RUPERT THE FOX

While we were at the cabin this past weekend we had an unlikely visitor. A wily fox came trotting down our driveway. He came within ten feet of our front door and plunked himself down. He hardly flinched as Tom took him out some pieces of left over steak from our dinner. He ate them up and waited for more. So, Tom then took him out some chicken. We watched in fascination as he buried that in the nearby woods. He held his post near our front door for a couple hours, not at all skittish, as we came and went. As darkness fell, he fell asleep there in his 'spot'.

He brought to mind the passage about the fox from one of my favorite books, 'The Little Prince':

"It was then that the fox appeared.

"Good morning," said the fox.

"Good morning," the little prince responded politely, although when he turned around he saw nothing.

"I am right here," the voice said, "under the apple tree."

"Who are you?" asked the little prince, and added, "You are very pretty to look at."

"I am a fox," the fox said.

"Come and play with me," proposed the little prince. "I am so unhappy."

"I cannot play with you," the fox said. "I am not tamed."

"Ah! Please excuse me," said the little prince.

But, after some thought, he added:

"What does that mean--'tame'?"

"You do not live here," said the fox. "What is it that you are looking for?"

"I am looking for men," said the little prince. "What does that mean--'tame'?"

"Men," said the fox. "They have guns, and they hunt. It is very disturbing. They also raise chickens. These are their only interests. Are you looking for chickens?"

"No," said the little prince. "I am looking for friends. What does that mean--'tame'?"

"It is an act too often neglected," said the fox. It means to establish ties."

"'To establish ties'?"

"Just that," said the fox. "To me, you are still nothing more than a little boy who is just like a hundred thousand other little boys. And I have no need of you. And you, on your part, have no need of me. To you, I am nothing more than a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. But if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me, you will be unique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world . . ."

Molly named our 'tamed' fox Rupert.  We will be waiting for him on our next trip to the cabin.

THE FOURTH MEANS FAMILY FUN

For me, the 'Fourth of July' is:

* Family Reunions

* Our little cabin on Presque Isle Lake

* Roasting hot dogs over a blazing campfire

* Frigid lake water

* Too many people for one tiny bathroom

* Slow sunset boat rides around the lake

* Pesky misquitos

* Sore Sunburns
* Sunbathing on the pier
* Trashy novels

* Eating too many s'mores

* Bull Frog Heaven

* Tom's AWESOME (and a bit too long) fireworks display

* Rainbow sparklers

* Serenade of the loons

* Big Mabel

* Fish fry at Birch Lake

* Back Woods Brew

 PARADISE. (:

A BIT OF LOVE FOR TOM ON FATHER'S DAY

Tom taught me the importance of family. Coming himself from a large, close-knit brood, his desire to have his own strong family bond was always a top priority. It was, and is, one of the things I admire most about him.


When each of our four children was born, we took a lock of their hair and buried it beneath a tree in our backyard (an old Native American custom) so that even as each sprouted wings and flew far away; we knew the roots held their spirit firmly in place so that they could always find their way back home.

It was, of course, a metaphor for how we raised them: we wanted them to learn to 'make their own way in the world', while at the same time keeping family and home something sacred.

Our children are all grown now, and we don't see them as frequently as we once did, but, Tom and I often marvel at how each one still holds our family bond fiercely close at heart.

It was one thing we did right. (:

OH, THE PLACES YOU'LL GO

"Don't tell me the sky is the limit,  For there are clearly footprints on the moon"

Austin graduated from The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse this past weekend. Britt, Chad, Kristin, and Molly all made the long trek back home for Austin's big day. Because we don't get that many opportunities to all be together anymore, this family time was special. We celebrated Austin's past accomplishments, and toasted his future.  Tom and I gave ourselves a huge pat on the back as well. Having all our children graduate from college was a goal we set and planned for as each of them was born. So, Austin's graduation was one of those magical milestones that, as parents, we have looked forward to for a long time. (Then it came and was over in a flash! How I wish we could go back and do it all over again to make the moment last.)

It was a grand weekend.
And, just the beginning of a succulent, rich, rare, wild, new adventure for us all.

THIS ONE'S FOR YOU, MOM

This Sunday is Mother's Day, and as I sit thinking about my Mom, I am pulling sweet memories from my heart.

Like...Mom sitting so patiently through all those summer 'show performances' Jim, Deb, Dan and I put on in our garage;  Mom cooking her special 'Wednesday Night Dinners' (chicken and handmade noodles was my favorite) on her only night off from work; Mom buying matching dresses for herself, Debbie and I;  Mom driving a petulant teenage me to a city an hour away to indulge my quest for the perfect prom dress; Mom driving two hours from her home to mine (and then right back again) to keep my new baby daughter overnight so that I might have an evening of rest (she did this often that year); Mom hauling out her old ruffled silk nighties and high heels so my young daughters might play dress-up; Mom spending all day on the lake fishing with my son; Mom caring so tenderly for my terminally ill brother, and showing such strength at his recent passing.

My Mom and I have had our disagreements over the years as I imagine most mothers and daughters do, but, even so, we have remained close. And, as I have grown older I have certainly come to realize how important my Mom has been, and still is, to my life. I am thankful for each day we have together.

I love you, Mom. Happy Mother's Day.

HONOR OUR EARTH

On this EARTH DAY I encourage you to take a moment to enjoy the riches of nature and consider what you can do to help preserve our Mother Earth. I thought it might be fun to share a passage from my book about cultivating a 'Fairy Garden' in hopes of sustaining a wee bit of wild life in your own back yard.

"I agree, as many gardeners do, with the legendary Pan: that leaving a patch of earth untilled, unplanted, and untouched will allow the magical flowers to grow as they please, and the insects, wildlife, and the fairies will claim it as their home. So many things that are out of place in the sophistication of a formal bed will thrive here to charm us with their blossoms, as well as their lore.

Shakespeare tells us of oxlips, roses, violets, woodbine, and eglantine, the lovely name for sweetbrier. Cuckooflowers, ground flax, harebells, mallow, and stitchwort are some of the lesser know wildings that also might be a part of this magical garden....

And, if you visit this sacred spot and a tiny green bug alights upon your shoulder, it just might be that diminutive elf we've talked about, come from another realm to whisper words of wisdom-a prayer for non-believers: Learn to work in harmony with our blessed planet, and it will sustain and nourish us..."
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*click the title of this post and it will take you to my book, "Creating Fairy Garden Fragrances", which is for sale in my etsy shop.

THE FEATHER

A chorus of birdsong led me into the woods early this morning. Then, distracted by an irritating squawking between some territorial ducks and sand hill cranes, I followed the path to the pond. Prime nesting territory. I watched them for a bit, before the joyful croaking of the spring peepers drew me to another pond close by. I followed their chatter, winding through the low brambling branches sprouting fresh green buds.  Oh, how I love that sweet, pungent 'green' fragrance. And, all around me colorful new life was winking: celery green, lavender, golden yellow and the palest pink.... Aprils' pastels. As I began to slowly make my way out to the road, a young bald eagle swooped near! I grabbed my camera and got ready, but, I was too late. He had gone. A little disappointed, I continued to make my way out of the woods. Then, I caught a glimpse of something just barely hanging to a branch above me, shimmering in the warm breeze. A single, regal feather that spring warrior left behind.  A sweet gift.