The Meeting Cat Retires

 

Bree the Meeting Cat, as she was known to my colleagues at Pesticide Action Network, has cleared her schedule and will no longer be joining me in Zoom meetings.  A couple of weeks ago, we shared that Bree was in declining health and we were doing what we reasonably could to make her comfortable.  We knew she did not have much longer in this world, but she still had a purr or two for us up until (almost) the very end.

For those persons who have seen Zoom presentations or meetings where a black tail appears on the screen (but rarely much more of the cat), this is what she looked like from the front.  And yes, she did like to crawl into a sack or a box every so often (though much less over the past half year).

We made her final vet appointment for this past Wednesday afternoon. The vet agreed that the time had come.  It was fairly obvious to me because she simply sat in my lap as we drove there, putting up no struggle - but accepting all of the skritches we were willing to give.

Here's to a good life lived.

Do You Mind If I Smoke?

Wednesday was going to be a difficult day after a series of difficult days.  But I was hopeful that I could spend a little time cultivating in Valhalla (one of our high tunnels) or doing some sort of outdoors farm work.  Maybe a little time working with the soil and green and growing things would offset some of struggle some of the other events had introduced into our lives.

But I didn't count on the smoke.

Visibility fell to less than one mile and after doing chores and a few other things outside, I recognized that I was starting to cough and my lungs were starting to feel a bit tight.  So, I had to retreat to the indoors where we are among those who are fortunate to have some sort of air conditioning.

This Air Quality Index (AQI) map was copied from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources site at about noon on Wednesday.  You can view an interactive map here.  At the point I took this image, the IQAir site listed Waterloo's AQI at 189.  

This rating puts us soundly in the "unhealthy" range and on the edge (200) of the "very unhealthy" rating.  At least we are still a long ways away from "hazardous."

Tammy had checked the AQI numbers earlier in the day and reported that she saw readings in our area over 200.  By my observations, looking out the window or when I go outside, I am certain the numbers would fluctuate throughout the day.  Sometimes I can see the neighbors house that is a half mile away pretty clearly.  Sometimes.... not so much.

Perhaps the most difficult thing to swallow in all of this from my personal perspective is the comfortable temperatures and the nice breeze that would knock down some of the gnats that often bother us when we're outdoors at the farm.  It would be a great day to be outside at the Genuine Faux Farm.

If only you could breathe.

I recognize that my own little inconveniences only trivialize what is actually happening in the world around me.  I grabbed this map from a location I forgot to document earlier in the month of June.  And, if you're interested in satellite images that show the fires and smoke, I suggest this site.  This isn't just one or two wildfires, it is hundreds of wildfires all over Canada.  While I am struggling with smoke in Iowa, I recognize how much worse the situation must be for our neighbors to the north.

So, I guess I'll just deal with a difficult day in a different way.  After all, it could be more difficult than it already is.  Sometimes that's the blessing you have to count, when others don't seem so obvious to you.

Walk There Again - Wapsipinicon River

It shouldn't be a difficult thing for us to do, since we live just a little over a mile away from the Wapsipinicon River, but we don't stop to appreciate it all that often.  Certainly, we do drive by and cross over it fairly frequently as we go from here to there.  And that might be the reason we don't find the motivation to get out and visit it.  Familiarity breeds indifference?

Ok, we certainly are not indifferent about the Wapsi.  But, the relative proximity of the Wapsi makes it too easy to put off the visit for another day because it doesn't require a special trip to get there.  I will point out that Tammy and I have gotten in the habit of visiting Sweet Marsh Wildlife Area for our nature fix and outdoor break from life and the farm.  It is also nearby - so maybe it isn't so much the proximity issue.

It's probably more that we perceive the number of things we need to do to be greater than the time we have to do them.  That constant pressure turns our "yes let's visit" to "not now, but later."

Last week, we actually said "yes" and pulled into an access area not far from our farm.  The odd thing about that is we were on the way back to the farm after visiting the marsh.  I think this was a case where there were so many "heavy" things on our minds that we realized we needed a little bit more healing time.

Or perhaps we just couldn't quite find the gumption to get back to doing things we felt we needed to be doing.  Does it really matter what the reason was?

The access area provided further evidence of the devastation wrought by the Emerald Ash Borer.  Several bare trees that had once offered a greeting to those visiting this particular location stood sentinel, making me wonder if coming here was a good idea if I wanted to move my mind away from world worries.  But then I noticed a woodpecker moving amongst the branches and I was reminded that the dead trees still offered something to the world.

The bird activity in this area was significant and we were able to identify a wide range of bird calls and visually take note of many of them.  We even heard a Prothonotary Warbler that was initially identified by the Merlin app and then confirmed by me a bit later as a flash of yellow crossed the river.

That brought me back to trees.  The trees leaned over the river, providing a canopy to shade the water.  Birds like the warbler would periodically flit from the branches on one side of the Wapsi to the waiting arms of another tree or bush on the other side.  

Sometimes the trees lose their footing and fall into the water

And sometimes, they look at their own reflections.

It can be difficult to contemplate the natural loss of trees as they succumb to pests, diseases or gravity.  I know full-well that this is part of the natural order of things.  Not every tree is a perfect yard specimen.  Not every tree will reach full maturity.  Not every tree succeeds to live hundreds of years.  And some trees lose their grip on a river bank.

I suspect I could accept this natural order if it didn't feel as if humans have done too good of a job making it even more difficult for trees on this earth.

And there I was again, sullying a perfectly good "walk there again" by the Wapsipinicon River with these thoughts about the world's problems.  So, I stopped and took more time observing the dappled sun filtering through the leaves of the tree canopy and the ripples that disturbed the reflections on the water.  Reminding me why it is that I care about trees, birds, rivers and marshes.

Compost is Gold

One of the adjustments we have made over the past few years at the Genuine Faux Farm has been the management of our high tunnels, Eden and Valhalla.  While I say "adjustments" I actually mean "adaptations to reality of now."  When you go three years running where one or both of the farmers is down during the time of year when planting and high tunnel moving is supposed to happen, you adapt to the reality of what is....  even if you do it kicking and screaming.

For those who do not realize it, our two high tunnels are built so that they can move back and forth between two growing locations.   And, if you're not entirely sure what I mean by a high tunnel, you're looking at a photo of the inside of one of these hoop buildings.  We grow in the soil that is covered by the building.  If you want to see what some of that looks like, here's a post from 2017.

