Each morning around six, Daisy and I go for a walk. I get my sleepy body moving by the time the coffee pot has one large cup of coffee made and off we go to the nearby Chehalis trail.
Daisy leads with her nose and I follow with my eyes. We relate to the world by different senses. This blacktopped trail is about as wide as generous car lane near my house as it cuts though what remains of an old lumbering forest. A few of the fir that missed the two attempts of clear cutting still stand but closer to the lane are the younger trees of the last thirty years. The underbrush is cleared for four feet on each side and all the limbs of the trees are cut up to ten feet as respect to the fast moving bikers that use the trail during the week.
Each day I find new things I missed before. The foxglove and daisy flowers are in bloom now but today I notice two little patches of wild sweet peas. This flower reminds me of the 25 years of living in Door County, Wisconsin where wild sweet peas and Queen Anne's Lace were the stamp of color for summer.
The Himalaya blackberries blooms are white, five pedals and about the size of a large California strawberry. They cover openings on the landscape where sunlight warms them during the middle of the day. My favorite patch maybe replaced by two new areas I have found that I will not have to share with so many trail walkers.
The crows usually announces us at the start of our walk and the small birds relay the message of a dog in the area as we continue the walk along the path. The sight of a rabbit kill during the night is found at less one a week as they must be the bottom of the food chain for many of the animals in this forest. I have heard the coyotes during the night and elk in the very early morning hours. They have never shared the path with Daisy and me but I have heard of sightings from others in the neighborhood.
Modern peoples believe only humans have souls but most indigenous peoples around the world believed that animal, plants and even rocks have souls. I assume that the different could be that modern day people spend so little time in nature that they have lost the ability to sense the spirits that are in the natural world. While walking in the morning, I feel a peacefulness and a relate to my surroundings in a manner that we are one, this leads me to believe earlier people may have had more knowledge than I do. The opportunity to live this part of my life in such a comfortable place is truly a blessing.
These early morning walks remind me what the author of the book AGING WITH GRACE writes. In our twenties we spend all our energies finding out about who we are, how we will fit in and who will love us. In our middle years we identify with our careers, our possessions and achievements. Finally in our third period of life we take what we have learn and see the wisdom of it all.
Now with more time to think and sense my world, I see more and complete the meaning of events. These walks are sorting the wisdom for me.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Sunday, June 7, 2009
strawberries
I had three strawberries in secret this week. There were as sweet as the sun can make them. My yard is fulled with strawberry patches because of my changing design of where these plants belong.
Five years ago the home for my three varieties were in the round circles at the base of each fruit tree in the orchard. There was also a bed along the back fence under the espalier fruit trees. This bed of 50 feet in length and about three feet wide created a summer feast for berry pickers like my grandchildren and John and me. I was told from the beginning to get the early June bloomer and the other two types I long forgotten the names but the produced slowly all season.
After a couple years the beds needed some major weeding and I pulled up the bigger plants and divided, pulled off the daughters and found I have more extras than I knew where to put but I managed to stick them into between around the yard for safe keeping. These like patches of course never got moved and now I have patches of strawberries everywhere.
Two years ago, I heard about a special french strawberry and I researched it. Only one place in California offers it for sale and it is really for high end commercial growers. I ordered it for our fruit club and got 20 plants for myself. Mara des Bois is a berry that is available though White Flower Farm but they charge nine dollar a plant! These berries are bloom until the October light is so low and the sun offers no heat anymore, they are the largest and the sweetest of any of my berries. Friends exchange the daughters for valued plant material, they are so prized. I finally decided on the wandering of my strawberries that this one should have a place of honor and be put in a raised bed in the vegetable garden. They were moved to the new home last fall.
In the meantime, the bed along the back fence has totally been moved to the west fence a year ago. The orchard strawberries are now residing along with the roses near the clothe line. I did all these changes because fruit club members told me that my berries were taking the water and nutrients from the fruit trees. My design was not that healthy. The wandering daughters of my strawberries are all over the backyard. At the moment, I must have a thousand blooms or berries forming in this yard.
Last week, I heard in a workshop chickens like the color red best. Five chickens in five minutes could eat a week supply of red berries, I imagine.
