..Namasté..

MERRYBELLE

2012-01-22T13:12:00.001-05:00

I currently live with one of the most complicated beings to ever cross my path - MerryBelle Wilder, the corgi I rescued back in early August (2011). Although she is supposedly a full-bred corgi (from a puppy mill that was closed down for poor breeding practices), I would swear she's got some beagle in her. In fact, I found a photo of a corgi/beagle mix on the internet that looks just like her. (Her bloodline is of no importance to me whatsoever; I'd love her if she were a Heinz-57.)

What is most evident is that MerryBelle has a "wild streak in her," as my dad would say. She's the most instinct-driven dog I've ever known, and she has little or no trust in humans when push comes to shove. As much as I love her, MB sets the boundaries that dictate how close I can get to her. I so wish I could figure her! She's complex and very, very strong-willed.

MerryBelle has well-established herself as alpha over Mac and me. She has a level of food aggression that makes Mac run for cover when I put food or water in their dishes. She's bitten me twice, both times as a result of my having to intervene for Mac's safety after she's "jumped" him over food through no fault of his own, and she's now refusing to let me hook her to a leash. As many folks on Facebook know, she slipped away from me this weekend and was gone overnight during a nasty winter ice storm. (Thanks to a neighbor who saw my phone number on her chip tag whenMerryBelle sought refuge at the neighbor's house, I was able to "rescue" her once again. And despite her fatigue, a cut to her leg and hunger, MerryBelle turned stubborn about letting us put her leash on.)

Taken from her mother at only 5 weeks old, MB must have the idea of having to "fight" for her life deeply encoded within. I also know she comes with a lot of baggage regarding abuse, as well. She was beaten pretty severely by the dad of a family who adopted her and allowed his son to approach MB's food. When MB got aggressive over her bowl and nipped at the child, the dad apparently removed her from the house to a chain outside and kicked her regularly. One of her defense mechanisms is to scream when one touches her shoulder - the area where she got kicked, I'm sure. She also cowers and runs away when one extends a hand to pet her from above. Surely she associates that with being struck, as well. She also does NOT like for one to look in her eyes. If I look at directly at her, regardless of the tenderness with which I approach her, she diverts her gaze and moves away, giving me the "I don't trust ANYONE look. Back off!".

In the time she's been here, poor Mac's taken many an assault from his "sister." When we play, MB's like the child in the neighborhood who really, really wants to join in the game, gets really excited about the prospect, barges in and ruins the moment for everyone, over and over again. Just recently, I've been able to get her to play tug-o-war with an old sock with Mac, but fetching seems not to interest her in the least. When she and Mac run and play, she doesn't seem to get that her play becomes too aggressive to tolerate, both for humans and Mac, and after a while, I have to bring it to a halt because she's just not nice.

On the other hand, I think she really wants to be a loving part of our pack. She welcomes visitors to the house energetically; she loves for me to get down on the floor and be a dog with her. It's then when I can rub her and love her and get her to respond to healthy play- always on her terms, but respond, nonetheless. I suppose we've come a ways since she got here, but the setbacks outweigh our progress at any given moment. She follows me everywhere, yet she won't let me near her to love her. As I write this, she's come upstairs to be with me and sleep at my feet, but she won't allow me to bend over and rub her at all.

Bottom line--she's a piece of work who's as unpredictable as a rebellious teenager, as untrusting as an abuse victim, and as headstrong as the most feisty adolescent! She's definitely a test of patience, a constant reminder for me to look at myself in every moment of our interaction, and a lesson in consistency of training and reward. She contradicts almost everything I've ever learned from living with critters! She's like having a child....there's no time off with MB !!

I will confess that I've entertained the thought of returning her to the corgi rescue family; however, I know when push came to shove, I wouldn't be able to surrender her back. So, I'll continue my "process of elimination" techniques in terms of what works with her, get her in obedience training, and work as consistently with her as I can. I not giving up....yet.

LoriBeth gifted us with a session with an animal intuitive for Christmas. On some levels, I think MB's picked on that, so it will be most interesting to see what guidance I get, what messages MB sends and receives, and importantly, if we can turn some things around. Keep your fingers crossed!

For now, it's back to reading Mother Knows Best, remembering to click and treat, and play "dog" as much as possible. Stay tuned!

CHEERS! THE 2011 FARM FAMILY NEWS

2011-12-17T10:52:00.004-05:00

It's a gray morning today, December 17, 2011, but the spirit of love and family radiates like a brilliant splash of sun in the heart here at The Farm. The Earth's taking on her muted palate for the upcoming months, only to make the reds, blues, and raspberry colors of the birds at our feeder look like the bare trees' holiday ornaments. Although there have been moments in 2011 that have brought up the antithesis of joy, we have grown in our understanding of them as part of life's cycle. Ultimately, we sustain our life in peace, happiness, friendships, good health and laughter,and for that I'm thankful...very thankful indeed. Love and joy define our world at The Farm.

After this school year, I'll have only three more to teach before I retire! I'm beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel and fantasizing about all the possibilities that await when I don't have to define my life by the ever-changing demands of education. Watch out world...Señora Wilder's about to emerge as a feisty retiree! :0)

I spend a lot of time alone at the farm with two corgis, Mac and MerryBelle, frequently acknowledging that my life is more like that of a member of a pack than a human being. The dogs are work, both physically and emotionally; however, what I reap from life with them can't be quantified by words. If one were to be a fly on the wall on a daily basis here at The Farm, he/she would hear a lot of barking and laughing. The pups remind me to play, and I participate in rambunctious games of tug-of-war with socks, fetch with Bessy The Cow, and chase more than once every day. Mac's a total goofball, and MerryBelle's learning to let go and have fun. (She is an adopted corgi mix and came to The Farm from a Corgi Rescue group. It's obvious someone was unkind to her. Trust doesn't come to her easily.)

I'm still involved with advocating on behalf of human rights and the Cuba situation. Working with my twin sister of a different mother, Laida Carro, is quite an honor, for Laida tirelessly and selflessly defends those who suffer on the island. Cuba's in a real mess, and not nice things happen to innocent people every day there. I've learned a great deal of patience from working in human rights, and Laida continues to inspire me to keep the plight of others at the forefront of my thoughts. I hope to go to Cuba some day to work with people who have no idea what the world's all about.

On any given day, one can find me working with my photographs, knitting, gardening, working crosswords, or doing a bit of writing. This year, I also became an "officiant" (I hestitate to use the term 'minister.') via the internet and was the celebrant at the marriage of Stepnahie Garoza and Ryan Brandt. (The photographer referred to me as "Pastor." I had to giggle.) My life is full, certainly not dull, and as I approach my 60th birthday in 2012, I hope to share the thought that we need not take things too seriously....That approach really does take the pressure off, so I've found out along the way.

Samuel has one more semester to go in his MFA program at American University. Although I don't think he's in love with DC yet, I do believe he has had some amazing experiences there and has made lifelong connections, both professionally and personally. Recently he's gotten some great feedback on his poetry, and he's translated poems by a Cuban writer, Manuel Vázquez Portal, that his profs encourage him to publish, along with his own orgininal work. He's moved from a basement apartment on the fringe of a questionable neighborhood to his current pad in Georgetown as he supports himself by bartending while going to school. I'll hand it to him - he's busted his butt off for the last three years, dealt with a myriad of issues, and succeeded to carve out a place in his program for which I hope he will be rewarded. I'll see him for the first time in a year in Boone next week....Can't wait to get a Sammy hug! I'm so proud of him!

Eliza successfully completed organic chemistry and physics this past quarter and seems to be quite happy picking up some shifts at Bob Evans over break. This woman has spent hours and hours in classes, labs, recitations, help sessions, and her own study routine during Fall Quarater. Sometimes I look at her and am overwhelmed by her beauty, inside and out. Eliza's got spunk, and she's got ambition, and she's got a great sense of humor. Witnessing her define her goals and go for them is a great lesson for me, for she is graceful as well as determined in her process. I'm so proud of her! Having her at home at the moment is the best !!

I don't hear a lot from Bobbi and Isabella, which indicates all's well and they're busy, busy, busy...Bobbi's business thrives, and Isabella's activities fill in her "spare" time. Isabella's attending a very demanding private school in Philly. A goal is to see them this year....it's been way too long since we got silly together!

My mom turned 93 last week...a role model for us all! She's amazing in every way!. Myra, my sister, has had a challenging year at her work, but she has weathered the office woes gracefully and powerfully. I hold her in high regard.

In other Farm news flashes of the year:

1. The Farm Family welcomed Nathaniel Grayson Potash into our circle of love!. Brett and Betsy are parents! Little Nate decided to arrive on December 13th, a special day in the Shook family since he now shares a birthday with Samuel and my sister, Myra. As Brett described his birth to me, it took me back to that (almost) same moment 26 years ago to Samuel's arrival - uncanny similarities in their birth process and quick arrivals. I simply can't wait to meet the little guy and hold him in my arms! Joy, joy, joy....(see www.babypotash.blogspot.com for photos. The smile on Brett's face says it all!)

2. In May, Meera got married to Eric Schell. I've poured over the photos of their wedding time and time again because the beauty of the day, the ceremony, the happiness on Eric's and Meera's faces define the best in love and adoration. Meera Chary is perhaps the most beautiful bride I've ever seen! You can see a photo of her if you go back a few months on my blog roll.

3. Dana and James moved to Alaska where the temperature has already sunk to -40 degrees and sustained light is not happening at this time of the year. The distance seems insurmountable; however, the job opportunity for James was such that he couldn't pass it by. Dana's recently gotten a job with the University of Alaska, as well. Little Wendy, now 3, sounds like a fascinating little girl - bright and independent. I love the videos of her telling jokes and singing her favorite songs.

4. Joe moved to Oregon to assume a position in ceramics at Mount Hood Community College. His departure from The Farm was emotionally difficult on a lot of levels, and our plans for 37 tomato plants was quickly redefined once I began the process of trying to keep up with them. Anyway, José's now in Portland, where he's working to establish himself in his job and get his own work off the ground. Opportunities for Joe abound in Oregon; opportunities for Joe in the Mid-Ohio Valley were not abundant. Paco took the cross country trip in stride and is none the worse for having spent five days on the road.

5. Lori and Chris hold down the fort on Maui. Lori continues to work for the Kroeger family and travels about with them throughout the world. She and Chris have two dogs and cats that fill their space with love and energy. What I love about Lori is the beauty and grace, accompanied by humorous moments, with which she approaches life. Chris is a great guy with a beautiful smile and easy spirit. They'll be home for Christmas, and we'll see them after our trip to NC. Can't wait to hug their necks!!

6. When Christy, Sophie, and Oberon visit The Farm, we play and laugh. One of the things I look forward to in the coming year includes spending more time with those three. I so enjoy having them here, for we have fun, play games, and are constantly surrounded with lots of active, high-spirited dog energy.

7. Tom and Chintu seem to be settled in to life in Cleveland. I miss having them close. Tom works for a legal firm in the city, and Chintu's doing research in a post-doc at Cleveland Clinic. One of my commitments to 2012 is to visit them in the city. Those "fellers" define love, sincere and committed love. It doesn't get any better.

8. Andrew came home from Japan for a two week visit this summer, and boy, oh boy, is he having the time of his life! Tall, slender, focused, totally absorbed by life in Japan, Andrew is living out an amazing adventure. His passion for clay has taken off, and he's taking in every opportunity possible to live his life in Japan to the fullest. It was a complete JOY to have a couple of visits with him. Norm and Diane are planning to visit him in the spring!!

Visits with Peg, my childhood friend and partner in crime, and her daughter, Alexa; with Betsy and Bill Schadel; with Caroline Koons and Joe Henderson; with my college roomate, Bink, and her husband, David, and an occasional dinner with Diane and Norm make for fond memories of 2011. All in all, it's been a great year...jam-packed with connections and laughter...I couldn't ask for more....

This epistle is much more lengthy than I had anticipated, but it catches all up on life here. As I continue to be amazed and in awe of life's gifts and curves, I am humbled by the many blessings I enjoy on a daily basis, and I hope folks, wherever they are when they read this, can catch a bit of the love and delight life brings our way....

Love, infinite love and peace.....now and always..

Tanya

PS: Red Wolf sends his greetings..After 25 years of trying, he thinks he's hatched THE special plan for seeing Santa this year. He's one persistent dude!

FULL CIRCLE

2011-11-13T20:58:00.003-05:00

I've been to flea markets and thrift shops long enough now to know that on any random day I might see something that was made by someone I know. Over time, I've picked up wooden spoons by a carver who used to do Indian Summer Festival years ago here in Marietta, and my friend, Mary Ann, found a ceramic bowl made by Caroline Koons at Goodwill in Parkersburg, I never, however, expected to see anything I had made anywhere....EVER...

So...here's the story.

Last weekend I went to Rinks to take photographs. I really had no intention of poking around in the vendor area, but I wandered in that direction after I had taken a few photos of rusty old junk on the other side of the parking lot. At the third table I passed, I stopped - amazed and incredulous. Laying on the table in front of me was a beaded necklace with a deer hide pouch I had made years ago when I was making primitive-like jewelry. Before I thought I blurted out, " Wow! That's one of my necklaces! I made that!" I felt like I had just run into an old friend, and I was delighted to see it and run the beads through my fingers.

The man at whose table I was standing stepped up to talk to me. He said he had just gotten it from another vendor for $2.00; however, a weasly-type, Native American wannabe vendor who's a regular at Rink's was insisting to him when I arrived on the scene that it was an old Native American piece. I noted that the "scheister" had a wad-full of cash in his hand, and as I continued to talk to the vendor, this other old codger kept leaning over to whisper in the vendor's ear. I got a strong sense the long-haired greaser, who was decked out in all sorts of necklaces and spirit pouches, was attempting to discredit me every time he could get the seller's attention. Obviously he wanted to by the pouch, and quite honestly, he irked me a bit....more than a bit - a lot!

So I dug my heels in. Attempting to hide my intent, I started talking to Manuel, the vendor, about making the pouches, what I intended them to be on a spiritual level, and what the wrapped sticks in each one signified. The more I talked, the more I could see I was gaining credibility with the baffled seller who suddenly found himself sandwiched between a lady who claimed to be the item's maker and a guy who was hovering over him like a yellow jacket around leftover sweets.

Finally Manuel said he wanted to keep the necklace. I was totally fine with his decision since my intent was not to buy the necklace....Quite honestly, I was trying to stave off the sketchy old geezer who wanted it because I didn't want HIM to have it!! The pouch wouldn't have been happy with the decrepit, emphysematic, self-proclaimed expert in indigenous art.

As I turned to walk away, Manuel said that if he decided to sell it, he'd call me first. Telling me he was an honest man, he promised to give me first chance at purchase if I wanted. That agreed, I left my name and phone number with Manuel and headed back home.

I thought off and on about the necklace all week...about the turbulent period in my life when I was engulfed in making the pouches...about the imbalance I felt in so many ways at that time...about how different my life is now compared to the time when I spent hours in confusion and sorrow as I made piece after piece.... about how totally sychronistic it was that I kept the necklace from falling into the wrong hands..

Yes, Manuel did seem to be honest, and yes, it was fine that he would be its new owner.

Fast forward to a week later.....

Last Saturday evening, I picked up my cell phone to see I had a message. Sure enough, Manuel had called to tell me he would be at Rink's the next day, and he told me that if I wanted to have the necklace, I could buy it for the $2.00 he paid for it. He wanted me to know he was an honest man.....one who kept his word....one who felt stronglly the necklace should return to me.

The next day, I found Manuel in the same spot as the week before. We said a brief hello, and he proceeded to tell me he had also contemplated the necklace, had held it in his hand, had put it around his neck. Yet, he couldn't let go of the thought that it should return to me. Manuel "got it." He listened to the energy of the piece...Indeed, he was a very, very special person.

I am very, very grateful to have this small reminder of my past with me here in the present....I'm sure it came back home to let me know my contemplations of over a decade ago didn't go unheard, for it's true that it has returned to a place that's evolved into the peace and sanity that was so sought after and needed at the time I made the pouch and strung the beads......

Here it is...at The Farm...safe and sound.....

RECENT PHOTOS I'VE TAKEN THAT I LIKE

2011-11-11T12:08:00.003-05:00

"Metal Caster #1"

I have an abstract mind, and my eyes are drawn to abstract images in most everything I study closely. There photos are just a few of the random shots I've taken recently. I'm playing around with altering them a bit, saturating colors, cropping for the image that satisfies my mind, and trying to focus on composition and forms.

With no formal training in art or design, I approach my photography with a bit of innocence and a total lack of study...and I like it that way, for now at least. I am, however, open to the ideas and thoughts of those who have a skillfully trained eye and know art. I am even more open to the thoughts of others who have no background in art, for I love innocent assessments, as well....In short....all comments welcome.

Blue Lines

Rusted Coil

The Driver's Seat

Early Evening Moon on Eliza's Birthday - 11/08/2011

THE GLADIATOR & HER GLADIOLA

2011-10-17T14:26:00.006-05:00

About two weeks ago, I noticed that as most of the flowers around The Farm were beginning to "call it quits" for this year, there was a gladiola emerging and sending out a bloom spike amid a thick clump of irises. Very surprised to see it, I remembered buying some end-of-the-year gladiola bulbs on sale and sticking them in the ground rather haphazardly - certainly not thinking I would see a bloom until next spring. Then, on Wednesday of this last week, I saw the bottom flowers on the stalk were beginning to open, and I told myself I'd wait to bring this unexpected "glad" in for the weekend to enjoy while I was at home for a couple of days. Friday afternoon I placed the beautiful magenta-centered, lilac-fringed flower on my dining room table, and a very special connection with the beauty and delicateness usually associated with spring adorned my home as the autumn leaves fell and a brisk wind howled outside.

Still, I remained perplexed as to why this breath of spring had decided to open as the frost approaches.

The answer came a few hours later when I received a second phone call from Laida Carro, president of the Coalition of Cuban-American Women, just minutes after we had hung up after a lengthy conversation. Shocked and stunned, she informed me that Laura Pollán, a founder of the Ladies in White (Las Damas de Blanco) in Cuba had died. In our earlier conversation, I had told Laida I didn't feel good about Laura. We knew she was in the hospital in Havana, and there was something that haunted me about her condition...My hunch proved correct...Laura had died just minutes earlier....I was dumbfounded and so, so saddened.

Initially when Laura was admitted last week, doctors had said she had pneumonia...then a viral infection....then a staph infection....then dengue fever....Ultimately, she suffered cardiac arrest, not long after a tracheotomy. To no one's surprise, her body was cremated within 12 hours of her passage. The Cuban government wanted little or no information of her death to filter to the public. Best to get rid of her body quickly...best avoid any possibility of an international call for an autopsy.

Even if people didn't know Laura Pollán by name, she was easily recognizable as the short, stout woman who led the Damas de Blanco on their weekly march of silence through the streets of Havana, gladiola in hand as if it were her blossoming sword of protection. Not only was it her symbol of protest, the flower she and all the Damas proudly display as they walk has become a symbol of their internationally recognized call for freedom for their loved ones who were suffering as political prisoners in Cuba's jails. And, since the release of those arrested in the Black Spring of 2003, the Damas with their gladiolas now vow to continue to walk in peaceful silence as they demand respect for human rights on the island.

It was Laura Pollán, along with a few other courageous women, who founded the Damas de Blanco. It was Laura Pollán, who with other Damas by her side, suffered harassment and humiliation during those marches as thugs paid by the Cuban government cursed, beat, stoned, spat upon, and attempted to strip off her clothes and in some instances, injected them with some mysterious serum. It was Laura Pollán, a former literature teacher and lover of gardening, who spearheaded a grassroots movement that has spread from one side of the island to the other and will not be silenced.

