By some fluke (and there are no flukes in the Universe), we heard yesterday from a friend in the Bemidji (Minnesota) area. While she called about an upcoming wedding, she had heard that a house had burned and 1 person was killed earlier that morning in what appeared to be our old neighborhood in Grand Forks. She gave Richard the address.
When Melanie and I returned home, we quickly figured it out: To our horror, we knew that's Jim and Teresa's house. Jim and Teresa (and their girls) were our neighbors for upwards of 20 years. That's a lot of growing time. That also included the Flood of 1997 where we mucked out basements and mutually helped neighbors and friends (especially of the older variety). Besides being neighbors, Jim was our loyal optician. He's even helped me out down here.
How could that be? The 3 C's headed straight to the Grand Forks Phone Book, checked out the Grand Forks Herald on line, saw video clips on KVLY and WDAZ. We could make no mistake about the firefighter's photo inside the once beautiful green window frame of their house. We called former neighbors Al and Mary next door to us and across the street from Jim and Teresa.
Details are not important. Jim made it out. Teresa didn't. Their 3 dogs also perished. Jim was initially hospitalized and in satisfactory condition. The house appeared totalled. Their dear daughters should be home by now.
We've been pretty somber around here these last 24 hours. The tears flow. We are so sad for them, for their family and for the transition that will be ahead for all of them. We can't do much at this end. But we can surround them with love and prayers.
Life is a gift. Media is reminding folks to make sure smoke detectors are in good working order. I am reminded that yes, we do feel another's pain. That is part of the human condition. We are all connected. That is the beauty and strength of our shared humanity. We are so grateful that Jim and Teresa have been our neighbors. To know them is to love them. We are richly blessed. Jim and their family and friends will be in our thoughts and prayers for some time to come.
Banner Photo
May 20:
The Farm is really greening up. Plants are breaking into buds and flowers, under our ever watchful eye. Buffalo Gal, a rose we brought with us from North Dakota, is covered with buds and today she presented us with her 1st flower.
Irises began blooming yesterday. And we were not surprised that the 1st to flower were Irises from Melanie's 2 Grandmas (Ethel and Dorothy, who have both passed). I noted that the Yellow Columbine is also breaking into flower. And the Bleeding Heart just continues to throw out cascades of flowers.
We got 1 inch of rain last night. We did lose a few limbs, but otherwise, the countryside is in that luscious, after rain, spring-moving-into summer, green.
I do remember that my Dad, when he came to our Farm in 2007 just 2 months before he passed, said: "This is paradise. When I go to Heaven, I want to come here." It surely is beautiful here. The landscapes are radiant.
And the Hummingbirds, with all their energy, have just arrived. They buzz about. I don't know how they have all that energy. They wintered in the Yucatan, crossed the Gulf on those tiny wings, and now are setting up home here. I supposed you could say, they are setting up home just like us.
All this makes a perfect backdrop for wedding preparations and for the wedding itself. Is this for real?
About this Blog
Melanie, Glinda, and Richard Crawford share reflections on our journeys to walk paths where the future matters from our new home on Butterfly Hill Farm. That includes recognizing the sacredness of life, living sustainably and simply, reclaiming family history and traditions, growing our own food. We humbly offer this as our story seeking meaning and not as a cookie cutter for others lives. We invite the sharing of your journeys as well.
Photos
Except in very specific circumstances, all photos depicted here were taken on our Farm. Those circumstances off the Farm relate to the purposes of this Farm and this writing exploration. Almost all were taken by 1 of the 3 C's. If not, I try to make sure others are credited. I (Glinda) am usually the one carrying the camera, but not always.
I do my best to gain permissions of Folks whose pictures are shown on this Blog. If for any reason, you are pictured and would like your photo removed, just let me know. Thanks.
I do my best to gain permissions of Folks whose pictures are shown on this Blog. If for any reason, you are pictured and would like your photo removed, just let me know. Thanks.
Visits to this Blog
Glinda
...began her professional career as a Home Economist, later serving as a Home Economics Teacher Educator for 2 decades. In 1995, she moved into analyzing the Human Side of Environmental Issues. She went from studying Humans in their Little Homes to studying Humans in their Big Home, the Earth. Those 2 leggeds were, after all, creating a substantial problem for the Earth, which sustains them. After 30 years in higher education, she became Professor Emerita of Sociology and Interdisciplinary Ecological Studies at the University of North Dakota in 2005.
Glinda has a special interest in analyzing the split Humans have with Nature. Her focus is bringing Humans home to the Earth, opening at long last to the awe, magic, and love of this beautiful Earth whirling in the Great Cosmic Sea. She is a writer, teacher, poet, artist. She is the writer for this Blog, the substance of which will likely become a book she has known she would write.
