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"All human situations have their inconveniences. We feel those of the present but neither see nor feel those of the future; and hence we often make troublesome changes without amendment, and frequently for the worse."
Benjamin Franklin



Remembering How Life Happens

Beau February 4th, 2010

Well, it seems I’ve struggled with the written word the past few weeks.   I’ve been trying to catch up in so many other areas and somehow a quote by John Lennon comes to mind that, “Life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans.”

Yesterday we were outside in the sun and the boy said it felt like spring already.   I think he’s on to something, even though it’s pretty cold and another storm is around the corner.  I had that first twinge of spring yearning too, and the knowledge that it’s going to come quickly now.  Time to get those seeds ordered that we don’t have, and get some planted for starts.   Soon we can even put potatoes in the ground.    After I clean up the garden that is.   And the shed, the bees, the barn, maybe some chickens, the engines…

Today is a chance to look back a bit though.  It’s the anniversary of my father’s passing five years ago.   So many thoughts come to mind, and it would be nice if I could share some brilliant journalistic form and a few pictures to mark the day.   It was a difficult time though, and he could have come through just fine.  But he didn’t.

In his last years he had several operations for replacing hips, fixing a heart valve and a widening in his aorta.    He grew strong again in those years, enough to enjoy his family, his beloved golf and the ability to work on the property.  

I remember talking with him while cooking steaks on the grill, and looking over the pond.  He was 77 years old, and he said more than anything he was so thankful that he could still work around the house and do things that mattered.   He made it to one more birthday a few months later, and a few weeks after that.  

He was outside working a bit when he had a pain in his chest, and Mom took him to the hospital where he was transfered to another.  I met him there that afternoon, and he was in good spirits.  I said, “You’re a turkey…”   and he said, “I am a turkey…”  Our little joke for the challenges he was facing again.  We talked and I told him I loved him, and he told me the same.  I saw him again briefly that night while Mom stayed with him in intensive care, getting ready for surgery. 

Early the next morning he was on the operating table and actually came though the operation, almost.  When they gave him more blood as the surgeon was finishing up, somehow there was an allergic reaction and they couldn’t correct it.   Mom called me while I was picking up the boy at preschool.   I took him to the park, and we talked about his Bepaw going to heaven.

A couple of weeks later I remember cooking breakfast early one morning while the little boy was getting dressed upstairs for school.  He took a little longer than usual, and I remember calling to him.   “I’m coming…” he yelled back, and shortly came walking down the stairs.  I was surprised as he already had his socks on which was usually a struggle for him at four years of age.    

I told him that was great as he sat down to eat, and he said “Well Daddy, guess what?”  I said “I don’t know, what?”   And as simply, and earnestly as could be he said, “Bepaw helped me put my socks on this morning.”    I didn’t really know what to say, but after my heart skipped a beat I smiled and told him “That’s nice…”

I asked him about it once a few years later.  He didn’t really remember, but thought it was neat.   It was, and I can only wonder.

Dad was a good man, a good father… and one of the good guys in so many ways.  I’ll probably share a few stories about his life in the years ahead. 

dad 2004

He’s sitting with Justin, our late Basset Hound in the picture above.  They were buddies, and went everywhere together in the little golf cart for a couple years while we were overseas.   This picture was from July 4th in 2004;  Justin was scared because of some fireworks, and snuggled up to Dad to hide.     I figure they’re off somewhere together romping around a bit, probably on a golf course.  

Life still happens, just about every day.  I’m trying hard not to miss too much of it, and to remember the things that make it beautiful.



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A Little Junco

Beau January 27th, 2010

Helped a little Junco yesterday… he flew into the porch window and was laying on the ground stunned, nearly a little frozen meal for the cats.  Brought it in and warmed it up overnight.  In the morning it was flitting about… caught it in a butterfly net and carried it outside. Brrrr! The bird decided to stay in my hand.  I set it on a feeder and he/she just sat there looking around.  After a while I picked it up and set it on the ground for a bit, and it just sat there.  

