I've lived in the Cherokee Creek community since 1979 in a house surrounded by woods and pastures. My nearest neighbor is several hundred yards away.

Over the years, I've seen my share of wildlife: quail, doves, rabbits, geese, squirrels, foxes and a coyote now and again.

A few years ago, I begin catching glimpses of deer every so often and now it's an almost daily occurrence for five or six of them to graze in the pasture in front of my house.

About two years ago, wild turkeys made their appearance in our neck of the woods. I've counted as many as 60 in my pasture on Cherokee National Highway.

Just the other day several hens and their 'babies' made their way from the back of my house to the pasture in front — the one where the deer graze. I was watching TV in my bedroom when I glanced out the window and saw them walking within about 15 feet of the house.

The deer, too, have begun getting closer and closer to our house. They don't seem to be bothered in the least by Toby, our faithful canine companion and protector.

He doesn't pay them or the turkeys much attention now. When they first started showing up, he'd get all excited and chase after them. After about the fifth or sixth time, he realized he'd never catch them, so he barely bats an eye at them now.

We thoroughly enjoy watching the animals, but are a bit wary of the coyotes.

Now, I've gotten a report there's another species beginning to move into the area.

Black bears.

Clyde Burch came by the office the other day to tell me about the one he saw on Linder Road, just off Shady Grove Road.

"It was definitely a black bear," he said. "I got a real good look at him."

Clyde seems to think the bears are moving this way from their normal habitat in the mountains because of human encroachment.

But according to him, we shouldn't have too much to fear. "They're not likely to attack a human and mostly eat berries and the like. If you see one, shout and clap your hands and they'll take off."

Most of the time.

"Just don't get between a mama bear and her cubs," he said. "You might be in trouble if that happens."

Shady Grove Road isn't that far away from my stomping grounds, so I won't be surprised to see a bear roaming around with the deer and turkeys any day now.

Speaking of berries (you remember, black bears like to eat berries) my wife is selling them now.

Yep, she went and got herself a job. Not saying she hasn't had a job since we've been married — taking care of me, the kids, and the house is a 24-7 job — but she's going to get a paycheck for the hours she puts in at Strawberry Hill out by the yellow mall.

The night before she started, she was a like a kid before the first day of school. She had her clothes all laid out, talked excitedly about what to expect and made plans on when she needed to get up in order to get to work on time.

"Will you call me to make sure I'm up?" she asked.

I think she had to be there at 11, so getting up wasn't that big a deal.

My almost-17-year-old daughter works there, too, and I think she had a hand in getting her mom hired.

The evening after that first day, I played the supportive husband.

"How'd work go today, baby?" I asked. (Baby is just one of the terms of endearment I have for her.)

She then proceeded to tell me ALL about her day — from stocking shelves to operating the cash register.

And you know what? I actually listened with interest.

There's only so much you can say about deer and turkeys when you're sitting on the screen porch relaxing after a grueling day at work, so having another topic for conversation is an unexpected benefit to Sherry's new job.

And that might just be the only benefit I ever get from it. She's already explained in no uncertain terms that the money she makes is HERS. She also indicated that she might not have as much time to cook those wonderful dinners to which I have become so accustomed. And, she hinted, WE might need to hire someone to help clean the house, since she's going to be a working woman again.

Sounds like her new job might be more than I bargained for.

Cody Sossamon (cody@gaffneyledger.com) is publisher of The Gaffney Ledger.