On Deer View Lane

In a small northern state there's a small, little town. And in that small town there's a short, little road named "Deer View Lane". On Deer View Lane there are many maple trees, green mowed lawns (well, mostly...ours is often lacking), various roaming deer (hence the name) and nineteen neighbors. (And we make up a fairly decent percentage of that number.) All from different ages and stages in life, different backgrounds and upbringings, different lifestyles and religions. And yet...somehow...it's a beautiful little community.
On Deer View Lane we talk about the weather. We share from our gardens and from our ovens. We show off our livestock (and sometimes we show grace when they graze off one another's lawns...). We wave "hello" and "goodbye". We exchange Christmas cookies and cards. We welcome new neighbors with homemade goodies and warm greetings.We swap stories, share pictures, and reminisce life. We borrow traps (for local rodent control) and laugh at stories of their capture. We look out for one another's homes and everyone is on the look out for my noisy, busy children. We lend a hand. Learn different tricks to gardening and homesteading. Offer an encouraging word. On Deer View Lane, we live life fully. And although in separate homes...we somehow do life together. Which is how life ought to be done.
For over five years now we've enjoyed this sweet place we call "home". And being part of it's community...it's been a gift. A joy. A blessing. Our children can run freely. Play loudly. (Which they do rather well.) And I have enjoyed watching their unique relationships with each neighbor. One has so graciously allowed them a ride on her horse (to their utter delight, you can imagine.) Another has been overly generous to them at their yard sale. Another enjoys spending time talking and teaching all-things baby chicks and fluffy bunnies with them. And our special neighbor, our adopted family member, loves on them with attention and time (two of their favorite things) bowls of ice-cream, games of Uno and indulges in their front-lawn-tea-party invites. I think my boys are convinced they're related to everyone on this road...and that they may wander all their lawns as though it was their own. Fortunately, we have a street full of people that always smile when they see them coming.
A Mama couldn't think of a better place to raise a family than on Deer View Lane.