So finally I picked it up again and said, “Look little guy, you’ve got to get going or something. I can’t feed you inside very well, and the cats will be around soon… so what’s it going to be?”

northern junco

I laid it gently back on the ground and it flew up to my shoulder.  Sheesh!  So I waited for about five minutes with the wind blowing at 25 degrees… then it jumped on my finger. Once more I laid it on the ground, and this time it flew off about twenty yards. I walked toward it and it flew off again for a bit. Then once more and it flew off to some bushes… hooray! At least I hope so :)


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By the way, Jessica Watson just went through a huge storm a few days ago with waves heavy enough to dump her sailboat over a few times. Sounds like it even went upside down with the mast under water for a bit. Can you imagine? A little damage, but otherwise she’s fine and on her way again. I need some of that spirit…



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Breakfast for Birds

Beau January 24th, 2010

It’s been a long, wet, soggy, foggy week.  A short stay with the flu (always seems longer than it is) and I missed most of it, but learned once again the value of soup and a light diet!   Haven’t been sick in at least a year, and this one snuck up quick one night and stayed for a few days.   Of course now my appetite is making up for it…  

Lots of rain though, and the ground is really saturated.  Hopefully we won’t see the wind storms we do at times, because that’s when trees tend to blow over.  The birds don’t seem to mind the water though.   Instead of our typical wild birds at the feeders, a host of Mourning Doves showed up early one day to enjoy a breakfast banquet with friends.

mourning doves feeding

I haven’t seen this many before- there were nearly twenty-five at one point and they’re pretty skittish. The least movement or sound and they fly off in complete abandon, nearly in all directions and some thumping on the windows of the house.    Most the year I hardly see them at all, and they hide and roost in the forest pretty effectively. 

Doves are “in season” from about the first of September through early November here in Missouri.  They’re hunted pretty hard in the farm areas, and are not easy targets.   They fly incredibly fast, and are not easy to find.  Usually a dove hunter sets up near a field where they’ll feed early in the morning or late in the afternoon.   It’s not too far off for an average hunter to go through a box of shells and only take a few doves home.   Yes- they’re pretty little as far as birds go, but they sure do make for a fine meal when prepared right.   They’re not like chicken, but more like a lean dark-meat bird like duck, and more tender.     I sure enjoy seeing them come to the feeders in winter though, and glad they can find what they need.

I didn’t get out much this year to help stock the freezer with wild game.  I hope to do better next year because we are really blessed in Missouri with plentiful wildlife to help with food stores and costs.   Not to mention the fishing!  If one wanted to stock a freezer full of panfish it wouldn’t be very difficult.  Instead most of us purchase expensive salmon or roughy or tilapia…     Just our culture these days, and the pace of life. 

One of my boyhood friends loves to fish, but doesn’t have much time anymore.  When he’s asked now if he enjoys fishing, he says “You bet!” and then describes in glorious detail how he “goes fishing” and finds the diversity of the seafood section at his favorite grocery store.  

I take for granted the fish we have right in our own pond.  Always like the thought that they’re there if we need them, but we don’t eat them very often.  Maybe this year it’ll be different… we’ll see.    

The ice on the pond is almost gone now.   I wonder if we’ll see really cold weather again this winter?  I don’t know about you, but a little sun would be nice… :)



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A Journey of Dreams and Inspiration

Beau January 18th, 2010

It’s often amazing to read about what some people are doing with their lives. I have written of one such person in the past, and I find myself following her progress nearly every day.   Her name is Jessica Watson, and at 16years of age she is making the journey of a lifetime.  There has been much discussion or even amazement at how someone so young could be on such a journey at all.  But I don’t write this to entertain the “Why” or “Why not” of such a trek.

Today I’m simply offering a salute to a fellow adventurer on this great journey of our lives.  Sailing the world in a tiny 34 foot sailboat (see what it looks like from the top of the mast!), She has just in the past week accomplished an incredible feat of rounding Cape Horn single-handedly as part of her attempt at a sailing solo circumnavigation of the earth.   Just sense the excitement as she shares a little of her experience:

 

Her parents even made the journey from Australia to the Cape so they could fly over her sailboat in a plane. She is now journeying northeast past the Falkland Islands, continuing and only about half-way around the southern seas of our planet. 

One may reflect upon the challenges, strife and human suffering we see throughout the world… but does that diminish the triumph of the human spirit in a different context? As simply as one who reaches out to help others, I believe we can choose to embrace life and each new day as a chance to grow and achieve. We may see human effort and consequence in stark moral terms, and that is our privilege or failing, as the case may be. Sometimes however, others help frame the context of life in ways we may leverage to show us what is possible. To each their own.

For now a young woman has chosen this path for her life. I can find no fault in it… rather it seems to me quite empowering to reflect upon the opportunity and challenges that any of us may accept and accomplish, no matter how mundane or encompassing. She writes of her journey from the heart with such honesty… I find it inspiring, courageous, amazing and even a bit breathtaking to imagine it all. We wish you fair winds and safe passage, and… Godspeed Jessica!