I have become a guard now along with the water person, the weeder and the eater.
Five years ago the home for my three varieties were in the round circles at the base of each fruit tree in the orchard. There was also a bed along the back fence under the espalier fruit trees. This bed of 50 feet in length and about three feet wide created a summer feast for berry pickers like my grandchildren and John and me. I was told from the beginning to get the early June bloomer and the other two types I long forgotten the names but the produced slowly all season.
After a couple years the beds needed some major weeding and I pulled up the bigger plants and divided, pulled off the daughters and found I have more extras than I knew where to put but I managed to stick them into between around the yard for safe keeping. These like patches of course never got moved and now I have patches of strawberries everywhere.
Two years ago, I heard about a special french strawberry and I researched it. Only one place in California offers it for sale and it is really for high end commercial growers. I ordered it for our fruit club and got 20 plants for myself. Mara des Bois is a berry that is available though White Flower Farm but they charge nine dollar a plant! These berries are bloom until the October light is so low and the sun offers no heat anymore, they are the largest and the sweetest of any of my berries. Friends exchange the daughters for valued plant material, they are so prized. I finally decided on the wandering of my strawberries that this one should have a place of honor and be put in a raised bed in the vegetable garden. They were moved to the new home last fall.
In the meantime, the bed along the back fence has totally been moved to the west fence a year ago. The orchard strawberries are now residing along with the roses near the clothe line. I did all these changes because fruit club members told me that my berries were taking the water and nutrients from the fruit trees. My design was not that healthy. The wandering daughters of my strawberries are all over the backyard. At the moment, I must have a thousand blooms or berries forming in this yard.
Last week, I heard in a workshop chickens like the color red best. Five chickens in five minutes could eat a week supply of red berries, I imagine.
I have become a guard now along with the water person, the weeder and the eater.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Caretaker
Watching D-Day anniversary events on t.v. reminds me of my trip to the grounds 15 years ago. It is impossible to be there and not be awed by the bravery of all the young men that invaded Normandy that day. The view out to sea and the beauty of the uniformity of all the markers made everyone in our group fall to silence. That silence stayed with for a long period of time after we left and headed back to our hotel for the evening. There are spot on this planet, that hold history that is so large, that all following generations understand the importance.
I have decided that a good way to cope with John's Alzheimer is to start writing a daily log of the craziness. It will give me a place to unload the events and start fresh and hopefully make me a better caretaker. Some days it is with us and some days it almost doesn't exist.
Yesterday, a more than nutty day. In mid afternoon, John walked around the yard with Ahman and me and repeatedly wanted to know what happened to the broom that is normally in the garden shed. Because losing items is a daily theme I usually ignore these conversations or answer with something like, "It's around, no one would steal our broom.". An hour later he happily reported he found the broom in the garden shed. In the meantime, I put garden soil, some sand and some fertilizer in the wheel barrow. John helped me mix the three and broke up the lumps with the back of the shovel. I stopped at 2:35 and Ahman and I left to go pick up Mira at school.
I got back home and my wheel barrow was missing. John had dumped the mixture in the back of our fence as waste. I took the wheel barrow and loaded up the dirty again, found most of it usable. In the meantime, the children wanted a snack after viewing the chickens for a few minutes. It was decided that the egg salad sandwiches and milk would be a picnic and they would eat them outside. John is always amazed at how much children can eat and have a conversation about didn't they get lunch today. These food conversations are from this mother's mouth because I heard similar ones from her. I assure John that children eat every two hours. Of course, he then feels it is OK and he is apologetic about sounding petty. All the while he is sure that Shuchi is pick up the children at 3:30 because she had done that on Wednesday. I am repeatedly explaining that this is Friday and we are back to the normal schedule.
I taught the children how to identify diseased leaves on my drawf orchard trees and ask them to help me pick the bad ones off. It must be the heat of last week but there were numerous coddle moth nests and apple maggots infectations everywhere. After a period time and much wonder in finding the correct ones to remove, all which were put in the chicken coop for the chickens to eat, it was time for watering the trees. Nothing interests children more than a garden hose.
