February Playlist - Music for Dragons

The Genuine Faux Farm Guardian Dragons are appreciative of the fact that we like our music around here.  In fact, there are times when we get the impression that they are singing along - each in their own way.

Since February is the shortest month, the creation of the playlist kind of snuck up on me a bit.  So, I went to our Guardian Dragon team for some help with picking the list this time around.  So, don't blame me if you think things are a bit hotter than you might like.

We will start with a song that seems to be a current favorite.  It's kind of a a big-hair, metal band type of song.  Apparently dragons like that sort of thing.

Fire Dance - Balance of Power

For those of you who are sensitive to language or screaming vocals, this next one might not be enjoyable for you.  The dragons, on the other hand, don't seem to mind.  It doesn't hurt that the dragons share some of the sentiment of the lyrical content here too.

Turn it Up Like (Stand in the Fire) - Nothing More

They do seem to like this fire and flame theme.  So, how about a bit more of the hot stuff.

Fire - the Almost

I guess things don't have to be in open flame all of the time either.  Maybe if we just keep things warm they'll be happy?

Under the Heat - the 77s

 
Apparently, it's not always about fire when it comes to the GFF Guardians.  Sometimes it can be a bit more shocking.

Electricity - Switchfoot

The good news, they also like cello.  The bad news if you were tiring of the initial focus of these songs - they went back to the heat and burning with this one.

Life Burns - Apocalyptica

When they submitted the next tune, I recognized that they are a bit preoccupied with this theme. It does cause me to worry a little bit.  But, I did say they could pick the tunes and I will keep my promise.

Blister Soul - Vigilantes of Love

I suspect we do influence our Guardian Dragons' favorite tunes because, if they don't hear it, how can they know they like it? And, since we play tunes by the Choir a lot...

Midnight Sun - the Choir

We do have to watch ourselves because the littlest of the dragons likes to play some pranks.  If you don't know what a "hotfoot" prank is, you can look it up and I suspect you'll figure it out.

Hotfootin' - Rez

Of course, this might be their favorite tune.  I'm not sure why.

The Dragon - Kerry Livgren

The GFF Guardian Dragons thank you for listening to their choices - or at least reading about them in the blog.  Have a great day.  And if you didn't find anything here that was interesting, that's fine.  Play your own song and take the time to enjoy it!

Worst Enemy

I have been considering re-reading some or all of the Harry Potter series in the not too distant future as a sort of "comfort read."  I don't think I am alone among people who sometimes prefer reading a book they have already read.  This is especially true when I am under stress or if I can only read in short bursts.

It makes sense to me.  The cadence of the story is familiar and, perhaps, soothing.  I can control the level of suspense because.. well, I've already READ it (duh!).  And, I can always discover some new details with each read.  On top of that, each new reading comes when I have a different perspective, which means the story actually IS a bit different each time.

My most consistent standby, over the years, has been the Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.  And I have many others that I have "re-enjoyed" as well.

There is a bit more comfort with the Harry Potter series because, especially early on, there is a certain light-hardheartedness that comes with a book written about and for twelve year-olds.  The opening of the first book is the type of beginning that encourages you to sigh and then squirm a little as you settle into your favorite chair for a nice read.  I still let out a soft chuckle after reading that Mr. Dursley had an "owl-free morning."

The Harry Potter "universe" introduces a few interesting tools that I like to muse on every once in a while when my brain needs a break from heavier matters.  One such item was the "Sneakoscope" which was supposed to whistle when someone nearby was untrustworthy (or doing something that was untrustworthy).  And another interesting item was a little ball called a "Remembrall" which was supposed to change color when you have forgotten something.

In both cases, J.K. Rowling, the author, doesn't miss the trick that each tool has its limits.  You can have something that tells you that you are forgetting something, but it certainly doesn't help you remember exactly WHAT you've forgotten.  And, a Sneakoscope isn't going to help a whole lot if you can't identify the source of the.. um... sneakiness.  If you think about it, the Sneakoscope could actually BECOME the problem.

But, in my mind, the real winner came to me as I was looking in the mirror (not something I do often), trying to figure out what was in my eye.  

I figured out what was in my eye - it was my finger.  

Ahem.  Anyway....

Another tool in the Harry Potter books is a "Foe Glass" which supposedly shows how close a person's enemies might be.  If an enemy is some distance away, there would be a very shadowy and unclear image.  As a "foe" gets closer, the image becomes clear.

As I mused about this, I realized I was looking in a Foe Glass.  My own worst enemy was staring back at me...

with a finger in his eye.

Have a great Friday and a good weekend everyone!

When You Feel Down

I go through cycles where I seem to be happy and productive, which are often mixed in with times where I struggle to get things done and/or I am, perhaps, a bit depressed.  Lately, I have struggled with the knowledge that former friends and acquaintances are no longer with us.  

But, the down cycles are mostly just because I am human.  I'm not always happy.  I make mountains out of mole hills.  I let other people's anger and discontent depress me sometimes.  I also wonder why I bother putting it in a blog.  And none of this has to make sense, either. 

When I feel a bit down, I try to dig around deeper so I can find some of the good things that I have buried.  Not unlike the Clematis flowers that open near the base of the plant or... perhaps next to the trellis where we have to move a few leaves to see them.  

I am pretty sure that they are there... somewhere.  But, I don't always have the energy to do that sort of digging.

