Sometimes it's OK to get your hands dirty.....

   After what has seemed like weeks of an extended winter, we have finally hit a few days of more Spring-like conditions and I took advantage of the warmer weather to work in the garden. It's not a big garden, some flowers, vegetables, a few blueberry and raspberry bushes and herbs, lots of herbs. The garden is just big enough to keep me busy and put some fresh veggies on the table during the summer.
   It's sometimes fun to get your hands dirty, in a clean sense, that is. On a sunny day, the soil feels warm to the touch and rich with the energy the earth has to offer as the dirt moves between your fingers. No garden gloves here. Get down and dirty! Sorry about the stains in the knees of my pants, though.
   Armed with my hoe, a rake, my trusty old wheel barrel and several different size shovels.... it was off to work and the next three days were busy cleaning, cultivating, mulching and planting. (Like hammers, one can never have too many shovels!)
   The mid-week weather forecast was for rain over the weekend so my goal was to get most of the work done before the weekend rains and after a few long days, I was done. It was time to kick back, open a cold one and let Mother Nature do her work now.
   If one stops to think, there is a great deal of symbolism in planting a garden and watching it grow and even as early as grade school, planting a seed or two in a paper cup was suppose to instill an importance and understanding of nature. And if one were really lucky, within a week or two, a small green bean plant would emerge from the soil and we would all race home to show our parents what we had achieved.
   Come to think of it, that seemingly simple classroom activity may have been good practice for planting seeds in those starter sets in early March and in some cases, the results back then in the classroom were exactly the same as now. Despite all my efforts and tender loving care...nothing! Oh well. (It was the seed company's fault. Bad seeds.)
   For the next few weeks my hope is for just the right amount of rain, warm sunny days and no late season frost at night. Until then, it's watch and wait. Perhaps it was either Peter Paul and Mary, John Denver or Maine's own Dave Mallett who said it best in song: 

                              * The Garden Song *

 Pullin' weeds and pickin' stones, we are made of dreams and bones,
I feel the need to grow my own 'cause the time is close at hand.
Grain for grain, sun and rain, I'll find my way in nature's chain,
I tune my body and my brain to the music of the land. 
Inch by inch, row by row, I'm gonna make this garden grow. All it takes is a rake and a hoe and a piece of fertile ground. 
Inch by inch, row by row, someone bless these seeds I sow. Someone warm them from below 'til the rain comes tumbling down. 
So plant your rows straight and long, temper them with prayer and song. Mother earth can keep you strong if you give her love and care.
Now an old crow watching hungrily from his perch in yonder tree. In my garden I'm as free as that feathered thief up there.
Inch by inch, row by row, I'm gonna make this garden grow. All it takes is a rake and a hoe and a piece of fertile ground.
Inch by inch, row by row, someone bless these seeds I sow
Someone warm them from below 'til the rain comes tumbling.
Inch by inch, row by row, someone bless these seeds I sow
Someone warm them from below 'til the rain comes tumbling down.”

For anyone interested, the song can be heard and viewed on YouTube, just search "The Garden Song."

And he sure looks better without the snow.. wouldn't you say!
                                           

It was kind of a sad moment.....

   We had been back from our trip about two weeks. I went to the freezer to find there were only two bagels left, bagels we had brought back from New Jersey. The morning we left to return home to Maine, even before the stop at the gas station, the first place would be the local bagel shop.

   Growing up in New Jersey also meant growing up with some of the best bagels on the planet. True. One can purchase them in many different flavors, from either the frozen food shelf or the bakery section of the grocery store. But there is no better experience than walking into the local bagel shop, the air filled with the smell of freshly baked bagels and being tempted to reach into the  bag and biting into one of those warm, tasty morsels even before getting out the door.

   My favorites tend to be the more traditional; plain, sesame seed. poppy seed (although never before going to an interview) and blueberry. Once and a while, I will add one or two made of different dough, perhaps rye or whole grain. Whole grain is suppose to be better for you, right? But my favorite is still the plain one.

