Reading List

 

Can't see the forest for all of the trees?  Or maybe you are having trouble appreciating one particular tree when there are so many others standing next to it?

Sometimes the wealth we hold is embarrassing simply because we aren't able to appreciate what we have.  

In this case, we have a plethora of blog posts on the Genuinely Faux blog site.  While I hesitate to call this "wealth," it certainly has plenty of volume.  I fully recognize that I am the only person who has probably read every one of the posts.  And, as the author, I probably have appreciated (or been irritated) by the content the most of any person on this good Earth.  That also makes me the most likely guide.

So, here I am, about to recommend a few posts for your reading in hopes that you can admire one or two of the nicest trees in this blog forest from the last few months.

Most viewed blogs

Like most electronic media, there are "metrics," sometimes of a dubious nature, that are collected and available for a person who creates content.  According to blogspot, these two are the most popular over the last three months.

What If? A Local Food Challenge

This one actually finished second, but it was also adapted to be a blog post for Pesticide Action Network and that version has received some significant attention as well.  Even I think it's a pretty good piece with some worthwhile thoughts.  Now - can we actually make something like that happen in our world?

Thurn & Taxis - Postal History Sunday 

And, it should no longer surprise me that a Postal History Sunday takes a top spot.  This one got to the top in part because it lined up with a couple of interviews I did with respect to Postal History Sunday, including this interview on Conversations with Philatelists.  While I am not seeking attention, it is very nice to realize that others find some value in what I am doing here one in a while.

Something that might elicit a chuckle

I hope that many of the blogs I write have moments that could qualify as humorous - if only to balance everything out.  Here are a couple that actually still make ME smile (inside - introvert, remember?).

What it Looks Like When III

That one features our fine feline friends.   What more could you want?

Captain Obvious

If you can't laugh at yourself, then who can you laugh at?

Views into the life of the farmers

People often ask me to describe our life on the farm, and those descriptions come out to varying degrees in most blogs.  But, there are some that can give more insight than others.  Here are two that I submitted over the last three months that can provide the curious with a peek into what it means to live on our farm and do what we do.

The Secret Life of a Farmer

Purposely Blind

Oh, ok.  And a bonus post.

Balance Sheet

Some things we should all think about

Ok.  I am biased.  These are things I think we should think about.  You can certainly disagree, I'll allow it.  But, I'm writing the blog post - so there! 

Tolerance

Hōailona

Substitutions

And some that connect with the world around us

By now, if there is anything I hope someone takes away regarding our philosophy of farming, it's to support the pollinators.

Pollinator Conversion Ratio

And I am not above sharing some of the strategies I use on the farm.

Merry and Bright

And, of course, you should know that I have a friend named Crazy Maurice.

Crazy Maurice Stays Up Late

To close, two of the farmer's favorites

If something gets published on the blog, that doesn't mean I am perfectly happy with it.  That's what happens when you post nearly every day.  There is just no way you can be "on" each and every time.  But, once in a while, I hit something that even I think it pretty good.

Here are two of my favorites from the last three months.

Difficult Task

This one has it all.  It has a GFF Faux Real Story embedded in the middle.  It gives some insight into the life of farming we lead, has a little humor, gives us something to think about, and it was seen favorably by other readers (other than the author).  Believe it or not, my toughest critic (me) actually feels good about it too.

Still Words to Live By

And this one?  Well, it gives some insight into what makes me who I am.  While I am not terribly fond of calling attention to myself (that sure seems contrary to my writing a blog, doesn't it?), this one is probably more personal than most entries.

And there you go.  A suggested reading list on the Genuinely Faux blog for the past three months.  There is certainly more and you are welcome to read it.  And, of course, I am always open to feedback, corrections and other constructive comments.  Have a good day everyone!

A Beautiful Mess

The end of November is not everyone's idea of the perfect time to go hiking, I guess.  It can be a bit chilly.  The trails might not be in their best condition.  You have to look a bit more to your gear to make sure you keep yourself warm.  And, it seems to me that the vast majority of people have a pretty limited idea of what constitutes "good weather."

"Everyone begins as a child by liking Weather.  You learn the art of disliking it as you grow up.  Haven't you ever noticed it on a snowy day?  The grown-ups are all going about with long faces, but look at the children - and the dogs?  They know what snow's made for." from That Hideous Strength (Ch 5) by C.S. Lewis

I will admit that I have grumbled about the weather a fair bit in my role as a farmer.  The truth of the matter is this - some weather is more amenable to various farm tasks than other weather.  On the other hand, I will also readily admit that my exposure to all sorts of weather has only increased my awe and wonder at the diversity and the beauty of our world and the weather we can experience.

Certainly, there is nothing wrong with having a preference for certain kinds of weather.  But, we have to acknowledge the rest - if only because another person might not agree with us as to what happens to be perfect.  And, the variety is often where the true joy comes from.

During a recent walk in the woods we noticed that the trees have dropped their leaves and the forest floor was covered.  There is a musky-sweet smell that becomes stronger as we disturb piles of leaves on the path.  They make a familiar 'swooshing' sound as we take each step.  Then, it becomes a game to try and walk without disturbing leaves and to walk as quietly as you are able - finding stones and bare soil to tread. 

