Brien Carr - Working on the Water

I have worked as a carpenter, with my best friend and his father, since I was 14 years old. Most of my time has been spent working in the repair and remodel markets of Mathews, Gloucester, and Kilmarnack countries of Virginia (Gloucester is my hometown). It so happens, that most of the high paying jobs I have encountered while practicing this trade have been waterfront communities and private properties with natural body of water nearby. Recently, I was rebuilding dormers on a roof in Mathews on a house on the shore of Shutts Creek. Shutts Creek is an inlet that feeds into the Rappahanock River and then into the Bay. Wildlife is always abundant in this area and I have grown up observing and interacting with it. As I stood on the roof of the house, in this example, I was looking out over the water and noticing the herons wading the the marshy edges of the creek. I almost felt related to to the heron, as I stood still and looked fiercly around. I was content just standing there listening to the waves and wind and looking to see what I could see. Then, out of nowhere, I heard chickens. TOTALLY, not what I considere when i think of nature. Chickens are domesticated... they are somewhat civilized or have a civilized purpose, they are "not nature". The home owner had a chicken pen, that apparently housed these pet chickens. I still don't know how I feel about domesticating animals in relation to the wild, but I do know, that these chickens sure ruined the mood.