Frosty Perspectives

Every time we get rime ice from freezing fog or hoar frost after a cold, clear night I get tempted (along with everyone else) to get the camera out and capture the "perfect image" that portrays the beauty nature provides.  It just so happens that we have had numerous opportunities this January so we can do our level best to do just that.  It's been several years since we have had this many foggy nights in a row in January, so the rime ice has been a regular occurrence.  

I will admit that the weight of dreary day after dreary day gets to me after a while, so it's a good thing that the rime ice is around to amuse me.  Unfortunately, rime ice isn't as showy when the sun never peaks through - but I still like it.

That said, I was able to take some close-up pictures that allowed me to blow up sections and crop around areas that really show off the crystalline features.  I am often amazed by the intricate designs that show themselves when you get just the right angle.

We did get one opportunity for recording the results of a hoar frost this month and I was able to get a few pictures then as well. 

I sometimes find myself taking pictures that I know I can't frame very well.  I am hopeful that I'll capture some phenomenon that I can explore later by blowing up the image and searching for something special.  It's kind of like going on a secondary treasure hunt.  The first treasure hunt was being outside looking at the beauty of nature and discovering things that might be worth exploring more.  The second treasure hunt is looking to see if I can see things I might not have had a chance to really see - for whatever reason.

That doesn't stop me from enjoying what I am seeing at the time.  And it certainly doesn't stop me from staring at the frozen memory that comes in the form of a picture I was fortunate enough to record.

I recognize that the cold weather doesn't always feel very inviting.  I often associate the cold with, simply put, more effort to do the same amount of work on the farm.  Getting water to the poultry isn't nearly as simple as it is during the warmer months. Simply getting yourself READY to go outside requires that you put on a coat and gloves, then you have to take it all off again when you come inside.

If there is snow on the ground, carrying things becomes harder, and even if there isn't snow, there might be ice.  And if there isn't ice, the ground itself has no give like it does when there is no frost in the soil.  Just walking and breathing requires just that little bit extra in the labor department. 

And, yes, I'm not always in the mood to be out in the cold.  I'll give you that as well.

And yet... how could I possibly stay inside when there is so much wonder to behold?  Look what I would be missing if I wasn't willing to walk around on a day where I see my breath in front of me and I feel my fingers sting a little as the cold tries to take a bite out of them.

It only takes a few pictures for me to extend the interest while I am inside in a warmer environment - exploring the frozen images of frozen things.  And taking a moment to share them with you.

Have a great day everyone!

Poultry Pavilion Facelift

 

The Poultry Pavilion was originally, many years ago, one of those long, open-front, machine sheds that was fairly common throughout the Midwestern farm landscape.  By the time we arrived at the farm in 2004, a pit had been dug in front of the machine shed and a lean-to attached so that the building could serve as a hog finishing/confinement facility.

Needless to say, we did not want hogs confined at our farm, so we asked that the hogs be removed (and they were - eventually) and we slowly, over many years, adapted the building to work with the Genuine Faux Farm's needs.   

The building now touts a room for turkeys and a room for hens.  In both cases, the rooms open up to pasture on the north side of the building (you are seeing the south side in these pictures).  Eventually, a brooder room was put together next to the hen room.  Most of the material used was reclaimed lumber, windows and doors from other parts of the farm.  In other words, it's not the prettiest bit of construction one has ever seen in the world.

But it works.  We've had multiple flocks of birds started as chicks or housed as part of a flock in this building over time with a reasonable amount of success.  We had the main roof replaced when a windstorm decided the old one wasn't good enough any more.  We added access to electricity at some point several years ago and we finally got that pit filled in last year.

For those who don't know, filling that pit was a BIG deal.  This cement lined hole was about 120 feet long, 8 feet wide and 8 to 9 feet deep.  It was perpetually filled with water and our anxiety regarding walking over it was increasing as the cement slats that covered it deteriorated.

Things have settled a bit since we had it filled, so we need to add a bit more fill.  But it is difficult to complain much about now that neither of us is worried about walking (and working) out there as much as we had been.  And we have a solid surface to begin addressing the lean-to itself - which has fallen into disrepair (of course).

We actually have a vision for this project that will start with the eastern-most fifty feet of the structure.  You see we've been getting tired of the extra work starting seedlings in our farmhouse's basement creates for us.  So the plan is to tear down the existing lean-to.  Or at least help it with the process it seems intent on doing all on its own.  Then, for this section at least, we'll frame out an area for a seed starting greenhouse.  

As with all projects that work with an existing structure, the list of issues and considerations is longer than we might like.  But, this seems like the right idea for our farm right now.  We will start with this section and then consider what to do with the remaining seventy feet after we figure out all of the issues for the first fifty feet.

It won't get done to do us much good for the 2023 season.  But, maybe it will make some of the growing on the farm more doable in the future?  Stay tuned - we'll report as progress is made.  But, be patient, it's a bit cold out there to do much with it right now.

Splitting Hairs - Postal History Sunday

Welcome to this week's entry of Postal History Sunday.  PHS is hosted every week on the Genuine Faux Farm blog and the GFF Postal History blog.  Everyone is welcome here, regardless of the level of knowledge and expertise you might have in postal history.  

Put on the fuzzy slippers, find a comfy chair, pour some of your favorite beverage and take a moment to put those troubles out of your mind for a few minutes.  Personally, I took advantage of the approaching snowstorm and left my troubles in a spot where the snowdrifts are most likely to form.  With any luck, it will be a couple months before they are visible again.

Where did you think Guernsey Cattle came from? 