"The forest tree is a weed.  But I tell you I have seen a civilised tree ... It was made of metal... Consider the advantages!  You get tired of him in one place: two workmen carry him someplace else;  wherever you please.  It never dies.  No leaves to fall, no twigs, no birds building nests, no muck and mess." Ch 8 from That Hideous Strength

The forest is not an ordered, clean world that this character in Lewis' book desired.  He wanted something that could be clearly and completely controlled to his liking.  That is not that natural world that I love and it should not be a replacement. 

There are times when it feels to me that humanity has backed nature into a corner.  It seems as if we are seeking to control that which should not be controlled. And, in the process of the destruction of the natural world, we remove the wonder, and the awe, and the joy that comes with feeling that you are a part of the grand messiness that is a forest, or a prairie, or a marsh.

"He has a mind of metal and wheels; and he does not care for growing things, except as far as they serve him for the moment...Down on the borders they are felling trees - good trees.  Some of the trees they just cut down and leave to rot...but most are hewn up and carried off to the feed the fires of Orthanc." - Treebeard in the Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien

As we took this walk in the woods on a late November day, we encountered a few other souls who also sought an encounter with trees, leaves, eagles and rocks at Backbone State Park.  There wasn't much talking, but when there was - it was considerate, kind, and full of joy for the world around us.  Like us, I suspect many of them left feeling more content and eager for more interactions with nature.

In my opinion, people need more encounters of this sort.  Perhaps it is not for everyone.  Perhaps there are a few where a metal tree that you can move where you like is the best solution.  But, I believe that many would benefit with more exposure to the weather, to fallen leaves, and to the breath of wind on their faces.

Cruising Along - Postal History Sunday

Welcome to Postal History Sunday.  This week we're going to spend some time on a couple of the popular cruise ships of the 1930s.

Take a moment to make yourself comfortable.  Put those troubles away and get out the deck shoes.  If you have trouble with sea sickness, take some dimenhydrinate.  Maybe we will all learn something new while I share something I enjoy!

Receiving Mail on the S.S. Rex

Today's story starts with an envelope sent from the United States in 1935 to a couple of passengers on the Italian luxury liner named Rex. 

At first glance, this letter is simply a single-weight, surface letter from Rochester, New York in the United States to Naples (Napoli), Italy.  The rate was five cents for the first ounce (20 grams) in weight and this rate was in effect from Oct 1, 1907 until Oct 31 1953 - quite a long time for a postage rate to be effective without an increase.

At the time this letter was mailed (July 30, 1935), there were options to use the new air mail service for part of the journey to Italy at a higher postage cost, but there was not yet air service to cross the Atlantic Ocean.  But, since there were air mail options, it is important for a postal historian to note that this was sent by "surface mail" - as in, it stayed on the surface of the earth, whether it was land or water.

There is a postal arrival marking for Napoli (Naples), for August 11, on the back of this envelope, but our eyes are drawn to the bold purple marking on the front of the cover.  This is not a postal marking, instead, it was applied by the Tourism Office (Ufficio Turismo) in Napoli for what was commonly known as the Italian Line of steamships (Italia Flotte Ruinite).

The names on this marking might be a bit confusing because it is actually a combination of names that came from the origin of the Italian Line.  In 1932, three Italian steamship companies were merged to create a single, national, steamship line.  These three consisted of Lloyd-Sabaudo (based in Turin), Cosulich STN (based in Trieste) and Navigazione Generale Italiana (NGI - based in Genoa).  So, the three companies actually make an appearance on this marking (Italia - Cosulich - Lloyd).  The marking was applied on arrival at their offices and we can assume that the letter was handled by the shipping line for their passengers from that point on .

Artwork by James A Flood

Some of the motivation for the merger came directly from the Italian government because, during the 1930s, most national powers touted a strong shipping line to show their strength.  The British had the combined Cunard - White Star Line and Germany had the HAPAG/North German Lloyd line.  Now Italy would have a strong steamship line and with that line would come state of the art ships such as the Rex.

The Rex was one of a number of very large, speedy ships that were being developed in the 1930s, but its true distinction came with the on-board accommodations which attracted strong attention from customers in the United States seeking to visit the Mediterranean.   The ship boasted not one, but two swimming pools, a theater and a cinema among other things.  In March of 1933, a radio broadcast from the ship of Schubert's Ave Maria, sung by Rosa Ponselle was heard on both sides of the Atlantic - a first.

Map taken from the GG Archives for the Aug 21, 1935 sailing of Rex

The Rex sailed a route that began the western route in Genoa and terminated the eastern route in Naples. The terminus in the United States was the harbor in New York.  The Italians held a great deal of pride in this ship and it secured the Blue Riband of the Atlantic in August of 1933, taking it from the German ship Bremen, that had set the previous speed record for an Atlantic crossing just one month prior.

Speaking of the German Ship Bremen

Well... looky here!  Another envelope featuring the National Parks issue stamps I enjoy.  And, this one has the words "S/S Bremen" boldly written at the top.  I wonder what that could be about?

Here is a larger envelope that carried some sort of letter mail content from New York City to Lahti, Finland in July of 1935 - just 25 days prior to the first piece of letter mail shown above.

