to beet or not to beet, is that the question?

recently i have been hearing negative comments regarding the marvelous beet. i defend the rights of beets and those that grow them. eat them. love them.

i march to the drum of a different beet.

beet me, no sticks please, but do beet me.

i belong to the beet generation.

my theme song is cher's 'and the beet grows on'.

check out wikipedia and "Jitterbug Perfume" by Tom Robbins. one of my favorite books by my favorite author. better yet, read the book. if you are not convinced by then, let me prepare a dish of my delicious beets for you.

a continuing day of loveliness

after reading and catching up on some writing i drove down to the farm. i spent 4 hours weeding, enjoying every second of it, and now have but one row left before i straw the flowers.

the sweetcorn is tasseling

and little ears are forming

plenty of tomatoes from now on

and tonight i will have a meal fit for a queen

WHAT A TRUELY LOVELY DAY!

a beautiful sunday morn

since Monday i have been out of the house before 6:00 and headed for a 46 acre bean field. the field had a good growth of long-neglected mulberry sprouts. armed with a sharp shovel and axe, and a dull mind, i meticulously cleared the field of these unwanted 'guests'. by 8:30 it was too hot for me to continue. i would cool off and then spend a couple of hours working in the flower beds and vegetable garden.

this morning, once again, i was out early and headed for another bean field. but this time i was on a hike to enjoy a small meadow with a lovely pond. i had hopes of photographing the scenery and wildlife - deer and, perhaps, even turkey.

as i walked west down the gravel lane it was light out, but the sun wasn't yet quite visible. there was a refreshingly cool breeze stirring. to my left there was a sudden movement in the trees. an owl! i hadn't counted on this. i glimpsed it for just a brief second, but still....an owl!

i continued up the lane and as i cleared the first rise i came face-to-face with a turkey hen. surprised, i froze. she turned and turkey-trotted down the road. i dug for my camera, still cased and pocketed. she flew. i missed the shot. but i was off to a great start.

at the top of the next rise i turned into the bean field and headed north. another half mile and i reached the meadow. no deer. but lots of birds and bunnies, though none of which showed in any interest in having their picture taken. it didn't matter. i had reached the peaceful spot i had set out to find.

i sat at the edge of the field and enjoyed my view. i thought. the sun was warm on my back and the breeze cool in my face. it was a glorious morning.

no deer. but a turkey. and an owl! well, maybe an owl. it was just a brief second. but who gives a hoot?

a great morning to be alive.

a lovely day to be in love.

cloud runner

Rich Baily is a very talented local artist who has been a friend of mine most of my life. He has always lived in this community except for a few years in the early 70s during Vietnam, at which time he opted for an extended stay in Holland.

You can find his work hanging in many homes, and some businesses, here and across the river. i probably do have some favorites but i enjoy all of Rich's paintings. this one is from his cloud runner period during the late 90s or a little later. it belongs to Tom and Diane and i get to enjoy it almost daily.

a quiet evening at home

i'm watching Into the Wild tonight. i read the book, by Jon Krakauer, a few years ago. very moving. i think the movie will be just as wonderful. music is superb. Canned Heat right now. read the book. watch the movie.

my life is brighter.

blogger's block?

i don't think so. i have things on my mind. things i could post. but i guess i just choose not to tonight.

do you ever have those times when, instead of blogging, you would rather be able to talk to someone. i do.

i am careful what i wish for

i like the fact that i can control my thoughts and daydreams. i wish that were true for my nightdreams.

my mother passed away in 1992. on my 50th birthday nine years later, before i blew out the candles on my cake, my wish was that my mother would be in my dreams that night. well, like most wishes, it didn't come true. but over the years my mother, my father, and my grandparents have come to be with me while i was sleeping. i could see them. i could hear them. we were together. my dad and i played in the garden. my granddad held open the gate while i drove his old Ford tractor thru. mom would talk to me and make me laugh.

last night, once again, they were absent in my dreams. but someone was in my dream world last night. one who i have not dreamt of in many years. if i had made a wish last night it would have been to dream that dream.

