Wow--has it really been since November since I last posted? It hardly seems possible.
I don't know where the time has gone, or what I have done the past few months (okay, so I lied--I've done LOTS of things--work, mainly)
Now that Spring is finally here, I have taken to sitting outside as much as I possibly can. Being cooped up inside for months on end is wearing, and I am one who needs the fresh outdoor air.
Nothing is as calming to me as sitting in my housecoat on the front steps watching the sun come up and listening to the cattle on nearby farms and the traffic out on the highway. Birdsong is much more melodic than anything on the radio at that early hour.
Many mornings I have simply sat and watched the prisims of light that bounce off the dew on the blades of grass and breathed in the cool, dewey air. Quiet mornings, wrapped in a blanket are one of life's simple pleasures to be treasured.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
The Last Hurrah
Today is the first of November. 11-01-11. It hardly seems possible that the year is slipping away so quickly.
The harvest is nearly done and soon the fields will sleep for the winter. The trees have once again put on their annual finery and soon, they will shed their colors and sleep as well.
Autumn is by far, my favorite time of year, and soon the sun will be low in the sky, bathing everything in wonderful golden light. My favorite time of day and my favorite time of year.
Each evening now, just around dusk, the geese will be flying over our house, honking and heading North, towards the lake. It is something I look forward to, and I will miss once they find their wintering grounds.
Somewhere in the yard, the years last cricket is trilling. The squirrels are working overtime, and the birds are gathering in the trees. The ice cream truck is giving it one last shot before tomorrow's cold.
I will be sad to see this glorious day end, but such is November. We have been so lucky this year to have had summer stay as long as it has, and Autumn be so kind.
I am outside even now, sitting on the patio, unwilling to miss a single minute of this last beautiful day...in a few short weeks, there will be snow on this very table.
Let winter come, as it must, to blanket the land in white. Let it fill the cracks in the yard and melt into puddles and streams , the streams into creeks and rivers. Let the rivers flow into ponds and lakes as it should, and renew the earth in the spring.
I have today to remember.
The harvest is nearly done and soon the fields will sleep for the winter. The trees have once again put on their annual finery and soon, they will shed their colors and sleep as well.
Autumn is by far, my favorite time of year, and soon the sun will be low in the sky, bathing everything in wonderful golden light. My favorite time of day and my favorite time of year.
Each evening now, just around dusk, the geese will be flying over our house, honking and heading North, towards the lake. It is something I look forward to, and I will miss once they find their wintering grounds.
Somewhere in the yard, the years last cricket is trilling. The squirrels are working overtime, and the birds are gathering in the trees. The ice cream truck is giving it one last shot before tomorrow's cold.
I will be sad to see this glorious day end, but such is November. We have been so lucky this year to have had summer stay as long as it has, and Autumn be so kind.
I am outside even now, sitting on the patio, unwilling to miss a single minute of this last beautiful day...in a few short weeks, there will be snow on this very table.
Let winter come, as it must, to blanket the land in white. Let it fill the cracks in the yard and melt into puddles and streams , the streams into creeks and rivers. Let the rivers flow into ponds and lakes as it should, and renew the earth in the spring.
I have today to remember.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Spring
I am sorry, dear readers, that I have been away from this blog for so long--it has been a busy, busy spring so far and the summer looks to be much the same.
Looking back, there's been a lot going on: rabbit shows and snow, graduation parties and graduations, wisdom teeth, gardens, eye surgeries and WORK.
For awhile, we were all wondering if we were going to have a Spring at all--cold, rain, wind and SNOW in mid-April (and not just light fluffy stuff that just drifted in the air kind of snow, but messy, sloppy stuff that collected on the ground and made it hard to drive type of snow)
A few days ago, we had the corn stove running in the morning and the fan in the window by that night--for those of you who have never experienced Iowa weather, this really isn't all that uncommon...!
Outside in the fields and pastures and ditches and timbers, we have gone from winter dormancy to full-fledged Amazon green. Corn is up and things are growing.
Outside my door, there is a nest of baby rabbits. I am pretty sure Mom was born here in my yard, perhaps Mom's Mom and maybe even her Mom too. I was amazed and honored that she sat not more than four or five feet away from me with her brand-new babies and was unafraid. Without touching them, I went over and counted six wiggly, hairless babies--so cute! They reminded me of tiny little seals, each with a tiny white stripe on the top of their heads.
I put a lawn chair over the nest so that we wouldn't mow over them and I have been checking on them every day. I know Mom is feeding them as the nest has been disturbed and carefully covered again with grass and fur. In two weeks or so, the babies will be up and out and on their own. This is her second litter of the summer. Thankfully, they are leaving my garden alone! Maybe this is payback for me 'taking care' of them, who knows...