There is 24 cents of postage on this particular item, rather than the 5 cents on the first one.  This was also sent as by surface mail (no air mail), so the need to have more postage had to be for other reasons.  First, the letter was sent as a "registered letter," which cost an additional 15 cents.  Registered mail provided the customer with tracking that was intended to provide more security that the item would get safely to where it was going.  The fifteen cent registration fee to a foreign destination was effective from Dec 1, 1925 until Jan 31, 1945.

The rest of the postage is mostly accounted for if we consider that this letter was a "double-weight" letter.  It weighed more than one ounce and no more than two ounces.  The first ounce, as we saw with the first letter, cost five cents in postage.  Each additional ounce cost three cents more.  So, the postage needed was eight cents plus fifteen for a registered letter.  Apparently, this item was overpaid by one penny.

Artwork by James A Flood

So, this letter was intended to be taken on the Bremen, the same ship that had held the Blue Riband by setting an Atlantic Crossing record in July of 1933 at 27.92 knots.  From a practical standpoint, this meant this ship could complete a round trip on a two week cycle since a one way trip could be completed in less than five days.  And, in fact, the Bremen maintained a schedule of departing from New York every other Friday.  It's sister ship, the Europa, had actually held the Blue Riband pror to the Bremen.  That meant a German steamer from the HAPAG/North German Lloyd line could leave port every Friday.

It just so happened that July 5 of 1935 was a Friday.  So, it might make sense that the sender of this letter might expect one of the fastest steamships of the time to take the letter across the Atlantic.

And, yet, we are left to wonder - why did this letter arrive in Lahti, Finland on July 20th - fifteen days later.  Surely, it did not take ten more days to get from Bremen or Hamburg to Finland?

The answer is actually on the front of the cover.  The words "S/S Bremen" have been crossed out.  This could be because the letter was received at the post office too late to be placed in the mailbag for the Bremen or perhaps, mails for Finland were not to be routed via this ship.  I suspect it was for the second reason because there was no "too late" marking applied to the letter.

The Bremen Incident

As with the Rex, there are numerous interesting stories that surround the Bremen during her tenure as one of the finest vessels crossing the Atlantic Ocean.  One particular story occurred just a few weeks after the July 5th departure that this particular letter missed.

from this ALBA article

German vessels at this time were flying the German Weimar Republic flag and the Nazi flag.  The presence of the Nazi flag was not welcomed by many and an incident on July 26, 1935, created an international incident when the Nazi flag ended up in the water.

Members of the American League Against War and Fascism were regularly protesting and handing out anti-Nazi propaganda to those who sought to board the German luxury liners.  But, after the capture of one of their own and suspected torture by the Nazis, they decided that a stronger demonstration was needed.  

It was a regular practice for departing ships to allow the public on board for a nominal cost prior to departure (ten cents in this case).  This allowed relatives and friends, the press, and, in this case, persons intent on removing a certain offensive flag, to be on board until those without tickets were told to leave with the call "all ashore that's going ashore!"

The first-person account of Bill Bailey, the individual who eventually managed to get the flag down and into the water, can be found at this location.   

"I hurdled the last sea breaker and grabbed the first rung on the short ladder leading to the bowsprit. Pandemonium was all about me as I reached the top. The Nazi symbol was just a few inches from me. I drew a deep breath. Behind me I could hear the screams of the passengers, the barking of orders in German of the captain and the blowing of police whistles as dozens of police boarded the Bremen."

The United States deflected German claims that their ship had taken injury in an American port by stating that the Nazi flag was not the official flag of Germany, but they did issue formal apologies.  They found themselves apologizing yet again when Magistrate Louis Brodsky dismissed most of the charges against the "Bremen Six."

So - if I wrote all of that just because this particular envelop had the words "S/S Bremen" written on it - what would I have done if it had actually been carried on the July 26 sailing on the Bremen?

Looking for Examples of Higher Rate Letters

The letter to Finland is a pretty good example of a letter that was an excellent candidate to be heavier than the one ounce limit for a single weight letter.  The difficulty is that, unlike some of the early postal history I collect, there aren't many clues to confirm that an item really did require more postage. 

Above is another 1935 letter from Stratford, Connecticut to England.  Twenty cents of postage are applied to the envelope.  The letter is not registered.  There are no markings to tell me it went via air mail.  And, the valid postal rates we might consider for surface mail are:

• 5 cents for a letter up to one ounce
• 8 cents for 1 to 2 ounces
• 11 cents for 2 to 3 ounces
• and from there it would be 14 cents, 17 cents and 20 cents.

Do I believe this letter held over five ounces of material?  The short answer is "no."  It is not at all uncommon to find letters that were overpaid simply because the recipient was a stamp collector... or maybe the sender was the stamp collector and they hoped to see the envelope again in the future.

On the other hand, something like this letter below feels much more likely to be an actual payment of the 8 cent rate for a letter over one ounce in weight.

Is it still likely a collector was involved?  Yes, I think so.  But, I also believe it more likely that it paid a proper 8 cent rate.   You might notice that this item was sent from one person to a relative that must have been traveling in Europe at this time in 1934.  Sure, they could probably expect the envelope to come back to them if they were a collector, so why not use interesting stamps?  But, why not also put some extra content in the envelope as well?

And then, there are items like this one.  There is ten cents worth of postage on here, which probably means the individual who sent it thought the rate was five cents per ounce of weight, so they overpaid by two cents.  