It was and remains this peaceful warrior and her gladiola who have become a powerful symbol for humanity, proving that strength, courage, and dignity, as well as commitment to a cause, can indeed, effectuate change. It IS Laura Pollán who will continue to be the inspiration for the Damas de Blanco to continue, despite their unfathomable loss.

I never met Laura Pollán, nor did I ever have the chance to speak directly with her. But through the flower that so unexpectedly bloomed in my garden last week, I now feel an even deeper connection with her cause - the cause of freedom from a totalitarian government that's been in place now for over five decades. Just as she pierced the Cuban government's core with her dignity, fortitude and call for justice, this small-statured, humble yet so very powerful woman has ignited my heart with a greater passion to work for the noble ideals for which she died. She's a hero in my book.

Little did José Martí know when he wrote the following words that they would define women like Laura Pollán in the 21st century, but he couldn't have been more spot on:

"The campaigns of the people are weak only when the hearts of women are not recruited to carry them out. But when women step in and help, when the naturally shy and quiet woman stands up and applauds, when the cultured and virtuous woman annoints the task with the sweetness of her affection, the campaign becomes invincible."

En paz descanse, Laura, knowing that you leave an americana-cubana in Ohio who will continue to carry your legacy and hopes for a free Cuba in her heart with her gladiola in hand. And, as I plant hundreds more in my gardens, your spirit will guide my hands....and my heart. ¡¡Viva Cuba Libre!!

(Laura's gladiola, along with La Virgen de la Caridad, patroness of Cuba - The Farm, Marietta, OH)

THE BOVINES

2011-09-29T22:16:00.005-05:00

For the past 31 years, my closest neighbors have been cows. Over the decades I've watched "the cows come home" every evening right before dusk as they head back toward their barn. Yes, their pastures have wafted "ripe" in the summer's heat, and yes, they do bring lots of flies to the neighborhood, and yes, they provide a lot of patties for rolly-poly, poop-loving corgis, but they're really peace-loving beings with which to share one's life.

White Face (above) loves to taunt Mac and MerryBelle. She pretends not to notice them until they work up the courage to approach her. At the moment she senses they've let down their guard, she gives a big snort that sends Mac running and MerryBelle screaming. And, then she saunters on off, content that she's gotten the best of them yet again.

Some people speculate cows don't have personalities-that they're fairly dumb and lazy. I take issue with that notion. Mama Brahma (above) is a serious, stern mom. When her calf ventures out of her safety zone, she wastes no time in calling him back. The poor little fellow is NEVER out of her sight. If he runs off to play with the other little ones, he has not a moment of privacy for escapades or ornery-ness, for Mama Brahma stays right behind him.. Yet, she is the most patient mom I've ever seen when her baby comes back to her to nurse. While all the other cow moms mozy on along, she stands patiently alone until he has emptied all four udders and has no more to suckle.

How Now Brown Cow seems a bit grumpy from time to time, but she has beautiful eyes that reflect the horizon as she stares into the sunset. If you look closely, you can see the blue of the distant sky in them. She's the only one of my bovine friends who likes to have her head and nuzzle patted. The hair behind her ear is as soft as cotton, and her "cow lick" looks like she's just been to the bovine beauty parlor.

When I tell folks I live with the animals, I'm really not kidding. Two dogs accompany me everywhere I go on the farm; seven cats greet me every afternoon on the back porch for their daily feeding and fill me in on their escapades of the day, and soon thereafter, the dogs let me know the bovines are approaching for their our afternoon gossip session over the fence.

At The Farm, mine is a truly wonderful life that doesn't require trivial interaction or mundane conversation, and I like that just fine. Shortly, I'm off to get some tea and go catch up on upper field gossip with my bovine friends.

MORE FUNGI

2011-09-29T22:09:00.002-05:00

I am amazed by the quantity of mushrooms emerging from the moist earth now. I can hardly take a step in the back woods without flattening one. A rainy spring, semi-rainy summer, and a moist fall have obviously produced perfect growing conditions for these interesting being to thrive.

I don't know a lot about fungi, but I think they're pretty amazing to observe and ponder. Hence, I share them with those who see "The Farm Gazette."

CONTINUED FASCINATION

2011-09-25T15:23:00.006-05:00

I can't explain my recent obsession with old trucks and farm /road machinery other than to say I've got a thing for them....
Can't say why....
Can't say what's brought about
the attraction to abandonment and deterioration...

If I had to justify the reasons these old fellers charm my camera
and catch my fancy,
I suppose I'd argue
there's something about rust that redefines beauty -
Adds wrinkles to a once-polished chassis
And humility to a once powerful engine.
And,
There's something about them I equate with solitude..
Left alone to oxidize in front of everyone and no one.

There's something about wondering who or what occupies the driver's seat now..
Snakes? Raccoons? Possums? Bugs that multiply by the thousands in nests
protected by carburators and radiators.
I'm afraid to poke my head in to see who has staked claim.

All I know is that they speak to me in the moment,
and I find myself driving the back roads looking for them -
truck-spotting along the way while birdwatching
and vice versa.

AUTUMNAL EQUINOX 2011 - MELLOW & YELLOW

2011-09-23T20:43:00.007-05:00

MerryBelle, Mac and I had a breathtaking walk this afternoon. The sky was semi-overcast, with intermittent showers, complemented by bursts of sun through lofty clouds from time to time...an afternoon that spoke of the onset of autumn, for sure, and one that was defined by colors of fall's palate.

**Before I go further, I need to back up just a bit. In the last two weeks, a series of life's reality checks have gripped my heart.. Two of my former students, ages 42 and 30, passed away, one from an advanced malignancy that was an unanticipated discovery and the other from a sudden heart attack; a colleague for whom I have a world of respect has entered the last phase of his life, and my mentor and friend, Brian Dendle, suffered a heart attack - his second. Subsequently, there have been moments in the last 14 days when I found it difficult to access sustained joy. I suppose that's natural; I've been a bit stunned.

Until today, I hadn't allowed my saddness to work its way to the surface, but as I wept on my way home from the funeral home, my heart opened once again to acceptance of the current and impending loss I feel. I have to remind myself that I always feel better after a good cry, for once I let go the tears flow, I feel so, so much lighter, more guided by perspective, and hugely more grateful for so many blessings in my life.**

Now, back to the story at hand....As the two rambunctious canines and I made our way back into the field, I was struck, as I am every year, by the predominance of "yellow" everywhere. Unmown fields produce scads of goldenrod. Yellow leaves are beginning to blanket the earth, and my yellow dahlias are spectacular. There's even a fairy ring of yellow-capped mushrooms underneath the pine tree in the side yard.

Here are a few of the pics that best convey the shades....rich ochres, butterscothes, light pastels, and combinations of fall' s yellow mixed with other colors.

If I could paint, I'd give this image a shot at incarnating on my canvas. The picture doesn't do it justice. As I looked to the other side of the back field from the lower path , I had to hold the camera up over the tallest of the goldenrod to take the shot. This was the result, and in its simplicity, there is something I love. The clouds took my breath. (Imagine the goldenrod ten times as bright as the photo conveys.)

This, and the dahlia below, have just come into their own. For some reason, my dahlias always bloom later than most people's. I didn't realize I had set out two yellow ones side by side, but their hues are different, as is their blossom structure. The tighter dahlia above looks like it would taste like a mixture of butterscotch and cinnamon. The one below displays a greater delicateness.

I'm sure the rain of the last two days inspired the ring of fungi to break through the ground. The tops look like a lemon cookie with crushed almonds, but I don't think I'll be tasting one, that's for sure.

Graceful and content, Kwan Yin loves to be surrounded by varigated coleus.. This afternoon's light cast the perfect shadow to coordinate with the plants and her orb.

Happy Equniox...Balance, equilibrium, and prosperity in body, mind and spirit...and the opportunity to get outside and enjoy this special time of year....My wishes for all.....

THIS SORT OF THING CATCHES MY EYE....

2011-09-19T18:40:00.104-05:00

After two cups of coffee on Saturday morning, my ritual usually includes a leisurely trip to Rink's, the local flea market whose entrance is marked by a huge neon yellow sign that proclaims STOP ALL FOREIGN AID. (This impossible-to-miss banner's strategic placement makes it difficult for anyone traveling south on Route 7 to overlook the foreign policy message of its owner.) Rinks is a gathering place for an eclectic mix of people who want to unload their clutter, make the next month's rent, strike up a conversation about politics, etc. or like me, search for a singular, unique find that costs under $20 but will land me a spot on The Antiques Roadshow where I'll learn my item is worth thousands....Dream on, right?

I enjoy the interesting folks I see there, and I've actually become Rink's "regular." I'm quite recognizeable by the wide-brimmed, bright pink hat I wear on sunny days. More than one person's asked me where my hat is if I'm not wearing it, confirming that I've probably been the topic of conversation for more than just one or two vendors over the course of a slow sales morning. (I've noticed Eliza declines all invitations to go on my weekly treasure hunt, probably out of fear that she'll be seen with the lady in the Pepto Bismol-colored beach hat. Or, perhaps, flea markets are just not her cup of tea.)

Anyway, in the field off the parking lot at Rink's sit several old rusty vehicles that have caught my eye for a while now. This particular red truck, whose purpose I've yet to discern, has been parked alone in the field for years now. On several occasions, I've had it in my mind to take a closer look....For some reason, I want to hop in and pretend I'm cruising down the road behind the mammoth steering wheel. It has a Beverly Hillbillies-large-equipment-type feel.

The crusty vehicle is full character and personality. I'm drawn to its "face." When I first looked at it carefully, images of a huge, slowly crawling insect came to mind. And then there's the bear ornament on the passenger side of the hood, which convinced me that yes, this was a powerful beast back in the day. However, the huge hornet nest hanging just inside the driver's door dissuaded me from trying to pull the handle and take a peak inside. Come winter, I might just have to try to pry the door open and see if I can get in and drive down country roads in my mind....

Mostly, the truck piques my fascination with dilapidation. Things that are rusted and abandoned, that sit stagnantly and lonesomely in an overgrown field, that have faded in color and are decomposing at a slow, but steady rate (like my barn) catch my eye and subsequently, my imagination. In those things, I see beauty and sense a sincere respect. As they morf through the natural process of decay, they take on an artful soul, and I want to get to know them better. It's like talking to an older person and hearing stories of his/her purposeful, unique memories of youth, I suppose. There's a story here that someone has to know, and I want to hear it.

When I think about what this old truck brought to mind last Saturday, I equate the feeling with those moments when Samuel was young and absorbed with the story of Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel. In the end, Mike built his house around the hole in the earth that his big, steam shovle had dug, and the two of them co-existed quite cozily in the cold weather, the antequated backhoe serving as companion and furnace. The final illustration in the book shows Mike Mulligan reading a book in his overstuffed 50"s chair while the steam shovel gazes at Mike, smiling contentedlly...an obvious understanding / bond between a young boy and his best, albeit inanimate, friend.

More than likely, if I had a huge home in which I could house pieces the size of this truck, one might just find them as an "objets d'art" in my den....I like that idea, minus the hornet's nest.

A FUNGI MORNING

2011-09-17T19:41:00.002-05:00

A very moist spring, a relatively moist summer, and a pretty moist fall (so far) have produced great fungi in the woods and around the farm. Here are the pics of a few I found on my walk in the woods.

MERRYBELLE & MAC

2011-09-16T07:48:00.002-05:00

Wednesday afternon, I got home early enough to get outside with the dogs and spend some time in the back field. We had a wonderful walk on a glorious early fall afternoon. I've kept the path around the field mowed, so we can walk surrounded by goldenrod and ironweed that's as tall as I am. The guy who is supposed to bring his tractor hasn't made it to cut the field this summer (although he promises he will), but that's turning out to be just fine with me. I am enamored by the color combination of the brilliant goldenrod
yellows, the magenta of the ironweed, the viney and delicate morning glories and the periwinkle of the field asters. Today as we walked, I felt like I was in Avatar land --literally hundred of
irridescent dragonflies accompanied us as we walked the path while the-last-of- summer butterflies danced from blossom to blossom on the ironweed. Truly magical.

There are few things that give me more joy than watching the dogs play on our walks. Mac's such a goofball....he's still limping a bit from an old injury, and subsequently isn't nearly as fast as MerryBelle, but he plods along a huge smile on his face. I love to watch him run to me from a distance. His ears flop up and down, he sorta sidewinds like Paco used to, and his face is filled with delight. He just can't get enough of "stickplay ," but I've reduced the amount we play recently to see if I can get his shoulder back to normal.....I'm so in love with him. There's no one I'd rather sleep with than my Mackers! Note in one of the photos that he's wearing some dung make-up...He feels quite studly after he rolls in poop....

MerryBelle's dainty, agile, graceful and fast!! I'm more and more convinced that she has some Jack Russell or another line of terrier in her. She'll be great with agility if I can get her past a little hesitance about new things. She and Mackers tumble around like Mac and Paco used to do. Thankfully, they haven't had a
spat in a couple of weeks. I've found that keeping food in their bowls and not going through a feeding ritual has neutralized both of their aggression completely. (Plus, Mac does NOT want to get hammered by MB again....that's pretty obvious.) They've really become good friends. In the morning when Mac and I go to get MB out of her crate, he kisses her sweetly, and she loves it. She's responding to the clicker well and sits 100% of the time....the real truth
is that she loves treats.

Both Mackers and Loonis taunt the cats, especially the orange ones, fairly ruthlessly. They don't hurt them, but the cats have about had enough of their antics and chasing. For the first time, I saw Crooked Tail take a healthy swat at MB, who responded with a girlish squeal that made me laugh. Her best cat friend is Shitly, who plops down on the ground and entices her to come play. She pulls his tail and nips at him until he gets up, and then he rubs on her and she licks him. It's interesting to me how each of the dogs has seemed to have his/her special kitty....Rufus & Clouseau, Paco & Bud, Mackers & Cato, and now
MerryBelle and Shitly. Of even greater interest is each cat's interaction with his/her special dog. Grumpy, particular, and peculiar Loonis still maintains that "no dog is a good dog."

MerryBelle's smile radiates her newfound happiness and acceptance at the farm. I do believe she's beginning to learn about trust and likes life in our pack. Still a bit awkward socially, she hestitates to fully let go of herself when she plays, but she's beginning to initiate some tossles and tumbles rather than stand back and watch. She's also a great lap dog who loves to sleep in the recliner with me while I read, grade papers or just relax. Her only downside is that she lets go of some really, really rank farts.

Take a look at Mac's jaw, and you'll see how he loves to have poop plastered on his face - his version of dowsing on some Old Spice or whatever scent it is that guys wear now. He's so proud when he finds some poop to roll in. Coupled with MerryBelle's flatulence, the house sometimes takes on interesting aromas that most folks would find unbearable. I haven't gotten used to the stinks; however, I can deal with it long enough to get MB outside and wash Mac's face with wipes.

Suffice to say, there's lots of canine energy to share at The Farm. These two are my companions, my source of joy, and my soul friends as we begin time alone again this fall. No dull moments, that's for sure.

AT THE FARM, WE STRIVE FOR.....

2011-09-03T15:47:00.001-05:00

HAPPINESS.....

PEACE.....

AND LOTS OF LOVE.....

MERRYBELLE

2011-08-25T10:15:00.003-05:00

We're now a two-corgi family once again here at The Farm. Yesterday I picked up a sweet 18-month old female from Tri-State Corgi Rescue in Fairmont, WV. At her foster home, MerryBelle Wilder was known as Penny Lane, a name that suited her quite well; however, in honor of my mom, Mary MacIntosh Stevenson Shook, aka, MaryMac in some circles, we'll now have a Merry and a Mac(kers) at The Farm. Mom's pleased that she has two namesakes, even though they're canine ones.

MerryBelle has weathered the transition well in the short time she's been here. Not only is she in unknown territory with unknown people, but she arrived on a night of intense thunder and lightning. And then, there's a rather annoying new brother who hovers over her and barks / chases her like he did with Paco. (Quite obviously, he's establishing himself as alpha and doing things like making sure MerryBelle doesn't play with his sticks and favorite toys. He need not worry at all, for she doesn't seem to understand play, bless her heart!)

There's a lot to teach sweet MerryBelle - how to trust, how to receive lots of love, how to let go of her fears, how to play. I've seen glimpses of some playfulness when she inspects the cats, but she's obviously been treated meanly by some very not nice humans, and she seems pretty reticent to jump right in immediately. Shitly, the old tom cat who adopted us (formerly Shyly until he started beating up on everyone around here), looks as if he'll become her friend, like Cato is to Mac and Bud was to Paco.

I'll start both Mac and her on Rescue Remedy, and we'll take long walks and spend a lot of time together. I signed the three of us up for obedience training beginning September 6th, and next week, she and Mac will have my working days to get to know each other in the dog lot under the barn.

(I would be remiss if I didn't mention the wonderful foster people who cared for MerryBelle. Debbie and Vernon Nosse of Tri-State Corgi Rescue take in and care for corgis and border collies who need to be fostered and given attention. Debbie is an expert in rescue, obedience and agility training. Brightly colored ribbons, mostly blue, hang all around in her house. I've learned a lot about the rescue process from Debbie, and I salute her and her husband for the attention she pays to every little detail about her foster animals and the adoption process. As we left yesterday, Debbie still had five corgis and a border collie in her care, along with her own five dogs. She's a very, very special person!)

Happily, Miss MerryBelle's headed for new adventures, that's for sure. My hope is for her to live a long, happy life with us here at The Farm or wherever we are.

Stay tuned.....

SUMMERTIME BLOSSOMS

2011-08-23T12:48:00.002-05:00

I love flowers. Well, duh, you might say...Who doesn't like flowers?
I can't name anyone at the moment, but I do believe there are people who could be happy without peering into a blossom on a daily basis.
I can't...Bottom line....I thrive in the presence of their color and sweet scents.. No matter the season, there's something in bloom at The Farm.

I've often thought about what my life would be like if I couldn't experience the color and symmetry of flowers. How would one go about describing the pink of this morning glory to someone who was blind?
Sadly, I don't think it's possible..

Zinnias in a plastic bucket radiate and look elegant anywhere. What a wide array of colors!

I love to put sweet pea blossoms on things I bake for decoraton. I also like to put them in my hair, and I also

like to eat them.

This hydrangea bush is the last reminder of the Townsend's homeplacejust down the road from my grandmother's house in Pigeon Roost. For more than my 59 years, it's stood there alongside the rail fence. Only its blossoms now hold the memories and stories of those who once lived there in the curve. What grace!

As I've said many time, dahlias connect anyone who's a Shook to Grandma Ruth. Every summer, I plant a few bulbs in her honor and watch as the buds prepare to open up into regal blossoms. Grandma always interspersed gladiolas into her dahlia rows. The beds where she grew her dahlias out the driveway are still clearly discernible....One of these days, I'll sneak down in the early summer and dig in a few of my bulbs in her honor.

EARLY MORNING WALK

2011-08-11T08:57:00.081-05:00

Before the sun's rays dry the heavy dew...
Before the butterflies and dragonflies begin to dart from blossom to blossom...
Before the neighbors in their loud, souped up trucks take to the road for another day of work...
Before the rooster one farm over heralds his morning pronouncements,
Mac and I set out on our morning walk.

Accompanied by silence and an occasional screech from Dad Red-Tail above...
by a gentle, autumm-like breeze...
by Mama Brahma and calf who follows us down the fence line,
by golden rod and ironweed already taller than I,
we proceed toward the back woods.

