In The Naked Forest.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Chapter Two
Betsy's House
Chapter One
2.
The sun dropped below the high ridge line and the night’s dark shadow began to creep out over the fields. He headed in for supper. A hearty aroma greeted him outside the door. He paused a moment before going in, testing the air for the source. He was surprised when he opened the door and a delicious warm smell enveloped him. Those new dishes must have inspired her, he thought.
The small box was still resting on the table. His place had been set with the dented tin plate. That witch must be out of her mind. He turned to the stove, already a rumbling stirred in his throat. It stuttered out incomplete when all he saw were the covered pots and pans simmering on the stove. The aroma drifted over him again and soothed him momentarily.
He called out for her and there was no answer. He called several more times. There was no response. A half hearted bellow escaped him, but his attention was drawn again to the simmering pots on the stove. It smelled so good and he was ready to eat. Where was she? He went outside and called again. Walking around the house and out into the small garden, he kept calling and getting angrier. She did not answer.
Furious, he stormed back into the house. He grabbed the small box of new dishes meaning to get his own plate when he saw a note by the tin plate set in his spot. It read, “Help yourself.” The small box went sailing through the air and landed with a mighty crash in the middle of the living room. He screamed her name.
His angered deep breathing kept filling his lungs with the intoxicating aroma coming from the simmering pots on the stove. Spent, he resigned himself to serving up his own supper. The cupboards where the dishes were stored were empty. He stepped over the shards in the living room and looked inside the small box. Carefully lifting out each dish still inside revealed they all had been broken. He whimpered just a little and kicked the small box to the far side of the room.
He’d eaten off of that tin plate more times than he could count. Once more couldn’t hurt.
He lifted the lid of the first pot. His eyes were as pleased as his nose. Inside was chicken with tomatoes, peppers, onions and potatoes. Her kitchen garden close to the house was beginning to produce the first summer vegetables. The next pot was filled with fresh green beans from the garden. The oven door was slightly ajar. He looked inside and found fresh baked biscuits. He piled his plate high, hoping everything would taste as good as it smelled.
There was a spiciness to the meal he had never noticed in her food before. The mint he could discern. Other more subtle flavors were harder to determine. There could be some wild ginger in the chicken. It tasted good. He went back for seconds and set the pots off the heat of the wood stove.
Full and finished he went right to his chair in the living room instead of the porch for a smoke. He slid a few shards from the small box of dishes that were near his feet off to the side. She could clean up when she came back. The longer days and new heat of summer was making him drowsy after such a full meal.
Where was she? Why would she leave after fixing a supper like that? He called out her name and didn’t hear a thing. He was already asleep.
Chapter One
2.
The sun dropped below the high ridge line and the night’s dark shadow began to creep out over the fields. He headed in for supper. A hearty aroma greeted him outside the door. He paused a moment before going in, testing the air for the source. He was surprised when he opened the door and a delicious warm smell enveloped him. Those new dishes must have inspired her, he thought.
The small box was still resting on the table. His place had been set with the dented tin plate. That witch must be out of her mind. He turned to the stove, already a rumbling stirred in his throat. It stuttered out incomplete when all he saw were the covered pots and pans simmering on the stove. The aroma drifted over him again and soothed him momentarily.
He called out for her and there was no answer. He called several more times. There was no response. A half hearted bellow escaped him, but his attention was drawn again to the simmering pots on the stove. It smelled so good and he was ready to eat. Where was she? He went outside and called again. Walking around the house and out into the small garden, he kept calling and getting angrier. She did not answer.
Furious, he stormed back into the house. He grabbed the small box of new dishes meaning to get his own plate when he saw a note by the tin plate set in his spot. It read, “Help yourself.” The small box went sailing through the air and landed with a mighty crash in the middle of the living room. He screamed her name.
His angered deep breathing kept filling his lungs with the intoxicating aroma coming from the simmering pots on the stove. Spent, he resigned himself to serving up his own supper. The cupboards where the dishes were stored were empty. He stepped over the shards in the living room and looked inside the small box. Carefully lifting out each dish still inside revealed they all had been broken. He whimpered just a little and kicked the small box to the far side of the room.
He’d eaten off of that tin plate more times than he could count. Once more couldn’t hurt.
He lifted the lid of the first pot. His eyes were as pleased as his nose. Inside was chicken with tomatoes, peppers, onions and potatoes. Her kitchen garden close to the house was beginning to produce the first summer vegetables. The next pot was filled with fresh green beans from the garden. The oven door was slightly ajar. He looked inside and found fresh baked biscuits. He piled his plate high, hoping everything would taste as good as it smelled.
There was a spiciness to the meal he had never noticed in her food before. The mint he could discern. Other more subtle flavors were harder to determine. There could be some wild ginger in the chicken. It tasted good. He went back for seconds and set the pots off the heat of the wood stove.
