The Unwanted Resident
“This resident has an air of superiority or maybe one of arrogance…”
By Millie The Accidental Cook 
Our neighborhood has a new resident… at least new to us. This resident has an air of superiority or maybe one of arrogance. You know that walk with the “so who do you think you are” look.
On an evening past, while my Mister and I were enjoying an afternoon on our front porch, that resident just walked into our yard and was standing very, very close to a beautiful rose bush that I highly treasure. While not knowing this resident personally, we wondered what to do. I mean, how do you approach superiority or arrogance? Those two qualities usually bring with them total blindness to others. Wondered also what was the resident going to do, after all, we were not familiar with the resident.
The neighbors have been very hospitable towards the new resident, even providing food. We mean the resident no harm. Neighborhoods are really like family, maybe somewhat larger in number. In our growing up years we were taught that to have a friend you had to be a friend. Neighborhoods are like that just on a larger scale.
We know the resident likes bananas, carrots, tomatoes, and even pizza. The resident is so arrogant that he picked one of my first ripening tomatoes, scratched through it, left, and evidently walked away not even cleaning up the mess he made. That resident could not know how very much we had awaited that tomato. It was our ‘Pandemic Tomato’.
While not really knowing the resident, we are referring to him as Racky. By now you may have realized that the resident is somewhat different and you are right. Racky is a raccoon.
We have attempted to catch him with a trap, with every intention of transporting him back to his neighborhood, however, he has outsmarted us many times.
He likes to hang out in the neighbors’ tree and even the church’s tree. He shows no signs of fear while coming into our domain or crossing the street. He literally sees nothing wrong with things that belong to others. He scoots around with that attitude “this is my territory so what are you doing here”. Being very mindful that he is not a pet we all are playing it safe. Even though I grew up, for the most part, in the country I was not familiar with raccoons.
After an absence of a few days, we thought he had gone on his way to his home. In the late evening while peering out of our front window there was Racky casually walking down our walkway towards the sidewalk appearing ever so confident that he was right at home. He was just going to visit the neighbor across the street.
We will be nice to him and treat him cautiously. He just doesn’t need to mess with those tomatoes… in our family they are pure gold.
Let’s try something different this week. This is good with either a salad featuring those fresh tomatoes or just sliced and served with a side of green beans and rolls.
ANOTHER RECIPE BY MILLIE
MILLIE’S VERSION – BEEF & RICE CASSEROLE
- 2 lbs of ground beet
- 1 small onion, chopped (optional)
- 1 can cream of chicken soup (do not dilute)
- 1 can of beef consomme
- 2 cans of water
- 1 cup of uncooked rice
Brown the meat and onions and drain off excess fat. Add the soup, consomme, and water. Then add the rice and mix well. Pour all into a greased casserole dish, then cover and bake for approximately 1 ½ hours at 350 degrees. Since ovens vary, always taste for doneness.
Oh, I noticed the trap has been moved… I do hope that my son moved it and not Racky!
Got a story? Share it with us at https://www.county.cool/whats-your-story/
