June 06, 2022

Melissa has the habit of keeping the door open to the back porch when she is working to allow Zena access to the deck.  This results in other visitors coming in as well as Zena going out.  Last week we had two House sparrows (Passer domesticus) that decided to check out the succulents that fill the porch.  I became aware of the birds when Zena became frantic and wanted outside.  When I walked out one of the birds flew out the door on its own, but the other franticly thrashed against the screen.  I went inside to get my butterfly net to coax the bird outside, but I did not close the door completely and it flew into the house.  I did get it back to the porch, but it flew behind some items stored in the corner and I could not get it to move.  I finally gave up knowing it would eventually get out on its own.  That was when I noticed an interesting moth near the ceiling that I do not recall having ever seen.

When I looked online, I found the eight-spotted forester (Alypia octomaculata), is a moth of the family Noctuidae found in the eastern part of the US and in parts of Canada and Mexico.  The wingspan of the adult moth is 1–1½ inches (30–37 mm).  Adult foresters have butterfly-like traits, meaning they fly during the day, drink from flowers, and have antennae that are thickened at the tips.  While the overall color is black, the forewings have two pale yellow spots, and the hindwings have two white spots.  The body is mostly black, but the front and middle pairs of legs have patches of bright orange hairs.  The flight is fast and darting and the black and white pattern creates a flickering effect like a strobe light.  Forester larvae are whitish lavender, with each segment having several narrow, black transverse lines and one wide orange band.  There are small black tubercles on the body, white spots in the abdominal area, and an orange head.  The moth flies from April to June in one generation in the north, while in the south it has two generations, one April to June and the other in August. 

The adult moth emerges in late spring to mate and the eggs are laid on grape shoots and leaves.  The larvae hatch and will feed until it reaches full growth in early summer.  The mature larvae drop to the ground and pupate in tunnels they construct just beneath the soil surface.  The next generation of moths emerge and lay eggs again in late summer.  There may be two generations, a partial second generation, or only one generation depending on the climate.  Both the wild grape (Vitis vinifera) and the Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) serve as alternate hosts.  Although commercial vineyards do not generally suffer severe damage from the moth larvae, small areas of a vineyard may have concentrated infestations and defoliation.  Damage is most severe along the perimeters of vineyards and near bushes, woods, or weedy areas where the wild alternatives grow.  The moth resting on my porch was a long way from habitat or food.

THOUGHTS:  When I was young it was easy to differentiate between a butterfly and a moth.  A butterfly had smooth wings and bodies and a moth was fuzzy.  I also thought butterflies were good (pollination) and moths were bad (eat clothes).  Both butterflies and moths are important pollinators and are a plentiful food supply for birds and people.  Caterpillars are packed with protein and healthy fats, and research shows 100 grams of the insects provides more than 100% of daily requirements of vital minerals like potassium, calcium, zinc, and iron.  Both are members of order Lepidoptera, but butterflies belong to the suborder (Rhopalocera – “club-antennae”) while moth antennae are quite varied (Heterocera -“varied-antennae”) and lack the club.  My fuzzy classification was not even mentioned.  A butterfly and a moth are similar and provide the similar benefits, yet as a child I thought one was good and the other bad.  Like people, we need to understand who and what someone is, not just whether they make us feel fuzzy.  Act for all.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

June 04, 2022

I had mentioned last month that Melissa had signed up for a stall at our local Farmer’s Market.  Today was the second month and I was surprised that numbers were down for the vendors.  I assume since your fee paid for the season that the vendors would show up each time the market opened.  Maybe the other vendors knew something we did not because the number of attendees were down as well.  It is still too early for most local farms to provide fresh fruits and vegetables, so most vendors were selling either craft items, baked goods, or eggs and honey.   Every egg vendor also sold honey, or vice versa.  I did not know if that was attributed to a kindred entrepreneurial spirit or coincidence.  I did see politicians who attended last month to hand out fliers before the primaries.  Another interesting attendee was a young girl decked out in her rodeo costume selling raffle tickets.  When I asked, she mentioned whoever sold the most tickets got to be the queen at our local rodeo.  Melissa bought five.