That's why I sometimes need a bold statement.  One that stands out like a German Bearded Iris.   

I may not have the energy for subtle and perhaps it will work to just hit me with something grand and beautiful.  But, sadly, this does not always work.  These ostentatious blooms might feel a bit like they are trying too hard to impress.  It's almost as if they are saying, "You are not allowed to feel down - smile!  Or else!"

I suspect that those who know me will tell you that this is NOT necessarily the best way to turn my mood around.

Perhaps what I need is something in between.  Something that stands out, but it isn't quite so overpowering?  Maybe a Columbine?   Each healthy plant usually has many flowers open at once and you take the plant and its flowers as a whole.  It's almost as if the flowers are saying, "Hey!  We're all happy to be here.  Maybe if you joined us you would cheer up some?"

There are times when this works too - just like the other two bloom types.  But, sometimes, a person actually starts feeling a bit trapped when everyone around them seems to be doing just fine.  If not trapped, then maybe isolated because you feel like you're the only one feeling as you do.  It's a reminder that feeling sad is okay sometimes and that being told you shouldn't be sad isn't always the best solution.

The Mock Orange tends to get my attention first when I pick up its aroma as I walk by.  Again, there are many flowers open at once.  Unlike the Columbine, where a single flower can captivate you as much as the group does, the Mock Orange relies on the group and your sense of smell to entice you to smile in appreciation.

But, if you're feeling a bit cynical at the moment it tries to capture your attention, you might find yourself saying, "Nice try, Mock Orange!  But, I am not in the mood for sweet smells and bright flower petals.  Even if you are putting yourself right next to the path I walk from one farm task to another."

Maybe what I need is something a bit more practical.  Potato flowers normally come in clusters, but it isn't a huge bunch of flowers on a stem.   Their presence typically signals some of the next steps in plant development that will result in some tasty tubers in a month or so.  

A promise of good things to come, brought forth by a good thing now.  A little companionship that comes with the cluster of flowers, but no tendency to overwhelm with numbers or with drama.  Maybe that will work for me now?

Except, potatoes at this stage usually also bring work, and I might be having trouble getting everything done as it is.  Apparently, I think too much, because the potatoes almost got me.

Well, let's try the snow peas instead?  The flowers are delicate and quite beautiful when you take the time to observe them.  They promise tasty peas in the not too distant future.  In fact, you can often view a flower and munch a pea at the same time.  

Maybe.  Just maybe?  Yeah.  But, harvesting peas take a fair amount of time.  So... maybe not?  

What about a chorus of day lilies?  Yes, they are a bit ostentatious, like the iris.  They typically come in groups, which means they could be a bit overwhelming.  But, they, like sunflowers, are captured rays of sunshine that glow on a bright day and bring out the light when the rest of the world appears dark.

This is the part where I realize that sometimes I actually need a little bit of all of these flowers.  It's not that I am demanding or anything, it's just that I know I can get a boost in so many ways.  I just have to accept the help as it is offered - taking what I need and leaving the rest for someone else who might want it.

Throw in some bursts of Garden Phlox and few spikes of Culver's Root and it starts getting pretty difficult to keep a small smile from showing up on my face.  Yeah.  That does look pretty nice.  

And so do the other pictures in this blog.  

It's okay to be sad.  Just like it's okay to feel better after the flowers try to coerce you into improving your mood.  But, even if it doesn't help right now, the flowers won't be offended.  They'll just keep doing their thing in the hopes that it might help when you are ready and able to receive that help.

I'm good with that.

Not a Fluke - Walk There Again

We took a day of rest after our Canyon Trail achievement and then headed back to Keonelona Bay (aka Shipwreck Beach) and the Mahaulepu Heritage Trail to close out our Kauai "walk there agains."  We made sure to get there early so we could avoid some of the heat.  Much of this trail is exposed and collects a lot of sun.  So, it pays to get an early start and it is important to carry lots of fluids to stay hydrated.

This time around, we had the goal of getting to the area where the trail can be accessed at the Makauwehi Cave.  In our prior walk from Keoneloa Bay, we only got to the Heiau Ho'ouluia (Heiau is a sacred Hawaiian site) just prior to the golf course portion of the trail.  This particular Heiau was likely a place of worship where offerings were made to the god of the sea to ensure good fishing - and yes, I am sure I have simplified it too much.

Before I go much further, this region of Kauai has been under threat to be developed in a fashion that is similar to the neighboring Poipu area.  I appreciate the work of Malama Mahaulepu that seeks to preserve this area and find a cooperative use plan that works to protect natural and cultural features while allowing folks, like ourselves to appreciate this land and its unique features.

Most hiking sites will rate this trail as a fairly easy one to walk.  This is, technically, true.  However, it does have its technical aspects.  The first portion can be loose sand, which has its own challenges - especially if you run into some roots or rocks just under or at the surface.  The rest of the trail can have rock and root obstructions like most Kauai hikes.  

That means it can be easy to catch your foot on something and you can stumble or fall.  If you fall on some of the sharp rocks, it could be quite painful.

That said, we both did just fine with only a few mild stumbles each.  The general rule for us is to keep an eye on the ground while walking.  If you want to look at things - stop and let yourself look.  It's worth it.

Most of my picture taking this time around happened after the Heiau.  This photo is looking back at the area we walked to get to the golf course.  Part of the Heiau can be seen in the distance where the black rocks are. 