Along the way, Mac ventures once or twice into the brambles alongside the path.
I try not to call him back out loud but rather "think" him to me, like I used to do with Annie and Molly.
I find he's responding to my non-verbal requests more and more.
(I rely on our silent dialogue to keep him close to me wherever we are.)
I love to walk behind him and watch his little corgi butt clipping down the path.
It, as much as his perpetual corgi smile, reflects his love of life....and his joy, his innocence.

Once in the woods, we explore in separate directions,
Mac always in search of the perfect stick or with his rear end in the air and nuzzle stuck under a decaying log...
And I traipsing around with camera in hand, looking for unusual...intrituing images to capture.

After an hour or so of "pilfering" down by the creek,
we head home, and by this time the sun's out....
Mrs. BlueJay's squawking for us to move on...
the mosquitoes have come to life,
and I have a plan for the day.

DATURA - PLENTIFUL & BEAUTIFUL

2011-08-05T13:27:00.002-05:00

Many folks consider datura to be a pain in the rear end, but I can't imagine not growing this magnificent plant evey year. I've had purples, yellows, and wild ones on the farm since I can remember. I love their beauty and power, as well as the fact that their life cycle is completed within 24 hours. It's a quick life these blossoms live.
These were in bloom this morning. It's now afternoon, and they've begun to wither. Tomorrow morning these blossoms will droop toward the ground, and in another day, they'll fall off the plant, as others begin their short-lived existence, following the same cycle.

Elegant....graceful....strong...powerful...a perennial one can count on from year to year since one very prickly seed pod can (and will) produce hundreds of starts. (That's where the pain in the rear comes in...!)

¡ADIOS, PACO!

2011-08-05T12:56:00.002-05:00

As I write this, Paco is probably perched on his travel platform in Joe's red truck as they head west on their move to Oregon. I can see him sleeping for a while, looking out the window for a while, chewing on his toys for a while, and getting antsy enough for Joe to have to stop so he can sniff around, find his potty spot, and munch on some grass.

(Unexpectedly delayed by some 10 days because of a truck malfunction and incompetent mechanics who never really got the problem fixed, the two of them now have to "hightail" it across the country to arrive in time for Joe to get to his appointment with the surgeon who will fix his bummed-up knee. It's not the sort of deadline one wants to drive thousands of miles to meet, but Joe's got to get a knee repair before he can find a living space, get unpacked, find Paco a doggie park, and begin preparing for a new job in September.)

The afternoon before they took off, Paco and Joe were at the farm. Mac and Paco romped, ran, chewed at each other, and barked enough to annoy the neighbors, I'm sure.

In a tribute to the bassett hound with so many profoundly funny, serious, and quizical expressions, I post these pics of Paco. I miss him sorely (as I miss Joe), and I'm sure Mac does moreso than I.

(Loonis and the other felines, however, have not expressed similar sentiments. They're happy not to have a bassett nose in their face when they try to eat, and Cato does not miss Paco's incessant barking right in his face. In reality, I do think they miss his goofiness and good spirit, for when push came to shove, Paco was their friend.)

Cheers, Paco ! Stay cool and mellow!

WE'VE GOT NUTS !!!!!

2011-07-31T19:24:00.002-05:00

After 11+ years of waiting, one of the dozen nut trees planted on The Farm has finally produced NUTS !! I hadn't noticed them at all until the other day when I was mowing. Literally (honestly), one of them boinked me on the noggin' while I was zooming around the far side yard on the tractor. I felt the contact, that's for sure!

These trees were started by Dr. David Johnson of Coolville, OH, from seed. David, an avid nut grower for decades now, has one of the largest collections of nut tree starts in the country. A former president of the American Nut Growers Association, his passion is now coming to fruition. His starts are producing nuts!!

At the same time this tree was planted, my ex-husband and I also put two pecans in the other side yard, as well as about 6 butternuts, walnuts and pecans down in the bottom pasture. The trees below the barn have had to battle deer munchies, lack of water, and poor soil, but they continue to grow a little year after year.

The trees over near Sherwood Forest (our pine tree grove where the treehouse is) are huge, but there's no sign of nuts. Perhaps this first year's bearing by Side Yard Tree #2 is a good omen for next year. (I have noticed blossoms on the other trees, just no nuts.)

Anyways, I'm delighted the patient wait has not been for naught. I can already taste the black walnuts in my apple bread at Christmas.....Yummy.

SUNDAY MORNING WALK

2011-07-31T09:54:00.003-05:00

Mac and I just got in from a wonderful morning walk to the woods at the back of the field. It's a quiet Sunday morning, not too humid nor hot (thank goodness!). Mac LOVES to bounce down the path in search of things to chase and explore. It makes no difference to him that I've mowed a path for us to follow so we can avoid getting covered with ticks. He just takes off wherever his nose and heart lead. I always know his whereabouts by the movement of the tall weeds and hay as he charts his path off my conveniently cut route. I often wonder what he sees from his low-rider vantage point. When he emerges, he's got that sweet Mackers smile on his face, as if he's discovered a new imaginary world in the underbrush. Meanwhile, I venture to the side of the field along the path and take pictures of lichen.

On the other side of the field, the red-tailed hawk family is out for a morning lesson in flight. While Mrs. Hawk and her recent fledgling practice aerials over the cow pasture, Dad Hawk keeps a vigilant eye. This is one of those times I sure wish I had a special telephoto lens for my small point and shoot Canon, for I could have gotten some amazing pictures and National Geographic-type footage of these majestic birds' acrobatics. For now, I'll post the silhouette of Dad Hawk.

I love Queen Anne's Lace. I don't ever feel like a get a really good photo of its delicate bloom. Today as I looked at them, I remembered our Girl Scout Troop learning about their carrot-type roots. I even pickled some one summer, and they are really quite tasty, and yes, the roots do taste like carrots.

Every time I look at the Rose of Sharon, I hear Eliza Gilkyson's voice in my mind. It has to be related to the hibiscus family. This bush is a transplant from a sprout I moved one summer, knowing that the "mother" plant was going to have to make room for a flower bed. Happily, the sprout took hold, and the new bush surpasses the old in size and beauty.

Yep, the tomatoes are coming in, and boy, are they tasty. When I saw a woman buying those styrofoam-consistency ones at the grocery store the other day, I actually felt sorry for her. I've eaten tomatoes for breakfast, lunch, and supper all week. Not tired of them yet.....probably won't ever get tired of them. Tonight I'll make up some spaghetti sauce from the garden peppers, squash, onions, and tomatoes and can it up for later use. Yummy!

Later today, I'll drive to Fairmont, WV, to meet a possible sister for Mac. Her name's Penny Lane, and I have to go through the adoption process for her to come live with us. Today is step one, and hopefully, after I meet her, we can expedite her arrival.....Stay tuned.....

Namasté.........

PIGEON ROOST

2011-07-25T08:01:00.064-05:00

I think I'm homesick. I awoke this morning thinking about summers in Pigeon Roost...about the many weeks I spent back in the mountains each summer with my grandparents and cousins - - -before the developers moved in to purchase and alter the land of so many of the original family homesteads....before I realized life had its complications and twists....before I "came of age," as one would dub those days now.

At Grandma and Granddaddy's house at Pigeon Roost, I was indoors only to eat and sleep. At all other times, I could be found exploring the rhododendron thickets that were my pretend jungle or looking for deep red trillium alongside the little creek that flowed into the woods by Grandma and Grandpa's house. That creek water was cold (!), but I couldn't resist splashing around in it as much as I could and turning over every rock in the branch in search of salamanders...( we called them "lizards" back then).

At other times in the early morning, hundreds of bumblebees buzzing around the morning glories growing up the side of the Grandma's house piqued my curisoity, and I would catch one with a clothespin so I could examine it closely. The bees didn't like that at all. More than once when I came in for breakfast, Grandma took her dishrag to my head to swat bees out of my thick hair...I had no idea they had latched on and were ready to sting me in retaliation for depriving them of their morning nectar.

The particular picture above would certainly not win a prize in any photographic competition, but it's one of my favorites because it transports me to my time with my grandparents....The back door at Grandma and Grandpa's was always open in the summer to let in the breeze. As clear as if I were emerging from the woods at this very moment, I can hear Grandma calling me in for lunch - frequently fried chicken, gravy, green beans, fried potatoes, biscuits and gravy. Many times I would head in before she called, for I could smell lunch on the stove. I can see her standing in the kitchen as I walked in the back door, her apron tied around her waist with biscuit flour sprinkled down the front. I can see Granddaddy walking in from the front room, taking off his hat, and sitting down at the table, and I sense the love I felt as I joined then at the table to eat before heading back outside for my afternoon adventures. Grandaddy always chuckled at my escapades and imagination.

I also associate the back door at Grandma's with morning milkin' time. I wasn't so good at milking, but Grandma was patient with me (as was the old cow). Grandma milked on the edge of the woods, just about at the spot from which I took this picture. As she milked and talked to me, I sat on the ground and fiddled with little rocks from the creek's edge. The steady rhythm of her milking was soothing....something one would describe today as a "zen-like" experience, and I realize now that precious morning time was my special alone time of the day with Grandma, for when we were done, she was off to do her chores.

The back side of the house was my view from that vantage point. When she finished filling her pail, Grandma would pat the cow on the rump and head back to the house with her bucket of frothy milk. I'd watch her go indoors, and then I took off on the path back toward the barn, to a little galax patch where I had an imaginary world of my own, or I'd run across the lower pasture to see if my cousins who lived down at "the old homeplace" site were up.

I include the other photos just for nostalgia's sake....milkweed flowers ready to pop open bring back memories of their sweet scent...and a birdhouse my dad made and put up on the edge of Grandma's yard years ago when he was still able to get about and make a few things in the basement still stands.

I could live in Pigeon Roost.....I could live back in the mountains where my blood runs strong and every cell in my body connects to the love I felt there. For now, however, I live there in my mind and feel just fine.

THE FARM BARN IS FALLIN' DOWN,.... FALLIN' DOWN......FALLIN' DOWN

2011-07-23T15:23:00.006-05:00

As one comes down the driveway and circles around the house, The Farm Barn looks to be in rather good shape. Yes, there are a few missing boards, but the paint has held relatively well, and there aren't gaping holes in either the siding or the roofing. Obviously, the front doesn't receive the fury of winter winds and violent summer thunderstorms.

From the backside, however, there's a different story to tell.....weather, and age have taken their toll. If the back view were the one I looked at every day off the deck, I think I would have acted long before now to make a decision as to what's the best move for the barn. Obviously, I can no longer deny that "yep, we've gotta problem."

Here's the plan. Although the collapse is serious, it's happening in a way that will facilitate its teardown since it's coming down in sections. And once we get the addition that's crumbling away taken care of, I do believe there is a possibility that re-siding the back southwest to northeast corner is the repair that's needed to keep the barn stable and intact.

Neighbors have told me the barn was the "gym" for the schoolhouse that once stood across the end of the driveway. I understand basketball games took place in my barn, and indeed, one can see the remnants of the hoops on the raters. Others have told me the Farm Barn is one of the oldest in the county. It's an amazing structure, sided by 130+-year old red oak. That idea, in and of itself, is enough to make me think this barn's worth saving IF I can..

I need to win the lottery. A teacher's salary is not such that one can accumulate savings year after year that amount to the money necessary to maintain a barn of this size.

SOOOO, if anyone's getting an intuition for the winning numbers on the next mult-million dollar PowerBall, I'd appreciate a head's up. I promise to share the wealth in all sorts of directions. I wouldn 't be asking for much.....just enough to ensure that the barn doesn't fall totally apart.

LILIES FROM THE NC MOUNTAINS

2011-07-18T14:04:00.002-05:00

I've always had a fascination with wild flowers from the Appalachian Mountains. There's something about their unhybridized beauty that reminds me of days gone by. Having grown up in Boone, NC, I can access many memories of walking through the woods and finding ladyslippers (pink, yellow, showy), trillium, jack-in-the-pulpits, bloodroot, solomon seal, and lilies.

I have seen Gray's lily before but have never photographed it.

Gray's Lily

(photo credit: http://www.hikertohiker.com/)

I was fortunate enough to come across the Turk's Cap Lily along a road near outside Banner Elk, NC. When I saw the stalk with more than a dozen blooms, I felt like a child at Christmas.....what a gift from nature!

Turk's Cap Lily

(Photo: Tanya Wilder, July 2011)

THE THREE (FARM) MUSKETEERS

2011-07-17T14:31:00.006-05:00

If I could bundle the energy generated by the three buddies pictured above, I do believe I could heat the farmhouse comfortably on the coldest days of winter for many a year! Pictured left to right are Oberon Veladota, Spunky A. (Alpha) McLovin Wilder, and Paco Davis, best friends and the official farm canine unit. All youngsters (Oberon, the oldest, just turned a year old), their play provides a level of hiliarity and lightness to The Farm at a time of bittersweetness as Joe and Paco prepare to move to Oregon.

Oberon, the Aussie, is a canine gazelle...overflowing with limitless energy, grace, agility, intelligence and sweetness. Sometimes referred to by Christy as "full of bananas," his love of affection and engagement often overtakes him as he jumps to meet his people friends on eye level. His facial expressions reflect a keen intelligence and understanding of his (and our) world. The star of his agility class, Oberon teaches us humans about loyalty and love, while mentoring Mac and Paco in their attempts at clicker training. (An aside: Paco and Mac are catching on to the clicker; however, Mac thinks the "down" command's useless for him since he's so close to the ground anyway.)

Mackers, the corgi and the youngest of the three, thinks Oberon's the "bees knees!" Since both of them are herders, one notes similarities in their behavior and instincts. When Oberon's around, Mac follows him like the nerdy little sibling who thinks older kids are really, really cool and who wants to be just like them. His short-legged structure allows him to run under and around a very patient Oberon, and boy, oh boy, does Mackers try to keep the pace as Oberon races across the yard! After about three trips around the grapevines, down the hill, back up into the yard, around the grapevines again, up toward the field, down to the grapevines for a third time, etc., Mac's ready to concede that he can't keep up, so he waits to crouch and pounce when Oberon runs by. If being "alpha" means barking the most and causing the most uproar, Mac's gets the certificate of honor.

Paco, mister majestic bassett hound, and Oberon have grown up as brothers and have spent lots of time together at The Farm and in Athens. Mac has never known life at The Farm without Paco. Paco and Oberon play so hard that when Paco comes home from a visit to O's house, he lies virtually comatose on the couch for 24 hours. Paco and Mac are into silly play 24/7 around The Farm. Their chase games provide great evening doggie-watching for Joe and me as we ice our knees from the deck or try to listen to music as the two youngsters run around and around and around the sofa in the TV room. Although Paco's face might give the impression of a laid-back, slow-moving hound, both Oberon and Mac can attest to this bassett's speed and strength. Paco's fast, and he's strong, like a lineman on a football team. When all else fails to subdue a pesky corgi, Paco just throws Mac a butt block and then sits on him or sticks Mac's entire head in his mouth.

Put the three (or any combination of the three) together, and expect chaos....laughable chaos....energetic chaos....loving chaos....noisy, rambunctious chaos....chaos probably not humorous for those who aren't dog lovers...And, beyond the chaos, expect entertainment and delight, for these three friends with their silly antics are amazing creatures to observe and love....

Paco and Oberon - BFF's from puppyhood! Paco and Mac - Farm brothers. Mac, Paco and Oberon together...unadulterated.fun and craziness to reckon with!

The Three Farm Musketeers....our goofball pack!

MY "FELLER"

2011-07-09T15:33:00.002-05:00

He's rectangular and golden, like a long loaf of freshly baked bread,
He's short, with squatty but stocky legs....
His nose is long, with a large grey freckle underneath his white snout hair...
His shoulders and rump muscles are firm and strong, the result of chasing a stick and barreling after his friend, Paco...
His face portrays his every emotion - 99% of the time, he wears a smile that melts one's heart. The other 1% of the time, the look's a dead giveaway that's he's been into something forbidden, like my flower beds....
His eyes, as if penciled with the finest eyeliner, sparkle with love and happiness...
He talks a lot - at times with a grunt of approval or a morning wake-up call....
And, he barks - loudly, repeatedly, shrilly, when he gets excited or senses cows crossing the upper field....
He harrasses the cats, only to realize they have him figured out and really don't pay him much heed...
He loves his treats, his favorite a blueberry and apple dog biscuit that cleans his teeth and freshens his doggie food breath.
Many mornings on our walk, he finds something (like a plastic flower pot, a pine cone, an old stick or one of his toys) and searches for the perfect spot to bury it and then cover the burial site with leaves or sticks he pushes around with his nose....
He's a great fan of barn swallows and loves to watch them zoom down at and around him...
His passion for playing non-stop with a stick surpasses his desire to eat when hungry, and he leads me to his stick every time I step outside.

And oh, how he smiles and makes me laugh.....all the time....

He's a happy boy, and I'm a happy person...!!

IT'S LILY TIME

2011-06-27T09:24:00.001-05:00

This lily is taller than I. I purchased the bulbs at Rink's, our local flea market several years ago, and each year, it gets taller and taller. Close up, it smells a bit like a stargazer.

I bought this lily from "The Lily Lady" at The Farmer's Market in Boone years ago. The last few times I've been to the market, she hasn't been around. She always had good, healthy plants.

Also from The Lily Lady in Boone. This plant produces huge, sturdy flowers.

Transplanted by Sam years ago, a row of these wild lilies comes up every year in the side gardens. I think of him when they bloom and smile.

One of my favorites....also from Boone...The color here isn't as purely purple as in real bloom, but the contrast of the chartreuse with the gently striped petals sure is beautiful

THE INDIAN FARM FAMILY

2011-06-27T08:33:00.001-05:00

Ever since Tom brought Chintu to The Farm, I've dreamed about meeting Chintu's parents, Bastian and Lehka, for in Chintu, I immediately sensed a person from the opposite side of the world who could very well have been born in the NC mountains and grown up with us there. Here in the States for Chintu's doctoral hooding, they've been in Cleveland for a couple of weeks visiting Chintu and Tom.

This weekend, my dream came true. Meet members of The Farm Family who just happen to live in India! We've known them in the world of heart and spirit ever since we we've known Chintu....Having them spend time here was a wonderful, beautiful summer gift.

(Bastian, Chintu's father, Chintu, and his mom, Lehka)

(Bastian & Lehka have been married for 35 years and dated 6 years before marrying. An amazing testament to the power of love and connection!)

(One day I'm going to visit The Indian Farm in Karola....get ready India!)

(Sister & Brother)

(A wonderful family...!!)

Bastian and Lehka's introduction here included a silly moustache party, bocci games on the side lawn, a walk to visit the Back Field Buddha, drumming and singing in the silo, and a trip to Bob Evans, where Eliza just happened to be our waitress.

Our love for each other was as immediate as the love we felt the first time we met Chintu, and our laughter resounded all weekend.....What joy!

WHEN EARTH CONVERSES WITH AIR......

2011-06-23T16:56:00.157-05:00

Thanks to a painful, throbbing torn meniscus (as a result of a fall while running in the wet grass after a dog toy), I've been pretty sedentary this week, and when Farm Mom has too much time on her hands, the wheels in her head move at a constant clip.

Joe's impending departure has opened a floodgate of thoughts about many things, and as people have asked me what I'm going to do when he's gone, I've been inclined to respond, "Why, live at the farm like I did all those years when he wasn't here! Why would his not being here change anything for me?????"

But....in all truthfulness, I have also asked myself the same question I've heard from so many lately....What, indeed, does the future hold for the Farm Mom?????

