Blog Index - September 2017

September 4, 2017	This is your last issue – Subscription Notice
September 5, 2017	A treasure from 3/29/1990
September 6, 2017	Divide and Conquer
September 18, 2017	Caladiums and black bird migration

September 20, 2017 – Caladiums and black bird migration

        Sunday afternoon we had a beautiful early fall day.  It was perfect for taking up my caladium bulbs.  I have the process down to almost a science.  I plant my caladiums in pots so that I can move them into or out of the sun, and control the water and fertilizer easily.  Also, at the end of the season I simply dump the pots out gently and shake the bulbs from the soil.

        Perfect gardening weather – cool and dry air for the end of season caladium “harvest” is what I consider it.  I move all the pots to a work location and segregate them by leaf color.  I have only red and white. [I keep saying I am going to get some pink ones, but so far I haven’t -  Maybe next year.]

I cut the stems down to about 3 inches and then gently turn the pot out into a shallow wheelbarrow.  I shake the bulbs from the soil, trim off the roots, and cut the stems shorter.  I lay the bulbs on a wire rack to air dry for several days – covering them with a tarp at night to keep the dew off them.  If rain is in the forecast, I toss an old shower curtain over them to keep them dry.  After about a week of drying, I gently rub more soil off them and I single layer them in cardboard boxes.  I mark the color on the inside of the box.  I store them in a 60-70 temperature area over the winter.

        Of course, my husband was watching me stage this project and when he looked at all the pots circling my wheelbarrow and my handy seat he said, “You’ll be there all day.”

        He got up and moved so that I wouldn’t enlist him to help. [Which is a bad habit of mine and he doesn’t appreciate it much.]   His excuse was that he wanted to sit in the sun.  I called to his retreating back,

        “No I won’t – I’ll be only an hour or two.”

        In the cool of the dappled shade, I proceeded to work and noticed incessant chirping of birds in not too distant trees.  Then I noticed the bird noise became louder and glanced around.   The birds were not in the trees within my sight, but were further east.  When I finished the red caladium group, I paused and again searched the tree canopy and surrounding area as the bird noise had now increased triple fold.   It felt like I was in the middle of Alfred Hitchcock’s movie set of The Birds.

        I also noticed our usual birds, cardinals, titmice, goldfinch, purple finch, chickadees, were absent from our feeders yet there was this growing crescendo of bird chatter.

        The white caladium group done [my project finished], I walked down to the large crepe myrtle tree in the lawn and pulled up a chair near my husband.

        I had already missed half the show . . . the lawn near the property line danced with starlings, or grackles or black birds.  [My husband mentioned starlings, then thought they might be black birds and I said, “Or, they could be grackles.”  I finally decided I would have to look them up in my bird book because I was not certain.

It was a glorious show – the birds kept coming and drifting further down the lawn into my neighbor’s yard and into the trees to roost a bit and then a dozen or two would fly off in a group.  I spent this time studying their silhouette in flight and on the ground.  That long thin tail had to be the key.

They were coming down the properly line on the backside of the shed from the large hardwood grove above.  I was fascinated as they flew so low to the ground – a foot to 6 inches as they glided in. They drifted apart to land in groups of 6 to 10.  The flock was eating insects in the lawn and moving quickly.  Then some would fly up into the ancient oak tree in the property line and many more would land to take their place on the lawn.  I tried to count just a patch of them, but as they were drifting in and flying off at the same time, I failed.

There had to be over 100 birds roosting at one time in the oak tree and they were picking at the limbs eating something. Having their fill, groups would fly off quickly replaced by others.  My husband suggested bugs and I suggested acorns.  It could have been both.

The minutes slipped by watching this lovely spectacle and suddenly, they were gone and it was silent again for a few moments.

Then, slowly my everyday birds starting arriving back at our feeders and the soft, sweet bird chatter drifted down to us on the lawn.

What an unexpected treat on a quiet Sunday afternoon. We don’t often get to witness a local migration. 

Later, I checked my Roger Tory Peterson field guide.  I can’t decide if the migrating flock was Common Grackles, Quiscalus quiscula, or Rusty Blackbird, Euphagus carolinus or Brewer’s Blackbird, Euphagus cyanocephalus.  The tail was long and thin, not like a Grackle – so I am now thinking they were one of the two Blackbirds listed.

