An Almanac of Morrow County

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Today at Iten's Acres: A Fall Precursor August 6, 2015

It's a fallish day at The Acres. Cool. Breezy. Gray clouds, to this point, keeping the sun at bay. The birds are active. The goldfinch must be beginning to nest. They are everywhere filling The Acres with flashes of gold and black. On the ground, crowded on the thistle feeders, flitting over the meadow and in and out of the trees, bobbing on the sunflowers as they strip them clean. Even a flock of geese came v-ing overhead, noisy as ever. Honking loudly at who knows what since they were the only "traffic," The breeze wafts the aroma of the phlox everywhere. Who knew pink could smell so exquisitely. It's a pink time of year, I guess, since the "magic lilies" are up in clusters around the house. Even a "late" oriental lily bloomed just this week--pink. Is pink contagious? But it is just a precursor of autumn. The leaves have not yet started to turn. The wild area is not yet abloom with its tri-color flag--white heath asters, golden rod of various shapes, purple, and yes, pink New England asters. But it's a nice "hint" at what's coming. A lovely day. But then, really, aren't they all when you know the Master Creator of such beauty--given to us to enjoy?

Monday, August 3, 2015

Today at Iten's Acres: Lunch at the Hibiscus Cafe--a Flashback August 3, 2015

Last anniversary photograph: my favorite from my years at The Acres. Taken August, 2013

I call it "Lunch at the Hibiscus Cafe"

Today at Iten's Acres: Battlestations August 3, 2015

It was the afternoon of the first big hunt. There had been several small skirmishes in previous days, but . . . The old soldier had noticed a decided increase in the enemy's concentration of forces in several areas. It was time for battle! He put on his armor saving the donning of the hat of intimidation until the very last. Who or what can stand before a World Champions St. Louis Cardinal hat? Exactly. Taking his trusty red death spray Sevin in his gnarled hand, he went forth to battle. Unafraid, unintimidated, dare I say, angry, perhaps even a little gleeful, starting at the hibiscus rows and then on to other well-known enemy hideouts, he attacked. ZZZZZZTTTT. ZZZZZZTTTT. Heh, heh. Die you vermin. The old warrior's only regret is that he can't hear their little Japanese beetle death wails. Death to the invaders! Death to the flower eaters and plant destroyers! The Battle for Iten's Acres 2015 has begun. And the enemy will soon be buzzing off--permanently. Heh, heh, heh.