You see, retirement's more than just a word in my vocabulary now....Gone are the days when I would hear myself tell others that I had about 20.....15..... 10 years to go until I retired....The bottom line is that I'm coming down the home stretch, and hopefully, the economy, enrollment issues, budgetary matters, and burnout won't make it such that I have to leave before I can complete 37 years of service to OH.....that's four years from now.
I need (and want) to work those next four years, so I have the best base salary for retirement....Additionally, Eliza will have finished college by then, and Samuel should be well on his way to defining his career path....

As much as I LOVE keeping up with the farm, there's much more to it than mowing and tackling a weed population whose growth in all kinds of climate weirdness never ceases to amaze me. There are things like a barn that's falling down (literally), fields that have to be brush-hogged and manicured, an aging tractor that could expire at any moment, and invasive species that are taking over in the front field. Couple the demands of farm maintenance with a mediocre salary that just barely allows for monthly expenses to be met, and thoughts of change have started wafting through my mind....during the night, during the day - basically all the time. What AM I going to do?

Thankfully, I have options, but the big questions still loom: What is the best thing for me to do with The Farm? Should I sell off some land and keep the farm house and yard? When's going to be the best time to do that in an economy that sucks? If I decide to leave The Farm, should I stay in this area? Should I take a look at moving somewhere else (North Carolina, perhaps? New Mexico? Cuba?)? What will I do? (International housesitting comes to mind. Maybe by then there will be opportunity to work in Cuba for a part of the year..?? Peace Corps...??? )

YIKES ! I'm having a bit of a challenge surrendering to the Universe since so many scenarios play out in my mind. At the same time I feel excited and energized about myriad possibilities, I'm a bit unnerved ...Can I maintain my sanity if I leave The Farm.....my true place of peace and refuge. I have generations of flowers here....I can't imagine not having coffee on the deck with the barn swallows and hummingbirds zooming about. How could I leave a place that is so chocked full of the memories of the last 31 years... of the laughter, fun, love, sweat and tears that have defined my life here.....The Farm is, for me, as sacred a place as one can find. It is my HOME....

I can feel the emotional pull and tug now as I write.....a sensation of wanting to hang on and not let go vrs. the excitement and adventure of the future....of fear of the unknown vrs. the thrill of new experiences.....It's daunting, and it's exhilarating.....and YIKES again !

Thankfully, I don't have to do much more than contemplate and explore ideas at this point.......slow and steady will win the "figuring it out" race for me.....I don't know that I am capable of moving fast on the questions I hear from without and within....

So, at this very moment, I think I'll take the Scarlett O'Hara approach, and I think I'll think about my flowers.......

Here's a sample of Farm orchids in bloom now.

GOODBYE JOE...HE'S GOTTA GO...ME OH MY OH....

2011-06-21T07:49:00.001-05:00

In a world defined by all sorts of conflict, problems, and misunderstandings, The Farm provides a refuge of laughter, love, fun, and grace-filled solitude. It is indeed our sanctuary....our place of peace....a place where doors are always open....a place where people can come to neutralize their worries and fears... relax...find themselves...surround themselves by the gifts of the Earth....know that all's well....that there's no judgement here...a place where music resounds and peace embraces....

Few live the essence of The Farm more than Joe. When he came back to Marietta two years ago with his beloved Rufus (RIP), his plan was to settle in Marietta, maybe even build a place in the back field and live here forever, helping me and hanging out with his dad, John. Since then, he and I have grown deeper and deeper in friendship and love....tending to our garden, walking Paco and Mac, sharing dinner together on the back porch, tackling farm chores, shoveling snow, laughing openheartedly at things that spark our similar sense of humor, conversing about life. We've had moments of adjustments, intense tears, grumpiness, and icing our knees.....Those times have been very few, for over and over, we've commented that being here together at The Farm is like being on v-cation (as Eliza used to say), and almost every day, we realized how blessed we are to be living together.....watching the hummingbirds and barn swallows, cooking the best meals to be had on Earth, sipping a little wine, and watching the sun set.

There have been struggles along the way, particularly for Joe as a teacher and an artist. He's given 500% to a 3/4 position at Marietta College, a position without benefits and without a budget that supports growth of his program...Having inherited a ceramics studio that required 5 dumpster loads of trash to clean, Joe has spent hours upon hours giving of himself to his students....to his program....to the art department at large. His own projects and plans have been shelved in the best interest of others...The prospect for his position to mature into a full-time, tenured job has increasingly looked more and more bleak. Financially and professionally, he had to start looking elsewhere.....The conversations with the Universe began.....

and an opportunity has presented itself...Joe will be leaving The Farm in a month to move to the Portland area to take a position as ceramics instructor at Mt. Hood Community College. The salary's great; the benefits are as good; he can get tenure in 4 years and apply for a sabbatical after 6. It's a dream come true and yet another validation on the importance of manifesting in one's life.

Oregon's a familiar place for José, and he returns to many friends and colleagues who love and appreciate him and his work. It's a land of potters and of like-minded folks....He'll be in or around Portland, a city that brings bright sparks to his eyes when he talks about the hip little neighborhoods and coffee shops. And, he'll be able to do things that financially would never have been possible had he stayed at Marietta College.....This is an opportunity that he absolutely can't pass by.

The Farm will certainly be at a loss without Joe and Paco.....I can't begin to imagine not having them here....I can, however, rejoice and celebrate this amazing opportunity that's his to live...And that's where I'm hanging at the moment.....Good luck and Godspeed, Joe, as you venture west.....

Stay tuned.......

AWAY FROM HOME

2011-06-11T19:17:00.002-05:00

I'm a little homesick. It's hard to leave one's office one day, pack up and take off again the next to start another intense job. Granted, I've only traveled to Cincinnati and will only be gone for a week, but I'm tired and would like to have some time to come down off a year at work that's been exhausting, particularly emotionally. That's my whine for the day.

So, as I sit outside eating my supper, here are the views I ponder:

Skyscrapers to my left in the center of downtown. As I was walking around Fountain Square just a little while ago, I encountered a poor soul who kept repeating, "All I want is what's mine!! I didn't ask you for anything else.". Obviously infuriated by some injustice in life, he was proclaiming to the Universe that what was his was his!! It just seemed all that could have been his was about to spill out of the torn plastic sack he carried..

Older dilapidated building stare me directly in the face. At some point, they must have housed businesses that have long since floundered..interestingly enough, I'm drawn to their rusted roofs and tattered tar-papered sides. For me, they house more potential for story and/or drama than their more stately, architectures neighbors down the street a couple of blocks. I wonder about the family businesses that supported generations there; do older folks who apprenticed their children still come by to conjure memories of clients and friends? Who inhabits the creaky structures now? Perhaps the man I saw earlier calls one of them home.....

I don't like to be closed in, and I feel somewhat claustrophobic at the moment. Insanely loud music blares from Fountain Square, discouraging me from walking in that direction. We've been warned not to walk in the other direction alone, so here I sit....surrounded by an inner city world that's far away from home, in more ways than mere miles.....

BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL MEERA ON HER WEDDING DAY TO ERIC

2011-06-09T06:24:00.000-05:00

AND....HERE WE GO AGAIN!

2011-06-08T09:35:00.002-05:00

It's been close to a year since I sat down to chronicle parcels of my life on Namasté, and as is consistent with anyone's experiences, the last 10 months have been full of many wonderful moments, as well as some that once again made me stop to pause and give thanks for all that's good, to mourn and celebrate passages of dear ones, and to learn from bloopers that seem to keep popping up in my life along the way. Most of all, I sense I've moved deeper into an understanding of gratitude and laughter, for when I allow those two friends to become prominent in every moment, I am, indeed, truly happy.

As I sit down to blog again, I am officially on summer break. The day has begun with nice temps that are going to surge toward the 90's with the humidity one always looks forward to when summer arrives in the Mid-Ohio Valley. As I gaze out the office window, I see hummingbirds zooming back and forth to the feeder, a lawn that could stand to be mowed, orchids in bloom, and lush vegetation all about, thanks to the extended wet spring we experienced. It's a summer day at The Farm....complete with a garden with 35+ tomato plants, a variety of squashes, cukes, peppers, brussel sprouts, tomatillos, et. al. The farm irises have withered away, as have the early blooming wildflowers (which were spectacular this year). I'm behind in getting annuals going; I'll wait and hit the greenhouse sales in a week or so.

As for the farm family:
~Eliza's taking her last exam today at U-Cincinnati and readying to return to Marietta to work at Bob Evans for the summer. Imagine her excitement at that thought! Her freshman year at UC would be described as one of the best in her life, I believe....new friends, new-found confidence, academic success, and even greater beauty of soul and heart.
~Samuel's finished up his 2nd year of work toward his MFA in Creative Writing at American University. It hasn't been an easy year for a guy who's had to work full time while completing the rigors of his program, as begin serious work on his thesis ideas while juggling some attempt at a social and personal life. I don't hear from him frequently; I think about him daily and hope when all's said and done, he'll remember his three years at AU and living in DC as favorably memorable.
~Joe's in Oregon as I write. He'll quite probably be moving back there if he's selected as the candidate for a ceramics position at Mt. Hood Community College. While having him as a housemate here at The Farm has been an incredibly wonderful experience for us both, I know that a part-time position makes it difficult to advance financially, as well as professionally. I certainly would miss him and Paco, the farm bassett hound, should they move to Oregon, but most of all, I would wish him well....He's a brilliant teacher, an amazing potter, a soul-connected friend. Stay tuned for news regarding his future.
~Lori's in love with Chris in Hawaii. She has two dogs and at least one cat, if not two. She still works as a personal assistant for the Krueger family there. When she was home at Christmas, she looked stunningly beautiful. A yeast-free diet has transformed her into a slim, fit gorgeous woman, and her happiness radiates through us all.
~Brett and Betsy are in California. No news from them lately tends to make me think they're busy and active, as always.
~I learned via Facebook that Dana, James & Wendy are in the process of moving to Alaska, where James has accepted a position with a very reputable journal there as acquisitions editor. More on them as news floats in.
~Meera Chary recently married Eric Schell in a traditional Indian ceremony in California. I've stored the breathtakingly beautiful photos of her wedding on my computer and look at them with nostalgia and joy. I would have loved to attend, but timing and finances made it beyond possible. One of these days, I'm going to visit her. It's been a long, long time since I've seen so beautiful a bride!
~Tom and Chintu have moved to Cleveland, where Dr. Chinthasagar Bastian now works in research at Cleveland Clinic. Tom's been working diligently on health issues; Chintu's investigating some complicated neuroscientific aspect of Alzheimer's Disease. Chintu's parents are in the States now to witness his doctoral hooding at Ohio University this week, followed by a visit to The Farm weekend after next. I am honored to meet his folks and have them here to meet the farm family.

The most recent addition to The Farm has won my heart over and over....Spunky McLovin, aka Mac, Mackers, Doodles, arrived in December as a tiny, shy little corgi. He's now positioned himself as Alpha Mac, never giving Paco a moment of peace. Just this morning, he chewed one of my best shoes beyond repair (to his credit, he's never done that before), but usually he's so fascinated with chasing a stick that other he doesn't think about other puppy-like mischiefs. He's definitely my soul mate, bed feller, and companion. Truthfully, I had not intended to get a dog so soon after Annie and Molly passed away, but I was lonely for canine company...very lonely. So, the Universe presented an opportunity to bring Mac here, and his presence has multiplied farm love by a gazillion times.

His is the only photo I'll post here as I re-initiate my blogging moments. (Please note: I"m off to Cincinnati for 10 days and won't be back at the computer for at least a couple of weeks - another hiatus after a rather long blogging break....)

Anyways, meet my canine love.....

Namasté...

AUGUST PHOTOS AT THE FARM

2010-08-17T19:08:00.004-05:00

Lucy Buelow (2) has her own language and perky way of being.

When Jack Buelow (4) says, "Tanya, I love you," my heart melts.

Night blooming cereus has been the flower of the season. The only catch is that they open at night and are wilted by the morning, so to catch the open bloom, I have to sit outside and wait. I LOVE the way the buds form with the pink-ribboned spikes around them.

Classic Paco after an afternoon of play with Jack and Lucy.

Bud, in sphinx pose.

Peg Martin-McGuire, Tanya, Eliza, and Alexa, Peg's daughter on the morning of their departure to return to Regina, Saskatchewan. Two days of visiting with our girls was a very special time for two life-long friends.

SUMMER 2010 UPDATE - AUGUST

2010-08-14T11:27:00.007-05:00

Since talking about the weather is always a good opener, I'll begin here by saying that late July and August have been two of the hottest months on record - - or at least it's definitely felt that way!! Lots of sweat, lots of showers, lots of good BO despite our efforts...I honestly don't mind working up a good sweat. In fact, I like the feeling a lot; however, a break in the heat would be an OK thing for me at this point.

Joe's spent the week working steadily on his new pottery adventures. The back porch has become his studio, and thank goodness (I'm knocking on wood as I type this), we haven't had any new piece sent flying from cats jumping on the rail yet. I LOVE (!!!!) watching his creative processes in action. His total delight in making pots inspires me to get the paper studio up and running again. It's been almost 4 years since I last worked up some pulp, so I plan on cleaning out the basement this afternoon for that purpose. With two weeks until classes start, I can probably make up a couple of vats. I can't wait to get my hands in the slurry soon....that'll get me going for the fall, when I hope to make up a bunch of things.....

Our garden's flourishing...The " 2010 Prolific Veggie of the Summer Award" goes to our cucumbers vines for their almost zucchini-like yield. Similiarly the basil plants have provided for several rounds of pesto; the tomatos make up into great juice for winter enjoyment; and the tomatillos give us great salsa verde. (Joe has the process and recipe down pat.) I'm also working on some butternut squash recipes to can for cold winter nights.

In recent Farm News:

1. We've had wonderful visits this summer...Lori; Brett & Betsy; Dana & Wendy; Clark, Charlie, Jack and Lucy; Joe's sister, Denah, and her daughters, Maddie and Morgan; Peg and Alexa; and other farm regulars have made our days better than wonderful and filled The Farm with love.

2. Petie and I made a road trip to MD to see my dad's youngest sister, Joyce, and his brother, Rhonda. Along the way, we checked in with Samuel, and Mom got to see his new apartment (actually room with a somewhat kitchen and bath).

3. Eliza's getting ready for college -heading to the University of Cincinnati on September 17th. We still have to go buy some things for her room, so I'm looking forward to that shopping spree with her.

4. Eliza and my sister, Myra, aka: Tita, spent three days in NYCity at the end of July and had a blast.

5. I've spent a good deal of time working on the Evergreen Arts & Humanities Series for next year - my last as chair of the committee. I have a couple of other projects I'd like to work on, and I'm certainly looking forward to having NO strings attached to the office in the summers.

6. We enjoy lots of love and laughter every day with Paco's, Bud's, and the other critters' antics. I'm toying with the idea of getting a dog, but the right one just hasn't come my way yet. I'm thinking about adopting an older corgi so I can avoid puppyhood and all its obligations.

7. Blessings abound.....What more could we ask for??

Sumnmer Farm Buddies - Bud & Paco

PACO, THE NEW FARM HOUND

2010-07-23T08:05:00.007-05:00

There's a new guy on The Farm, and he's so cute one can't help but kiss his sweet snout and long, soft ears. Paco, brother of our beloved Rufus, arrived in OH two weeks ago after a long trip from his native Utah. Joe and his friend, Frank, made a whirlwind trip across country to pick him up and bring him back to live here in canine paradise. He's captured our hearts and filled a huge void left by the passing of Annie, Molly, and Ruf last year.

Paco's a pretty mellow fellow, but with each day, Joe and I witness his growing sense of confidence and exploration as he ventures around the yard and field. He's made the field walk twice now, without whimpering or asking to be carried. That's a lot for a little guy whose legs are probably only 4" long, whose butt catches up with his head when he runs, and who trips on his ears and wipes out at any given moment.

Guided by his nose, Paco's already discovered the joy of finding a morsel of cat food. And, he's also discovered that felines can be a bit grumpy with a little guy who wants to play all the time. As with Rufus, Clousseau's pretty tolerant. Bud thinks Paco's OK, and Hendrix really doesn't seem to concerned about a puppy's presence. Cato and Spirit whap him without a second thought. (I really think three white cats confuse Paco as to who will play and who won't.) The orange cats can take him or leave him, and Loonis....well, we all know her attitude about anything that invades her space... Paco's just another item in the long list of things that make her barf.

Content to play with an old sock, a leafy branch, or his Boodha Banana toy, Paco loves life. Just as a child, each day brings new milestones - climbing the steps to the porch, rolling down the hill in the side yard, barking for the first time. And boy, oh boy, does he have sharp little teeth and a baby's bladder - Paco, the puddler!

He's fun...he's funny....he's a connection with an innocence and joy about which we humans frequently need a reminder. I'm grateful for him every day for that reminder!

Welcome, to The Farm, Paco!

HOT FUN IN THE SUMMERTIME

2010-07-07T18:19:00.003-05:00

In contrast to last week when I slept with two quilts on the bed, the last three days have been brutally hot and humid - - so uncomfortable that all one wants to do is nothing. It's too hot to get out in the garden; too hot to mow the grass (that's not growing anyway); too hot to do much more than nap all day like the cats. With temps in the upper 90's and humidity at about 95%, finding relief becomes quite a challenge. One really feels sorry for the folks that lived "in the olden days" without fans and air conditioning!

The gosh awful heat, however, can't put a halt to good vibration at The Farm. Oh no! We don't let the heat get us down here. The discomfort of our sticky, sweaty bodies cannot hold a candle to the joy that radiates in our heart when The Farm family comes home for a visit.
Here's the scoop:

1. Lori's home for a couple of weeks from Maui and brings The Farm the gift of her beauty and laughter. She and her sister, Whitney, along with Ann and Juliette (age 2) visited for a good while yesterday morning. Juliette's excitement about going to Grandma Huck's to see the "moo cows" made my heart happy.
2. Unfortunately, Dana had to come home for her maternal grandmother's funeral. Fortunately, that means that The Farm family got to spend some time with Wendy (age 1 1/2/). Grandma T. loves Wendy, and when given the chance to play, many of Eliza's old toys come out of the box and back to life with Wendy.
3. Clark and Charlie Buelow, Jack (age 4) and Lucy (age 2) spent a night with us on the 4th. Jack and Grandma T. rode the tractor for hours while Lucy babbled incessantly, pontificating on life in her own language.
4. Caroline and Joe stayed overnight on their way to a craft show the evening after the Buelows left. Six other friends came over for dinner to see them.....Caroline and I took a walk around The Farm while the Joes hung out, and we cooked up some really good food. Seeing Caroline always refreshes me and reminds me of the blessings of decades of friendship.
5. Eliza's home after a month's stay with her dad !!! Graduation, senior trip, work, preparation for college, hanging out with friends, etc. have filled her summer days with fun and anticipation of new beginnings in Cincinnati. And her Farm Mom's delighted Eliza's back at home for a while....Days with her around are quickly passing...University of Cincinnati, here she comes!!
6. Joe has officially begun his trek to Utah to pick up Paco, Rufus's brother from this year's litter. He and I have cleaned out the basement of the barn and made Paco and any other doggie on the way here a Hilton-esque dog lot. Fresh grass, cool and clean concrete floors, a state of the art doghouse (no WiFi, alas), and chain link fencing await our new Farm resident. Oh how happy we are!
7. From a distance we sense Samuel, Bobbi, and Bella's presence. Farm Mom is applying blatant pressure on the three to get their "tushes" home for a few days. Don't know if that's going to happen or not, but if it does, we'll be really, really happy.
8. Despite the heat and certainly encouraged by Joe's consistent watering, the gardens thrive. Cukes, zukes, and good lettuce are on the table....Yummy

Three hummingbirds hovering outside the window remind me that it's feeding time, so I'll venture out in the 8:00 PM humidity and get a move on. Feeling really at peace and grateful for all that's good in our world here at The Farm.

