Henry David Thoreau wrote in his 1841 journal "A slight sound at evening lifts me up by the ears and makes life seem inexpressibly serene and grand."
Thoreau loved his days at Walden Pond and each spring I marvel as he did at the nighttime sounds of spring and summer. The serenade begins. The woods, fields and wetlands abound with music.
Three weeks ago in mid-April we in southern Michigan were still living with cold and snow and now as of May 12th, the green leaves are emerging on trees and Spring is bursting at the seams. For the last three days beads of sweat have run down my face as I raked up the leaves of autumn and prepared the garden for tilling. It is warm, muggy and buggy tonight. No longer can I sit outside in silence, but now I must endure the highly explosive duck-like quacking calls of thousands of mating frogs and can hear the humming of thousands of immature mosquito wings. Nature's vampire of the night struck blood on my arm and now we have five itchy months to endure the ladies seeking a blood meal for egg laying.
The Chorus frogs are uttering a rapid series of "it" sounds with an increasing tempo and pitch as the warm nights thunder showers approach. The males chirp with glee to attract a female and soon after mating the cheerful sounds will wane. We Michiganders wait all winter and it was longer than usual just to hear the sweet singers at night and within a span of three more weeks the rites of spring cease. By July, all the newly metamorphosed froglets will leave drying ponds and take up life in the foliage near our windows and trees will provide more local music on muggy evenings.
A bunch of small red, orange and black Painted turtles are basking in the bright sunshine soaking up radiant heat. The warm heat felt good after a long winter's nap buried in deep mud. As water warms they surface and forage for a mate and food. In another month they'll be sampling succulent strawberries - the nibblers of night.
Even the snakes are beginning to emerge from hibernation. Heard some neighborhood boys scaring some girls tonight with snakes they found near a pond. The squealing girls brought back memories of my youth when I threatened to tie my sister to a post and burn her at the stake when playing Cowboys and Indians. Captured she stood atop a bushel basket and when I tossed down the wood she tipped the basket over and beneath was a six-foot Blue racer. She fainted and I got my bottom warmed and grounded for a month.
I've seen past sawdust piles covered with sunning Garter and Watersnakes. Looked like chocolate dripping down the sides so thick with serpents. The Garter is daytime and Water snakes are nocturnal, but both will bask and soak up the sun's rays during daylight hours. They lay motionless on rocks and logs in the Rogue River. The first warm days the snakes head for water, because that where they can find a mate and food; frogs, toads, salamanders and insects. Meadow jumping mice prefer the wetland settings to. The wetland is a veritable buffet of tasty food. They are bent on moving around looking for food or predators.
Male Meadow jumping mice are beginning to stir, too, but unlike their counterparts, reptiles and amphibians who hibernate during the winter in mud and decaying aquatic matter, they dig deep tunnels and live below the frost line. After a 7-8 month nap they surface to resume life topside.
Meadow jumping mice are the Rip Van Winkle's of mousedom and believe it or not, these jumping mice cuddle up with Rat snakes for body warmth and the snakes will make no attempt to eat their bed partners when shacked up in hibernation chambers. Nocturnal water snakes feed upon these mice.
Generally male meadow jumping mice emerge from hibernation the first week in May. Saw one already and some young White-footed Deer mice in my flower boxes. Nearly scared me to death this morning - all those twitchy noses sniffing the air and wondering if they should leave. The meadow mice love the moist fields and marshes since they favor high humidity areas, however they frequent brushy fields and cherish living beneath the delicate waterside flowers known as Forget-Me-Nots, which just so happens to be Alaska's state flower.
Startling a jumping mouse causes human hearts to flutter. They sport yellowish sides with brownish backs, a white belly with long tail and big feet. They highly developed hind limbs are for jumping long distances in a single bound. They themselves measure 7-10 inches long, the hind feet measuring up to one and a half inch long. They are often referred to as the Jumping Jacks of mousedom. They are guaranteed to really make you jump over the moon, should you beam one with a flashlight on nocturnal walks at night. They disappear almost like magic - faster than a speeding bullet. No it wasn't Superman, but a jumping mouse that can cover 10 feet in a single bound and run 8 feet per second. (to be continued).
Monday, May 12, 2014
Dandelion - The Yellows of Spring - 3
Dente de lions. That's the French name for the most plentiful yellow wildflower in the Midwest and southern Michigan has waving fields of Dandelions and Mustards. The word Dente de lion means the "tooth of the lion" because of the lobed and jagged basal toothlike leaves that range from 2-16 inches in length. Each slender stalk bears a single flower, which fruits with its own parachute for flight. When cut with high powered mowers they shatter easily and the fruit sails upward 10-12 miles as long as the humidity is below 70%. Above 70 the fruit falls back to earth sometimes thousands of miles from its origination.
The dandelion is a favorite of children who love to blow the seed heads or bring mom one of spring's first bouquets, but to husbands the sight of just one dandelion flower in their weedless lawn - well they become beasts. Dandelions can bloom anytime between April and November, but when seen the bright yellow heads can be seen swaying on breezes and releasing their fruit. Warm spring days children and adults like to walk or run barefoot across lawns, but beware of honeybees collecting nectar.
Dandelions are similar to Bananas. Both are yellow and its truly amazing how every conceivable part of dandelions and Bananas serve a useful function today. Nothing is wasted and all make many valuable and delicious food items. The leaves of dandelions plants attract gourmet cooks from around the world. Tender young leaves are worth more than $3.50 per pound because the greens are high in vitamins, A, B, and D including minerals. The leaves of bananas when ground and mixed with cotton makes fine stationery.
Englishmen and Irishmen love to eat dandelion greens in salads and dandelion wine is a spring tonic used to purify the body. I bet it was better tasting than what my grandmother taught my mother when I was young. At the first hint of spring out came the bottles of cod liver oil or Watkin's Beef, Iron and Wine tonic. I hated that tablespoon full each morning, but then again I hated spinach, too, but it sure isn't as unsavory as broccoli. Yuck!
