Hope Springs Eternal in Paine Falls.........

Whirlwind two days here in Paine Falls.  

Elections have come and gone, work has been inventoried and dropped off, lectures have been attended, bread has been baked, pots have been trimmed, a kid set the marsh on fire (again) and chickens continue to lay.  

Tracey Broome, pass the Red Bull! 

Yesterday I found myself standing on concrete pavement, hours on end to support a woman I believe will make a difference in our school system.  A woman who fights the fight and when she says, it's all about the kids, it really is.  Even better she won the election!  A joyous celebration of spaghetti and meatballs at her home, with a small group of supporters.  I love that she lives around the corner so we were able to walk in the light of the moon, crunchy leaves underfoot. 

And people ask; why do you do this?  Because I want the world to be a better place for everyone. Well wouldn't that be the perfect answer but in reality I show up at city council meetings and school board meetings and ask an awful lot of questions.  Sometimes I am not in agreement with the answers and become a royal pain the pa-toot.  And not to just be a pain in the pa-toot but because I really want to understand the reason for others beliefs so different than mine.  Sometimes I disagree aggressively with opinions and votes.  If you don't vote you must sit down and shut up.  Sometimes I must admit it is frustrating beyond comprehension with what goes on.  Oh and did I mention I am a letter writer?  

  

The evening prior to the election we attended a lecture by Nicole Foss.  A lecture not so much about the doom and gloom of the world economy but more about what you can do to get a handle on it.  Biggest message:  Get involved in your in community.  Remember that old saying: Think Global, Act Local.  Turns out it's really true!  Nicole suggested outrageous things, like take your money out of the stock market and invest it in your community.  Whoa!  What would happen if 10,000 people did this?  Shutter the thought!  Buy a mug from your local potter instead of the big box store?  Shutter the thought! 

On my walk this morning here was the shake out of the last 24 hours.  

Yup, this is what it's all about.  An awful lot of men and women have laid it down so we can continue to vote independently and for that I am deeply grateful.  Don't think I have missed an election since I was 18.

Yesterday I stood with the gentleman who set the clock on the courthouse for over 40 years. 

He said he was sorry he didn't hear the hourly bells anymore.  You know, I hadn't even notice the mute bells.  Never wearing a watch, I used to depend on the bells.  The bells let me know how many more pots I could get thrown before the school bus arrived on my door step.  The third bell closed the studio until after dinner.  

And did I mention he was working for a candidate I could not support.

This morning is warm and breezy.  

Nice to walk out into a canopy of gold.

The road levy passed, I guess our streets will be paved, or at least a few pot holes filled but alas not in gold.

Some politicians fell hard, other are standing tall this morning.

Some were a bit too flamboyant but I guess it's OK to get your red on once a year.

As these leaves will fade and blow away so too will the ones who lost.  

It is just an ending..... they might be back in the Spring.

Others, definitely stood out in the crowd.

Whatever happens, 

the river rolls on, calm today but can quickly become a raging torrent. 

Just like so many politicians...... 

As skies quicken with November wind I think we are wise to pay attention and keep watch.

Will campaign promises be fulfilled? 

Prepare for the coming weeks and months ahead...... 

Get involved with our local community ...... it's so important!

and know the buds are already set on the lilacs and azaleas for Spring blooms.... 

There were some new candidates I hope return to run again.

I guess it's true........ Hope Springs Eternal...... 

Congratulations to all who won.  

Yeah!

Yeah! 

We turned the clocks back Saturday night!  

Sunday morning happily jumping out of bed, seeing trees illuminated in frosty morning haze.  

Out the back door, the chickens were already up and talking. 

Tossed their feeder in the pen, fresh water and down to the park!  