SUMMER PICS 2010 #2 - THE GARDEN - EARLY PHOTOS

2010-07-01T11:41:00.004-05:00

Sunflower blossom (This one is open now)

Beet leaf - Great in salads as I thin out the beets...Beautifully veined in the
afternoon summer sun.

"Maters" - Can't ripen soon enough

SUMMER PICS 2010 #1

2010-07-01T11:05:00.004-05:00

Yellow lily from the Boone Farmer's Market~2nd summer in bloom and already

needs to be divided....

Rose of Sharon - Sam moved this bush to the side yard over a decade ago, and it's been covered
with honeysuckle until this year. I chopped for the honeysuckle vine for hours to uncovere
this beautiful bush.

Angel wing begonia blooms from a plant that's over 75 years old.

Another Boone lily from the Farmer's Market....one of my favorite places in Boone.

JOURNAL ENTRY #2

2010-07-01T09:18:00.006-05:00

Afternoon Matinee

(June 27, 2010)

From the driveway patio,

I have the best seat in the house,

for I am the only one witnessing the scenes

on the screen in front of me:

Mr. Mockingbird on top of the telephone pole,

graciously sharing an afternoon concert, or sermon perhaps, that I take in

while the rest of the world seems oblivious to his (incessant) chirping.

("Pretty bird, pretty bird, pretty bird...be a bird, be a bird, be a bird....

and an occasional "SQUAWK" when he comes to an emotional moment.

I've counted about 20 different songs in his afternoon repertoire.)

As hummingbirds whiz about in all directions

and cats snooze at my feet,

our cow neighbors come into view in the upper field -

slowly, steadily, patiently making their

way back toward the barn down the lane.

I listen to the grinding of their teeth

as they chew their cud

and hear an occasional bovine belch,

indicating satisfaction with the field's fare.

There's a rhythm and drone to their

yanking the grass out of the ground

and subsequent chomping.

One pees; another poops.

Not one seems bothered by anything.

Occasionally, a mom will look up to see if

her calf's close by, shifting a glance my

way to check out this zany human

who's peering at her through her

binoculars.

(I think cows are beautiful and interesting...not nearly so dumb

as some people think. The hair at the base of their ears is as

soft as cotton.)

As the breeze picks up a bit,

rustling the leaves and swaying the treetops,

one mama realizes her baby's not in sight.

She bellows loudly...once, twice, three times...

followed by anticipation of a response.

There's a brief silence.....and then,

from behind the pines,

I hear a cry of relief from the little one who's

heard his mom's voice and can discern her location.

(I remember when Samuel

responded to my calls one afternoon when

he was little and had lost his way in the back woods.)

Running frantically,

the less-than-week-old brown calf comes

stumbling across the field....

He's definitely out of breath.

(The rest of the herd has stopped, as well,

to make sure he's OK.)

I totally understand what's taking

place....I've have felt Mama Cow's

momentary panic....and I've

felt her relief at having her calf

back at her side. I've witnessed the release of fear on his face

when a little one realizes he's OK...)

A happy ending before I drift off

for an afternoon nap.

FROM MY JOURNAL - #1

2010-07-01T08:54:00.005-05:00

(Since posting photos has become such a frustration, I'll throw in a couple of my journal entries for good measure....Disclaimer: I don't pretend to be a poet or a writer.....just like to record my thoughts and put enough details of my surroundings on paper to conjure up memories and sensations months later...)

In The Side Yard

Warm, afternoon sun

Deflected a bit by the crabapple branches above.

I sit in my new, comfy lawn chair, savoring

the gentle breeze that neutralizes the heat a bit.

Soft low notes from the wind chimes

allow me to enjoy music brought on by the breeze.

I love their deep, mellow tones.

My lilies are in bloom

across the driveway. All sorts of finches

have devoured another tube of nyger seed

hanging from the chestnut trees near the lilies..

The little birds' splashes of yellow and cranberry complement

the color of my flower gardens.

Kwan Yin smiles serenely from her sandstone block perch,

and she awaits the soft mulch from the chestnut blooms

to be swept around the ferns that thrive in the shade around her.

Butterflies flock to the my K-Mart butterfly bush.

It's surpassed me in height.

The tomatillos thrive in my new planting spot, and

Grandma Shook's dahlia's pushing toward its first blossom.

The intoxicating scent of the brugmansia flowers on the south side of my room

combined with the sweet smell of the lilies outside my bathroom

entice me into a sexy snooze in my lawn chair.

I'm home. It's summer. And there's peace, sweet peace

here at The Farm.

(June 24, 2010)

SUMMER 2010 UPDATE - JUNE

2010-07-01T08:32:00.002-05:00

Now that June has flown by, I realize Namasté has been idle for over a month. In a nutshell (and for the annals of farm history), here's the list of happenings:

1. Eliza graduated in the top twenty of her class late in May. Petie, Myra, and Samuel all came home, and we got to spend almost a week together in celebration of Eliza's exit from Warren High School. A good time all around....senior awards night, the actual graduation celebration, and then Eliza's graduation party here at The Farm....perfect weather, a perfect ceremony, a perfect fiesta in her honor. I think Eliza was most pleased.....and so was I !!

2. A week and a half later, I hurried through exams and headed off to Cincinnati for my annual summer work with the ETS AP Reading. Surrounded by over 1,000 Spanish professors, I worked full days, spent time with close friends, networked with many, many folks for whom I have high regard as colleagues, and play a bit in Cincinnati.....another rainy Reds game, nice walks along the river, and our annual dinner at Bootsy's with a cochinillo prepared Cuban-style.

3. Since I've been home, I've spent a good deal of time working on the Evergreen Arts & Humanities Series......gratis work for Washington State Community College....It takes me away from the farm on some days, but I've managed to balance my time at home with my time away.

4. The garden and our flowers are THRIVING! Potter Joe and Farm Mom have been farming away, and the results of our labors are reflected in huge tomatillo plants, scads of onions, lettuce, squash, cukes, and tomaters. The garden's just beginning to come in. Give it another two weeks, and canning and freezing will be a daily event here. Lilies, coneflowers, nasturiums, butterfly bushes, zinnias, sunflowers add splashes of color all over the farm.....And the Farm Mom couldn't be happier.

5. A new bassett hound, Paco, will be arriving at the farm in a little over 10 days. Joe will drive to Utah to pick up one of Rufus's brothers.....(new litter / same parents)...and we can hardly wait.

6. I'm beginning to move into relaxation after a very stressful year at work.....Every day my gratitude for The Farm grows to a deeper level, as I can feel peace and tranquility embracing me on every side. I feel like I'm on v-cation (as Eliza used to say) at my home.....I don't have to leave to find peace, and I love that feeling.

7. Farm family updates:
a. Lori's coming home tomorrow, I believe !!!!
b. Brett and Betsy should be home soon.
c. Joe leaves for Utah next week for a whirlwind trip to pick up Paco.
d. Eliza returns to The Farm from her dad's on Saturday.
e. Samuel's signed a lease for a new apartment and will be moving in July to a safer neighborhood in DC.
f. Andrew leaves July 31st for Susaki City in Japan for a year's teaching with the JET program.
g. We're keeping our fingers crossed that Bobbi and Isabella will come home in August for a few days.
h. I'm looking forward to a possible trip to Miami for a few days in August OR I'm going to try to see if Laida will come this way.

(NOTE: My dinosaur computer is being really grouchy about posting photos, so until I get a new computer, Namasté, might be lacking in visuals.)

GRADUATION IS HERE!!

2010-05-25T12:24:00.004-05:00

For me, she'll always be the little girl who talked to fairies in the back woods, who was born with a passion for horses, who loved to play Little House on the Prairie paper dolls, who spent hours in her imagination as an animal trainer with Annie and Molly, who loved to play school, who chopped off one of her pigtails in a moment of daring curiosity, who used to run around the farm with no clothes, who was (and still is) absorbed by Harry Potter and his adventures......

I look at her now and marvel at her beauty, her grace, her creativity, and her resiliency. She's traveled between two houses for more than half of her life and done so with little complaint. She's been a leader in every activity in which she's been involved, and she's excelled as a student in advanced classes in school. She possesses a level of empathy that surpasses that of most adults when it comes to feeling for those less fortunate. She's respected by her peers and teachers alike, and she's wise beyond her years.

That's my Eliza Caroline.....18 years old, a soon-to-be graduate of Warren High School and future chemistry major at the University of Cincinnati. Congratulations dear one.....may you be forever blessed.....may you always be abundantly embraced by happiness and joy.....may you thrive in body, mind, and spirit and know my love for you is infinite and limitless!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are truly the light of my life!

MOTHER'S DAY - 2010

2010-05-09T09:55:00.006-05:00

(Image by Cecilia Carlstedt)

It's early morning here at The Farm, and I'm alone at the moment. Eliza's gone to work, and Joe's asleep, exhausted after a visit to see friends in Columbus for a few days.

It's Mother's Day....I reflect upon the gift of still having my beloved Petie (91) and the love I feel for her every moment of the day. I remember her mother, Bertha Stevenson, and can still see her at the stove in her kitchen in Taylorsville, NC - worn-to-threads apron tied around her waist with a hankerchief in her pocket to wipe her mouth after she spit her tobacco juice in her snuff jar. (I loved sitting in her rocking chair by the window in her room and watching the yellow parakeet she kept on the table beside the rocker).

And then, there's Grandma Shook - less than a year in her grave and more alive in my heart than ever. As I look into my irises and as I prepare to get my dahlias in the ground, her hands join my hands as the soils crumbles between our fingers and the earthworms wiggle in our palms. From the spirit world, she guides me - in every way she guides me.

Being a mom hasn't always been the easiest thing for me. I suppose the job description and the pressures one feels trying to live up to society's and personal expectations make it amost impossible for any woman to feel totally adequate at the task at any given moment...But, I feel safe and secure for Eliza as a mother. Whenever she decides to have children, she has a good role models to invoke and a mom who'll be right there along the way with her.

I've always been embraced by strong women - in my family, in my sisterhood of friendships, as my colleagues, and in the animal world. Cheers and huge gratitude to them all, wherever they are, wherever they rest. .

Namasté.

PROM PICS - 4 - BEST FRIENDS

2010-05-02T12:26:00.001-05:00

(Left to right: Gerb, Eliza, Derek, DeeDee, Sarah, Gordon, Lexie, Travis)

A proud Farm Mom would call this group The Farm Kids. Regular spend-the-nighters, refrigerator raiders, laugh until dawn, snore like old people, friends.

I'm so proud of them, and photographing them on prom day filled my heart with JOY!!

PROM PICS - 3 - THE GIRLS

2010-05-02T12:21:00.001-05:00

PROM PICS -2 - FRIENDS

2010-05-02T12:13:00.003-05:00

Eliza Wilder & Brian (Ethan) Gerber, aka: Gerb

Travis Thrasher & Lexie Santini

DeeDee Carver & Derek Fox

Sarah Parker & Gordon Fleming

ELIZA CAROLINE - PROM - MAY 1. 2010

2010-05-02T12:03:00.001-05:00

ANNIE...SWEET ANNIE

2010-05-02T10:50:00.007-05:00

Thirteen years ago, two little corgis were born to a not so nice human on a farm near the stables where Eliza was taking horseback riding lessons. To make a long story short - sisters, Annie and Molly, came to live here at The Farm to join our family. They've been here through a lot of adventures and upheavals, always steadfast in their unconditional love and their instinctual urge to herd cows, dogs, turkeys, deer, or any other animals they encountered in the yard or fields.

In the past year, I watched age catch up with them. Molly passed away last fall, leaving Annie to hold down the fort, so to speak, with Rufus, the silly bassett hound. Much to our surprise, Rufus followed Molly to the world of spirit within weeks of her passing, and Annie became

the sole doggie at The Farm, a minority of one canine among seven felines. One of her great pleasures was to sneak on the back porch to munch their food when the cats weren't looking...There is no dog food that rivals the strong taste of what the cats get to eat.

Of the two sisters, Annie was always the most sensitive. Her feelings showed on her face as clearly as if she were human....big smiles...sad eyes at times....intolerance of Rufus's silly escapades....aggression when it came to her place as alpha dog around feeding time.

Infinitely patient, Annie would let children roll all over her and sleep with their head on her back. As a little girl, Eliza spent hours in her pretend world as an animal trainer, and with that look of "oh no, here we go again," Annie would jump the lower limbs of the grape vines over and over and over as Eliza instructed.

What will remain most vividly in my mind about Annie is the image of her short, stubby tail that whirled into motion every time she said hello. Annie literally wagged her entire butt. When she would hear me say, "How's my sweet Annie Bananny," the chubby little stub took off and a huge smile burst across her face - 100% of the time!

It was obvious over the winter that Annie was slowing down, sleeping a lot, feeling the arthritis in her hips more and more, and whimpering a bit in her sleep. Two weeks ago, we noticed she seemed to have some seizure-like trembling spells, and in the last week, I knew something drastic was happening in her body.

A trip to the vet last Tuesday confirmed she was seriously ill, and by Thursday, I knew the time had come for her to join her beloved Molly and Rufus in the world of spirit. With Joe's hands on her tummy, I held her close and talked to her as she let go of her last exhale. Tom was there as well, supporting me along the way.

Shortly thereafter, Tom, Joe, and I lay Annie to rest in the side yard under the chestnut tree beside Molly. I've cried enough tears to water The Farm....huge tears of sadness as we closed the page of another chapter of life and love in Farm history and huge tears of gratitude and LOVE for one of the best friends I've ever had.

Perhaps it sounds a bit juvenile, but an image of great consolation for me is of Molly, Rufus, and Annie chasing everything from butterflies to birds in the fields of the spirit world with my dad and grandmother watching them from a distance. Old Gunner and Tornado amble by, plop down beside Daddy and shake their heads as the corgis and Rufus take to the woods after a rabbit. Daddy pulls out his crow call, and he and Grandma look to the sky as it fills with crows. A grouse drums in the woods in the distance , and up in the side yard, my friend, Pepín, feeds the goldfinches from his hands....

I learned a lot about love this week, and I thank Annie for being the teacher in those lessons.

Namasté

CLASSIC LOONIS

2010-04-09T19:13:00.001-05:00

CURRENTLY IN BLOOM AT THE FARM

2010-03-19T12:24:00.002-05:00

Elegant yellow hibiscus

Red amaryllis #2

Sweet purple crocuses

Elegant white crocuses with brilliant saffron pistals

LOONIS

2010-03-16T19:24:00.002-05:00

She's one intense cat! Look into those eyes, and there's no question about her mood at any given time.

She's grumpy! The best way to get real love from Loonis is to leave her alone - let her lie on your legs for hours without touching her. Even the most gentle stroke of love down her spine could quite possibly produce a hiss, spit, and smack with her left front paw. Yes, she's a southpaw.

She's beautiful! The fur on the bottom of her feet is the softest thing I've ever touched. She's so gray that she looks blue, and when she's combed (a difficult chore given her "friendly" moods), she's as regal as any cat alive.

Loonis is intelligent! One can see a very bright mind in her facial expressions and eyes.

And she's incredibly playful - on her own terms, of course. I've learned to watch out for my head as I walk downstairs, for Loonis hides and waits for me. When I least expect it, she jumps out from her hiding place and pounds me on the noggin, jumps up and scoots away. She's been known to run back and forth through the house chasing her imaginary mice friends, and Loonis likes to play fetch, especially when I'm at the computer.

Many mornings I wake up with the face in this picture about 1/4 " from my nose. If I ignore her, Loonis scoots up even closer and paws at me to rub her. If I do, I could likely get whammed. If I don't, I could likely get whammed.

That's Loonis...

THIS WEEK'S PHOTOS

2010-03-14T16:36:00.001-05:00

Snow Heart: From last weekend's walk...It's been warm enough to melt off almost all the snow in the back field this week.

TJ Maxx Buddha, Guardian of the Back Field, survived an intensely snowy winter with only a little loss of color and bird poop on his head.

Hendrix the cat, posing in front of the garage door, which he had just sprayed when I walked up with my camera in hand. He, of course, denied having done anything that would even appear like urine on the garage door. He's sure it was Clouseau or Spirit.

FIRST LONG WALK TO THE BACK FIELD IN A LONG TIME - MARCH 7, 2010

2010-03-08T16:27:00.002-05:00

Accompanied by five cats and an aging Annie, I took off a few hours ago on my first really long walk of the new year. I've been out and about, but cold weather doesn't inspire me to stay out too long, so today's sun inspired me to get me out to enjoy the light, warm, beautiful day.

My first discovery produced an audible "Yippee" around The Farm when I saw this beautiful little crocus. The bed I planted 25 years ago has been tossled and turned many times over, but every year about this time when I spot the first little yellow flower, I get so giddy I jump up and down like a kid! Isn't it beautiful?

Down by the barn, one of last year's sunflowers still stands, drastically changed by the passing of the seasons yet still firmly anchored in the soil. I love the way flower head has sought support from the stalk.

Cool cat that he is, Cato found a resting place on his favorite stump and poised himself to attack an unattentive Clouseau as his partner in crime sauntered by. Good one, Cato!

And no worse for the wear...well actually, quite a bit altered by a winter outside, the happy woods Buddha still maintains his good cheer despite having lost his belly cover and suffered a pretty good wham to his noggin. A thumbs-up, high-five sort of guy, Buddha seems to be cheering on Mother Nature to bring on the spring!

BEAUTY

2010-03-02T20:46:00.003-05:00

Best friends forever....Eliza Caroline Shook Wilder & Lexie Santini.....Photo taken by Roger Forshey for Lexie's senior pictures. Two absolutely beautiful young women.

FEELIN' TRIFLIN'

2010-02-28T12:28:00.008-05:00

I spent all day Friday and Saturday preparing for the February event for The Evergreen Arts & Humanities Series, and this morning when a friend called to see if I wanted to go to yoga, I politely declined....It's one of those days when I might not get out of my PJ's....I might not accomplish much of anything...And besides, I'm an introvert who needs to recharge by staying at home, removing myself from the world of activity, and hanging out in the silence (or good tunes on the stereo.....)

Today's possibilities:

Maybe I'll knit....Sounds good.

Maybe I'll straighten out the jungle of a mess in my room....Probably won't.

Maybe I'll play with the cats....Yep, that seems like a good idea.

Maybe I'll feed the birds...Only if I decide that putting on my boots is something I'm in to doing.

Maybe I'll read...Sounds good.

Maybe I'll grade papers...Eergh! But if I do, then I won't have to do them tomorrow.

Maybe I'll look at seed companies on the internet....Yeah, that sounds good.

Maybe I'll take a walk...Too much energy?? To be determined later.

Maybe I'll phone a few friends...I'll have to limit conversations to 10 minutes...Don't feel like being to extroverted today.

Maybe I'll make a pot of soup. Good one...we need some healthy chow around here.

Maybe I'll do laundry...Underwear's runnin' low...

Maybe I'll ....maybe I'll....maybe I'll.

SNOWY WINTER DAYS = SOCKS BY FARM MOM

2010-02-15T10:55:00.004-05:00

When it's cold outside and yours truly has an opportunity to knit, good things happen. This winter I've learned to knit socks. They're easy to finish in not so long a time, they're practical, and they're fun! Here's a sample:

Striped large sock made in a really nice alpaca for Samuel. The second one's in progress at the moment.

Organic cotton ankle socks...great feel on the foot. In fact they're so soft, one doesn't feel them on the foot.