        

September 18, 2017 – The opened letter.

This is an exercise from my Writers class.  

The prompt was open letter or opened letter.

However, I want to place the setting on this little vignette.

In the mid 1970s – If you’ve watched the TV show MAD MEN – they portray this era exceptionally well.

At the time, our state of the art computer for the corporation was a punch card computer used only for payroll for over 1,000 employees.   

Personal computers hadn’t been invented yet. We had thermal heat copiers. Mimeographs were still largely used. We used a teletype machine.  Fax machines hadn’t been invented yet.

Dictation was done by taking short hand on a steno pad resting on your crossed knees sitting across from the executive.

All upper level executives had personal secretaries, middle and lower management used the Steno Pool which had state of the art equipment in the form of magnetic belts – the cassette tape dictation units hadn’t been invented yet.

This was the Headquarter corporate office for seven plants in one town – much like the size Milliken still has is in Spartanburg, SC.

The switchboard operator was housed in a glass cubicle in the lobby and she connected all calls from outside and between all seven plants.

The executive washroom, which was next to my office, was for Men only and 3-martini lunches were the norm.

At the time this happened, I was about 20 or 21 and single.

This is autobiographical.

The opened letter

        One morning Mr. Burgwinkle, the Personnel Director, handed me a stack of letters. He smiled, nodded and cleared his throat as he watched me quickly pull the beige parchment envelope out of the stack and put it on top. There was my familiar handwriting directed to the blind Post Office Box 576 used specifically for the resumes for the new personal secretary for the recently employed new President of the Company.

        “Ah, so you know how this all works out, little gal,” he stated with his put on Irish brogue and puffed a huge, acrid cloud of cigar smoke in my small office.

        “I’m a big girl. I know I am out the door.” I said shrugging my shoulders and continuing to hold onto my false courage. I added,

“This is corporate America, a new President, requires a new personal secretary. I will be replaced by one of these gals.” I fanned the stack of letters to make my point.

        “Aye, is so.” He said. 

        Mr. Burgwinkle lingered as I mulled over my hurt and bitterness of losing my job just because a new President had come on-board.  It wasn’t right, it wasn’t fair. I’d done a fine job. And, now I was being let-go for no reason other than some false theory of loyalty.

        I filled the sudden silence with another brave statement, “Don’t worry, I’ve already sent out over a dozen resumes and I’ve more going out today.”

       

        Mr. Burgwinkle cleared his throat again and launched into his typical policy speech.  I half listened to him as I opened each envelope, stapled the cover letters to the resumes, and turned them face down in a pile.   When Burgwinkle finished what the Company would provide me upon my employment exit, I stood and smiled at him saying,

        “Yes, a letter of recommendation from you would be lovely.”

        Then, I turned the stack over and straighten it.  I admired my flashy signature on the exquisitely prepared cover letter and resume that was now on the top of the pile and flatly stated,

        “The new guy will at least know my qualifications before he dismisses me.”

        I rose and walked down the short hallway to the new President’s Office. I knocked quietly and entered. With a forced, bright smile on my face, I delivered the mail by placing it in the In-Box on the corner of the polished mahogany desk.  The new President’s eyes glanced at the top resume and then quickly darted to me.

I returned his gaze until he waivered and looked away. I wondered, was his look a sign of surprise or slight admiration? 

Always the professional I asked in my most sultry voice, “I’ve just made fresh coffee; would you like some?”

        He declined graciously.

As I closed his office door, I chuckled to myself thinking. “He didn’t want coffee? He probably thinks I’d lace it with poison.”

September 6, 2017 – Divide and Conquer

This is the Writer’s class May 15, 2017 project.

Describe a time when you “stepped up to the plate” when called on.

        Seeing me out in the garden, my back door neighbor and new best friend visited me in the garden after she’d changed out of her work clothes.

        “What are you doing?” she quizzed.

        “Lifting and dividing chrysanthemums?” I replied looking up at her as I was on my hands and knees in the garden.

        “Why?”  She quizzed dropping comfortably into a nearby lawn chair.  She was always interested in what I was doing in the garden.