After working as an Cleveland Lakefront Park Ranger for 3 years of my early life, I tend to stay away from any and all parks in the summer.  From Memorial Day to Labor the parks are packed with people slathered in lotions and creams rolling in hot sand, the swimming area has an iridescent sheen of oil similar to the Gulf of Mexico disaster,  screaming kids with something cold and/or sticky lodged in any and all orifices to keep them from screaming or killing their BFF's, blaring boom boxes, grills going galore, dog poop galore, and one particular portly gentleman who graces us in a speedo, mirrored sunglasses and color coordinated flip flops, he is everywhere!  There is trash everywhere. Toss in the jet skies and power boats.  Yes, let's all commune with nature and embrace the great outdoors! 

I am outta here!

After working state parks for 3 summers I have little hope for mankind.

Finally it's November!  

Due to funding issues the parks have less patrols and more area to patrol but the gates open at dawn on Sunday mornings. 

By November, I am allowed to return to the park without experiencing a major meltdown.

Butch opted to keep the sheets warm leaving me to explore alone. 

Yet the remains of summer linger.

This is why I love the park during the off season.  

Look at those cottonwoods!  And do you see anyone? 

  There is just something about standing on a beach in November as fierce winds from the north, slap you awake.  It is the raw power of wind, water and sand and it is exhilarating!  

Better than yoga zumba! 

The beach is a good mile long and I walked the abandoned park noticing the wildlife had started to move back in.  I wondered if they see what I see on these walks.  

As I locked my car in the abandoned parking lot,

 I noticed a lone deer was running through the parking lot screaming; 

"It's All Mine!"  

Hmmmm,  only one deer, odd.  

Oh yeah we killed most of them last fall. 

Hired sharp shooters "culled" the deer herd. 

Everybody's happy!  Home owners can keep their shrubs, the park is no longer polluted with deer, drivers can go back to driving 60 mph to entrance of the park without the fear of hitting bambi standing at the entrance.  Route 90 looked like a blood bath in the fall, not anymore!  

IT'S A PARK, my inside voice said....... 

Hey, can we get some tax money to form RED?  

Right to Educate Deer?  

Gosh if we can just keep them in line maybe we won't need those pesky sharp shooters.

The loan deer.

I guess we have plumbing and piped city water?  

Should the loan deer's grill get out of hand I guess they can pump water from the lake?

Maybe it's for the dogs?  

What am I missing here? 

  I counted 6 park visitors; two bird watchers, two walkers and two dog walkers, only one was not on a cell phone, ME!  Was there a bird alert?  

Then I saw this woman talking loudly and walking a mile a minute...... 

but then she was probably calling about all the closed bathrooms.

C'mon lady, they left poop bags on the pole in front of the bathroom just for you! 

Yuk-a!  

Oh no it's yucca :)  

and appropriately placed next to the closed potties.

 and this is when I just started laughing.........

No Diving, No Problem! 

I bet there is sticky kid at the bottom.  

and nothing screams get in that skimpy bathing suit like this sign.....

bet the Speedo guy wore out his flip flops getting to this store....

and sign after sign telling me where to park, what I can do in the park, what I can't do in the park, 

instead of picking off the deer, how about some of these signs? 

As I drove out of the park a large blaring sign stated DON'T FEED THE GEESE.  

Yup, there was one goose motoring in a puddle, bet he's on the sign committee. 

I retreated home....... frost still on the roof but alas an open potty and hot coffee.

The chard is looking a bit frozen but should be perky by noon.

And the studio is looking like a working studio again.

A good week of burnishing pots for a final horsehair firing next week.

Thank you Betsy!!!  

And for all those I owe emails too....... I promise I will answer this week!  

TREASURES!

Halloween is over!  

Last night we had a ripper of a storm go through.  Watching small children whizz past the window I tossed candy at them....... overhand.  We usually get packs of wandering kids, especially living across from a cemetery!  Last night 6, 6 kids!  I bought candy for 30,000.  By 8:00 p.m. I had eaten 5 billion calories and had a Kit Kat lodged in an artery.  The mums had blown off the porch, the candles in the lanterns were blown out and I had blown out my jeans.  Another holiday come and gone.  