   Back in the car, it was only a minute or two before the car was filled with the luscious aroma and even the dog took an interest in the bag, nose working hard to locate the smell. But now the bag was safely out of his reach and ours, at least until we got home.

   For me, bagels have always been a popular addition to morning breakfast. Come to think of it, they are good just about anytime of the time. Whether fresh from the toaster and drenched in the melting butter, coated in cream cheese or just plan, the dense and chewy interior, wrapped with a crisp exterior often 'hits the spot' for a morning, afternoon or evening snack.

   Traditionally, bagels are shaped by hand in the form of a ring or circle and made from yeast dough. What sets the apart from a cake and makes them special is that they are boiled for a short time before being placed in the oven. I am not sure if those purchased from the freezer of your local grocery store are prepared in the same 'traditional' way. Size wise, those are much smaller, and in this case, size does matter!

   Historically, bagels first appeared in the early 1600's in Poland and it was not long before this rich and doughy pastry became part of the Polish diet and within a few decades its popularity rolled through Europe.

   Entry into the United States market occurred as Polish- Jewish immigrants moved from Europe to New York City. Bagel shops and an entirely new industry quickly spread across the city under the control and watchful eye of the Bagel Bakers Local 338, carefully maintaining its traditions of yeast dough and 'hand made'.

   Later, companies would experiment and expand the bagel's popularity with automated techniques for mass production and before long, the bagel found its way into plastic packaging and the freezers of your local store.

   On this particular morning, nearly two weeks after returning home, we would finish the last two bagels. A sad moment. Yes. They were in the freezer to keep them somewhat fresh, but these were still the real thing, a crisp exterior, a doughy and chewy interior and ones that were not pre-cut, but required skillful hands or the use of the 'family bagel knife', the one passed down through generations, to split into two pieces in order to fit neatly into the toaster. No microwave here. The toaster would do just fine. And the butter and cream cheese were already in place on the counter along with  glasses of orange juice and a freshly brewed cups of coffee. Almost heaven!

   We will be heading to Jersey again sometime soon and will make the familiar stop at the local bagel shop. But if anyone is coming to Maine this summer, a 'couple dozen' freshly baked bagels will always be welcomed at our house. Go ahead. Mix them up, but be sure to include a couple of plain ones too! I'll supply the butter and cream cheese.

   Did you know......'Bagel' is a Yeshivish term for sleeping 12 hours straight. “I slept a bagel last night.” Its origin may be traced to the fact that the hour hand on a clock moves in the shape of a bagel over the course of twelve hours. I knew there was a reason why I liked bagels!!

Lucky visits Auntie Carol.....

   We recently returned from an extended trip South where we enjoyed some sun and warm weather, a get away from what seemed to be a never ending winter in norther New England. As we have on several other trips recently, Lucky, our poodle, joined us on the journey. He has grown to be fairly well behaved and enjoys riding in the car, no matter how long or short the ride. This was going to be a long ride, with several overnight stops along the way at 'pet friendly' hotels before reaching our final destination. His preference...  the Marriott chain. (and besides, I get points toward future stays.)

   The trip home would be similar with one exception. We were going to spend an extra day or two visiting family in New Jersey and would be staying at Auntie Carol's house. Auntie Carol has never owned a dog and is somewhat cautious around them. Uncle Bill, on the other hand, has often expressed interest in getting a dog, perhaps a hunting dog.

   As we rounded the corner and approached their home, we had a very stern talk with Lucky about how we expected him to behave. He picked his head up off the seat, looked at us with sleepy eyes, seemed to ask if we were there yet, and settled back down to catch that 'last wink'..

   The first few minutes are very important for any 'dog greeting' and Lucky is no exception. Unless you prove otherwise to him, he assumes everyone is his friend and eagerly seeks approval. But jumping up on people is not always a good way to gain that approval and the next thirty seconds were going to be critical.

