Life and Times at Cranberry Lake

This blog is about the life, wild and otherwise, in this immediate area of Northeast Pennsylvania. I hope you can join me and hopefully realize and value that common bond we share with all living things... from the insect, spider, to the birds and the bears... as well as that part of our spirit that wishes to be wild and free.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

A LOG ON MY TRAIL

Last week there really was a "log on my trail." But, if I remember to do so, I thought I'd check in with my few readers by writing a log of my walk in the woods right after I return from a walk and am still inspired by whatever wonder of the day, and maybe transport you on a quiet get-away from the hustle bustle of the world.

Today is a nice sunny comfortably warm dry fall day. A good day to do a little work on my middle trail, so I took fallen log-an ash dead stand-which had cracked into manageable pieces, and shifted a piece that fell against the edge so it lay along the trail, to give the path more support. I had taken my small "ladies" pick-ax, using it to level the trail. The slant hurts Tom's ankles... his only complaint, as he likes the work I've done in the woods to make comfortable trails on which we usually take a morning walk together. We have some old plastic Adirondack chairs at points along the trail for resting and meditating, or simply for listening to the birds or enjoying the view.

I have 3 trails up to the lake, 2 of them merge at the old oak tree that fell into the field back in the late '80s. There's a fourth path-Tom's ATV trail. I gave him for Father's Day some year quite long ago, so he wouldn't use my foot paths. Tom took his bush whacker across the field that's gone wild above, and now keeps it nicely mowed.


The first trail we ever had is the one along the edge of the gorge in which the overflow from the lake, Cranberry Run is located. That was also the first trail that got blocked by falling trees, on which I've dug under as well as built over in order to keep up that trail throughout the years. On that one, I had my saw along, as a log that fell last winter blocks it for a safe trail home when cross country skiing, as in avoiding the log, the downhill run is uncontrollable and dangerous. I've started the cut, but sawing a log in two by hand is sometimes a long job, best split into short work days so I don't use up all my energy for the day.

If anyone observed all the work I've done along the trail they would probably say it wasn't worth the effort, as it is always changing, and work has to be redone, but it's a work of love. I love my paths, and it's on those trails that I feel close to nature and God. When I work on them, the spiritual energy I get in return keeps my spirits renewed, and gives me a sense of peace in a world in which I need to be reminded that it is more peaceful than otherwise. Listening to the news, and talking politics may convince us otherwise, and, at that point, we all need a plain path to walk on and observe nature's changes, and how it is more powerful in the end.

So, whether a log down or not, I will share my thoughts, which, hopefully won't be as boring as this 'log' after one of my daily walks in the woods.

Friday, September 10, 2010

A PAPER SAVED IS A TREE EARNED:

I don't get the credit card company who wants me to pay electronically to save on paper... like I'm going to let ANYONE touch my bank account. They say paying electronically SAVES PAPER, and then they send me 3-4 pages of PAPER on a bill that should be less than one page 8"x11" ...And those other pages are advertising and CHECKS. I have a CHECKING ACCOUNT that they want to tap into to have me pay electronically, and then they give me their own checks that will ONLY cost me $5 each to use them instead of the plastic, whereas my checking account is free at my bank since my SS was direct deposited.

Then, I was thinking when I got in from the garden to wash my hands: The most clean thing you can wipe your hands on is a paper towel, but the most environmental friendly way is to use a terry cloth towel. And, I remembered there was a commercial that I haven't seen lately---one that convinces me that the paper companies are hurting--which shows a new kind of paper towel, and though costly, it pops up one at a time like certain tissues, and is designed to be placed on the old towel rack minus the terry cloth possibly germy one which is being displaced.

I also remember back when the hospitals started getting computers. They were for instant knowledge of the patient once he was in the computer system, and would cut down on red tape. My daughter's father in law had a small operation, and was telling about all the different times he had to give his LIFE'S HISTORY from one department to another... same questions asked over and over. And, I don't have to tell almost everyone about all the separate bills you get afterwards. Why can't they put it all in one bill, and when paid, the hospital's clerical workers would distribute the payments to X-ray; the doctor; the hospital itself for use of it's bed and operating table... two separate beds you'll be paying for. So, thanks to the computer, life has gotten more complicated, and there is more paper work than ever. Do you agree. Please disagree and prove it otherwise. I would be so pleased.

So, I say, "Men, keep using the cloth handkerchiefs, and women, change the terry cloth towels daily, after teaching the kids to wash their hands singing the Happy Birthday song twice while washing their hands, before drying them. Use less papertowels in the kitchen, and throw that cloth rag you use for cleanup into the wash at the end of each day.

So be it.

Tuesday, September 07, 2010

Evening, September 5, 2001

GNATS

Our evening walk to the lake:

Tom said, "Thanks a lot. You left them with me."
meaning the gnats.

I wanted to tell him, as I went on,
up to the end of the road beside the lake:
"That was just a unit.
The rest of the army went with me."

While the dogs and I marched on,
the gnats followed,
doing their air-force maneuvers.
Only by walking fast could I avoid them.

If I slowed down (to write this... as I did)
They did their Blue Angels imitation
seeing how close they could fly by,
and some would fly too close,
getting caught in my eyes,
or landing on their 'runway'
to refuel!"

~~~~~


Morning, September 6, 2001

Morning Delight:

Today all the little waterbugs-so many
-swimming like little jet-skis
-looking like sparkling beads
gathering together-safety in numbers,
reflecting the bright morning sun...
gathering warmth after a cold night.

As if on cue, they ripple the water
splitting to form new shapes
...And like cloud watching,
I find myself interpreting codes:

With my head cocked to one side,
the big group looks like an E
The smaller looks like a dash
beginning to form an equal sign.

"Ah, yes.. genius
bugs figuring out Einstein's Theory
E=m..."

I left before they figured out
the rest of the equation.
;-)