When wine is made from the flowers it is a light yellow color with a pungent odor, but when the entire plant is brewed it makes a palatable beer. That's if no herbicides were applied anywhere near the plant. The rites of spring begin in earnest with the first flowering dandelions, but in some parts of the world, the dandelions are steeped in traditional folklore and superstitions.
In Silesia, which is a district of northwestern Czechoslovakia and southwest Poland, the people gather on Midsummer's Eve to collect dandelions to keep witches out of their communities. We have them in America, too. In the United States we have many warlocks running around with poisonous spray guns to kill dandelions sprouting up from crack in driveways. In another instance I met private gardener who quit his job because the homeowner, his boss, decided not to follow application instructions and applied triple strong herbicide to kill dandelions beside his home and killed 24" diameter oak trees and gave some stubborn dandelions a stronger dose on driveway cracks and then disaster struck. A severe thunderstorm caused the herbicide to leach and run down to his 60-acre lake killing all his beautiful flowering water lillys and all lower form of life; frogs, minnows, crayfish leaving the lake barren. Never use a herbicide even if there is a chance it'll rain.
Dandelions are an amazing flower. You don't need to listen to a TV meteorologist to forecast the weather. If dandelions open in the morning sun it means "fair" weather. Remaining partially closed means "chance" of rain and if buds remain closed by mid-morning it will "definitely" rain so bring rain gear or umbrella.
You know you can tell if a couple is married just by studying their habits in a car or truck. Before marriage and after for about a year they will snuggle close. When the honeymoon is over they sit apart, but did you know that in America a young woman can predict her future by blowing the fluffy seeds off a dandelion stem. Legend has it that one deep of breath and blowing all the seeds away indicates she'll never have to file for a divorce. She can also measure the depth of her sweetheart's thoughts about her, by the amount of remaining fluff left.
Without a wrist watch any person old enough to read can tell the time of day with a fluffy dandelion head. The correct hour will be the number of puffs it takes to blow all the seeds away. Give those sunny dandelions a break and enjoy the fields of swaying yellow flowers on a breeze, but where a dust mask when cutting mass fluffy seed heads. If the honeybees can love them so, too, can you. The mustards, marsh marigolds, trilliums and many colors of violets have replaced the grays, tans and white snow. Enjoy the yellows of Spring 2014.
The dandelion is a favorite of children who love to blow the seed heads or bring mom one of spring's first bouquets, but to husbands the sight of just one dandelion flower in their weedless lawn - well they become beasts. Dandelions can bloom anytime between April and November, but when seen the bright yellow heads can be seen swaying on breezes and releasing their fruit. Warm spring days children and adults like to walk or run barefoot across lawns, but beware of honeybees collecting nectar.
Dandelions are similar to Bananas. Both are yellow and its truly amazing how every conceivable part of dandelions and Bananas serve a useful function today. Nothing is wasted and all make many valuable and delicious food items. The leaves of dandelions plants attract gourmet cooks from around the world. Tender young leaves are worth more than $3.50 per pound because the greens are high in vitamins, A, B, and D including minerals. The leaves of bananas when ground and mixed with cotton makes fine stationery.
Englishmen and Irishmen love to eat dandelion greens in salads and dandelion wine is a spring tonic used to purify the body. I bet it was better tasting than what my grandmother taught my mother when I was young. At the first hint of spring out came the bottles of cod liver oil or Watkin's Beef, Iron and Wine tonic. I hated that tablespoon full each morning, but then again I hated spinach, too, but it sure isn't as unsavory as broccoli. Yuck!
When wine is made from the flowers it is a light yellow color with a pungent odor, but when the entire plant is brewed it makes a palatable beer. That's if no herbicides were applied anywhere near the plant. The rites of spring begin in earnest with the first flowering dandelions, but in some parts of the world, the dandelions are steeped in traditional folklore and superstitions.
In Silesia, which is a district of northwestern Czechoslovakia and southwest Poland, the people gather on Midsummer's Eve to collect dandelions to keep witches out of their communities. We have them in America, too. In the United States we have many warlocks running around with poisonous spray guns to kill dandelions sprouting up from crack in driveways. In another instance I met private gardener who quit his job because the homeowner, his boss, decided not to follow application instructions and applied triple strong herbicide to kill dandelions beside his home and killed 24" diameter oak trees and gave some stubborn dandelions a stronger dose on driveway cracks and then disaster struck. A severe thunderstorm caused the herbicide to leach and run down to his 60-acre lake killing all his beautiful flowering water lillys and all lower form of life; frogs, minnows, crayfish leaving the lake barren. Never use a herbicide even if there is a chance it'll rain.
Dandelions are an amazing flower. You don't need to listen to a TV meteorologist to forecast the weather. If dandelions open in the morning sun it means "fair" weather. Remaining partially closed means "chance" of rain and if buds remain closed by mid-morning it will "definitely" rain so bring rain gear or umbrella.
You know you can tell if a couple is married just by studying their habits in a car or truck. Before marriage and after for about a year they will snuggle close. When the honeymoon is over they sit apart, but did you know that in America a young woman can predict her future by blowing the fluffy seeds off a dandelion stem. Legend has it that one deep of breath and blowing all the seeds away indicates she'll never have to file for a divorce. She can also measure the depth of her sweetheart's thoughts about her, by the amount of remaining fluff left.
Without a wrist watch any person old enough to read can tell the time of day with a fluffy dandelion head. The correct hour will be the number of puffs it takes to blow all the seeds away. Give those sunny dandelions a break and enjoy the fields of swaying yellow flowers on a breeze, but where a dust mask when cutting mass fluffy seed heads. If the honeybees can love them so, too, can you. The mustards, marsh marigolds, trilliums and many colors of violets have replaced the grays, tans and white snow. Enjoy the yellows of Spring 2014.