Full and finished he went right to his chair in the living room instead of the porch for a smoke. He slid a few shards from the small box of dishes that were near his feet off to the side. She could clean up when she came back. The longer days and new heat of summer was making him drowsy after such a full meal.
Where was she? Why would she leave after fixing a supper like that? He called out her name and didn’t hear a thing. He was already asleep.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
All Kind Trim
There hasn't been any gardening going on of late. We have been working non-stop trying to get the cozy cabin ready for the framing, rough electric and rough plumbing inspection before the building contractor heads south for the winter. Alas we did not make it. Even so, good progress is being made. Every little detail that gets completed makes it more of a finished house.
There is trim around the front door, trim around the fixed glass windows in the loft wall, and there are the fascia trim boards on the front porch and back stoop. I even managed to get that one screw I couldn't quite reach on the tippy top back end of the loft roof screwed in.
The main roof looks done. But, I still need to climb up to the peak above the front door and half circle window and permanently attach that end of the ridge cap. It's on the list.
I will continue on. The railings and the metal roofs for the front porch and back stoop can be done. I need to add some extra framing inside to help support all the kitchen and bath cabinets and the shower door. I can even do the short set of stairs for the front porch with a minimum of consultation.
There's all kind things to keep me busy during the cold.
I do plan to take a little break from building construction when the contractor leaves and spend some quality time gardening before it really is too late.
The new septic drain field, a large chunk of my future gardens has been generously covered with a layer of free mulch for the winter rest. It is nice not to have the bare earth exposed. This should help reduce any slight erosion hazards.
Bulbarella was out in her ridge top garden and spied more flags in the dwindling vegetation that identified clumps of daffodils that needed dividing. I was the lucky recipient of about six big bags of daffodil bulbs that will find a new home in all this open space. Come spring I can look out over the beginnings of a field of daffodils.
There is trim around the front door, trim around the fixed glass windows in the loft wall, and there are the fascia trim boards on the front porch and back stoop. I even managed to get that one screw I couldn't quite reach on the tippy top back end of the loft roof screwed in.
The main roof looks done. But, I still need to climb up to the peak above the front door and half circle window and permanently attach that end of the ridge cap. It's on the list.
I will continue on. The railings and the metal roofs for the front porch and back stoop can be done. I need to add some extra framing inside to help support all the kitchen and bath cabinets and the shower door. I can even do the short set of stairs for the front porch with a minimum of consultation.
There's all kind things to keep me busy during the cold.
I do plan to take a little break from building construction when the contractor leaves and spend some quality time gardening before it really is too late.
The new septic drain field, a large chunk of my future gardens has been generously covered with a layer of free mulch for the winter rest. It is nice not to have the bare earth exposed. This should help reduce any slight erosion hazards.
Bulbarella was out in her ridge top garden and spied more flags in the dwindling vegetation that identified clumps of daffodils that needed dividing. I was the lucky recipient of about six big bags of daffodil bulbs that will find a new home in all this open space. Come spring I can look out over the beginnings of a field of daffodils.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Leaves Falling
All the brown leaves are
Covered
In a gossamer frost
The sky is blue
Bright morning light
Streams through
The Red Oak
Warmed
Lets loose
Leaves fall
With no wind
Down
Directly down
Flutterless
To add
More layers
Of brown
A dreaming winter
Is just a day away
Covered
In a gossamer frost
The sky is blue
Bright morning light
Streams through
The Red Oak
Warmed
Lets loose
Leaves fall
With no wind
Down
Directly down
Flutterless
To add
More layers
Of brown
A dreaming winter
Is just a day away
The Sky Before A Video
The sun is setting, has set. The sky and the weather diagnosis promise some needed rain is headed our way, then possibly more snow by the weekend.
A silly video is slowly loading, I think, on this stinking Hughes satellite internet. Didn't Obama promise us high speed wireless internet beamed all over the country with the intent mostly to serve the under served rural areas? I sure hope he did.
Until then, enjoy the view.
A silly video is slowly loading, I think, on this stinking Hughes satellite internet. Didn't Obama promise us high speed wireless internet beamed all over the country with the intent mostly to serve the under served rural areas? I sure hope he did.
Until then, enjoy the view.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Red Oak With Spots
Quercus rubra is the last to go. It stands tall and defiant in an increasingly naked world.
The wild spotlets are gaining momentum. Crawford is looking to be the sweeter and braver of the two, but they are getting harder to catch as their energy level rises. The taming process involves cuddle time with holding and petting. It is best to sneak up on them while they are in a milk coma nap.
Spot and Spook? (still not sure about it) are captured in one frame. That is tough to accomplish during play time which stretches farther and farther afield. I can get close when they are awake, even play with them a bit, but I have to be quick to catch one.