In any event, we found ourselves planting in our high tunnels in the same location that they were in last year.  In Eden's case, it hasn't been moved during any of the three seasons I just mentioned.  We had some help moving Valhalla a couple of seasons ago.

And now for the good news and adaptation.  We had, at our disposal a nice finished pile of compost that we could use to help rejuvenate some of the soil inside the buildings.  In the picture above, you can see that Rosie (the tractor) has a nice full bucket from that pile.  The bright sun fooled the camera a bit and it didn't pick up the deep, rich and dark color of this compost.

Both Tammy and I liked the feel and the smell of the black gold we pulled out.  Anyone who has worked with composting can tell you that a person learns the texture and scent indicators of quality compost.  And, other than a few things, like some baling twine and bigger sticks, this was good stuff!

We took the time to dig a planting whole for each pepper plant in Eden and filled them with the compost.  Then we put in the plants and covered with the soil removed from the hole.  It's a much longer process of planting, but for what we are doing now this was the best answer.

Eden now has had 120 Quadrato asti Giallo peppers planted for over a week now and they are looking very good.  These peppers are being grown out to harvest the seed for Seed Savers Exchange and I think we're on track for some excellent production.  The next steps are to finish caging the plants and to trim off the early fruit set to encourage them to put on a bit more growth first.

Quadrato asti Giallo is a pepper we have grown since 2008 (maybe earlier) and it was even in our top veggie variety list for 2018.  The good thing about having a history with an heirloom variety is that we are able to select plants that will help maintain a strong and healthy strain.  When we transplanted these peppers from seed trays to pots, we removed twenty plants that had germinated but were weak or showed some other issue we wouldn't want to propagate.  Another two dozen didn't get put in the high tunnel for similar reasons.  

Now we've got a very good looking mini-forest of peppers in Eden - all of them feasting on quality compost.  Keep checking back with the blog and we'll keep you updated on their progress.

Ball of Fire

It's June and we've just passed the Summer Solstice, the "longest day" of the year.  The sunsets are as late in the day as they ever are at the Genuine Faux Farm.  The hens don't want to go into their room and the humans just want to finish the chores so they can go to their room.

It is not uncommon for us to have some really nice sunsets at the end of these long days.  What is uncommon is a June day where I have enough energy remaining so I think to have the camera with me as I head north towards the larger high tunnel (Valhalla).

Each evening, I walk out to roll down the sides of the hoop building, make sure the irrigation wasn't accidentally left on, and close the entry door properly.  I usually walk into the building and perform a cursory inspection to make sure all is well.

Then, I trudge back towards the Poultry Pavilion to deal with the hens, or some other task.

I do typically notice the sunset each evening, when it is visible.  Sometimes I regret that I don't have the camera with me.  Every so often, I try to capture an image with the phone, which usually results in my regretting even more that I didn't just go get the camera.

But after a long day, I might only have enough energy to give the setting sun a polite nod as I go about my business.  

Yes, you are wonderful and I see you there.  I promise I'll pay more attention next time.

Well, next time came and I had the camera.  I even played around a bit with the settings to get the colors of the sky to stand our more.  My eyes did not see things quite this way, with the foreground dark and shadowed and a ball of fire in a colorful sky.  If my eyes could dim the trees, grasses and bushes in the foreground, I suspect I would have seen the color of the sky as you see it here.

Either way, I enjoyed the view when it happened and I get to enjoy in a slightly different way as I look at the images I captured.  I hope you can enjoy them as well.

Have a good day everyone.

Elusive - Postal History Sunday

Here we are, sitting at Postal History Sunday number 149!  But that's not the important thing as I write this on Saturday.  The important thing is that it is raining at the Genuine Faux Farm.  For those who do not know, we have been in a drought and it has been a while since we've had any serious precipitation.  Each time I look out the window the grass looks a little bit greener and I'm looking forward to seeing the clover get rejuvenated as well. 

I promise that I will do my best to concentrate on the business at hand - sharing some postal history, because it is something I enjoy.  Hopefully, you will find something here that entertains you or you learn something new.  Put on the fuzzy slippers, get a favorite beverage (but keep it away from the keyboard and the paper collectibles) and relax for a while.

Is this something special?

Here we have a folded letter that was mailed at Wasselonne, France on September 2, 1867.  The destination was Langnau in the Canton of Berne (in Switzerland).  There are two 20 centime postage stamps that pay the postage to get the letter from here to there.  Apparently, this was enough because a red marking that shows the letters "PD" in a box was applied in France to let postal clerks down the line know that postage for this letter was considered paid to the destination in Switzerland.

On first glance, this looks to me to be ALMOST a typical simple letter mailed between France and Switzerland during this time period.  The postage required for a simple letter in 1867 was actually 30 centimes if it weighed no more than 10 grams (Oct 1, 1865 - Dec 31, 1875).  So, this could be an overpayment or, it could be something else.

There is this note, written by a collector (not me) that makes a suggestion that might be worth checking out.  It reads "Tarif frontalier, double port."  This suggests that this is an example of a double weight letter for the special border rate.  This rate was 20 cents per 10 grams, so a prior owner was hoping that they had found something that is very elusive for a postal history collector to find.

Sometimes these notes can point us to something that we might have overlooked, just like the 4th item in this March Postal History Sunday.

The border rate between France and Switzerland applied when the straight-line distance was 30 km or less between the origin and destination.  If you look at the map below, you can find Wasselonne, France, at the top left corner.  Langnau, Switerland, is by Berne at the bottom of the map.  The total distance is well over 200 km.  Clearly, this did not qualify for a border rate discount.

So, why would someone think they had found an elusive double-weight letter that illustrated a border rate?

Well, Wasselonne is certainly close enough to the border with Baden (a German State) that it probably DID qualify for some border rate mail.  And, it turns out there is a Langnau near Freibourg and it is not terribly far from the France/Baden border.  Maybe there is something to that?

The logic here is not necessarily flawed.  When I find a letter that does not fit the normal patterns for a simple letter between two countries, it makes sense to check and see if there is some reason for that difference.  But, when a letter has more postage than was required for a simple letter we have to remember that one possible explanation is that someone simply put too much postage on there. 

Let's just say for a moment that this letter was from Wasselonne to Langnau, Baden.  The border rate between France and Baden also required a distance of 30 km, but these two locations are over 100 km apart.  Further, the rates between these two postal systems was not as simple as 20 centimes per 10 grams.  The border letter rate was 10 centimes for an item that weighed no more than 7.5 grams.  If a letter weighed more than 7.5 grams the cost was an additional 10 centimes for each 15 grams.

