Monday, as I was reading Matthew's naptime stories, I suddenly though I heard noise in the pasture behind the house. I looked out his window and saw headlights in the mist.
I thought they were out on an exercise, until the mist slowly revealed tents and port-a-pottys.
And the vehicles kept coming.
At times there were huge lines of waiting vehicles.
Sometimes just one.
We couldn't believe how fast the sleepy pasture space transformed into a well oiled operation.
By mornings light, I marveled how big the tents were. It all makes me think of Phil. I've never been able to see what "the field" looked like before. I just had to imagine from what he said.
Now I can see a tiny piece of it for myself. I thought of questions I had never thought of before.
I love this shot because it's the only one where the tank commander is out of his hatch. This is how Phil looks as he rolls around.
All afternoon we'd watch small groups roll up straight behind our house (you may recognize our fence by now,) wait, and then roll off to some other location.
I'm still playing with the extra long lens we have. That is a tank back there.
I just happily snapped away, until I noticed one tank sweeping the area with it's gun tube. Then I felt like I was being watched. Phil assured me that they can "reach out and touch you" the focus is so good. Yikes! And as I looked at these photos blown up on the computer almost every one had 1 tank's gun tube pointed straight at me. Probably someone was watching me as much as I was watching them! Or I was really good about catching it pointing at me, while it was in the middle of a sweep. Or maybe it was really looking at the neighbors, where no one was outside.
Another nature shot.
Late in the afternoon I was surprised to see the cattle out grazing. But there they were, not caring about all the hustle and bustle around them. And they were out again today.Hope you enjoyed the photos. Matthew and I sure are enjoying having new stuff to watch behind the house, even if they do rattle our house.
13 comments:
Oh this looks like such fun to watch! Too bad it is so chilly. In warmer weather you and Matthew could just take a picnic out and spend the whole day watching them watch you!!! Thanks for sharing this!
Wow, you really did find the exact right house! Who would have guessed you'd be able to see the soldiers set up, take down,and move around. Make a sign for Matthew to hold up: My daddy is a tank commander. Smile and wave at them. I am sure they were delighted to see a little boy and his pretty mom. Probably lots of those soldiers have families at home in a different parts of the country. I almost said "guys" and wonder if any women serve in those units.
That's awesome for Matthew to watch! My unit used to do that and it was so much fun, we used to go out and get an entire camp set up in less than an hour, my "office" was a Humvee with a bunch of electronic gear in it and I got to erect a deer stand to sit in, LOL, lots of fun!
Mom, a picnic would be fun! Hopefully there will be more once it warms up.
Auntie, I know, it has a very special view! I've thought about making a sign. I was thinking something like "WE LOVE TANKERS" or "19K ROCKS". But your suggestion might be better. We could just leave them on the fence to find during their "sweeps."
Erin, we you in a military unit too? I have wanted to join the military since high school, but didn't go down that road. Phil really pushed for me to join the reserves as an officer a year or so ago, but I couldn't leave my baby knowing that both Phil and I might go overseas and he'd have to live with the grandparents. (Not that that would be bad, just sad for him having us both gone.) I've always wanted to be able to visit the field, but they weren't allowing it, so this is wonderful.
Yes, I was active duty in the Navy from 1989-1995 and after that was in a Reserve Joint Forces Unit that worked with 3 branches (MIUW) unit - stood for "Mobile Inshore Undersea Warfare, it was lots of fun, I tracked submarines and other undersea stuff like submersibles and detected Special Forces swimmers and the like. I waited to be a mom, there's no way I could have been a mom at the same time as that LOL
Any of those other signs would be good, too, but definitely the one "from" Matthew. I never knew that about you, Anne. (When I though of joining the service all I could have had was a desk job. I am not a desk-job person.)
Erin, wow that sounds really cool! Maybe I want to be Navy reserves now, lol.
Auntie, yes, in high school I decided I'd like to join the Marines. But I only got calls from an Navy recruiter and I wasn't interested. And I hated to run so I didn't think I'd make it through base camp, so I went to college as planned. Oh, and I never wanted to date any of the Army guys but a friend insisted for so long I meet Phil I finally gave in and 4 years later it worked.
I agree that Erin's job sounds really fun! And I love Auntie's idea of a sign from Matthew to hang on the fence!
I just had to come back and look at all the photos again, because I think this is so interesting! Nothing that exciting ever happens behind our house!
Mom, It did the night we saw a flashlight bouncing in the woods...
Um... let's just forget that night, shall we??? Heeheehee...
HehHehHeh
wow, your life is so different from mine. all we have to watch are snow plows, deer and tractors. :)
watching maneuvers would be fascinating, though!
Well, I'd love see some deer and snow plows because that means snow!
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