Posts

Midsummer

Image
  The summer solstice occurred a few days ago on June 20th, but it was recorded as June 24th by the old Julian calendar. The comments below pertain to Northern Hemisphere dates. The event originated in Sweden during the Stone Age as a pagan holiday with rituals for successful harvest and fertility. The day is the midpoint of the growing season, between planting and harvest. Celebrations include festivals with picnic feasts, dancing around a maypole, decorations of garlands and greenery. At Stonehenge, folks gather to watch the sun peak between the famous rocks. Some cultures consider it one of the four “Quarter Days,” i.e., the Solstice and Equinox dates. The traditional celebrations are Lady Day (Feast of the Annunciation/Ostara), Midsummer (Lithia), Michaelmas (Mabon), and Christmas (Yule). These quarter days were when servants were hired, school terms began, and rents were due. In addition all accounts must be settled to ensure no lingering debts or lawsuits. The Cross-Quarter days
Post a Comment
Read more

The Battle Begins...

Image
Last week, I regaled you with tales of my nascent garden, but the battle of gardener vs. pest has already begun. This morning, I went to my potato boxes to add more fill soil around the growing plants. Yikes! Something ate the leaves off of three-quarters of the plants. A neighbor suggested perhaps rabbits were the culprits, but unless the hares have stilts, that’s unlikely since the top of the boxes are waist high. The most likely varmint was a deer.  A single deer can eat up to ten pounds of plants each day . The area is now barricaded with some old cucumber trellises. And the eaters were not picky. They also polished off a pot of petunias and coleus, either as hors d’oeuvres or dessert. So far, my make-do fencing has protected the tomatoes and peppers. Stay tuned. Chicken Wire cages stand guard over the squash, cucumber, bean, and melon beds. Nearby, another neighbor has kicked his plant protection up a notch: his gorgeous, productive garden is surrounded by two layers of defense. F
Post a Comment
Read more

Garden 2024

Image
  Greetings: I’m in fresh (actually not so fresh LOL) from a day in the garden. The 2024 garden got a slow start. First, there was a delay due to orthopedic surgery recovery and general immobility. Thankfully, we have a long growing season in North Carolina. I don’t know if you recall my lovely elevated raised beds from previous gardening tales. They were 2018 vintage and sadly gave up the ghost. Breaking them down and carting them away was a major project that needed to be accomplished prior to installing new beds. There were four 3'x6' beds and three 3'x3' beds, which contained a total of ~ 50 cubic feet of soil. All had to be scooped out (and raked to another spot). Then, the rotted beds had to be broken apart and discarded. Multiple excursions to a West Jefferson farm supply store were necessary to haul home forty-eight 1.5 cu ft bags of Daddy Pete’s Raised Bed Soil. Unfortunately, the guys wouldn’t come home to help unload the heavy bags. The photo above only conta
Post a Comment
Read more

Thesaurus

Image
  Ironic comment that embodies the word’s exact meaning: a synonym dictionary. While the word conjures up images of prehistoric beings, in reality, its definition is more recent. The word comes from Greek  θησαυρός  and literally means treasure, treasury, or storehouse. As an Author I employ a thesaurus regularly to sharpen my pencil: to clarify… and amplify. Do you struggle to find the exact word to describe the item, action or emotion you’re trying to convey? If so, a thesaurus may be the ticket to your destination. You can follow the Author on her  Website  or  X  (formerly Twitter).
Post a Comment
Read more

Memorials

Image
Traditionally, Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday of May. Today, Memorial Day, 2024, we honor United States military members who died in service to our country, at home and abroad. At 3:00 PM local time, a national moment of remembrance occurs. The date is a solemn time to pay respects and reflect on the soldiers’ ultimate sacrifice. Do you have a loved one who lost their life in armed forces action? What traditions do you and your family follow in deference to their death? You can follow the Author on her  Website  or  X  (formerly Twitter).
Post a Comment
Read more

NASCAR All-Star Race

Image
This past weekend, the NASCAR All-Star Races were held at the North Wilkesboro Speedway (NWS). The racetrack reopened in August 2022 after a 25-year hiatus (broken only by a one-and-done race in 2010). After a grand reopening race in 2023, the speedway tradition continues. NWS, a paved oval short track (0.625 miles), held its inaugural racing season in 1947. The track roots hail from moonshine runners. During the Prohibition Era, North Wilkesboro was the unofficial “Moonshine Capital of the World.” Local good old boy Junior Johnson, was profiled in  Esquire  for his role in the bootleg trade, which evolved from driving his daddy’s “shine” to eager customers. Junior was a pro at evading the Alcohol Tax agents from “boro to boro” and “ville to ville” on the switchback mountain roads, roaring over ridges, and chasing through clay cuts. This daring reprobate starred in a decade of stock-car racing from 1955 to 1966 with a record of 50 victories, 11 at major speedways. He was the “winninges
Post a Comment
Read more

Cacophony

Image
  A home owner’s tale: essential repairs on a twenty-year-old cabin. Today, our lives are interrupted by the rhythm of laborers and our dogs’ reaction to unfamiliar people and sounds. A rotting porch landing that needs to be replaced, necessitating crowbars, wood saws, and hammers. The canine response is sharp and continual: barks alternating with low growls. A chorus of two guard dogs (the above video is not our doodle but accurately represents the chaos). On the opposite side of the house, a recent deck railing has completed the requisite aging and is ready for stain. First, a touch-up sanding: a mayhem of machine and menace. The remainder of the task is a quiet one, only the soft bristle of a brush, but our labradoodle still paces and barks at the man, moving silently back and forth outside his windows. Finally, the workers are done for the day. The quiet is overwhelming! What disrupts your daily life? Is it construction, wild weather, neighbors, and/or pets? You can follow the Auth
Post a Comment
Read more