today's pickings

i like my flowers. it's still a few weeks until the stems will be long enough for market but all the new flowers and short stems need to be cut to open up the plants. it gives me a great chance to brighten up my life.

it will be burgers on the grill tonight with sliced tomatoes and onions with a side of baby beets. they are pretty small but i could not resist. fried egg sandwich with sliced tomato and mayo in the morning and for lunch a p-nut butter, tomato and mayo sandwich. ohhhhhh those garden tomatoes!!!

a few firsts

peppers are ready in the garden.

i picked my first zinnia from the garden last evening. a deep red, small-headed flower from an Oklahoma mix. it was placed in a small vase and looked very proud to be the center of Diane's dinner table.

during dinner preparations Heddi, Diane and i shared our first tomato of the season.

morels and wonderful salads for dinner. Patty had frozen some morels this spring to save for Heddi and Terry. Tasted as fresh as if they had just been gathered.

i brought a black bean dip with my sauteed scapes and other goodies.

Diane baked a cherry pie. i ate crust and all.

looking for Cinderella

is a kiss really just a kiss?

my friend the mail box handed me an envelope as i returned home last night. it contained a mystery that has turned into a mission. no return address. a beautiful card signed "me".

did my empty mailbox photo catch somebody's attention? Has someone found my message in a bottle?

i pressed the envelope to my lips. again. i will know these lips when i find them.

who's lips fit this glass slipper?

summer begins

this morning the skies are once again rumbling and tumbling. i can just now begin to hear the rain beat on the deck outside. radar shows a strong storm overhead and strecthing up to southern Iowa and back to the west. i believe i am just on the edge of it.

i did attend the sweat last evening. i had prepared a potatoe salad with the sauteed scapes earlier in the day, even though i had already decided i would be staying home. i wasn't in the mood for a large gathering. i was perfectly content with a beer and my book.

but around 5:30 a friend stopped by and convinced me i still needed more social flutterbying. so i cleaned up, loaded up and headed down the road.

it turned out to be a wonderful evening. only eight people for the cookout. perfect! we sat in the shade with a nice breeze and shared wonderful stories. at one point the conversation shifted to my earlier life as a river diver. as i answered questions and related diving experiences i was amazed at how much came back to me. it had been so long ago. it truly was an earlier life.

while Dan grilled, two us walked down thru the orchard to the pond where the "lodge" was. we built a large, hot fire and placed 15 to 20 large stones between the logs and over the flames. our roasting stones would be ready in a couple of hours.

after a delicious dinner, after the clean-up, and after our good-byes to the departing couple from Illinois, the remaining six of us again took the trail thru the orchard. it was dark by then and our path was lit only by the stars and the fireflies, with the coals from the fire glowing down by the pond.

the lodge is more of a domed, make-shift shanty covered with blankets, tarps and an old tent. there is a pit in the center of it where the hot stones from the fire were placed. we disrobed and, one-by-one, crawled out of the heat and into the fire.

the six of us barely fit in a cirlcle around the pit. it was dark. it was hot. it was a sweat. Cherie began in a soft voice. she spoke of the air we breath. water from a mason jar was flicked on the hot stones. we could hear the hiss. we could feel the heat. Dan spoke of the earth. more water. more hissing. more heat. a woman from Wisconsin spoke of the solstice. water, hissing, heat. The mason jar was passed to me. "You who are out there. You are my Dog Star. My Sirius. You are..." I flicked water on the stones.

the coolness of the pond water was wonderful. a midnight swim. i thought there should have been a full moon. but there were the stars. and all those fireflies. and a display of lightning far to the north, somewhere over Iowa.

just an experiment

ok

maybe

possibly

we'll see
and no one got hurt guess i don't have the text figured out yet

love these birds

i will try again to post multiple images. i don't know how the text and fotos will match up... so work with me.

the killdeer has become one of my favorite birds. often nesting in the fields before the crops have been planted, i have learned to work around them. a flash of orange at the last moment tells me to stop, locate the eggs and then cultivate around them. Tom, following with the planter, then does the same.

last year flooded fields forced a pair of killdeer to nest on higher ground - the lane leading to the house. the eggs were marked and protected by a bucket of cement. we drove around them every day, anxiously waiting for them to hatch. and then....