   With Auntie Carol in the doorway and a tree at the end of the driveway, Lucky had a decision to make. After the long ride he choose to stake out his territory with the tree first and then greet her, and he did OK. After all, he had a lot to prove.

   Within a few minutes and glad to be out of the car, he raced around the house, playing with her grandchildren. What better way to show how 'good' he could be, allowing the grand kids to climb all over him and allowing them to play with 'his' toys. He even helped them clean up, picking up their socks off the floor and........Auntie Carol, it's only a game of 'catch me if you can'.

    Even with all the play, he would stop whatever he was doing and move to within an arm's reach of Auntie Carol, hoping she would pat him on the top of his head, or better yet, give him a doggie treat. It didn't take long for her to learn the routine. After all, who could resist the look from those dark, loving eyes. He was training her well.

   The next step would be to place his head in her lap, so she didn't have to reach quite as far to pat him on his bushy, curly head. That probably would have been better to do not after a fresh drink of water, though.

    Lucky is a standard sized poodle, but for his size and weight he can be quite graceful and on several occasions he took the opportunity, when everyone was busy and paying no attention to him, to demonstrate his grace, by carefully and quietly sneaking away to the corner of the sofa in the living room. After all, it was nap time!

   Back in the family room, Lucky would, periodically, glance at Uncle Bill as if to ask...”How am I doing? Do we have her convinced ? Is she ready to give in yet?

   That first evening he demonstrated his ability and skills as a guard dog, barking quietly at the noise and conversation of those passing by the house after dark. We are speaking of New Jersey here. Doesn't everyone need a guard dog for protection?

   The next day we went for a short ride and Lucky was careful as he jumped in and out of Auntie Carol's car, making sure not to track in dirt or get into the box of tissues on the floor. Even Auntie Carol commented how well behaved he was in the car, especially as we raced down the Garden State Parkway, vehicles passing at breakneck speed on either side of us, his face glued to the window in fear?

   Dogs can be great companions and friends, just someone to talk to and I think during the time at Auntie Carol's, even she found it easy to engage him in dialogue, albeit one sided.

    It was soon time to leave and head back to Maine and I think the stop in New Jersey went well. He had behaved well, had shown just how good he can be. Had he done enough to convince her it might be OK for Uncle Bill to get a dog? He had given it his best shot and only time would tell.

   But it was time to get home. There would be squirrels waiting for him in the yard and the snow would finally be gone, at least I hoped it would be gone. And the ride..... just a few short hours, Lucky. Really!

Rise and fall. A lesson of how history....... repeats itself?

