Hay’s Done! Sunday, Jun 22 2014 

gardening and Modern Photos , , acairfearann 22:27

I don’t need much off the field, but I do need some and it has to be good quality: picky, elderly thoroughbreds and pickier owners….I am sure I drive the farmer who cuts it (who runs Non-picky beef cattle) slightly bonkers, I try very hard not to. Especially since all I have to do is put it in the barn.

I’d give a great deal for his tractors and sundry equipment though….

As usual this one ran perfectly:

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A good thing, since this big Oliver* (which was rebuilt since last year but not run hard till now) gave up on the second circuit of the field with the cutter. The grass was just too heavy and something in the cooling system went Bang!  Thankfully, the man has another, earlier Oliver as well and that combined with the Farmall made due.

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The real problem is finding people to do the work, these days it is almost cheaper to buy extra hay-wagons than to try to get people to buck hay. Still you end up with quite the hay wagon collection!

 

*big for post-war New England okay? I confess, I am not really a fan of the Olivers, any more than I am of Mack trucks, the bulldog effect doesn’t do it for me. As far as I am concerned, tractors ought to be red, tricycle Farmalls or stout little gray Fergusons.

 

 

 

June 22, 1900 Saturday, Jun 21 2014 

Historical Events , acairfearann 21:05

From the Guest book on June 22, 1900:

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“Fond memory brings the light of other days around me.”

The next visitor on the page was Mabel Hyde Kittredge. She was an author of various housekeeping texts, she was probably a guest of Fannie Smith (who also wrote a book on that theme) rather than WWE, though his knowledge of publishing was likely welcome. She was also one of the founders of the hot school lunch program in NYC, so something of an activist as well.

 

 

Clematis ‘Henryi’ Thursday, Jun 19 2014 

gardening and Modern Photos , acairfearann 20:59

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Peonies Wednesday, Jun 18 2014 

gardening and Modern Photos , , acairfearann 20:29

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Phoebes Tuesday, Jun 17 2014 

gardening , , acairfearann 19:52

One of the most common flycatchers around here, a little charcoal suited (tuxedo) bird with the classic long flycatcher tail. For years they have nested on the porch pillars of Happy Thought or on top of the big window casement on that porch.  This gives them direct access to the meadow fence line (posts are ideal perches) and the high grass west lawn (a stake for a young white oak makes another good perch).  This year we are up to two pairs nesting in the area.

We had thought that, given the evidence, our resident gray fox (with cub, very fat) which is currently denning under said porch might have caught the Happy Thought phoebe yesterday.

However, it doesn’t appear to be the case.  Or at least is unlikely, I just saw the phoebe sitting happily on the porch rail contemplating the setting sun or the bugs…more likely the bugs….  I, not being a fly catcher, am sitting on the Other side of the screen!

 

White Rose Monday, Jun 16 2014 

gardening and Modern Photos , , acairfearann 21:35

I have to figure out how to take rose cuttings. This is one of our oldest roses, buried for years at the head of the drive; it must have been planted after the highway was shifted, so after 1935, but probably not too much later. It is tolerant of shade, incredibly winter hardy, more so than the other old roses which died nearly to the ground*. It is also free of pests (though that might be because there are no other roses near it), mildly fragrant, about five feet tall, and once blooming. In my opinion, it is pretty much what a white rose ought to look like. It has no suggestion of rugosa heritage, the best I can tell it is the true alba semi-plena: the white rose of York.

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*Sadly, this means that they won’t flower this year since unlike the modern roses, they apparently bloom on last year’s growth.

 

May 1857 Sunday, Jun 15 2014 

Esperanza and Historical Events , acairfearann 20:21

From Julie to Morris, excerpts from a typical letter, bouncing from the practical to the philosophical:

“I think the twentieth of June very early for our projected trip, but if you say so I will be in readiness. I have a very pretty traveling dress in process of completion, it will be done next week and my traveling hat. And by the way don’t dare to come on without a box of powdered sassafras to make gumbo. I must have some. I expect to go out on horseback next week with Jamie Smith to make myself certain that I can acquit myself creditably before I shall have the pleasure of riding with My Lord. There is a chill in the air yet but it is getting tolerably warm and pleasant, still velvets are not at all uncomfortable.

….

I almost wish you would not stop at Brockport but I shan’t say much about it. I feel in a desperate hurry to see you. Remember you have been gone since last October, which is not a short time, at least to me, but I know man’s love and woman’s love are very different. I found that out long ago but I have not got quite reconciled to the fact yet. Man’s love is of his life a thing apart, tis woman’s whole existence.

…

Good night. I can print better than you. But you are my darling all the same.”

 

June Evenings Friday, Jun 13 2014 

Landscapes acairfearann 11:09

On these fair hills,

Where in the dew heavy fields

The grass bends down in silence,

Strands of silver are poured out across the acres;

The white moon rises glorious,

Untouched by the veiling fog of night,

Far beyond the somber pines.

Alone, a lightning bug

Explores the great heights,

The dark depths of the forest

 

 

 

 

Under Way! Thursday, Jun 12 2014 

Uncategorized acairfearann 12:27

A link to something totally different here, classic Southern New England:

The MORGAN Sails Again

 

 

Chipmunks Wednesday, Jun 11 2014 

Modern Photos and Trees , acairfearann 14:26

Home sweet home! The redbud has some rather nice hollows in it, close access to the bird feeder and some spruce trees…what’s not to like? Look closely at the center of the first photo…. now if they would stay out of the vegetable garden!

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