If you happen to be a person who has expertise or knowledge of a specific skill or knowledge area, you might be familiar with a question that goes something like this: "It looks/sounds/feels like all of these others, so what makes THIS one so special to you?" 

This can hold true for postal history, as it does for many other things.  For example, the envelope shown above just looks like another 1860s cover from the United States to the United Kingdom.  As a matter of fact, it isn't even a very pretty example if I were to make that judgement.  It has a 24 cent stamp paying the proper postage for an item that weighed no more than 1/2 ounce.  There is a New York exchange marking, dated September 29 in red, that tells us it was properly paid.  End of story.  Right? 

This is where I encourage you to read the address carefully and I wait with baited breath until you notice that this is sent to Guernsey.  Then I get disappointed when you say, "so what?" So, I take the easy way out and send you to a wikipedia page on Guernsey in hopes that you get it.  And you still look at me expectantly.  I mean, Guernsey is just one of the Channel Islands off of the Normandy coast of France.  What's the big deal?

There you have it.  When a person dives deeper and deeper into the details of some subject that they love, they begin to see bigger differences in the details that seem minuscule to others.  But to those of us who do dive into these depths, we see it as rewarding.  It's a chance to uncover a story that is different from so many other covers to the United Kingdom at this time.

For the time being, I will simply say that one does not find letters from the US to the Channel Islands very often from this time period.  I will also point out to you that Guernsey is NOT part of the United Kingdom - at least not in the same way Scotland or Wales might be.  Guernsey is a sovereign state, though it is a Crown Dependency.  They enjoyed the same postage rate from the United States as England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland despite a slightly different status.  The island of Guernsey even has a traditional local language (Guernesiais).

This particular item is an introduction to this week's theme, "Splitting Hairs," where I thought I'd share a few items and point to the thing (or things) that make them stand out (at least to me) as different.

Le Havre for the win

So, here is a folded letter from the United States to France in 1866.  The postage rate at the time was 15 cents per 1/4 ounce.  This item must have weighed between 1/4 and 1/2 ounce, so it required double the base rate.  The 24-cent stamp is combined with two 3-cent stamps to properly pay the postage.

As far as examples of the double rate in the 1860s to France go, this one seems pretty normal.  It's properly paid.  It has all of the normal markings.  It was mailed in Ballston, New York and it went through the New York exchange office.  There is a "P.D." marking that shows the French also recognized this item as fully paid.  The letter took the Cunard Line's steamship Java to Queenstown (Cobh, Ireland) where it was offloaded and took the mail trains to London.  

It's all pretty normal until it came to crossing the English Channel to France.  Hmm.. it seems the English Channel has a great deal to do with this week's Postal History Sunday.

The hair splitting occurs with this French marking and the indication that it entered France at Havre. The marking reads "Et Unis Serv Br Havre" around the outside edge of the octagonal shape (United States, British Service to Havre).  This marking confirms that a British contract ship (Cunard's Java) carried the letter and that the mailbag carrying the letter was handled by the British Post.  

Typically mail via England to France would enter France at Calais if it came via the United Kingdom.  But, this letter is addressed to Havre and it was likely carried across the English Channel on a private steamer, rather than the normal contract steamer that carried mail to Calais.

Once again, the vast majority of letters during this time period would not have taken this route - but this one did.  This makes it interesting to me as it illustrates another option for mail carriage that came about because getting mail from every point A to every point B is bound to have many complexities.

We just don't see some of those complexities unless we really look for them.

A German state of mind

Our next item of interest was mailed from the United States to Germany in 1865.  The postage rate was 28 cents per 1/2 ounce and this letter overpays that rate with thirty cents in postage.  This is not terribly surprising because the postage rate had been 30 cents prior to a rate reduction to 28 cents for prepaid mail (the rate for unpaid mail remained at 30 cents).  Essentially someone either didn't know the rate had changed or they misread the postage rate tables and saw the amount for unpaid mail and used that.

At the time this item was mailed, Germany was not a unified nation.  Instead, it was a number of separate governmental units that are collectively referred to as the German States.  At this time, the German States and Austria had a postal agreement that allowed all members to treat mail between the participants as if it was internal (domestic mail).  This agreement is often referred to as the German-Austrian Postal Union (GAPU) to English-speaking philatelists or Deutsch-Österreichische Postverein (DÖPV) to those who speak German..  If you would like to learn more about it, I can offer you a look at a similar agreement between Austria and some of the Italian States.

The net result is that the postage rate from the US to members of GAPU was the same (28 cents) with a few exceptions I might write about in the future.  Because of this, some postal historians are just as happy to say this is a letter to Germany, just like THIS is also a letter to Germany.

It just so happens that many of the German States that were in GAPU maintained their own postal systems, or they contracted with the house of Thurn and Taxis.  So, in a very real way, each German State could be considered a separate destination during this period in history.  Most surviving mail from the US in the 1860s to Germany would be to Prussia, Bavaria, Baden, Wurttemberg, Hannover or even Saxony (as shown above).  

Brunswick just doesn't show up as often as the others do, which makes it interesting to me.  Still, regardless of how common or uncommon a particular German State might have been as a letter destination, it is the fact that these different states had their own postal services that grabs my attention.  This is why I split hairs and pay attention to which German State a letter goes to in the 1860s, rather than simply saying, "oh, this went to Germany."  The finer distinction reflects a reality of the world during that time period, where Germany was split into many entities - but in the process of uniting into one.

Three hairs to split with one cover

Here is a letter from the US to Italy.  Like Germany, Italy was divided into multiple states.  But, by the time this letter arrived in 1866, only the area around Rome was separate from the rest of Italy.  The postage rate for mail to Rome, sent via France, was 27 cents per 1/4 ounce.  This letter bears 27 cents in postage and was marked as having been paid to its destination in Rome.