Can I verify this information?  

Once again, I cannot prove any of my assertions, but there are signs that might support my guesses.  If a person were going to send a letter that was solely with the intent of sending some stamps through the mail, they typically took the time to put things much more neatly on the envelope (such as the first in this series).  And, the postmarks seem to indicate that the collector wasn't standing over the clerk asking for light cancellations so the stamps would be "collectible."

And then there is this larger envelope.  It could clearly handle enough contents to warrant 17 cents in postage to go along with the 15 cent registration fee.   And, a business address makes it likely that business correspondence of some sort was included.  Is it still possible that the sender or recipient collected stamps?  Sure!  That, in itself, may be the reason this particular still survives today!

Epilogue - End of the Line

Both the Bremen and Rex reached the end of the line in the 1940s, though only one of the two was a casualty of war. Oddly enough, the Bremen succumbed to a fire set by a disgruntled employee while it was at Bremerhaven.  

"The Gestapo initially suspected that British intelligence had a hand in the destruction of the ship, but before long the investigation fell upon a 15-year-old deckhand from the Bremen, Walter Schmidt, who eventually confessed to having set the fire in revenge for a clip on the ear given him by a supervisor. Wartime justice was swift and severe. Schmidt was executed."  taken from the Cruise Line History site.

The Rex, on the other hand, was laid up for the war in Trieste until the Italian Armistice on Sep 8, 1943.  At that point, the German forces seized the ship and gutted her of anything of value to them.  In September of 1944, the ship was towed out of port and anchored off the Istrian coast where it was bombed and sunk by Allied planes.

And thus ended two of the most widely lauded ocean-going vessels of the 1930s.  Both fast ships and Blue Riband winners - and neither was on the move when they met their doom.

------------------------

Once again, thank you for joining me for this week's Postal History Sunday.  I hope you enjoyed this week's post.  Have a good remainder of your day and a wonderful week to come!

If It Were Easy

One of the things we try to do every year on the blog is author a Thanksgiving post.  But, what do you do when inspiration isn't there?  What happens when something you usually enjoy feels more like an obligation or a duty than anything else?  How do you get motivated to accomplish something?  What if you aren't feeling particularly grateful at the moment and you're feeling guilty about not having all of the 'warm fuzzies' you should have for all of the truly good things in your life?

These are questions I asked in 2017.  They weren't new questions to me and they still come up now and again.  But, the words I wrote in response to the questions that year caused me to think about them again and encouraged me to take another crack at it in 2021 - which must be a special year because I put forth three consecutive posts on giving thanks.

This has been our favorite holiday for a very long time.  But, there are some realities that come with farming and working in academia.  The farm doesn't just stop because we want a break - someone has to feed the hens, collect the eggs and just... do all the things.  Classes at the college are are moving relentlessly towards the completion of big projects and final exams.  Those who teach desperately try to balance preparation, grading, committees, and advising with all of the special holiday stuff that starts eating up people's time at school.

Simply put, it can be hard to slow down enough for breath - much less to give a real and honest effort at giving thanks for good things in our lives.

Hobnob and Bree are NOT looking too pleased in this picture....

In 2016, I titled our blog post Trials, Tribulations and Thanks.  Of course, there is the element of fun because I could use alliteration in the title.  But, on re-reading the post, I realized that I was struggling with these thoughts.  My approach in 2016 was to go back to the people who mean so much to us for inspiration.  People who support the farm.  People who help when help was needed.  People who remain friends, no matter what.  A family that continues to love us.  Again, no matter what.

"We cannot repay, we can only give thanks"

But, there is still no denying that I was struggling a bit trying to get where I wanted to go.  Yet, I managed to get there by considering the wonderful people in our lives.  But, that begs the question - how will we (you and I) get there THIS year?

Giving thanks is not always easy.  In fact, being truly grateful can be extremely difficult.  However, if I can manage to find gratitude, it has the power to lift me when I am down.

If gratitude were easy, it would not be nearly so wonderful and fulfilling as it is when we work to give meaningful thanks.

Here we are.  Waiting for the warm glow of Thanksgiving to just pop up and make us feel good.  Hoping for the cheap happy ending that magically appears, despite all logic.   We waste our time when we could actually achieve what we want with just a little bit of effort.

Is it possible that a significant part of the beauty is in the struggle?  Perhaps the rewards are proportional to the effort?

I guess I've come to the conclusion that - for once - I might actually be right in this.  Real gratitude and thanksgiving do not come easily.  If you want to genuinely give thanks, it requires honest effort and some real focus on what you are doing.

I believe there is less value in easy.  I also believe I wouldn't write a Thanksgiving post every year if it were as easy as just listing a bunch of things and saying I am thankful for them.

If it were easy, I wouldn't do this.

Gratitude is something you need to work for.  But, once you put forth the effort, the rewards are significant.  Give thanks today.  Give thanks tomorrow.  Give thanks every day you are able.  And, when a day comes where giving thanks is difficult, let those things of value and worth that have led you to be grateful sustain you until you are able emphasize the positive once again.

Once again - Happy Thanksgiving.