When I looked online, I found rodeo is a competitive equestrian (horse) sport that came out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain and Mexico, and later expanded throughout the Americas and to other nations. The events were originally based on the skills required of the working vaqueros and cowboys in northern Mexico, the western US, and western Canada.  It is now a sporting event that involves horses and livestock and is designed to test the skill and speed of the cowboys and cowgirls.  American-style professional rodeo generally includes both timed events (tie-down roping, team roping, steer wrestling, and barrel racing) and the rough stock events (saddle bronc riding, bareback bronc riding, and bull riding).  Depending on sanctioning organization and region, other events may also be included.  According to Encyclopedia Britannica, the “world’s first public cowboy contest” was held on July 4, 1883, in Pecos, Texas, between cattle driver Trav Windham and roper Morg Livingston.

Professional rodeos in the US are governed and sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA).  Other associations govern children’s, high school, collegiate, and other amateur or semi-professional rodeos.  Associations also exist for Native Americans and other minority groups.  The competitive rodeo season runs from spring through fall, while the professional rodeo circuit runs longer and concludes with the PRCA National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nevada, every December.  Rodeo has provoked opposition from animal rights and welfare advocates who argue the competitions are animal cruelty.  The rodeo industry in America has improved the welfare of rodeo animals and have requirements for veterinary care and regulations to protect animals.  Some local and state governments in North America have banned or restricted rodeos, certain events, or types of equipment.  Internationally, rodeo is banned in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, with other European nations placing restrictions on certain practices.  Unlike circuses, the livestock is the show in rodeo and cannot be removed from the event.

THOUGHTS:  One of the preliminary events at local rodeos is “mutton busting”.  This enlivens the crowd and gets them ready for the stock events to follow.  The rules of mutton busting are simple.  Children between the age of 4 or 7 climb aboard a wild, wooly sheep and try to hold on for six seconds.  Like bull riders, mutton busters are scored on a scale of 100 points.  The rider must stay on the animal for six seconds, at which point the judges award half the points for the style of the rider and half for the aggressive qualities of the sheep.  While mutton busting is an American Tradition, it is essentially a version of bronc riding turned into a game lasting six seconds.  Rodeo parents say riding a sheep is a confidence-building activity, while non-rodeo parents argue it is child abuse.  Tradition by itself is neither good nor bad but does need to be judged by current ethical and cultural stands.  Act for all.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

June 03, 2022

Zena is scheduled for another session with the “treat man” (trainer) this morning.  I mentioned that her inner ear has yet to fully develop which causes vertigo and vomiting in the car.  One way we deal with this is to not feed her prior to the trip to training, thinking at least there will be less to clean up after the ride.  We have found that not eating causes anxiety, and she was on a tear this morning.  Melissa needed to go into work which did not help.  We went outside hoping to distract her with play.  As I sat and drank my coffee Zena proceeded to dig holes in her section of the yard, another sign of anxiety.  We played tug with one of her toys to distract her and then went out front to get the paper.  Zena immediately took off to investigate the cul-de-sac.  I got her lease and started after her.  Luckily, Melissa arrived just as she was going down the street and this gave her a new distraction.  I put her leash on her, and we walked back to the house.  Attention seems to be the only way to alleviate her anxiety.

When I looked online, I found while everyone occasionally feels anxious, some people feel so worried or fearful that their feelings negatively affect their school, work, relationships, or home life.  Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental illnesses in the US, and it is estimated that 1 in 5 adults will be affected by an anxiety disorder every year.  These disorders range from a generalized anxiety, to panic, fears, or separation and can cause a great deal of distress, including emotional problems, sleep issues, and other physical symptoms.  Anxiety commonly runs in families, so if a close family member has an anxiety disorder, you are more likely to have anxiety.  Stressful events or a shy temperament is also associated with anxiety, and 60% of females are more likely to develop anxiety disorders than males.  While anxiety disorders can be debilitating and make life challenging, they are also the number one cause of emergency room visits each year.

One way people deal with anxiety is to eat.  However, there is a difference between eating comfort food (processed carbohydrates high in fat) and eating food that provides comfort.  Research has found seven foods that reduce anxiety.  We can replace our craving for sugar with berries (blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, and gooseberries) which are filled with Vitamin C and antioxidants.  A substitute for alcohol is tea (lavender, chamomile, and green tea) which contain antioxidants that calm your nerves.  Dark chocolate contains compounds of nutrients that make up antioxidants which will soothe you.  Dry nuts (Brazilian nuts, walnuts, and almonds) are another excellent source of antioxidants, proteins, and most importantly magnesium which help maintain the body’s neurotransmitters and supports brain functioning.  Vitamin C is a great stress reliever (oranges, limes, and grapes) and help the nerves, as do green leafy vegetables (spinach, cabbage, lettuce, and parsley).  Several varieties of fish (sardines and salmon) contain high levels of Omega-3, a fatty acid that maintains the cognitive functioning of the brain and balances hormones.  Yoghurt has an abundance of probiotics which help with anxiety and depression.  These foods not only reduce levels of anxiety but are also part of a health diet.  A win/win.