And this is the view of the cliff edges near the golf course portion of the walk.  When we take shorter walks on Mahaulepu this ridge is often seen in the background of our photos.

While we were walking on the edge of the golf course, we noted a Cane Toad that was looking a little unhappy with its lot in life.  These toads were introduced to Hawaii in an effort to control Sugar Cane Beetles on Oahu in 1932.  Since then, these toads have spread to the other islands, apparently appreciating the habitat golf courses provide.

No, seriously, I am not kidding.  With the watering regimens and the low-cut grass, these toads are pretty happy.  Originating in South America, they are indiscriminate eaters -  whatever they can catch and swallow will work.  And, no, they didn't end up helping with the Sugar Cane Beetles all that much.  And before you think I know all of this stuff magically, I will point you to this excellent web article.  According to that work, ticks that are natural parasites for Cane Frogs have somehow found their way to the big island of Hawaii.

And no, I didn't see any ticks on this toad.  It didn't seem to be of a mind for me to look either.

There are also cactus in the southern portion of the island.  This might seem to be odd considering how wet much of the island is, but there are areas that have very low annual rainfall amounts, making it a good place for cactus.  

I believe this is a hedge cactus, but I couldn't get close to it and I am no expert in that area.  If it is a hedge cactus, it was introduced from Central America.  If this blog is accurate, when some of the sugar cane land was converted to grazing in the early 1900s, cactus were imported to provide a durable food source for the cattle in times of drought.

After the golf course portion of the walk, there is a brushy portion where we hiked in a tunnel of plants for a short while, followed by this brushy area where I found the cactus.  The trail here was level, but it had just enough surprises in the trail surface that we still had to pay attention to where our feet were going.  But, that's okay, we couldn't see much over the brush on either side of the trail at this point anyway.

As we emerged from this portion of the trail, we were re-introduced to blue.  

The color of the Pacific can change depending on how agitated it is, how deep it is, and how much sun there is at any given time.  This area gets lots of sun, so we are often shocked by the deepest blues that keep drawing us to look.

But, the rocks and obstructions in the trail become more frequent at this point too.  So, we exercised our neck muscles.  Look down to place foot.  Look up to see the blue sky and blue water.  And repeat.

I took a few moments to try and capture a few photos and Tammy walked ahead - so I took a picture with Tammy in it to provide further proof that she was taking this walk - and doing quite well!

In the background is the Black Mountain, Ha`upu.  There is no hat on Ha`upu today, so the some of the areas that use it to predict coming rainfalls aren't likely to see any moisture any time soon.  In fact, during this particular walk we saw very few clouds.  Just the occasional white puff-ball that Wai`ale`ale released from the center of the island so it could go floating out towards the sea.

And speaking of the sea.  Tammy ordered up some whale sightings for our walk too.  

Okay.  What she really did was say, "this would be a good day and a good place to spot some whales."  And then, we looked, and saw some whale spouts.  

Goal for the trip: see some whales.

Check. 

Yes, the ocean is pretty big.  No, I didn't have a giant lens on the camera.  So this is what a person gets for a whale sighting if you are using the unaided eye (or a normal camera lens).  Neither of us has any problem with that.  It is simply thrilling to see the evidence of their existence and their activity and that's good enough for us.

It's like checking with a friend to be sure they're still ok.  Well, the whales are still around - it's a good thing.

We have also had the chance to see Green Sea Turtles (Honu) now and again.  But, usually it's tough to spot them or see much more than their head poking out of the water.  Often it is just a shadow image if you just happen to look just right into the waves.  If you don't manage to look at the right time and place, you won't see them.

On this walk, they must have heard my comment that it would be nice to get a really good look at a Honu.  So, this one obliged us (or maybe it was more than one) a few times.  Enough for us to be shocked to see one so clearly and recover from the shock to get the camera ready.  

Once again, no big lens.  But, this gives you an idea of what our eyes could see.  

In my opinion seeing Honu is a big deal, as they are an endangered species with a population that was drastically reduced by poaching.  It's a bit like seeing a Bald Eagle in Iowa.  I remember the time when being able to view this raptor even once in my lifetime was a dream I wasn't sure could be fulfilled.  The recovery of the Bald Eagle population has been encouraging - perhaps the Honu are seeing a rebound as well?

The Honu also plays an important role in the stories of the Hawaiian culture.  The great fisher Aiai created the honu by drawing its figure on a rock by the water.  Because the honu is part of the earth, it must return to land to lay its eggs (see pages 238-9 in this book).

After this event, we discussed another critter we hadn't seen in the water - dolphins. 

And they showed up not long after that discussion.  We think this was a group of Bottleneck Dolphins.  A rough count put their number somewhere around a dozen.  These intelligent creatures have a complex language of whistles and clicking sounds and each individual has unique characteristics to its voice.

The two of us, on the other hand, were not swimming in the ocean like the Honu, or the wales, or the dolphins.  Instead, we were walking the red-brown earth.  We did our best to respect the plants that tenaciously clung to the soil, though we did gratefully accept the shade when a larger tree or bush offered it.

And when our eyes were not drawn to the sky or the water - or Haupu (the mountain), we took our time to recognize the green and growing things around us.  After all, we are growers and caretakers of the land.  It is only natural for us to check in with the plants on the trip.

