Rebuilding the American Dream

In every step, we make choices to "rebuild the American Dream".  Check out this video: "The Story of Broke". http://www.storyofstuff.org/movies-all/story-of-broke/

Don't Touch the Clocks

This is the night when my family advises me: "Don't touch the clocks."  I have this wonderful knack of turning them the other way, with interesting results.

Deer Season

I have to admit that Deer Season is not one of my favorite times to be on the Farm.   We do not hunt or allow hunting on the Farm.  Blaze orange appears and moves about the landscape of the neighboring properties.  From a distance those blaze orange vests, jackets, sweatshirts make the wearer look like a tiny bright bug on the landscape. Trucks and Hunters routinely travel sometimes at great speeds down our off the beaten track road, as if to say "Don't get in my way."

This weekend is Youth Season.  Next weekend the full season begins.  This will feature the most intense activity.  A break for Thanksgiving is in the works and some limited season follows after that. The quiet country side will be broken with punctuations of shots. 

We 3 C's are not opposed to hunting.  Richard hunts.  We do eat game, deer and turkey especially.  Deer is a staple in our diet, surpassed on by Beef, or should I say "Cow".

During Deer Season, we 3 C's are careful not to walk around our property, which we absolutely love to do, especially during the late Fall.  If we are out and about, we wear blaze orange or bright colors. We feel relatively safe, although it is important to be smart about it.  It is not as tranquil to walk in Deer Season, I might add.  A major reason why we do not walk is that we do not want to scare up any Deer who might then wander into sight of Hunters.  They have few places of sanctuary at this time.

I think how awful it must be for the Deer to have gone from a peaceful period to one where they seem to have become a target.  What sense must they make of all of this?  I cannot make sense of it myself.  The prevailing view in our culture is that non-Human Nature has no feeling.  I beg to differ.  Besides, all Creatures are gifts of the Divine.

I just hope that Hunting, as in all Human Actions, is done in a good way.  I suppose you could call that a prayer.

Reducing Catalogs

Over the years, we have been very cognizant of the fact that paper is a "gift from Trees".  When I hold paper in my hands, I recognize it as "Tree".  I wonder what stories it could tell.  I wonder where it came from.

Consequently, we have tried really hard to reduce our use of paper.  To be sure, we can do more.  And this particular leaning means we need to always be vigilant.

One of our greatest frustrations has been the volume of catalogs that used to stuff our mailbox.  I am pleased to report that they "used" to stuff our box.  We are very careful about "lists" that sell our name and address.  Whenever we sign up for something new which requires address and/or phone number (like getting a new catalog), we try always to ask:  "What do you do with this information?"  And we specify that we do not want our name sold. (I could add a further question, which would be appropriate, but I have not done that yet:  "Do you have our permission to sell our name and address?")

Whenever we get a new catalog we do not want, we quickly head to the phone and request cancellation.  Some companies make it easy.  Very easy.  Other companies make it more difficult.  For those, I push the button described as "place an order".  That usually gets results.  When I finally talk with an operator, I request information about where they got our name (they do not always know), I state clearly they we do not want our name sold, I tell them we do this for the trees, I note that we buy only what we need, I ask them to pass this information on.

I do recognize that the operator is someone who is usually not connected to decision making.  Further, I know they are just trying to make ends meet.  I try to be nice.  That usually works.

About every 2 years, we have also contacted the Direct Marking Association to have our names removed.  We have found it important to include all variations of name and address.  It would be important to check the differences one sees in the address labels of catalogs.  The computer sees each of these addresses as different people.  Aren't computers fun?

Just recently I found what looks like a wonderful new resource that may well top that and some besides. I like that it includes an option of removing those multiple phone directories.  Who needs all those phone directories anyway?  http://www.nwf.org/Global-Warming/Personal-Solutions/Reduce-Reuse-Recycle/Catalogs.aspx

Years ago, I read where certain locations of forested areas had produced telephone directories and toilet paper. That little piece of information really got me going.
Change is happening.  For that, we are deeply grateful.

Rain and Wind

We got about 2 inches of Rain in the last 24 hours.  The Rain came in last night and with it Wind.  One can feel the energy shift into Winter.  While listening to the Rain, our thoughts drifted toward the new Pond.  And we smiled.

Notes from the Past

I love to read magazines and books from earlier times.  Somehow they reveal an understanding of where have come from and how we got to the place we are now.  Too bad, we don't always pay attention.  We could solve some problems before they become problems.  Check the letter entitled the "Crossroads Philosopher" from Country Gentleman, December, 1950, page 139: 

"DEAR EDITOR:  I read in a copy of a magazine which I picked up in my dentist's office the other day (and which I will return if my tooth ever starts hurtin' again) where scientists are baffled over the fact weeds and grass can build up an immunity to those newfangled weed killers.

It seems like the first year these chemical will kill weeds and grass satisfactorily, but by the second year some of the weeds begin catchin' on and build up an immunity, and the chemicals have no effect on 'em. As a result, scientists and some farmers are tearin' their hair.

But it hasn't bothered me---and won't.  I learned long ago that grass and weeds was apparently here to stay and the smart thing to do was for me to build up an immunity against them.  I ain't no scientist, but I figure I got as much sense as a weed, and if it can build up immunity against me, I can build one against it.  Live and let live is my policy.  Weeds and me both is part of Nature and we stopped objectin' to each other years ago.  Yours faithfully, ---H.B. Fox"

Art Show Closes

We took the Show down today.  Sweet memories of it will last for a very long time. Jerry Jones took some marvelous photos of the KHS Class of  '66 Art Show. Thanks Jerry! I have posted them as slide show below.  (Note: I have sometimes found that a blank white screen appears where the slide show should be.  I am trying to remedy this situation.  If you have trouble accessing the slideshow, let me know.)