Thursday, May 8, 2014
The Yellows of Spring -2
Yesterday, spring officially arrived in southern Michigan. Spring arrived with a crash, boom window rattling thunderstorm touched off by a warm front moving north. I threw open the bedroom window and took deep breaths of fresh rain fragrances. As I traveled to church, the skies were clearing - the dark gray scud clouds scurried west while an angry dark sky moved east and then the sky opened to beautiful blue. What a glorious way to start a new day.
After some light cleaning I had just exited the church and was sidestepping all the worms and night crawlers on the asphalt when along an island curb there was a solitary yellow dandelion. Although beautiful in the bright sunshine it was blooming just to lift my spirits. I find nothing wrong with dandelions. Whenever they bloom they put the yellow in spring wildflowers, the first to great me at the start of a new spring day. I love to see the swaying yellow heads bobbing on a breeze, but not everyone shares my love enthusiasm for dandelions.
Shucks I missed my chance to put that yellow head under Pastor Ken's windshield wiper. He's a lot like "Mickey" from an old time oatmeal advertisement. He seemingly hates dandelions with a passion. He loves not the beautiful sunshine flower God created. I can't help it that my halo flickers.
Seldom do I use the word "hate" because it leads one to violence. Never should man learn to hate something so bad he feels he must kill it and that goes for a beautiful flower that God created. Ken like millions of other dandelion haters boil when they see young children pick up the fruit heads with attached parachutes and blow the seed heads apart. Shattering, they drift up into the sky and disappear out of sight going where only God knows where they will land. If the humidity of the day is less than 70% they can rise to 65,000 feet and can circle the globe. That's 10-12 miles up and when the humidity rises above 70% they fall back to earth.
We all have our hangups. I dislike mice and rats only because I've had bad experiences with them when I raised rabbits for food. Rats are notorious for killing baby rabbits. My wife is terrified of spiders, my sister hates snakes and dyslexic or Downs Syndrome children are easily frightened by even butterflies and bee's, wasps and other flying insects. All humans have petty hangups and many have wondered why on Earth did God create them?
Those who dislike Dandelions (Taraxacum officinale) don't understand that just because they see yellow head doesn't mean you should spread herbicides all over the lawn to control one plant. It not only kills the dandelion, but thousands of beneficial worms and crawlers that keep the lawn aerated to accept water.
Big "D's" are members of the aster family, but I think its ridiculous when men of faith try to destroy one of God's most beautiful flowers used in food production. The dandelion is not native to North America - it is from Europe and it was brought to America by the Pilgrims as a food source, such as, salad greens, tea and for honey production. The pilgrims deliberately brought dandelions into the Midwest to increase food for bees. Thousands of honey bee hives were lost this past winter.
In America, yes dandelions are seen as weeds in lawns or gardens, but it depends on where you live. The tender leaves when mixed with other green salad leaves are delicious. Older thick leaves are boiled like spinach or collard and other green vegetables. Whether fresh or cooked they are a rich source of vitamins A and C and who doesn't like honey. Boiled flowers make dandelion wine, yellow dye, the roots red dye.
Native American Indians once loved dandelions for they learned how to make dandelion-leaf tea. Some Indians made tea from the roots as a tonic for heartburn. Another brew from the roots acts as a diuretic brew for the treatment of liver ailments. Every part of this flower or plant can still be harvested for beneficial use. That's if it hasn't been treated with herbicides for its destruction. Killing dandelions is not the end of them, its the beginning of an even bigger problem. Whether living or dead they exude Ethylene gas that discourages other weeds and grass from sprouting underneath them.
Well, like you I must stop and go to work. Wish I could write all day, but my body would sag too much, besides I love to eat. Watch for "The Yellows of Spring - 3."
After some light cleaning I had just exited the church and was sidestepping all the worms and night crawlers on the asphalt when along an island curb there was a solitary yellow dandelion. Although beautiful in the bright sunshine it was blooming just to lift my spirits. I find nothing wrong with dandelions. Whenever they bloom they put the yellow in spring wildflowers, the first to great me at the start of a new spring day. I love to see the swaying yellow heads bobbing on a breeze, but not everyone shares my love enthusiasm for dandelions.
Shucks I missed my chance to put that yellow head under Pastor Ken's windshield wiper. He's a lot like "Mickey" from an old time oatmeal advertisement. He seemingly hates dandelions with a passion. He loves not the beautiful sunshine flower God created. I can't help it that my halo flickers.
Seldom do I use the word "hate" because it leads one to violence. Never should man learn to hate something so bad he feels he must kill it and that goes for a beautiful flower that God created. Ken like millions of other dandelion haters boil when they see young children pick up the fruit heads with attached parachutes and blow the seed heads apart. Shattering, they drift up into the sky and disappear out of sight going where only God knows where they will land. If the humidity of the day is less than 70% they can rise to 65,000 feet and can circle the globe. That's 10-12 miles up and when the humidity rises above 70% they fall back to earth.
We all have our hangups. I dislike mice and rats only because I've had bad experiences with them when I raised rabbits for food. Rats are notorious for killing baby rabbits. My wife is terrified of spiders, my sister hates snakes and dyslexic or Downs Syndrome children are easily frightened by even butterflies and bee's, wasps and other flying insects. All humans have petty hangups and many have wondered why on Earth did God create them?
Those who dislike Dandelions (Taraxacum officinale) don't understand that just because they see yellow head doesn't mean you should spread herbicides all over the lawn to control one plant. It not only kills the dandelion, but thousands of beneficial worms and crawlers that keep the lawn aerated to accept water.
Big "D's" are members of the aster family, but I think its ridiculous when men of faith try to destroy one of God's most beautiful flowers used in food production. The dandelion is not native to North America - it is from Europe and it was brought to America by the Pilgrims as a food source, such as, salad greens, tea and for honey production. The pilgrims deliberately brought dandelions into the Midwest to increase food for bees. Thousands of honey bee hives were lost this past winter.
In America, yes dandelions are seen as weeds in lawns or gardens, but it depends on where you live. The tender leaves when mixed with other green salad leaves are delicious. Older thick leaves are boiled like spinach or collard and other green vegetables. Whether fresh or cooked they are a rich source of vitamins A and C and who doesn't like honey. Boiled flowers make dandelion wine, yellow dye, the roots red dye.