The first pair I ever knitted-organic cotton like the ones above. Note the gusset on the top one--I went in the wrong direction, and it has a "unique" look.

Handspun Vermont wool slipper socks that I've almost worn out since I made them. Definitely in need of a wash. One a bit small then the other, but still a perfect fit!

When the knitting needles are in my hands and there's nice music (or the Olympics) in the background, all's well with the soul!

VALENTINE'S DAY 2010 - THOUGHTS

2010-02-14T12:22:00.005-05:00

It's another -in weeks of many - gray, monochromatic day in the neighborhood, and I'm alone here at The Farm once again with the cats, Annie, and Claude, the beta fish on this Valentine's Day. Mostly because it's the height of winter yuk for me, I feel a bit alone today. I'd love to have Samuel and Eliza and all the other farm kids home with me to indulge in some tasty hot chocolate and an afternoon movie. Or, I'd love to be sitting on a bright, warm, sunny beach with my binoculars, watching dolphins in the distance as well as a few handsome old geezers as they stroll by in front of me....

There are moments when I think the whole Valentine's Day hype is just another opportunity for our commercialized, capitalistic society to make money on superficializing the concept of love. But then again, what better concept to promote, even if card companies and chocolate factories make millions and 98% of already overweight Americans pick up a few more "lbs?" If folks celebrate today with love in their heart, I can't complain.

I do believe in love.

In terms of a traditional relationship and marriage, at 57 years old, I still have a lot to learn. I can't say sustaining a relationship with a husband / significant other is one of my fortés although I haven't given up on the idea. I just think about it less and less as time goes by.

But I do know unconditional love in my life - my children, family and friends who accept the imperfect human being I am and who laugh at my "moments," critters who think there's no one better on the planet than I and who celebrate seeing me after I'm gone all day by wagging their tails off or jumping up on my lap. I sense total love in my home and on the land here at The Farm. The fields and woods have absorbed my laughter and my tears for 30 years now, and they inspire me to trust deeply in the cycles of life as we blossom and hibernate together.

Every ounce of love that surrounds me does not go unnoticed, whether it be tactilely exchanged or sensed from deep within. Love is the greatest blessing in my life, and gratitude for that love - the people, the critters, and all gifts from the Earth -bubbles like champagne in my heart today (and always).

Will you be my Valentine now and forever?? Namasté...

FEBRUARY 6, 2010 - THE SNOW FINALLY ARRIVED

2010-02-06T14:21:00.001-05:00

DISMAL FEBRUARY FRIDAY

2010-02-05T16:03:00.002-05:00

It's raining steadily, and the temperature is hovering right at freezing. The droplets clinging to the branches outside the window indicate a drop of a degree or two would solidify them into ice. Snow, a goodly amount of snow, should start falling at any moment, but the forecasters have been more wrong that accurate lately, so it's really unpredictable what's going to transpire here in the country.

The signs would point to a shift toward the worse - - a duo of squirrels have spent most of the day digging out chestnuts from under the trees and running them back to their nests, and the birds have almost emptied the feeders I filled this morning. Nonetheless, instead of a quieting winter blanket, the Earth at this point is taking a cold winter bath, and I sense She's shivering in her shoes.

Other than a brief trip to get thistle seed for the bird feeders in an effort to draw in some sparrows and finches, I've been nestled here at the farm all day. The orchids are delighted I've taken time to water them, and Loonis seems content to play "chase the feathers" every time I walk through the dining room. I think Annie's got the right idea....it's a great day for napping. She's yet to get up to do anything more than go out to relieve herself.

Eliza stopped by the farm for a minute on her way over to her dad's. It was good to catch up with her and hang for a moment. Samuel's getting ready for another DC snowstorm...20 - 28" predicted for the weekend. My poor mom's at home by herself in Boone as the snow's piling up all around.

It's winter. It's one of those days one has trouble remembering in the heat of the summer. It's one of those days when one searches the landscape for a tiny speck of color in the midst of the brown and gray. It's one of those days when curling up under a blanket and watching a movie defines one's level of energy, and it's one of those days when I'm very grateful I am alone here at The Farm with the critters and the silence.

AIR IN OUR IMMEDIATE AREA CONFIRMED TO CONTAIN HIGH LEVELS OF MANGANESE: WE'VE KNOWN IT FOR YEARS! !

2010-01-23T12:12:00.003-05:00

COMMENTARY FROM THE FARM MOM: It came as no surprise to those of us at The Farm to see the following article posted in Thursday's USA TODAY. This past summer, I participated in a study done by Dr. Rosemary Bowler from California that was an attempt to identify what the physical effects living in such a toxic environment might be. The results are not yet in. Please read further.

(Source: USA TODAY - http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2010-01-21-toxic-schools_N.htm)

By Blake Morrison and Brad Heath, USA TODAY

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency pledged Thursday to "use all the tools at our disposal" to reduce high levels of a toxic chemical that continues to permeate the air outside an elementary school in Marietta, Ohio.

The chemical, manganese, can affect children in much the same way as lead. Government scientists have concluded that long-term exposure can cause mental disabilities and emotional problems.

COMPLETE COVERAGE: Toxic Air and America's Schools

The EPA plans to release data today that show high levels of manganese outside a cluster of schools in and near Marietta. One air sample — taken Oct. 22, 2009, outside Warren Elementary — shows manganese levels that were 23 times above what the EPA considers safe for long-term exposure.

"That is pretty remarkable," said Stephen Lester, science director for the Center for Health, Environment & Justice, a Virginia-based advocacy group that focuses on children and schools.Two other schools, including Neale Elementary in Vienna, W.Va., just across the Ohio River from Marietta, also appear affected. One reading at Neale was five times higher than what is considered safe for long-term exposure.

Breathing high levels of manganese for extended periods can cause "irreversible damage," Lester said. He worried that the readings might represent "just the tip of the iceberg. How many other chemicals are these kids exposed to?" he asked. "It's not just manganese alone that you worry about. It's the combined effect of all these chemicals on the central nervous system.

"EPA spokesman Brendan Gilfillan said the agency plans to investigate the source of the manganese in Marietta. According to data collected by the EPA, several companies in Marietta reported releasing manganese into the air in 2008, the most recent year for which complete records were available. One, Eramet Marietta, reported releasing 240,000 pounds of manganese into the air that year. The company could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Marietta has been the subject of air quality studies since 2000. In July, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said one of its studies had found elevated levels of manganese and other toxic chemicals in the air at several locations.

The EPA renewed its interest in the area last year, when it launched a $2.25 million program to monitor the air outside 63 schools in 22 states. It included among the 63 schools two in Marietta — Warren Elementary and the Ohio Valley Education Service Center.

The EPA's air monitoring program came in response to a USA TODAY investigation that identified hundreds of schools where chemicals appear to saturate the air. Gilfillan said the agency has finished testing the air outside 54 of the 63 schools and expects to issue reports on each school by this fall.

Other articles of interest:
Chemical found in air outside 15 schools (USATODAY.com in News)
EPA to review health risk from popular weed killer (USATODAY.com in News)
Farmers growing genetically engineereed corn break rules (USATODAY.com in Tech)
EPA wants to limit runoff of plane deicing chemicals (USATODAY.com in Travel)

JANUARY 2010

2010-01-18T10:12:00.004-05:00

The holidays are now stored in our memory bank, and the New Year has brought about ice and snow and cold temperatures. The sun drops by for a visit on occasion, but most days we are covered from above by a blanket of grey skies, the kind that remind me I should be hibernating like the mother bear with her cubs-- moving into the silence, that is, rather than making an attempt to bumble awkwardly about through the days as we humans do at this time of year. The Farm supplies me with large doses solitude, necessary to keep me as centered as this time of year allows, for here I can watch the squirrels and birds, measure the growth of the amaryllises daily in anticipation of their awakening, and knit. Simple pleasures. Peaceful pleasures.

Samuel's returned to DC and seems to be in a more grounded space after his initial semester in graduate school. I'll hand it to that guy...mugged twice, ill four times, full-time employment, and graduate school full-time last semester damn near did him in. Two workshop classes (one in poetry, the other in fiction) will allow him writing time this term - time which he craves and time that provides him a chance to learn more about his art and about himself as the artist.

Eliza's completed her applications to Miami of Ohio and the University of Cincinnati. If she can gracefully balance school, winter guard, and her social life, the remaining few months of her senior year should be rewarding and memorable. As her mom, I'm ready for her to move beyond the small rural high school environment and drama that defines her life at the moment, yet I realize how important this time is for her. I wait patiently and eagerly to watch this amazing, beautiful young woman come into herself and realize just what all she can become. I anticipate the transformation to be as beautiful as watching an orchid open and blossom.

The artist in Joe screams for attention. Potter Joe has spent the last six months revamping the ceramics studio at Marietta College. Hopefully he's approaching a place where he can dedicate a sizeable portion of his time to his art. The guy possesses such skill and vision; one of these days, his creations are going to occupy a hefty portion on the shelf of distinguished potters in this country. I know that in my heart...I hope the time arrives soon.

Annie, the sole farm dog, enjoys an easy life here... The benefits of being an only dog suit her well...two treats a day, organic dog food, lots of loving, and no competition for the doggie beds. Her regimen of ibuprophen relieves her arthritis, and as I'm writing this, I can hear her outside, barking at the cows as they lumber across the upper field. Gone are the days when she attempts to herd them, but man oh man, she doesn't let them go by without reminding them she's still around.

In other Farm news:

1) Chintu accepted an offer from The Cleveland Clinic to begin a post-doc in June. That means he and Tom will once again move, this time three hours away. The Farm celebrates for him in a big way!! What an honor!!

2) Lori, recently described as "fancy" by a man on Maui, returned to the island after holiday break. She seems ready to head state-side, and we'd all love to have her closer.

3) Brett and Betsy will return from teaching for two years in Bulgaria this summer. Oscar and Felix will move back with them, and barring strays, The Farm cat count will then decrease to five....No more cats...Five's enough...I pronounce that now. Hee, hee...

4) Dana, James, and Wendy will be home again in the summer. Grandma T. is already ready for another dose of sweet Wendy!

5) Isabella has joined a children's circus group at her school. Bobbi's opened a new, flourishing, prospering yoga studio in Philadelphia.

6) I'm pondering the "what if's"....What would I do if my job situation were to take a different course? How do I want to define the next portion of my life? What can I create for myself that is gratifying, fun, and meaningful? I'm making mental lists....more to come.

It's Martin Luther King Day --a day in which I reflect upon non-violence, upon those, like Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet Gonzalez, who receive power and strength from Dr. King's example. I can't escape thoughts and images of the devastation in Haiti. It seems like the world's pretty messed up, torn up, and in shambles at times. I look outside and breathe in the peace of this winter day and realize the best I can do is try to project it forward in my own way......If I could, I'd bring all humans and critters who suffer to The Farm for a dose of love and some moments of laughter....Not possible, but a soothing thought....

Namasté....Ommmmmmmm.

SNOW BUDDHAS

2010-01-09T16:21:00.001-05:00

The Farm Buddhas have no aversion to snow or cold temps. Take for example, this lovely Lowe's Garden Department Buddha, donning a snuggie of January snow and her snow ball top knot.

The sheepish grin on the TJ Maxx Buddha indicates he's aware he wins The Farm prize for best snow head gear.

Silhouetted in the snow, Lowe's Garden Shop Buddha #2 has gone for the "off the shoulder" look for this snowstorm.

And Cincinnati thrift shop Buddha who peacefully rests on Molly's place in the Earth is modeling the single icicle look until the temps rise.

PEACE !!

THE LOVES OF MY LIFE

2010-01-02T14:06:00.002-05:00

She's a senior in high school and headed for the University of Cincinnati next year. Radiant... beautiful... graceful... bright...creative. Planning on majoring in cosmetic science and French....Hopes to live in Paris and work in the cosmetic industry.

He's a first year grad student at American University... Driven to write...creative...cerebral...witty...Living in DC and learning about life, both the fascinating and sobering aspects of residing in urban America...

So good to have them home together, if only for a bit more than a week....Wishing they were here at the farm every day.....

CHRISTMAS DAY ICE STORM - AFTERMATH

2009-12-27T20:15:00.004-05:00

Photo courtesy of Blue Ridge Blog (http://blueridgeblog.blogs.com/)

When I saw the rhododendron leaves tightly curled up in elongated rolls, I knew they were preparing to cuddle up for warmth. They do that, you know. My dad used to tell me the rhododendrons will let you know when the cold's on the way, and this Christmas eve, the clusters of those beautiful slender leaves rolled in as tightly and closely to each other as they could announced the arrival of a thick coating of ice long before it arrived.

By Christmas morning, I awoke to what sounded like transformer explosions, only to find out that the noise was the deafening snaps of large - really large - tree branches all through the woods. The red-lit numbers on the clock radio beside the bed were non-existent, and although I could hear my mom up and about in the kitchen, I didn't sense the aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafting down the hall. Within minutes, the phone began to ring--calls from family members and friends to inquire if we had "lost power" as well. Yep, before daylight, it was obvious this Christmas Day would be one for the memory keepers.

Stories of everyone's situations began to circulate. Miss Hal and family were bringing in snow to melt by the fireside to use to flush the toilets...Mrs. Bessie Mae Hicks called to let us know she was OK...Worried about the spike in Uncle Frank's blood pressure, Aunt Lera called to see if they could come over to the Shook Shelter...Aunt Audrey's phone was out, so we just had to assume Bill and Sylvia had taken care of her...Aunt Mildred (only about 4'10" and less than 100 lbs.) called to say she went out in the snow and ice to clean off her car and couldn't move once her feet sunk down in the snow, which was above her knees. Fortunately, her feisty nature surfaced and she lumbered slowly back to her house...Uncle Bradley and Aunt Mabel were stuck at home and couldn't begin to get out until someone broke open the road to their house...ad infinitum...Over the course of the last two days, some 30,000 people in Watauga County have been left in the dark.

Fortunately here on Russell Drive, the power came on later in the morning long enough to fix a pot of coffee. People became a bit more verbal and less moody as a result. When the electricity went off for the second time, we waited about 5 hours until it returned. We definitely were some of the lucky ones.

During the outage, Petie and I summoned Papa's spirit to build a fire in the fireplace, and before long, the den was hotter than my Grandpa Hoyle's living room in the middle of winter. We warmed up some leftovers and a pot of frozen soup Petie had in the freezer. Actually the soup came to a boil as fast on the hearth as it would have on the stove! I took a walk to make sure there were no branches compromising the roof / gutters / cars and did the best I could at shoveling ice off the walkway.

Two days later, the area does look like a war zone. The pine trees suffered the greatest hit and brought down many power lines. Their branches become really heavy with ice, and their root systems are shallow; hence, if it were prior to decorating season, everyone in this part of the country would have had greenery to spare for his/her houses. Higher up in the mountains, there didn't appear to be such extensive damage. At least over toward Pigeon Roost, the breakage seemed less stark.

It's been about 24 hours since I've heard branches snap around our house. Hopefully the 3-day inconvenience of an 8-hour storm will be soon behind us all. Tomorrow I hope to get out and take a few photos of my own.

CHRISTMAS 2009 IN BOONE

2009-12-25T20:49:00.003-05:00

The ASU Mountaineer mascot, Yosef, woke up this morning to find his beard frozen to his face and icicles hanging from his hat, fists, and armpits. Icicles in the armpits could be quite uncomfortable, but Yosef seems to be saying, "Bring it on!!"

Over the course of 8 hours last night, ice coated the entire area, making it such that for Christmas dinner here at the Shook house on Russell Drive we dined on PB&J sandwiches and Petie's frozen packages of homemade soup which we literally heated on the hearth. Couldn't have been better!

The temps rose during the daylight hours, creating a lot of slush and yuk. One could hear branches breaking and falling all day, and when we ventured out to see an afternoon matinee, the debris covering the highways was pretty intense. Thankfully nothing fell on my new car (new to me at least), and Mom's house escaped getting bashed by lots of limbs. Tomorrow we'll have a better sense of what there is to clean up.

Actually, it's been a great day...If we couldn't get out to go to Grandma's house, the next best thing was to stay here all day, and that's exactly what we did. Lots of nice gifts, too much stuff to nibble on, and a really, really toasty fire in the fireplace created a good space to relax, knit, and read. For me, having the day with Samuel and Eliza and seeing them enjoy each other after five long months was my greatest gift.

It's barely 9:00 PM, and I'm off to bed...Hope everyone had a great day...May 2010 bring us all peace, lots of joy (and money) and fewer losses and problems.....

BRUGNANSIA - I'M IN AWE OF THIS FLOWER!

2009-12-15T11:41:00.001-05:00

DECEMBER FLOWERS - 2009

2009-12-13T11:33:00.002-05:00

I posted a shot of the irises in bloom outside a while back, but when the cold weather blew through last week, I went out and clipped the remaining buds from the plants out by the garage. Sure enough, one of them opened up. Irises in the house in December doesn't make the spring seem so far away.

A friend, Whitney Huck, brought this orchid to me when Molly shed her earthly coil and headed toward the light. It's been gloriously in bloom since early November.

FINALLY, I have a brugmansia in bloom! I've spoiled this plant, given to me by Sherm Koons, for two years, and when I brought it in in the fall, I thought I saw the beginning of a bud. Sure enough, the gargantuan plant that fills a good portion of my bedroom has successfully produced this amazing bloom. The photos doesn't do it justice. I'd estimate it to be at least a foot long, and it has a sweet, intoxicating, exotic aroma that fills my room.

Another view of the brugmansia...I tried to get better shots, but this plant is surrounded by all the others I have in my bedroom, and I just can't get situated for the perfect angle without rearranging 15 other plants. So for now, these record the images of the short-lived, but amazing blossom of this December flower.

GREETINGS OF THE SEASON FROM THE FARM - 2009

2009-12-11T11:46:00.007-05:00

The holidays are upon us, and I'm counting the days until The Farm family comes home to spend precious time together in celebration of another year of love and blessings. Each year as I reflect on the gratitude I feel to be alive and thriving, I am reminded of the joy and laughter we experience here at The Farm, as well as the passages of those whose lives have been so much a part of ours. Life's perplexities keep me a ponderin' from time to time, but many, many more moments of unadulterated joy and laughter resonate in my heart as I look back on 2009.

Samuel will be home for a much needed week of farm R&R in a couple of weeks...Eliza returns to The Farm from her dad's house in just a few days...Joe's here and keeps the fire roarin'...Lori's counting the days until she flies in from Maui...I'm nudging Bobbi and Isabella to come this way to celebrate the New Year...keeping my fingers crossed on that one.

Brett and Betsy will visit via Skype from Bulgaria (or from whatever exotic place they're choosing to visit for holiday break), and hopefully, we'll get some news from Dana, James and Wendy. Meera'll be in our hearts from the West Coast, and hopefully,we'll see Tom and Chintu, Norm, Diane and Andrew multiple times as the celebrations continue.

I'll default to my list making for an account of Farm happening for 2009....Here we go...

JOYS...

1. Joe's return to The Farm in July with his beloved bassett hound, Rufus Thomas.

2. Samuel's acceptance into the MFA program in Creative Writing at American University.

3. Eliza's selection as section leader of the Warren High School Marching Warriors Color Guard.

4. Petie's visit to The Farm in November and our subsequent trip to Indianapolis to see Eliza perform at the Grand Nationals band competition.

5. Seeing family at the huge Shook / Michael family reunion in July at the

MatneyCommunity Center.

