Read it all the way!
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Puttering Tuesday, Mar 31 2015
Esperanza 20:16
It snowed a bit more today, what is there to say?
Actually, I spent a good bit of time cleaning some bookshelves inside, badly needed! I always enjoy the old books. So many of them have such elegant bindings, true pieces of decorative art. I know the Kindle or whatnot makes a great deal of sense; but….you can’t help but realize the value of the written word when it is presented in embossed, painted, gilt leather with an incredibly ornate design. This was Work and valued.
Do we take literacy for granted?
Sun Sunday, Mar 29 2015
Uncategorized 20:17
It is amazing how far one’s spirits lift with a little bit of sun, actually a Whole Day of sun, combined with temperatures sufficiently far above freezing to let the instinctual brain stop pondering the whole ‘too cold, could be hazardous’ issue, and No Wind…
There will be a few flowers for Easter, granted they will be some over-ambitious crocus near a southern stone foundation and not the swathe of daffodils that might be taken to a church. But still something! I uncovered, the snow having melted, a few of said crocus today. Most have had the good sense to still be waiting, one poor bulb had tried to flower (the sun was right you see) resulting in a limp, watery flower. I hope it can perk up.
In other news, the horse made a trip to the north hedgerow today. Poor guy, the drifts he has to plow through are still hock deep and he didn’t get anything from it; but hopefully, he feels less trapped.
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Not Esperanza Friday, Mar 27 2015
Uncategorized 20:24
Quick! What is wrong with this bridge? (Hint, look at the right abutment).
I just wrapped a historical resource/mitigation report for this structure. You know, it turns out government agencies keep remarkably poor records of some things?
(for the requisite weather complaint: this was taken on the second day of spring and it was so cold the camera froze up briefly!)
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Finally! Wednesday, Mar 25 2015
gardening 20:13
It is always pleasant, indeed fulfilling, to do work outside. The combination of cold, snow, and wind (and other factors) has meant that I have done very little outside since November.
So getting out there and beginning a much delayed job of pruning the apple trees? Wonderful. I also got the yew pruned. More importantly, I managed to corral the multiflora rose. Or, A multiflora rose. This particular one had taken over an area next to one of the small cottages. An area where I would like to plant an apple tree. I finally, simply, cut it down. (of course, it is still sitting there on the snow drift) Multiflora rose can easily get to twenty feet in length/height and several inches in diameter; the thorns can go through leather gloves, canvas jackets, and denim. It is a very common plant in New England; technically an invasive, it was originally planted by state highway departments and agricultural agencies to create impenetrable hedgerows and for erosion control on highways. Birds love it, both for the impenetrable tangle it creates and the berries it bears. It can take over an untended meadow within a decade, creating an area devoid of any other plant or animal life.
It has its uses, the flowers (while small) are moderately fragrant and are held in lovely clumps. The berries are small, but elegant, the birds love it. Few other plants will make as good a natural fence. You can Not walk through mature Multiflora rose. You probably can’t drive through it, without a tank.
Be that as it may. I want an apple tree there. Thankfully, it came off the building without damaging it. Still a far ways to go, but then, the apple tree isn’t here yet and the snow is still two feet deep there!
Still life Monday, Mar 23 2015
Esperanza and Modern Photos photography 19:02
First full day of spring Saturday, Mar 21 2015
Uncategorized 20:51
Snow!
And I think the state had taken the plows off their trucks already, at least judging by the drive into work this morning.
Thankfully, it was only a minor three inches and had melted by this evening. So I suppose spring is coming, but it is certainly taking its time.
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Pong… Thursday, Mar 19 2015
Esperanza 20:21
Old country houses….with porches….and crawl spaces….and skunks…..
Usually, spring is heralded by our hibernating skunks waking up and perambulating, in need of a bath perhaps. Eau de skunk actually isn’t that bad (subject to personal opinion!).
However. Eau de decomposing skunk? We think that it must be under the porch and has finally…Thawed. We can’t get under the porch. We did check the crawl space under the house though. Always fun. the only scent there was good clean earth, no spiders, no skeletons, no anything creepy or smelly. (no water either)
So on the negative side: Eau de decomposing skunk for an undetermined time.
The plus side is that my explorations in the crawl space uncovered a bit of wiring that needed repair. Nice to catch that.
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March wind Wednesday, Mar 18 2015
Uncategorized poetry 15:06
When the wind came down
The trees walked the woods
Before the break of day
And barred the way of spring
With gates of shattered oak
Held to the earth by twisted elm
Their locks of blasted pine.
Sharp as the hunting spear
The sun’s blade splintered
A thousand shards of ice
Spinning across the snow
(a fragment…)
Crocus Monday, Mar 16 2015
As requested, from last year (April 9th, 2014) when c. vernus were at the height of their bloom. By that date in early April the species crocus were largely past. This year, considering the snow still out there, who knows when they will flower; in comparison, the snow is currently at the lower fence line as seen in the photo. Spring, though, is fast. Even with that snow out there, it is possible that the c. vernus will be in bloom only a week or so later than last year. We shall see!
*There is some major foreshortening in this photo, each section of fence is between 12-18 feet, and the photo is taken from about 20 feet away from the fence.
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Acair Fearann 