        “If you don’t divide them, they will choke themselves out or bloom poorly.”  I answer and continue pulling off strong rooted pieces and potting them up. 

        After she watched me pot up several she asked,

        “Can I have one?”

        “Sure.”

        I thought nothing more about the evening other than it was a nice visit from a friend until late the next afternoon.



        I am in the garden and can hear my house phone ringing.   I start to count the rings.  Any time it is over 10 rings, I am certain it Mom; it’s our special code.  After 7 rings, I dust myself off from the garden and run to answer the phone.

        “Hello?” I answer expecting my Mom on the other end.

        “It’s me, I have sorority tonight and my speaker has cancelled.” Becky states.  She continues.

        “Can you come to my sorority meeting tonight and talk about what you showed me last night. Dividing up the Chrysanthemums?   All these gals love flowers but I bet they have no idea you can lift and divide them to get more.  I didn’t know.”

        “Sure, what time?”

        “Seven p.m.”

        “How many gals?”

        “Usually between 8 and 10.”

        “I’ll stroll over around 6:45.”

        “You’re a lifesaver, thank you, thank you, thank you.”  She gushed and hung up.

        I immediately grabbed a large black trash bag and headed out to the garden to get prepared.   I deeply watered another overgrown clump of mums that needed to be divided.  I collected a dozen plastic quart pots and filled them with good potting soil.  I left the shovel, garden gloves, & root tone in the wheelbarrow for later.

        Promptly at 6:40 p.m. I dug up the overgrown clump of mums and plunked it on the big plastic bag on top of filled gallon pots and wheeled it next door to Becky’s back porch.   Within moments we had the clump on a card table near the front door.  

As the sorority gals arrived, they were most curious about the clump of lacey green leaves with red clay roots and soil held in check by the upturned edges of the black plastic bag.

       

        After a glowing introduction by Becky, I pulled on garden gloves and explained all about Chrysanthemums as I divided the clump, dusted with Root tone and potted up a dozen mums.

I later got reports of “the best speaker they ever had.”  And, years later, some of her sorority sisters remembered me and the program when Becky and I happened to meet them out and about.

Index from start of blog - 9/1/2016

Thoughts from Quail Thicket -

Observations from a Country home

INDEX FROM START OF BLOG

9/1/2016

Reverse Chronological order

SEPTEMBER 2017 

September 5, 2017	A treasure from 3/29/1990
September 4, 2017	This is your last issue – Subscription Notice
	AUGUST, 2017
August 21, 2017	Writer’s prompt for August:  Missed Connection
August 15, 2017	Fairy Ring
	JULY 2017
July 19, 2017	The branch that moved
July 17, 2017	One of my favorite places – York, Maine
July 15, 2017	“SPLATT”
July 14, 2017	I ripped the ass out of . . .
	JUNE 2017
June 25, 2017	Day Two – Broken Toe and Mr. Snake
June 24, 2017	Broken Toe
June 21, 2017	Fill up your senses . . . Summer Solstice
June 20, 2017	You’ve a lovely view
June 19, 2017	Fractured Fairy Tale: The Tortoise and The Hare
June 18, 2017	Cool . . . ahhhh . . . Cool Mornings
June 7, 2017	“Two Points”
	MAY 2017
May 27, 2017	“Is that a borrow-me?”
May 26, 2017	Unusual knowledge for a new secretary
May 25, 2017	Spent brass bullet jacket
May 24, 2017	Cosmos coming into bloom
May 23, 2017	Time versus heat in the kitchen – Let’s pressure cook
May 22, 2017	Braised radishes with Portobello Mushrooms
May 21, 2017	Mystery  unsolved as of yet
May 20, 2017	Fog in the meadows
May 19, 2017	Message in a Bottle
May 1, 2017	Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme
	APRIL 2017
April 22, 2017	The surprise birdhouse
April 21, 2017	Back to tidying ways . . . Mom’s letters
April 20, 2017	Oatmeal Spice Cookies from a cake mix
April 19, 2017	Proust’s famous little Madeleines
April 18, 2017	They can’t read their own handwriting?
April 17, 2017	DeWit Dutch hand hoe – I can’t garden without it.
April 16, 2017	Full Circle Happy Easter Everyone
April 15, 2017	Poem: Let’s Pay the Taxes with Asparagrus
April 14, 2017	You simply can’t take the salesmen of this fellow customer
April 13, 2017	Final Day on Paved patio
April 12, 2017	Day three of the pavers and patio
April 11, 2017	Day two of the Pavers
April 10, 2017	Pavers and sand arrived
April 9, 2017	Crop fit
April 8, 2017	Sack of live rabbits
April 7, 2017	In the lap of luxury
April 6, 2017	Early spring gardening trick
April 5, 2017	The surprising charm of a lone tulip
April 4, 2017	Grey Owl Juniper – I love them and hate them
April 3, 2017	New project – the dish garden patio around the raised kitchen garden
April 2, 2017	The best part of my day – Jasmine
April 1, 2017	It took me 3 days to enlarge the cobblestone walk 2 ½ feet by 5 feet