This particular letter has more than one detail that is a bit different than other, similar, letters.  

First, the letter was forwarded to a new location, Genzano, which was located outside of Rome.  If you look, you will notice that Rome was crossed out and Genzano is written in different ink just below it.  The number "15" written in red ink towards the top of the envelope told the person delivering the letter that they needed to collect an additional 15 centesimi to pay for mail carriage from Rome to Genzano.

Second, if you look at the slip of white paper with the arrow on it, you might recognize that this envelope was cut.  This item was likely disinfected at Genzano in response to the cholera epidemic at this time.  It was pretty well known that disinfection of the mail was not going to help prevent the spread of cholera.  But, some local governments wanted to be seen as doing something (maybe anything) to protect the public.

And finally, this letter was carried by the Havre Line's Fulton.  If you'll recall, our second letter was special because it entered France at Havre via a non-contract British Channel steamship.  This letter, however, was carried by a steamship company that crossed the Atlantic from New York to Havre in France under contact with the United States.  This steamship line only carried 5.1% of the mail from the US to Europe in 1866.

I suspect that's about as much "splitting hairs" as some of you are interested in for one day.  So, now that I've made that point, let's provide you with some...

Bonus Material

Let's return to our first item that was sent to Guernsey.  Since Guernsey is an island situated off of the Normandy coast (France), mail had to be taken there by a steamship or sailing vessel.  A route from Southampton (England) to Guernsey and Jersey (also a Channel Island) was maintained by the New South Western Steam Navigation Company until 1862 when an Act of Parliament allowed the London and South Western Railway Company to own and operate ships.  The first ship built for their Channel Islands route was the Normandy.  

The Normandy was an iron paddle wheel steamer that made its first voyage to the Channel Islands on September 19, 1863.  This letter would likely have been on one of Normandy's earliest trips, arriving in Guernsey on Oct 12, 1863.

Normandy off the coast of Jersey - painting by Philip Ouless

The Normandy suffered damage in a collision with the liner Bavaria in April of 1864, but is best known for a catastrophic collision on March 17, 1870 with the SS Mary.

According to the account found in the Annual Register for 1870 (starting page 26), both ships were sailing in a dense fog and sighted each other too late to avoid collision.  The Normandy, broke into two pieces, with its lifeboat getting separated from the crew and passengers.  Two other boats were able to leave the Normandy successfully with thirty-one individuals.  The captain of the Mary sent a boat under the command of his first mate to pick up survivors, but this boat turned back before reaching the Normandy, claiming to be unable to find the sinking ship in the fog.  

Thirty-four individuals perished as the Normandy sank.  Meanwhile, the Mary stood by to render assistance as long as they dared.  But their own situation was doubtful because the Mary had a sizable hole in the bow of the ship.  The ship was lightened by tossing a significant amount of its cargo (corn) overboard so it could return to Southampton.  Observers at Southampton marveled that the ship survived long enough to get to the harbor safely.

The official inquiry that followed found the Normandy to be at fault, but also felt the first-mate of the Mary had "no valid reason" for returning to the Mary when he did without trying harder to find the sinking ship. 

As for the mail that was on the Normandy in 1870, it was lost - mostly.  The lone exception was a single bag of mail that was discovered floating on the water's surface.  Those mails were eventually delivered.  And, no, my envelope was not one of those pieces of mail since the one I illustrate is from 1863 and the sinking of the Normandy was six and a half years later.  But, finding an item from that floating mailbag would really be something, wouldn't it?

Thank you for joining me for this week's Postal History Sunday.  Have a great remainder of your day and a fine week to come.

January Playlist

It's a Saturday.  In fact, it is the last Saturday in January of 2023 and I have yet to put together a playlist for the month, which is a bit of a shocker to me.  It has nothing to do with not listening to music.  I have actually been absolutely pleased to be hearing music on a decent sound system with good speakers. Those who know me are quite aware of exactly how much I enjoy music, so it might be a revelation to them to hear how much MORE I have enjoyed music since we finally replaced the old speakers that had not been working for many years.

So let's get to it!

The first song is by Future of Forestry (Eric Owyoung) titled Stay Right Here.  This song has a great deal to recommend it, especially if you like dynamics, songs that build up and music that uses live strings.  And, it really sounds fantastic on the new speakers.  In fact, this has been a go to song recently when I want to give myself a moment to just listen.

I thought I would stick with an instrumental as a follow up, but his one is going to start smooth and then build up a bit - featuring some excellent guitar work.  Affector's Overture, Part 2: Prologue is the second intro to a melodic metal album that features some very enjoyable instrumental prowess.

And since we were heading towards some melodic metal, how about Fire Dance by Balance of Power.  This one was actually released in the early 2000s, but it might remind one of the "big hair bands" of the 80s a bit.   

And for some reason that makes me think of Kerry Livgren (formerly of Kansas).  It turns out Kerry has released a new album, which includes a song that would be a departure from the norm for him.  Block and Tackle Blues features his voice as the lead vocal, something that hasn't happened since Seeds of Change.

Now that I've moved a completely different direction from where it might have looked like it was going, let's go to Sam Phillips and Plastic is Forever.  There are all sorts of interesting sounds and textures in this one that is fun to listen to.  And, I happen to like Sam Phillips, which makes for a winner in my book.

During our time on Kaua`i, we were exposed to much more reggae than one typically hears in Iowa.  This is not a bad thing as it never hurts to be exposed to different forms of the art of music.  Who else should I go to for reggae than Bob Marley and the Wailers?  Let's try out One Love.