Native American Indians once loved dandelions for they learned how to make dandelion-leaf tea. Some Indians made tea from the roots as a tonic for heartburn. Another brew from the roots acts as a diuretic brew for the treatment of liver ailments. Every part of this flower or plant can still be harvested for beneficial use. That's if it hasn't been treated with herbicides for its destruction. Killing dandelions is not the end of them, its the beginning of an even bigger problem. Whether living or dead they exude Ethylene gas that discourages other weeds and grass from sprouting underneath them.
Well, like you I must stop and go to work. Wish I could write all day, but my body would sag too much, besides I love to eat. Watch for "The Yellows of Spring - 3."
Friday, April 25, 2014
Dandelions - The Yellows of Spring - 1
"Spring... makes everything young except man," said Jean Paul Friedrich (1763-1825).
Who would have thought that 251 years later (2014) he was accurate in his assumption. Just the sight of a single bright yellow Dandelion flower in a sea of manicured green grass can turn a man's hair gray before summer. He'll waste much green money fighting this pretty weed flower that has so many cheerful and useful purposes besides trying to kill it, because he wants the perfect lawn - no weeds. Man gets his dander flying faster than a speeding bullet and wants that beautiful flower eradicated from his eyesight. One perky flower is all it takes for herbicide men to start spreading weed killers to appease the homeowners disgust.
To children the tall yellow flowers are picked and presented to mothers - the first spring bouquets of their love. It's the only flower children can rightfully pick without being scolded. Mom's should put them in a flower vase and not empty peanut butter jars. A dandelion flower keeps mom young, too, when she's been cooped up in the house during our longer than normal winter.
Spring finally arrived in Michigan on April 23rd in the bright afternoon sun with the blossoming of Forsythia flowers. Our 114 inch snowfall is but a bad memory of a hard winter of numbing cold and deep snow. Before I continue I'm going to let George Santayana, the Spanish-born philosopher and poet who spent many years at Harvard (1889-1911) and Oxford explain what sets in motion "Spring."
When Santayana came into a sizable legacy, he relinquished his post on the Harvard faculty. His classroom was packed for his final appearance and Santayana in true passion did himself proud. He was concluding his remarks when outside the window he saw a Forsythia beginning to bloom in a patch of muddy snow. His speech stopped abruptly. His eyes were fixed upon the yellow blossoms and he stooped down and picked up his hat, gloves and walking stick and walked towards the door. There he turned around and said, "Gentlemen," he said softly, "I shall not be able to finish that last sentence. I have just discovered I have an appointment with April." It's called Spring.
Albert Einstein, the German-born physicist was teaching class when he spotted a bright Forsythia blooming outside the classroom window. He stopped lecturing on mathematical formulas just long enough to pick up his hat and coat, opened the window, turned around and sat on the window ledge and bid his students goodbye. He had a date with Spring.
I guess sometimes we've just got to act a little bit crazy and stop our merry-go-round lives and enjoy the sights and fragrances on the first day of Spring. It makes mankind act irresponsible, but it resets his course for a new beginning.
As the warming sun increases ground temperatures new Dandelion greens are appearing and bud formations are setting, and I say, "Oh, the perils of men spotting shark tooth Dandelion greens in his perfect luxury lawn." He knows what will happen. His blood boils at the first sight of yellow.
Wow! Homeowners go practically insane and as nuts they'll expound volumes to the herbicide men that what they apply isn't working. What most men don't understand is that there are three different species of Dandelions that bloom from April to November and no other weeds will grow next to it. This weed exudes ethylene gas that discourages other weeds from growing next to them. Kill them only lets other undesirables take their place if they don't remove the plant. It's a vicious cycle to keep a lawn of green in Spring.
The "Yellows of Spring" are here and that includes Daffodils (Lent Lily), Tulips and Marsh Marigolds (Elkslip-favorite food of elk-only), Forsythias and Dandelions (Priest's-crown). The later is the scourge of over obsessive men like our Pastor VanderWest who dislikes, I should say, hates the most beautiful flower God created. I've been known to pick a Dandelion stalk with flower and place it under his windshield wiper. I just can't help myself. My halo still flickers. If he were a cat his back would bristle at the sight or feel of a Dandelion flower under his feet. (to be continued).
Who would have thought that 251 years later (2014) he was accurate in his assumption. Just the sight of a single bright yellow Dandelion flower in a sea of manicured green grass can turn a man's hair gray before summer. He'll waste much green money fighting this pretty weed flower that has so many cheerful and useful purposes besides trying to kill it, because he wants the perfect lawn - no weeds. Man gets his dander flying faster than a speeding bullet and wants that beautiful flower eradicated from his eyesight. One perky flower is all it takes for herbicide men to start spreading weed killers to appease the homeowners disgust.
To children the tall yellow flowers are picked and presented to mothers - the first spring bouquets of their love. It's the only flower children can rightfully pick without being scolded. Mom's should put them in a flower vase and not empty peanut butter jars. A dandelion flower keeps mom young, too, when she's been cooped up in the house during our longer than normal winter.
Spring finally arrived in Michigan on April 23rd in the bright afternoon sun with the blossoming of Forsythia flowers. Our 114 inch snowfall is but a bad memory of a hard winter of numbing cold and deep snow. Before I continue I'm going to let George Santayana, the Spanish-born philosopher and poet who spent many years at Harvard (1889-1911) and Oxford explain what sets in motion "Spring."
When Santayana came into a sizable legacy, he relinquished his post on the Harvard faculty. His classroom was packed for his final appearance and Santayana in true passion did himself proud. He was concluding his remarks when outside the window he saw a Forsythia beginning to bloom in a patch of muddy snow. His speech stopped abruptly. His eyes were fixed upon the yellow blossoms and he stooped down and picked up his hat, gloves and walking stick and walked towards the door. There he turned around and said, "Gentlemen," he said softly, "I shall not be able to finish that last sentence. I have just discovered I have an appointment with April." It's called Spring.