MARCH 2017

March 31, 2017	“I’m the CEO of this household . . .”
March 30, 2017	The tale of techniques
March 29, 2017	Freeze report on  Bradford Pears
March 28, 2017	I started planting out in the garden today
March 27, 2017	Sad report on the 21 to 23 degrees freeze we had a week or two ago
March 26, 2017	“It’s officially Spring” – He’s back
March 25, 2017	Catastrophe Struck – Quick Action?  AH . . . NO . . .
March 24, 2017	A cheap thrill – Potted violets from your garden
March 23, 2017	I was academically intimidated, but only for a short time
March 22, 2017	Talisman – second generation
March 21, 2017	You have such a nice voice on the phone
March 20, 2017	There’s a Carolina Wren looking at me
March 19, 2017	Perspective – mine changes – does yours
March 18, 2017	Writing group monthly exercise – color
March 17, 2017	My Favorite St. Patrick’s Day Memory
March 16, 2017	My French grandmother used to say we are Irish
March 15, 2017	I espied a Leprechaun . . . and I caught him
March 14, 2017	Cardoon research, Cynara cardunculus
March 13, 2017	Jerusalem Artichoke Tubers – Sun Chokes or Sunroots and also, French or Canada potato
March 12, 2017	The stillness of fallen snow
March 11, 2017	The World Almanac – oh what memories.
March 10, 2017	Choices, choices, choices – but more gardening than anything else. An update on what I have been up to.
March 9, 2017	A view from the Kitchen window
March 8, 2017
March 7, 2017
March 6, 2017	The Lenten Season – This year’s challenges
March 5, 2017	Old trick measuring with your hand
March 4, 2017	Plant stakes from recycled material
March 3, 2017	Bouquet of Daffodils
March 2, 2017	Blind Daffodils
March, 1, 2017	March flowers
March, 1, 2017	March flowers

FEBRUARY, 2017

February 28, 2017	Joy Journal – an entry for my husband
February 27, 2017	Tick-Tock, Tick-Tock
February 26, 2017	Reclaiming the back property line
February 25, 2017	UP? DOWN?  Anemone De Caen bulbs
February 24, 2017	Cutting back Maidenhair grass – Miscanthus sinensis
February 23, 2017	Every woman should own a pair of bolt cutters
February 22, 2017	The mysterious shadowy figure
February 21, 2017	Open letter to a new widow
February 20, 2017	Pull pots for spring planting
February 18, 2017	Snickerdoodles and seed starting
February 10, 2017	Do you think money grows on trees?
February 8, 2017	Where are you in life?  Where do you live?
February 7, 2017	Celebrate your life every day.
February 2, 2017	Proud Yankee and proud Patriot

                  

