I’m a reader (no surprise there, right?). However, I’m a bit behind all those readers who are part of the PBS and the “Now Read This” groups. I just began reading “Overstory”.
The other thing I know you know is that I treasure the times an author can set me back on my tush with a single sentence … so …
“There are colours in his spectrum that no one else can see.”
Or even more than one sentence …
“His eyes fill with tears. He shrugs. They think he stole. They can’t believe a kid worked for months on an original idea, for no reason at all except the pleasure of looking until you see something.”
And I’m on only page 78. This looks to be a good read.
~~~
The weather has stayed cool, but not really winter. I saw the return of our first hummer last thursday. It is red headed. We wonder if it is the same alpha male as in the past. Does anyone know the lifespan of hummers?
At any rate, the feeders have all been sterilized and four have been filled and hung ready for visitors. When Paul is home and sees a hummer, he calls me to share the scene.
I’d like to arrange a bird bath as well this year.
Then sunday morning we woke to 28º and ground covered with a skiff of snow.
~~~
We still have nineteen hens averaging 14-15 eggs a day. They are paying for their feed as well as providing all the eggs the family needs.
Expanding their scratch yard is on the summer to-do list as is putting the current straw floor cover onto the compost pile and replacing it with fresh straw.
Another project, as I have mentioned previously, is to repair the courtyard area for summer use. I mention it again in order to remind myself. The current temperature in the morning is still too close to freezing for me to spend time out there early, but I’m looking at things I can do later in the day as preparation for the heavy work when it warms up a bit. I need to tap the spot on the side of the road where there are slabs of flat stones which I want to use on the entrance path, and prepare an area for the start of the herb garden.
If I keep writing these chores down I hope it will keep jabbing my memory as the weather turns. Spinning and reading can put me into a place where I am gone to this world for a time and when I come back …
Oh well …
~~~
The local Firefighters’ Association (which is composed of both firefighters and community members who support the firefighters) used to handle a beer booth at the county fair each August. It was lucrative … more than $10,000 for four and a half days’ work.
But the company and its accompanying association have been fraught with controversy.
Many years ago, when the fire company was formed as a community volunteer group, there was a schism between those who thought anyone who paid tax (the people had voted for a small supportive fire tax) should have a say in who served on the Board of Directors and those who thought only firefighters should be involved. It led to what amounted to a takeover by the then Chief and his cohorts.
Now, these years later, the company is being re-formed after being decimated as a result of said chief and cohorts, and an effort is being made to revitalize the FireFighters’ Association. A bid is being placed to once again handle the beer booth. That will require at least twenty volunteers and there are fewer than a dozen members of the association, including seven or eight firefighters who can’t man the booth since they are on call for fighting fires.
I am in support of the new company and decided to get involved. So far I volunteered for no more than a four hour shift and have recruited fourteen others. I also lined up someone to send emails to all residents of the fire district to see if we can get enough volunteers to raise the ten thousand plus.
The fair is the first week in August. I think it can be done. I’ll keep you up to date as this affair proceeds.
~~~
Well, the primary is over in California and I’m a bit miffed at the Democrats. The central committee seems to be heavy with old, white, male politicians. And when candidates pull out at the last minute it invalidates the ballots of those who have already voted for them. Doesn’t seem fair.
Try to stay positive.
What would clear-headed pragmatism be worth if it weren’t in the pursuit of shadowy, intangible dreams, hopes and desires? Stay open to beauty, optimism, and hope.
So … ‘til next week …
P.S. I have a post from a cousin I want to share but I’m still having trouble loading photos. Stand by …