighbor saw a huge black bear trotting across our back yard and over into his yard trying to get some snacks from his birdfeeders. We were gone all 3 times and never got to see him- other than our neighbors photos. I was a little freaked out b/c we had no fence at the time. Needless to say, I was always checking the woods for bears while Emma was in the sandbox that summer. Hang in there...

Rachel said...

Yikes!

He is a cutie though!

Lee and Bev said...

So glad your cupboards were BARE and the Lord helped you BEAR with the fact that even though you may feel alone, He is right there with you - and the the BEAR! Hang in there, Cris.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOMORROW!

Annie said...

I'd want to steer clear!

Anonymous said...

Wow, that is quite the picture!