Toddville Tidewaters

Toddville, on the tip of Dorchester County, MD, is one of the last frontiers on the East Coast. Nicknamed the Everglades of the North, the wildlife and locals (rednecks, hillbillies) make some interesting stories to this city boy who just moved here.

Though raised on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, I've been away far too long. Follow the characters who make the news in the marshlands where the high tides greet you at your front door and your truck doubles as an amphibious vehicle.

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Stella Loses Wing – Gets New Name

The injured sea gull we found Sunday evening arrived at the Choptank Animal Hospital safely and in style. Resting in a box of fresh grass, it was well-received by the hospital staff. Its spirits were strong as demonstrated by its constant pecking of the side of the box. Last night it discovered this new game and must like the sound of its beak hitting the side of the box.

Unfortunately, the gull’s wing was completely severed from the accident and was only being held on by a piece of skin. The doctor estimated it had its accident a day or two before we found it since the bone had turned completely brown and all the nerves were dead. There was no saving the wing and it had to be removed.

Stella is a first-year gull still in its juvenile plumage. The doctor is fairly certain it is a ring-billed gull (Larus delawarensis), the common “scavenger gull” found in suburban areas around fast-food restaurants. These gulls are believed to live 3-10 years in the wild though some have lived as long as 23 years.

The doctor could not tell if the gull is a male or female. On the hospital admittance forms, under name, we listed Stella/Gilligan and told the staff we would choose the name depending on its sex. The staff had already decided Gilligan was more fitting and had entered the name in the computer.

Keith and I decided to keep calling him Gilligan.

He will have a new, permanent home in Toddville. This weekend, he will move out of his cardboard box and into a new home, a pen I plan on building and completing by Saturday night.

© 2007
Mark Darien
All rights reserved
Please include this copyright notice if you share this article

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Shop Local Delmarva

In an effort to help preserve our individual community's unique identity and rural character, we have designed a new resource for our locally owned and operated businesses.

Shop Local Delmarva

Our locally owned and operated businesses help define who we are as a community. Just browse any "Best of" lists and it's the locally owned businesses that dominate. Shop Local Delmarva aims to provide an easy reference to and for our locally owned businesses. Be sure to visit and support your locally owned merchant!

The Shanty Shoppe

Catapulting Toddville into the digital age,

The Shanty Shoppe
offers old store charm to the world.

Yes, this is Mark and Keith's store. Some day, we may actually have a real building for it down here. In the mean time, feel free to browse around the Internet version. Read about our grand opening and what prompted us to open the store.

Please note, The Shanty Shoppe closed due to unreasonable price increases on eBay. We couldn't afford the high-priced rent. We haven't made a final decision as to whether or not close the store for good. We do continue to ocassionally list auctions on eBay under seller ID markdarien. Please feel free to look us up.

Notable Characters in Toddville Tidewaters

Mark - That's me! For the most part, you'll experience Toddville through my eyes. If you like, you may email me (or Keith)
Keith - He's my partner. Loving the mountains of Pennsylvania, he has no idea how he ended up in the tidal marshlands on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Occasionally, you may experience Toddville through his eyes.
Kiwi - At 6 months, Kiwi, our chihuahua-basenji-or-something-or-other mix, joined our family and became Thistle's second stepdaughter. I think Thistle will forgive us for this, some day, too.
Daphne - Since last summer, Daphne, a green tree frog, has faithfully hung out under our light by the door. There's more bugs there than she can eat, but she certainly tries to get them all. It's such a hard job for her, she often goes to sleep, ocassionally waking up to snatch a tender morsel that dared to disturb her rest.

Key Places In / Around Toddville

Jr's Stone House - The only bar for 30 miles around. Location: As you're heading down on MD 336, which is either Crapo, Crapo-Bishop's Head or Bishop's Head Road, she's on your left next to the radio tower. If you get to the two 90 degree turns in the road (not the first set you already passed a ways back), you went too far. Hours: We don't know yet
Dickie's Famous Subs - In addition to being a sandwich shop, he carries a small supply of groceries and lunch meats. Also doubles as a social gathering hall while waiting for an order. If you're in a hurry, don't stop in. The locals in Toddville don't know what hurry means. Location: about a mile or so down the road from Carolyn's Stone House on your left, across from the crab house. You might mistake it for an abnadoned house, but look closely and you'll see the "famous subs" motto faded on the side. Hours: M-Sat Around 6:00 AM until around 3:30 PM. (You might notice the locals don't stick to strict times.)
Mr. Pritchett's Store - In business since 1946, it's the only place for thirty miles to get gas. A soda machine and a shelf or two of basic groceries included inside. Location: Tedious Creek Road on the arc of the strong 90 degree turn. The Pritchett family graveyard is across the street. (Go past Dickie's Famous Subs about a mile or so and make a left on Tedious Creek Road.) Hours: M-Sat 5:00 AM - 7:30 PM Closed Sunday for Church. He sounded firm on those hours, but he always looks closed. Just walk on in and you'll find him sitting there waiting for you.
Our Birdfeeder - It only took a couple of weeks, but finally our feeder is attracting some of our feathered neighbors. At Our Birdfeeder, you can get caught up on all the news in the bird community, assuming our feathered friends come around and share their stories.
Blackwater Wildlife Refuge - While the visitor's center is located off of Key Wallace Highway (a country road a good 17 miles from Toddville), the refuge is in and all around Toddville. It encompasses 27,000 acres of woods and marshland with all sorts of hiking and canoing trails. A bird watcher's paradise!

In Memoriam

Gilligan - He's our rescued sea gull. With only one wing, he can't be returned to the wild so he may as well as join our family. Gilligan joined us Feb 18, 2007 and quietly departed on Feb 26, 2007.

Minnow - At 2-1/2 months, Minnow, our redbone coonhound-daschund mix, joined our family and became Thistle's stepdaughter. I think Thistle will forgive us some day. Minnow was with us a very short time. A stray cat and a rambunctious puppy that hadn't learned to listen led to a disaster on the road. Her spinal injuries were too severe and we let her go to sleep in my arms.

Carolyn's Stone House - Carolyn was a wonderful, caring woman who passed away from lung problems. For a year after her passing, Carolyn's Stone House stood, but new owners have taken over. No matter what they call the new bar, it will always be Carolyn's Stone House to us. Carolyn was a special woman and we'll never forget her.

Thistle

quietly passed on after battling lymphatic cancer for the last few months. Fortunately she left us on a Saturday so Keith and I were with her as she took her last breath. She's resting peacefully in the part of our woods we call the Sanctuary. There's plenty of deer for her to chase.