Our nephew Sid, from Nebraska, was spending a week with us when this all started. Well, that’s not exactly correct. Maybe I should preface this by admitting that the “brains” of our upright freezer was acting up a bit in the last few weeks. Whenever opening the freezer to get something out, the temperature would … More Chain Reaction Cleaning
The other day, I was walking down the lane rather quickly and shouting for Oscar and Lollipop to “C’mon you two! Get over here NOW!”. Those two are trouble with a capital T. Each day I take them walking with me to the mailbox at the street, and almost always I have to yell for … More Ambush in the Weigela
The early morning cool greeted me as I bumped along in the electric buggy, cruising down the path into the woodlands. Recent rains made for a muddy slide down the sloped pathway, as most of the soil in this area has a lot of clay in it, which really makes for slick travel, especially by … More A Quiet Time
Late one afternoon in April, I ventured across the yard to toss a bowl full of vegetable scraps to the chickens. As I neared the chicken yard the hens began their usual routine of following me the length of the fence, with some running to stay in the lead for the best pickings. My normal … More Baby Gopher
“Each of us actually believes that things should be the way we want them, instead of being the natural result of all the forces of creation.” Michael A. Singer I felt more than a little overwhelmed this spring when I realized there was no way I could continue my plan to keep the pecan orchard … More Ready to Surrender
Last Thursday, FD and I packed our bags and loaded up the truck for yet another trip to Nebraska. But this time, we would be dropping our three dogs off at our veterinarian’s office for boarding, as this trip to Nebraska would be keeping us much too busy to give them the attention they needed … More Gathering in a Storm
I am not sure when I first noticed the return of the turkey vultures this spring. They are present all year long, with one or two spiraling high in the skies on warm days, but for the last three weeks a colony of more than thirty buzzards circled the skies just before sundown, and ultimately … More Lessons From a Buzzard Roost
This past winter was a strange and disappointing one for me. Temperatures were much too cold to work in the orchard, and even if I could have managed to tough out the freezing conditions, a state-wide burn ban left me without any means to burn the wood I’d manage to gather in an effort to … More A Little Show of Ice
In the early years we lived on this place, the “Lori measuring stick” ruled as I made my weekly rounds in the electric buggy, picking up neighborhood trash on our ten acres. I ranted and grumbled about the carelessness of our neighbor’s lack of trash disposal. I had expectations about how people should respectfully keep up … More The Language of Litter
I found myself restless and irritated at having to spend so much time indoors this winter. Last year’s weather allowed me to work outdoors all through the winter months. I managed to clear downed wood in the pecan orchard and I burned the debris for weeks on end. We entertained family who helped with cleanup … More Remains of Winter
The ambient light of town cast a beautiful glow over the landscape as I stepped outside with Oscar at 6:00 this morning. When I focused my flashlight on the front steps, I could see a glaze of ice covering everything. Yesterday’s weather had produced a thin layer of sleet, and overnight freezing fog and drizzle … More Happiness in Black and White