JANUARY, 2017

january 27, 2017	Could you make potato salad?
January 26, 2017	Joy Journal – A little tidbit from a “joy” celebrated.
January 25, 2017	January winter joys in the vegetable garden
January 20, 2017	Monique – my sewing mannequin
January 19, 2017	Reclaiming old garden space – stone mulch
January 18, 2017	In the dark – what again?
January 17, 2017	Marie Kondo’s tidying up magic – Part 3 – Books
January 16, 2017	Marie Kondo’s tidying up magic – Part 2 Folding
January 15, 2017	Marie Kondo’s tidying up magic
January 14, 2017	Awkward Family Reunion
January 13, 2017	A surprise compliment.
January 12, 2017	Time and the art of Living by Robert Grudin
January 11, 2017	Glycerizing Method of Magnolia Leaves
January 10, 2017	The Russian Tea Room – “Coffee Please?”
January 9, 2017	Red sun at morning, sailors’ take warning.
January 8, 2017	Winter storm damage – Mother Nature’s natural pruning
January 7, 2017	The morning we left Delaware.
January 7, 2017	Apology
January 6, 2017	Another floor mopping story.
January 5, 2017	How do you wash the kitchen floor?
January 4, 2017	Winter landscape review
January 3, 2017	Meeting an old friend and bumping into a friendly ghost.
January 2, 2017	A place for everything, and everything in its place.

DECEMBER 2016

December 31, 2016	New Year’s Resolutions
December 29, 2016	Out with the old – in with the new.
December 28, 2016	The year is coming to a close
December 27, 2016	Christmas Graciousness
December 26, 2016	Christmas Greens
December 25, 2016	Christmas Traditions
December 24, 2016	Christmas Story No. 4
December 23, 2016	Christmas Story No. 3
December 22, 2016	Christmas Story No. 2
December 21, 2016	Christmas Story No. 1
December 20, 2016	Daddy’s little garden helper.
December 19, 2016	Is it a bird, a plane – no, it’s a flaming flying saucer
December 18, 2016	The Mansard Roof Mansion adventure
December 17, 2016	Rain drop Mowing
December 16, 2016	The mystery of the disappearing sheet
December 15, 2016	I am the Master of the Master Closet
December 14, 2016	Christmas Tree Napkin Fold and Blue Cheese Crackers recipe
December 13, 2016	Christmas sentiments – Best Friend
December 12, 2016	Humor in the face of death
December 11, 2016	Dibble, a great gift for the Gardener
December 10, 2016	The Gardener’s Journal
December 9, 2016	My “pointy shrub” Christmas
December 8, 2016	Mistake – Big Mistake
December 7, 2016	Our Christmas Tradition – White Florist Cyclamen
December 6, 2016	Glory Lily – Gloriosa rothschildiana – also called Flame Lily
December 5, 2016	The Zen Garden
December 4, 2016	Tag or No Tag that is the predicament
December 3, 2016	Pack Rat – Political Cartons by Michael Ramirez
December 2, 2016	Rain, Rain, Rain and Winter Gardening
December 1, 2016	Shoe fetish

	NOVEMBER 2016
November 30, 2016	“Life ain’t fair!” I cried.
November 29, 2016	Pack Rat – tossing out saved recipes
November 28, 2016	Glazed Shallots – recipe
November 27, 2016	We do have local “culture” here in the county.
November 26, 2016	News clipping magic.
November 25, 2016	Black Friday
November 24, 2016	Thanksgiving leftovers in four acts.
November 23, 2016	Thanksgiving is food, family, and tradition.
November 22, 2016	Time is running short already and we aren’t even into December!
November 21, 2016	Point of View in the garden
November 20, 2016	The Rosary Beads
November 19, 2016	Murphy’s Law
November 18, 2018	When they say your first car is your first love – it’s true, even if you’re a girl.
November 17, 2016	Sunny day, cold air observations
November 16, 2016	This year start a new tradition . . .
November 15, 2016	Hoarfrost: The Blond Assassin
November 14, 2016	Hot Cocoa weather!
November 13, 2016	Wishing on a necklace clasp showing.
November 12, 2016	Lip brush luxury – you’ll LOVE IT
November 11, 2016	My brother visits North Carolina before I “get gone.”
November 10, 2016	Clever is as Clever does
November 9, 2016	“Fasten your seatbelts.  It’s going to be bumpy . . .”
November 8, 2016	The Skunk Whisperer
November 7, 2016	Force of Gravity oooopps moment.
November 6, 2016	Christmas Cookies
November 5, 2016	“Forever” Stamps.
November 4, 2016	The raccoon sniff.
November 3, 2016	Are you cold – your feet are blue?
November 2, 2016	Why few friends like to go clothes shopping with me.
November 1, 2016	The fall color has finally arrived!

