 "The truth is, you know, we need our anodynes. You know that word, anodynes? We need that in life some times. A good warm bath can be one for you, or a whatever." This old bench and granite-ware basin were left in the barn.
I thought they deserved one last portrait while Tom was checking the beehives. ~Nancy ~ 2.29.2016
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 "They claim this mother of ours, the Earth, for their own use, and fence their neighbors away from her, and deface her with their buildings and their refuse." We took advantage of the blue skies to walk through Ballard Nature Center. The winds were strong and the ground was soggy. The spring peepers were noisy, though, and it felt like March is just around the corner.
~Nancy ~ 2.28.2016  “Do what needs to be done, Ty is a fifth grader. He wrestles in junior high against other middle school students who are in the 7th and 8th grades. His older brother is a senior and just won the state championship at 152 pounds. Today Ty won his matches and earned the privilege to advance next weekend to compete at our sectionals. We're all excited about Ty's future, but the thing we love most about Ty is his smile... ~Nancy (Nana) ~ 2.27.2016  "I found many treasures in the woods over the years: shotgun shells, empty Colt 45 bottles, old railroad spikes, orange and black beetles eating a dead mouse, pebbles that looked just like teeth, old stone walls and cellar holes, a rusted out frying pan, the skull of a cat." An old storm cellar out in the country.
I managed to take this picture working around two farm dogs that came out to greet me. ~Nancy ~ 2.26.2016  Shelf fungus, also called bracket fungus, basidiomycete that forms shelflike sporophores (spore-producing organs). Shelf fungi are commonly found growing on trees or fallen logs in damp woodlands. They can severely damage cut lumber and stands of timber. Specimens 40 cm (16 inches) or more in diameter are not uncommon. A specimen of Fomitiporia ellipsoidea discovered in 2010 on Hainan Island in southern China had a fruiting body that measured 10.8 metres (35.4 feet) in length and 82–88 cm (2.7–2.9 feet) in width and weighed an estimated 400–500 kg (882–1,102 pounds). It was found growing on the underside of a tree, and at the time it was the largest fruiting body ever recorded for a fungus. The melting snow added another layer of texture to this old tree that had fallen many years before.
We were both happy to be outside walking again after the Blizzard of 2016 had passed through... ~Nancy 2.25.2016 “A cold wind was blowing from the north, and it made the trees rustle like living things.” No school. Library is closed. The birds are scrambling for the birdseed. The good news is that we have power. And I have two books I checked out on Saturday. Hunkering on the couch with a cover in front of the fireplace. Life is good.
~Nancy ~ 2.24.2016  “Farming is a profession of hope.” Sundown on the prairie.
We're looking for land with "H.O.B.". Hills. Oak tree. Barn. Unfortunately, this isn't for sale... ~Nancy ~ 2.23.2016  “Sunsets, like childhood, are viewed with wonder not just because they are beautiful but because they are fleeting.” I promise you that I have taken the time to walk outside and to breathe in the fresh air and listen to the wind. The excitement this weekend at the State Wrestling Finals was a very pleasant distraction, though. So with this post, I bring you back to nature and the little joys we can find in each day...
~Nancy ~ 2.22.2016  "Blackbird singing in the dead of night, take these broken wings and learn to fly As we walked along the trail, the caw of a blackbird pulled our attention from our conversation to theirs.
~Nancy 2.21.2016 
"Winning is great, sure, but if you are really going to do something in life, the secret is learning how to lose. Nobody goes undefeated all the time. If you can pick up after a crushing defeat, and go on to win again, you are going to be a champion someday."
Unless you have a wrestler in your family,
it's hard to understand the road to the top step on the IHSA State Wrestling Winners' podium. Garrett is a senior this year, and this is his fourth trip to the state finals. Last year he was sick, and each time there was a pause in a match, he had to use an inhaler. He worked hard with hopes to win a first place medal. Last year was not meant to be. The picture above is the perfect example of hard work and dedication in spite of disappointments. Congratulations, Garrett Brachbill! You more than earned it! ~Nancy (Nana) ~ 2.20.2016 |
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December 2016
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