Albert Einstein, the German-born physicist was teaching class when he spotted a bright Forsythia blooming outside the classroom window. He stopped lecturing on mathematical formulas just long enough to pick up his hat and coat, opened the window, turned around and sat on the window ledge and bid his students goodbye. He had a date with Spring.
I guess sometimes we've just got to act a little bit crazy and stop our merry-go-round lives and enjoy the sights and fragrances on the first day of Spring. It makes mankind act irresponsible, but it resets his course for a new beginning.
As the warming sun increases ground temperatures new Dandelion greens are appearing and bud formations are setting, and I say, "Oh, the perils of men spotting shark tooth Dandelion greens in his perfect luxury lawn." He knows what will happen. His blood boils at the first sight of yellow.
Wow! Homeowners go practically insane and as nuts they'll expound volumes to the herbicide men that what they apply isn't working. What most men don't understand is that there are three different species of Dandelions that bloom from April to November and no other weeds will grow next to it. This weed exudes ethylene gas that discourages other weeds from growing next to them. Kill them only lets other undesirables take their place if they don't remove the plant. It's a vicious cycle to keep a lawn of green in Spring.
The "Yellows of Spring" are here and that includes Daffodils (Lent Lily), Tulips and Marsh Marigolds (Elkslip-favorite food of elk-only), Forsythias and Dandelions (Priest's-crown). The later is the scourge of over obsessive men like our Pastor VanderWest who dislikes, I should say, hates the most beautiful flower God created. I've been known to pick a Dandelion stalk with flower and place it under his windshield wiper. I just can't help myself. My halo still flickers. If he were a cat his back would bristle at the sight or feel of a Dandelion flower under his feet. (to be continued).
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
One Pair of Hands - In Memory of Keith Eadie
Keith Eadie of Rockford, MI had one pair of hands, but had no eyes to see. He could play an acoustical guitar for those in the audience attending the Tuesday mornings "Country Gospel" in the Rockford Ambulance Barn community room. Although blind he could play just about any song with the exception of Ghost Riders in the Sky as sung by Sons of Pioneers and Planet Texas by Kenny Rodgers. These were my favorite songs and it wasn't that he couldn't, but he loved pick n' playin' classic old country and gospel songs. Keith's sudden death from a massive heart attack in early February stunned his friends young and old.
You see, Keith was a member of the Rogue River Band. He, with George Rollenhagen, Ray Eadie and Deb Eadie and associates traveled around playing music at various venues each week. Like most musicians they had to practice songs before they raised roofs. His mother, Karen, drove him around to various musical functions and Keith sat in his chair and enjoyed the Sunday evening concerts down in the Rockford Park near the dam. A church member saw him sitting one night and they invited him up to play a tune on one of their guitars. His blind white stick he carried on his waist, but on a hot night in July 2013 the lead guitarist came off stage and led him by the arm to the stage. Keith always wore a smile no matter what he was doing and he always would welcome you to wherever he was pickin'.
Keith was an approachable man and quick to crack a smile or joke. It was a sad couple of weeks after he passed away, but Keith loved the Lord and he enjoyed what little of life he never saw. I didn't know much about Keith, but a few evenings I sat beside him in the park and he never complained about his lot in life. He was always upbeat and thankful for good ham radio and musical friends.
He was happy serving the Lord and providing music to anyone who would sit down and listen. He had one pair of hands to play the guitar and mandolin. Often times he wore both instruments at the ambulance barn and for Flo's Country & Gospel Jamboree just south of Big Rapids in August 2012 & 2013. He played nearly every song for nearly four hours along with up to 24 other guitarists, mandolins players with accordions and harmonicas all joining in the musical celebrations of life.
It was quite the show hearing this many musicians playing together. The country gospel music flowed out across Rodgers Pond and Dam across the road and no doubt the sound carried down the Muskegon River valley several miles. He could sure pack away the food and musical notes.
One Tuesday morning several weeks after his death the Rogue River Band and associates were playing "One Pair of Hands" when at 10:08 a.m. the wind stopped to visit. Nobody can see the wind, we could hear it and we can see the effects the winds footprint leaves on grass, sand, trees, but especially water, window curtains and yes, even doors.
The ambulance door opened wide to bright sunshine and Ray Eadie said, "Welcome" and in walked the spirit of Keith who came to visit. I'd like to think that Keith came inside to visit his old haunt to check up on the gang that listened to his music for years. He walked down the aisles looking into the faces of those he never saw and he saw they were happy. He was raised up on the wings of eagles.
Seven minutes later at 10:15, the door opened again, but only half way. His spirit scooted out, but returned at 10:55. The door opened wider and the third time I closed it. It'd be nice to think he found his old friend Ron Pine, who was the band leader for many years. Ron died several years ago. Maybe their spirits walked down opposite aisles and noted they had indeed left footprints for others to follow and were born to ride the winds of eternity and then at exactly 11:08 a.m. the door gently opened and they left knowing the band lives on in their memory. Both were riding the winds of time "On Happy Trails."
Both are now resting in "One Pair of Hands."
You see, Keith was a member of the Rogue River Band. He, with George Rollenhagen, Ray Eadie and Deb Eadie and associates traveled around playing music at various venues each week. Like most musicians they had to practice songs before they raised roofs. His mother, Karen, drove him around to various musical functions and Keith sat in his chair and enjoyed the Sunday evening concerts down in the Rockford Park near the dam. A church member saw him sitting one night and they invited him up to play a tune on one of their guitars. His blind white stick he carried on his waist, but on a hot night in July 2013 the lead guitarist came off stage and led him by the arm to the stage. Keith always wore a smile no matter what he was doing and he always would welcome you to wherever he was pickin'.
Keith was an approachable man and quick to crack a smile or joke. It was a sad couple of weeks after he passed away, but Keith loved the Lord and he enjoyed what little of life he never saw. I didn't know much about Keith, but a few evenings I sat beside him in the park and he never complained about his lot in life. He was always upbeat and thankful for good ham radio and musical friends.