There are young squirrels EVERYWHERE. I watched out my front door as FIVE of them came running through the neighbor's yard., across the street, and into the yew bushes in front of the house. In a flash, they zipped up the Ash tree and across it's branches, into the Maple tree across the street and were gone. Seeing one or two or maybe even THREE of them at a time is an everyday thing--but I've never seen that many squirrels in a pack like that--I am thinking they were all littermates playing 'Follow the Leader'!
The sun is shining brightly through my window this morning and the air is still cool. It rained last night, just as it seems to have rained just about every night the past month or so. As soon as it dries up a bit, we will be heading out to The Farm to mow--so starts the once-a-week ritual that will last until late August or early Spetember.
I haven't even given much thought to the 300+ grapevines out there, and I know I should. Grapes are very time-consuming, labor-intensive, and will be my Master again this summer. They need to be pruned, trained, sprayed and practically tucked in to bed at night. Last year, in 100+ degree heat, I got a very bad sunburn doing so. I can't afford to do that again, so it looks like either early mornings or later on in the evenings for me this time around.
A 300-vine vineyard is tiny compared to some, but caring for them could almost be a full-time job in itself, especially for two people who already work full-time jobs and have other obligations. It's 22 miles round-trip out and back. How I wish we had our house built and could just step out the back door and BE THERE!
Looking back, there's been a lot going on: rabbit shows and snow, graduation parties and graduations, wisdom teeth, gardens, eye surgeries and WORK.
For awhile, we were all wondering if we were going to have a Spring at all--cold, rain, wind and SNOW in mid-April (and not just light fluffy stuff that just drifted in the air kind of snow, but messy, sloppy stuff that collected on the ground and made it hard to drive type of snow)
A few days ago, we had the corn stove running in the morning and the fan in the window by that night--for those of you who have never experienced Iowa weather, this really isn't all that uncommon...!
Outside in the fields and pastures and ditches and timbers, we have gone from winter dormancy to full-fledged Amazon green. Corn is up and things are growing.
Outside my door, there is a nest of baby rabbits. I am pretty sure Mom was born here in my yard, perhaps Mom's Mom and maybe even her Mom too. I was amazed and honored that she sat not more than four or five feet away from me with her brand-new babies and was unafraid. Without touching them, I went over and counted six wiggly, hairless babies--so cute! They reminded me of tiny little seals, each with a tiny white stripe on the top of their heads.
I put a lawn chair over the nest so that we wouldn't mow over them and I have been checking on them every day. I know Mom is feeding them as the nest has been disturbed and carefully covered again with grass and fur. In two weeks or so, the babies will be up and out and on their own. This is her second litter of the summer. Thankfully, they are leaving my garden alone! Maybe this is payback for me 'taking care' of them, who knows...
There are young squirrels EVERYWHERE. I watched out my front door as FIVE of them came running through the neighbor's yard., across the street, and into the yew bushes in front of the house. In a flash, they zipped up the Ash tree and across it's branches, into the Maple tree across the street and were gone. Seeing one or two or maybe even THREE of them at a time is an everyday thing--but I've never seen that many squirrels in a pack like that--I am thinking they were all littermates playing 'Follow the Leader'!
The sun is shining brightly through my window this morning and the air is still cool. It rained last night, just as it seems to have rained just about every night the past month or so. As soon as it dries up a bit, we will be heading out to The Farm to mow--so starts the once-a-week ritual that will last until late August or early Spetember.
I haven't even given much thought to the 300+ grapevines out there, and I know I should. Grapes are very time-consuming, labor-intensive, and will be my Master again this summer. They need to be pruned, trained, sprayed and practically tucked in to bed at night. Last year, in 100+ degree heat, I got a very bad sunburn doing so. I can't afford to do that again, so it looks like either early mornings or later on in the evenings for me this time around.
A 300-vine vineyard is tiny compared to some, but caring for them could almost be a full-time job in itself, especially for two people who already work full-time jobs and have other obligations. It's 22 miles round-trip out and back. How I wish we had our house built and could just step out the back door and BE THERE!
Sunday, March 27, 2011
outdoor laundry
I washed the bedlinens and hung them outdoors to dry for the first time this year. It's beautiful and sunny (and still cold) and perfect for outdoor laundry.
I don't think there is anything in the world that compare to the wonderful smell of freshly laundered sheets that have blown dry in the breeze.
Anything dried in the dryer just smells like it's been dried in the dryer--I don't care how many millions of dollars have been invested or how many noses have been recruited in making a decent dryer sheet that supposedly 'smells like the fresh outdoors'--if you want your clothes to smell like the outdoors, then HANG THEM OUTDOORS TO DRY--duh--
I can't believe what I heard a few months ago--some town in the East is drying to ban clotheslines and is wanting to prohibit people hanging their laundry out--the reasoning behind this? Someone was complaining because they didn't want to have to look at their neighbor's underwear.