What Makes Us Tick

Over the years I have been working on exercising my 'gratitude muscles' in hopes that I can use them in moments when the last thing I want to do is give thanks.  What I have found is that these muscles are just like so many other things that require effort to build up - it only takes a little bit of time to tear them down.  When that happens, there is only one way to respond.  Build them back up again.

synonyms for gratitude:

gratefulness, thanks, appreciation, recognition, acknowledgment, credit, regard, respect, grace, honor, praise, responsiveness... thanksgiving

A silly trick that high school extemporaneous speakers used when faced with a topic for which they had only thirty minutes to prepare a seven minute talk was to look in the thesaurus for inspiration.  It didn't always work, but sometimes it provided useful ideas.  

I went ahead and gave that old trick a try.  The result?  Well, you see some of the words above and I was actually a bit surprised by some of them.  But, once I thought about each word a little bit more, I saw exactly why they were a synonym.  I also saw clearly why gratitude, and the concept of thanksgiving, is something Tammy and I find so compelling for our lives.  Gratitude is something that 'makes us tick.'

It Takes Recognition to Be Grateful

If you're going to recognize something or someone, you need to actually observe what goes on around you in a meaningful way.  It is so very hard to find the energy some days to look and see the good things that are happening, especially when there are so many bad things grabbing our ears, eyes and minds and stealing our attention from worthy acts, natural beauty, kindness, and love.

We have to take the time and make the effort to recognize those things that deserve our gratitude.  The good news is that this is one thing that gets easier with practice.  Did you recognize a piece of music that really moved you today?  How about the design some ice crystals on the window pane made?  Did you notice when a total stranger held the door open so you could go through with both arms full of groceries?  Have you considered how much effort people who run food banks or community meals put forth on a regular basis?  What about the small group of people who take on the responsibilities for those organizations you like to participate in when it is convenient for you?

Take a moment to recognize the things that are worthy of your gratitude and you might be surprised by how much you take for granted.

Slow Down for Appreciation
Recognition, by itself, is an imperfect synonym for gratitude because it only represents your own awareness that a good thing exists.  For example, here are some pretty flowers.  You can walk by them from location A to location B and a part of you will recognize that they are pretty.  But, that doesn't mean you actually appreciate their beauty.

You see, appreciation takes a little bit of your time.   And, sadly, time is something so many of us feel we have so little of.  As a result, we barrel madly through our lives from place to place, trying to get it "all" done.  

When we finally do slow down, it is often because something bad has happened and we dwell on negative things.  It is no wonder that we all struggle so much to balance out our struggles with something wonderful.. or even something that's just kind of nice.  How can we expect to have a life balance if we are unwilling to take the time to appreciate the good stuff and we are too willing to wallow in self-pity or glory in the faults of others?

Take some time to smell the iris and listen to the goldfinches express pleasure that you planted sunflowers and left the stalks with seeds for them to explore and consume during the colder months. Take another good look at the shelves your Dad built for you some years ago that continue to serve the farm well.  Read that passage in a good book just one more time.

Acknowledgement of Those Things You Appreciate

Gratitude is meant to be given and shared.  If there is no acknowledgement of the things for which you are thankful, then you are missing out on a key part of the process.  

Certainly, some objects we appreciate are not going to respond to acknowledgement.  Even so, Tammy and I have been known to actually applaud our fields on Frost's Eve (for example).  In that case, it isn't so much for the plants, soil, and critters that worked with us to produce tasty food as it is for us.  It does not hurt for us to remind ourselves at that moment that we didn't do ALL of the work to cause our plants to grow and produce.  We can't do it without pollinators, soil micro-organisms and Russell the Cucumber Frog (among others).

Our farm would not exist if it were not for the people who actually purchase vegetables, eggs and poultry products from us.  Our farm would have difficulty producing these products if we didn't have local suppliers for feed (Canfield Family Farms) and seed (Seed Savers).  We might not even raise poultry for meat if we didn't have a local processor we trusted (Martzahn Farms).  Rather than make a super-long list here, please believe us that we recognize those who help make this farm work and we do our best to acknowledge what they have done to help us succeed.

It's About Respect

I have come to realize that respect is an important part of what makes us tick at the Genuine Faux Farm.  Respect for other people.  Respect for nature.  Respect those who have gone before and those who follow.  Respect for the creatures that live on and around our farm.  Respect for our crops.  Respect for all of the crafts that surround our professions. Respect for our professions.

And even some respect for ourselves.

Showing gratitude for the good things - and even some things we aren't feeling so good about at the time it happens - is part of showing respect.  I am not talking so much about the small 'thank you' so many of us (myself included) have been trained to share with others either.  While these are important in their own way, it is the practice of real gratitude for acts, things, or people that deserve to be shown the respect that gratitude brings along with it.

Respect implies effort.  Respect implies integrity.  Respect implies quality.  Respect implies growth and learning.  Respect and gratitude walk hand in hand, but they can be demanding companions.  No wonder we need to exercise our gratitude muscles!

Grace and Courtesy

Grace and the courtesy it entails are necessary because it is difficult to show true gratitude when there is a lack of civility.  Grace implies tolerance and acceptance of differences and acknowledgement that we don't hold all of the answers.  I shudder to think how bad things would be if it were all left up to me.  

This is not just about manners, even though good manners are a good place to start.  This is about offering understanding and forgiveness and accepting understanding and forgiveness offered.