I can tell that John is still upset with himself about throwing out my mixed soil and he is edgy now about everything. Watching the children about the water is now his concern. I suggest that is time to walk Daisy and then he should fix us a glass of wine. It is five o'clock.
Sitting there on the little patio near the chicken coop, watch the children with the hose moving tree to tree, Daisy laying near us, I said, to John, "How is it that at our age we are in charge of two children, five chickens and one dog?" He said, "Well, do you think it's too much?"
"No, we could sit in a condo, eat out and get bored like some retired people. I will choice this over that life."
I have decided that a good way to cope with John's Alzheimer is to start writing a daily log of the craziness. It will give me a place to unload the events and start fresh and hopefully make me a better caretaker. Some days it is with us and some days it almost doesn't exist.
Yesterday, a more than nutty day. In mid afternoon, John walked around the yard with Ahman and me and repeatedly wanted to know what happened to the broom that is normally in the garden shed. Because losing items is a daily theme I usually ignore these conversations or answer with something like, "It's around, no one would steal our broom.". An hour later he happily reported he found the broom in the garden shed. In the meantime, I put garden soil, some sand and some fertilizer in the wheel barrow. John helped me mix the three and broke up the lumps with the back of the shovel. I stopped at 2:35 and Ahman and I left to go pick up Mira at school.
I got back home and my wheel barrow was missing. John had dumped the mixture in the back of our fence as waste. I took the wheel barrow and loaded up the dirty again, found most of it usable. In the meantime, the children wanted a snack after viewing the chickens for a few minutes. It was decided that the egg salad sandwiches and milk would be a picnic and they would eat them outside. John is always amazed at how much children can eat and have a conversation about didn't they get lunch today. These food conversations are from this mother's mouth because I heard similar ones from her. I assure John that children eat every two hours. Of course, he then feels it is OK and he is apologetic about sounding petty. All the while he is sure that Shuchi is pick up the children at 3:30 because she had done that on Wednesday. I am repeatedly explaining that this is Friday and we are back to the normal schedule.
I taught the children how to identify diseased leaves on my drawf orchard trees and ask them to help me pick the bad ones off. It must be the heat of last week but there were numerous coddle moth nests and apple maggots infectations everywhere. After a period time and much wonder in finding the correct ones to remove, all which were put in the chicken coop for the chickens to eat, it was time for watering the trees. Nothing interests children more than a garden hose.
I can tell that John is still upset with himself about throwing out my mixed soil and he is edgy now about everything. Watching the children about the water is now his concern. I suggest that is time to walk Daisy and then he should fix us a glass of wine. It is five o'clock.
Sitting there on the little patio near the chicken coop, watch the children with the hose moving tree to tree, Daisy laying near us, I said, to John, "How is it that at our age we are in charge of two children, five chickens and one dog?" He said, "Well, do you think it's too much?"
"No, we could sit in a condo, eat out and get bored like some retired people. I will choice this over that life."
Friday, June 5, 2009
living in the right time to explore
I realize, what a fortunate time, I have been living in after reading Jeff Rubin new book WHY YOUR WORLD IS ABOUT TO GET A WHOLE LOT SMALLER. So much changed in my generation for the better. Now it seems, many of these things are coming to an end. This book discusses energy in a detailed manner by an expert in the field.
I will explain why I feel very lucky to have been born in 1943.
When I started college in 1961 it cost $97 for tuition and books at a state school in Wisconsin. My room cost around $250 a semester. These facts are important because my family was poor but viewed as average income family during my years of growing up. It is a fact that if you have the ambition to go to college, the opportunity was there for about anyone. My generation of women were probably the last one to think in terms of becoming a teacher, a nurse or working in an office. We all thought it was a natural path that after marriage we would most likely stay home and for a number of years raising our children.
Three major social events during the sixties changed the United States for my generation. The first was the war in Vietnam. The draft affected every neighborhood in American. Families were watching television seeing the war daily in their homes in a places few could find on a map. The movies had made war romantic or heroic but the tragedy of this war was playing daily for us to view, put that notion to death. People were shocked at the killing from the air, seeing children and women mixed in the middle of the fighting and the young faces of our soldiers. Questioning the sense of the politics of the war started to be expressed first on college campuses and then a few brave media people and then a movement started to question the authority of our government. Well, we know the history of this one.
