Going Green

Going "green" on laundry day

Growing up, one of my summer chores was hanging out the laundry. We had a electric dryer, but in the 60's, using a clothesline was not a matter of 'saving the planet' but of saving money. Most of the time, when Mother needed the laundry on the line, I was busy checking out the latest hairdos in "Seventeen", or listening to Ricky Nelson sing his newest hit "Garden Party"--still a favorite of mine! What would we have done with the Internet and cell phones! (I can't imagine the time I would have spent on Facebook, or texting, or 'twittering') Even so, it was never convenient for me to stop and hang the laundry on the line. Mother usually had to "remind" me several times. Didn't occur to me that the laundry needed to get the heat of the sun for several hours in order to dry before evening!

Through the years, I have always had a clothesline. Sometimes I would get nostalgic about the wonderful fresh smell of sun-dried sheets and go through a period of hanging out my laundry. It usually didn't last long since there were other things more important. How easy it is to load clothes from the washer to the dryer! Only seconds really! Anyway, there was always the chance the birds would use the clothesline for a perch. Ever go out to take the laundry off the line and find a purple "stain" on a freshly dried pillowcase? Saving money and the planet became secondary in my busy world.

When we moved to the mountain and lived in the little shed in the back (check out "About Us" at http://www.mountainspringscabins.com/ ). Jack was considerate enough to hook up the washer and dryer in the little mini barn close by. That worked for a while until the dryer quit! No use fixing it since this was only temporary anyway. We would be getting a brand new one for the house shortly. A temporary clothesline was stretched across the back from tree to tree. It worked! I had to learn how to hang and secure sheets in the windiest of conditions, and there were times when the sheets flew right off the line not matter what!

After we moved into the new house and started our cabin business, the clothesline was abandoned. Keeping laundry from two cabins going was a job that required help--in the form of an electric clothes dryer!

But I still missed the clothesline!

Last year, my neighbor, Darlene, got her new clothesline, which she uses a lot. Her husband, Mike, is a very handy man with a welding torch, and was nice enough to make me two T-posts just like hers. Jack set them in the ground and stretched the wires, and I painted them dark green.

Now hanging out the laundry is no longer a chore I put off. Just look at the scenery I get to gaze upon while I work! It is a brief respite in a busy day when I can let my mind wander and be amazed at God's beauty around us. And, I feel good that I am doing a little something to save both money and the planet!

If you visit us on a nice sunny day, you may see my sheets flapping in the breeze, soaking up the beautiful sunshine and fresh mountain air. If you stay at Eagle's Rest Cabin, you may even get to sleep on some of those sheets!

Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens,

Your faithfulness to the skies.

Psalm 36:5

Bluebirds Over The Mountain (A Song)

Help! What do I do now?

Bluebirds over the mountain

Sea gulls over the sea.

Bluebirds over the mountain

Bring my baby to me.

Doesn't seem long since I announced the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Blue's bird family. We watched each day as they first built the nest in the box on the porch post near the bedroom door, then noticed Mrs. Blue busy laying eggs and setting on them. We watched closely, but didn't see the babies actually fly out of the box. We did see them many times in the trees nearby. I have read, and no doubt its true, bluebird parents feed the fledglings a month after they are out of the nest. Much like human parents who never seem to let go of their growing children! This was in May or early June.

One morning in late June we noticed the birds were showing a lot of interest in the little birdhouse at the end of the picket fence in the backyard. It is close to the area where we park our vehicles and I'm sure Mrs. Blue chose this because she loves to sit on the mirrors and look at herself! (This causes us to have to do an extra amount of cleaning, you see!) Anyway, it was obvious they were building in earnest and had plans for another family.

The weeks went by. We watched the little house through storms and extreme heat. Once Mrs. Blue was so hot she popped out onto the little porch to cool off! "His eye was on the sparrow" (bluebirds) as we traveled for two weeks in Colorado. During that time Mrs. Blue had been unselfishly tending her eggs/babies while Mr. Blue watched overhead singing to her and bringing her a tasty worm or two for strength. A little later came the feeding frenzy of both parents in and out with breakfast, lunch and dinner for a brood of hungry babies!

Then, when we least expected it, we were privileged to see the little fledglings emerge from the safety of their nest out into what must be a very scary world. Jack captured the last one in the photo above as the little bird tried to make up his mind--poking his head out of the hole, inching out further, then quickly pulling in, only to try again as his concerned parents called out encouragement from a tree overhead.

