Farmer Whisperer and a bird of a miracle.

I'm about to share a story with you.  A story captured with pictures.  I was at home alone when out of the corner of my eye, I saw the cat run by heading for the bathroom where he released his occasional mouse offerings. I knew he'd drop the item in the bathtub and it may be in various stages of consciousness.  So, I grabbed my trusty mouse container and prepared for possible live capture.  Only this time, it was not a mouse. It was a tiny and fragile hummingbird.  My heart sank to see it laying upside down and only shallowly breathing.  I removed the cat, closed the door, and opened the bathroom window.  I figured I'd give it some time to collect it's barings and hopefully fly out on it's own, if it was able to.  However, at first glance, the situation seemed hopeless to me. 

Then farmer C. arrived. I mentioned the event unfolding in the bathroom.  He disappeared from view and then I noticed C. sitting outside with the hummingbird held tenderly in hands.  Something quiet and peaceful about C.'s concentration and this little hummer.   

 

Something told me to keep watching. Something special was happening.

 

 

I suddenly realized that the contrasts in this scene were

inspiring me. The size of man vs. tiny bird. The roughness of the farmer's hands vs the fragility of this soft bird. The sacrifice of compassion vs the will to survive. 

 

 

 

I stood in my hidden spot, watched and waited....









And waited.
And watched.


Until I couldn't watch anymore.  I left and came back periodically to check on them.

It was almost as if C. was trying to heal and encourage the bird.  Giving it a safe and warm place to gather the confidence and allow the life it had before. 




A private whisper for bird
from man.











Then after about 20 minutes just after I took this picture

It buzzed off!  A miracle!
Overjoyed, I ran outside and told C. how I had been inside taking pictures all along and how fantastic I thought that the hummer flew off, when I noticed C. had tears in his eyes....
I didn't mention it again until a few days later.  I asked him what had occurred between him and the bird during that time.  He only said, "I was concerned." I knew he had been a black belt martial arts teacher years ago and asked him if that's where his concentration was learned.  "You could say that." He replied.  "Was it a male or female?  Do you know?"  I asked.  "It was a male."  Hmmm, I thought. Maybe he was so mysterious because it was some sort of male bonding thing?   I'll never know...

Inspirations, Dreams and recipe for Po'man's soup

 

When the world is ice cold and seems to push against her; she just puts a smile on her face and gets out there. 

 

 

Be sure to check out both sides of the fence and choose your side with care.

 

According to R., we are living in the age of "peak everything".  In a nutshell, the planet can not support the population with it's limited resources. "The fallout has already begun." He tells me.
"The ship is sinking. We are on a speeding train heading towards collision with an unknown date."  He points out examples of raising gas prices and food costs, corporate takeovers, political corruption,environmental degredation, on-and-on. 
"If it is already too late", I asked him. "What can we do about it?"
"Get prepared.  He replied.  "Pare down your lifestyle.  Learn some basic skills to survive the rough. times ahead."  I listen to R.'s recommended radio shows with authors of books who were former college professors or scientists who back his words as if by order.  They also push their books in subliminal ways and in the same breath tell you how making money will be of no use in the future. They go on to say that all our interactions will be limited to a local level using mostly a barter system and integrated community support.

So I begin to commute by bike. In my sleep, I have dreams of designing an enclosed rainproof cover to use my bike more as I do a car.
The chicken coop.  We can always eat eggs and <gulp> chicken and share them with others...The coop will be ready for spring chicks.  I wonder if I can hang with some cute chicks and not think of them as friends, but as a source of food.  It would be odd indeed to think of eating something that shot out of your new friends' backside. I suppose that's better than from a complete stranger.  

Hmmm. This brings us to the next episode of

Dispatches from BFE To The City, episode two

 

Today's topic:

 

HOW TO MAKE PO' MAN'S SOUP
 

 

 

"Please sir, can I have another treat?"

 

Presented to you by: Dog Tired Times and Naptime Productions

                                (A sustainable, local and all-around lazy company)

 

So, you don't have anything in the fridge?  Do you have an onion and garlic clove? 

 

 

 

Dice and Stir fry onion and garlic in oil to your desired texture and crispness.

Add water according to how many people you are feeding.

Any leftover meat or bones?  Add.

Add any vege(s) you got left over from your fridge in order of density and bring water to boil. (carrots, root veges/potatoes in first)

When these begin to soften, add frozen/or canned veges, if you have them. Add beans or left over pasta if you have it

Add fresh veges and/or

go to your yard and pick some dandelions or other edible green weeds. (Remember, you'll need to know before this situation arrives which ones are edible)

Basically, add anything you got at the right time...

Add spices from your kitchen herb garden, remove the bones if any in there and voila! 