   About this time each year I attempt to clear out some of my books, packing up older ones  and putting  new titles in their place. This usually happens every year and because I do this each year, for me, history does repeat itself.
   I have a number of history books and as I cull through the collection, often I will get distracted by titles or topics.
   One of the courses I took in college was entitled the "Rise of Western Civilization”, not really an exciting course, especially  because it was taught on  Saturday mornings. But I came across the text  was used in class, a thick, heavy book....lots of words.
   Much of the history of western civilization has deep roots in  Roman history. As I paged through the text,  I was attracted to the section that discussed the reasons for the rise of the Roman Empire and the suggested reasons for its decline, as offered by famous historians.
   Many will claim  the Roman Empire never really fell, only that it adapted to a changing world.  But few who study history will deny the numerous attempts of other nations and cultures to overthrow  the 'glory days' of Rome.  Perhaps it was not the attacks by others who caused the 'fall,',  but  the Roman people themselves. Not being around in 476 A.D. makes it difficult to personally observe the reasons, but as I reviewed the explanations in the text, there were some strikingly sharp and frightening similarities to today's society.
   The introduction of lead pipes to the water system, replacing the old aqueduct system had a severe  negative impact upon the health and welfare in the Empire.  Even today, lead is still a poison with impact upon the safety and welfare of  society. What scientific discoveries today, for the good of  mankind, will have the potential to kill us in the future? Some claim the push toward the use of nuclear energy may be the next great health disaster. Or will it be  wind turbines?
   Civil wars and internal conflicts sapped the strength of the Empire. Although it has been 150 years since our Civil War, perhaps the U.S. attempt to keep peace around the world has sapped our strength to improve our quality of life.
   Abandonment of old beliefs, religious and/or political, led to confusion and unrest. The moral strength of the Empire became compromised and questioned. While beliefs and ideals  change over time as society changes, an orderly transition in imperative in an effort to avoid chaos.
   At its peak of world power, Rome encouraged the practice of birth control, leading to a decline in its population.  Birth control was also seen as a tool to reduce sexually transmitted diseases, spreading out of control, the result of a society that had lost its moral and religious compass.
   Political misdirection and politics played a major role in the 'fall of Rome'. Failure to have a workable constitution and with a government controlled in large part by a small, rich aristocracy and with 'liberal thinking' rulers, created a tremendous drain on the financial and political resources of the  once rich and wealthy Empire. And under the weight of a vast and expanded bureaucracy, the government found itself unable govern effectively .
   Easy living and a population that became lazy destroyed the belief that hard work and commitment would lead to a strong and effective society. It was the world's first real confrontation with the negative impact of 'too much welfare' in a society.
   The flow of gold and other riches away from the Empire to pay for luxury items, items with no real personal value, was one of the final 'nails in the economic coffin', preventing the Empire from ever regaining its world economic leadership.
   Now, I am not saying that history ever repeats itself, but there are some lessons that could be learned here. I realize that it is not 476 A.D. and the world has changed. My question is...how much have we really changed? (Perhaps I should have stayed awake in class more, even though it was  Saturday morning, I could answer that question.)

Have you ever noticed....

   There are a number of things going on in the world that we probably never notice or just take them for granted as the way we live our lives today. This is not a judgment, only an observation. But it does and maybe should cause a renewed awareness in certain human behaviors, although I believe many of the larger companies have already done their studies and are well aware of 'how' people behave and live and do things to supports these behaviors.

   Have you ever noticed the number of people who light up a cigarette within just a few seconds of exiting a store, especially a grocery store. They barely get outside and already have taken a couple of “good deep drags” often followed by a cough or two ('good' is not used in a positive context here). And after loading the groceries into the car, they drop the half smoked cigarette on the ground. Some will stamp it out while others just let it burn. What an expensive waste of money, but I am sure the cigarette companies don't mind and I am also convinced the person who drops the cigarette has never smoked in the car  before!?!?

   Similarly, there are many who will “light up” just before going into the store, take a puff or two and dispose of the cigarette in one of those oddly shaped plastic “butt holders” often place near the entrance. Have you noticed the color of the plastic disposal containers? They are usually either gray or a 'pinkish' color. No message here, just an observation on my part.

   Moving on, there is no question in my mind the cell phone has changed the world, changed human behavior and will continue to do so as the technology continues to grow and expand. ( I am waiting for the day the cell phone will be able to do a 'full body transport' from one location to another. Don't laugh! )

   As I took the dog out this morning, shortly before 7:00AM, three cars passed, each with the driver talking on their cell phone. What ever happened to the concept of “hands free”? All managed to wave as they passed by. “Good morning all!” Let's see,,,one hand holding the phone, one hand waving to me and …..who's got the wheel?

   I will admit that my cell phone etiquette could use a 'make-over', but to watch others can be almost comical, especially the teenagers.

   In a recent trip to a clothing store I noticed a young girl was sending a friend pictures of the jeans she was purchasing. The jeans, 5 pairs of them, were all lined up in a row. I am assuming it was a friend. Come to think of it, it may have been her mother although, I doubt it! The person on the other end of the connection must have given approval as the girl raced off to pay the cashier and check out.

