today is the first day of deer hunting season in pennsylvania. it's also the first year that i've actually known it was the first day of hunting season and that's because we live in the hunting mecca of western pa. there are woods all around us, and beyond those woods are the state gamelands. i can't tell you how much bright orange i've seen in the previous weeks leading up to today. not to mention the MANY guns fired in practice all around us.

when we had this house inspected a little under a year ago, all the inspectors could say was how much they would love this house to set up their hunting stance from the back attic window since it faces many acres of woods. too bad non-hunters moved into this house.

and it's not that we're against hunting. we just don't do it.

when we moved here in april, someone told me not to go outside on the first day of hunting season...which i thought was a bit extreme. it's not like we're living in the "little house in the big woods." there is civilization (and roads!) all around us as well.

kenny had one last day off of work today, so we spent it outside completing the outdoor christmas decorations, trimming some bushes, talking to neighbors. on our drive to the bank this afternoon, i noticed two women sitting on their front porch wearing bright orange hats. perhaps i'll get some orange hats on "clearance" in the sportsman section of walmart (which is really 99% hunting equipment and a few bikes) once deer season is closed. we'll all wear them if we get another spell of good, warm weather the monday after thanksgiving next year.

i guess we're slowly adapting to this life, where the first day of hunting season is just as big as thanksgiving. or christmas.