Hopefully they will follow mama Spot's lead who is an ear scratching, leg rubbing, pet me, hog. She isn't real fond of being held though. I wonder if I will ever be able to coax them into the house? It may take the cooperation of the weather.
The wild spotlets are gaining momentum. Crawford is looking to be the sweeter and braver of the two, but they are getting harder to catch as their energy level rises. The taming process involves cuddle time with holding and petting. It is best to sneak up on them while they are in a milk coma nap.
Spot and Spook? (still not sure about it) are captured in one frame. That is tough to accomplish during play time which stretches farther and farther afield. I can get close when they are awake, even play with them a bit, but I have to be quick to catch one.
Hopefully they will follow mama Spot's lead who is an ear scratching, leg rubbing, pet me, hog. She isn't real fond of being held though. I wonder if I will ever be able to coax them into the house? It may take the cooperation of the weather.
Friday, November 7, 2008
The Tippy Top
I rented another section of scaffolding. Then I moved the whole contraption from the right side of the cozy cabin to the left side. I added the new section and was able to reach the tippy top of the far end of the loft. The last remnant of tar paper and house wrap is on and the end piece of the ridge cap for the roof is fastened down, except for one screw that I could not quite reach.
One stinking screw and that part of the roof would be done.
I may need to fasten one temporary step to the loft roof to reach the screwless spot, like those on the living roof where it meets the loft wall. That little bit of footing prevents me from sliding off the roof and landing in a crumpled heap on the ground.
The mountain is getting pretty bare and brown. The leaves have been falling non-stop for days. Even with no wind, they just plummet to the ground and land with a thud. Serious, a thud. It is the oddest sound for a falling leaf to make.
The falling acorns can be amusing to. Sometimes they ricochet around the tree tops on their way down, sounding like a bunch of ping pong balls let loose in the forest.
I know you can't tell from this picture, but the special order, odd shaped, fixed glass windows in the loft are actually in. They still need the interior stops and the exterior trim to finish them off. They fit perfectly which was nice. We do make accurate measurements 95% of the time.
The purlins for the front porch and back stoop are done. Next they need the fascia trim boards. Then they will be ready for the metal roofing
Incrementally, one detail at a time, the cozy cabin gets closer to being ready for a framing, rough electrical and rough plumbing inspection. We may not make it before the building contractor leaves, but I will continue on.
One screw on the back ridge cap of the loft and the final fastening of the front end of the living room ridge cap and the roof will be done. The cozy cabin will be officially dried in. Or we shall see with the next good rain or swirling snow.
One stinking screw and that part of the roof would be done.
I may need to fasten one temporary step to the loft roof to reach the screwless spot, like those on the living roof where it meets the loft wall. That little bit of footing prevents me from sliding off the roof and landing in a crumpled heap on the ground.
The mountain is getting pretty bare and brown. The leaves have been falling non-stop for days. Even with no wind, they just plummet to the ground and land with a thud. Serious, a thud. It is the oddest sound for a falling leaf to make.
The falling acorns can be amusing to. Sometimes they ricochet around the tree tops on their way down, sounding like a bunch of ping pong balls let loose in the forest.
I know you can't tell from this picture, but the special order, odd shaped, fixed glass windows in the loft are actually in. They still need the interior stops and the exterior trim to finish them off. They fit perfectly which was nice. We do make accurate measurements 95% of the time.
The purlins for the front porch and back stoop are done. Next they need the fascia trim boards. Then they will be ready for the metal roofing
Incrementally, one detail at a time, the cozy cabin gets closer to being ready for a framing, rough electrical and rough plumbing inspection. We may not make it before the building contractor leaves, but I will continue on.
One screw on the back ridge cap of the loft and the final fastening of the front end of the living room ridge cap and the roof will be done. The cozy cabin will be officially dried in. Or we shall see with the next good rain or swirling snow.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
A Zoom Through
The thin slice in the forest canopy. This is the real view from the deck of the resident gardeners house.
Those of you who may know me from Maui, may recall I zoomed through and cropped out the less desirable parts of my slice of the western sky and ocean there.
On Maui I lived in suburbia and there were houses, garages and large stacked piles of my neighbors collectibles in my view. There was good reason to zoom through for those picture perfect skies of Maui.
Now what I edit out isn't really unattractive.
I must just have a thing for the far horizon and the sky.
Those of you who may know me from Maui, may recall I zoomed through and cropped out the less desirable parts of my slice of the western sky and ocean there.
On Maui I lived in suburbia and there were houses, garages and large stacked piles of my neighbors collectibles in my view. There was good reason to zoom through for those picture perfect skies of Maui.
Now what I edit out isn't really unattractive.
I must just have a thing for the far horizon and the sky.
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