this is definitly NOT what i had in mind - but you gotta love these birds!!!

from my loft - sunday morning musings on saturday

last evening we sat outside under the Browns' large covered space and enjoyed the 2nd major storm of the day. the driving rain was hard from the west. we were sheltered on the east side of the house. i was focused on the fast moving clouds racing past stationary ones. how could this be? as the storm increased the swirling winds carried the rain into our "protected" area, forcing us inside for the duration. the calm after the storm found us again outside, sipping our scorpions, enjoying the cool, fresh air. the sun popped out shortly before setting. and across the highway from the sweetcorn stand, above the state park, above the trail with that little rise, appeared a rainbow.

i googled slaw dogs yesterday. an amazing amount of info devoted to this k-9 treat. there is even a blogspot by AK Attic where i read Ode to the slaw dog!

if i had swept my floor yesterday would i today be admiring how clean it looked?

i am pleasantly surprised when i find that of which i had not been searching. i had been so pleased with the calm in my life. that inner peace that is hard to attain, but so rewarding. i had barely begun reading Local Wonders by Ted Kooser and already i realized there was much more depth of this inner peace to be had. to those of you who have shared this book with others, i thank you. i promise to do the same.

this weekend's social calendar

i actually have a fairly full schedule of events this weekend. and am looking forward to all of them.

tonight is dinner at the Browns. friends are in from the east coast, Des Moines and the Ozarks. drinks to begin with. am wondering what cherry margaritas or daiquiris would taste like....have made a favorite pesto torte (made with my southwest pesto) to bring as an appetizer.

a big storm just blew in out of nowhere. thunder. lightning. pouring down rain (when it rains...). wind. and more thunder. don't ya just love em!

tomorrow is my usual saturday with Joe. pitchers of cold Fat Tire at Springstreet. don't ya just love em!!

sunday Neighbor Dan and Cherie are having a summer solstice sweat at Blue Heron Orchard. it's been a number of years since i have been in a sweat lodge. i use to regularly participate in a sweat during May Day activities at Sand Hill Community, an old commune from the early 70s that has survived and thrived. i am hoping to see some old aquaintances sunday. for my contribution to sunday's meal i think i have decided on sauteed garlic scapes. i have been on the web checking out recipes. looks easy enough and, as you can see, i have plenty of scapes to choose from.

will exit now as severe storm warnings are out and supposed to be here in 12 minutes!

well - i am on satellite for tv and the internet. and when storms like this blow up from the southwest i lose reception. so everything is unplugged and my laptop shows i have 3 hr and 37 min of battery life left. i can't post or add an image until i regain my satellite reception. so what to talk about...

lots of good reading of late. a dear friend sent me a book to read. i saved it for yesterday. after dropping my truck off around 11:30 to have my rear window replaced i walked to the Greek restaurant for lunch. began reading until i was served my Greek salad and spinach pie - scrumptious! then i strolled down to the riverfront and found a shaded park bench to continue this wonderful book until they called and told me my truck was ready. came to a good place to temporarily stop reading and then a short hike up the hill. a quick stop at Springstreet for a couple bottles of Newcastle and then home.

"hello cats. i bet you are hungry".

also i am in a one-sided penpal relationship. she writes. i read. works great because, as you can see, i do not enjoy writing. my penpal keeps me quasi-uptodate on her life, her thoughts, her plans. always letters and cards worth reading many times.

the storm has past. will try to post now. it's been fun. - gigi

to a budding relationshop...or

this bud's for you...

this was my first attempt at multiple images and it wasn't quite what i had planned. will try to learn more and see what happens. oh well....

and the cats?

i came down the hill waving my mail. "LOOK!LOOK!" the four of them lay there feigning sleep, their feline bodies visibly shaking with uncontrolled giggles.

i began opening the package with uncontained excitement. but then - WHAT! "This has already been opened. which one of you - there's bird feathers in my book - and here is - what is - is this - it is. This is a tail - a mouse tail!"

call me Curiosity, but i was ready to kill. "why would - who..." Momma Rosa, Nut and Piedmont pointed at Oscar. i started toward him. Oscar looked over his shoulder at the pile of rocks, at least what was left of it, nodded, and winked.

i couldn't help myself. the chuckle that escaped my throat started the hysterics that they had been holding in since their tampering escatpade.

