May Day prep

You fill in the blanks.

In time for May day

Lights are on. Refrigerator is running. Ram pump is (quietly) pumping. May pole is erected. Hound dog is snoring. It's good.

Operation Creepy Clown...

...is under way. About two or three weeks ago I had a little incident I like to call "some D-Bag tried to poach a turkey way too close to my house early in the morning in very foggy conditions." The said incident involved the blast of an unknown intruder's shotgun, some yelling out by me, and finally 2 warning shots by me above the tree line. I decided that not only do I not like the idea of people creeping around here in the dawn hours in the fog- I also dislike someone firing a gun around here in the fog. However, the D-Bag did not step out and show his or her face when I yelled "Who's there?" twice. Some poachers make a habit of disregarding the law and private property and such. I did go out and get a bunch of official NO TRESPASSING signs that I wrote my name and address on, and I plan to register one of them at the County Register of Deeds so it will be on public record (such is the silly law if you ever want to get someone fined for romping around armed on your territory.) However, I wondered whether my signs would do a lick of good to turn a would-be creeper away. I decided I needed some next level shit. Hence, Operation Creepy Clown was born. Operation Creepy Clown involves attaching clown dolls and/or human wigs to the trees with the NO TRESPASSING signs. If you came across a creepy clown dangling from a tree in the woods with a freshy new NO TRESPASSING sign, would you maybe turn back around and go home and pray to Jesus? Yeah, me too.

The wigs will be attached with arrows.

Harbinger

Today was a perfect harbinger of the season. The morning was mostly clear and pleasant, the greens of April brilliant and inviting, but at times borderline overwhelming. Afternoon brought intermittent showers, with brilliant light displays in between. Dark, then moments of bright, rain, stop, rain, stop. By tonight it is cool enough for a quick little pre-bed fire in the wood stove to take the cool edge off and settle into the comfort of shelter. During one of the evening breaks in rain, I ventured out for a short walk up the driveway, to strectch the legs and deeply breathe the fresh musk of the wet woods. I paused to marvel at the glory of the flame azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum) that hangs off the mountain at the bottom of the driveway, announcing the crossroads with its fiery vernal expression. Beneath the azalea like some cool hidden treasure grew a stand of maidenhair ferns (Adiantum pedatum), feminine and delicate in their form, but surprisingly bold nonetheless. It is easy to worship nature this time of year.

A few minutes later, walking back home before the eminent next shower, I rounded the last corner to home to the sweet, bubbly song of a blue grey gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea), not the high pitched sssss, sssss that they do, but rather a complicated little riff of melody. I wouldn't have known who was singing but that I saw him right there at eye level, in the top of a spicebush growing on a lower bank. I always find that it is lovely to take a little break and walk a bit wherever I am, to see the sights and commune with the season at hand.

Epic

I took a hot shower in my own house. It was just this side of scalding. I stayed in a really long time. I used a lot of soap and made up for lost time. There is a reason I did not take a bath. That will be tomorrow. I will also do some dishes. And such.

Three Generations Sunning on the Deck

My bloodline. My rag rug. My hound dog. My house. Life can be pretty flippin' sweet.

Herb Room

This is a crappy picture taken from my cheapo phone, but here is a shot of my new herb room, clean and ready for action. Photo does not show lovely wooden cabinet and shelf unit on the right. May years of good things happen in here.

Stay tuned

Dear readers,
My posts have been rather sparse this spring, on account of many factors, one of which is with the warm weather and much to do in the garden/ farm realm, I have found it more difficult to make time to go to a place where I can do internet work. However, I will be getting a phone line and internet this week, if all goes as planned (and we all know that is a funny thought). I will be able to do my blogging from my new home back up in the cove at convenient hours, like before dawn or after dark. I must say, I have rather enjoyed my honeymoon period on the land without the modern conveniences of internet or running water. It has given me a chance to be more present with life there, and the bold and subtle nuances of the seasons and such. I have had my cell phone, which I have overused, but it has been mostly refreshing to be internet free these past 7 months or so.
Please keep reading, as I plan to continue this blog and hope to be more regular with the posts.

Yours truly,
A strange candidate for blogging