To get to a cost of 40 centimes, the letter would have had to weigh more than 37.5 grams!

In case you were wondering if this COULD have been to the Langnau in Baden, I present the back of this folded letter.  It features a postmark for the Basel-Olten railway in Switzerland (bottom right) and the Swiss cross can be found on the Langnau receiving postmark (at left).  So, sorry, no.  The letter might have passed by Langnau in Baden as it traveled to Langnau, Switzerland, but that's it.

I can attest that anything other than simple letters (single rate) for European border rates are quite elusive.  If you manage to discover one, it is a case for some celebration.  Sadly, this is NOT one of those.  It is merely an overpayment of the normal letter rate between France and Switzerland.  

This is why any explanation written on a postal history item should be written lightly in pencil (if written on the item at all) - preferably on the back.  And, yes, I'll be erasing those pencil markings.

In my case, I am pretty happy when I discover a simple letter (single rate) that qualified for the special, reduced border prices.  Shown above is a folded letter from Switzerland to France.  A 20 rappen stamp pays the special rate and I can confirm that mail between Geneva and Ferney were close enough to qualify for this rate.

If you look carefully at the bottom left, you will see that someone wrote the word "frontalier" on this item as well.  At least they were correct this time.

If you would like to learn more about European border rates, this Postal History Sunday does a decent job of explaining them.

How about this one?

Here is a letter that does not have any pencil notations telling us there is something special going on with this envelope that was mailed in 1863 from the United States to London, England.  This letter has appeared in Postal History Sunday before and was featured in this January entry.  If you want to dive into the details, I recommend you go there.

What makes this cover elusive is the fact that it was carried across the Atlantic Ocean on the Galway Line of ships.  And, the only way you can figure that out is by looking at shipping tables and then confirming them by looking at old newspapers that report ship departures and arrivals.

from Walter Hubbard and Richard Winter's North Atlantic Mail Sailings

The Hibernia, a ship that belonged to the Galway Line at the time, carried this letter.  It left Boston on November 3 and arrived eleven days later at Galway.  The truly interesting thing for me about this cover is that the Galway Line carried very little of the mail.  According to Reports of the Postmaster General from 1864, only 1.8% of the trans-Atlantic mail traveled on Galway ships during the fiscal year.  In contrast, the Cunard Line took 43% and the Inman Line 20% across the sea to the United Kingdom.

New York Times, Oct 16, 1863 shipping schedule

The marking shown below makes the intended ship departure date of November 3 at Boston quite clear.  The marking also includes the "Br Pkt," which tells us the ship that crossed the Atlantic was under contract with the British.

In 1863, only two shipping lines would have carried mail under British contract, the Cunard Line and the Galway Line.  One was the Hibernia from Boston on November 3.  The other was the Scotia from New York on November 4.  The Scotia arrived at Queenstown (Ireland) on November 13th, so it would likely have gotten to London on November 14 at the latest.  The Hibernia did not get to Galway until November 14 - so it would have been in London later by a day or two.

How about a November 16 arrival date?  The London exchange marking on the front is dated November 16.  The receiving mark on the back of the envelope is dated November 16. Even the docket that was written at the top of the envelope says it was received in London on November 16.

I think it's pretty clear we have a winner.

Exactly how elusive are items carried from the US to the UK by the Galway Line in 1863?  So far, this is the only 24-cent cover I have found that was carried on this line.  That certainly doesn't mean there aren't others simply because there is no simple way to identify them.  

It does however, fit the definition of elusive. 

Kind of like the rainfall on our farm this year.  At this moment, I can report that we received 1.5 inches of appreciated rainfall, which more than doubles what we have received since late April.  Thank you for joining me today.  I hope you have an excellent remainder of your day and a fine week to come.

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Postal History Sunday is published each week at both the Genuine Faux Farm blog and the GFF Postal History blog.  If you are interested in prior entries, you can view them, starting with the most recent, at this location. 

June Playlist

 

This Saturday seemed like a good day to share a music playlist.   These lists go to eleven and I've been sharing music I enjoy most months the past year (and on and off prior to that).  One individual mentioned after last month's playlist that I could just embed the videos and people could stay on the blog page and play them if they wanted.  

So, we're going to give that a try.  Let me know if you like this version of playlist better!

I'm On My Way - Rhiannon Giddens

The instrumentation, including Rhiannon's voice, is superb.  Close your eyes and listen - and I think you'll enjoy this one.

"I don't know where I'm going, but I know what to do..."

 In the Air Tonight - the Choir

The Choir did an interesting cover of the Phil Collins song that was (and still is) very popular.  I almost feel as if the tone of this version captures a different feel to the lyrics.  If you know the original, don't expect the drum part that so many people reference.  In my opinion, the Collins version shows more anger and the Choir version highlights the feelings of pain and maybe regret.

Don't Dream It's Over - Sixpence None the Richer

Let's do another cover of an original tune by Crowded House.  I think Leigh Nash's voice fits the tune better than the original vocalists, but that's just my opinion.

"Only shadows ahead barely clearing the roof Get to know the feeling of liberation and relief.."

Place in the Country - Fanny

Well, we've got the place in the country part down....  But, I bet the members of this musical group weren't thinking about running a small-scale, diversified farm at their place in the country.

Touching the Untouchables - Men At Work

Men At Work's Business As Usual album was one of the few cassettes I had that wasn't recorded off of a vinyl album when I was in high school.  This song flew under the radar, but it is probably one of the tunes from this album I have consistently enjoyed hearing over the years.

Invisible Man - Prodigal

You might see some correlation between this tune and the last with references to those who are poor and live in the streets.  The "untouchables" and the "invisible man" are apt references.

Feeding the Dark - Evanescence

Here's a tune with another wonderful vocal.  I've always enjoyed the soaring quality of Amy Lee's vocals and how it works with a heavier accompaniment.  

Don't Do Anything - Sam Phillips

"When you're useless, I love you most..."

Give it a listen.  It's just a good tune.

Nuts for You - 77's

It's time for a good jam.  Between Fanny and the 77's there should be plenty of good jam material in this list.

We Fall Apart - We As Human

"So unpredictable, we're comfortably miserable..."

I like lyrics that explore contrasts and this tune does that.  It doesn't hurt that it has a beautiful sentiment.