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Winter Mix of Shadow and Light

Beau January 14th, 2010

winter shadows

My goodness the days are flying by.  The snow on the pond was beautiful yesterday with the shadows of the trees. And there were many animal tracks near the pond’s edge, with a few tracks heading out across the ice. The mysteries of the night…

tracks on pond

Yesterday we enjoyed almost fifty degree weather finally, and the snow has almost finished melting. Gave me a chance to catch up on splitting wood, running a few engines and chasing the mice out of the barn.  These are the remaining oak and hickory rounds from trees cut up in summer.  They don’t look like it, but the wood should be fairly dry and will provide enough heat to get us through winter.  I didn’t expect to use so much so quickly this season.

wood for splitting

That subzero weather last week really did a number on a few things, not the least of which is my 16 year old truck. Seems the clutch fluid must have moisture in it because the clutch froze in place and I couldn’t drive it. Maybe ice on the cables… anyway I’ll top it off today and since we’ll see 40+ F degree weather again I’m hoping it works normally.   One morning we awoke to a beautiful scene of ice crystals on the trees and shrubs.  I love how the light shimmers through the branches.

morning ice crystals

I am worried about the bees however… I didn’t see them flying around yesterday which I would have expected. Usually after an extended cold period they will be out and about briefly with temperatures above 40 degrees F.   It wasn’t warm that long yesterday however, so maybe they’re still clustered up?   I won’t open the hive unless it’s warm for a few days in a row, and we’ve still got freezing night temps.  From now through March is the difficult time of year for the bees when they really depend on stored honey.  When it’s super cold they go through those stores faster… and you can’t really feed them until it warms up a little. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Driving home at dusk the other day, the sunlight glowed beneath the clouds.

winter sunset

Our wintery landscape seems so far from the events taking place around the world, such as earthquakes and unrest.  Wish I could do more to help from so far away.  In a couple years when the boy is older I may be able to… for now our thoughts, prayers and donations can help in some way. 

Did you know you can use the American Red Cross’ TEXT2HELP program to donate from your cellphone here in the U.S.?   For specific Haiti-related donations, you can text HAITI to the number 90999 and it will donate $10 to the Red Cross to help with earthquake relief efforts.


Update: There’s many other organizations to help with Haiti disaster assistance, and other charitable efforts of course. Here’s a few more links to share:
The International Committee of the Red Cross
International Medical Corps
Catholic Relief Services
Save the Children
Direct Relief International
World Food Programme
World Vision
International Relief Teams
Yéle Haiti
Operation USA
CARE
World Concern
UNICEF USA
Mercy Corps
Operation Blessing International
Shelterbox
Americares
Operation USA
Doctors Without Borders
Medical Teams International
The Salvation Army
American Red Cross


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Landscapes of Ice and Snow

Beau January 7th, 2010

Yesterday we finally had a chance to explore the ice on the pond, before the snow storm last night.  Some years we only get one or two chances to explore the ice a little so we took advantage of the opportunity.  What is it about ice or a frozen body of water that is so fascinating?

From this perspective the pond almost looks like a river. It does have a long drainage, and the main entry points for the watershed are the foreground cove and that inlet to the left side.   That big log round in the ice is from one of the oaks I cut up in the summer… it weighed about 100 pounds dry and rolled down the hillside at the other end of the pond; I haven’t been able to get it out yet.

missouri frozen pond

Here in Missouri it’s unusual for the lakes and ponds to freeze very long. Which means that freeze and thaw cycles occur quickly without ever having a safe surface of ice throughout winter. But over the last few weeks the temperatures have been so cold that the ice has frozen quickly for a long period of time… and we could explore a little!

Now how do you suppose that got there?  Maybe it rolled down the hill too at some point… and then floated all around the pond for a while?  It was a surprise to find it in the ice.  The yellow lab scratched and tried to pry it out of the ice… he loves anything that looks like a ball!

pumpking in the ice

I remember living in New Jersey long ago as a youngster for a couple years. We would head for a local pond during winter and strap on our hockey style ice skates for the afternoon.   We’d skate all around on the ice with smooth and bumpy parts, and it felt so strange but fun. Someone would always have a fire in an old 55 gallon drum to get warm again.

I never had the chance to do that again (and we don’t own any ice skates yet). The cycles of cold and warm, drought and moisture all change with the seasons and decades, and this winter seems like those of long ago.

I’m pretty careful about walking on ice though… the ice has to be around 4 inches thick before I’m willing to set foot on it. Then we only test out the shallow parts near the shoreline for a while. The ice is usually weaker around the weedy shoreline (and in the middle of the pond), but if it cracks and we fall in near shore up to our knees, we can get out easily.   There’s too many stories where people blindly rush out on ice to play and meet with tragedy.  I try to make this instructive in that regard.

snow swept ice

So I took a four foot board with wood screws sticking out and we wandered around the shoreline. The board was just in case something cracked or we needed an extra support to grip the surface. The ice was mostly clear of snow and clear enough to see through and gauage thickness. With my weight being (more than) three times that of the boy (!), where I went safely he could then follow.  And I didn’t want to wait for today with the snow cover… you can’t see what you’re walking on.