He was happy serving the Lord and providing music to anyone who would sit down and listen. He had one pair of hands to play the guitar and mandolin. Often times he wore both instruments at the ambulance barn and for Flo's Country & Gospel Jamboree just south of Big Rapids in August 2012 & 2013. He played nearly every song for nearly four hours along with up to 24 other guitarists, mandolins players with accordions and harmonicas all joining in the musical celebrations of life.
It was quite the show hearing this many musicians playing together. The country gospel music flowed out across Rodgers Pond and Dam across the road and no doubt the sound carried down the Muskegon River valley several miles. He could sure pack away the food and musical notes.
One Tuesday morning several weeks after his death the Rogue River Band and associates were playing "One Pair of Hands" when at 10:08 a.m. the wind stopped to visit. Nobody can see the wind, we could hear it and we can see the effects the winds footprint leaves on grass, sand, trees, but especially water, window curtains and yes, even doors.
The ambulance door opened wide to bright sunshine and Ray Eadie said, "Welcome" and in walked the spirit of Keith who came to visit. I'd like to think that Keith came inside to visit his old haunt to check up on the gang that listened to his music for years. He walked down the aisles looking into the faces of those he never saw and he saw they were happy. He was raised up on the wings of eagles.
Seven minutes later at 10:15, the door opened again, but only half way. His spirit scooted out, but returned at 10:55. The door opened wider and the third time I closed it. It'd be nice to think he found his old friend Ron Pine, who was the band leader for many years. Ron died several years ago. Maybe their spirits walked down opposite aisles and noted they had indeed left footprints for others to follow and were born to ride the winds of eternity and then at exactly 11:08 a.m. the door gently opened and they left knowing the band lives on in their memory. Both were riding the winds of time "On Happy Trails."
Both are now resting in "One Pair of Hands."
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Mark Twain vs. Abe Lincoln
Mark Twain (Sameul Langhorne Clemens -1835-1910), the American humorists, writer, lecturer and steamboat Captain on the Mississippi River and Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) shared something in common. Both were plagued with bad dreams about impending tragedies.
Mark Twain always kept pen and paper on the table next to his bed. Often he woke in the middle of the night to jot down something in his dreams. His best ideas for Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Fin originated from bed, but his dreams carried messages that were not always pleasant, but still he wrote one down in particular. You could say he had a prophetic dream one night that caused him great anxiety and concern.
In the dream he saw the body of his brother Henry Clemens laid out in a burial casket with white flowers on his breast with a single red rose in the center. Mark was terrified and was convinced that he was dead, but reality struck with great relief.
He had a dream he couldn't shake - something wasn't right. It wasn't. Had he a premonition in his sleep about an impending tragedy about to happen.
Twain the following day received a telegram that said his brother was killed inside the boiler room of a steamboat near Memphis, Tennessee. Twain traveled to Memphis and found where his brother reposed. He stood in front of the casket and to his relief there were no flowers. He sighed, the dream was only half true. Suddenly a woman appeared at the door and walked towards the casket carrying a bouquet of white flowers with one red rose at the center and laid it on Henry's breast.
Was his dream a warning about his brother's destiny. Was he visited by an angel in his dream to prepare him for the imminent loss of a family member. Was this prophecy or just coincidence. He wasn't sure.
When Twain was born in November 1835 Halley's comet streaked across the dark night sky. His dreams suggested he would die when Halley's comet returned in April 1910. As the comet with a 500-mile long tail blazed across the night sky Mark Twain did indeed die in April 1910. Did he have a premonition when he would die?
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States (1861-1865) experienced the same. Although born in a log cabin he self educated himself and became a backwoods lawyer and at age 36 (1847) entered Congress as a Representative from Illinois. Fourteen years later (1861) he became President in one of the most turbulent and violent Civil War - state against states to abolish slavery once and for all. Like many before him who walked the halls of the White House he couldn't escape bad dreams, the emotional feelings that something bad might happen. His destiny was being written in his sleep and he talked about the dream he had to several others.
In his dream he was walking through the silent White House toward the sounds of sobbing. As he walked into the East Room he was confronted by the sight of a catafalque (coffin) covered in black. He as if in Spirit form asked the guard on duty who was dead?
"The President," said the soldier.
Lincoln and Twain had premonitions about their destiny. They didn't alter their lives. They stayed on track, but it is sometimes difficult to stay on that path and not change course when thinking about our demise. Premonitions are warnings about the destinies of ourselves and others. When tragedy strikes - we don't know, but we should pay heed to the perils of man.
Yesterday I had just finished my blogs on Bigfoot; Living Legends in North America when a premonition struck. Looking at all the sticky notes taped to the bottom of my iMac I stared at a blank screen. Lots of names and telephone numbers, but one in particular seemed to have a heart beat and I had a premonition earlier that morning he would call when I finished my blog, the phone would ring. It did. Almost instantaneous the caller ID confirmed it. This was my first contact with the man. Premonitions come and we can't escape. The emotions and feelings are real.
Prophecy, coincidences, forewarnings or destiny?
We all share a common destiny whether good or bad, saved or sinner, religious or evil. We are responsible for our own ultimate destiny.
When was the last time you had a bad dream? Think about the premonitions in life. We can't escape bad dreams. They are an part of our living destiny.
Mark Twain always kept pen and paper on the table next to his bed. Often he woke in the middle of the night to jot down something in his dreams. His best ideas for Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Fin originated from bed, but his dreams carried messages that were not always pleasant, but still he wrote one down in particular. You could say he had a prophetic dream one night that caused him great anxiety and concern.
In the dream he saw the body of his brother Henry Clemens laid out in a burial casket with white flowers on his breast with a single red rose in the center. Mark was terrified and was convinced that he was dead, but reality struck with great relief.
He had a dream he couldn't shake - something wasn't right. It wasn't. Had he a premonition in his sleep about an impending tragedy about to happen.