OCTOBER 2016

October 31, 2016	Hoot Owl Cookies [a technique update] and Golden Beef Stew [recipe]
October 30, 2016	Occasionally I buy silly little things.
October 29, 2016	The lost art of the heart felt Thank you note.
October 28, 2016	Box of Fruit from the Band Fund Raiser
October 27, 2016	A place for everything and everything in its place.  Benjamin Franklin
October 26, 2016	Deer sightings in Three  Acts
October 25, 2016	Another treasurer from my archives while I am under the burden of a head-cold.  Vintage Potpourri – Column No. 1
October 24, 2016	SNEAKERS
October 23, 2016	I opened the door to the aroma of home baked muffins . . .
October 22, 2016	Oops, is it my age or my education showing?
October 21, 2016	“I’m a cheapskate at heart . . . or am I frugal?”
October 20, 2016	“Cat here is a no name slob.”
October 19, 2016	Have you ever watched leaves fall of trees in the Fall?
October 18, 2016	White lace and Promises . . .
October 17, 2016	Tidbits, Teasers & Wanderings
October 16, 2016	“I Dare You” by author William H. Danforth
October 15, 2016	Dumpster Dive Lilies
October 14, 2016	PSSST . . . let me tell you about my secret gardening weapon
October 13, 2016	Birthday dinner in Paris, France, in 1987 – Conclusion
October 12, 2016	Birthday dinner in Paris, France, in 1987 –  Part I
October 11, 2016	Surprises in the Fall Garden
October 10, 2016	This is a family heirloom story that is not yet complete.
October 9, 2016	Usefulness is not impaired by imperfection.  You can drink from a chipped cup.
October 8, 2016	Please take my word for it; switching from summer clothes to winter clothes isn’t always easy.
October 7, 2016	If you want the best seat in the house, you have to move the cat.
October 6, 2016	Another reprint from the original column – Thoughts from Quail Thicket
October 5, 2016	All in the family – writers of one kind or another.
October 4, 2016	Bulb Planting – session 2 – Going to Plan B.
October 3, 2016	Remember the importance of “now” in the garden cycle.
October 2, 2016	Hoot Owl Cookies
October 1, 2016	Fall is in the air – which makes me turn to Fall Cleaning SEPTEMBER
September 30, 2016	Oh! The perfect pear. Plus bonus recipe.
September 29, 2016	BAH-Hamburger, Herb Hamburgers, and Where’s the Beef?
September 28, 2016	A salute to my Mom on my Birthday
September 27, 2016	One of those embarrassing moments in life
September 26, 2016	The fashion police are not interested
September 25, 2016	Lounge Liz-zard Relocation Team
September 24, 2016	How I got the name for this Blog – reprint of original column
September 23, 2016	Let’s talk about Red Two Lips -  mean, Tulips
September 22, 2016	I snagged a “Cinderella” pumpkin at my favorite garden center
September 21, 2016	Have you ever screwed up and the family never lets you forget
September 20, 2016	French Woman and the scarf
September 19, 2016	Love Letters in the Sand – Far from it
September 18, 2016	Ikebana “In Situ” technique – expanded to composting
September 17, 2016	Pecan Chocolate Chip Tassies [recipe]
September 16, 2016	“Two shall now become one”
September 15, 2016	Eradicating Johnson Grass sorghum halepense
September 14, 2016	The Good the Bad and the Curious
September 13, 2016	The mystery of the dirty blue tea kettle
September 12, 2016	Spotlight on Liriope muscari variegate
September 11, 2016	Caladiums – Color in the Garden from July
September 10, 2016	“What do you do?”
September 9, 2016	Essay: What is success?
September 8, 2016	Meeting a new friend and furniture shopping
September 7, 2016	Near the top of my to-do list is “Update my personal phone/address book”.
September 6, 2016	Twenty six years ago – what got me started
September 5, 2016	A Renaissance women or “life skills”
September 4, 2016	I recommend two books
September 3, 2016	End of Summer Basil Tomatoes – recipe
September 2, 2016	Are you local? A question directed at me.
September 1, 2016	First Post – First place poem in Anuran – The New Corporate Wife, Winning Essay – First Place