The Solstice Garden
Ether St. Vying
that what usenet really is ... a soapbox for soliloquy?
I agree.
It's been a day-long high noon kind of day ... hot as blazes ... just the
way we like it. It inspired us to strip half naked and slave over mortar
and brick, dirt and water. On the third day of the Solstice, we finished
rebuilding the retaining wall. Judging by the style of the concrete blocks
we removed, it was built along with the house 45 years ago. They built
things to last back then, in the expansiveness of 1957, when hope drove the
engine and quality was something to take pride in.
We're proud enough of our custom design retaining wall, made with quality
stuff we already had ... and we hope that it will hold the soil back for as
long as we both shall live here.
And if that isn't enough excitement, to further commemorate the Summer
Solstice, we assisted Buzby in his mythtical transformation ... the annual,
much anticipated emergence of The Poodle Within. It's a grueling ritual, a
testament to the fortitude and courage of all involved. The half day event
took up most of the night.
And it sure is one of the those nights .... warm and balmy, where I'd love
to sit outside ... but with the hot weather comes the third of the triple
threat, West Nile Virus. I'd be out there alright, were it not for the
1,200 bugs clinging to my screen door and the mosquitos whining within
earshot on the patio.
I got pegged in the late afternoon today, out in the sun, in the middle of
the yard. She'd bored into my skin before I even noticed her. I swatted,
and she escaped. But being an insect, and a blood-sucking one that needed a
hit or two of the red stuff to make eggs, her instinct was to try again ...
a mere few inches away from her original bore hole. Death came swiftly. She
was a virgin ... had not yet ingested blood. That was lucky ... for me.
While I won't sit out on a mosquito infested patio at night, I do work in
the garden all day long with impunity, without DEET, or a mosquito suit, or
even ... gasp ... sunblock! And despite the one mad cow, I still enjoy a
good steak fresh off the BBQ. You can't be scared of everything ... I mean
...
How many more summers?
Ether
"Ether St. Vying" wrote:
> The shortest nights in the northern hemisphere, the longest in the
> south. Happy Whole Earth Solstice.
>
> Today it got dark after 10:30 and it'll be light by 5ish.
>
> The garden's in hurry now, after the long cool spring ... trying to
> mature big and fast, and set seed. Plants have 'blooming clocks'. Some
> plants are long-day, they bloom at around the solstice. Others bloom
> either during the shortening or lengthening of the days (or both) -
> medium long or short-day plants ... the spring and late summer/fall
> types. Yup, they've got it all mapped out. Plants have adapted to almost
> every ecological niche on the planet. Without them, we wouldn't be here
> now.
>
> These are some of the plants with which I share a small patch of the
> garden at large.
>
> http://home.ca.inter.net/~stevedor/EGarden2.html
>
> With this being Power Hour in the garden, there will doubtless be
> additions at the end of the month.
>
> The pink peonies, which are represented on the page as an ant-covered
> bud, started opening today. They smell divine ... because they're the
> old-fashioned fragrant kind. it occured to me today that the peony
> tubers are ancient. I got one in the early 80's from a friend who'd had
> them since the early 60's. That would make the tubers at least 40 years
> old. 7 years ago, I divided the tuber into 3 pieces. 2 tubers went into
> the south facing slope. The plants are as tall as I am, and laden with
> blooms. Very vigorous, healthy and fecund at 40. Blows my mind. Must
> have good genes.
>
> Ether
Rbb
"Ether St. Vying" <Profi...@DreamOn.eh> wrote in message
news:3EF69D7B...@DreamOn.eh...
Can I join you?
So far I know is Usenet the best place to talk with yourself and still have
company.
Ah, those mosquitos.
Mankinds biggest natural enemy except themselves.
Not many years ago, back in the 20ties we still had Malaria in Amsterdam,
plenty of mosquitos around, even if they don't come in swarms like they do
in Canada.
I have no idea why we don't have it anymore.
I never thought Canada a land of mosquitos until I got there to paddle with
a Canoe.
I thought I could survive the swarms with some insect-spray, but after
trying for some days
I decided to spent the evenings inside the motel or cottage, brave enough
not to miss a single sunset.
I did come out though after the sun had really gone and it was in the middle
of the night,
and still one had to put up with the mosquitos.
Campfire at the shore of the lakes was irresistable and I wanted to get the
most out of my 4 weeks.
We don't have nature like that overhere and a person needs to be overwhelmed
at times by it's power.
I don't know how I would feel now with a virus thread coming with the
mosquitos.
I probably would take my chances, like you do. I also might not be that
brave.
Great to hear that you had a good day.