A good follow up might be Ziggy Marley's Love is My Religion.  Let's get the positive juices flowing with the January playlist.  If you're feeling down after several days without sun and the cold weather, these might help warm you a bit.

There has to be some cello on this list too.  And since we saw a batch of Ring-necked Pheasant at the farm a couple of days ago, we'll go with The Pheasant by Takenobu.  

Then let's go back to some excellent guitar with Glass Harp and Weather Boy - and we'll go with the live version.  While the sound isn't the best, one can really appreciate the skill with a live set.

It wouldn't be one of my playlists if I did not, at the very least, consider a song by the Choir.  This time around I am able to share a new tune titled Centrifugal.  They have been releasing new music through their Patreon group and I am hopeful they'll take some of them and polish them up for a new album.

So... what to close this list out with our eleventh entry?

How about a 2019 remix of the Beatles and Here Comes the Sun?

Yep, that'll work.

Have a good weekend everyone!

Murphy Makes a Mark

Apparently, the trick to getting a decent picture of Murphy the Nibster is to wait until it's time for a mid-day nap.  That's about the only time Murphy slows down enough to be better than a blurry image.

Thank goodness for digital cameras!

The other way to get Murphy to sit still long enough for Tammy to get the phone out and snap a picture?  Don't fill the water bowl right away. 

Actually, Murphy was probably sitting in the bowl because it is heated to keep the water unfrozen so our Farm Supervisory Crew can have consistent access to water.  I suspect the kitten weighed the cost of a little bit of dampness versus absorbing some warm.  Or maybe I'm giving the youngster too much credit here.  Live and learn!

As Tammy approached with water, Murphy did get out of the bowl.  So, there was no need to give that instruction - thank goodness.

As you can see, the kitten has some nice golden colored eyes to go with the fur and Murphy still has a "kitten tail" that is not yet as expressive as many adult cat's tails are.  And, you might not be able to quite see it, Murphy's head often seems a bit too small for the body.  In fact, it almost seems like this kitten grows from the back end to the front end!  First you notice a bit more belly and the hind legs seem just a little bigger than they should be - given the head and front legs.  Then the growth spurt moves to the front of the kitten.

But, the head just never quite seems to catch up.

The jury is still out on how big Murphy will be when full grown.  But, we'll treat Murphy well and do what we can to keep the kitten healthy and happy.  Murphy has even gotten used to riding on Farmer Rob's shoulders as he comes back from doing chores for the birds.  We'll see how that one plays out as Murphy grows and the weather gets warmer (and Rob isn't wearing a coat to protect against kitten claws!).

Changing Minds Some More

 "So, you speak really well and you write really well.  Why don't you speak out more often to change people's minds about important things?" 

The person who was asking was someone who maybe didn't know me all that well, but they were aware of some of my skill set.  Perhaps they also thought that the two of us were fairly well aligned in our beliefs, so they were hoping to recruit me to be an advocate for "that way of being" because it "certainly is the best way of being."

My response was that I have always done my best to help others think for themselves and that I probably fail more than I succeed.  This response was apparently confusing because they responded with, "but you could make such a difference!"

Not Even Close

I will be the first to admit that I fail at least as much as I succeed in most everything I do - at least by the measures I place on myself.  I will also say that I am very guilty of letting failure carry too much of the tune in my own litany far too often.  I tell you all of this to pre-empt you (and myself) from starting to think that I am ever so noble and always handle things perfectly.  That would be inaccurate.  

It would even be inaccurate to say that my goal is to always succeed in reaching my ideals.  I am not that good.  Not even close.

I can honestly say, however, that overall - I give it my best shot.  And maybe that's the best I can do.  But, I refuse to believe it.  Because, if that's the case, there is no reason to improve.  And, believe you me.... I fully intend on improving for as long as I live.  Even if I end up failing at that too.

And so, we go back to that conversation I had some time ago.  The one where a person was telling me I was wasting my talent and that I needed to go out and change minds.  

I distinctly recall that the last thing I said was, "if a person doesn't want to change their mind, I won't be able to do it for them."

An Excuse?

Personally, I tend to (eventually) appreciate a conversation that gets me to think a little harder about what I believe and think.  This conversation fell into that category.  

Was it possible that I did not/do not use my own skills to communicate in the most effective and beneficial ways?  Of course it was.  Were there times I should have spoken up, when I did not?  Certainly.  Times when I should have shut up instead of running off at the mouth?  Well, probably fewer of those, but yes.

But, the big question was - do I use my belief that only you can actually change your mind as an excuse to stay silent when, perhaps, I should speak out?  Again, the answer was "yes."

I have to admit that some of this comes from the knowledge that none of us knows all of the answers and that it might be presumptuous of me to make a claim that I am privy to any of those answers.  Even more of it comes from the reality that I have had more training in structured arguments than most people (with years of debate).  I know very well how to bludgeon someone with a boatload of facts and logic chains.  I am capable of winning debates.  I can win debates for the side I don't agree with nearly as well as the one with which I have more in common. 

That's not the kind of winning that interests me.

So, I hesitate because I know things are far more complex than the simple yes/no, us/them, either/or arguments everyone is so fond of taking sides on.  I hold my tongue because I also know I am not privy to all of the facts.  And, I step back because I know, despite all of this, that I could probably "win" the argument.  All the while knowing that I wasn't sure that winning was the right thing.

So Now What?

If you've been reading the blog, you know some of what came from my own self-reflection.  I needed to speak out more often.  But, I needed to do so with integrity.  This is not a debate with winners or losers - this is supposed to be an opportunity for me to learn and maybe also a chance for you to learn as well.  Perhaps - if I do my best - I just might help each of us to see some important things and make some useful changes... some useful improvements.  

