Fenced In or Out

Some time ago we put up a fence around the tomato plants. It was mostly to keep Mr. Hanky out. He had developed a taste for green heirloom tomato's. He had quite a field day pulling them off the vine and nibbling on them. So up went the fence.

It was, at best, a temporary fence. Two sides chicken wire, one side plastic fencing and the back was against the house. In the big plan it would have a gate for easy access. In reality I climbed over the plastic fencing part of it. It did what we wanted....at least as far as Hank was concerned.

I failed to consider Mickey. He is not a fan of tomato's. He had no interest in eating the cherry tomato's, the Better Boys, or the Heirloom variety. But, and there is always a but, tomato plants with many vines make a tantalizing venue for hunting bugs, snakes, perhaps a little rodent or two. Enter Mick, the consummate hunter.

Surprisingly he did not go over the fence. Between you and me we know he could have! He found a place to scoot under. When we busted him for that he got even more creative. He chewed an entryway in the plastic fencing. Supposedly that plastic fencing will keep deer out, but it will not out smart a hunting dog searching out a delectable cricket or two. Deer must be dumber.

Fences are tricky sometimes. They can keep us out, keep us in, or be just an obstacle to climb over, under or through. Mick didn't let it stop him. Hank? Well, his middle name is obviously not McGyver.