September… the mellowest month of the year. The land itself exhales from a summer of constant work. That sigh of relief fairly infiltrates the countryside after a season spent growing vast varieties and quantities of both wild and domestic foods. Calm, warm evenings are followed by cooler, quiet mornings. Hillside grasses fade to gold like… Continued
August, month of the full Corn Moon; the Ricing Moon; the Harvest Moon – all names from various Native Americans – has come and nearly gone now. True to form, August is the peak month for harvest of cereal grains around these parts of eastern Washington, as well as elsewhere. I was reflecting on various harvests… Continued
That fast, the cool, moist spring and early summer seem to be of the deep past. True to form, beginning around mid-month July began to kick up the heat. As I tap these keys the mercury reads an even 100 degrees outside. The 100’s seem locked in for the remainder of the week and the once… Continued
Wow! The cool, moist spring continued on right up to the Summer Solstice. As for this weather, this spring was a very different one than most. One that, by and large we’ve embraced. We are not alone. Although I still need a jacket some days for my morning cup on the south porch, the birds are just loving the lushness… Continued
And here they were, two scrawny male hummingbirds at the feeder after all this time. As if sheep hefted to the fell. Weeks had gone by since I traded out our one sunflower bird feeder for our one hummingbird feeder. It hung vacant for long enough that I actually restocked it with fresh juice then… Continued
Spring has sprung. At least for the time being as I write this on April Fools morning. Most all the snow patches have disappeared while meadowlarks, robins, flycatchers, and BLUEBIRDS have arrived back to the valley here. Deer have moved back up to graze and owls still sound at dusk. Resilient and wonderful bunchgrasses are… Continued
Truth to tell, sitting by the woodstove while listening to the Labradors snore this morning feels mighty good. Siskins, chickadees and finches visit the feeder, silhouetted by a gray and foreboding sky beyond. Most of February gave us ample sun and warmer temperatures that sped us toward spring, while easing up the cold… Continued
As promised, you are reading me again (last notes) at the beginning of a New Year. A Healthy New Year I hope for all. Good health can lead to happiness. One big goal of organic farming and organic food processing is to make sure nutritious food can see its way to your plate. Truth to… Continued
As the afternoons grow ever short, finches and chickadees hurry to fill up on the sunflowers we’ve left for winter. Truth to tell, an edging of snow now crowns the sunflower’s circular face, almost as round as that of Raggedy Anne. We’ve traded the sodden month of November – emphasis on sodden – for the… Continued
It’s here. Fall, and all the colorful glory! This October couldn’t have been any nicer with mellow 60-70 degree days on end, and cooler nights running on for the first three weeks. Crisper air; crispy leaves, resulting from Canada’s bristling breeze pushing down from the northern prairies and mountains. The Hunter’s Full Moon prompted geese,… Continued