Or maybe, if I share some of my own struggles, we will all be a bit more understanding of each other and more willing to consider beneficial alternatives.  It's possible, if I do my level-best to share some balanced information we could then figure out some changes for the better.

It's not easy, because there are some things that I am very invested in.  Issues that I am pretty certain I have a fair amount of knowledge and a pretty good idea of some things that should happen.  It is so tempting to get right to bludgeoning and pushing and cajoling until you all either say you agree or you walk away disgusted - never to return.

Someone pointed me to a wonderful opinion piece in the New York Times by Adam Grant (Jan 31, 2021) - The Science of Reasoning with Unreasonable People.  

You can go read the piece if you would like, but if you do, please do me the favor of reading all the way to the end.  That is where the real gems are.

"Many people believe that ... the end justifies whatever means are necessary. It’s worth remembering that the means are a measure of our character. If we succeed in opening minds, the question is not only whether we’re proud of what we’ve achieved. We should also ask whether we’re proud of how we’ve achieved it."

While Adam Grant may not be a kindred spirit in all things, in this we are in perfect agreement.  He put words to what I have been feeling all along.

If I am going to do anything to change someone else's mind, it has to be in a way where I, too, am willing to modify my own understanding.  I must be willing to learn and grow in the process.  I will not be so arrogant as to believe that you must change when I am unwilling to change myself.

Maybe I will make that difference yet?  It won't be for lack of trying.  And, I intend to let the means be a measure of my character.

How about you?

Iliau - Walk There Again

We're going to continue with our Walk There Again Wednesdays by sharing yet another Kauai walk, of which there were several.  For those who are curious as to why we waited to share them until we returned - there are a several reasons.  One is so we can relive things like this after our return to colder climes. Another is because we didn't want to advertise too much that we were away from the farm.  And last is the fact that Rob was trying to give himself a blogging break as part of the overall break the two of us were taking - that's why he shared his favorite 2022 blogs with you during that time.

We took a number of shorter walks early in our trip that probably added up to a fair number of steps for the day, but the one that qualifies most as a "walk there again" post would be the Iliau Nature Loop Trail in the Waimea Canyon State Park.  The loop is named for the native plant, Iliau, that is shown above.  These plants take as much as seven years before they bloom, and once they do, the plant dies.  We saw none actively blooming on the walk (they typically bloom later in the year - May, June or July), but we did see a few dead stalks that were clearly Iliau that had displayed their blooms and perished after.

Tammy and I have this thing for finding waterfalls.  I don't know where this infatuation came from, but we love to pick out evidence of distant water features. So, needless to say, we were pretty happy to find a significant waterfall straight ahead as we entered Iliau.  

This waterfall is the Wai`alae Falls and we actually talked about in a blog about a week ago.  So, you can go there and learn more about it!

We are both very happy to look at the Waimea Canyon for as long as anyone will let us.  So, our walk was interrupted many times while we just stood and stared - a bit awestruck - by the views. It's not good for loosening up the leg muscles or getting some cardio exercise in, but it's good for the soul.

The last time we visited Iliau, it was very cloudy and there was plenty of rain.  We could not consistently see the canyon, so it was easier to just do the walking.  That's probably why, on this day, we stopped TWICE at Iliau and walked the loop each time.  Once in the morning and once in the afternoon.  It's pretty amazing how different the colors look in different lighting.

Based on our observations, the majority of people don't even take the walk.  They go to the entrance, take a few pictures, and then leave.  The rest will typically take a walk around the loop and stop at the overlook points and take their pictures.  Then, there are people like the two of us.  We appreciate the canyon views.  We appreciate the walk.  And, we appreciate the native plants and occasional wildlife we can observe.

There are also the rugged hikers that use Iliau as an entrance to the Kukui Trail, that will lead all the way down the canyon to the Waimea River.  We both might have wanted to count ourselves among them - but repaired Achilles tendons say "no, not this time." Maybe there will be a next time when we can?  I suspect we will need to dedicate ourselves to some rehab and conditioning if want that to happen.

The Koa trees on the island can be found in all sizes.  The wood was once used to make wa'a (outrigger canoes) and these trees are among the largest on the islands with some reaching over 100 feet in height.

We found the trail was littered with Koa seedpods and I am now wondering why I did not take a picture of some of them.  Then I remembered I had taken a picture of them, but they are with the files for another walk. The leaves are rigid and shaped a bit like a sickle.  

In the native language, koa could be translated to "brave, bold and fearless."  After seeing some of the larger koa trees on our Kauai walks, we understand a bit better what "koa" might mean without having to translate the word into English.

A koa is a bold and self-assured tree.  It isn't too worried that it grow a certain way to please others.  It grows as it needs to or as it wants to.  

I have to admit that, at this point, I am still trying to make a space in my brain that readily matches the plants on Kauai with the names.  I don't have the same pattern recognition that I have for oak, maple and spruce.  But, I will happily continue to work on it - and I at least feel like I've got Koa figured out.  Sometimes it's about small victories.

If you look to the right of the picture above, there is an old flower stalk from an iliau and at its base there is a smaller, younger iliau.  But, if you look carefully, you can find many types of plants on this plateau.  There are a number of small signs on the trail that introduce you to the plants.  But, we're not always sure if the sign has kept up with the movement nature sometimes causes to happen with plants dying and new ones germinating from seed.

Usually you can see what the sign describes, but sometimes we left feeling uncertain.

Our work with pollinators on our own farm has resulted in heightened awareness when they show up elsewhere.  So, of course, when this wasp buzzed by and landed on this particular plant, I couldn't help but ask if it would let me take a picture.  