6. Laida's visit with my family in Boone during Thanksgiving

7. Reconnection with many folks from my past and former students via Facebook..

8. Celebrating my mom's 91st birthday on December 10th.

SORROWS

1. The passages of Pepín Carro (March), Grandma Ruth (June), Sally Johnson (September), Molly, the corgi and sweet, little Rufus (November)

2. The passage of Diane's Grandma Gracie, also in June.

3. Tumultuous, dysfunctional, vicious happenings at my workplace.

BLESSINGS

1. Good health, lots of laughter, and fun.

2. The barn's still standing.

3. The bounty of the land...early veggies in the garden this past spring, lots of glorious flowers during the summer...an absolutely beautiful fall...

4. The love of family and friends.

FARM FASHION - COLD WEATHER

2009-12-08T12:33:00.005-05:00

When we take to the fields here at The Farm, we grab whatever garment is near and available to keep us warm on our spur of the moment walks. Last Sunday's journey into the back pasture provides a clear picture of what the world of "haute couture" refers to as "FARM CHIC."

As she sets the trend in Farm Chic, the Farm Mom always follows Grandma Ruth's advice and wisdom - "Keep your head covered, your hands, neck and feet dry, and you won't get sick." Worthwhile advice to consider since in her 107 years on Earth, Grandma never had a cold.

Farm Wannabes should take note of Farm Mom's ensemble - seasoned clothes she slept in, accentuated with old farm jacket from days gone by, the double scarf look, woolen gloves, thick socks (white is always preferable), and handy garden shoes. Her accessories include The Farm's retro WalMart canvas beach bag and spunky hat (see close-up below), a loaner from José's MFA thesis show, "Cossett Canoodle."

Close-up: Cossett Canoodle hat with knotted scarves. (On colder winter days, Farm Mom would probably wrap her head in a wool scarf and top it off with one of her hand-knitted Farm Toboggans.)

José's head cover of choice is the bright orange ear-flapped flannel hat that's been sitting around at The Farm, waiting for someone with the right sized head to wear it. It's a flexible piece of headwear and can be sported backwards, as José models here. Joe's neck stays very warm as he wears Cato as his scarf.

Please feel free to call upon any current or former Farm resident for advice regarding staying warm, Farm fashion, or where to purchase Farm garments. Stay warm...Stay healthy...And have a good chuckle along the way!

HOLIDAY UPDATE #1

2009-12-08T10:09:00.004-05:00

The holidays are upon us, and here at The Farm, we seek to manifest total joy and peace as we move toward Solstice, Christmas, and the New Year. The greening of the house is in progress, our Christmas tree is soaking up some preservative in the garage before we put it up, and as always, I'm contemplating when I'll get shopping done....a last minute thing for me always...

Today's list.....

1. Joy at the thought Samuel will be home for Christmas...the first time in a year....I can't wait!

2. Joy at the thought Eliza will return to The Farm in a few days to spend Christmas. When she's at her dad's, I miss her immensely.

3. Joy at the thought Joe is a permanent fixture at The Farm.

4. Joy at the thought Samuel, Eliza, Mom, Myra, and I will be in Boone together for Christmas Day.

5. Joy at the thought of sitting by the fire with the Christmas tree lights aglow.

6. Joy at the thought of New Year's Eve again here at The Farm.

7. Joy, great joy, in feeling the love all around.

FARM UPDATE - NOVEMBER 2009

2009-11-21T09:34:00.003-05:00

This crisp November morning, the Saturday before Thanksgiving, has dawned with flawless blue skies, bright sun, and the quietness and solitude that brings me total peace here at The Farm. As the huge buck I've protected over the past few years regally sauntered across the front field just a moment ago, a flock of geese flew overhead, and the crows were chattering out the driveway. It's so good to be at home today....I don't plan to leave...Joe's at the office, and Eliza's got plans, so Annie, the cats, and I will hold down the fort...I might just do a little yoga.

The Farm family's been on a whirlwind of a trip this fall - great, great joys contrasted by huge sorrows... I really don't know where to begin, so I'll just make one of my lists....

1. Eliza's senior year has been memory-packed...Band activities, trips, fundraisers, and responsibilities define her days, and months of hard work culminated last week in a trip to Grand Nationals, where she shone radiantly and beautifully across the big screen in the Lucas Oil Stadium with the Warren High School Marching Warriors. Petie (91), Tita, and I were there to watch her perform, and as the band walked on the field, I was so consummed with pride that my smile covered my entire face. Petie and Tita cried with joy...I finally had to tell stop or they were going to miss the show! Later, we were able to catch up with E. and her friends at a mall in downtown Indy, and Mom got to meet some of the kids she hears me talk about all the time.

2. The weekend before Grand Nationals, Tom and I drove down to Boone to pick up Petie. I brought her home on Eliza's 18th birthday, so fitting since she and Papa were here 18 years ago for three weeks after Eliza's birth...Mom visited for three days before we road-tripped to Indianapolis. It's the first time she's been here since Samuel graduated from high school, and I am still in awe of my mom's get-up-and-go at her age. She visited my classes and met many of my colleagues, as well as had some time at The Farm with Joe and me. My heart hasn't been that happy in a long time...My mom came to visit me (!!!), and we spent some wonderful time together talking. I learned a great deal about her childhood that I'd never heard before; much of what I learned allows me to understand the dynamics of her family better than I've ever known until now. I love her so....

3. Samuel's had a heck of a semester at American University...His profs have referred to his work and insights as amazing and to him as the "relentlessly hip underbelly of the 2009 MFA inductees." I'll hand it to him - he's worked full time in retail in downtown DC while carrying 12 hours of graduate work, three courses of which have been in literature. Additionally, he's had two rounds of flu, two other infections, and has been held up at gunpoint. Quite an initiation into the city....Can't wait to get him home over the holidays and let him relax.

4. It's been a difficult time at work. Just too crazy to even begin to describe.

5. It's been a fall of passages, as we've said goodbye to our beloved Molly, who taught us all a great deal in her last days, and to sweet, loveable Rufus, the bassett hound puppy Joe loved like his own child. We could experience and accompany Molly toward her passage, but Rufus's unexpected death has been a huge emotional challenge. There's an immense sense of their absence here that's still raw and sad, but we're moving along. As always, the farm mantra applies: slow and steady will win the race as we patiently move from being overwhelmed with saddness to greater moments of joy. It's incredibly lonely at moments without Rufus's constant energy and Molly's sweet smile. The two of them were great friends...A great consolation for me, however, is to imagine them together with my dad in the spirit world...Papa feeding them both under the table...Rufus brought my dad back to me more than anything since Papa died, and as I played with Rufus, Daddy was right there with me, chuckling all the while.

Other farm happenings:

a. Eliza and I checked out the University of Cincinnati. It's a toss-up for her, I believe, between Cincinnati and Miami of Ohio for study next year.

b. I'm in the market for a new car since Eliza had a bump-up in the Subaru (on the morning we were all to leave for Grand Nationals).

c. Joe and I have a good pile of wood ready to burn in our newly chimney-swept stove.

d. As we prepare for Thanksgiving, I'm looking forward to time in NC at my grandmom's house in the mountains with my dad's family and my friend, Laida, who's coming up from Miami.

There's probably more I'll add to this post as I do some more thinking, but for now, that's all folks....I'm grateful for this beautiful day and my many, many blessings.....

FALL'S LAST FLOWERS

2009-11-21T09:31:00.000-05:00

FALL FUNGI

2009-10-30T08:32:00.000-05:00

GOODBYE MOLLY, OUR GOOD, GOOD 'OLE FARM DOG AND MY BEST FRIEND

2009-10-27T15:34:00.006-05:00

As I sit down to write this post, I can look out the window and see Molly's resting place underneath the chestnut tree in the side yard. Her life on Earth ended yesterday, and she left us to soar with the spirits and join the other animals who have been such a part of our lives here at The Farm...She's in good company, for sure...

Twelve years ago about this time of year, I went to see two corgi puppies who lived with some not so nice humans across the field from where Eliza took riding lessons. Her instructor knew we were considering a dog, and Kara, one who would never, ever turn a critter away, mentioned we might want to help these little ones out. When I spoke to the man who had them, I told him I was interested in a puppy, and he proceeded to tell me that if I didn't take both dogs, he'd just "tie a rock around the other one's neck and toss it in the pond" He needed to "get rid of them both, one way or another." The next day, Sam went to get both Annie and Molly, and by the next morning, Samuel and Eliza had decided both puppies had to stay at The Farm. How could we separate the sisters??

As a little puppy, Molly's long nose and tail quickly distinguished her from her sister. Her little belly was so bloated when she arrived she looked like she weighed a ton, but from the get-go, Molly's smile shone, despite her discomfort and malnutrition. Over the years, she and Annie would comb the farm from one end to the other and make enough noise in the night to incite the neighbors to call the dog warden (!). Like geese in flight, the corgi sisters knew instinctively in which direction to run, when to change course and how to accelerate like greased lightening after everything from a fox to a mole. With her long nose that proved to be quite advantageous when burrowing, Molly holds The Farm record for most moles brought in from the back field. Since Rufus's arrival, she spent many afternoons with him out in the field, teaching him about "mole-ing."

After Sam moved away and when I was alone here, Molly hung by my side constantly. She and Annie became my housemates, and we talked to each other, sang songs, and danced all over the house. On some mornings, Molly would wake up in a goofy mood and would run back and forth through the house with a huge smile on her face while I would sing, "Molly's a silly....Molly is a silly." Finally, she would stop for a breath and laugh hard, ears turned back and nose to the sky.

###

Other great Molly memories come to mind at the moment:

The day she treed a raccon up a telephone pole and wouldn't EVEN begin to think about coming in for food or sleep. She stayed there a good 48 hours, determined to outlast the patient raccoon.

The day she got her head stuck in the railings on the back porch., Tom came over and was ready to dismantle a rail when Molly jerked her head right back out.

The trip to Boone from Lexington one Christmas when she got carsick and used a vomit bag Samuel managed to stick in front of her.

The many evenings I would call her and Annie to come in. Annie usually obeyed while Molly would turn to look at me, laugh and take off in the other direction.

The day she tried to take down a Great Dane and Mastiff at the same time because they attacked Annie.

The many afternoons I would find her and Annie with Eliza, who had dressed them up in some sort of costume or baby clothes. Molly's Halloween costume now goes to Rufus.

Molly with an old bagel, hot dog bun, or piece of bread in her mouth that she'd carry around and guard for days.

Watching her come running to me when I'd come home from work with a huge cow patty in her mouth time after time after time.

The time Sunday night when Eliza, Molly, and I were alone in my bedroom in silence as Eliza shared her love with Molly.

Her love for Annie and Annie's love for her. With the exception of an occasional hour here and there, they were never apart.

###

As opposed to the rest of her entire life, the past two weeks have been hard ones as cancerous tumors overtook her body, weakened her and robbed her of her ability to walk, eat and seek water without struggle. As difficult as the process was to experience, I am grateful to have been there every step of the way with her, and I am honored that I could hold her head in my arms and let her bury her head in my chest as she drew her last breath. She drifted away in my arms, and I felt her spirit take flight. It wasn't easy, and I cried hard. I am so grateful to Joe and Tom who made it possible for me to be totally with her during the process and who cared for us both before and afterwards with love and tenderness.

When we put Molly in the Earth, I made a bed of bright yellow leaves for her to rest upon, and we covered her with a baby blanket and more leaves. Annie watched from the flower bed a few feet away, and Hendrix (channeling Samuel there to be with us, I'm sure) leaned up against me as we placed the soil back on top of her. Rufus was at our side as well, and the other cats sauntered by as we worked.

As I was sitting alone in the warmth of the afternoon sun shortly thereafter, I closed my eyes and asked for a sign...something to let me know Molly was OK...When I opened my eyes, a HUGE red-tailed hawk came flying along the driveway in front of me at the height of the railing on the deck. I could have reached out and touched it had I wanted. He flew across the yard and over the top of the pines at the end of the side yard. Before he was out of sight, I heard him squeal and watched him spiral into a circle. Then he disappeared...Molly had sent her messenger, and I was embraced by peace.

It'll take us a while to adjust to Molly's absence. As Annie came into the bedroom last night, she growled out of habit, thinking Molly was there to challenge her for her food. The perplexed look on Annie's face as she looked around for Molly indicated Annie sensed our life had changed. When I got up this morning to let Annie out, I held the door open and called for Molly to come....I'm sure all of us will need a little time to process her absence.

I've read this poem by Walt Whitman many times over in the past couple of weeks....I include it here in honor of Molly...

I think I could turn and live with animals, they are so placid and self-contain'd,

I stand and look at them long and long.

They do not sweat and whine about their conditions,

They do not lie awake in the dark and weep for their sins,

They do not make me sick discussing their self-importance,

Not one is dissatisfied, not one is demented with the mania of owning things.

Not one kneels to another, nor to his kind that lived thousands of years ago,

Not one is disrespectful or unhappy over the whole earth.

###

Everyone here at The Farm is a better human being by virtue of having lived with Molly. As I told her the other night, we'll never ever be without her...As Joe reminds us, she's here, just in another form...here forever.

RELAXATION - THE FARM CRITTER WAY

2009-10-09T15:40:00.002-05:00

EXHIBIT #1
Cato demonstrates one of his favorite uses of recyling bin lids. Cato's a fan of direct afternoon sun.

Exhibit #2
Oscar prefers a comfy snooze on his back with porch railing shade.

Exhibit #3

Rufus likes to spread his wings, have the sweet aroma of a rawhide bone near his nose, and snooze comfortably with his eyes half open on his yoga mat.

Exhibit #4

Clouseau prefers the body shaping perch for his R & R.

Photos of Annie in her relaxation mode coming soon when I can catch her with my camera.....

NATURAL PROGESSION - NIGHT BLOOMING CEREUS

2009-10-08T19:43:00.012-05:00

Most of the time, this amazing plant produces flowers in the middle of the summer. This year, in July, we had a couple of blooms that came out while I was in Boone. I lamented the fact I didn't get to see them; the blooms opened and were on the ground before I got home.

For some odd reason, the plant decided to open up again - this time in October after temps have already plummeted to near freezing levels. I was really shocked to see two buds last weekend, and over the course of the week, they've opened, bloomed and faded away.

The lifespan of the glorious flower is only 24 hours....so short but so breathtaking while it lasts!

IN THE WOODS

2009-09-21T20:05:00.001-05:00

In the back woods, chubby Goddess keeps an eye on all the plants and critters from atop her tree stump perch where I sit and think about things. She's gotten a little crack in her left side over time and picked up some moss along the way, but neither seem to bother her greatly. She's a jolly woman, happy to live in the woods and not have to deal with much more than an occasional passerby on a walk.

There's a huge, beautiful, one-of-a-kind fungus growing at the base of a tree down the path from chubby Goddess, and it's one of the most striking works of art I've ever seen in the natural world. It engulfed a strand of barbed wire as it grew, and the waxy appearance is really quite spongy to the touch. It's totally breathtaking!

This close-up image below allows one to see the interior complexity of the mass.

And this is what it looks like as one approaches it. I had no idea what I was looking at from a distance. It was only when I got closer that I discovered this amazing, glob of orange, salmon, and pale yellow stuff.

TRIBUTE TO SALLY JOHNSON

2009-09-14T11:11:00.006-05:00

Saturday morning, September 12, 2009, Sally Johnson said goodbye to this world and began her journey into the world of spirit. Friends for almost three decades, Sally and I have woven in and out of contact over the thirty years, but most recently, by virture of Facebook, our connection has been strong and very special.

One of the first of many powerful and inspiring women I met when I moved to Ohio from New Orleans, Sally was a young mom of three active, energetic and highly talented, creative children. Her husband at the time worked as a glassblower, and he and Sally lived on a small farm in our area. One of my first memories of Sally is of a barn dance out at her and Doug's farm - - a birthday celebration for a mutual friend's birthday. When I close my eyes, I can see the beautiful birthday cake Sally decorated with sweet-pea flowers for Cathy and her dancing with each of her children all night long as the moon shone through the slats in the barn siding. Oh, how they loved their mom!

Sally was a force of nature...a founding member of the Dumb Club, a true back-to-the-earth, tofu-making, hippie mom who set the bar for me as the mom I wanted to emmulate when it became my time for children. She birthed her children at home and attended many, many other women who chose to do the same. I am touched by the number of younger adults now who now honor her for being with their moms at their respective births. Sally always, always, always, advocated for women and kids and the Earth...Thanks to Sally Johnson's efforts there is a rape hot-line in Marietta for women in crisis.

Artsy, creative, funny, sarcastic and at times cynical and opinionated, Sally's path was not always easy, but she unfailingly came out on top, whether it be from the throes of divorces or battling a chronic leukemia that has reared its nasty head in her life for the past few years. Her love of the mountains of southwest Virginia and her grandson, Max, defined her truest inspirations and became the topic of most of our recent conversations. I treasure our emails in which she talked about both.

Recently Sally turned 60 and spent a week at the beach with her family in celebration. AS I understand, not long after their return from this special vacation, her body again began to need attention. Blood and platelet transfusions did not spur her marrow to take hold again, and she weakened steadily and quickly. Appropriately, her family was with her as she took her final exhale last Saturday.....

I downloaded the above photos from Facebook...Sally in the mountains....Sally with her grandson....It's been hard to veer my thoughts away from her passage, but when I went on a walk yesterday through my fields, as the sun shone, as the butterflies savored the last of summer's nectars, and as the crows and hawks called in the distance, I felt her presence strongly...peaceful and serene...

Goodbye to an amazing woman.....godspeed, my friend....

THE DC GUYS

2009-09-07T21:52:00.000-05:00

Taking advantage of a three day weekend, I hopped in the Subaru early, early Saturday morning and headed over to visit Samuel in Washington. I'll supply details of our weekend at a later day, but I wanted to get these photos in place for The Farm family. Many of you haven't seen Sammy in a while...He's happily adjusted to DC, loves the city, and is working his rear end off at an Urban Outfitters downtown while going to graduate school full time.

I had a great time hanging out with him, and I think he was equally as glad to see me. Samuel and I have a history of good times together, and this weekend was yet another time we made memories and solved the world's problems together. I'm so proud to be his mom.

NATURAL PROGRESSION - YELLOW DATURA

2009-09-01T20:45:00.001-05:00

The pinwheel slowly opens into a full, delicately powerful, double blossom. The flower lifts its trumpet to the morning sun to welcome the day and follow the sun across the sky until the afternoon turns into evening. Then the aged bloom bows to the Earth in gratitude for the day gone by and collapses to the ground as darkness arrives. All this, in less than 24 hours.

FARM BLOSSOMS #4: THIS PAPHIOPEDILUM IS ONE SEXY ORCHID

2009-08-30T20:58:00.001-05:00

Better photos to follow, but this paphiopedilum opened today, and I can't quit staring at it.

MY PAPER'S STILL AROUND

2009-08-28T10:11:00.001-05:00

Jen Grove, a calligrapher from Marietta who used to buy a lot of paper from me sent me a Facebook message yesterday and directed me to the Tree Whispers website, where, lo and behold, right there on the home page is a work by Anne Binder done on my paper. It took my breath to see Tanya Wilder paper again.

As I recall the under layer here is done with abaca fibers, faintly dyed with a light onion skin and walnut mixture. The top paper is a combination of hemp and abaca,with organic inclusions of mica and snake skin.

See the Tree Whispers (collaborative project celebrating life's resounces) website for some beautiful work:
(www.treewhispers.com)

And perhaps there could be some more Farm Paper in the works...I'm feeling inspired.

FARM BLOSSOMS #3: MORE ORCHIDS

2009-08-27T09:43:00.000-05:00

I'm like a child at Christmas when my orchids bloom. The phaleonopsis has been open ALL summer, and just this morning, one blossom drooped to fall off. The dark burgundy paphiopedilum will open in the next couple of days. That means I check it every hour to see just how much more it has progressed.