We practiced laying flat on the ice and talked about weight distribution, and how rescue teams might try to help someone who has fallen through the ice.  And it was fun to try and see some fish, but we were excited enough to find some cracks, bubbles and leaves.

playing on the ice

The ice bubble formations were really neat looking… especially these “tiered” bubbles that probably froze at some regular interval as the ice grew thicker.  

frozen ice bubbles

Alas it was time to head inside as the sky grew darker with the approaching storm.  We were getting pretty chilly after a couple hours outside stacking wood and playing on the ice.  But it was actually one of the warmest days of the week with highs near 25 F / - 4 C.    Today our high is only half that, and lows for the next two nights will be near zero F / -18 C! Apparently these will be our coldest temperatures in over a decade.

I was really suprised that the yellow lab was fairly sure-footed.  He ran all around the ice and didn’t slip… but he did have trouble stopping when chasing a stick, sliding for a good ten feet.   Here you can see that he had a great time and was reeaallly happy, maybe a little too happy!

happy yellow lab

We walked across the smooth ice in varous places, but not out to the middle of the pond.  I just wasn’t willing to go that far yet, but it was fun to slide along the smooth ice.  

cold ice and trees

That was our fun afternoon at the pond, and after stocking up on groceries and firewood we settled in for the coming snow.   I just love snow in winter… I know it can make life difficult for many, but somehow I’ve always welcomed it.  Maybe because I’ve never had more than a foot or two to deal with.

But I stayed up late and got up three times during the night to watch it fall…   at three in the morning there I am at the window with the porch light on, and I see a mouse!  The little guy darts out from a small evergreen bush, and buries itself in the snow to dig around for birdseed, literally tunneling under the snowy blanket.  It was actually pretty funny to watch, and he made several trips.   I was surprised he lived that close to the house with our cats all around.  

And then what do I see but a cat, in the middle of the night, jogging along through the snow, glancing at me in the window.  It wasn’t one of ours! We live off the road quite a bit, and our cats are “fixed” so we don’t usually see strays.  It kept on going around the other side of the house… who knows.  After watching the falling snow, a mouse and a strange cat, I stoked the woodstove and figured it was time to get to sleep.

january snow in missouri

We didn’t get that much snow, but it’s beautiful.   Everything is different… peaceful and quiet, for a time.  Then the wind picked up and now we’ve got drifting snow everywhere.  Nice to be inside on a day like this.  And the boy got his snow day off from school.   That little track at left is where he slid down the hill a few times.   

In recent years I’ve figured with all the climate change discussion that we wouldn’t have very good winters any more.   Maybe at this rate however I’ll get some skis and skates after all.  Somehow I think there are parallels from the past to the emotions, ideals and political fervor we see on these issues.    With such fervent desire to “do good” I think we often lose the macro perspective for potential consequences.   I’m not sure how much of it has to do with “doing good” anyway…   But that’s a topic for another day.   Stay safe and warm out there friends- I think I’ll curl up tonight with a scotch and a good book.



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Whether the Weather!

Beau January 6th, 2010

Our deep freeze continues with lows around zero… and highs in the teens at best. And I feel lucky with that, knowing how cold it is further north! We’re getting our first major snow storm tonight and probably a snow day for the kids tomorrow. This winter reminds me of those growing up in the ’70’s and I can’t help but wonder if we’re going to get more snow through the winter.

This morning the clouds in the sky were on fire… I ran to get the camera and it had already faded to a lighter orange color. Red sky at morning… sailors take warning. That bodes true for our coming storm…

red sky at morning

We’ve been going through wood like crazy to supplement the heat for the house. Our wood stove insert works overtime and keeps much of the house really toasty.  But it has an enormous appetite and at this rate there’s a lot more wood splitting in the forecast along with that snow. 

I need to make a quick run for more birdseed and a few groceries today… it seems to help them.  The other day I counted over twenty Mourning Doves!   Some of the more fearless (or hungry!) doves didn’t fly away when I took their picture…

mourning doves

The pond is really frozen now too.  I’ll try to get some pictures up before the snow because it’s pretty interesting.  The boy and I walked tenatively along the edge, and it’s more than two inches thick in several places. I love looking down through clear ice to see the bottom. If it stays frozen well have to cut a hole for some ice fishing :)   Stay warm and drive safe out there this week!    I don’t know where this came from but…

“Whether the weather be fine, Whether the weather be not,
Whether the weather be cold, Whether the weather be hot,
We’ll weather the weather, Whatever the whether,
Whether we like it or not!”




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