Archive for October, 2009
The Simple Charms of Country Life
My wife and I had good reason to move away from the city after identifying as urban dwellers for most of our lives. We both retired within a three-year span and began to find that the hustle and bustle of the city no longer had the same appeal. Rather than feeling in tune with the thrum of activity, I felt as though we were being brushed aside. As our neighborhood gentrified and young hipsters started taking over our favorite bars and restaurants, we felt marginalized.
Moving to a forested area proved to be our salvation. Gone were the nights lying awake thanks to countless blaring car horns and shouting voices. Now the crickets and bull frogs that live on our manmade pond provide a delightful evening lullaby. Best of all, I have the chance to pursue one of my lifelong passions – ornithology. I set up a few wooden birdhouses around the property and enjoy walking from one to the next, taking note of the feathered friends I encounter at each station.
Thinking of Fall
This is the time of year that people are putting out pumpkins, Halloween decorations, bales of hay and other things that make us think of fall. The flowers that have the yellow and auburn colors are also used. The trees are turning and their red, yellow, and brown leaves may be what started the ideas of using those as fall colors. I think because God knew we needed a little uplift at this time of year, we have those beautiful reminders that make us feel contented.
There are some statues around our town that bring back thoughts of other times and places. Some are colorful, some are plain, but signify a thought that maybe the person who made the statue had in mind, or maybe it is our own private feeling. Garden statues that we can have in our own yards also can be uplifting or inspirational. They may bring back thoughts of other times or just happy thoughts in general. Enjoy these works of art wherever yours may be - at home or in town or on your travels.
Waterfalls
Waterfalls are beautiful to watch. It is enjoyable to watch the water come cascading down the mountain with a trickle or a roar, depending on the size of the falls. When we are fortunate enough to have a cabin or a tent near a waterfall, the musical sound can put a person to sleep at night. It is truly a wonder of nature that is enjoyed by many people around the world.
Sometimes we try to duplicate this view and sound with a tabletop fountain
or a garden fountain. Often stores have replicas of waterfalls. They are also beautiful to watch and hear. We used to visit a sporting goods store that had a large inside pond with a waterfall. It drew customers, especially children, to the glassed-in area to watch the fish and hear the falls. For a moment in time it took me back to the real thing in the mountains. At home, we can just relax and enjoy our own version. We can keep that fountain and turn it on and off as we please.
Browsing and Dreaming
Recently, in our town, there was a festival that involved booths set up to sell various items. Going through them was kind of like visiting an art gallery. There were clothes, household goods and other interesting things. However, what caught my eye was the beautiful jewelry, paintings, and figurines. Some of these were not expensive, but others were handmade and very expensive. There were many Native American items on display. Others were being made at the time by the people who sponsored the booth.
All of these things made me think of visiting an art gallery or a museum. A nearby western art museum has many paintings and figurines of western and Indian art. One can get lost in thinking of times when these were the ways people lived or of the beautiful scenery, most of which can still be seen. It made me go home and look through my house for items that took me into a time that I never really knew, but have read much about. One can begin to daydream and spend time in a past that was slow-paced and beautiful. It may be just a dream now, but once upon a time………..
Holiday Preparations
It is that time of year. The discomfort of the cold is offset by the looking forward to the holidays and the joy they bring. When shopping, I see the children excitedly dashing from one costume to another. Then there are the discussions in the candy aisle as to which bag or bags of candy would be best to keep from running out of candy before they run out of trick-or-treaters.
There are more seasonal items in other aisles. There are already aisles in the grocery stores with items to use in making pumpkin, pecan and other pies. The turkeys and corn stalks are waiting, less observed, to be ready when the time for the masks and ghosts to disappear. Yes, believe it or not, Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching. The students are already planning what they are going to do during their vacation.
Soon we will be singing carols and writing Christmas cards. If you do not have your list made out yet, it is probably in the back of your mind. One of my daughters was telling me their gift plans already. I was dreading the cold this time of year and it is already here. It came sooner than usual and it is not so bad after all. Anyway, “Beware,” “Don’t eat too much,” or ”Merry Christmas,” whichever is appropriate when you read this.
Watching the Time
My grandparents had a big clock than hung on the wall and loudly announced each hour and half hour. I loved that clock and am not sure what happened to it. It still lives in my memory and, although it never awakens me any more, it will be there announcing a new hour. Now I just think of that old clock as I look at the new ones and wonder what special memories they will awaken in those who own them.
It is interesting to ponder the use of clocks. When we see one that looks sleek and modern, we think of a desk with a busy accountant or secretary checking to see how much time is left before their work is due in a meeting. Then we see a useful timepiece and wonder if some cook watches to see if the cake is almost done. Maybe the farmer is awakened about 5 A.M. by his loud alarm clock and knows he has to get up and start the days chores. We must face it. Time passes and we live by the clock. Oh, well. If it were not for that we probably would not enjoy our vacations so much.
Make Family Feel Welcome this Fall
You can tell a lot about a family by the way their home is decorated. It seems that no matter how busy they are, dedicated home owners are always working to make their residence more presentable to visitors. Not only that, but they get a personal sort of joy and gratification from sprucing up the place. Now that fall is undeniably here to stay for the next few months, there’s no better time to put up some seasonal decor.
Autumn is a time of harvest – an end to the life cycle of many edible plants. As such, pumpkins and corn are often the centerpieces of fall decoration. You might also see some scarecrows or a seasonal wreath complete with glorious, colorful leaves. With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it’s a time to make family feel welcome from the second they enter your humble home.
Decorative Birdhouses
A birdhouse is an artificial, man-made structure provided for birds to nest in. Birdhouses are most frequently utilized for wild and domesticated birds, but some mammal species such as bats may also use them.
Decorative birdhouses are usually wooden, though some for birds are made from concrete a mixture of wood and concrete. While some are made from metal, these are generally unsuitable for outdoor use, as they can overheat easily in sunshine.