THOUGHTS:  The pandemic has had a tremendous impact on society.  In the US alone, the need to isolate led to the loss of over 22.0 million jobs, pushing the comprehensive measure of unemployment to over 20%, and the share of women working below 50%.  In terms of physical health, worldwide the pandemic has resulted in nearly 535 million cases reported and over 6.3 million deaths, and it is far from over.  This has caused a lot of anxiety.  While attention reduces the anxiety Zena feels waiting to be fed, treatment for anxiety disorders in humans is more complex.  These may include talk therapy, medication, stress-management techniques, self-care, or support groups.  Regardless of what is used, these treatment methods can reduce distress and help people learn how to effectively manage anxiety symptoms.  Paying attention to each other is not a bad idea either.  Act for all.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

June 02, 2022

I saw an article in my local newspaper reprinted from an AP story addressing the thousands of unmarked graves associated with Indigenous boarding schools in the US.  A federal study of Indigenous boarding schools has identified more than 500 student deaths and officials expect that to grow exponentially.  The Interior Department report identified more than 400 schools that were established or supported by the US government, starting in the early 19th century, and continuing in some cases until the late 1960’s.  The identified deaths represent records for about 20 of the schools.  Many children just never returned home, and the Interior Department said with further investigation the number of student deaths could climb to the thousands or tens of thousands.  Causes include disease, accidental injuries, and abuse.  Accounting for the deaths will be difficult as records were not always kept.  A second volume of the report will cover burial sites as well as the federal government’s financial investment in the schools and the impact of the boarding schools on Indigenous communities.  The Interior Department has so far identified at least 53 burial sites at or near boarding schools, not all of which have marked graves.

When I went online, I found the primary objective of these schools was “civilizing” or assimilating Native American children and youth into Euro-American culture.  In the process, these schools denigrated Native American culture and made children give up their languages and religion in the effort to replace it with a basic Western education.  Children were immersed in European-American culture and forced removal of indigenous cultural signifiers like cutting children’s hair, wearing American-style uniforms, forbidding the use of indigenous languages, and replacing tribal names with the English names used at the schools.  This was part of an effort to assimilate and “Christianize” the children.  The schools were usually harsh, and especially for younger children who were forcibly separated from their families and made to abandon their Native American identity and culture.  Investigations during the later twentieth century revealed many documented cases of sexual, manual, physical, and mental abuse occurring mostly in church-run schools.  Investigations are now increasing across the US. 

Since the 1970’s, tribal nations have carried out political activism and gained legislation and federal policy that gives them the power to decide how to use federal education funds, how they educate their children, and the authority to establish their own community-based schools.  Tribes have also founded numerous tribal colleges, and universities on reservations.  Tribal control over their schools has been supported by federal legislation and changing practices by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.  By 2007, most of the schools had been closed and the number of Indigenous children in boarding schools had declined to 9,500.  While the Native American Boarding School era has ended, the US government still operates off-reservation boarding schools.  As of 2020, seven boarding schools continue to be federally funded, three of which are controlled by Indigenous community leaders.  Native youth still face challenges within the education system and rarely have access to curriculums that are culturally relevant to them.

THOUGHTS:  I have interacted with two Indigenous schools as an adult.  The first was playing football against what is now Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas, in the mid-1970’s.  This was a boarding school prior to becoming Haskell Indian Junior College in 1967.  By the late 1980’s Haskell had developed into a four-year, bachelor’s degree university.  I later received an advanced degree from a school cooperating with Bacone College in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  Bacone began as Indian University in 1885 as a mission school.  After restructuring in 2018-2019, the tribal nations in Oklahoma collaborated to take control of the college as a consortium and revive the school’s history as a tribal college established for Indian education.  During the 1970’s I heard rumors about the “cheaters” we faced.  In the 2000’s I interacted with fellow students and educators.  I like to hope this is a fundamental change in the perception of society and how we treat “others”.  Act for all.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