"Sing. Sing. Sing us the song, gigi."

and i did. and when i would get to the part "and cut off their tails with..." they would all join in, laughing and rolling around until nearly falling off the deck.

we were happy.

and later, as we sat sipping our wine, as Oscar whistled "3 blind mice" for the umpteenth time, Momma Rosa came over and asked "but what about the girl, gigi? will she love us? will she love YOU as much as we do?"

"i hope so Momma Rosa. i can only hope so."

i smiled and went inside.

tired, happy

i had considered a couple of different topics for today's post. but i have things to read. a drawing to enjoy.

my mailbox and i have reconnected.

reflections on sand prairie trail

There should be a rainbow just above that little rise. No. It's not your fault. You didn't miss it. i should have waited for the rainbow to appear. No matter how long, i should have waited. Time is nothing to me. Time is everything.

did it just quit raining, or what?

the healing powers of a dpt - it still is gloomy outside but the sun just again began shining in my world!

oh, for a pack of camel wides

oh yeah. stuck at home on another rainy day. sunday i caught my mower throwing rocks again. "stop that! you"ll put someone's window".... too late this time.

the Tundra stood there in shock. not in pain, but in disbelief. the sliding rear window in countless pieces spread over the entire area of the cab. "why? what did i ever do to you? who"....me and the mower were already pointing fingers at each other. and the pile of rocks, at least what was left of it, just smiled.

it's just a crummy waterlogged life today.

i went to a garden party

yeah, i know you know - Rick Nelson . it's just that whenever i think about what i am writing, certain song lyics pop into my head. that's not a bad thing. makes for fun titles. anyway.....

of late i have been experiencing those social life blues. too much work. too much rain. and definitely too much computer.

so the other day when i received an invitation to a dinner party i graciously accepted. it was Italian themed and outdoors. a splendid evening. and the elegant table speaks for itself.

a "tribute" to Tom Tobbins

A book was recently returned after a lengthy absense. It being another rainy morning ( I know, house cleaning. Well, the dishes are done and the laundry is started. And I have established paths thru the dust. So there.) I opened "Wild Ducks Flying Backward" to the section marked TRIBUTES. Read tributes to The Doors, The Sixties, Kissing, Leonard Cohen, and Diane Keaton. As I was reading the one to Redheads I knew what my post would be today.

This first appeared in GQ in 1988. The final three paragraphs read:

"What is your mission among us, you daughters of ancient Henna, you agents of the harvest moon? Are those star maps that your freckles replicate? How do you explain the fact that you live longer than the average human? Where did you get such sensitive skin? And why are your curls the same shade as heartache?

Alas, inquiry is futile: either they don't know or they won't say - and who has the nerve to pressure a redhead? We may never learn their origin or meaning, but it probably doesn't matter. We will go on leaping out of our frying pans into their fire, grateful for the opportunity to be titillated by their vengeful fury, real or imagined, and to occasionally test our erotic mettle in the legendary inferno of their passion.

Redheaded women! Those blood oranges! Those cherry bombs! Those celestial shrews and queens of copper! May they never cease to stain our white-bread lives with supernatural catsup."

Thank you Tom (may i call you Tom?)

just another sunday

I love the asparagus bed when grown and waiting to be cut back.

There is not much from this camp to report on today. At least nothing of interest. I'm already bored with what I have to post but still feel the need to stay conneted.

Rain was in the forecast today and I had planned to CLEAN house. Bob Dylan had promised to stop by and keep me company. Thank god the sun came out and stayed. I missed visiting with Bob but was happy to enjoy the outdoors.

We planted our 3rd planting of sweetcorn today. Another acre so we have a little more than 3 in the ground now. The previous 2 plantings are up and looking great. The 1st should be ready to harvest by the middle of July. 1 or 2 more plantings to go in the upcoming weeks.

Spent a couple of hours cleaning the melon patch and another 2 carefully weeding the zinnias. Did't even get 1/4 done on the flowers. Another day.