So let me sit with you for a while and tell you about mine.
It involved a lot of talking again
and I finished with a last phonecall at 22.00
Then I had just time to make an omelet with
aubergine, tomato, basilicum, young green onions
and the fresk garlic. No time to cook a more spectacular meal.
What did we talk about?
About loving and not being loved back,
the pain it gives, the resistance to feeling it, the feeling of
shame that comes from it.
The other did the talking mainly and I listened.
And caught in another story of human life and heartbreak,
Love and it's many sides, and the inevitable outcome:
The end.
Love is so fragile, transparent and passing
as a parfum and it belongs to nobody.
So I enjoy it while it is in my life, as you do with the summer.
How many more summers, how much more love?
Do you know the place
where it is summer forever
and love never fades?
The small shady room
with curtains on the window?
So quiet there.
RBB
Bill Cleere
"Rbb" <r...@sjamanism.no_spam.com> wrote in message
news:ZCNJa.534710$EU3.52...@amsnews03.chello.com...
You just did. The rest of us are listening in and talking to ourselves
at the same time.
Here in NorCal summer's arrival is hardly noticeable. Thanks to
you folk we can at least daydrem about it.
Thank you, Ether and RBB, for leaving these bouquets on
our doorstep here at aps.
-- Bill Cleere
"I prefer the pleasure of writing bits of nonsense to that of
wearing an embroidered coat which costs 800 francs." (Stendahl)
Ether St. Vying
That can be true, but our biggest natural enemies are often what drive the
evolution of the species. Microbes and parasites in abundance at the
evolutionary buffet. Served up any way you can imagine.
> Not many years ago, back in the 20ties we still had Malaria in Amsterdam,
> plenty of mosquitos around, even if they don't come in swarms like they do
> in Canada.
> I have no idea why we don't have it anymore.
Larvicide in the canals?
>
> I never thought Canada a land of mosquitos until I got there to paddle with
> a Canoe.
> I thought I could survive the swarms with some insect-spray, but after
> trying for some days
> I decided to spent the evenings inside the motel or cottage, brave enough
> not to miss a single sunset.
> I did come out though after the sun had really gone and it was in the middle
> of the night, and still one had to put up with the mosquitos.
Out in the country, true. What you have to do is wear shoes, socks, pants
(tucked into your sox, and a long-sleeved hoodie. You face into the wind ...
and the windier the better. The mosquitos are busy clinging to blades of grass
and such when it's really windy.
> Campfire at the shore of the lakes was irresistable and I wanted to get the
> most out of my 4 weeks.
> We don't have nature like that overhere and a person needs to be overwhelmed
> at times by it's power.
It's pretty big alright.
> I don't know how I would feel now with a virus thread coming with the
> mosquitos.
> I probably would take my chances, like you do. I also might not be that
> brave.
Enh! I nailed another virgin mosquito today. And though we have few to no
crows, we do have a couple of local Blue Jays at the sunflower bowl of seeds.
They're susceptible to it. If they disappear, and have presumably died, I might
have to be more cautious. They're my canaries in the viral mine.
> Great to hear that you had a good day.
> So let me sit with you for a while and tell you about mine.
> It involved a lot of talking again
> and I finished with a last phonecall at 22.00
> Then I had just time to make an omelet with
> aubergine, tomato, basilicum, young green onions
> and the fresk garlic. No time to cook a more spectacular meal.
I know eggsactly what you mean.
> What did we talk about?
> About loving and not being loved back,
> the pain it gives, the resistance to feeling it, the feeling of
> shame that comes from it.
> The other did the talking mainly and I listened.
Your divine duty, as a saint.
> And caught in another story of human life and heartbreak,
> Love and it's many sides, and the inevitable outcome:
> The end.
> Love is so fragile, transparent and passing
> as a parfum and it belongs to nobody.
> So I enjoy it while it is in my life, as you do with the summer.
>
> How many more summers, how much more love?
Indeed
> Do you know the place
> where it is summer forever
> and love never fades?
> The small shady room
> with curtains on the window?
> So quiet there.
Yes, quiet ... even when it isn't.
Ether
Ether St. Vying
Being the hothouse orchid wannabe that I am, I sometimes (read 'often in the
winter') wonder what it would be like to live in a warm, more or less mono
climate. But I never cease to marvel at the quickening in the spring. It's such
a rush, and a relief, after a long cold winter. It can really get people
giddy. But I love the summer best.
Nice to see you, Bill. While placing the posies, I caught a whiff of Frosty the
Chicken, and the Snuhian whacko bandit. LOL!