Twain the following day received a telegram that said his brother was killed inside the boiler room of a steamboat near Memphis, Tennessee. Twain traveled to Memphis and found where his brother reposed. He stood in front of the casket and to his relief there were no flowers. He sighed, the dream was only half true. Suddenly a woman appeared at the door and walked towards the casket carrying a bouquet of white flowers with one red rose at the center and laid it on Henry's breast.
Was his dream a warning about his brother's destiny. Was he visited by an angel in his dream to prepare him for the imminent loss of a family member. Was this prophecy or just coincidence. He wasn't sure.
When Twain was born in November 1835 Halley's comet streaked across the dark night sky. His dreams suggested he would die when Halley's comet returned in April 1910. As the comet with a 500-mile long tail blazed across the night sky Mark Twain did indeed die in April 1910. Did he have a premonition when he would die?
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States (1861-1865) experienced the same. Although born in a log cabin he self educated himself and became a backwoods lawyer and at age 36 (1847) entered Congress as a Representative from Illinois. Fourteen years later (1861) he became President in one of the most turbulent and violent Civil War - state against states to abolish slavery once and for all. Like many before him who walked the halls of the White House he couldn't escape bad dreams, the emotional feelings that something bad might happen. His destiny was being written in his sleep and he talked about the dream he had to several others.
In his dream he was walking through the silent White House toward the sounds of sobbing. As he walked into the East Room he was confronted by the sight of a catafalque (coffin) covered in black. He as if in Spirit form asked the guard on duty who was dead?
"The President," said the soldier.
Lincoln and Twain had premonitions about their destiny. They didn't alter their lives. They stayed on track, but it is sometimes difficult to stay on that path and not change course when thinking about our demise. Premonitions are warnings about the destinies of ourselves and others. When tragedy strikes - we don't know, but we should pay heed to the perils of man.
Yesterday I had just finished my blogs on Bigfoot; Living Legends in North America when a premonition struck. Looking at all the sticky notes taped to the bottom of my iMac I stared at a blank screen. Lots of names and telephone numbers, but one in particular seemed to have a heart beat and I had a premonition earlier that morning he would call when I finished my blog, the phone would ring. It did. Almost instantaneous the caller ID confirmed it. This was my first contact with the man. Premonitions come and we can't escape. The emotions and feelings are real.
Prophecy, coincidences, forewarnings or destiny?
We all share a common destiny whether good or bad, saved or sinner, religious or evil. We are responsible for our own ultimate destiny.
When was the last time you had a bad dream? Think about the premonitions in life. We can't escape bad dreams. They are an part of our living destiny.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Bigfoot: Living Legends in North America - 9
I chose not to tell you where I saw the Sasquatch for protection of a living legend. I don't desire to see a throng of people descending on the scene hoping they spot a Sasquatch. I have great respect for some individual friends living along that road and do not want to cause any accidents. They don't need trespassers.
Like you I'm interested in Bigfoot sightings, too. Before writing this true blog I was curious about the Menominee, Michigan sightings. Watched 10 minutes of the Finding Bigfoot episode, but fell asleep during a commercial. Rats, but I could find the story Online and again the trailcam photo was grainy and blurred. It was taken by a professional hunting guide on his own property or was it a cell phone photo?
Supposedly the man with the 80-acre farm shot the fuzzy image of what he believes was a Sasquatch standing in his woods. When I studied the photo with magnification - funny I see a trespassing hunter standing in a camouflaged parka in the shadows under a dark tree canopy hoping not to be seen. The photo shows slender legs -- not the massive muscular contour associated with Sasquatches. The photo reveals no particular massive buttocks or legs below the knees - straight skinny legs.
That's how I saw it - Ranae doubted it was a bonafide Sasquatch, too. "Rejected!"
Unfortunately we can't read the minds of anyone who saw the Sasquatch. Don't underestimate what people saw. It was real to them. The "Finding Bigfoot" team listens to people who have seen a Sasquatch or Cryptid species. They try to get the information out so they know where, when and how to proceed for filming of new episodes. This is Hollywood attention without Hollywood actors. It a re-creation show.
Now my friends use stationary game trailcams lashed to trees along deer and game trails for their pleasure studying what comes onto their property west of... They can catch trespassers, too!
Their cameras take amazingly clear photos - sharp details - on dark overcast days and under cloudy daytime skies. They took excellent photos of me passing by while riding an Exmark mower. Takes me 3 hours to mow their lawn and I've had silver (gray & red) foxes and deer, even an escaped South American large monkey and escaped 5-foot Australian kangaroo run past me traveling at 12 mph over the lawn. The monkey jumped onto my roll bars late one evening - nearly scared me to death. What a hoot!
Anything is possible in Michigan. If a trailcam under trees can take sharp photos of me passing by, why so many other fuzzy images of Sasquatch. Quality of cameras might be different, but many photos are taken in low light areas - things taken in dense shadows beneath canopy tree cover - shows distortions.
Finding a Bigfoot remains illusive, but I know they exist because I've seen it in action - in the flesh just like so many other folks. Remember God created all Things - mysteries of Earth yet to be discovered. There is no excuse for killing a Sasquatch just because the FB team can't produce a visible photo. They do the right thing and don't carry guns to kill a Sasquatch just for the glory of proving the legend is real and hopefully they don't find a human inside a gorilla suit pretending to be Bigfoot. Don't be like the Texas man flapping his gums about killing a Bigfoot. Don't supply his pockets with blood money.
Hunt yes, but don't be afraid of Sasquatch.
Because the Finding Bigfoot Team haven't spotted or found the lair of Sasquatch approach this reality TV show with a possible mind. It may take many years of failed attempts to locate and uncover the truth about the mysterious sightings all across North America.
Impatient humans can't get instant gratification. Just because they seek doesn't mean you shall find. Seek and you shall find takes on a different meaning when searching for Bigfoot. It's not a sure thing.