   There is a warning about..”casting the first stone” and I admit that I have not always demonstrated to best cell phone behavior, When was the last time you were in sitting in a restaurant with others close by. I am referring to a real restaurant, not the fast food type. There are so many different and unique ring tones and email and text alerts that it can often get pretty noisy. But, I'll admit it. I have check my phone on occasion, but I had good reason. Let's see! What excuse can I use this time?

   I do like having the ability to take a quick picture with the phone though, and I am learning that I can take the picture and send it to my computer at home. Beats taking the film out of the camera and waiting for days to get the pictures back only to discover they are all fuzzy or out of focus.

   By the way, unless you are someone famous, please don't ask me to be in a 'selfie'. I don't do 'selfies'!, although I might consider one with the Boston Red Sox.

   Have you noticed the people who walk by the candy display in the store, tear open a package of candy, take several pieces and put the bag back on the shelf. I am not talking about children here, I am referring to the number of adults, popping one or two into the mouth and then a couple more in a pocket or purse. If I were the store owner, I might consider moving the candy display closer to the door and checkout,

   It's late in the evening, just after dusk. Small towns in Maine tend to have just one or two traffic lights, if any at all.. As you approach the light, it changes from green, to yellow and red. You quickly look around. No other cars in the area. Do I stop or... if it's safe... should I keep going?
   No one but me will ever notice.      :)

                           

                                                

Beneath the melting snow....

   Revealed beneath the melting snow from this year's long, cold winter are the joys and sometimes the 'wrath' of Mother Nature. We are well into the month of April and while other regions of the country have experienced the warmth of the sun and the blossoms of the early springtime flowers, this has been a long winter for us. It has only been the past few days that it has actually felt like springtime has finally arrived with temps getting into the high 40's and low 50's. But finally, even in the dark and quiet of the night, one can hear the water from the melting snow on the roof trickle to the ground and perhaps by the end of the week, the snow on the roof will be completely gone.

   As the snow melts, small patches of grass dot the yard. But in the back yard, protected from the sun by some very tall trees, the snow is still well over a foot deep. The good news is that as it continues to melt, it will help to fill the backyard 'frog ponds' . Here's hoping the frogs, buried deep in their muddy winter homes, survived the winter's cold and ice.

   Along with the spots of green scattered about are spots of brown. But, I'll pass on that discussion and just go get a shovel and start to clean them up.

   Beneath the bird feeders is a hefty collection of bird seed and already the squirrels and chipmunks have done a pretty good job of cleaning up after themselves. They are not afraid to warn Lucky to 'stay away' if he is out in the yard and while he attempts to chase them up the closest tree, they continue to chatter back at him.

   And speaking of Lucky, he has rediscovered several of his missing toys, buried deeply in the snow, left outside just before our first major winter storm.

   I have come to the conclusion that Mother Nature has her own method of pruning and clearing the dead branches from the trees. It's called 'the wind” and we certainly had our share of wind this year. The result was more drops of limbs and branches than I can remember in many years. And there were also a few trees that fell too, fortunately in the direction away from the house. Once the snow is completely gone, it's going to take a bit of time cleaning up this year

   Walking across portions of the remaining snow that still covers the ground, the layers of ice under the snow crack and break. There appears to have been a 2-3 inch layer of ice coating the ground before the heavy snows hit, and the sooner it melts, the better it will be for any surviving grass.

   It is interesting to follow the little tunnels beneath the ice and snow. I assume they are the result of the “under snow” network set up by the the various critters seeking out food and safe haven. There is a rather large tunnel opening just below the bird feeder in front of the living room window and often a chipmunk will peek out of the opening before venturing farther toward the food supply making sure the big black dog is not within sight.

   Along the edge of the house, next to the foundation where the sun has melted the snow and warmed the ground, some of the early spring flowers are beginning to break the muddy surface and before long should be in bloom.

   The streets and driveway are coated in sand and reports are that local towns and cities used more sand and salt this year than in recent years. It was a bad year for ice and it will be interesting to see the damage that may have occurred to the plants and shrubs.