June 01, 2022

I lifted weights much of the first half of my life and gained the benefits this provides.  Even now that I do not lift regularly, I keep smaller sets of weights around the house and occasionally get inspired to use them.  While Melissa has never formally exercised with weights, she keeps “toning” weights in the living room along with my small sets.  Like any small child, since we brought Zena home, we have found it necessary to put things out of her reach.  She constantly comes into the room with a stream of packing paper or a towel hanging from her mouth.  Usually, we are not even sure where she gets the items from, but they do seem fun for her to carry around.  Recently, Zena found Melissa’s toning weights behind one of the chairs.  Now the green 2½# (1.14 kg) barbell has become a treasured toy.  Zena will pick it up and carry it around.  She takes it outside and tosses it into the air on the patio.  At least someone is using it.     

When I looked online, I found several websites touting the benefits of lifting weights.  While the obvious reason is to get stronger and build more muscle, there are other reasons to lift that could make your life better.  While physical attractiveness is subjective, most people look better with a well-balanced body, and muscle gives your body shape and stature which makes your clothes fit better.  This also increases metabolism, improves heart health, and boosts the endorphins that make you feel better (dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine).  Finally, lifting weights can give you more self-confidence.  While ideally self-confidence should be grounded in an unshakeable sense of self-worth regardless of your current state of health, the reality is that feeling and looking good physically goes a long way to make you feel better about yourself.  These benefits do not require you to be in the gym all day, every day.  Committing to 3 days per week, at around 45 minutes per session, can have a positive impact on your strength, health, and general sense of well-being.

I read a NY Times article saying lifting weights can have positive effect on aging.  Weight training by older people not only builds strength and muscle mass but also provides motivation and confidence which potentially spurs them to continue exercising.  There is plenty of evidence that lifting weights can help us age well.  By our early 40’s, most humans are losing muscle mass at a rate of about 5% a decade.  This decline often precipitates a long slide toward frailty and dependence.  New research shows older people who lift weights can slow or reverse the decline.  Older people who start to lift weights typically gain muscle mass and strength, as well as better mobility, mental sharpness, and metabolic health.  However, statistics indicate only 17% of older Americans regularly lift weights.  The study found there were those who enjoyed lifting weights, while others preferred different forms of exercise, but concluded, “unless you try weights you will never know.”  The overarching lesson is older adults need to exercise.  Maybe I will join Zena and break out my weights.

THOUGHTS:  As I aged, I found my emphasis shifting from physical to intellectual endeavors.  When I was younger, I spent hours lifting weights, running, biking, and playing hand ball.  This was often while not completing the studying or planning needed to accomplish future goals.  Now that I am older, I spend hours researching, writing, and planning, but struggle to find time to pursue the exercise that was such a part of my life.  Melissa and I joke that Zena has two speeds, full out and collapse.  What Zena knows naturally is that you need balance in your life.  While my full out may be less than Zena’s, balance is still required to keep both body and mind functioning.  This is a lesson we all need to remember.  Act for all.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

May 31, 2022

When I approached the small overflow dam on Saturday there were four women already fishing the area.  I noted they spread further along the bank when they saw me, a clear fisherperson way to claim a wider area as “where I am fishing”.  After discovering the green heron feeding on frogs at the riverbank, I decided to walk around the small park to see if there was another place to fish.  I had not brought my fly rod, or I would have probably stopped at several places.  Instead, I kept walking.  That was when a glint of purple caught my eye across the stream.  I crossed a bridge that allowed access to the disc golf course and checked out the flower.  It was a thistle plant lying just off the mowed area of the bank.

When I looked online, I found the musk thistle (Carduus nutans), or nodding thistle, is a biennial plant in the daisy and sunflower family Asteraceae that is native to regions of Europe and Asia.  The thistle usually requires two years to complete a reproductive cycle.  Seedlings emerge any time from spring to late summer and develop a rosette.  The plants overwinter in the rosette stage, sending up a multi-branched flowering stem in mid spring of their second year.  Mature plants reach 3.3 to 4.9 feet (1 to1.5 m) in height and have sharp spiny stems.  The dark green leaves grow to 12 to 24 inches (30 to 60 cm) long, and are coarsely bipinnately lobed, with a smooth, waxy surface and sharp yellow-brown to whitish spines at the tips of the lobes.  The reddish-purple flowers are 1 ¼ to 2 ½ inches (3 to 5 cm) in diameter and commonly droop to a 90-to-120-degree angle from the stem when mature, giving the alternate name “nodding thistle”.  The plant is declared a noxious weed in many US states, Canadian provinces, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia.  A single flower head may produce 1,200 seeds and a single plant up to 120,000 seeds, which are wind dispersed.  The seeds may remain viable in the soil for over ten years, making it a difficult plant to control

