Beau August 6th, 2008
We’re still on the road and seeing the marvels of this great nation first hand. I don’t have time to write much, but will leave you with this picture of the yellow lab and a curious friend one evening. See you soon!
Beau July 17th, 2008
I’ve been watching for thistle plants this summer too. They always come each year, whether by seeds floating through the air or by birds I don’t know. But these are the gigantic five foot tall versions with big purple flowers on the top, if you let them get that far. They’re kind of pretty, but if they become established you’ll have a mass of thorny vegetation that doesn’t do much good for anybody. It can ruin a good hayfield, so I walk around digging them out when I see them. I kept walking past a few small ones last month making a mental note to come back (which I promptly forgot about) and finally remembered to go dig them out this week. They had not flowered yet, but were four feet tall already.
The picture by the shovel shows their size, but look at the thorns on these dudes below! They’re so sharp they go right through leather gloves.
I was also driving by a field a half mile away and noticed a whole crop of these things near the shoulder of the road. The man that lived there passed away last year, and the property is for sale. If I get around to it, maybe I’ll stop by and try dig those thistles out. Need to add that to my list…
Sphere: Related ContentBeau July 6th, 2008
Trees. Those amazing mostly green things we so take for granted. What would we do without them? They bring to the world clean air, strength, beauty, shade, biodiversity and even help supply our energy needs in winter. So much more than a simple list of course, but even so we usually just look at them, or through them. Lately we’re enjoying the shade from our trees as the summer heat sets in.
But on August 1st we’ll look a little more closely while hosting the Festival of the Trees right here at Fox Haven Journal. Nothing fancy, just an eclectic mix of pictures and words shared by creative people who appreciate the wonder and magic of Trees.
So you are most welcome to join us, even if you think writing about trees is crazy. But you’ve got to admit, they’re pretty darn useful. If you have a treeish blog post to share, you can submit it through the online submission form, through our Contact page, or send it to foxhavenjournalATgmailDOTcom.
Maybe we’ll find a pattern in the mix of submissions, and perhaps some kind of theme will emerge. But don’t count on it; I’m still trying to put the puzzle of my own life together.
Sphere: Related ContentBeau June 16th, 2008
It’s hard to believe the flooding that has taken place just north of where we live. Our thoughts and prayers go out to so many people struggling to rebuild their lives. Our area saw incredible devastation in the ’93 floods, but not to the degree that water has risen and broken through levees further north. People that don’t live in this region complain about building in flood zones, but they know little of what it’s like to live in these states. There are some areas that it doesn’t make sense to build in, but sometimes nature just goes beyond what we can conceive that may happen. In many areas, there would simply be no human presence or agriculture that has supported the nation for generations, without the support of strong levees built to hold back the water. Maybe that would be fine with some people, but these states helped to open up the west and build the nation we have today. I think now it’s time to lend support to rebuilding these towns, homes and levees, and rebuilding lives.
We have been away traveling and have only read the news about all of it this week. Where we live there has been little flooding fortunately so far. It’s strange to be gone from what you know day-to-day, and to see that people live mostly unaware of the chaos that takes place just a few hours away.
Many thoughts recently, and I wonder how long the grass is at home? Watching fuel prices rise has been staggering, and it makes me think how wasteful it is in some ways to be putting that many dollars in the tank of the car (or tractor). Cutting the grass is an incredible economic drain in terms of the cost, and with the price of fuel basically doubling over the past year it’s hard to justify riding the tractor more than absolutely necessary. I had cut back quite a bit already, and will do so even more this summer. But the rain has kept things green and growing abundantly so far.
With the cost of rising gas prices vanity fades away as economic necessity rises to the forefront. The grass will still need cut in many areas at times lest the woody plants begin to take over. Woody brush and weeds are not so bad in themselves, but once they take root it’s extremely difficult to go back and remove them. Some ask why do we need the grass and open areas anyway? Well it provides many benefits to a larger property. The open areas provide places to walk and play obviously, and to enjoy the vistas that surround us. They also serve as navigable pathways in and around the forests, fields and orchards. And keeping the grass shorter reduces the number of insects or pests, especially ticks and chiggers. So it’s not all vanity or pride in having a groomed look along the driveway, but that is certainly part of it. I do enjoy the clean look of the cut grass, but only to a point. Some of our neighbors go even further, insisting on cutting the grass within inches around every obstacle that exists to obtain that suburban kept-lawn look.
But I’ve let that mindset go out of both practicality and economic prudence. If the grass is too short it opens the soil and slopes up to erosion more frequently, and then takes a huge effort to try and regain the soil structure. So leaving the grass longer or uncut in many areas helps protect the slopes and drainages. And now more than ever I simply don’t see the point of spending so much time and money for temporary aesthetics. And looking northward at the flooding is a humbling reminder that there are far more important things in life.
