I had just moved to a tiny town in East Texas. My house was located within walking distance of City Hall. When I moved in my yard had been mowed by the realtor's crew. Time passed and low and behold... it needed it all over again.

I did not have a lawn mower. I had a very dear friend who pitched in and used my weed wacker to cut down the knee high grass in my yard. Time and my habit of having coffee in the morning and hot chocolate in the evening on my back porch laid the ground work for my battle with City Hall.

I love watching the squirrels in my yard. My yard has several large pecan trees in it. I had named one pair of squirrels Mr. & Mrs. SQ. I also nicknamed them the Bicker-sons because they always seem to be arguing about something. Then there was Oscar. An orphan I took in, raised, then released into the yard. He had found a mate, married, and had his own little family. They resided in another tree. We live close to the train track so we are always hosting traveling squirrels as well.

I did not need to put out feeders as the trees provided plenty of food for my backyard tenants. I got to watching them in the yard as the grass started growing again and wild flowers started popping up in the yard. I was amazed at how much the squirrels were enjoying the wild flowers. In fact it was why I decided not to plant rose bushes. I was so afraid the thorns would harm my little friends. I threw out more wild flower seeds into the yard. What fun. I got to watch the squirrels enjoy their beauty and aromas. I did not cut my grass again. I had no idea it was against a City Ordinance to have tall grass in your yard. I had lived in the country where such matters were no one's business but your own.

The police came to my door one day to issue me a ticket for not mowing my yard. Now, let me explain. I look like a nice old lady.... but I am not. I fight for what I feel are my rights as a free American citizen. I tidied up the yard from trash that had blown in from the highway and trimmed along the fence line. That was not enough. I was issued a second ticket. It was time to fight.

I arrived at city hall with a photo album of my yard. I talked about the beauty of being able to see God's work unfolding right in the middle of town. I talked for a few minutes and then shared my photos.

I won. My cases, both of them, were dismissed and I was congratulated for my sense of beauty for the town but also my compassion for its furry citizens. The major now comes by sometimes and joins me on my back porch to watch the magic for herself.

Tags: Animals Home Life