The musk thistle was accidentally introduced into eastern North America in the early 19th century and has been an invasive species since.  The thistle is common and thrives in disturbed and agricultural settings, and typically grows in meadows and grasslands, in heavily grazed land in areas such as pastures, and on open disturbed soil such as roadsides and building sites.  Musk thistle is not a serious weed problem in crops requiring a spring seedbed preparation as tilling eradicates the rosettes established during the preceding summer or fall.  The plant can be a problem in fall-planted grains, alfalfa, or clover if the conditions are favorable for seedling establishment and winter survival.  The economic impact of musk thistle is greatest in pastures and rangeland.  Moderate infestations of musk thistle reduce pasture yields an average of 23 percent.  Livestock usually won’t graze infested areas but occasionally feed on the flower heads.

THOUGHTS:  The words “milkweed” and “milk thistle” are often used interchangeably by those who do not study plants, but they are two very different plants.  Milkweed usually grows to about 2 feet tall with large, bright clusters of flowers on the tops of its stems.  The milk thistle is stout and ridged and can grow to over 6 feet tall.  The top of a milk thistle is crowned with a large purple flower head that is surrounded by ridged sharp bracts.  The bright flowers of milkweed attract a plethora of fauna, whereas milk thistle is an invasive weed that takes over poorly tended fields and roadsides and has become a nuisance in areas of North America.  It seems the value of either species depends on the beholder.  As they say, “One person’s weed is another’s flower.”  The same could be said of humans.  Value seems to come from “worth to me,” and ignores the innate value of all.  Chose to act for all.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

May 30, 2022

Over the weekend I did something I had not done since we acquired Zena, I went fishing.  Lately my time seems split between work, writing, and caring for the garden and yard.  When we got Zena, she became another time expense that needed attention.  It was not a bad thing, just a thing.  Melissa encouraged me to get out several times, but I knew I already left them alone went to work, and Melissa had to care for her.  Zena is settling in and can now be left for periods when we go somewhere together.  Fishing had been on my mind for several weeks (and several dreams), and that was not abated by my son sending a photo of the 30 Kokanee (land locked salmon) he and three friends caught last week.  When Melissa again suggested I get out of the house I agreed.  One creek I stopped at had hundreds of minnows feeding on the surface.  I also noticed a green heron hunting along the dam overflow.  While I only caught a few small fish, I was able to add a photograph of a green heron to my birder list for the third straight year.

When I looked online, I found the green heron (Butorides virescens) is a small heron of North and Central America.  Butorides is from Middle English butor “bittern” and Ancient Greek -oides, “resembling”, and virescens is Latin for “greenish”.  The adult heron is relatively small with a body length of 17 inches (44 cm) and the neck is often pulled in tight against the body.  Adults have a glossy, greenish-black cap, a greenish back and wings that are grey-black grading into green or blue, a chestnut neck with a white line down the front, grey underparts, and short yellow legs.  The bill is dark with a long, sharp point.  Female adults tend to be smaller than males, and have duller and lighter plumage, particularly in the breeding season.  Juveniles are duller, with the head sides, neck and underparts streaked brown and white, tan-splotched back and wing coverts, and greenish-yellow legs and bill.  The year-round habitat is in small wetlands in low-lying areas along the coasts of the southern US, with breeding territory ranging into eastern US and winter range moving into Mexico.  The species is most conspicuous during dusk and dawn and prefer to retreat to sheltered areas in daytime but do feed actively during the day if hungry or provisioning young.  

The green heron mainly eats small fish, frogs, and aquatic arthropods, but may take other small prey they can catch.  They are intolerant of other birds when feeding and do not forage in groups.  They typically stand still on shore or in shallow water or perch upon branches and await prey.  Sometimes they drop food, insects, or other small objects on the water’s surface to attract fish, making them one of the few known tool-using species.  This feeding method has led some to title the green and closely related striated heron as among the world’s most intelligent birds.  The northern population moves to its breeding ranges during March and April, and even in the northernmost limit of the green heron’s range, breeding is well underway by the end of May.  Migration to the winter quarters starts in September and by late October the birds have moved out of the northern range.  The northward migration does not seem to be affected by global warming, as the birds appear in their breeding ranges at the same time as they did 100 years ago.