Sphere: Related ContentBeau June 12th, 2008
It’s kind of nice seeing a different part of the country and enjoying some time off. Of course, I keep thinking how overgrown the grass and garden is becoming while we are away. The weeds are the little stinkers that really take advantage of the time. I swear there are weeds that grow a few inches overnight. I walk by doing a double take thinking “Didn’t I just pull those out yesterday?”
Today I watched a garden/landscape crew of five or six people come in and work on the front and back of a house sitting on a half acre. These guys were a whirl of activity for about 45 minutes trimming, cutting, blowing, sweeping and had that place looking amazing in a very short time. I mused over the idea of what it would be like to have such a crew for our property. Would I miss spending the time doing all of that? Nah!!! But I couldn’t imagine how much that would cost… and it would bother me not to do it myself. At least for now. :)
And it seems I forgot that when visiting relatives, everybody tends to eat a lot. Especially me. Food is somehow a universal language, and in the presense (or absence!) of smiles, memories and emotions, we share with each other over all kinds of food. I don’t mind… I’ve never met a food I didn’t like. Well, except for sea urchin eggs. But none of that this week fortunately, except that I think I’m actually gaining weight by the hour. Not to worry I suppose, in a week or so I’ll be out working it off. So it’s off to another BBQ! Somebody’s got to do it and it might as well be me.
Sphere: Related ContentBeau June 7th, 2008
Well the humidity has arrived! Temperatures well into the 90’s and it feels like summer. Which is about time I guess. I loved the cool weather, but the rain and storms have been a bit much this spring. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the grass grow so fast, which will be interesting since we’re taking a trip for a week or so. There will be plenty to cut and trim when we return, and maybe the garden will have a few presents for us. I have a few pictures waiting to share, so I’ll post them when I can. But what’s a summer if not filled with fun and activity for the kids? Even if that’s simply running around like crazy outside… which we seem to do a lot of . Mostly me :) See you soon.
Sphere: Related ContentBeau June 5th, 2008
The dew has just been hanging on to the grass and leaves in the morning because the ground has been so moist. I love how the sun glows brightly over the landscape as the day begins. But our days are heating up quickly, and the humidity is much higher now. Isn’t it amazing how the seasons change? It can be such a gradual process, but sometimes I look around and wonder how everything changed so quickly. Maybe life is like that sometimes too. Just when we start to get comfortable with something, it changes! But isn’t change important too? I think that it promotes growth, depending upon how we handle it. Many of the more beautiful moments in our lives are simply that- moments to savor and enjoy. And then things change. But like a beautiful sunrise, they can be moments to remember.
Beau May 10th, 2008
We have been in a rainy, cool weather cycle for weeks now, and it looks to continue this month. Some very heavy thunderstorms as well, and many are watchful for tornado warnings. It must be like this over the entire region, but weather always feels like a local thing when you’re standing outside getting wet. Remember the old days when you didn’t really know what kind of weather to expect a few days ahead? Now we have so many technological marvels that we have a good idea of what to expect over a week or more. So now we’re over 8 inches ahead on rainfall for the year, which is just about the opposite of last year.
The garden and new shrubs and trees are coming along very well, but it’s really too wet at this point. I’m thankful to have spread so much rock and gravel everhwere to slow the runoff. And this week a new project begins with a couple packages of buzzing little critters. If all goes well, we may have our very own pollinators for the garden.
But in the mean time I haven’t been able to cut much grass. It’s been too wet, so it just grows taller. Well at least it saves on gas and diesel. Can you believe fuel prices? And the weeds are growing quickly too-
Rember blowing dandelions in the wind? We’ve got a lot of those right now!
Beau April 5th, 2008
While walking through the backyard and garden the other day I heard a loud humming, droning noise. It was a contant, steady noise and I realized it must be insects, but where… and then I felt silly after looking at the large Pussy Willow tree. It was blooming earlier than any other tree or plant, and covered in yellow white flower heads. Thousands of bees, flies and other insects were all over the tree, but mostly the bees. I keep thinking about getting a beehive… The day was one of the first warm days of spring, and the insects had emerged with the sun. I’m looking forward to a few more warm days ahead!
Beau March 17th, 2008
A friend of mine sent along these beautiful thoughts. I hope you enjoy them too on this St. Patrick’s Day-
An Irish Blessing
I wish you not a path devoid of clouds,
nor a life on a bed or roses.
Nor, that you might never need regret,
nor that you should never feel pain.
No, this is not my wish for you. My wish for you is:
That you might be brave in times of trial
when other’s lay crosses upon your shoulders.
When mountains must be climbed and chasms crossed,
when hope scarce shines through.
When every gift God gave you might grow along with you,
and let you give the gift of joy to all who care for you.
That you might always have a friend who is worth that name.
Whom you can trust.
And hope will be, in times of sadness,
who will defy the storms of life by your side.
One more wish for you:
That in every hour of joy and pain, you may be close to God.
This is my wish for you and those who are close to you.
This is my hope for you, now and forever.
Author Unknown
Four-leaf Clover, courtesy Wikipedia- Phyzome
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