 

A Po' man's soup, to warm your soul. 

 

 

 

And as we look due south, a silver lining...

 

Until next time......

 

 



Windy Winter Antics /Awwww, take a walk.

 

 A day off and I can not afford to skip a walkie with the boss.   She demands this of me no matter the weather.  So off we went this morning into gale force winds along the coastline of Washington state.   It was my bright idea. I thought that because it was a little windy that the two of us would enjoy a quiet empty trail... I was right.  We saw only 1 other person because everyone else knows YOU WOULD HAVE TO BE INSANE TO BE OUT THERE!  

This is how it went. I made sure I had the proper gear on, (please see the new, "Dispatches from BFE to the City" adventure series starting at end of this post)and we headed out.  I felt like the wind was literally going to sweep my legs back and I would take off like a kite.  What was the boss thinking of this wind? I looked over at her with her blown inside-out ears.  She had a huge #$%&-eating grin on her face.  Truth is, she really doesn't care as long as she's outside. She is a total outdoor enthusiast and she only puts up with my expletives because she loves me......Nice to be loved. 

Brrrrrrrrrrr.





Sometimes I think I'm not enough of a back woods, thrill seeking mountain adventurer for her.  I'm always huffing and puffing after a 10 mile hike.  She comes home and says, "Ok, what shall we do now?  Come on, at least throw the ball awhile.  PLEEEEASE?"   She never worries about her "do" or chapping her lips or looking cute....She just is what she is and does what she does. 

We put up with each other. It feels kind-of like the odd couple sometimes.

 

 

 

"Who's the cat,(or dog in this case) that won't cop out,

when there is danger all about?

SHAFT!

Right on!

And we can dig it! "

 

-Theme from "Shaft" 

By: Isaac Hayes, the coolest

 

 

 

Dispatches from BFE to the City , episode one

 

Today's topic:

A WINTER GEAR GUIDE FOR IDIOTS

 

presented by: Getting Some Tail Dog Walking Services

 

 

P. Dog and I stood near the cliff, not too close to the edge because we were at least smart enough to know that a gust could blow us over the side.  Sand was blowing up and over the ridge from the beach below. I could see the granules accumulating on P and felt them hit my face.  I unzipped my jacket pocket and slipped the BALACLAVA over my head. No, I did NOT say "Baklava".  A Balaclava is a ski mask.  It is used to protect the face and keep the head warm.  This protective clothing item has a long history with the military and police as either part of a helmet system or concealment of identity.  Mine is polar fleece and I wear it over my entire face, only exposing my eyes.  We walked on to an area with a long straight-away and that's when I saw him.  A guy running towards us. He stopped dead in his tracks and I realized that I was essentially wearing men's clothes and a mask that has a reputation of being worn by criminals during acts of illegal activities.  I shouted to him that I was ok, er a girl just walking my dog and er, a nice person.  As he ran by me, he smiled an awkward smile and I giggled like an silly school girl.  Can't be too careful these days, I guess.  And uh, what in the world was he doing wearing shorts?  Here is what I was wearing:

                                               (sorry girls, this is not a fashion show)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tops: base layer: not cotton.  This is not your mama's long underwear.  It's what the big boys wear.

Short or long sleeve shirt to wear over the top base layer. This can be stripped off if needed.

Wind breaking/water resistant, fleece lined jacket.  For days like today.  Hoods are good.

Bottoms: I'm not going to tell you what type of undies to wear, you figure that out!  Next base layer tights. Mine are fleece lined.  Sometimes I wear them under dresses.  Love them in winter! If you are hiking in the mountains wear shorts over these.  Today I needed rain pants over them, looked like rain.

Socks: light poly socks for wicking away moisture and keeping hiking socks in place. And a good quality hiking sock and water resistant, not too bulky hiking boots....Make sure everything fits right or you will suffer.

Gloves: You will regret it if you forget these!  Fleece for holding the leash.

Did I forget anything? 

Oh, yes.........

 

Tha Balaclava:

 

This is me.  Be careful where you wear these.  I hear they are illegal in France.

 Note: Fleece alone is not good protection agaist wind.  In fact, wind goes right through it. Sometimes you just have to use what you have.  This mask helped against the blowing sand, but then my face got too hot.  This hat better suits lower temperatures.  Also, the quality base layers come in temperature ratings and different weights.  In winter here, I usually use the med. weight ones.

 

 

 

My frozen street in winter 2013.

As I write this, the wind sounds like it is pulling the roof off the house.  Wind at 30-40 mph according to NOAA.  Me thinks it's more than that!  May lose power tonight.  Time to set up the wood stove.

And a

winter sun worshipping skinny feline



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