Thursday, November 28, 2019

The Loss of a Landmark at The Acres

Yesterday's wind was ferocious. As I worked outside in it, it nearly blew me over--no exaggeration. I know I'm old and unsteady, but still. Yet, its real victim yesterday at The Acres was the Sentinel. The guardian of the pond is no more. I knew it was inevitable. I could see through it. And yesterday--the winds completed the dismantling. It will be missed.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Duck Hunting

I went duck hunting today. I had been everywhere with nary a sighting. Got close last night, but the guy at Meyers said they had just sold their last one. But . . . He also told me that he had seen some at Aldis where he does his shopping. (Don't tell Meyers) This morning, off the Aldis I went. Success! They had a whole flock of them.
I also got to travel the backroads to get there. Took County Road 24 backwards again. Perspective is everything. Drive all roads in both directions--backroads anyway. So much to miss if you just see it from one vantage point. And this is the best time of year to wander. All the leaves are down, and you can see forever. I have to be careful that I don't just spend the entire day meandering. I could see the river/stream in the hollow. Old barns came out of hiding. Old empty houses as well--wouldn't I love to explore both of those. An ancient cemetery I had never seen before. It would be great to walk the "aisles" and say their names again out loud to the world they new and walked in. "Do you remember them, oak tree? Sycamore trees by the stream? Stones in the flowing water?
So much of life surrounds us, and we get so busy with the nonsense of the present tense that we forget the history of the small and ordinary places and the people who walked there. Thankful that I have been blessed with being a part of the history of Iten's Acres. I wonder if the history of this place is recorded at Home. Wouldn't that be marvelous?! Love those backroads. And having a successful duck hunt.  Now I know where to go to find my celebration birds.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Wonders

Day 14:
"In everything give thanks for this is the will of God . . ."
The nine days of Thanksgiving break have begun. Early this morning a small herd of deer came meandering through The Acres. They took the exact same path as Tom, Mom and the Seven Young Turks took all summer into fall. Slip out of the trees near the driveway up near the cave. But stay just on the edge. Move quietly across the driveway past the hickories, swing through the side yard, and slide through the trees into the meadow. Is there some kind of invisible animal "road signs" that I can't see. "Come out here from the woods." "Linger and munch for awhile but stay close to the shelter of the trees." "Cross here by the hickories. Turn left past the blackberry bush." "Enter the meadow here." Strange--but fascinating.
Nature in cahoots?
And why is it the goldfish in the pond love a thin layer of ice on the surface. When that happens "word" must get around quickly because up they come by the hundreds. They just float there under the ice--beautiful but content. Why is an ice roof so valued?
And when I feed my feathered friends in the morning, there is a natural pecking order. A few minutes of bird chatter--blue jays must be in charge of the megaphones. Then, first and always first are the hit-and-run feeders--chickadees, titmouse, nuthatches. No one else stops by and settles in until they have first made their incursions multiple times. Are they the scouts of the bird world? Do their tactics make them safer than the other birds--draw out any predators that are in the area but too slow to nab them as they flit in and quickly out again?
I do not know how it all works. But it is fascinating and beautiful. Follow your paths and road signs creatures. Bask in your cold tub of ice. Send in the scouts. Ah, the beauty of the earth and its creatures spoken into existence by the God of Creation who cares for them all. And the old man watching them!

Thursday, November 14, 2019

A Year of Beauty

A Year of Beauty

"In everything give thanks for this is the will of God . . .
January: A lovely snow to track through under a clear blue sky. Amazing, all the creatures that were out and about the night before--tracks everywhere.
February: the first crocus peaking through a light snow--purple-blues, pale yellows, and bright yellows. The first "surprises" of the blooming season.
March--Daffodil time--thousands of blooms all over The Acres--up front, on the edge of the bog, surrounding the pond, behind the cave, everywhere in the Meadow and Wild Area. Whites, yellows, pinks, reds, even orange--they love to dance in the country breeze.
April--Hyacinths--bright colors and a beautiful scent to add to The Acres. Love the deep purples and bright yellows. Hundreds of little bluish grape hyacinth everywhere. And bleeding hearts filling up the shady area with glorious reds and pinks--even a
May--Iris time! My favorite time of the year--such matchless beauty. Every color imaginable. Dwarves, mid-size--tall and lustrous. Some will re-bloom in the fall.
June: Here come the day lilies--one day of beauty at a time. The Asian/Oriental lilies bloom as well--bright colors that last for weeks.
July: By this time the Rose of Sharon and hibiscus have made their appearances--from pure white to dark red. Huge flowers--hummingbird magnets.
August: Here come the phlox--everywhere! The Acres smells like a perfume counter at the store. Bumble bees get intoxicated on the phlox.
September: This is highlight time for The Wild Area. Flowers everywhere especially the asters and goldenrod. Waves of white, purples, and yellows. An ocean of color.
October: By this time the annuals are reaching their peak. They've been slowly sneaking up on the annuals and now is their time to shine! And shine they do until frost.
November: It depends on how soon the frost comes. Leaves turn. The goldfish return to the surface for a daily swim. Some flowers will last until frost. The monkshood waits until now to bloom. A final burst of deep bluepurple.
December: Winter is here. A landscape of black and white beautifies The Acres with touches of the green pines and spruce. God always seems to lay down a blanket of white before the really cold days.
I am thankful for life at The Acres. Color everywhere all year round. Daily strolls of beauty. Thank you, Lord. Your creativity is evident in every area--shade, sun, rain, snow, the bog, the dry Wild Area, the pond itself. Nothing escapes Your paintbrush.
(And this is just a commentary on the major bloomers each month. There is much more!)
"In everything give thanks for this is the will of God . . .

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

November Beauty

"In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord."
Thankful for the beauty of The Acres in November
Standing by the pond as the day dies watching hundreds of goldfish paint streaks of orange on the surface of the black pond.
Laughing at the calico cat as she thinks she is successfully hiding under The Last Ride. Orange and white is not exactly good camouflage against the backdrop of a black car.
Sitting in awe as the first wet snow of November crystalizes on the branches.
Creeping down the driveway in the early morning darkness under a canopy of ice covered limbs leaning over the path.
Being entertained by Homesteader's fascination with all the feathered-friends feeding on the patio.
Amazed by a baker's dozen of male cardinals ornamenting the brush by the house. Who needs a Christmas tree?
Slowing meandering through the Meadow and along the paths in the Wild Area--brisk breeze, birds flitting through the tall grass and briers, blue spruce adding their deep winter color to the browns and blacks, the red leaves of the blueberry bushes and oak trees and burning bushes competing with the sun at twilight.
"In everything give thanks for this is the will of God. . ."