In this case, the wasp did not seem to care either way.  "You can take my picture if you must - but I sure won't work to make it any easier for you."  

And it turned its back on me.  

I still took a picture.

Every once in a while there was a little blue butterfly that zipped around, just like the Blue Azures we have on our farm.  These butterflies are endemic to the island and are referred to as Blackburn's Blue, Hawaiian Blue or Koa Butterfly.

I tried to get them to land for me on and off and it wasn't until late in the second walk that one seemed willing to have me take a picture. It actually sat patiently while I fumbled around to get the lens cap off and camera turned on.  How very kind!

Lichens and moss are, oddly enough, something I like to check out and take pictures of when it seems like I can frame it reasonably well.  Now, ask me how often that happens...    Let's just say, not often.

Lichen often have, in my opinion, interesting shapes and colors.  The fact that they play an important role in our ecosystems is an added bonus.  

"Lichens are a complex life form that is a symbiotic partnership of two separate organisms, a fungus and an alga. The dominant partner is the fungus, which gives the lichen the majority of its characteristics, from its thallus shape to its fruiting bodies. The alga can be either a green alga or a blue-green alga, otherwise known as cyanobacteria. Many lichens will have both types of algae." quoted from US Forest Service site 12/23/22

One of the many services lichen performs is that they clean our air of particulates.  They also provide materials for birds to make their nests.  They provide food and habitat for other species.  

All in all, I think they're pretty cool.

There were some different grasses on the Iliau Nature Loop as well.  There were several stands of Kawelu.  I admit that I was not initially certain of the identification until our second walk.  Then, things started to solidify a bit more.  

Repetitions and learning can be your friend!

The Iliau Nature Loop might be one of the best short walks we've taken on Kauai.  It's got incredible views and plenty to look at as you walk on the trails.  It even got Tammy to take extra effort in the farmer selfie we participated in at the end of our second Iliau walk for the day.

Perhaps the best thing I took away from the walk was increased appreciation for the broad range of plants that are native or endemic to Kauai.  The environment here is so diverse, it only makes sense that the plant life would follow suit.  If you are interested in learning more about native Hawaiian plants, I found this photography site to be very interesting and useful.

Thanks for reading.  I hope you have a chance in the not too distant future to appreciate some of the plant diversity wherever you happen to be.  Appreciation leads to greater care for our world and the flora and fauna around us.

Have a good day everyone!

The Farmer Yaps Some More

That durned farmer is doin' it agin, Ma!  I saw him a yappin' and a showin' them there pickchurs of hissen to another batch o' peoples.

The 2022/23 Farmer Yapping Tour has continued once we crossed the threshold of one year into another.  The end of 2022 was pretty busy and I made the mistake of thinking that it was a little less busy once we got to January and February.

I was wrong.

It all started with a presentation, with an assist from Tammy, for ISU Extension on Backyard Poultry.  The schedule was to be there for an hour and a half, where a chunk of that was intended for questions.  Two and a half hours later, we were getting ready to leave - after lots of great questions and discussion involving people with a wide range of experience with poultry.

It was a good session because I think most everyone invested themselves into the process.  That's a good thing.

The PFI Conference found me wading through a record number of attendees, going from session to session and listening a wide range of ideas and perspectives.  And, there were far more people that I knew and hoped to connect with than there was time.  But I still managed to feel as if I had made about as many connections for that time period as my poor introverted self could manage.

Just ask Tammy what I did on Sunday after the conference.

That's right.  Not much.

Today (January 24), I am given the honor of presenting some ideas that could be implemented in agricultural growing systems that would support the principles of agroecology.  Hey, if you read this soon enough, you could even join us for the event.  

Part 1 featured the authors of the report, Pesticides & Climate Change: A Vicious Cycle, which is offered in English, French and Spanish.  It's a worthwhile work that should encourage everyone that reads it to consider how an agricultural system that relies on pesticides and synthetic fertilizers contributes to a changing climate and is doomed to failure, in part, due to the changes in weather cycles.

Now, I've heard a few rumors that the farmer is also yapping at other times and spaces in the not too distant future.  One of those yapping things has him talking about... postal history?

Well, why not?  He writes Postal History Sunday, so why not talk about it too?

For those who might be curious, I'll be talking about postal history on February 1 for the Collector's Club and you can register here if you are interested.  Now, a quick warning.  This will be a "deep into the weeds" postal history presentation - so if you're up for that, give it a whirl!

I have opportunities to speak to classes at UNI and Wartburg in the coming months and will even get to speak on intercropping (a favorite topic) for the Iowa Specialty Growers Conference this year.  That gets me through early March.  

Maybe the tour will end then and I can hide on the farm for six months.

And talk to the vegetables, trees and flowers.  Or better yet, I can listen to them.

Falling Some More

In addition to looking for waterfalls in the distance, Tammy and I were also able to explore some waterfalls without requiring a telephoto lens during our recent trip to Kaua`i.  And, before I get into this blog, there have been some questions directed our way as to how long we intend to keep showing pictures and writing about this trip.  The answer is - of course - as long as we feel like sharing them and as long as I have energy to write about the trip.

How's that for a nebulous and unsatisfactory answer if you were looking for something a bit more precise?

So, back to waterfalls!

The first picture is one of Opaeka`a Falls, which can easily be viewed from an overlook just off of the road.