Washboard Road - Aaron Sprinkle

"While I’m headed home
Down this washboard road
I’ll do my best to hold you up along the way"

This tune has a texture to it that actually makes me feel like I'm in an old pickup, slowly going down a washboard road - but slowly enough that the washboard doesn't cause Sprinkle's voice to wobble as the truck hits each ridge.  Is it the title and lyrics that make me think that or does the music have something to do with it too?  You tell me. 

I hope you found a tune or two that you enjoyed today.  If you didn't, you certainly have the option to find a tune you prefer and listen to that!  Have a great day everyone.

Hurdles

It's a symptom and it's a normal occurrence.  The belt on the mower deck was ready to give out.

The normal occurrence part is easy to explain.  Every year, especially in the Spring, we go through a series of problems with the various tools we use to work at the Genuine Faux Farm.  After a few months of storage during the coldest months, we start taking all of the hand tools, motorized equipment and implements out for use.

Sometimes we are able to give each tool a thorough once over and we can perform basic maintenance.  Usually, when we do that, we discover several things that need attention.  More often than I like to admit, we get pushed into using equipment before we can do the full inspection, so we uncover the things that need attention with a bit more drama.

This time around, the issue was actually the result of some chicken wire not being where it was supposed to be.  The mower deck found it for us (of course) and that probably resulted in the belt problem.  This sort of thing happens and you have to address it.

The issue?  I made it into a bigger problem in my head than it deserved to be.  It's a symptom of our state of mind.  When you're feeling overwhelmed, little things become big things.  Or maybe there are so many little things they become a big thing when they are considered as a group.

Suddenly, the whole FARM is a problem.  NOTHING works.  EVERYTHING is broken.  NONE of the crops are going to get planted.  We'll NEVER get caught up.

Of course, none of that is entirely true, but there was a grain of truth in each that we could build on if we were so inclined.

It didn't matter if it was entirely true.  Taking the deck off and replacing the belt FELT like a big deal.  And sometimes that's why there is a battle to make progress in the first place.  It's not entirely about reality.  It's about perception.

One of my favorite improvements over the years is this tool wall in the Truck Barn at our farm (thanks Dad!).  Seeders, shovels, wheel hoes, loppers and all kinds of things can be found here.  And, the tool wall works best if you follow through with putting the tools away once you are done with them.

We have found that it is difficult to put tools on the tool wall if you put a table and other hard to move stuff in FRONT of that wall.

This has been one of the symptoms that comes along with our move to more off-farm work.  You have less time, so you set a few things in bad places "temporarily."  Then, you reach over that stuff to get a few tools so you can do a little work in a spare moment.  After that, you realize you have to run to do something for your non-farm job and you can't easily get to the tool wall.

You all know what happens next.  

You set those tools down somewhere convenient with the words, "I'll put that away later."

The mismanaged tool wall and the mower deck are two symptoms of how we've been feeling this Spring.  It is really not that difficult a task to take some time and rearrange things so the tool wall is accessible again.  Changing the belt on the deck is something I've done before, so it's not the biggest mystery either.  Yet, we've let them grow into these giant hurdles in our minds that prevent us from getting much of anything done.

The good news?  We've continued to use the momentum our farm friends helped us find and the deck is repaired and the tool wall is, once again, accessible.  We still have a long list of things we want and/or need to do.  But, we are making some progress - as opposed to no progress.

We've managed to change our perception of how the farm is doing, which means we're doing much better - thank you very much.  And we expect there will now be some successes amidst the inevitable failures.  That's normal.  And we can live well with that.

Balanced Scales

Exactly three years ago, I wrote this post.  Three years ago, we were all navigating something that was new to most of us in the United States - a pandemic. I thought it might be instructive to revisit what I was thinking and how we were all feeling at that time.  It's so easy to leave it all in the past and forget the lessons we should have and need to learn and relearn.

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How do we balance the scales in our lives?

I've struggled with this question on and off, but I know recent events have encouraged me to bring it out so I can turn it around so it catches the light in different ways.  I am aware that these feelings and questions are not unique to me, nor am I any more special than any other person.  It just so happens I am willing to share some things I am thinking via a blog on a regular basis.  Others could certainly do the same if they wished.  If some of the things I share here help someone else, entertain another person and perhaps encourage yet another to learn something new - wonderful.  If they don't?  Well, at least I got to have that chance to view my thoughts and examine them for a while. 

Good enough.

How do we recognize problems that exist without allowing them to overwhelm us?  If we take a moment away are we guilty of ignoring something that we should be acting upon?

A couple of people I know shared this very interesting and moving 'short film' by Canadian Liv McNeil.  If you have the internet to do so, take a moment to view it.

Even an introvert, such as myself, recognizes that we are social creatures.  The physical distancing we should be following to reduce the spread of COVID-19 has, in fact, led to a certain level of social distancing as well.  The strain is showing and many are becoming overwhelmed.

Sometimes the reaction seems to be that we should rebel or completely turn off the switch when it comes to concern for the pandemic.  It isn't hard to understand where this is coming from.  But, ignoring the threat and pretending a problem doesn't exist won't make it go away and it will only hurt more people.

You're tired.  I'm tired.  We're feeling overwhelmed.  What can we do to help each other (and ourselves) without ignoring this virus?  I am seeking that balance in my own life and I hope you are as well.  For us, we will remain cautious and do the things in our power to not spread the virus.  We will wear masks and we will limit our physical contact with others.  But, we are also working to improve our social contact while still maintaining some physical distance.  We'll just keep learning - it's what we can do.

What will it take for you and I to be able to be aware and empathetic to someone else's fear and pain while still realizing our own joy, peace and happiness?

I have long admired Yo-Yo Ma as a musician and I have come to admire him even more over time as a good person with a kind heart and generous soul.  I have also recognized Rhiannon Giddens' talent in the past, but her genre of music is not one I often listen to, so I am less familiar with her.  These two talented people put together a powerful piece that I enjoyed and I thought I would share it here. 

It is very difficult to hear the lyrics of this tune and not hear the pain in them.  I am hopeful that I can find a way to acknowledge the pain, fear, anger and suffering of black people referenced here while still recognizing and feeling gratitude for the good things in my own life.  It is tempting to put on the "sackcloth and ashes" to show public remorse and there is also a fear that my own happiness would be a betrayal of their pain.

So again, I am looking for a balance in my life.  It is not right, and it has never been right, for people of color to be systematically mistreated and abused.  But, I actually think I might be capable of doing what I can to speak out for those who are struggling without disowning the good things in my own life.  This isn't supposed to be about making everyone miserable.  It's about getting rid of a weight that so many people carry around with them that is tied to the color of their skin.