Orchids make me happy....

FARM BLOSSOMS #2: DIFFERENT DAHLIAS FROM THE SAME TUBER

2009-08-26T21:59:00.001-05:00

Unless I'm very mistaken, these two entirely different dahlias are growing from the same tuber. Interesting....and elegantly lovely...

FARM BLOSSOMS - LADY SLIPPER ORCHIDS

2009-08-26T08:55:00.001-05:00

The Farm Mom is an very, very amateur orchid grower, but every once in a while, I get lucky. I purchased this paphiopedilum (HsingingCitron #16 x lawrenceanum #1) at Earth Fare in Boone, NC, for a steal of a price and have pampered it according to directions I've studied on the internet and in my orchid books.

As a child, I loved all the Lady Slippers that grew in the wild in the mountains around Boone. I successfully transplanted pink, yellow, and snowy lady slippers on several occasions around my grandmother's and my parents' houses. . I have not, however, been able to grow them in the woods here at The Farm in Ohio.

So, when I came across this and one other (photos on the way once it blooms), I decided to expand my orchid collection. I do so hope I can keep them alive and blooming. There's something about paphiopedilums that bridges the connection to my childhood Lady Slipper garden, so I'll give these a good shot and welcome them to The Farm with lots of TLC....

RUFUS

2009-08-23T10:31:00.003-05:00

Somewhat bull-headed...still trips over his ears...wingspan over 20"...has moments when he thinks he's a cat...plays all day with his best friend, Clousseau (who IS a cat)...has a starburst fluffy at the tip of his tail...learning, slowly but surely, that two old corgis can lose their patience rather easily with his puppy antics...getting too big to be a lap dog...goofy, funny, loving....that's our Rufus.

SUMMER 2009 FARM UPDATE #7

2009-08-21T10:44:00.005-05:00

It's been over a week since I've even looked at my blog. Here's what's been in the works at The Farm:

1. Had a great visit with Betsy and Bill as they headed to Buffalo for Kate's wedding. Celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary with them here at The Farm. Brought back memories of my wedding 31 years ago and theirs the year after. (Their marriage lasted; mine didn't...) Childhood stories made Joe and Eliza laugh, and Betsy and I really are quite like Mom and Aunt Lib when we get going.

2. Purchased a used weedeater. Joe's taken out most of the ragweed in front of the deck and around the barn. I've sneezed quite a bit.

3. Got the mowing done.

4. Am working on refinancing the house and trying my best to define a new insurance policy that's going to save me some money.

5. I've knitted a couple of dishclothes. Haven't gotten started on my next round of scarves.

6. Worked a bit for the Evergreen Arts & Humanities Series.

7. Gone on good walks with Rufus, Joe, the corgis and cats. Laughed a lot at Rufus.

8. Worked a bit on my classes for Marietta College.

9. Attempted to clean the house.

That's about it.....

(Rufus: Wingspan as of last weekend = 20" from tip of one ear to the other. He's quite the hound dog.)

SUMMER 2009 UPDATE #6

2009-08-13T07:52:00.004-05:00

From Petie's computer at home here in Boone, NC:

1. Had a wonderful lunch with Uncle Tom and Carol on Tuesday. So good to see them.

2. Had a wonderful lunch with my aunts, Linda and Audrey, my uncle, Ken, and Mom at Grandma Shook's house yesterday.

3. Cooked a tasty Cuban meal for Uncle Frank, Aunt Lera, Richard, Miss Hal and Bobby the other night. My flan really came out well.

4. Had a good trip to the farmer's market with Mom.

5. Attended the Retired State Teacher's Personnel meeting with Mom and saw several of my former teachers from Watauga High School, including my favorite math teacher, Linda Harwood.

6. Finished a scarf and began a sock (for the second time). Also knitted a couple of dish rags.

7. Read a book!

8. Helped Mom get some ideas about re-covering her antique chairs in the living room to match the couch she had done last summer.

9. Ran errands with Mom.

10. Sneezed my head off and suffered from itchy eyes, thanks to NC allergies.

11. Walked downtown a couple of times.

12. Had lunch with a cousin on my mom's side and her family. Also took Mom, my Aunt Hal and Bobby, my cousin, to visit my Aunt Lucille, who's in a nursing home in Stanley, NC. Had a good visit with cousins and my sweet aunt, who's debilitated from Parkinson's Disease.

13. Cared for Mom and tried to make her feel special. I love her so...

14. Loved being home among those with whom I've grown up and who have been so much a part of my life. Loved having access to good, homegrown, organic food. Loved being in a place that's alive artistically and laid-back. Loved the reconnection with educators for whom I have total respect and admiration.

SUMMER 2009 UPDATE #5

2009-08-04T16:57:00.004-05:00

This update format's getting to be a regular thing here at Namasté. I've found it's the easiest way to keep the farm family informed as the summer passes, and it'll serve as a reminder to me in the months to come as to what all transpired....

1. Rufus has a fancy new compound at the end of the side yard, and he seems quite content to spend the nights there.
2. Brett's home, and we've spent a couple of afternoons on the porch, catching up since we saw each other at Christmas last year. He and Betsy have had an amazing year in Bulgaria, have one more to go, and then will more than likely return to the States.
3. Brett and I got some paperwork done to completely turn the car over to Eliza.
4. Joe and Rufus are visiting Joe's sister in Raleigh, NC, and I'm headed to NC for a week on Thursday.
5. Dahlias continue to bloom gloriously.
6. I pulled up old broccoli, collards, kale and lettuces from the garden beds, re-tilled the beds and have them ready for fall planting (which I hope to get to tomorrow).
7. I've brushed all the critters in an attempt to get done with the shedding process.
8. I've spent a goodly amount of time on getting info out about the Evergreen Arts & Humanities Series.
9. Samuel messaged me that he has an interview for a position at the Bookstore at American University.
10. Bobbi taught her first class in her new first-class studio in Philadelphia last Sunday.
11. Eliza's started band...band camp this week all day. She's guard section leader and working her tail off.
12. Lori's traveling all over the country with Nickelback.
13. I'm getting my hair cut again...it grows out really fast.
14. Tonight I plan to sort and alphabetize my CD's. Hasn't been done in a couple of years, and they're way out of order. Total chaos.

That's about it for now....

Enjoy recent pics of Rufus, the farm (bassett) hound dog...He's growing like a weed!

SUMMER 2009 UPDATE #4

2009-07-30T09:30:00.009-05:00

1. Gutters on the barn cleaned out and washed. Thanks, Joe.
2. Back porch washed and cleaned. Thanks, Joe.
3. Yard mowed, trimmed, and raked.
4. College visit to Miami (OH) University with Eliza. Had a great tour guide, learned a lot, impressed with the programs, many opportunities available for students, including an equestrian club so Eliza could ride again. A really good Mom and daughter day.
5. Samuel moving to Washington, DC today. Leaving Boone. Lots of tears on his part, my part, Petie's part.
6. Trying to sell ads for the Evergreen Arts & Humanities Series.
7. First tomatoes in from the garden, and man, are they puny!!
8. Great dahlias in bloom.
9. Feeling like the summer's moving way, way too fast.
10. Dinner with Sherm and Beth tonight.
11. Corgis and kitties adjusted to Rufus and his bumblings.
12. Won't be going to Miami....Will be going to Boone again in the next week of so.
13. Celebrating the life and love of Aunt Lib, who passed away last week.
14. In love with life...many, many blessings to count...
15. Knitting needles in action....see below....

SUMMER KNITS

1. Finished the handspun purple wool scarf I started in the winter. Color of photo not so good. A really warm, somewhat scratchy scarf that will be great over a turtleneck.

2. a delicate fan and feather patterned scarf, knitted with organic cotton thread. Color bad in photo...it's a pretty light, chartreuse green.

3. a diagonal patterned scarf (now completed) for Aunt Lera done in organic cotton. Color not good in photo...it's actually a beautiful periwinkle that will go beautifully with her white hair.

4. The color here is really off...this is a salmon-colored bouclé organic cotton that I'm knitting on different sized needles...A Farm Mom originial pattern...Prettier than it looks here.

5. a longer moss stitch with yarn over pattern knitted with an organic cotton / silk yarn. Soft and pretty...more of a teal than the photo shows.

When Joe comes to the farm, nice pottery comes along with him.

And, while the rest of us putz about doing our respective thing around The Farm, Rufus saws logs!! You gotta love those ears!

SUMMER 2009 UPDATE #3

2009-07-20T09:36:00.002-05:00

1. Garage cleaned

2. Basement cleaned

3. Tree that had fallen in back field cut up, wood gathered and stacked

4. Lots of good, fresh veggies gathered and cooked

5. Plans for the barn in the making

6. Lots of walks with Annie, Molly, Rufus, and cats

7. Lots of teenagers coming and going

8. Dahlias slowly blooming

9. Sammy getting ready to move to DC in a week

10. A couple new sculptures around the farm thanks to Joe

11. Moving my body a bit more

12. Moving into summer mode with a bit of work pressure brewing in the background...

SUMMER 2009 / FARM UPDATE #2

2009-07-13T20:45:00.005-05:00

I've noticed several of my blogging friends have written fewer posts during the summer, so I'm not feeling all that guilty. With gardens to tend, yards to mow, books to read, scarves to knit, trips to make, funerals to attend, moves to make, and visits with friends, time flies by...really flies by...

So, here's what's been happening here at The Farm...

1. Rufus and Joe and getting ready to move in and set up shop at The Farm. Rufus (seen below) just completed his 6th week on the planet and has already traveled across the country in Joe's truck as they made their move from Utah back to Marietta. In these photos, the farm basset hound seems a bit lethargic, but he was on the tail-end of getting his second parvo shot, and I think the medication made him a bit sore and sleepy.

2. The Shook / Michael family reunion took place on July 4th, and it was a huge success. Approximately 175 people came, and some folks saw each other for the first time in 50 years or more. It was an afternoon of good home cookin', warm embraces, and wonderful memories. All who attended voted to get together again in two years. (photos and a post devoted to the reunion will be up soon....)

3. A couple of dear friends have lost loved ones this past week. Diane Bosley's grandmother, Gracie, passed to the spirit world last Friday, and the celebration of her life brought back the love, family closeness, and sadness of Grandma Ruth's leaving the earthly plane. Stories from the funerals were quite similar, all centering around the love of family, the family dinner tradition, and spunky women who had seen the world change enormously over more than decades. Sweet, elegant, dignified, and salt of the earth women, Gracie and Ruth, will forever live in our lives and hearts.

4. Eliza has finished three weeks of an intensive Chinese class. Wan-nu-dze, as she became known to her teachers and peers, learned a heck of a lot and was the star of the class. It's not cool to show enthusiasm about learning Chinese, but I know she had a good time....I heard her telling someone it was "really neat."

5. Weeds abound...Dahlias are beginning to bloom...The tomatoes look puny....Volunteer dill's overtaking the garden...The roses are fragrant...Lilies are waning...Sunflowers are huge and happy. Collards, spinach, kale, lettuce and broccoli have been overrun with cabbage butterflies.

6. Skunk fragrance seems to be the vernal perfume of choice for the aging corgis...Chipmunks and mice fill feline bellies, except for the little gross parts the cats pass on and leave for me to step on outside the doors.

7. Samuel moves to DC in a couple of weeks. WOW...it's really happening...!

8. I'm not yet totally relaxed into summer, but I'm making headway....

Stay tuned....

SUMMER FARM UPDATE

2009-06-27T18:02:00.005-05:00

1. The fields are mowed and baled, and the yard's looking pretty good.

2. The hummingbirds are emptying the feeders faster than the Farm Mom can keep up with them.

3. SUPER GOOD NEWS! Samuel and Harrison now have a place to live in DC. Today, they found an apartment owned by a British guy named Peter and his wife, who's from Iran and works at the Iranian Embassy. Estimated moving date for Samuel and Harrison: August 1

4. Joe arrives at The Farm on July 17th.

5. The Matney Gathering (Shook/Michael reunion) is a week from today!

6. Zucchinis have started to come in, and the broccoli keeps on producing. The collards, kale, and other greens are getting munched by the cabbage butterflies and their wormy babies.

7. There're lots of flowers in bloom. This year's stars are the lilies....

8. All's well with the world here.....

WORTHLESS, "TRIFLIN." OR WHATEVER, I'VE HAD NO ENERGY TODAY

2009-06-22T16:42:00.002-05:00

There's something about funeral energy that takes the wind right out of my sails, and today, I've been about as worthless as tits on a boar hog. I haven't slept well since I got the call about Grandma's passing, and I also notice I don't recuperate from travel nearly as fast as I used to. So, today, I would give myself a zero (0) in terms of accomplishing much more than moving from the computer to the couch, staring into space, and making phone calls to family members to see they got home OK.

The physical exhaustion may even be surpassed by my mental fatigue. Molly and Annie may not have noted I fed them cat food, but the cats certainly let me know they weren't into the tasteless dog food that landed in their dishes. The hummingbirds looked a bit puzzled when they realized their food was colored water with no sugar added, and I'll see what effect the lemonade I poured (thinking it was a glass of water I had ready) has on the begonia outside my door.

It's not quite 6:00 PM, and I think I'm headed to bed.....Hopefully, I will have returned to life and some level of sense tomorrow.

SERVICES FROM GRANDMA

2009-06-20T06:13:00.002-05:00

I am late getting this post up on my blog, but arrangements for Grandma were made faster than I had anticipated, and I had to get everything together in Ohio to get down to Boone by last night...

Grandma's viewing was last evening (Friday)...She was beautiful in a pretty lavender suit and her pretty earrings. She certainly didn't look 107 years old!

The funeral is today (Saturday) at 2:00 PM at White Rock Baptist...Viewing will be from 1 - 2 at the church...Donald Smith will be part of the service as one of the preachers.

Those of us who had to travel had hoped the service would be Sunday, but we've all made it home and will be in Pigeon Roost today in her honor. For those who can't be there, know that you're with us in our hearts and our love of family has never been stronger.

From everyone who came to the viewing last night, it sounds like the family reunion is going to be huge....Please come if you can.....

Love to all....Tanya

GRANDMA'S TAKEN FLIGHT

2009-06-18T12:58:00.003-05:00

Her body finally gave way this morning, and as she has told all of us for many a year now, Grandma died, "right here in my chair." She'd had a restless night, and when my aunts got her up for the morning, it was evident she was struggling to breathe. Peacefully, she let go... right there in her chair....

Ten children, eight of whom still live...Around 30 grandchildren...Numerous great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren...a woman of great faith....the best biscuit and gravy maker in the world...as strong as the mountains that surrounded her all her life...had the prettiest dahlia gardens in all the mountains...loved her hummingbird feeders...possessed a dry humor and a cute little chuckle til the last day of her life...loved all her family through thick and thin....raised everything from a garden to baby groundhogs...when a neighbor was sick or died, folks called on Grandma for strength...spent days upon days on the ground in the mountains picking galax to sell for money to buy herself a few things...could squirt milk from the cow's udders straight into your mouth...never touched a drop of alcohol...

Other than my own mom, the most influential and loving woman in my life.....

BACK AT THE RANCH

2009-06-17T22:05:00.009-05:00

I've been away from The Farm for a week at the annual Reading of the AP Spanish Exam, held this year in Cincinnati. I return home after a week of intense work. Sitting with headsets for 8 hours a day while listening to hundreds of high school students respond to the same prompt has left me looking like Mom Conehead.

All in all, I think there were about 1,100 of us gathered in downtown Cincinnati. The Havana Nights Bar, appropriately located just a block away from our meeting area, enjoyed a tremendous surge in cash flow with the onslaught of latinos from all over the globe. The city hosted a salsa dancing night in the downtown plaza last Thursday, and the place was crawling with giddy, tipsy hispanohablantes (and others) who couldn't sit down for ten minutes as long the music played. Then on Monday, a huge group of us ordered a roasted suckling pig at an eccentric sort of place called Bootsy's and savored the really well-prepared little Ohio porcine in fine Cuban style.

Despite the work, it was really a fine week. All of us who've been a part of this reading for so long love the chance to be together once a year, especially on the ETS budget. The friendship and love run deep.... My roomate this year, Filippa Viola, was a really wonderful person and an inspiration for me in many ways...I couldn't have been luckier!

OHHHH, how could I forget? Tto top off the week, Richard Danford, my colleague at Marietta College, and I went to a Reds game last night (where we sat through one heck of a rainstorm, knowing all the while that the game would go on), and while he was gone for beer and peanuts, I caught a foul ball....How cool is that! I can't remember who hit it, but I know he was the second batter of the inning and he was latino....I'll post a photo of my "catch" in a later post...

Well, when I got home this afternoon, I immediately took to the tractor and began chopping away at the week's worth of overgrowth around here. I was zooming around the yard when I noticed we had a visitor....a smelly, ugly visitor....and I might add a grumpy visitor who didn't take kindly to the canine or feline welcoming committees. Yep, it's been perfect weather for one of our resident snapping turtles to venture up from the field to savor the moisture, mud, and puddles at the edge of the yard. I haven't seen a snapper up around the house in many a year, and I had forgotten just how ugly and prehistoric looking they are...I'll confess to annoying him a bit with a long stick. As if I had forgotten, it's true...they do snap, and they do hold on....

Here's a look at the smelly (but fascinating) guy. He was larger than he looks in these photos.

MAY WEEKEND

2009-05-31T09:40:00.003-05:00

Saturday:

1. Cleaned, somewhat, the house. Swept, vaccumed, cleaned my bathroom.
2. Mowed
3. Put a bench together.
4. Pulled a few weeds, put some Round Up on some nasty vines and poison ivy. (I publically confess to using chemicals on occasion).
5. Fixed a nice meal with garden broccoli, lettuce, and onions.
6. Fell asleep before my head hit the pillow.

Today:

1. Will put up the hummingbird feeders since the little boogers are hovering around my bedroom porch, telling me to hurry up.
2. Will plant some ferns.
3. Have to go to the grocery store.
4. Might watch a movie and knit a bit.

That's all folks!
__________

Sunday evening.....Scratch #3 and #4 above....
Add:

1. Raked the mown grass and mulched one of my flower gardens with it.
2. Weeded the veggie garden.
3. Moved a couple of roses to a better growing site.
4. Began the dog's annual shed brushing

PHOTOS FROM GRANDMA'S HOUSE

2009-05-26T19:38:00.009-05:00

There are always flowers at Grandma's in the spring and summer. Until just a few years ago, the lane from the road down to her house was lined every year with dahlias and gladiolas. When I was a little girl, she had beautiful morning glory vines growing up the back side of the house, and my cousins and I used to catch bumblebees that came to gather nectar in them with clothespins.

Grandma's flowers always bring her great pleasure, and now that she can't attend to them anymore, some family members bring her baskets to adorn the porch; however, the old irises, hydrangeas, lilies, and wild flowers she put in the ground years ago still bloom, and in them, so does her soul blossom for all of us.

Porch flowers....a gift from my cousin, Bill, and his wife, Sylvia

Grandma's rhodendron from an old bush that's been in the yard as long as I can remember

Irises Grandma moved 50 years ago to the "new house" from the old homeplace. I think these irises came from her mother's flowers

A lichen bundle that reminded me of sea creatures with their tentacles

The creek bank in Grandma's back yard

Old fashioned hydrangeas - The snow ball bush, as she called it

The old wood stove that came from the old house to the new one and remained in the kitchen for a long time before she got an electric stove

Jars of vegetables, juices, fruits, and jellies Grandma canned years ago still sit on the shelves in the basement