I noted that many of the grasses towards the end of our walk displayed these seed heads and I found them to be interesting.  I have no idea what they are, whether they are native, introduced or invasive.  Instead, they just were there.  Carving a little niche for themselves next to a few small trees we were using to take a break from the sun.

And sometimes, that's enough for me to know.

This walk was a little different for us in that we didn't just concentrate on making it BACK to our starting point.  We did take time to look at sea creatures and we stopped at some of the beautiful overlooks.  This departure from what had become the norm is another significant step in Tammy's recovery.  It meant we weren't overly concerned about making it back to the starting point.

It meant that we were confident that we could complete the hike without worrying if we had gone too far.

Tammy's rehab progress on Kauai was not a fluke - but the whales have them (flukes).  And we'd like to keep it that way.

Sense of Purpose

 

Murphy the Nibster has yet to find a blogging voice - after all, she is still very young and most of her thoughts involve making sure the humans provide food... constantly.  It's not because Murphy isn't willing to speak their mind because that happens almost constantly.  I can't even take a decent picture of this kitten because Murphy is either darting around, squirming or... meowing.

So, other  than eating and irritating Soup and Inspector by pouncing on them, Murphy hasn't really settled into a sense of purpose.  That might explain the somewhat erratic dashing about and the tendency to not fully commit to anything other than that food thing.  Or maybe I am wrong and Murphy is just entirely and fully committed to being a kitten right now?

It's also possible that I just have not been able to ascertain exactly what Murphy is committed to at this time.  Maybe I am not paying enough attention or perhaps Murphy is far more complex than I might believe.  But this did get me to thinking about what others must see when they visit the GFF blog.  

I think it is safe to say that the only person who has read every single blog (sometimes more than once) is the person who is doing the writing (me).  It's probably also a good assumption that most people who do read what I write do so in periodic bursts.  They get reminded that the blog is out there via social media post or chance encounter, they visit the blog, and they read one blog that leads to reading a few more entries.  So, it is possible what they see might seem every bit as scattered and erratic as Murphy often appears to be to me.

A (really) quick history

The Genuine Faux Farm blog actually has been around since December of 2008 and it was created primarily as a way to get information about our farm out to others in a fashion that was a bit easier than using publishing software to make newsletters.  It also allowed us to just share life on the farm a bit in the hopes that we could get more people to support small-scale, diversified farms that supply local food - why else would we tell the story about a duck in the kitchen?  Other than the fact that it was just a bit odd to begin with.

Content was about weather, recipes, crops, farm events and farming in general.  When we would occasionally leave the farm, we might include a post or two about it, but raising food and our farm was never far from the center of it all.  As I got more comfortable with blogging, I began allowing departures that included April Fools posts, Thanksgiving posts and even a few that mentioned postal history.  Then the Sandman found a voice and other, more creative things started happening.

In addition to creativity, I started to allow myself to speak a bit more freely, without the muzzle that a person with a business often wears.  You don't want to offend a potential customer, you know.  Some of that came after our struggle with pesticide drift became more extreme.  

In January of 2019, I actually gave daily blog writing a try when we took an extended break from the farm and school.  I enjoyed that exercise, but it was pretty obvious at that time that the blog (and the farm) were trending downward.  I was hard-pressed to produce three to five blogs a month and the farm (as it was) had worn us to a nub.

And then the pandemic happened.  People who were very much NOT used to isolation were struggling.  I decided that one thing I had to give was the gift of writing.  So, on March 30, 2020, I started a string of blogging that hasn't really stopped since.

What about the present day?

Well, the pandemic isn't a thing anymore.  People don't need daily writings from a farmer on a small-scale, diversified farm.  And the methods for letting people know that a new blog post is out have changed.  It is harder than ever to reach out to let people know there is something new to read - if you want to read it.

Yet, here is my 52nd blog post of 2023 - on the 52nd day of the year.

What's the purpose now?  Do I have one?  I suspect I must if I am willing to push out blogs this often.  And, clearly, it's not about attention seeking.  If it were, I know I would be taking a completely different approach to promote what I do instead of the "well it's there if you want it" thing.

The obvious? It's good practice. Currently, my primary employment is to be a writer.  I need to exercise my skills regularly so I can keep improving my craft.  But, I will also admit that I can (and will) cease writing for this blog if (or when) some of the other purposes go away.  After all, I can write and not offer it up for public consumption to get my practice in.

So... why do I keep offering things up?

There are things I believe in and have knowledge about that I hope I can encourage you (and others) to think about.  Things like diversified, small-scale farms and farming.  Things like local foods, skilled occupations, learning and teaching.  Things like tolerance and kindness and grace.  Things like seeking out awe and wonder in the natural world and in the arts.  And even things like postal history.

And there are things I think I can offer because I see a need for it.  Like a little laughter.  A little music. A walk in the woods. A pun or two.  And even some stories - both true and made up.

And yes, the Genuine Faux Farm is still here - even if it is not quite the center of our world like it was several years ago. 

So, I've got a sense of purpose for this blog.  The questions that remain are twofold.  The first is, what purpose, if any, do others see evidence of when they visit? 

And the second is, how much longer will the energy match the purpose to keep it going?  

I've got no idea what the answers are to those questions.  Maybe you can help me with the first.  As for the second?  We'll just keep going until we stop.

Meanwhile, have a good day!  Pass the goodness forward to someone.  Share a kind word, hold a door open or split that candy bar with someone who looks like they need it.