Where is the balance between extending ourselves to achieve something great that could help others who need it and preserving enough of ourselves so that we can also live well?

Our farm has been a great training ground - if you can call it that - for working on the balance between pushing hard to achieve and keeping our own mental and physical well-being in mind while we work.

The answer - at least to us - is still unknown, because it seems to shift and morph with every new day.  If you have followed our blog for some time, you know we have been working hard to find the balance between dedication to excellence and preservation of our own physical and mental well-being.

But, let me say this.  I still believe we are ALL better than what we have shown thus far.  We let ourselves 'off the hook' too easily too often.  We even do a poor job of allowing ourselves to enjoy the things that are supposed to bring us that coveted balance.  And so, I do what I hope I will always do - I will keep trying to do better.

When will we acknowledge when things aren't right so we can try to find useful solutions that can move us forward to something better?

I recognize that I can get impatient when people spend lots time outlining a problem and trying to convince me that there is a problem.  Perhaps that is because I can often see that there is an issue that needs addressing and don't want to spend time on the 'convincing us there is a problem' stage.  I want to get to the 'fixing it' part.

But, then again, part of the fixing it just might be listening to those who are being affected by the issue.  And perhaps another part is actually taking the time to have a conversation.  Does that solve everything?  Of course not.  But it is part of the process.

This brings me to one more video.  Emmanuel Acho has been creating a series titled "Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man."  I appreciate the gift he is giving by attempting to have conversations with/for white people that address questions and issues that we might not otherwise consider.

The video above was his first installment.  The two that follow include face to face discussions with white people, making it more of a dialog.  I am certain Mr. Acho does not speak for every black man or woman, just as I do not speak for every white man or woman.  But, he is right about one thing for sure - if we take the time to have an honest conversation with someone we are uncomfortable with, we just might find that the discomfort is misplaced and that we can locate common ground for understanding.

As I viewed these conversations, I did not find that I was uncomfortable with the content of the discussion at all.  If anything, most of it made perfect sense and was generally in alignment with my own beliefs.  On the other hand, these videos, the Rhiannon/Yo-Yo musical composition and all of the protests have made me uncomfortable for a different reason.

The Man Standing on the Corner

I can think of dozens of times that I found myself on a street corner or parking lot or outside a shop just standing around waiting for a ride or for a friend to meet me.   I have waited in a car parked on the street and put my head back to close my eyes multiple times.  I have placed myself in mall food courts in strange cities so I can do work while my lovely bride attended a conference for her profession.  I've spent hours in hotel lobbies doing the same thing.  Students, staff and faculty of Wartburg College know that I sometimes will work in the coffee shop, library or other locations on campus.

I admit that I have gotten odd, questioning looks.  I do tend to be a bit scruffy looking and my red baseball cap isn't always in pristine condition.  I have a tendency to wear hoodies, but usually with the hood down.  My clothing is typically clean, but sometimes a bit worn.  I have been known to talk to myself as I think something out and I will occasionally stop typing or writing and stare at nothing - though some who do not know me might not realize I am not seeing whatever it is that I appear to be looking at.

I have only been approached by police or security five or six times.  And in all but one of those instances, I was not terribly worried about the outcome.  In the lone exception, I was still in high school, so we'll include that as a 'strike' against me.  In several of those instances, I was struck by the mildly confrontational tone the police or security person took as they initiated contact.

What would have happened if I was black skinned?  Or perhaps a Latino?  Would someone call the police because I was pacing back and forth for ten minutes in front of a Seven Eleven as I waited for a ride?  Would that mildly confrontational tone the police officer had remain mild or would it push the boundaries of civility?

Better yet - how about the times I have stood outside, on a cold evening, after the sun has gone down, by myself, pacing back and forth, mumbling, humming or whistling - while I wait for the last person to come pick up their turkey?  I have had the police stop by to chat a couple of times because they are curious about what I am doing at our various drop-offs.  If my skin were black, would it be more than a 'chat?'

Sadly, the answer is this.

If I were black, I would probably work hard to NOT be left waiting on various street corners for rides.  I would consider hiring a white worker to stand with me by the truck during produce distributions.  There would be fewer choices for pick up locations and times because I would not want to be stuck waiting for customers under many of those conditions.   I would think twice about going and sitting to do work in various public spaces for fear that someone will think that I look threatening and then do something about it.

I have gotten away with being free to do these things this way for most of my life.

And I want people of color to be able to do the same.

Appreciation for Motivational Help

We haven't kept it a secret.  We have had some trouble getting the season started at the Genuine Faux Farm largely because we had very bad timing for falling ill.  Failure to even just get high tunnels and fields cleaned up so we could plant was a source of stress and disappointment.  Neither of us wanted to give up (especially Farmer Rob) but we just couldn't come up with enough energy and motivation to push to make it happen.

Then "the Gang" visited our farm and helped us succeed in some "Visual Improvement," and then joined us for conversation and good food.  Just like that, things didn't seem quite so hopeless anymore.  

What has followed is continued success in our recoveries as we are finding we can do more each day.  Valhalla, our larger high tunnel, has all but one bed planted now - and that bed is being reserved for a later planting, so this was actually on purpose!

The cages are up on all but a few tomatoes.  The green beans are germinating.  The tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and melons all look good.  A few more cages, some trellis for the melons and cukes and a little cleanup on some edges and we're in good shape here!  

The peppers are looking great.  Unlike the tomatoes, they were actually at their peak as far as health when we put them in.  A little longer and they would have started to decline because they can only stay in the 4 1/2 inch pots so long.  

The tomatoes are already looking greener.  We know they won't do much for new growth that we can see for a few more days because they are busy shooting out new roots so they can bring in the nutrients.  But, once they catch the roots up, watch out!  I'll have to be out there training them to stay INSIDE of those cages soon.
 

 Our progress did not stop in Valhalla either.  The Southwest plot already had onions, but now the brassica we normally pair up with onions have been planted as well.  We even got a row of flowers to attract pollinators for the melons that are on the other side of them.

The electric fence is up to prevent various critters from doing damage and the irrigation is in place and working.

The fence and irrigation both have something to do with the Severe Drought area (dark orange in northeast Iowa) we find ourselves in this season.  The combination of heat, dry air and a little wind can dry out young plants quickly.  As a result, we have to be ready with the water.

Unfortunately, every other creature in our area is ALSO looking for water.  This includes the raccoons that took to chewing on the irrigation header line.  They also took the effort to pull out all of the spigots from that line.  

