The Town

The Abbey is seven miles from the closest town, not taking into account the driveway which is three-quarters of a mile long. The land is located at the end of this drive. Now most people, I speak of farming folks and those who has lived in a rural community, would have run from such a property. Me … it was love at first sight. I gave no thought to getting the mail, putting out the garbage, or repairing the ruts and pot holes, let alone the SNOW.

Nope! All I saw was the wooded hills and a peaceful valley with a lovely gentle little stream flowing through it. Picturesque! I gave no thought to the snow- plowed road being three-quarters of a mile away, no thought of how to take the garbage can to the road, or what fun it would be plowing through the snow with the car to get the mail. There is a reason to be close to the road.
Another huge disappointment was my lovely stream, the one the County calls a “drainage ditch”. I don’t care; I still refer to it as a gentle SLOW moving stream. I have found, too, that if you buy the little poison mosquitoes rings, they work fairly well in eliminating most of the little buggers from breeding in the water.

The house sits on the far hillside of this valley overlooking the barns, valley and approaching driveway. The nearest town is Silver Water. As you enter, there is a sign that says “I am coming are you ready?” Really gives you thoughts of vandalism. This sleepy little community has more churches than bars -- a very rare commodity in today’s world. I think most Christian religions are represented here. There are the Catholic, Protestant, Lutheran, Reformed, Methodist and Baptist Churches. I guess that if you don’t get the right answer at one, you can get a second or third opinion from another.

People in this town are laid back, non-excitable folks, who like to discuss the weather for hours. If you ask any one there for directions to us, you will be told, ”It’s just down the road. Turn left at the fork and then right where the old Potcheskis’ barn used to be. You can’t miss it”. Take my number, I’ll come find you.

The town’s post office is run by Alvin and Betty -- lovely people. Both are in their70’s. Alvin’s a bit hard of hearing so you need to raise your voice when talking to him. Betty doubles as the bank teller next door. When the door monitor rings, Betty just shuffles through the side door into the bank. Actually she can make it to the teller’s cage before a customer can reach the counter. Yup Betty’s quick.

Another thing that’s odd about this town is the supermarket. It’s called “ Jemski’s Market and Taxidermy.” Honest, it exists! The name alone just emits a whole wealth of fears, doesn’t it? It took several months before I could buy my groceries there.

Finally building up my courage, I went in. The racks and coolers are the same as all food stores. There are clean, well-lit isles filled with all the necessities of life. Just another grocery store, with one exception -- above the counters, racks and coolers abides the wild things. Eyes staring down at you as you pass the pickles and peanut butter. Birds…wings in full flight, over the cooler with butter and eggs, just circling to land in the canned vegetable isle. Deer, fox and moose watching as you choose sausage or ground beef. Fish swim lazily above the frozen chests. Yes, the entire store emotes guilt. Slowly my purchases have increased and like all things, I too evolved. So I head home groceries in tow, just proving again that “it just another day at The Abbey.