On a parallel track the slow train of recognizing black people as full citizens in the United States was coming to ahead. A few court cases, a new outspoken leader name Martin Luther King and the restless of this nation was in the streets again covered for the first time daily on television for all to see. This movement divided people, tore towns apart and was painful death of an old lifestyle that the South and large Northern cities had known for all the history of our country. It open up discussions for all of us to understand our guiding religious views, how had our church leaders ignored this for centuries? How could they have got this so wrong for so long, was the question.
The third event in the sixties that changed our society was the birth control pill. For the first time it was not the fate of woman to follow the historical path of human race and take nature in its fullest or stay celibate. Woman had the physical freedoms that males had experienced for all of history, being married did not necessarily mean you devoted your life to young members of the family giving up all personal ambitions. Women had choices and had to figure this out.
These events affected all of us in this country and they rapidly changed out society. Living in the richest country in the world with opportunity unknown before for women was not a conscious, big shift. The change happened slowly, personally as each woman figured out her place.
Results are in for me. I had many short careers, all interesting to me. I have traveled 30 years around the world viewing places I was curious to see and or cultures to understand. Tasted food, had conversations with strangers that touched my life, and developed a conviction along the way that guides me was the result. All along being parent to two wonderful children.
After reading this book, I do believe that type of travel will probably not be available for my grandchildren. The cost of energy for jet planes will end it as the book clearly explains. The world will go back the old way that only the leisure class will travel. Other energies will be developed for many of our daily needs but flying is particularly expensive and unique. The book also suggested that we will become local in the manner of my childhood where vacation was spent nearby at a lake or resort. The way it was done, except for the jet flying period, for generations.
The other part that will return to my parents' generation will be the issue of food. Salmon from Alaska or the Atlantic, avocado from California and mango from Chile and blueberries from Maine will be for special occasions. Locally grown food will become the daily diet. People will grow gardens and probably live healthier. Cost of transportation will end cheap food.
One other foot note to the week. Afghanistan has played a key role in the history of the world. Before the fall of empires, that of China, England and Russia, they invaded the far off country. None of the countries ever ruled Afghanistan and all the countries faded from power shortly after. History books are sometimes not read.
I was born at just the right time to explore my world. I am very lucky.
I will explain why I feel very lucky to have been born in 1943.
When I started college in 1961 it cost $97 for tuition and books at a state school in Wisconsin. My room cost around $250 a semester. These facts are important because my family was poor but viewed as average income family during my years of growing up. It is a fact that if you have the ambition to go to college, the opportunity was there for about anyone. My generation of women were probably the last one to think in terms of becoming a teacher, a nurse or working in an office. We all thought it was a natural path that after marriage we would most likely stay home and for a number of years raising our children.
Three major social events during the sixties changed the United States for my generation. The first was the war in Vietnam. The draft affected every neighborhood in American. Families were watching television seeing the war daily in their homes in a places few could find on a map. The movies had made war romantic or heroic but the tragedy of this war was playing daily for us to view, put that notion to death. People were shocked at the killing from the air, seeing children and women mixed in the middle of the fighting and the young faces of our soldiers. Questioning the sense of the politics of the war started to be expressed first on college campuses and then a few brave media people and then a movement started to question the authority of our government. Well, we know the history of this one.
On a parallel track the slow train of recognizing black people as full citizens in the United States was coming to ahead. A few court cases, a new outspoken leader name Martin Luther King and the restless of this nation was in the streets again covered for the first time daily on television for all to see. This movement divided people, tore towns apart and was painful death of an old lifestyle that the South and large Northern cities had known for all the history of our country. It open up discussions for all of us to understand our guiding religious views, how had our church leaders ignored this for centuries? How could they have got this so wrong for so long, was the question.
The third event in the sixties that changed our society was the birth control pill. For the first time it was not the fate of woman to follow the historical path of human race and take nature in its fullest or stay celibate. Woman had the physical freedoms that males had experienced for all of history, being married did not necessarily mean you devoted your life to young members of the family giving up all personal ambitions. Women had choices and had to figure this out.
