This is my neighbor, Mary Jane. She is almost 99 years old. She lives in a house with no running water and only recently quit walking the mile to the grocery store. She is a year older than my Grandma would have been and I live in the home her father built in 1919 about a mile away from her place.
Mary Jane is an interesting character. She loves to garden and hike (she can still do 3-5 miles with me). There is a side of her that is almost childlike. She has some cats and loves them, but she loves almost any animal that comes around.
She was having some electrical issues at the house so my brother checked out the wiring for me on a visit. What we found in the attic was amazing and a little more than I was ready for. Raccoons had been nesting up there, probably for years – what a mess. We have fixed the electric – but Mary Jane loves her upstairs neighbors. She has relegated them to just a dormer now, but I’m pretty sure she continues to make the peanut butter sandwiches.
Going up?
Window shopper waiting for dinner.
Boldly snacking.
The lookout
The courier
The Trio
The Sandwich King
The brave one
Bored with it all.
It may be unconventional – but I want to be like Mary Jane when I grow up – loving life, active, strong, and just a little childlike.
Lorri
the eff stop 
What a wonderful post!!
Thanks – those coons are just too cute.
Wow! She is a really inspiring woman! Strong, independent, optimistic and content!
No raccoons in this part of the world :(. These furry little things are soo cute!
Mary Jane is a force of nature. She is amazing. The raccoons are so cute, but so destructive. They have huge personalities.
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Oh my goodness, those little guys are cute!!! And I love the yellow ribbon in her hair. 🙂
These are the Cutest raccoons Ever!! 🙂 And Mary Jane is gorgeous. Is that raccoon really able to go in through her window? And she feeds them peanut butter sandwiches? Hahaha! Is that a common thing in the States, to feed raccoons? I Adore raccoons!! These are Really pretty ones, so fluffy!! 🙂 Thank you so much for sharing!
Love from Rach.
The do go in and out of the window at will. It’s not at all common for people here to allow that:) I was in her living room and the cat started squalking, it was angry because a coon was coming in the front door.
Omg that is hilarious!! 😀 I’m so jealous!! hehehehehee!
Love from Rach 🙂
Glad to find you on fp for now I am enjoying your photos what a great travel blog, and this post – priceless! Some of the company of “MaryJane” look just like some nieghbors around here, no wonder the boarders are so healthy.
Thanks for finding me:)
Great series of photos – of MaryJane, and her boarders.
oh my goodness, i LOVE this lady!!! 😀 I love her yellow ribbon and her raccoons. I would do Exactly the same if I had raccoons in my neighbourhood. I desperately would love a raccoon in my garden. 😀 Alas I live in Australia and only have possums, though they’re pretty cute, especially the ringtails. I’m especially impressed with Mary Jane’s peanut butter sandwiches for her friends. What a beautiful compassionate woman. i want to be like her when I’m 99. 🙂 You’ve made me happy seeing and reading this post. I shall be checking more out here! 🙂 Miss D. X
Thanks! The possums here are not so cute. Mary Jane’s raccoons are the healthiest I have ever seen.
just goes to show- more people oughta be feeding their raccoons peanut butter sandwiches and cat food! lol I’ve heard the US possums aren’t so cute. you guys have squirrels, chipmunks, raccoons and prairie dogs, so you got your share of cute animals already. 🙂 would love to go over there and see all these animals one fine day. 🙂 Miss D. X
Your neighbour is beautiful! What a gorgeous photo.
Thanks, she doesn’t let me take her photo to often.
I’m pretty new to blogging and pretty much post a pic with a few words. This is my favorite blog post so far. What a great story, with great pics as well :))
Thanks, I am still finding the balance. I like telling a story, but lean towards the photos doing the talking.
Your blog site is a ray of sunshine in my blogging experience. I nominate you for the “Sunshine Award.” My hope is that thousands of others will discover you, too – and be warmed by your rays of inspiration and creativity that shine through your Blogosphere. Check out the award at janbeek.wordpress.com Thank you for sharing MaryJane and her raccoons with us. Amazing!!
I love Mary Jane! What a beautiful story…thank you for sharing it. 🙂
What a great story! What an inspiration too Mary Jane is for all of us. To just enjoy life!! Great post!! Cute neighbours!