This morning I thought I better lace up those tennis shoes and head out for a walk before sitting down to a good day of wheel work. 

That Kit Kat had rounded my arteries and made it's way to my butt.

Tossed a loaf of bread in the oven after I poured the first cup of morning coffee.  

7:45 a.m. and it's still dark, hate it! 

40 minutes later the bread was out of the oven, my coffee was gone, the chickens were fed and I was out the door.

The hostas are done for the year...... 

The wind is fierce this morning.  Temps are still in the 50's but my face looked like a bloodhound hanging out a car window on the freeway!  

November skies for sure!

Just to get out of the wind I headed into the woods.  Protection, shelter and quiet from the freight train pounding my ear drums. 

I sat on a log and let quiet seep in around me, much better. 

An abandoned nest..... I walked past this bush a hundred times this year, never saw the nest or the birds.  What else did I miss? 

Working my way to the edge of the protection, once again, smacked in the face by leaves, debris and noise.  I thought why not just accost yourself with downtown today.  It will be a quiet day in the studio so just give yourself the full frontal assault of traffic, wind and humans.   Thankfully I had slipped a few Kit Kats and peanut butter cups in my pocket to get me through the next hour of angst.  

First assault........... Christmas!  

Seriously?  

There are still leaves on the trees people! 

And where are the pumpkins and turkeys?  

Pilgrims?  

Anybody see any Pilgrims? 

And then right in downtown I found this loaded yellow crab!  

The color was in your face yellow.  I tasted them and they were quite sweet with a bit of tang.

Had they been within the 25 foot rule I would picked a bunch for jelly.  

Note: 25 foot rule for foragers, never pick anything closer to the road than 25 feet.  

All those idling cars, trucks and buses, no thanks. 

First evidence of the storm besides a few limbs and leaves. 

Thanks for the update insurance guys...  0 days without mayhem. 

On the way home I watched birds tumbling through the air.  

Hiking up the hill I heard crows laughing in a tree that stands guard at the entrance of the cemetery.

Walking under the tree to see what the ruckus was about, I spied this!!  

Shaking it, there was something rattling inside.  Who would stick something in the knot of tree? 

The bottle was sealed with brown packing tape; safely tucking it in my pocket, I would open it when I got home. 

 Waved to 92 year old Lois and Fluffy, they never miss a day.

Said Hello to Joseph Linhart, 

I always do...... 

"not guilty" for eternity or at least as long as the stone is there.

And home to hot coffee and a slice of warm bread!

Butch was still home so I pulled the little bottle out of my pocket and said:  

Hey, look at this!  He looked at it and said; Open it outside! 

I opened it in the sink. 

Inside: a reflector, spider ring, tweety bird and long list of geocachers!  

What is geocaching? Check it out!  http://www.geocaching.com/

I really don't know much about it but it sounds like a blast and of course I registered!

The little bottle has been in the tree knot since 2009!  Something else I had missed or maybe I just wasn't ready to see it?  

I signed my new geocache name and put a little ball of clay in it.  Ran over and replaced it in the knot of the tree.  Awesomely cool!! 

Along with other treasures found......... 

Yesterday I stopped by a junk shop in town and found these hand made shino plates with a bit of carbon trapping for $3 each.  Now I need plates like I need more _____, you fill in the blank! 

But I could not walk away from hand made shino plates for $3 each.  There is a whisper of signature on the back but unreadable so I will just be happy that they are studio pottery from an unknown potter.

Turkey dinner is going to look great on these dishes!! 

The last 24 hours I feel like I hit the lottery!  

Amazed by new found treasures. 

And now off to the studio and a stack of books on cd...... 

Dancing Seeds and other stuff........