I'm sure they can get through the fence if they really want it, but they'll have to pay with some discomfort.  Meanwhile, we've added a few water stations at the farm so creatures here can get something to drink.  We'll let you all know how that's working out.

And there you are.  The help we received brought motivation along for the ride.  We're still way behind and we recognize there is still some stress around that.  But, there is also hope.  And where there is hope, there is opportunity.  

Here's to taking that opportunity and running with it.

Appreciation for Different Pollinators

 

When I first entered the world of growing professionally, it was tempting to assume that any new insect was intent on destroying my crops.  The acts of placing seeds in the ground and nurturing plants for food are not effortless, nor is the process worry-free – a lot can happen between germination and harvest.  So, it makes sense that growers risk falling into the trap of focusing on the pests.

However, it is equally important for farmers to learn about invertebrates that work with us – as well as those that are steadfastly neutral with respect to our crops – to successfully steward our land.  Many of the crops on our diversified farm rely on pollination services to produce the food we hope to make available to others.  Last year, for Pollinator Week,  I spent some time learning more about wasps and their role as pollinators.  This year, I wanted to explore some other, less well known invertebrates and their powers of pollination.

Hoverflies – they’re everywhere

I will readily admit that I have not given much thought to hoverflies (also known as flower flies or syrphid flies) until I started a project four or five years ago to take photos of the insects that we could find around our farm.  As I began the work of identifying the insects in these images, I was surprised to find many in the family Syrphidae.

Hoverflies can be found on every continent except Antarctica and there are approximately 6,000 known species.  Hoverfly populations are often greater than wild bee species, so even if they are less efficient than bees, they can make up for that with their relative abundance.  On our farm, we have noticed Oblique Stripetail Hoverflies more often than any other hoverfly.  It turns out that these insects are good pollinators and their larva will predate on aphids, one of the pests we want to control on our farm.

Research on hoverflies has been sparse, but one study suggests that true flies (Diptera) are the second most important order of pollinating insects after Hymenoptera (bees, wasps and ants).  Hoverflies are generalists, visiting a wide range of plants looking for nectar as a food source.  Unlike most bees, they are not restricted to a limited home range and they can carry pollen over longer distances while foraging or during migration.

Green Bees – showy and shy

Another insect that has had my attention for a while is the Green Bee or Green Sweat Bee.  We can’t help but notice them because their sparkling green color is almost startling.  The problem for me is that they are a bit shy, preferring not to pose for the camera.  And that’s why I am pleased to offer up this cropped photo that provides evidence that I finally succeeded in capturing an image of one.

Green Bees will visit a wide range of flowers, though they favor asters, goldenrods and coreopsis in late summer and fall on our farm.  Once they emerge in the spring, they will forage until the fall, so they have to adjust their food sources as the year progresses.  I have observed them visiting the small flowers on maple trees in the early spring and squash flowers in the summer.

Green Bees are typically ground nesting, though some will use hollow twigs and logs.  The parent Green Bee will mix pollen and nectar with their own saliva to leave as a food source once the larva hatches.  It has been suggested by some scientists that the saliva keeps the food fresh and helps to protect the eggs in their sealed chamber.

Simply knowing a few facts about Green Bees has encouraged me to continue our farm’s program to leave areas of the ground undisturbed, rather than tilling everything.  It also solidifies our desire to leave leaf litter and brush piles as natural areas.

Soldier Beetle – they eat, you harvest

The Soldier Beetle is another frequent visitor to our growing areas at the farm.  When I first became aware of them, I mistook them as a pale-colored lightning bug.  But, once I started farming in earnest, it didn’t take me long to identify who they really were.

My opinion of the Soldier Beetle became much more favorable the moment I learned that they are great predators of caterpillars, aphids and other soft-bodied insects that find our vegetable plants attractive.  These beetles have one generation of young each year, while some types of aphids can have eight or more generations of young.  If you ever need an example to explain why broad-spectrum insecticides are a bad idea, here it is!  The pest can rapidly repopulate while the predator cannot.

While Soldier Beetles might supplement their diet with pollen and nectar, they particularly like to visit flowers where they can lie in wait for their prey.   We see them most frequently around our farm in August and September.  They are frequent guests on some of the flowers we intercrop with our melons and squash.  As a result, they appear on the vine plants as well.

Hawkmoth – long tongue, will pollinate

It’s hard not to be fascinated by the Hummingbird Moth or Hawkmoth as it hovers over flowers seeking nectar.  Their flight patterns are similar to a hummingbird and we typically see them around our farm in the evenings, though we might also see them earlier in the morning.

I wanted to include the Hawkmoth to remind all of us that pollinators are not dedicated to servicing the food crops farms like mine grow.  As a matter of fact, some hawkmoth larva can cause problems for our crops.  I’m looking at you, Tomato Hornworm (Five-Spotted Hawkmoth)!  But it is important to recognize that this is just one type of hawkmoth and there are ways to deal with the Tomato Hornworm naturally.  At my own farm, we’ve simply recognized that their population isn’t too large and the small amount of damage they might create isn’t a problem.  As long as our natural system is balanced, they don’t qualify as a pest – especially when you consider their value as pollinators.

Hawkmoths have a long proboscis that enables them to reach into flowers that keep pollen and nectar deep within them.  Many plant and hawkmoth pairings have evolved over time.  The hawkmoth receives food and the plant gets pollinator services.  If either the plants or the hawkmoths are removed from the natural system, the other will die off.

Hawkmoths can carry pollen as much as fifteen to twenty miles from the source, unlike honeybees that typically go no further than three to five miles from their hive.  As humans continue to develop land areas, wild plant populations become more fragmented.  The hawkmoth’s sturdy build and ability to fly longer distances makes it possible for pollination to occur even when plants are not nearby.

If it’s on a flower and it moves…

The process of learning more about different kinds of pollinators has increased the depth of my appreciation for the incredible diversity in the natural world that surrounds us.  I am coming to understand that I won’t always see the value any given organism brings to the world until I explore more.  And even if I don’t discover a redeeming feature, that doesn’t mean there isn’t one.

But I think I have discovered one thing that seems certain.  If it’s an insect on a flower and that insect can move to another flower, it has a chance to carry pollen and support the next generation of plant life.

