Full Clearing Moon

 

From NPR yesterday,"Wear your mask, it is a sign of respect" Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta,  Lady Gaga, go figger!

My bud Gary a geophysicist of similar age to ol possum saved this cartoon for me during lockdown and brought it to me today. It is from Mother Goose and Grimm, not a 'toon' that I follow. The two stars Pogo and the yellow dog with the big nose are looking out of the window. The exchange goes something like this, yellow dog says "I don't get this Pogo. The virus has forced us cartoon characters to stay inside for five weeks. Now, there is no pollution, no green-house effects and our rivers and lakes are clean and clear..." Pogo responds "Yeah...we have met the enemy and he is us." Then Gary looked me in the eye saying he believes agriculture is a big player in our present condition. Amen brother.

I just got word that my sister, my favorite ( I have 7, dont tell the others), has been scheduled for a very dangerous but lifesaving procedure coming up soon. The whole family have been praying for her success, "Baby" our brave and generous younger brother has donated stem cells. We stand shoulder to shoulder with her in this. MLK once said and I feel it applies here "We may have all come on different ships, but we are all on the same boat now."

The Full The Clearing Moon rises 9-1-20 and Wednesday too. It is named for a book I just cleared off of my must-read shelf, The Clearing. Finished it for the second time. This Novel happens in six years shortly after WWI, during the mid twenties, including the massive Flood of Twenty Seven. In a short six years a lumber company completely removes a virgin baldcypress swamp near Franklin, Louisiana. The trees were around 1000 years old. That in itself is a violent act, a horror that I keep turning back to in sad thought. What was left of the forest was sadness. This story is laced with all sorts of sad side stories and so much violence, physical, nature and racial and of shell shocked veterans right out of battle, and people and families and corporate greed, very visceral and emotional. We humans are still scarred by this kind of violent act. The Clearing is by Tim Gautreaux, a writer in residence at Southeastern Louisiana University, I really enjoyed the journey. My grandfather worked for a cypress lumber company in Lutcher right out of college in a similar time frame. They destroyed to Lake Maurepas Swamp. Those trees ran mostly 800-1200 years old.

Nature...reduces cognitive fatigue and stress and can be helpful with depression and anxiety.

-Irina Wen, Ph.D

 7-8-20 An obviously inspired David Lee, inebriated by a gorgeous Full Oregon Red Wine Possum Moon and a glass of tart red beverage of his or Jan's choosing, sent a note to Ol Poss, and two brand newly birthed poems. He said that I was the first person on the planet to see them and he hoped I liked them, both inspired by the moon, something that was happening in his life more and more of late. At his request and with his permission I present them to you first of all those folks on this crowded planet.

Oregon Full Moon

cloud shift

and the moon crashes

into the bedroom

like thunder

waking us both

cloud shift

and a catscratch moonlight sliver

lingers, then purls

its thin brilliance

into our cast off covers

the silence of golden distance

cloud shrouded

owls and crickets nightblend

like wind chimes

moon comeout moon comeout moon 

                          David Lee, 2020

 

David we are honored to be gifted with your word art. 

And one more from the full moon inspired David Lee!

Sisyphus: A Germanic Love Story

From dusk forward

bright moonlight

strives toward dawn

                     David Lee, 2020 

 8-3-20 The magnificent Red Buckeye overhanging the path to the coop has been slowly preparing to shuck leaves all the month past then for the last week many of the remaining leaves have developed a golden shade and sunrise and sunsets are very special as that light plays over them giving the area a golden glow. Oh wow, oh boy! Turn around and they are on the ground and she waits for very early spring to amaze and encourage us. Her red tubular flowers are then open and ready for the returning Ruby Throat Males in mid March.

8-5-20 "Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise so I am changing myself."  From Rumi

8-6-20 A generous and most excellent friend "Tiger" upon hearing that my oldest child Rachel asked for and was given a fly rod for Christmas, set to work and tied her a fine set of Redfish flies. Rachel is a Red and Speckled Trout fisher-woman, very aggressive and successful. "Tiger" is a world class fly fisherman and fly tier and amazing caster of flies. Fine gift, thanks "Tiger"!

8-7-20 Bits of wisdom from Jon: MIKIs rob songbird nests as to STKs (Mississippi Kites and Swallow Tailed Kites)

Bit #2: Hairy Woodpeckers like to tear into "old" Elderberry trunks to get to insects (termites) housed there. Jon claims that most of us do not know about this since we do not let the (weedy) Elderberry grow in our yards.

I observed cane being cut for planting in fallow fields today for the first time this season. 

8-8-20 I did a bit of bush hogging today and a dag-gummed branch knocked my expensive wide brimmed sun shade off and into the machine. Came out with out a mark. pays to buy the best OR I'm DL (darned lucky) like my old friend DL Menard.

8-9-20 I used to note that in 40 years of living in our home, built by Paula, and energized by SLEMCO we have not ever paid even near $100 for electricity, passive solar cooling/heating. Today I got one for $101, whew! I guess those days are history.

8-11-20 As I walk out at heavy dusk to put the girls to sleep I note the Cicada Symphony. I am so grateful.

8-12-20 We waken to the gentle calling of a Barred Owl, an eight hooter. Right off my bedroom window. Again I am amazed and grateful.

1pm same day, I'm out in front of my office building, the entire block lined with large healthy 70 year old live oaks (planted by my Dad). I hear a Locust (Cicada) falling screaming from the tree canopy. This is familiar stuff, Cicada Killer! Oh wow, here comes another! I watch the giant wasp turn the victim over (paralized by the wasp sting) as it drags its boat shaped backside over the turfgrass to a hole  pre-dug in the soft ground under a nearby tree. The Locust is placed in the hole and the wasp deposits her eggs on the still living victim. Food for the babies. So very cool. The next day I hear a third victim's screams.

8-17-29 From the Dalai Lama: "Just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day"

8-18-20 What a joy a relaxing bath is! I was walking quietly back to the coop with kitchen scraps for the gurls, a slight movement in my peripheral vision causes me to pause near the in-ground wildlife water source/birdbath. The Bluejays give it a work out most days. But now I spot a small trim grey bird,a Titmouse or a Gnatcatcher, I do not know my birds that well, especially the ones I cannot see well. What I do know is that this beauty was having a blast, giving new meaning to the joy of living in the moment.

Cousin Andre sent a condolence card to Paula today, she quoted Garrison Keilor of Prairie Home Companion fame "It is hard to say goodbye to the old trees among us", yes it is Andre'.

8-23-20 Looking at the predicted paths of two hurricanes I realize that the paths form a cross hair over my rectangle of the world. So much for Climate Change doubters. Of course by 4 hours later today the projected paths are moved over but still too close for comfort.

8-25-20 First storm blows by to east, whew. we will see about #2. 

The rest is history. Her name is Laura and we only had leaves, twigs and 3" of rain. Minimal. We dodged that one.

Y'all be sure to get out, socially distanced, if drinking wine you may pull down your mask, have fun. Oh and don't forget the kids and old people. Celebrate the joy of living in the moment.

peace love possumhugs

BT