Finally, he popped out onto the ledge where he tottered about wondering what he should do next. During this time his dad flew down to the house and fed him a small bug. When he slipped off the edge into the flowerbed I became a little concerned. However, he landed on the soft leaves of a bush below where he sat for a minute or two before getting courage to try his wings. When he did, he swooped up to the nearby light wire, which must have been a feat in itself to catch hold of such a tiny landing pad.

We see the Blue family now and then in the trees around the yard. Mrs. Blue perched on the bedroom screen yesterday morning while we were drinking our first cup of coffee. It was comforting to see her back to her old ways of checking in on us. She and her mate, and sometimes a baby or two, perch on the birdhouse occasionally--not sure why. And, we are regularly cleaning the car doors! We are worried that she is passing this habit along to the youngsters!

I heard the above song on the radio--Jack's oldies classics. On further investigation, I learned it was originally sung by Richie Valens(this is the version I heard), who was famous for the song, La Bamba, (the movie, La Bamba, is the story of his life). He was a part of the infamous Dance Party Tour in 1959, and was killed in the plane crash with Buddy Holly. (The Day the Music Died) The song was also sung by the Beach Boys on their Sunshine Dream( or Summer Dreams) album, 1990, . I found the song on Beach Boys Greatest Hits Vol. 2. I want to get a copy of both versions. I noticed you can even get a ringtone version on your phone!

A Summer Joy, Or Every Day is Grandparent's Day

Ponca Low Water Bridge

The house is very QUIET---

On the porch:

The little red "digger" truck (just the right size for small hands to drive along the porch railing) is abandoned on the swing, and the blue sand bucket with yellow shovel sits at the door ready for the next river trip.

In the kitchen:

The half-eaten banana turns brown on the counter, and a few stray Fruit Loops lay scattered on the kitchen floor.

The "dirt-dirt" sippy cup is now washed and dried and back on the shelf ready for the next chocolate milk break.

In the living room:

The magic markers (truly magic because they only show marks on special paper) lay in disarray on a tray on the table.

The little American flag, at one time clutched in a chubby hand, no longer waves.

The house is very QUIET---

Upstairs on the floor is the remains of a Lincoln Log cabin. Only a few hours ago---

"Mimi, build a house," says the child sweetly.

"Okay, Jack Henry, you put the roof on," says Mimi obligingly.

"Why! Jack Henry! You crashed your truck into my house!" says Mimi, not too surprised.

"Yep! Mimi, let's do again!" says the 'precious' child with an impish grin.

Molly, the Jack Russell, morns the fact that her new buddy isn't around, and Daisy relaxes again, relieved that her home is no longer invaded by a noisy pint-sized stranger.

The house is very QUIET---

"Pops! POPS! PO-AHHH-OPS!!!!!

"No! No bath! No nap! No go inside!"

"Mimi! Mimi! Pops made the scoop (on the tractor) go BAM! BAM!" (Arms fly into the air for emphasis)

"Read book again, Mimi, ple-eee-ase!"

"When is Mommy coming?"

QUIET everywhere---

With many waves and kisses, Jack Henry, our "grandest" is buckled into the car seat for the three hour trip back to the city.

"Go that way, Mommy!" the two-year old commands, as he points down the mountain---150 miles to go!

Two tired grandparents sit down in the living room, feet up, and relive the joys of the last two days--basking in the QUIET that takes over the house.

The Night Visitor, or Things That Go Bump In the Night

Night visitor at Mountain Springs

From ghoulies and ghosties and long-leggety beasties

and things that go bump in the night, Good Lord, deliver us!

Cornish Prayer

Jack is used to me waking him in the middle of the night with a whispered "What's that noise?" Usually, without really listening for a "noise", he will attribute the "bump" to our fridge. It has a way of letting us know with grinding and bumping noises that it is working hard all night to produce ice. In the dark house at night it does strange sound! However, this night I was awakened by Jack as he slipped out of bed noiselessly. His slow, deliberate movements made me aware something was going on.

Then I heard him laugh (quietly) as he told me to "Get up, there is a raccoon walking across the beam above the living room!" That got my attention! I was now totally awake!

When I realized this wasn't a dream, Mr. Raccoon was slowly making his way through the birdhouses etc. that decorate the space above the kitchen cabinets. From dealing with critters in the past (mostly outside), I knew not to make a loud noise or do anything that might startle one, especially when he is delicately balanced over our heads--in our living room! Whoops! One birdhouse down!

Jack instructed me to open all doors so the raccoon would have an escape route. What else can you do with a raccoon doing a trapeze act in the house? The raccoon made it across the cabinets and into the loft. From there he made a slow loop around the loft carefully balancing on the back of the sofa, across the bed, over numerous baskets, books etc. to my craft cabinet then on to the computer. That got him completely around the room back to the loft edge. The only thing left to do for a self-respecting raccoon in such a predicament was to swing down feet first, holding on the edge with front paws (much like a kid swinging down from a tree) and drop to the first floor--a height of about eight feet. He landed on the metal top of the log fireplace below with a bang! (thank goodness it was not burning at the time!) And, in a flash, he was out the wide open front door. He was as glad to leave us as we were to see him go!