Lest I forget - shame on those who support a $10 million Sasquatch Bounty to prove they exist. America doesn't need impatient renegade felonious killers besmirching legal and lawful gun owners.
What gives Sasquatch hunters the right to kill them for their thrill and profit?
Killing a Sasquatch only heightens a reputation as a cold blooded killer. It'll haunt them for the rest of their life and may drastically alter their planned destiny - the scum bucket murderer.
The Texas man purposely planned the premeditated murder to line his pockets with blood money or is he just saying he killed a defenseless living legend -- or is this a fraud, too. Guess he just wanted all Sasquatch lookers to know he had no law enforcement authority; license or permits to kill it. Just a selfish desire to let others see he made himself judge, jury and executioner of a living half-ape, half-human intelligent creature (hominid).
My inquiring mind would like to know from Bigfoot researchers, "Do Sasquatch hibernate or do they go south to escape the freezing cold and snow like snow bird humans?" We don't hear of sightings in the winter months?"
"As hominid creatures would they hibernate in caves or mountain shelters buried in snow?" "You have much better chances of photographing a Sasquatch than winning the PCH sweepstakes in February 2014." Odds of winning originally were 1:300,000,000 times 100 additional sales mailings trying to collect enough money to support the $1,000,000 a year forever - now that's ..... when they super size entry numbers and try to lessen lessen odds of winning -- not increase. But dream on.
You decide if Sasquatch a.k.a Bigfoot is real or science fiction borne of fertile figments of overactive paranormal imaginations?
A clear photo would be priceless.
Like you I'm interested in Bigfoot sightings, too. Before writing this true blog I was curious about the Menominee, Michigan sightings. Watched 10 minutes of the Finding Bigfoot episode, but fell asleep during a commercial. Rats, but I could find the story Online and again the trailcam photo was grainy and blurred. It was taken by a professional hunting guide on his own property or was it a cell phone photo?
Supposedly the man with the 80-acre farm shot the fuzzy image of what he believes was a Sasquatch standing in his woods. When I studied the photo with magnification - funny I see a trespassing hunter standing in a camouflaged parka in the shadows under a dark tree canopy hoping not to be seen. The photo shows slender legs -- not the massive muscular contour associated with Sasquatches. The photo reveals no particular massive buttocks or legs below the knees - straight skinny legs.
That's how I saw it - Ranae doubted it was a bonafide Sasquatch, too. "Rejected!"
Unfortunately we can't read the minds of anyone who saw the Sasquatch. Don't underestimate what people saw. It was real to them. The "Finding Bigfoot" team listens to people who have seen a Sasquatch or Cryptid species. They try to get the information out so they know where, when and how to proceed for filming of new episodes. This is Hollywood attention without Hollywood actors. It a re-creation show.
Now my friends use stationary game trailcams lashed to trees along deer and game trails for their pleasure studying what comes onto their property west of... They can catch trespassers, too!
Their cameras take amazingly clear photos - sharp details - on dark overcast days and under cloudy daytime skies. They took excellent photos of me passing by while riding an Exmark mower. Takes me 3 hours to mow their lawn and I've had silver (gray & red) foxes and deer, even an escaped South American large monkey and escaped 5-foot Australian kangaroo run past me traveling at 12 mph over the lawn. The monkey jumped onto my roll bars late one evening - nearly scared me to death. What a hoot!
Anything is possible in Michigan. If a trailcam under trees can take sharp photos of me passing by, why so many other fuzzy images of Sasquatch. Quality of cameras might be different, but many photos are taken in low light areas - things taken in dense shadows beneath canopy tree cover - shows distortions.
Finding a Bigfoot remains illusive, but I know they exist because I've seen it in action - in the flesh just like so many other folks. Remember God created all Things - mysteries of Earth yet to be discovered. There is no excuse for killing a Sasquatch just because the FB team can't produce a visible photo. They do the right thing and don't carry guns to kill a Sasquatch just for the glory of proving the legend is real and hopefully they don't find a human inside a gorilla suit pretending to be Bigfoot. Don't be like the Texas man flapping his gums about killing a Bigfoot. Don't supply his pockets with blood money.
Hunt yes, but don't be afraid of Sasquatch.
Because the Finding Bigfoot Team haven't spotted or found the lair of Sasquatch approach this reality TV show with a possible mind. It may take many years of failed attempts to locate and uncover the truth about the mysterious sightings all across North America.
Impatient humans can't get instant gratification. Just because they seek doesn't mean you shall find. Seek and you shall find takes on a different meaning when searching for Bigfoot. It's not a sure thing.
Lest I forget - shame on those who support a $10 million Sasquatch Bounty to prove they exist. America doesn't need impatient renegade felonious killers besmirching legal and lawful gun owners.
What gives Sasquatch hunters the right to kill them for their thrill and profit?
Killing a Sasquatch only heightens a reputation as a cold blooded killer. It'll haunt them for the rest of their life and may drastically alter their planned destiny - the scum bucket murderer.
The Texas man purposely planned the premeditated murder to line his pockets with blood money or is he just saying he killed a defenseless living legend -- or is this a fraud, too. Guess he just wanted all Sasquatch lookers to know he had no law enforcement authority; license or permits to kill it. Just a selfish desire to let others see he made himself judge, jury and executioner of a living half-ape, half-human intelligent creature (hominid).
My inquiring mind would like to know from Bigfoot researchers, "Do Sasquatch hibernate or do they go south to escape the freezing cold and snow like snow bird humans?" We don't hear of sightings in the winter months?"
"As hominid creatures would they hibernate in caves or mountain shelters buried in snow?" "You have much better chances of photographing a Sasquatch than winning the PCH sweepstakes in February 2014." Odds of winning originally were 1:300,000,000 times 100 additional sales mailings trying to collect enough money to support the $1,000,000 a year forever - now that's ..... when they super size entry numbers and try to lessen lessen odds of winning -- not increase. But dream on.
You decide if Sasquatch a.k.a Bigfoot is real or science fiction borne of fertile figments of overactive paranormal imaginations?
A clear photo would be priceless.
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