These events affected all of us in this country and they rapidly changed out society. Living in the richest country in the world with opportunity unknown before for women was not a conscious, big shift. The change happened slowly, personally as each woman figured out her place.
Results are in for me. I had many short careers, all interesting to me. I have traveled 30 years around the world viewing places I was curious to see and or cultures to understand. Tasted food, had conversations with strangers that touched my life, and developed a conviction along the way that guides me was the result. All along being parent to two wonderful children.
After reading this book, I do believe that type of travel will probably not be available for my grandchildren. The cost of energy for jet planes will end it as the book clearly explains. The world will go back the old way that only the leisure class will travel. Other energies will be developed for many of our daily needs but flying is particularly expensive and unique. The book also suggested that we will become local in the manner of my childhood where vacation was spent nearby at a lake or resort. The way it was done, except for the jet flying period, for generations.
The other part that will return to my parents' generation will be the issue of food. Salmon from Alaska or the Atlantic, avocado from California and mango from Chile and blueberries from Maine will be for special occasions. Locally grown food will become the daily diet. People will grow gardens and probably live healthier. Cost of transportation will end cheap food.
One other foot note to the week. Afghanistan has played a key role in the history of the world. Before the fall of empires, that of China, England and Russia, they invaded the far off country. None of the countries ever ruled Afghanistan and all the countries faded from power shortly after. History books are sometimes not read.
I was born at just the right time to explore my world. I am very lucky.
Monday, June 1, 2009
chickens and kansas
I never knew that chickens liked the color red, have no sweat glands, in the wild had only about 25 eggs a year and that they still like to settle on the highest place possible for the night.
NW Chickens 101 was offered Sunday afternoon and I went only because I wanted to know what other people locally used for bedding. Well, I found that out, but I also learned that the casual conversation that my friends had suggested raising chickens was simple maybe have been misleading. To do it well, you have to also know a lot about disease, food, and seasons.
Tonight my chickens found a sand pit in the yard and took a bath for 30 minutes while I watered the vegetable beds. I am beginning to see the peck order with the chickens that talked about in class.
The weather we are having is the same as moving to Kansas, that is how I look at it. The weather in later May and now fore cast for the next week is so unusual the state of Washington has been misplaced. The guy fore casting has been about 10 degrees short each day and he says Friday is going to be 89. I can't believe how my new transplanted, young vegetable garden is going to survive. I have always wanted more heat but not this early in the growing season, they are too tender and require two watering a day.
The heat has also affected my energy level. I am up early and out watering by 6:30 but by 10 o'clock the day is over. I have not only moved to Kansas but Spain and Mexico! I would normally plant more seed but don't know it they would dry out in two days.
I sprayed all the fruit trees and berry bushes this morning with calcium. Tomorrow I will spray again with the mineral booster but in my heart I believe water is the answer for my young orchard.
NW Chickens 101 was offered Sunday afternoon and I went only because I wanted to know what other people locally used for bedding. Well, I found that out, but I also learned that the casual conversation that my friends had suggested raising chickens was simple maybe have been misleading. To do it well, you have to also know a lot about disease, food, and seasons.
Tonight my chickens found a sand pit in the yard and took a bath for 30 minutes while I watered the vegetable beds. I am beginning to see the peck order with the chickens that talked about in class.
The weather we are having is the same as moving to Kansas, that is how I look at it. The weather in later May and now fore cast for the next week is so unusual the state of Washington has been misplaced. The guy fore casting has been about 10 degrees short each day and he says Friday is going to be 89. I can't believe how my new transplanted, young vegetable garden is going to survive. I have always wanted more heat but not this early in the growing season, they are too tender and require two watering a day.
The heat has also affected my energy level. I am up early and out watering by 6:30 but by 10 o'clock the day is over. I have not only moved to Kansas but Spain and Mexico! I would normally plant more seed but don't know it they would dry out in two days.
I sprayed all the fruit trees and berry bushes this morning with calcium. Tomorrow I will spray again with the mineral booster but in my heart I believe water is the answer for my young orchard.
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