There are more than leaves swirling in the air this fall.  Fall is always a transition time and a work your ass off to get ready for what's coming, commonly know as the DEAD of WINTER. (key the horror music and shrieks) 

 As the cyclonic energy blows in with gale force, sometimes you just have to lace up your boots and head out the front door.  Sort things out and stop the crazies.  Or when my Dad would say: "Charlie, you're think'n too much again...."  At 8 or 9 years old it was confusing, how do you stop thinking?  I can't, I would yell!  Hey old man! These are good questions and the dog is not talking today!  My Dad was a man of few words.  Out the front door with a slam and head for the local creek or woods with the mute dog. Within 5 minutes, dog and self would be knee deep in mud and bugs.  Upon arrival home,  really happy dog and I would head to the basement shower and washing machine.  My Mom would give me other things to think about for sure!  HOW DID YOU GET THIS WAY? she would yell down the basement steps.  I would yell back..... I don't know....... and grin at the dog standing next to me in the shower. 

Fall winds have swept in lists of impending changes.

Really good friend moves across country tomorrow, leaving a gapping void. 

96 year old Mother in Law is winding down leaving all sorts of mortality questions.

My one and only show deadline is approaching at the speed of light and dear God I am sick of "dustables".  Functional ware is in full swing however, big changes in the studio.

Plumbing issues in house. 

Stock the woodpile, immediately isn't soon enough.

OH and it's the political season...... I am changing the name to Pol-idiot season.

and the list just goes on into infinity, plus two.  

And I hear my Dad...... Charlie, you're thinking too much...... 

Yes, we live across the street from a cemetery and I have to say it is great incentive to keep moving!

This time of the year it's cold in the mornings and frost fairies are everywhere! 

Everything has a fine coating of hoar frost.  And where did that name come from?   

Ahhhhh, it's from the Old English adjective for showing signs of old age, making trees and bushes look like they have white hair.  And I thought it looked ethereal or maybe a halo...... kind of like my grey hair makes me look ethereal, maybe a halo if the sun hits it just right but never angelic! 

 Henceforth my grey hair will be called Hoar Hair and I guess that makes me Hoary or a Hoar Head? 

STOP THINKING........  

After a good mile into my hike I am over whelmed by the amount of seeds, one in particular made me pay attention due to jabbing and itching as I walked.

We called them devils pitchforks, nuff said, don't think I need the botanical name.

They were everywhere;  my sox, jeans, underwear and jacket.

The mud had a blanket layer of these tenacious buggers.

And that is when I started paying attention.

Mother Nature rocks when it comes to seeds.  Seriously do the math on any picture above.  It is just mind numbing.  Everything has had it's day in the sun and now winding down.  The winds blew, the birds feasted and my brain blew up thinking of what this field was going to look like in the spring and next summer.  Life goes on, nothing stops and it is awesomely cool and amazing!  Really why should we, in our little bubble be any different.  Yeah, my particular day in the sun might be fading a kilowatt or two but my seeds are gonna dance!   

About the time I reveling in the joys of nature and breathing out a bit of the crazies, a full blown, racked buck in all his glory exploded in my face from the weeds.  By the time I got my heart started and found the camera all I could see was his white flag of a tail waving goodbye.  

There were deer signs everywhere and I did pay attention but the unknown is always around the bend. 

Yes, there is the initial panic but once your brain catches up with reality, you could enjoy the moment.

Note to self: Go with that!

and then some of us just hang on for dear life..... 

All these thoughts on transitions and changes are ok.  There is such diversity out there and in here too. 

The other day I called my kids to pass on the condition of their Grandmother.  Daughter #1 is always one to listen and ask; What should I do, What can I do...... followed by a heavy sigh and more listening and then we talk about life's lessons.  Daughter #2 after hearing the report, texts back:  it's OK she is just entering the Koala stage, gotta go!   Yup, my seeds are gonna dance~!

Walking home I was full of prickers, muddy, wet and the crazies had stopped for now.  

I jumped in a hot shower on the second floor, not the basement and realized I really need a dog and I said it out loud.   And I really don't think too much and I really don't want to stop asking questions because the answers are always out the front door and over the hill.......