Rustic or a Dump - at least it's Authentic

I remember the day I overheard someone at a field day (not ours, though it could have been) say something along the lines of "why can't they keep their farm neater than this? It looks like a dump!"

To be honest, I had to admit that the particular area on this farm that was being commented on DID look a bit like a dump.  But, I also had been fairly impressed with the farm, with the farmers, and with the operation in general.  It was a bit distressing to think that this might be the takeaway this person would go home with.  It also got me to thinking about our own farm.

I mean, it looks like a dump too.  Except for where it doesn't look like a dump.

The stack of pallets leaning against a wall isn't actually awful to look at.  They have future purposes and they are neatly out of the way in their designated spot.  But, I suppose they aren't all that attractive either.  Let's just say they won't win us any "Better Homes and Gardens" awards or the praise of whomever wants to judge a working farm by what they consider to be positive eye appeal.

We have not yet used any of our valuable time to deconstruct or re-use the flair box that went on a running gear that we are using for something else now.  We also parked an old hayrack with its rotting wood and frozen steering mechanism nearby.  And, of course, we didn't take the time last fall to clean up the tall grasses and other plants that grew around them.  I guess I would admit, if pressed, that this might look "dumpy."

There is a bin just outside the Poultry Pavilion that has a pile of red and green hoses - all tangled up.  It's hardly the most attractive decorating touch a person could use, I suppose.  But, it is a good way to put hose segments that are no longer appropriate for delivering water.  Yet a hose segment or two can be useful for any number of things.  For example, staking up a tree - or putting a cover on the sharp edge of a raised bed wall.

Even so, I might admit that we've accumulated more of the raw material in this spot than we really need.

But what about this mess, Rob?  Let's see you explain it away like the others!  If this doesn't confirm that you don't care what your farm looks like, I don't know what does.

Well, you got me.  A pile of wood.  A pile of potentially useful wood.  But, still, an ugly pile of wood.  

I suppose you could argue that the wheeled contraption on the pile and the kitty litter buckets don't help with the ambiance.  

Well, the grass catcher is where it is because we needed to move it so we could fill in the pit that was in front of this part of the Poultry Pavilion.  The kitty litter buckets were in use to carry water as recently as this past Spring, when their handles broke.  Rather than throw them in the trash, I'd like to rinse them out and recycle them.  But, you got me, I didn't get that task done and there they are still.  

I am so very ashamed....  Alas for me!

I will readily agree that there is a point where the normal detritus and mess that comes with any operation like ours crosses the line and becomes a "dump." And it is one of our goals to avoid crossing that line.  In fact, there are many things we would love to find the time and energy to clean up a bit - and numerous other things are "in progress" and there just isn't enough of us to move to "complete" this very moment.

Part of the problem is that not everyone can tell the difference between useful items that are there for a reason and an honest to goodness mess.  You can probably guess that the rolled up hose in a cart with a couple of feeder covers is probably there for a reason (stored for the Winter).  But, they also probably don't look all that attractive either.   There's a pile of metal that is waiting for the next metal drive - and that's not something you walk someone by when you want them to think your place is beautiful either.

I will also hazard a guess that chicken transport crates are not likely to be most people's choice of decorative items either.

Oh, wait!  I was wrong.  Here is an ebay lot where you can buy an old, slightly broken down chicken crate for $245.  Or maybe you want them from this company for $150 each?  You can polish it up and make a coffee table out of it and sell it for $750.

Just use the words "rustic," "antique," or "primitive."

I guess I should NOT have burned that old wooden crate that could no longer be repaired to be useful.  Do you think if I left a little chicken poop on it it would have gone for more?  

Available, one primitive design, vintage antique with authentic farm ambiance (also known as chicken manure).... this can be yours for just $800.

I wonder how much I can sell the plastic crates for?  If I use the right words, do you think I can at least get three digits for each one?  

And now that I realize there are people out there who buy old chicken crates for hundreds of dollars I find myself worrying less about what others think regarding the aesthetics of our farm.  After all, it is "authentic" and it is "rustic" so it must be good.

And, really, the overall impression isn't half-bad even if chicken crates aren't your style.

Have a good day everyone!

The Foolish Desire - Postal History Sunday

Seven days can fly by before you know it and there are weeks where I am certain I had just completed Postal History Sunday - until I realize that was LAST week's entry.  This time around, I was certain that it would be one of those weeks, so I walked into Monday with a plan.  Now we're approaching Sunday and that plan didn't work out, so we'll do this instead! 

So, what is "this" you ask?  This is called a throwback post where I visit an earlier effort and try to breathe some new life into it.  So, if it has a familiar feel, that's the reason.  I hope you enjoy this (re-) effort.

Before we get too far into it, let me remind you that everyone is welcome here.  If you are idly curious about postal history this is for you.  If you find yourself spending hours enjoying postal history as a hobby, then this blog is for you too.  If you had scrambled eggs and toast for breakfast, you, too, are welcomed.  Though some of us might have liked it if you had brought some to share.

Postal History Sunday is hosted every week on the Genuine Faux Farm blog and the GFF Postal History blog.  Since we just ended the week that contains the 14th of February, I offer up the following item:

This small, tattered envelope was mailed from New Haven, Connecticut on December 15, 1863, to London England (arriving Dec 26).  The letter was written by Harriet Silliman Shepard DeForest to her cousin Erastus Lyman DeForest - and most of the letter came along with the envelope when I acquired it several years ago. 