The background behind the falls can often be obscured by cloud cover and the most difficult thing, in my mind, with taking a picture of Opaeka`a is trying to give the image depth.  The second is trying to get my tongue and mouth to say the name of the waterfall and stream with the same name correctly.

oh pa ay kah ah

Opae`ula are a red shrimp that were apparently once abundant here, but I have not been able to determine with quick searching to see if there is a population in Opaeka`a Stream in the present time.  The full phrase or name "Opaeka`a" is approximately the same as "Red Shrimp Falls," where "ka`a" is referencing the tumbling of the waterfall itself.  In fact, once you learn that "Opaeka`a Falls" is a bit like saying "Red Shrimp Falls Falls."

But, that's really neither here nor there as far as useful explanations are concerned.  All it does is explain how my brain sometimes works (thinks it works).

 
One of the revelations on this trip for us was that the bridge between the Kuilau Ridge Trail and the Moalepe Trial (both of which we have walked and will share with you later in the blog) crosses the Opaeka`a Stream.  The sign that you see in this picture alerts hikers that they are leaving one trail and entering the other, but it does not (if I recall correctly) indicate the name of the stream.  

If it does, then I'll blame myself for being terribly unobservant.  And, at the moment I typed this, I realized I took a picture of that sign.  So, let's all take a look together!

Ok, maybe I can be forgiven for not knowing this geographical tidbit of knowledge.  And score one for knowing how to read maps of varying types!

This, of course, likely raises a question for some of those reading this blog.  

Why in the world do you bother taking the time to snap pictures of SIGNS?!?  

Well, it's simple really.  First, the event of digital cameras takes away a great deal of the expense that used to come with picture taking.  When you had to develop film, you would consider the wisdom of each and every time you hit the button to capture an image.  Now, you can just keep taking shots until the memory card is full and look later to see if you got lucky with an image or three.  The signs are just an easy way to keep track of which photos came from where.

Of course, we also visited Waipo'o Falls in the Waimea Canyon.  This has been one of our favorite overlooks in the world since we first visited it many years ago.  We made sure to stop and enjoy this view multiple times during this trip.  In fact, it is pretty typical that we'll sit long enough that we'll cycle through many iterations of other tourists who want to get their quick photos as proof that "they were there."

It doesn't take long to figure out who the people are that might be kindred spirits when it comes to cultivating awe and wonder by viewing waterfalls and beautiful canyons.  Sometimes, we find ourselves providing helpful comments about what they can see from the viewpoint and making suggestions about how to best enjoy this beautiful part of the world.  Other times, we just step out of the way and stay silent while they make their noise and dash off to the next big thing.

Waipo`o can actually be viewed from more than one vantage point and, of course, it is more visible during the wet season and less so in the drier summer (or so we've been told).  Our first viewings this year came just after some significant rainfall, so the waterfall viewing was at its best, in our opinions.

This waterfall has a total drop of around 800 feet, if my memory serves me correctly.  The falls draw your eyes from as you view the Waimea Canyon from many of the various overlooks. 

How Did They Know? - Postal History Sunday

 Welcome to the 4th entry of Postal History Sunday for 2023.  PHS is hosted every week on the Genuine Faux Farm blog and the GFF Postal History blog.  Everyone is welcome here, regardless of the level of knowledge and expertise you might have in postal history. 

One of the mistakes I sometimes make is I assume that because I wrote on something once before, I think I should not write on that topic once again. I call it a mistake because I am hopeful that my knowledge grows over time.  If that's the case, revisiting something becomes an excellent to integrate new learning into what I had known before - and it's a fine way to recognize and address mistakes an errors.

I also need to remind myself that very few people have read, much less remember, every prior Postal History Sunday.  In fact, some people may be joining us for the very first time!  One of the keys to looking outward towards those who might be new is to be willing to revisit some of foundational concepts every so often.  And, if you're clever, you just might through in new tidbits for those who are already comfortable with the topic.

Let's see how today's effort goes!

How did they know the postage was fully paid?

As you might guess, the answer to this question can have many different answers depending on the time and place in history.  I enjoy the study of postal history in the 1850s through the 1870s - though I have been known to explore material from other eras.  Today, I thought we'd look at some examples from the 1850s and 1860s in Europe.

The envelope shown above carried a letter from Rome to Paris in 1856.  The cost of mailing such a letter was 20 bajocchi (20 baj per 6 denari : Oct 1, 1853 - Jun 30, 1860) and there were three stamps properly paying that postage applied to the front.  That's great that I know the proper postage rate for this particular destination on that date (and now you do too!).  But, how did the person who delivered this letter know that the recipient did not have to pay anything more?

Remember - at this point in time, you also had the option to send letters UNPAID with the expectation that the recipient would pay the postage.  It really would be helpful if the carrier or clerk who delivered this item would not have to carry a big book of postage rates along with them to check to see if it was all taken care of!

In this case, I see the red box with the "P.D." and that tells me (and the carrier) that this item was "payée à destination," which translates to "paid to destination."

There is also a red circular marking applied in France.  Red ink was often code that implied an item was paid and black ink was often indicated that postage was not fully paid.  So, the first cover had a couple of clues for the postal carrier that no additional postage was due from the recipient.

I realize that it may be difficult to read what this marking says, so I thought I'd translate it here before we go to the next item:

E Pont - Pont-De-B.  May 26 1856

The "E Pont" is a reference to the Papal States in Italy or Etats Pontificaux.  At this time Catholic church maintained control over central Italy and are often referenced as either the Roman States or Papal States.  They had their own postal services and had postal agreements with other nations, such as France.  Pont de Beauvoisin (Pont-De-B) was the border town between France and Sardinia where this letter entered the French mails.

Envelopes were actually the exception, rather than the rule in the 1850s and 60s - and our first item was a small envelope.  Our next item is an example of a folded lettersheet.  An outer sheet was folded over the letter to provide a surface for addresses and postage while also protecting the contents from damage as it traveled through the mail systems.