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For those who are interested, this is my latest blog for Pesticide Action Network that is intended to draw attention to pollinators during Pollinator Week.  One of our efforts at PAN is to fight against the overuse of pesticides that harm our pollinators.  Part of my job is to remind everyone that pollinators are important, interesting and worthy of protection.  I hope you will take some time to consider this issue.

A Glimpse of Mr. Wren's Day

 

 

Tammy and I have been paying increasing attention to the different birdsong we can hear on our farm as Spring progresses into Summer.  The Baltimore and Orchard Orioles are singing a bit less now that it is mid-June.  When we do hear them, they often have a bit of a tired tone - probably because the kids are keeping the adults up all night.  We hear more from the Dickcissel than we do the Red-winged Blackbird now and the Indigo Bunting is a pleasure to hear, even if the Warbling Vireo sings a bit less often now.

Mid-June is often the time when Mr. Wren is also in full voice.  This tiny little bird belts out his song throughout much of a typical day.  So, we thought we would let you have a glimpse of Mr. Wren's schedule.

Mr. Wren's Day Planner schedule

4:45 AM - Get up

4:46 AM - Sing about the upcoming day. Remind the lazy/sleepy humans that they should get moving soon.

5:03 AM - eat a tasty gnat or two

5:04 AM - Sing about how gullible gnats can be

5:36 AM - Gather food for the kids or material to repair the nest, making sure to sing about each acquisition after delivery

5:57 AM - My, that was a tasty...what was that thing? It had six legs - whatever.

5:59 AM - sing about the tasty six-legged thing

6:13 AM - be amused by the sleepy looking human

6:14 AM - sing about morning, in an effort to wake the human further

6:15 AM - look industrious in an effort to provide a positive role model for the human

6:16 AM - sing about my good deed for the day

continued singing/eating/food delivery/nest repair

7:24 AM - Scold the cat

7:26 AM - sing about my bravery while flitting wildly from branch to branch in an effort to impress Mrs Wren

7:32 AM - take a break - Mrs Wren isn't buying it

7:44 AM - tell the farmer to write a blog about my day - then go about my business for the remainder.  What is my business, you ask?  Well, of course, eating, feeding the kids, fixing the nest and singing.  

Why?  Does there need to be something else?

Twenty-Four : Postal History Sunday

Welcome to this week's Postal History Sunday, featured every Sunday (imagine that!), on the Genuine Faux Farm blog and the GFF Postal History blog.  This will be, much to my astonishment, the 148th entry of this series that I have offered up for public consumption.

As has been the case for each PHS prior to this one, everyone is welcome - whether you know anything about postal history or not.  I encourage you to put those troubles and worries into a place where they cannot be found.  Grab the fuzzy slippers and a drink and snack of your choice.  Always be aware that you should keep edibles and liquids away from the keyboard and the paper collectibles!  Let's see if we can all learn something new today while I share something I enjoy. 

I've mentioned it in many Postal History Sundays, but I seem to have this thing for postal history that have 24-cent postage stamps on them.  The 24-cent design that features George Washington that was first issued in 1861 has given me the opportunity to explore the workings of the post, especially for mail that left the United States for other countries during a very interesting period of history.

I have even gone so far as to create a physical exhibit (display) that has competed in philatelic exhibitions and done quite well at them.  Recently, I decided to undertake the process of making some modifications to that exhibit, which means the topic is very much on my mind.

Why a 24-cent stamp in 1861?

The primary purpose of this particular denomination of postage stamp (24 cents) was to pay the simple letter mail rate between the United States and the United Kingdom (England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and the Channel Islands).  This particular design was issued in 1861 and the earliest documented use is August 20th of that year.  These stamps continued to be produced until early 1869, when they were replaced by a new design.

The 24 cent postal rate between the US and the UK was effective from February 1849 until December of 1867.  So, it would make sense that there might have been other designs for a 24 cent stamp before 1861.  But, it might surprise you that there was only ONE - and it wasn't issued until 1860.

To the untrained eye, the stamp on the cover shown above may not look all that different.  But, if you click on the images of each cover shown above and study them a bit, I think you'll see the changes in design.  The new stamp design came about because of the secession of the southern states from the Union.  Post offices that now resided in Confederate States still held stock of the old postage stamp designs and there was concern about the potential loss of revenue if no change was made.  

Once the new design was released, they demonetized all postage stamp designs that had been issued prior to August of 1861.  For those who do not know what it means to demonetize a postage stamp, it simply means they made them invalid to pay postage.  

Here is an attempt, in 1866, by a person to use some old 12 cent stamps that were issued in 1851.  I think some of us can recognize this scenario.  A person found an old envelope that already had the two 12 cent stamps on it or they found the two stamps in a back of a drawer somewhere.  They knew the letter they were sending was a bit heavier, so they slapped a newer 24 cent stamp on the envelope and they mailed it, thinking all was well.

The postal clerk recognized that the old 12 cent stamps were demonetized and could no longer be used for postage - so they wrote the words "not good" in blue pencil under those stamps.  Then, they wrote "short paid" to indicate that the lone 24 cent stamp, though valid, was not enough to pay for the postage due.  As a result, the recipient had to pay the full postage (2 shillings) to receive this letter.

If you are interested, last week's Postal History Sunday discussed how short paid mail was treated as unpaid under the US - UK treaty that was effective at the time.  And, if you'd like to learn a bit about how to "read" a cover that was mailed from the US to the UK at the time, this Postal History Sunday will do the trick.

Sometimes the letter didn't start its journey at the post office

A US postage stamp pays for US postal services.  But, sometimes, there were travels just to get a piece of mail to a US post office.

The envelope shown above has a 24 cent stamp that pays the cost of mailing the item from New York City to Liverpool.  But, the blue 1 cent stamp actually pays for the service of having a New York City postal carrier take this letter to the post office.  In the early 1860s, carrier service to and from locations outside of a post office was not all that common.  Most people had to go to the post office to mail their letters and pick up any items they expected to receive unless they were willing to pay more for the extra service provided by a mail carrier.

If you would like to learn more about carrier services to the mail at the time, this Postal History Sunday might interest you.

Or maybe a letter actually originated OUTSIDE of the United States, just like this 1867 letter that got its start in Lima, Peru.  If you aren't paying attention to this one, you might just assume it is just a letter that went from New York City to London, with the 24 cent stamp paying that postage.  But, then you should notice the docket that reads "via New York" at the top left.  Once you notice that, you need to ask the question - "where did this letter get its start?"  