The whole episode took five to ten minutes, but going back to sleep wasn't easy. How did he get in our house? It was stuffy in the house earlier in the evening so we opened the wooden back door, hooking the screen, to allow the cool night air to flow through the house before bedtime. We then forgot to close it. Mr. Raccoon was obviously up on the porch checking for leftovers in the dog food bowl which is close to the door. When he discovered, with a little push, he could slip through a corner of the screen door where, thanks to Daisy the frame was bent. However, the metal frame snapped back blocking him from leaving the same way he arrived.

And, how did a raccoon perch himself on the beam above the living room once he made his way into the house? That is a mystery! We cannot find a way for a critter his size to climb from the first floor and onto the beam without using the stairs! Then, he would have had to follow, in reverse, the path across the loft, over cabinets and onto the beam. Who knows! He's not telling!

Second Chapter: A night or two later, we let the dogs outside before bed. Immediately there was a commotion that sent me to the back door and Jack out the door and into the yard. As I stood at the screen door (yes, same screendoor), looking out into the dark night and fumbling for the outside light switch, a whirr of brown fur flew by followed close behind by two barking white streaks! We have a complete wrap around porch with railing so the race continued, making two complete laps around the porch before the desperate brown furry creature (by now identified as a raccoon, same one? Who knows!) bailed off under the railing--a height of probably 10 feet. The dogs had to go around to the steps which gave the desperate critter enough time to run across the yard and up the nearest tree. Enough excitement for that night!

Third chapter: The next night Jack set out the Have-A-Hart trap using dog food as bait. Mr. Raccoon made another night visit to the porch. He obviously can't resist dog food and carelessly crawled in and snap! All he could do was sit and await his fate which was a relocation trip in the back of the truck down the mountain to Kenner Creek Bridge. This is where I took the his picture before releasing a very relieved and tired raccoon. My last (I hope) picture of him was as he loped down the grassy trail toward the creek.

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Twittering

The Blue Family Home at Mountain Springs

There's been a lot of 'twittering' going on at our house lately. No, it's not the newest internet craze! I don't even text. It's all I can do to manage this blog! Previously, I mentioned Mr. and Mrs. Blue(bird) had chosen the new bluebird house close to our bedroom door. About Mother's Day we realized the couple was spending most of their time in or around the box. Not long after that, it was apparant that babies had hatched. There has been a flurry of activity every since.

The picture above was taken from our bedroom door. Our bed is positioned so that when we awake each morning at dawn our first view is the Blue's house. They are usually already up and feeding hungry, demanding little fledglings. The parents are always greeted with a series of 'chrips and twitters'. This goes on throughout the day. Mrs. Blue usually stops long enough each morning to perch on our bedroom door screen. "Why are you humans still in bed?" I'm sure she is asking. Birds don't have the luxury of coffee in bed!

This morning when I awoke, my first thought was," How did the Blue family make the night?". Oh no! No busy parents flying in and out, no hungry twittering, nothing going on at this little house! We watched until Jack had to leave for his last day of school. He hurried out, forgot the pie for the teacher's potluck, had to turn around and come back after I called his carpool partner. On the way out of the drive (second time) he noticed a coon in the Have-A-Heart trap. Had to load him,still in the cage, in the pick up before I let the dogs out. (This is another story, coming soon to this blog) In the meantime, I had spotted Mr. and Mrs. Blue flying around the yard. Obviously picking up bugs and worms for breakfast just as every other morning.

It took me a good hour or so between phone calls (booked a week in July at Eagle's Rest) and answering emails etc.but I finally located the source of a lot of 'twittering'--a tree close to the Blue's house. I can see it as I write, and am convinced there are little bluebirds up there. My, they got an early start. Guess they could hardly wait to leave the nest this morning! I'm sure it was getting crowded in there. (This week I would often see a little head peek out). Even with my binoculars, which I keep nearby, I haven't actually seen a baby bird yet, but the parents are flying up to some branches and I will keep a look out all day. (I know, I don't get much work done!)

It is a beautiful, 'bluebird' day, unlike yesterday's fog and drizzle. It's a good day for little birds to try their wings. I wish them Godspeed.

"This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice!"

From the Fullness of His Grace...