Ether
rainbowbird
"Ether St. Vying" <hyper...@heatisland.eh> wrote in message
news:3EFD4D16...@heatisland.eh...
> > Ah, those mosquitos.
> > Mankinds biggest natural enemy except themselves.
>
> That can be true, but our biggest natural enemies are often what drive the
> evolution of the species. Microbes and parasites in abundance at the
> evolutionary buffet. Served up any way you can imagine.
In the case of mosquitos it is evolution against my mosquitonet.
In the case of the buffet... Evolution I am all yours, but I hope I can skip
the mainmeal.
>
> > Not many years ago, back in the 20ties we still had Malaria in
Amsterdam,
> > plenty of mosquitos around, even if they don't come in swarms like they
do
> > in Canada.
> > I have no idea why we don't have it anymore.
>
> Larvicide in the canals?
You are right, what else could it be.
>
> >
> > I never thought Canada a land of mosquitos until I got there to paddle
with
> > a Canoe.
> > I thought I could survive the swarms with some insect-spray, but after
> > trying for some days
> > I decided to spent the evenings inside the motel or cottage, brave
enough
> > not to miss a single sunset.
> > I did come out though after the sun had really gone and it was in the
middle
> > of the night, and still one had to put up with the mosquitos.
>
> Out in the country, true. What you have to do is wear shoes, socks, pants
> (tucked into your sox, and a long-sleeved hoodie. You face into the wind
...
> and the windier the better. The mosquitos are busy clinging to blades of
grass
> and such when it's really windy.
Glamorous.
I liked the australian idea too. The hat with bangling items.
So they bangle in front of your face.
Looks funny , but it works.
>
> > Campfire at the shore of the lakes was irresistable and I wanted to get
the
> > most out of my 4 weeks.
> > We don't have nature like that overhere and a person needs to be
overwhelmed
> > at times by it's power.
>
> It's pretty big alright.
Understatement.
>
> > I don't know how I would feel now with a virus thread coming with the
> > mosquitos.
> > I probably would take my chances, like you do. I also might not be that
> > brave.
>
> Enh! I nailed another virgin mosquito today. And though we have few to no
> crows, we do have a couple of local Blue Jays at the sunflower bowl of
seeds.
> They're susceptible to it. If they disappear, and have presumably died, I
might
> have to be more cautious. They're my canaries in the viral mine.
I hope they stay alive. :)
>
> > Great to hear that you had a good day.
> > So let me sit with you for a while and tell you about mine.
> > It involved a lot of talking again
> > and I finished with a last phonecall at 22.00
> > Then I had just time to make an omelet with
> > aubergine, tomato, basilicum, young green onions
> > and the fresk garlic. No time to cook a more spectacular meal.
>
> I know eggsactly what you mean.
You never cease to understand. :)
>
> > What did we talk about?
> > About loving and not being loved back,
> > the pain it gives, the resistance to feeling it, the feeling of
> > shame that comes from it.
> > The other did the talking mainly and I listened.
>
> Your divine duty, as a saint.
A job one cannot quit even if one wants.
>
> > And caught in another story of human life and heartbreak,
> > Love and it's many sides, and the inevitable outcome:
> > The end.
> > Love is so fragile, transparent and passing
> > as a parfum and it belongs to nobody.
> > So I enjoy it while it is in my life, as you do with the summer.
> >
> > How many more summers, how much more love?
>
> Indeed
>
> > Do you know the place
> > where it is summer forever
> > and love never fades?
> > The small shady room
> > with curtains on the window?
> > So quiet there.
>
> Yes, quiet ... even when it isn't.
And unlocked when everything is closed. :)
RBB
Bill Cleere
> Bill Cleere wrote:
>
> > "Rbb" <r...@sjamanism.no_spam.com> wrote in message
> > news:ZCNJa.534710$EU3.52...@amsnews03.chello.com...
> >
> > Thank you, Ether and RBB, for leaving these bouquets on
> > our doorstep here at aps.
> >
> > -- Bill Cleere
>
> Nice to see you, Bill. While placing the posies, I caught a whiff of Frosty the
> Chicken, and the Snuhian whacko bandit. LOL!
>
> Ether
'Tis melancholy to start channeling Serdar Argic
again after so long. One starts doing on it on
the old premise that everyone on Usenet knows the
style, and then one pauses and thinks "Oh my God,
it's been *ten years*!"
-- Bill Cleere
Don Wheeler
Bill Cleere wrote:
And *then* pause turns to aprehension not quite ripened to a state of panic, as one follows through
with the speculation that what *if* just talking about such a thing, caused the dormanancy to suddenly
germanate and start growing again. Shudder the thought, and "hush my mouth".....