Oh pleeeese--give me a break!
Well, my neighbors are pretty much used to having to look at my underwear hanging out on the line--along with my sheets, my towels, my jeans and just about anything else that goes through the wash.
I don't understand why people don't hang things out like they used to--then listen to them complain about their utility bill--
Oh well, it's their money--I just wish I could get them to look before they burn their weeds and leaves, but I like that smell too...
I don't think there is anything in the world that compare to the wonderful smell of freshly laundered sheets that have blown dry in the breeze.
Anything dried in the dryer just smells like it's been dried in the dryer--I don't care how many millions of dollars have been invested or how many noses have been recruited in making a decent dryer sheet that supposedly 'smells like the fresh outdoors'--if you want your clothes to smell like the outdoors, then HANG THEM OUTDOORS TO DRY--duh--
I can't believe what I heard a few months ago--some town in the East is drying to ban clotheslines and is wanting to prohibit people hanging their laundry out--the reasoning behind this? Someone was complaining because they didn't want to have to look at their neighbor's underwear.
Oh pleeeese--give me a break!
Well, my neighbors are pretty much used to having to look at my underwear hanging out on the line--along with my sheets, my towels, my jeans and just about anything else that goes through the wash.
I don't understand why people don't hang things out like they used to--then listen to them complain about their utility bill--
Oh well, it's their money--I just wish I could get them to look before they burn their weeds and leaves, but I like that smell too...
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Thunderstorms
Yes! It stormed this morning!
I LOVE Thunderstorms--no, not the destructive kind that come with wind and tornadoes, rather the soft rumbly kind that bring rain.
I don't really have anything against a good light show--personally, I don't think there is a fireworks display on Earth that can come close to Mother Nature's fireworks--especially on a summer night.
There is nothing like sitting in your favorite chair on the porch, or snuggling warm and dry in bed and listening to the rumble and the sound of rain on the roof. It's one of life's simple pleasures and one to be treasured and looked forward to all through the long, cold, depressing winter months.
Robins are EVERYWHERE now, and the grass is changing it's clothes from winter brown to spring green. I'm sure that SOMEWHERE Crocuses and Daffodils and maybe even some brave Tulips have started to push their way towards the sun...in the woods, maybe even some Jack-In-The-Pulpits. Can the Morels be far behind?
I LOVE Thunderstorms--no, not the destructive kind that come with wind and tornadoes, rather the soft rumbly kind that bring rain.
I don't really have anything against a good light show--personally, I don't think there is a fireworks display on Earth that can come close to Mother Nature's fireworks--especially on a summer night.
There is nothing like sitting in your favorite chair on the porch, or snuggling warm and dry in bed and listening to the rumble and the sound of rain on the roof. It's one of life's simple pleasures and one to be treasured and looked forward to all through the long, cold, depressing winter months.
Robins are EVERYWHERE now, and the grass is changing it's clothes from winter brown to spring green. I'm sure that SOMEWHERE Crocuses and Daffodils and maybe even some brave Tulips have started to push their way towards the sun...in the woods, maybe even some Jack-In-The-Pulpits. Can the Morels be far behind?
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Daylight Savings Time
I saw my first Robin of the year yesterday, so Spring is close at hand.
This is a good thing, but--
Every year I am moved to distraction at the onset of one of our Government's most ludicrous ideas: DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME.
I simply can NOT see any practical purpose whatsoever for this. Why, when the days are longer already, so we have to set the clocks ahead for more daylight and mess with everyone's schedules. This is a gigantic waste of time and effort, and for what?
If the Government feels so inclined to complicate and involve themselves with the American Public (and it's only going to get worse, folks) then why don't they set the clocks ahead in the WINTER TIME when we could actually USE another hours' daylight for our day-to-day doings? THAT would make sense, that's why...
ARRRGGHHH! This is MOST aggrivating and rediculous.
Sometimes I wish I lived in Arizona. (for more reasons than no Daylight Savings Time there...)
This is a good thing, but--
Every year I am moved to distraction at the onset of one of our Government's most ludicrous ideas: DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME.
I simply can NOT see any practical purpose whatsoever for this. Why, when the days are longer already, so we have to set the clocks ahead for more daylight and mess with everyone's schedules. This is a gigantic waste of time and effort, and for what?
If the Government feels so inclined to complicate and involve themselves with the American Public (and it's only going to get worse, folks) then why don't they set the clocks ahead in the WINTER TIME when we could actually USE another hours' daylight for our day-to-day doings? THAT would make sense, that's why...
ARRRGGHHH! This is MOST aggrivating and rediculous.
Sometimes I wish I lived in Arizona. (for more reasons than no Daylight Savings Time there...)
Friday, March 4, 2011
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