Ferns and moss along the trail

Yesterday, Sunday, May 17, 2009, was one of those perfect days to store in my "memory bank" to pull up when I need a cheerful thought. The church service at Boxley Baptist was special. We honored a member, and former missionary to the Phillipines, who after retirement, moved back home to his Ozark family farm. He is a distinguished white-haired gentleman who has been blessed with Bible knowledge and the ability to teach. He spent 28 years in the Philippines teaching and organizing churches, and has spent his retirement teaching Sunday School and being a blessing at our church. He has always kept in close contact with his Philipino churches and friends. And now, he has agreed to return to Manila, where he will teach this semester at a school he helped found. He will be training ministers to pastor churches throughout the country. As he said, "God has used this once 'barefoot mountain boy' to spread his word." We wish you God's blessing, Art.

On the way home from church, we turned into the river access road at Ponca. There was a flurry of people coming and going, unloading canoes and kayaks and other gear, for a float down the Buffalo River. We decided to take advantage of this beautiful spring day in the Ozark Mountains by taking a hike. The trail begins at the low water bridge. We would hike this section ending at Steel Creek Campground--two miles. This is only a small part of the Buffalo River Trail. After a quick lunch and little preparation, we were off! The trail was a delight--high above the river, shady with cool breezes blowing, across streams and waterfalls, through rock formations and up rocky slopes. The best part was near the low water bridge where one can stand on the rocky overhang and watch below as floaters make their way upstream. (We never laugh (too much) at the antics of those with "less experience" we've been there!) Along the way we see stretches of cool, green, mossy flats that are fascinating to me. We finished the hike with a light snack at Steel Creek Campground and a few minutes strolling on the river bank studying rocks--fossils and, my favorite, heart-shaped ones.

As we were walking back through the busy parking area, on our way to the car, dodging folks, cars, and canoes, we passed by an old man whose appearance reminded me of someone who may have spent a long winter in a log cabin on a mountain!) He was sitting in his old truck with the window and door open, watching the parade of hikers, floaters, and sightseers. He called out to us as we passed by,"Great day to be alive, isn't it?". We couldn't agree with him more!

From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another.

John 1:16

Hope Flies

He makes springs pour water into the ravines;

it flows between the mountains.

They give water to all the beasts of the field...

The birds of the field nest by their waters;

they sing among the branches.

He waters the mountains from his upper chambers;

The earth is satisfied by the fruit of his work.

Psalm 104:11,12-13

Pictured is Wildflower Falls, located on our property. When it is raging, we can hear it roar from our porch as well as Eagle's Rest porch. May wildflowers are at their best in May.

The rains and storms of late have been relentless! We had another storm with an inch of rain last night. These storms are moving across our mountains about every other day, giving us little time to mow and work in the yard and garden. I will not complain! I know the water from these rains is stored deep underground in our mountains, thus filling our springs with plenty of clean fresh water to get us through the dry spells.

Speaking of gardens! Darlene, Debbie, and I went "greenhouse hopping" this week. It was one of the only sunny days we have had. We drove to Rogers and made our way down to Garfield, Eureka Springs, and Berryville--visiting a total of six nurseries. Needless to say, the car looked like a moving greenhouse by the time we got home. This was a good way to break in our new Chevy Traverse, and pick up some new perennials.

I have worked around showers and wind for two days to get everything in the ground. The winds, slight hail, and hard rains gave me cause for concern last night, but this morning everything survived except the two clay pots sitting on the porch. They were flung down the steps and onto the flagstones and are now only shards! Good thing we staked the tomatoes yesterday!

Mr. and Mrs. Blue are settled in the new birdhouse on the porch near our bedroom window. I'm sure the storm of last week convinced them this was the safest place to nest. Their old house was blown off the porch (I had it wired to the post!) And I had to glue the roof back in place. So much for that old house!

I watch Mr. Blue as he makes his many trips to the box with tasty? tidbits for his mate. He sits on the fence watching for a movement in the grass, then he quickly swoops down and grabs the hapless victim, which will soon be dinner. He usually eats a portion himself (maybe to get in under control) and takes the rest to the box where his lovely bluebird wife is busy doing what female bluebirds do inside their box. As she sits patiently inside, he is perched nearby, watching over her, sweetly singing his little bluebird song. Sometimes, she leaves the nest for a short time--always stopping by the window to check on us humans inside. Soon we should hear the demanding 'twitter' of little bluebirds, and then the parents go to work! These babies will be on a nearly nonstop feeding schedule until they are ready to try their wings.

The courage, determination, and devotion of these birds is sweet to watch. They convey a spirit of hope that is inspiring. Despite storms, predators, and the perils of their world they continue on--always with a song. What a lesson for humans!