Happy Thanksgiving
Once again, we observe our favorite holiday - Thanksgiving.   Tammy and I are grateful to our friends and family for their unconditional support.  We cannot repay, we can only give thanks.

To all of the people who have supported us in this farming endeavor in big and small ways since its inception in 2004, we acknowledge your gift and hope that we have shown respect for those gifts by simply trying to do our best to do what seems like the 'right things' on our farm and in our lives as best as we are able.

What We Can Do About It

Once again, we are approaching the end of the month of November and, once again, we celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday.  This year, as I was contemplating what I could write, I did what I always do - I read the prior Thanksgiving posts I have written, hoping for inspiration.  

So, what happened this time?  I found myself wanting to call attention to some of those posts because, if they spoke to me, they might speak to you.  So, for this year's Thanksgiving Day post, I selected my 2015 offering as the foundation for this year's post.  It is NOT the same post, but there are similar elements.  I hope you enjoy it.   

I often start writing the Thanksgiving post whenever I am feeling like I need to exercise my gratitude muscles.  It can be difficult to think about good things when you have bad news on your mind.  It's even harder when you witness bad behavior, intolerance, and hatred. 

 

I wonder if I am mistaken in my belief that when something bad happens, the good people on this earth should be thinking about how we could help each other.  This is a time when we should all find common ground regardless of race, religion, orientation, creed or stance on *fill in the blank hot topic*.  This is a time where we should be trying HARDER to understand people different than we are and trying less hard to determine if we can categorize them as with us or against us.

So, what can I do about it?
 

Well, I am not always certain about the answer to that question.  Problems are so big and the power I wield to make change and help others is so limited.  Then, you can throw in the perfectly normal uncertainty that comes with knowing I am imperfect, and any solution I might advance is likely to have a whole boatload of shortcomings.  What a terrible feeling that is - to have the desire to help and to feel that you are impotent and unable to do so.

So, what AM I going to do about it?

I'm going to remind myself (and you) that there is always a chance to make a difference.

 

I am going to practice gratitude and thankfulness.  And, while I am doing that, I am going to work to do positive things in situations where I have some influence.  I can exercise my abilities to be as understanding, caring, positive, supportive and merciful as I am able.  And, when that is not enough, I will work even harder at it in hopes that one day, it will be enough.

And, when I don't feel strong, I will let others help me to stand again.

 

And, when they don't feel strong, I will do what I can to prop them up.  And, when none of us feels strong, we will gain strength by leaning on each other.  I will do what I can to remember that the person next to me could be the one who makes a difference for me, just as I might be the one who could make a difference for them.

And when today is over, I'll prepare to do my best again tomorrow

 

I can take a moment and appreciate the beauty in nature.  I can take a little bit more time and see if I can capture at least a little of that beauty with an image that can be shared with others.  By sharing, I can hope that at least one other person gains something positive by seeing it.

I can remind myself that bigger things often come from smaller things.

 

Planting seeds can produce flowers, fruit, shelter and beauty later on.  And, perhaps, planting seeds of gratitude can benefit us in so many other ways.  If we plant these seeds, over and over again, we work to rewrite the narrative that tells us this world is filled with evil, that this world cannot be changed.  If we fail to plant these seeds, there will certainly be NO change for the better.  By planting them, and persisting in their cultivation, we make the impossible possible.   

My persistence makes the impossible possible.

 

Many things that are worth doing seem impossible when you look at them as a single task.  But, when you start to break them down into a series of actions, you can be surprised by how far you can go.  Back when the pandemic started, I challenged myself to write blog posts daily.  While it is not quite daily any longer, I am still on a pace to produce more blog posts in 2021 than I did in 2020.  When you look at it as a whole, it seems pretty impossible.  But, when it is a regular habit, it suddenly became possible.

 

Persistence in doing the little things eventually leads to what can be an impressive body of work.  What small thing will you persist in doing this coming year?  What amazing thing will grow out of that effort?

Identify the potential and be the steward that sees it through.

 

Those trays represent the potential for over 3200 plants, but they require nurturing if they are to realize the production we might hope for them.  But, it is their potential that encourages us to care for them every day when they are in seed trays.  It is their potential that leads us to transplant, cultivate, irrigate and otherwise care for them.  

I can learn patience

 

I need to remember that the best action might be to wait and be ready for the moment when the time is right (or ripe).  If you want to herd your chickens, you can't rush them.  And, if you want a ripe tomato, you should just let it ripen.  Trying to do too much can be just as bad as doing too little.  

 

Perhaps that "action" you should persist in taking is to wait?  I don't recall saying that any of this would be easy.  The simple act of deciding what to do and what not to do isn't simple.  That makes me think that some of the patience I need to learn is...patience with myself.

There is no substitute for hard work

 

A strong harvest of snow peas does not simply appear of its own accord.  There was a fair amount of effort put into them.  If we think something is worth achieving, then some real effort on our part is required.  If you think it is optional, then you will be disappointed with the results.

We don't want to live with disappointment and neither should you

 

Certainly, things won't always go the way we want them to - even when we work hard.  In fact, things go wrong sometimes even when we do everything "right."  That's when we re-frame how we look at things.