THOUGHTS:  I was excited my first year as a birder to have a green heron visit our house.  Our broken pool was uncovered and had become more of a pond, complete with frogs and tadpoles.  One morning I saw the heron hunting along the pool edge.  The bird stayed several days, and then left.  The next year another heron (same?) appeared around the same time and feasted several days.  These were the first two times I recall seeing a green heron, and I was happy to again see one in as new location this year.  Using tools was thought to be the difference between humans until the 1970’s.  Then we paid attention and found other species not only use but make tools to use for feeding.  Either these animals are sentient, or we are not as smart as we thought we were.  Act for all.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

May 28, 2022

I took Zena on her first official walk today.  I had tried to take her for a walk when we first got her, but we did not get more than the end of the cul-de-sac before I gave up.  Over the last month we have gotten her used to being in her harness and have taken her outside on her leash to the vet, trainer, and when she gets the “running urge” during potty breaks.  Zena received her third series of shots yesterday which means she has been immunized and able to be around other dogs and people.  I looped her 20’ (6 m) leash in one hand and grabbed the bag of treats with the other.  Zena took off like a shot when I opened the front door (normal) and then came to an abrupt halt when she hit the end of the leash.  I let her snuffle the yard a bit, gave her a treat, and then we were off.

When I looked online, I found while several states do have state-wide dog leash requirements and laws, Arkansas does not.  These laws are usually referred to as “Running at Large Statutes.”  In states without these statutes, local governments and municipalities often enact their own leash laws, and four of the larger cities in our state require a dog to “be under physical control of a person” (i.e., on a leash).  Many other towns in Arkansas do not allow dogs to be “running at large” outside the presence of their owner, even though you often see dogs without a leash.  Many states require dangerous dogs to be on leashes and muzzled to protect public safety.  A “dangerous dog” usually refers to the act or actions of a dog that puts the public or other animals at risk for injury or death.  Again, Arkansas does not have this law.

We have had several confrontations with the pit bull that lives on the corner.  The dog is fenced, but when he barks Zena will take off to pay a visit if she is outside and not on a leash.  Today we walked by the house with no problem and continued our walk.  I was surprised how well Zena took to being on the leash.  I kept her close and she only occasionally strayed.  A few clicks and she would come back to walk the curb beside me.  On the way home we passed the corner house again, and this time the other dog was ready.  When he saw Zena he slammed into the fence gate, and in two seconds had squirmed his way under the fence and ran at us.  I stood my ground, held out my hand, and said “Stop!”  He did stop but continued to bark.  Zena sat down beside me as the owner franticly called for the dog to come back.  Not getting a reaction, the pit bull lost interest in us and started snuffling in the yard across the street.  Sensing this might be a good time, we went on toward the house.  Apparently, the “mean dog” just wanted to play.

𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:  We have another law that female dogs are required to be under physical control when they are in heat.  Rather than limiting the males with a leash it must be easier to require me to restrict access.  During her campaign ads our attorney general bragged about having the toughest restrictions on women in the nation, as she refused any funding to Planned Parenthood.  In other states, this group provides much of the health and reproductive care for the poor and low-income residents (male and female).  I guess it is easier to restrict access to health care than address the issue of unwanted children.  Act for all.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

May 27, 2022

Last year I wrote about the caretaker for the church property behind us and how he would mow the grounds on Saturdays.  Part of the field he mows is a low-lying area that turns to mud every time it rains.  This did not seem to deter him, and he drove through the mud, gouging huge tracks until he got stuck.  This happened on several occasions and did not seem to improve his learning curve.  He has begun to mow again this year now that the grass is growing but has still not learned to avoid the mud.  Melissa made the comment this week that he had gotten stuck in the mud five of the last six weeks he has mowed.  The only time he did not get stuck was when another man came and mowed for him.  This younger man did not mow the low-lying area of the field. He instead avoided the mud and let the grass grow.  When the caretaker returned this week, he tried to mow this area and again got stuck in the mud.  It would be sad if it was not so funny watching him trying to get out of the mud.

