in the land of lilacs and curious neighbours

Hello June. Hello idyllic country cottage life. It's all I expected.

* White hardwood floors, birdsong in the rowan tree outside.
* Chilly morning strolls along country lanes.
* Ancient stone walls, put together by farmers trying to clear their meager fields centuries ago.
* Fields with horses that stare at me and the dog.
* Woods with the possibility of meeting an elk, or if you are extremely (un)lucky, a bear.
* Lilacs in bloom.
* Neighbours who say hello. A next-door neighbour lady who brings me flowers from her garden and her husband who comes to fix one of my lamps.
* A cute dog who chases cats and cars.
* Doors without doorbells and sometimes without locks (you are supposed to knock once, walk in and yell for attention. The people inside are supposed to yell back "come on in!" and automatically reach for the coffee pot).
* Mosquitoes, the bane of June.
* An old house (with mod cons) that creaks and sighs at night.

I am my normal cityself, an outsider. The kind that views this as an exotic adventure rather than a way to live. With large ear-rings, nail polish, too-bright-red shirts, and a laptop that plays Gotye, Swedish House Mafia and U2. With late habits and internet addictions and wine bottles. With impossible dreams but also a desire to settle down and revel in this beauty for a little while.