I can re-examine my own expectations

 

I fully understand that I am imperfect.  I recognize that my vision of perfection is flawed.  But, as I learn more - as I experience more - I should allow that vision to change and grow.  It's times when I do this that I recognize that the harvest was better than I thought - the differences I was hoping to achieve were not the one's I was aiming for, but they were every bit as good, and maybe better!

 

I will not stop trying to figure things out and I will not stop learning.

 

I will take the time to look at the things that seemed to go wrong and I will learn from those events.  I recognize that I cannot improve if I ignore failures.  And, I certainly won't get better if I don't accept responsibility for my errors and my inconsistencies.  I need to reframe the failures and the misses so that they become ways for me to be a better me.  They are no longer negatives, instead they become another positive as I continue to make forward progress one step at a time.

 

And sometimes, things work out.  The choices we made, the hard work and all of the other variables lead to success.  Suddenly, you find yourself wondering how to graciously accept the gift that comes in the form of positive results.

I will appreciate successes

 

It can be so easy to continue to find the cracks and the faults.  What about that one bed of onions we never did get to cultivating?  We lost the entire bed, you know.  It would not be hard to create an extremely long list of failures for each season on the farm.  I am all for reviewing things that didn't quite go as planned so we can learn from them.  But, dwelling on it would not show gratitude for the good things that happened this year - especially if it overshadows them.

I will remember the value and worth of the good things

 

So, I remind myself to take the time to think hard about the things that went well this past season.  I tell myself that this is a time to recognize the positives and give thanks for them.  By giving thanks for the good things, I am reminded of their value and worth.  These are the things that can be part of what sustains me when times are difficult.  These are the things that show me that I am still on the path to reaching the vision of a better world.

Each day, we try to take a little time to recognize something that makes us see value in our surroundings.  Rainbows.  Friendly and extremely "helpful" cats.  A droplet of water on a broccoli leaf.  A few moments with family.  Another fifty pounds of red onions.  A note from someone telling us they appreciated something we did.  An opportunity to go help someone with a task of some sort.  A beautiful piece of music.  Or a flower.  Or some time with our best friend.

So, once again, we celebrate Thanksgiving at the Genuine Faux Farm.  We are grateful for all of those who have supported us over the years in so many wonderful ways and we look forward to more adventures.

 

Warm Front - A Faux Real Story

I hope you aren't tired of our Faux Real Stories, because I've got another one for you today!

Have a great day and enjoy the read!

-------

I remember a few years ago at the farm when we had a stubborn cold-weather system that came with a fair amount of snow.  We were in the habit then of listening to the weather radio early in the evening to get a feel for the next day's weather.  The synthesized weather voice said, yet again, the words "bitt er lee cold."  We'd been hearing that a bit more than normal this particular winter, so we had multiple opportunities to hear the automated voice butcher that phrase over and over again.  Bitt er lee cold... indeed.

On the other hand, I think we handled "bitt er lee cold' better than we handle "except higher amounts in thunderstorms."  There have been many seasons where our farm WAS where the exception occurred - over and over again.  

I KNOW we handled "bitt er lee cold" better than the continuous list of warnings and hydrological reports we heard in the flood years of 2008 and 2010.  Ok, you get the point.  Except that wasn't where I wanted to go with this story.  I suspect you are noticing that this happens a lot with me and my stories.  

Now, where was I?

The forecast on that night a few years ago was for a low of -21 degrees Fahrenheit.  We'll grant you that this is cold.  But, Tammy and I had an experience in one of our former homes that provide us with a fallback whenever we start to feel put upon by cold weather.  All we need to do is look at each other and say - "Duluth."

Now, before you think we are about to bash Duluth, Minnesota, you should know something.  People who live in Duluth are proud of their ability to handle the weather up there.  We learned that if you think it's too cold when you live there, you just keep it to yourself.  

Why?  Because, those who live there will tell you why what you are experiencing isn't so bad.  In short, they'll make you feel like a wimp.  Besides, it isn't as cold by the lake as it is by Embarrass, or maybe Tower.  If you want cold, you go there.  Or maybe Hudson Bay.

We lived in Duluth for just about one year.  And, of course, our time there included a Winter that started with snow in September (not a rarity I was assured) and one of the coldest Winters they had experienced for a very long time.  It was the first time in 25 years that Lake Superior froze over.... completely.  

Yes, we can pick them, can't we?  It even made the news in Duluth.  So, if the natives said it was something special, we have a right to pull out the story I think.

It seemed like the sun in Duluth was never much higher over the horizon than this.

Of course, for the sake of a good story, I can exaggerate a little bit (like I did with the caption above).  But, thus far I have not stretched the truth in anything other than this caption.  And, what makes this even more enjoyable is the fact that I don't need to do anything other than report what happened for the desired effect.

It was January and Rob needed to get to the University of Minnesota - Duluth for classes.  We lived in a drafty old house that was just a block from the lake.  UMD was on the hill and over the hill (so to speak).  This is important to know because weather by the lake could be very different than weather "on the hill" which was different from the weather "over the hill."  

However, this Winter, it didn't matter much where you were, the temps were pretty cold. 

In any event, Tammy would take Rob up to UMD most mornings and we would drive by one of the bank signs that would display the temperature.   This, in and of itself, speaks to both the toughness and/or dementia that people who live in Duluth exhibit.  Only someone who wants to wallow in their own misery wishes to see temperatures that always exhibit a negative sign in front of the numerical reading every single day, all day long.

