Come Here Often?

A few weeks ago, I noticed my neighbors doing something odd.  They painted patches of color in various areas all over their brick.  Since I have Gladys Kravitz tendencies, I did what any of you would do.  I waited until I saw them leave, and went over for a closer look.  I assumed they were getting ready to paint.  (I like to have input in these kind of decisions…after all, I will be the one looking at it.)

It was then I discovered a pile of discarded food peelings: cantaloupes, bananas, cucumbers in the flower bed right by their front patio.  Hmmm…that’s an odd place for a compost pile.

Yesterday, the mystery was solved.  And, it brought back some childhood memories…

My Aunt Geneva lived in a tiny frame house on the oil fields outside of Texas’ original Boomtown. I can remember Geneva neurotically saving veggie peelings, and each morning before 7, stepping out the back stoop in her very best housecoat.  She loving lay a pie tin out in the red clay.  My job was to sit and watch.  Magically, as the sun came up, I could see them.  They looked in the distance like a band of tiny SUV’s coming across the plain.  But, these were Geneva’s pets.  She called them terrapins, I called them turtles.  They could have been tortoises.  Just to be safe, we can call them testudines.  Anyway, Geneva had them trained. 

This little fella, pictured above, was wandering around the grounds of the Dream House yesterday, headed toward my neighbor’s house.  Mystery solved.  They aren’t composting, they are feeding our newest little friend.  I guess there’s a little bit of Geneva in all of us. 

And, BTW, my fabulous neighbors finally settled on a delicate silvery sage for the brick, a rich buttery cream for the trim, and terra cotta accents. 

Major props to the Trophy Husband for the time lapse photo.