That's where the docketing on the inside of the folded letter sheet comes in handy.  It turns out Alsop and Company had branches of their company in Lima and New York.  So, it is likely this item was brought or mailed from Peru with a bundle of other letters that were to be sent on to their eventual destinations from New York.

At the post office

Once we get to a US Post Office, the clerk there would determine the amount of postage required for the item to get from here to there.  Sometimes, a letter might already have postage stamps and perhaps other times, the client would purchase the stamps at the point of mailing.

The envelope shown above originated in New York City and was sent to Middlebury, Vermont.  The postal rate for letters that did not leave the United States was 3 cents per half ounce in weight (in 1866 when this letter was mailed).  The clerk must have weighed this out and found it to be more than 3 1/2 ounces and no more than 4 ounces in weight, requiring 24 cents in postage.  The clerk then applied a postmark that included a city-date stamp which was paired with a canceling mark to prevent someone from re-using the postage stamp.

Once the clerk properly marked a piece of mail, it would be placed in a letter bag that would be prepared to take a scheduled mail conveyance - such as a train, coach, or boat.

Leaving the country

Most pieces of mail bearing a 24 cent postage stamp that still survive today were items that were mailed to destinations outside of the United States.  And, most of those crossed the Atlantic Ocean to destinations in Europe.  

So, the first order of business was for the US Postal Service to use railroads, coaches, steamboats and other means of conveyance to get the letter to one of the special post offices that had been identified as exchange offices for mail to the destination country.

Shown above is a cover that went to the Chicago exchange office.  Other exchange offices at this time for mail to England included New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Detroit and Portland, Maine.  And, it was up to the exchange office clerks to place foreign mail into the proper mailbags and get those mailbags to the correct mail packet (steamship) to cross the Atlantic Ocean.

There were several shipping companies that carried mail from the United States.  The letter above is an uncommon example of a letter carried by the Galway Line, which was under contract with the British postal service.  The ship left Boston on November 3 and made stops at St John's, Newfoundland (Nov 7), Galway, Ireland (Nov 14) and finished the trip at Liverpool (Nov 16).  The letter itself was probably off-loaded at Galway and shipped by rail from there to the east side of Ireland, where it would cross the Irish Sea and again go by rail to London.

It can be interesting to try to find letters that traveled by different ships from the various shipping lines.  And sometimes, you will find a letter that was on a ship that ran aground or one that had to endure a hurricane.

So, now we're in the United Kingdom

Congratulations!  We've made it across the Atlantic and our letter is now in the hands of another postal service.  Well, actually, the MAILBAG is in the hands of another postal service.  And, that mailbag needs to get to one of the post offices that exchange mail with the United States.

Here's a letter that went to Scotland.  The exchange office for the United States was Detroit, where the letter was put into the mailbag.  The receiving exchange office was in Glasgow, where the letter was removed from the mailbag.  In this case, each exchange office put a marking on the cover that give us clues as to the travels this item took.  I suspect most people would not be surprised to learn that the most commonly found exchange office for mails with the UK is London, which is why I wanted to show you something different here!  You can find examples of London in the other pieces I show if you are interested.

If a letter was destined for an address in the United Kingdom, it would take the British Mails to their destination.  Oh.. look, a London exchange office marking at the bottom left!

It was not all that uncommon for the destination of a letter to be a financial or other institution that would either hold or forward mail for their clients, who were often traveling.  This letter was sent care of McCalmont Brothers & Company, a banking firm located in London.

The recipient, B.J. Lang, was a touring musician, sometimes teaching or performing in the UK.  We cannot be certain, but it seems fairly likely that the letters might be held at the bank for Lang to pick them up at his convenience.  But, it is possible that they were bundled up with other letters and sent to Lang at his current location.  It all depended on the agreement the recipient had with the McCalmont Bros - which probably had to do with how much money Lang wanted to spend on such a thing.

This letter is also very interesting because it shows an uncommon example of a "triple weight" letter.  Until the middle of 1866, this would have required one more 24 cent stamp.

And beyond...

The British Mail system provided an opportunity for persons in the United States to send mail to other destinations beyond the United Kingdom.  

As an example, here is a letter that was destined for Melbourne, Victoria (Australia).  The postal agreement between the US and the UK allowed the sender to prepay the postage to the UK AND beyond. With another 21 cents in postage, this letter could get all the way to Australia via the Suez (Egypt).

Or, maybe the destination is the Corisco Mission on the West Coast of Africa?  This one required 33 cents in postage to pay for its trip from the United States, to London, and then on by ship to what was once Fernando Po and is now Bioko.

It wasn't just the British mail

Most of the surviving mail pieces that bear a 24 cent postage stamp went to or through the British Mails, but there were certainly other options and other destinations.

And, you knew this was coming!  I'm going to give you a "for instance" or two!

Here is a letter that went via the Prussian Mails so that it could eventually find its way to St Petersburg, Russia.  

And a folded letter that traveled via the French Mails to Rome, Italy.  

The United States had agreements in the 1860s with the British, French, Prussian, Bremen, Hamburg, and Belgian postal services.  Later in the 1860s there were also agreements with the Italians and Swiss.  The point I am trying to make is that a person can have a great time finding items that show how mail traveled using these different agreements - all using the 24 cent stamp as payment for all or part of the required postage.

The good news?  All of this complexity and detail provides me with plenty of fodder for more Postal History Sunday blogs.  If you enjoy them, that would be good news.  If you don't?  Well, I suspect if you don't, you didn't make it this far in today's post!

Thank you for joining me as I share something I truly enjoy.  I appreciate your patience and attention as I gave you the "nickel tour" of a subject I have been studying and working on since 1999 (more or less).  I hope you learned something new.  May you have a fine remainder of your day and a good week to come!

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Hungry for more?

This is the area of postal history where I have the most comfort.  So, it makes sense that I have written on items that bear the 24 cent US postage stamp more than any other type of item.  If you are a person who wanted a bit more depth, rather than breadth, in this week's post, you have several opportunities to review prior PHS entries that focus on particular aspects of this topic.

I have already linked several Postal History Sunday entries in the prior text, but here are a few more if you want to dig around for a while today!

• Let's Send a Letter to France
• Let's Send a Letter to Switzerland
• Costs of Doing Business (letters to Spain)
• Puzzling It Out (letter to Chile)
• Did Garibaldi Delay the Mail (Italy) 

If you do take the time to explore some of the links shared here or earlier in the text, let me know if you have a favorite - or maybe one where you think I could improve it by taking another go at it!

Thanks for joining me.  Have a fine remainder of your day and an excellent week to come.