During this particular week, we would go out and start our car and make sure not to make mention to each other about how cold it was.  But, as we drove by that infernal sign, we could not help but read the bad news OUT LOUD to each other.  

Well, what would you do if you saw -35 on one of these signs? 

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.  Each day we would drive by and see that same temperature on the sign.  We thought at one point it might be broken.  But, Tammy would see different numbers with that stupid "-" in front of them at different times of the day as she ran Meals On Wheels.  So, that wasn't it.  

And, of course, it was a bank sign.  They aren't noted as being the paragons of accuracy.  Actually, don't bank signs usually run a bit warm?  Nonetheless, it was cold.  And, a check with historical records that year does show the lowest temp for that month at -33.

We went outside on Friday and we both looked at each other with a bit of surprise.  It felt warmer.  In fact, we both said something about how much nicer it seemed.  I don't think either of us was about to suggest a hike up Seven Bridges Road at that moment, but we were both convinced that it was warmer.

So, this time as we headed up the hill towards the sign, we were anxious to see if we were right.  And we were.

-25

Yep, that's what the sign said.  And now you know.  A human being can feel the difference between really cold and really really cold.

Mulberry Hedge - A Faux Real Story

Have a seat right over there.  Farmer Rob is still in a story-telling mood.  This one takes us all the way back to the days when Rob was a kid (Wait!  He isn't a kid now?  I heard he was only ten years old!)  

Yes, he is only ten.  But, let's focus and get to the story.  That's what you came here for isn't it?

 ---------------

Rob grew up in town. His family had a small yard. And, yet, there appear to be a fair number of stories about him and that yard. Why is that? We shall allow you to ponder that whilst we tell our tale.

The back yard was bordered by a series of mulberry trees/bushes that were trimmed into a hedge (of sorts). If you know mulberries, you realize that they can grow VERY quickly and an established group could rapidly grow from 10 feet tall to 20 feet tall in a season. 

 

The hedge did a fine job of providing privacy for our neighbors (hey, there were four kids at our house and none at theirs - so I suspect it went this direction more than the other).  But, I liked the mulberries because they attracted wildlife to our yard.

Brown Thrasher aka Chirpa Chirpa Bird

Birds loved that hedge.  We learned to appreciate thrashers, robins, goldfinches, wrens, cardinals, waxwings and all sorts of birds because of the habitat this single hedge provided.  Tiger swallowtails liked to run the line and switch sides as they flew their route and we were periodically graced with the appearance of a Mourning Cloak (butterfly).  

 

One of the downsides would have to be the bird droppings that contained mulberry.  I am guessing a few neighbors were less fond of our natural habitat when they were scrubbing their cars.  But, hey! If they cleaned their garages, they could put the cars IN them.  Ok - that was a bit snarky.  Can we get back to the story now?

The job of taming this hedge fell to me - the boy who featured prominently in the Box of Maple story. In this instance, an 8-foot step ladder was also pressed into service. Typically, I was trying to cut the hedge down from 16 feet to 10 feet in late July/early August. And, since I wanted to do the job well, it was important that I not leave any stragglers and that the top be as level as possible.  

 

Now, don't ask me WHY the top had to be level.  It just did.  That's how you trimmed hedges - right?

I had some additional motivation since one of our neighbors was extremely particular about everything on his property.  Al was a wonderful neighbor, who was always kind to our family.  But, he was obsessive.  He would scrape and repaint the eave on his garage every year.  He would crawl his entire lawn looking for weeds.  

 

Still, he was a great neighbor and I didn't want him thinking I couldn't do a good job.  So, I did my best to bring this wild thing into some sort of shape for the rest of the year.

Mulberry tree on the farm at left

 

The hedge was also probably 10 feet wide in places. Do you see a problem with that? 

 

Consider my height of approximately 5 and half feet at that time. How does a person reach the middle of that hedge at ten feet ABOVE the ground on an 8-foot step ladder in order to trim those branches? 

 

There were many hours of leaning into the hedge with one foot on the ladder. Arms and legs fully extended. Eventually leading to the successful trimming of some of the middle branches.  I distinctly remember the sore shins I would get because I would hook my leg (or legs) between the rungs so I could lean in further.

There were a few bruises, scratches and pulled muscles - but I usually succeeded. Until the day I fell into the hedge. 

 

Yes, you knew this was coming. I lost contact with the ladder and lost my grip on the bigger branch I was using to stay on top of the hedge. And, I fell. Well, no, I didn't fall. I just kind of slid through the bushes....slowly.  

 

The Tiger Swallowtail floating by probably flew in a straight line for a second there as it suffered a fit of the giggles when it saw me fall in.

 

Hey, if a human has a giggle fit while walking, they zigzag a bit.  If a butterfly, who flies in a zigzag pattern giggles, it probably flies in a straight line while it laughs.  This all makes sense as long as you allow yourself to believe that a butterfly can giggle  Once you accept that, the rest is easy.

Of course, I suffered more scratches and bruises from this unplanned tour of the hedge than I normally did during the entire process.   I suppose I could have quit for the day. But, the pruner was still up at the top of the hedge.