This folded letter was mailed from Sardinia (which was in the process of unification with other Italian states) to England in 1860.  Now that I have given you a clue as to what to look for, I suspect you can find the marking that told the receiving post office in England that the postage was properly paid.

 

Yes, it isn't in red ink this time - but it is the same thing - "payée à destination."  In addition, there is a red circular marking below the P.D. that was applied in London.  This marking has the word "Paid" in the bottom of the circle.  This gave postal workers two clues for the destination post office in Market Weighton that all was well.

Countries had postal conventions where they agreed with each other HOW they would exchange mail.  Not every country had an agreement with every other country, but there were usually sufficient agreements to get mail from most every here to nearly every other there on the planet in 1860.  These agreements often dictated exactly how countries would indicate to each other that the item was properly paid or not.  Many countries in Europe agreed on "P.D." as a standard signal that an item had no postage due and many used the color red for prepayment.  But that was not always the case.

Slashes and x's

The next couple of examples are not quite items that were mailed from one country to another, but they illustrate some other ways an item was marked as 'paid.'

The item above was mailed in 1857 from Cento (near Bologna) to Rome.  At the time, both of these cities were located in the Papal States of Italy, territory under the direction of the Vatican.  The letter cost 6 bajocchi to go from Cento to Bologna to Rome and a green stamp was used to pay that postage.  The post office in Cento used a blue handstamp with the town name (Cento) to mark the stamp to show that it was recognized as paying postage - and to prevent it from being reused in the future.

The Rome office, during the 1850s and 1860s, indicated that postage was paid by putting a long diagonal slash in ink on the face of the mailed item.  It was quick.  It was fairly efficient.  And it served a purpose.  

Now, when the clerk (or carrier) handed this item off to the recipient, they could quickly and easily see that nothing more was due on delivery.   

Before we move on, some people reading this might be wondering how the postage was determined to be 6 bajocchi for this letter.  I just so happens that the internal postage rates in the Papal States can not be quickly and simply described.  So, if that particular subject interests you - try this Postal History Sunday where this cover makes another appearance.

And here is another Italian item that was sent from Modena to Mantua (Mantova).  Mantua, during this period, liked to do a full "X" marking on items that had no additional postage owed.  These "X" markings were normally big and bold - quite hard to miss!  Unfortunately, I have noticed that prepaid letters to Mantua do not always display this marking, so a postal historian cannot rely on its presence to show that a letter was paid in full.

Postal History Sunday has actually featured Mantova a couple of times.  The most recent was Return to Mantova in September last year.  The first visit occurred in August of 2021, this older blog contains a bit more historical details for the city of Mantova if you like that sort of thing.

I am frequently amazed by the interesting themes and sub-themes that emerge as I explore the stories surrounding objects of postal history.  Sometimes, I find that I am drawn, over and over, to particular locations - like Mantova.  Each time I return, I learn a bit more, which is an excellent reward as far as I am concerned.

Franco means paid

The Dutch and Germans tended to prefer "franco" to "P.D." for linguistic reasons.  This item was mailed in Rotterdam in 1866 and sent to Gladbach in Prussia (Germany).  The Dutch post office combined the handstamp to 'cancel' the stamp with the marking to indicate that postage was paid.  The boxed word "Franco" clearly defaces the stamp and is visible for the delivering clerk to see.

And, in some postal agreements, both countries were required to indicate that an item was fully paid.  This item from Amsterdam to London (1865) has the "Franco" marking on the postage stamps (applied in Amsterdam) AND the word "Paid" in the London circular marking.  As if that were not enough, the person who addressed this letter also wrote the word "paid" at the lower left.  Or, perhaps, this was written by a postal clerk - but the writing style seems to be the same as the address.  That helps me to be fairly confident that the sender wanted to emphasize the point.

And speaking of emphasis...

Sometimes, a person was pretty excited that something was fully paid.  At the bottom left, the sender wrote “all paid! franco!!”  I am not sure adding exclamation points make it any more likely that the postal people would notice it was paid enough - but I do hope at least one person who handled this item was a little bit amused.

For good measure, another exclamation mark appears at the top where the words "per Prussian closed mail" appears.  I find myself wishing the contents were still with this envelope because the outside of the envelope sure makes it seem like the enclosure must have been exciting! (!!)

How many clues on this envelope from Faribault, Minnesota (US) to Oldenburg (Germany) can you find that told the delivering clerk that it was fully paid?

 So, what would NOT paid look like?

This is a whole topic of its own, but I thought I should show at least one example.

Here is a letter that has a stamp on it, so it is possible that postage was paid.  And, there are some red markings on the cover too.   Hmmmmm.

The first clue that this item is NOT fully paid are the numerical markings on this letter.  The red "40" is actually the amount to be collected from the recipient to pay for postage.  Believe it or not, the black 'squiggle' to the right of the "40" is also a "4," which is the same amount due.

The second clue is that there is no "franco," "paid," or "P.D." anywhere to be found on this item.  

The third clue is the red boxed marking that says "affranchissement insuffisant."  This roughly translates to "insufficient postage."  

In a very real way, postal history can be a bit of a puzzle - but it is an enjoyable one that begins to make more sense as you learn the language and the rules the postal workers used to communicate.

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Thank you for joining me for this Postal History Sunday.  I am always willing to accept constructive feedback and questions that will inform future "Postal History Sundays."  You can give feedback using the contact form (which will send me an email) or by leaving a comment.  If the comment form doesn't seem to be working, reload the page and that normally solves the problem. 

Have a fine remainder of your day and an excellent week to come.

Rob