Like many of the items I enjoy sharing, this envelope has a 24-cent stamp paying the 24 cent rate to England for a simple letter that weighed no more than 1/2 ounce.  The letter started in New Haven and then traveled to the foreign exchange office in New York City.  The clerk there marked the letter for a December 16th departure on the Cunard Line's Scotia, which arrived at Queenstown (Cobh, Ireland) on December 24.  It was taken out of the mailbag in London on December 26 and probably delivered to Number 8 Bishopsgate Street later that same day.

medallion showing Baring's building, from article by Clara Harrow

The letter was sent to Baring Brothers & Company, a financial institution that provided travelers with lines of credit and mail holding (or forwarding) services.  There are no markings on this envelope that tell us that Baring Brothers sent this to Mr. Erastus DeForest, so it is likely that it sat in their offices until he picked it up along with the rest of his mail from whichever side-trip he was on.  The alternative is that several letters were bundled together and forwarded to his current location.  There is really no way to tell how Mr. DeForest finally acquired it.  We can only recognize the possible options and then deal with not being certain which way it got to him.

The other interesting postal history aspect is the artistic design used for the device that canceled the stamp.  I discussed the New Haven postmark in the second half of this January offering titled On Your Marks - in case you are interested.

Postal administrations used canceling devices to acknowledge the stamps that paid for the service by marking or defacing them.  The primary motive was to avoid the loss of revenue that would come from people trying to re-use postage stamps without buying new ones. 

The letter drives the interest this time around

This particular item has some short-comings.  The envelope has fallen into two pieces (a front and a back) and the letter itself is incomplete, with a closing page apparently missing.  If I wanted an item that showed off the postal history aspects (other than the neat star cancel), I would probably select something in better condition.  But, that's not the biggest reason why this particular letter from 1863 is interesting to me.

In this case - it is primarily about the letter - and the people referenced in the letter.  I'll start by sharing my best effort at transcribing the contents. 

A cousin (Harriet Silliman Shephard De Forest) writes to Erastus Lyman DeForest while he travels in Europe:

New Haven Dec 11th
Dear Erastus,
I have so much I will tell you.  I shall write very closely & as small a hand as I am capable of.  You know how I can fill up a letter with my sprawly writing & tell precious little news.  Well, mon ami, as things have turned out I wish I had remained in Paris. That is if you are going to be there this Winter. New Haven is of course very dull & now you and Charlie are away I am more solitary than ever -

As to my husband obtaining a furlough it is all nonsense to talk of the thing. 

Gen Banks has positively forbidden the application even for leave of absence unless in the case of disability leave.  Mr. De Forest continues perfectly well & has no excuse except the foolish desire. 

I see his wife & soldiers are supposed to have no feelings for such subjects.  The government ignores such weak mindedness - but seriously, it is  ???, the prospect of not seeing my lord & master until his time is up next October. 

Sometimes I am rebellious & mentally ??  & declare I will not put up with it.  But what is the use?  I am helpless these. ????  are to be pitied and the war drags on at snail's pace.  I do not think it nears the end in spite of the predictions of those who pretend to be wise.  Mr. Curtis (I should say Curtis, he is too distinguished to have a handle to his name) called last evening after his lecture ? Lee ? and we talked war, abolition & politics for two hours.  For comfort he promises me the war nice and over before eighteen months!  I presume he knows about as much as you and I do about the prospects of peace.  We have had another  trip? to Richmond and are safely back again.  Charleston we begin to believe we do not want - a la ? & the grapes??? - I am getting fearful unpatriotic & impatient . 

Maybe when Mr. De Forest gets home I shall be for a vigorous prosecution of the war.

Here I am in ?? pretty much as of old.  I can hardly realize I have been over the waters & with you in Paris so recently.  I wish you were here. I mean for my own sake, for your good & pleasure.  I wish it as it is?  My parlor is very pleasant this winter. I have Julie Heusted's (?) piano and plenty of music in the evenings.  Now I am curious how I have more ? & on Mary ??  I find it much more agreeable. Mary was getting too great an influence over the boy.

(*presumably her son Louis and presumably Mary left, but I can't figure the exact words above*)

I flatter? myself he has improved since I have taken over control. Mrs. Beers  says so and of course it must be so. 

By the way, aprapos of Mrs Beers, a tap at my door enters Mrs B " Oh,  Mrs. De Forest - have you heard the news?  Your cousin Erastus went to a bull fight in Spain on Sunday." 

"Who says so, I asked without showing any signs of surprise." 

"Mr Thomeson wrote to some one here in town that he & Erastus had just returned form a bull fight on Sunday.  Do you believe it Mrs De Forest?" 

"You say it is so, why do you ask me anything about it?"

"Oh I suppose you know more than I do about it.  Erastus has written and told you all about it!" 

She was mistaken this time.  Mrs B left, disappointed as she shut the door remarking "You d'not seem to be surprised, I suppose you d'not think it is very dreadful"  No reply from me. 

So you see that your sins have gone before you to judgement. No doubt you are tried & condemned by Mrs. B & some of her ?? friends & put down as a hopeless sinner, past praying for.  But d'not let Mr Thomason write such items home about you, it is best to keep in with the witches.