Recent interview with Fast Recipes: http://www.fastrecipes.com/latest-news/nature%E2%80%99s-recipes:-living-off-the-land-in-missouri-2010061740080/
Glinda has a special interest in analyzing the split Humans have with Nature. Her focus is bringing Humans home to the Earth, opening at long last to the awe, magic, and love of this beautiful Earth whirling in the Great Cosmic Sea. She is a writer, teacher, poet, artist. She is the writer for this Blog, the substance of which will likely become a book she has known she would write.
Recent interview with Fast Recipes: http://www.fastrecipes.com/latest-news/nature%E2%80%99s-recipes:-living-off-the-land-in-missouri-2010061740080/
Richard
...grew up on a 120 acre Farm about 5 miles west of here. Those humble beginnings have had a profound effect on his Life. He was trained as a Wildlife Biologist and later responsible for the Wildlife Management Program at the University of North Dakota for over 3 decades. Retiring in 2007, he is a UND Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biology.
Richard brings to the Farm a lifelong interest in the Natural Sciences (Birds, Wildlife, Prairie Restoration, Ecosystems, Gardening) and the Humanities. As his wife (Glinda) says: "He is one of those few people in our Culture who can still read Nature's story and make it accessible to those around him."
Richard brings to the Farm a lifelong interest in the Natural Sciences (Birds, Wildlife, Prairie Restoration, Ecosystems, Gardening) and the Humanities. As his wife (Glinda) says: "He is one of those few people in our Culture who can still read Nature's story and make it accessible to those around him."
Melanie
...would list a bio a little shorter than her Mom and Dad. That's because she hasn't lived quite so long, which is the normal course of such things. But her bio would be no less interesting and perhaps even more so. She has come to this work and this walk far earlier than her Mom or Dad.
Melanie has an interest in healthy lifestyles. It's not something you read about; it's something you do. She brings her love of life, her travel near and far, her love of people known and unknown, her playful curiosity, and her knowing to Gardening, Raising Chickens, Herbal Healing, and the Culinary Arts. She makes a place for Kids of all Ages on this Little Farm.
Melanie has an interest in healthy lifestyles. It's not something you read about; it's something you do. She brings her love of life, her travel near and far, her love of people known and unknown, her playful curiosity, and her knowing to Gardening, Raising Chickens, Herbal Healing, and the Culinary Arts. She makes a place for Kids of all Ages on this Little Farm.
This Blog includes my exploration (with others alongside) as we seek to gather Family Stories. I have long since known that I cannot completely know who I am or where I am until I reflect on where I came from and those who came before.
Our adventures on ...
- Butterfly Hill Farm,
- Kirksville, Missouri, United States
- In May 2007, we 3 partners (Glinda, Richard, Melanie Crawford) moved to this little acreage in northeast Missouri. We believe life is a sacred gift and we intend to live that practice in this space. This is the story of our journey of exploration and discovery.
Sustainable Lifestyles
Seed and Nursery Catalogs
Good Reads
- National Geographic
- Refuge (Tempest Williams)
- Mists of Avalon (Bradley)
Agrarian Lifestyle
- Backyard Poultry
- Foxfire Series
- Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture (Hemenway, 2000)
- Hobby Farms: Rural Living for Pleasure and Profit
- Murray MacMurray Hatchery
- Organic Gardener's Handbook of Natural Insect and Disease Control: A Complete Problem-Solving Guide to Keeping Your Garden and Yard Healthy without Chemicals (edited by Ellis and Bradley, 1996))
- Small Farmer's Journal
Inspiration
- The Great Work: Our Way into the Future (Berry, 1999)
- Earth Prayers From Around the World (Roberts and Amidon)
- Peace Is Every Step (Thich Nhat Hanh)
- Bhagavad Gita
Health
- Family Herbal (Gladstar)
- Nourishing Traditions (Fallon)
- Yoga Mind, Body and Spirit (Farhi)
Natural History
- Butterfly Book: Complete Guide to Butterfly Gardening, Identification, and Behavior (Stokes et al., 1991)
- Missouri Conservationist
- Restoring the Tallgrass Prairie (Shirley, 1994)
- Sky & Telescope
- Tallgrass Prairie Wildflowers (Ladd and Oberle, 1995)
- The Sibley Guide to Birds (Sibley, 2000)
- Weeds of the Northern US and Canada (Royer and Dickinson, 1999)
Movies
- Erin Brockovich
- Gandhi
- Kundun
- Muppet Movie
- Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and Wardrobe
- Pay It Forward
- Pride and Prejudice
- Rabbit Proof Fence
- Seabiscuit
- Sleepless in Seattle
- Star Wars
- Sweet Land
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