When I got home the grass was begging me to come mow. Can't stand to see grown grass cry. But first I indulged in a couple of cold beers. Ahhhhhh. So good. Yes, I know. Don't drink and mow. But if I had had to choose one or the other, the grass would still be out there sobbing. And I so despise water grass.

And the house? I have stopped stepping around and over the dust. I just wade on thru.

Wonder if it will rain tomorrow....

happy trails to you until we meet again

Roy Rogers always ended his show back in the 50s with this song.

i took a happy trail yesterday. across the road from the sweetcorn stand is the state park. i hadn't visited it in quite some time. for the last few years it seems it has been flooded more oft than not. the park was once a sand quarry and the pits watered in to create a number of lakes. yesterday i opted for Sand Prairie trail. in years past i used it as my cool-down after a run on the longer trails around the lakes. i spent much more time there than i had planned. it was just beautiful. i took more than 150 shots of the praire flowers, birds, land and waterscapes. this morning it was just as rewarding reviewing the fotos - but way too hard to pick which to share. so i will leave you with this shot. the rest of them are just over that little rise......

okay all you happy campers

if you are getting ready to hit the road for that summer vacation remember - drive safe, be careful, but do have fun. and don't forget - live for today, but think about the future.

rain rain....

another big storm, unexpected, at 4 this morning had me hitting the floor running to get all windows and doors closed. a check of the radar shows one more intense storm just a few miles west of here and strecthing across a few counties. play time until it all passes.

yesterday while waiting for the next grain truck to load i had ample time to wander around and take some pics. this one is of Lady Di's patio garden.

a picture is worth......

for years when i got up in the morning i would pour a cup of coffee and head up to the mailbox, cats in tow. recently i have been stopping on the way home from farming, too anxious to wait another day. for weeks now my postman has been very generous to me. letters, cards and more letters. there was a calming routine i would go thru before allowing myself to feast on the contents. cats to feed, open a Busch, shower, put music on, Busch #2, turn on the computer, and then settle in for my reading and listening pleasure.

tonight i will reread recent letters and cards. and the music for this evening - i believe i will start off with Mr. Floyd's "Wish You Were Here".

missouri primrose

woke last night to the sound of thunder

flashes of lightning. the thunder fading to the east across the river, new rumbling nearing from the west. a steady rain on the roof. i wanted to get a cup of coffee and go sit in the barn and enjoy. but it was too early and i was too tired. so i just stayed in bed and thought. and smiled.

life is good.

the next one will be better.

Mrs. W and Photo

my friend Lisa took this photo, well, both photos actually, of her mother. i really like this.

hope this works for you

let me know

the country alarm clock

help???

"The danger is past. They are friends at long last.

Wulli and Fuzzy are free.

And so it is with us, when there are friends that we trust.

There is beauty in all that we see."

i remember these lines (i think) from the back of a card many years ago. had written it down with the author's name but, like my life, has been temporarily (permanantly?) misplaced.

any info on this would be graciously accepted.

Hannan and Elizabeth, my great-nieces

They're wearing the sweaters and scarves i gave them for xmas. They live in Des Moines now, vacationing in Spirit Lake this week. Seems very far away.

another butterfly for free

this one was definitely not a "flutterby"

words of beauty

from "Sand and Foam" by Khalil Gibran


I AM FOREVER walking upon these shores,
Betwixt the sand and the foam,
The high tide will erase my foot-prints,
And the wind will blow away the foam.
But the sea and the shore will remain
Forever.

Once I filled my hand with mist.
Then I opened it and lo, the mist was a worm.
And I closed and opened my hand again, and
behold there was a bird.
And again I closed and opened my hand, and in
its hollow stood a man with a sad face,
turned upward.
And once again I closed my hand, and when I
opened it there was naught but mist.
But I heard a song of exceeding sweetness.

butterflies are free

i was just focusing on this not-so-common (for our area) milkweed when Madame B fluttered in

up Durgens Creek with a paddle

extreme pot smoking

sorry Dello, but i just love this one

it will soon be that time again

my friends gathering cuttings for one of last year's farmers market