When I looked online, I found the first lawn mower was created in 1830.  This was a manual reel type mower that is still in use today.  Reel mowers are environmentally friendly because they do not require gas, oil, or electricity, and instead rely on someone to push them to spin the blades.  The reels cut the grass like a pair of scissors rather than ripping the grass with blades.  Aside from the physical activity required to push the mower, the blades do not cut as close as other mowers and you may need to mow more often.  You also need to keep the blades sharp by using a sharpening tool every few months.  If you were ever frustrated trying to use dull scissors in preschool, mowing your lawn is no different.  One advantage is you will likely not get caught in the mud, and if you do it is easy to lift the mower out.

Last year the caretaker learned that getting the mower out of the mud was easier when he pulled it out with his truck.  This week he was back to square one, rocking the mower back and forth trying to dislodge it from the mud.  While he did eventually get out, he created a hole in the lawn that was 10 feet (3 m) by 5 feet (1.5 m) and a foot deep (1/3 m).  While I never got the opportunity to ask, I wondered if the church goers thought the giant mud hole in the back of the church looked better than the tall grass.  It rained again this week.  I can hardly wait until he starts to mow.

THOUGHTS: The mowing website I checked said mowing the lawn can be a gratifying and relaxing task when you have the right equipment, and at least gets you “out of doing the dishes.”  When I was growing up my older brother mowed the lawn while my sister did the dishes.  She complained that he only had to mow once a week, while she did seven days of dishes.  My brother offered to trade, and she happily agreed.  All was well until the day came to mow (our lawn was half a square block) and it took her a full morning of pushing the mower.  She never offered to trade again.  Whether it is doing the dishes or getting stuck in the mud, life is filled with trials.  The trick to overcome the trial is to have the right equipment.  A truck will easily pull a mower out of the mud, while rocking only creates a bigger mud hole.  Over the last years we seem to do more rocking about what is not allowed than pulling to get out.  We have the tools, but we need to use them.  Act for all.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

May 26, 2022

We removed the green-house plastic from the screened in porch last month and the summer growing succulents have really responded.  We had several very hot, dry days that tricked the plants into thinking summer was here and then shifted to cooler weather that is sparking rain that seems to make them think it must be fall.  The result is many of our late summer bloomers are bursting into flower.  What makes this special is that none of the porch plants flowered last year.  We initially had trouble with Zena as she thought the funny looking plants were put on the lower shelves for her to play with.  It seems their only hindrance now is when Zena gets excited and knocks them off the shelf.  Last week Melissa called me out to the porch to see the flower on the pendens that is cascading out of its pot.

When I looked online, I found cliff cotyledons (Cotyledon pendens), are a succulent native to South Africa and Namibia.  The “cliff” designation is derived as they tend to live on rocks during summers and retreat into crevices of the same rocks in winters.  The “pendens” comes from its pendulum-like growth of leaves.  The plant has a thick, fleshy stem that can grow up to 18 inches (7.2 cm) tall. This stem then produces multiple branches which are filled with many thick, fleshy leaves used for storing water.  Each pistachio-colored leaf is about 1 inch (2.5 cm) in size with pointed ends.  The leaf edges are pinkish or reddish in color.  Instead of growing up, the plant first spreads across the pot and then hangs downward.  Flowers bloom on the tips of branches that hang down from the pot.  Flowering starts around midsummer and the bell-shaped flower ranges from orange to red, depending on the amount of light received (more light, darker flower).  It seems despite being on a Sun Porch, our pendens flower does not get a lot of light.

Like many succulents, the web site selling pendens mentioned they “can easily be cared for by beginners who have no prior experience of growing succulents.”  While that may be true, it is counterintuitive that you need to ignore them most of the year (dormant) and then watch them closely (growing season).  The species is susceptible to over-watering, and that is especially true during winter dormancy, when it is advised they only be watered monthly.  Pendens are also susceptible to frost and need to be protected during winter.  They need good drainage to protect from root rot and planted in soil that is specifically designed for succulents.  Easily cared for seems to have gotten harder when you add the specifics.

THOUGHTS:  The pendens flower is only one example of Melissa’s succulents taking hold.  After the shock of being uprooted and sent across the country in the mail they needed to adjust to a different climate, as most came from Florida or California.  We lost many of the outside aloes that first winter and then more of the inside plants when Melissa was unable to care for them last summer.  Now they have stabilized in their new environment and are producing flowers.  The attempt to grow succulents began at the same time as the pandemic began to take hold.  We have struggled with the stresses of the virus but now seem to be settling.  That does not mean there will not be times when we get knocked off the shelf, but at least now we know how to pick ourselves up, replant, and keep going.  Act for all.  Change is coming and it starts with you.