One of my old friends, Mr. Stine <*or Stone or ?*> the artist (you may remember him) has been here for the past six weeks.  He has a studio on this floor, he has been painting Geo Baldwin, Judge Ingersoll & seven or eight other portraits he ??? return to New York this coming week.  I hope his work will hold out longer.  Julia & I will miss him very much.  He is very agreeable company. 

It is likely that Judge Ingersoll is Charles R Ingersoll, who would be governor of Connecticut starting in 1873. The following biography is from page 352 of The Judicial and Civil History of Connecticut, edited by Dwight Lewis and J. Gilbert Calhoun (published 1895).

George Baldwin, on the other hand, was apparently a farmer of "middling means," but who was related to family that had wealth and power.  The George Baldwin House is actually on the historic register and may have been part of the Underground Railroad. This, of course, assumes that I have correctly identified the individual.

Be sure you write and tell me all about your trip to Spain.  I envy you the prospect of being in Italy this Winter.  I shall depend on long and many letters.  D'not disappoint me.  If you knew how glad I always am to hear from you, you would write often. 

Your aunt was here looking at rooms(?) the other day.  She is still undecided what to do.  I meet her in the entry with Mrs. B and was introduced.  She told me she received a letter from you on Thanksgiving day.  I was glad to hear of you.  I am in the middle of a dress-making campaign.  I have another love of an alpaca (black). I thought I must tell you as you are such an admirer of alpaca.  If is even prettier than the one I got in Paris. 

I am a perpetual wonder to myself.  I am in such splendid health and weight(?). I am ashamed to ? 145 pounds.  I have not had a sick day.  I can't remember when!  I walk for hours and sometimes more every day.  This is when it is pleasant.  Dr ? came to make a friendly visit last week.  "I never saw you looking so well, what does it mean?  You must have found out the secret in Paris of ???" <*probably a reference to living well*> So you see, I have no........

And then, I find I have no more of the letter!  Well, sometimes you just have to appreciate what you have.

Who was Erastus?

Cousin Erastus sure does sound like he is an interesting fellow, doesn't he?  Trotting off to Spain to see bull-fighting - much to the chagrin of Mrs. Beers and those in society who saw this as a scandalous activity!  

Erastus Lyman De Forest was, it turns out, quite the scholar in mathematics, he completed the Bachelor's degree in engineering at Yale by the age of 20 and completed an advanced degree by the time he was 22. 

After completing the advanced degree, Erastus was scheduled to travel with his aunt, but disappeared, leaving his luggage behind.  The family searched for some time, even putting notices in the New York Times looking for him.  Eventually, they assumed he had been murdered.

After a couple of years, it was discovered that he had gone to California and Australia and was teaching there.  He returned in 1861, only to travel again for a few years in Europe (1863-1865).  If you want more of a biography, this link provides an excellent overview.  The photo is from that site and is also found on wiki commons.

Upon his return, he dedicated his study to mathematics and is credited with making improvements to the mortality tables used by the Knickerbocker Life Insurance Company owned by an uncle.  His work was not initially recognized by mathematical scholars, but have since been given more attention.  He is even given credit for the initial discovery of the chi-square distribution (for those who know some statistics).  Four of his papers (published from 1866 to 1871) are listed in this Catalog of Scientific Papers compiled by the Royal Society of London 1877 (vol VII). 

One wonders if some of those mortality tables referenced the likelihood of a bull-fighter living past of the age of 25?

Who were Mrs. De Forest and the referenced Mr. De Forest?

This is where the detective began.  It was not hard to figure out Erastus, because his name is on the envelope and he happens to be well enough known for me to find information about him.  But, there are many, MANY noteworthy De Forests in Connecticut and New York and actually MORE than one who was an officer under the referenced General Banks.  And, on top of it all, the part of the letter that would have included a signature of some sort is missing.

The keys for locating the proper Mr. De Forest were to recognize that he had to be an officer under General Banks in December of 1863 and that it is likely he had strong ties to New Haven, Connecticut.  After a number of dead ends, I have concluded that our Mr. De Forest from the letter is none other than John William De Forest, a realistic fiction writer, who was a captain in the Union army, forming Company I from New Haven, the 12th Connecticut Volunteers.  

Another clue in the letter that lines up is the mention of Charleston (South Carolina), where the DeForests lived prior to the barrage on Fort Sumter.  They were on the last boat to leave Charleston, returning to New Haven.

At the time of this letter, John William De Forest had just been assigned to be the inspector general of the first division, 19th Corps.  He was finally mustered out of service and could return home on Dec 2, 1864, when his health could no longer allow him to continue his work in the Louisiana campaign.

Mrs. De Forest (nee Harriet Silliman Shepard) was apparently known to be quite intelligent and an 'exceptional classical scholar' according to this Master's thesis by Elizabeth Maxwell Bright focused on John William's writing.  She was the daughter of Charles Upham Shepard who was a professor of chemistry and somewhat prolific author of papers on mineralogy.  He taught at the medical school in Charleston during the colder months and returned to New Haven in the Spring.  This further confirms the connections to New Haven and makes it fairly certain I have found the correct people!

It is a bit of a shame that Harriet, and most women of her time, are not featured prominently in histories as she seems like she could have been a most interesting person.  At least, with this letter, she has a voice - and we have the opportunity to hear it.

Apparently, many of the De Forest family papers are held in the archives at Yale and could be accessed for further research if someone desired to dig through them.

