Re Rustica

Every morning, one of our neighbors (a nice couple of Quails) steps out for their promenade.  Mr. and Mrs. Quail live in our fence, which is not your usual barbed wire contraption.  It is a lean-to of large tree branches and small sticks, and resembles a very long dead tree, or perhaps a dead bush.  It is ideal habitat for quail, rodents, and other critters that don't like to be bothered at night by large predators.

Of course, the foxes love the fence too.  They and the coyotes and bobcats can easily pass through and over, but find it difficult to hunt in the fence.  They commute to work in our fields through the fence daily.

But, in the morning, the fence belongs to Mr. Quail, who gives it to his Mrs.  He climbs atop the tallest post and bellows out his territorial call while Mrs. Quail admires him from below, singing encouragement to him.  He then invites her up to see the view, and know that it is hers.  They then go about their work.

We love all the wild animals - they care for our fields, and their company presents that "universal sympathy" so expounded upon by the naturalist Enos Mills.  They remind us of our place in this world, and - with our customers - the reason why we farm.