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Nice hat indeed, Dave-a wardrobe accessory here.

For a long time now, every time the wind blows hard from the north or east, you can hear the sound of metal banging on something-it is so loud that it makes dogs bark, and sounds spooky at night, since it is the only noise out here besides the wind.

It was breezy this morning, so I decided to look for that damn noise, and found it-about half a mile away over the next hill is one of those long-abandoned cabins almost hidden in the trees and brush. Behind it, an old metal storage shed has a panel loose that is banging against the frame whenever the wind blows. I’m going to take a hammer and a couple of big nails up there and shut that noise up.

That place, like so many others up here has been untouched for so long that 15 ft. trees have grown up all around it, and even through the rotted part of the deck. The path and driveway to it are completely overgrown, the old cesspit is long fallen in, but the windmill is intact, the flower beds still have iris plants in them, and with the old metal chairs on the porch and a swing in the yard it looks almost like someone might walk out at any minute-it feels like everything is just waiting, somehow-creepy.

These woods are full of forgotten places like that-this is the fourth one I’ve come across within less than 2 miles of the house. If I ever wanted to play hide-and-seek, I’d certainly know where to do it.