An extra note about the family

A few months after my first effort at this particular story was published a couple of years ago, I received an anonymous comment to the blog.  I thought I would include it here:

Dear Mr. Faux,
Thank you for transcribing this letter. It is from my great great grandmother, Harriet Silliman Shepard, and refers to, among others, her husband, John William De Forest, author, as you correctly deduced. She was the daughter of Charles Upham Shepard (https://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/shepard-charles-upham/) and Harriet Taylor, the adoptive daughter of Benjamin Silliman (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Silliman). Their son, Louis Shepard De Forest, was my mother's grandfather.

 It's always good to get confirmation that your research was on target!

But wait, there's more!

This week, you hit the jackpot, because we're going to take this just a little bit further by bringing us back around to another connection that a postal historian enjoys.  The General Banks, in question is Nathaniel Prentice Banks, an individual who might fit the prototypical "American story" of a person who started with modest means and went on to "greater things."  He worked as a 'bobbin boy' at a textile mill his father managed and went on to publish newspapers, serve in the state legislature (Massachusetts) and then as a congressman in the House of Representatives (first as a Democrat and then as a Republican).  He was then elected governor of Massachusetts in 1858 and ran to be the presidential nominee for the Republicans, losing to Lincoln.  Lincoln appointed him to the position of Major General (as a political appointee) in May of 1861.

In December of 1862 he was transferred to New Orleans, which is where he and John William De Forest were at the time this letter was sent.

While General Banks is not a household name, nor does he feature prominently in most history books for his roles in the Civil War, he is fairly well known to postal historians that study this period in the United States.  In 1861, Banks decided that his division would have superior mail services and apparently used his connections to do just that.  Banks secured a special agent of the Post Office Department to work out of Banks' headquarters. 

This arrangement resulted in the use of multiple hand stamps, such as the one on the envelope shown above, that indicated the origin of the letter as being from the Banks Division.  This letter was postmarked on August 1, 1862 when I believe the division headquarters were located at Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia).  An excellent article by Richard Graham can be found here outlining more details about the Banks Division postal services.   

Bull fighting to end of war predictions

Harriet mentions a prediction that the war would end in 18 months and greeted it with some skepticism.  After all, she was worried about her husband.  As she said, "Maybe when Mr. De Forest gets home I shall be for a vigorous prosecution of the war."  It's a normal sentiment, of course.  I'm all for our troops taking the victory, but I would rather they do it without my husband in harms way.  

Amazingly, the war did end in approximately 18 months, but Mr. De Forest would depart the forces prior to its end, having only received a small wound - but still suffering from other maladies that ended his service time.  Apparently in December of 1864 he had more than the foolish desire as an excuse to go home again.

Each of these stories are far more complex than what I have written here.  If you desire to read more details about any of these individuals, feel free to take the links I provide in the text and read to your heart's content.  Or, you can decide you have had enough of this silliness.  The good news is - you have a choice!

Have a great remainder of the weekend and a good week to follow.

Do you want to learn more?

A couple of references to some of the printed materials that are now also on the web:

Richard B. Graham, G.B.D. and Banks' Division Markings, US Philatelic Classics Society, Volume: 20 Number: 3, 1968 - the Chronicle is one of the best US journals for early postal history and much of the earlier publications are searchable online.

Elizabeth Maxwell Bright, An analysis of the methods used by John William De Forest in An analysis of the methods used by John William De Forest in translating his personal war experiences into realistic fiction as translating his personal war experiences into realistic fiction as shown in Miss Ravenel's conversion. shown in Miss Ravenel's conversion.  University of Louisville, 1949.  - this is the Master's thesis referenced in the text.  There are many interesting tidbits in the biography section.  

But, if you want to appreciate the rest of the thesis you should consider reading:

J.W. De Forest, Mrs Ravenel's conversion from secession to loyalty, New York, Harper & Bros, 1867.

Winter Kayak Trip Gone Wrong

 

When I was growing up, I knew a person who loved to take their kayak out on the river during all sorts of weather.  It didn't really matter if it was raining or sunny, hot or cold.  If the water was open and they had the time on any given weekend, they'd throw that little boat and a paddle into their pickup truck and head to the river.

One time during the early Winter months, they had a particularly memorable trip.  You see, the cold weather had started a bit early that year and most households had to turn the furnace on a bit earlier than normal.  This did not discourage this individual from bundling up and heading to their normal drop-in point.  Ice had formed near the shore, but the current was keeping the rest of the water clear.

Good enough!

One of the issues with paddling on a day such as this is that the options for where you can go on the river are a bit more limited.  That means anyone paddling in those conditions has to keep their wits about them and stay alert.  Unfortunately, on this particular day, the mind wandered a bit too much and this person got caught on a snag and flipped their boat.  

They righted themselves easily enough and got back into the kayak.  But now they were wet and very cold.  And they had a ways to go to get back to their truck.  That put them into a bit of a quandary - what should they do now?

To this day, they claim that hypothermia must have set in because they have no explanation for what they did next.  They floated as close to the shore as they could get and gathered some sticks.  Once they had enough, they proceeded to start a fire in their kayak so they could warm up.

Of course, you know what happened next.  The kayak sank and they had to wade to the bank and walk back to the truck.

What they had forgotten is this...

You can't have your kayak and heat it too.

Have a great weekend everyone!