   One of the ways I keep track of the snow level is by checking in on my 'rock people”' the sentinels stationed around the yard. It has only been this past week most have popped their heads above the snow and it won't be long before they all will be basking in spring and summer sun.
    But for now, we'll just let Mother Nature stick to her own time table and her way of bringing things back to life... from beneath the melting snow. 

                            One of the several sentinels emerging from the snow!

* Several days have passed since I wrote this earlier in the week. With 60 degree weather, it is amazing how much snow has melted and with the exception of  just a couple of sections of the yard, we are pretty much snow free, the first time since December. May Spring really is here.!!!

Andy Griffith meets Dr. Phil...

   After the morning news shows, daytime television leaves a great deal to be desired. But then, most people are working and the audience during the day is probably much like me, retired or currently out of work or..... skipping work to watch the Red Sox. After all, earlier this week was the opening day of the 2014 baseball season

   Often after a brief post-lunch nap, I  awake to the theme song from The Andy Griffith Show. The first time this occurred, I thought I might have been dreaming, but that was not the case. The Andy Griffith Show appears to be part of the mid-afternoon ( retiree) TV lineup.

   Now to remember the Andy Griffith Show you have to be of a certain age, have lived and survived the 60's, remember when the only colors on the television screen were black, white and different shades of gray, (no, not the book!) and if you didn't have an antenna fastened to the chimney of your house you had something called 'rabbit ears, sitting atop the television set and if the reception was really poor even after moving them around a bit, you might wrap a piece of aluminum foil around the antenna tips.

   I rediscovered the Andy Griffith reruns from the 1960's several months ago and I must admit, it brought back some memories, not only about the show, but also the decade. At the time I was finishing high school and getting ready to go off to college and 'too cool' to watch the show. I thought it “pretty lame,” a small town police chief, a bumbling deputy  named Barney, an aunt named Bea and young kid named Opie. (I have since run across many  Opie's out there in the world.)

   I  learned after spending a bit of time watching several of the reruns, there may have been  subtle messages about life, more than just the down home flavor of growing up in Mayberry. Andy was able to guide and direct the characters of the show through many of life's simple but important lessons, lessons often overlooked today.

   In a recent episode rerun, Barney becomes upset and jealous when a local farmer from the outskirts of town attempts to woo his longtime girlfriend, Thelma Lou, away in order to propose marriage to her. As a hardworking farmer, he needed a wife to cook, clean and keep the house neat. . Enraged as Barney was able to get in his squeaky high pitched voice, he challenges the farmer to a fight. But Andy and Aunt Bea eventually intervene and bring peace and understanding to both. The farmer learns a few of life's lessons about about dating and finding a wife and Barney learns the importance of love and relationships.

   Fast forward to 2014. Barney and the farmer are working out their differences on the Dr. Phil Show.
    I am not a big fan of Dr. Phil and I am glad there are other, more family friendly shows, available at the same time. I find him often arrogant and obnoxious, rude and coming across as a know-it-all. For the sake of what the television networks consider a good television show, I often wonder just how real some the issues are that people are willing to discuss on national TV and... are the topics really appropriate for television or a public airing, especially when the kids are still awake.

   While Andy and Aunt Bea worked to teach Barney and the farmer lessons in dating, I suspect Dr. Phil would have taken a far more aggressive approach, having them square off on stage, look back into their family background and cry or get angry, study their failed relationships with parents and who knows what else.

   It is hard to determine if the outcome would have been the same with both sitting there on the stage, cameras running. But as I continue to watch some of the reruns of The Andy Griffith Show, I have concluded that there may have been more to the show than I originally thought. Even in the 1960's, many of the problems the folks of Mayberry faced were not that much different than today and perhaps the show was just a bit ahead of its time. And Andy's style? It seemed to work just fine back then. I know  it was only television entertainment back then, but so is Dr. Phil!
   I'm  not saying that Sheriff Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith) was the Dr, Phil of the 60's in Mayberry, but it might be fun to see them go head to head on national TV today, each with their own unique style.