Archive for the ‘strategies for winter’ Category
making snowmen
In winter, the snowy roadside slopes keep a record of events. Animal tracks, snowmobile trails and sledding runs each tell a story of adventures in the snow.
~
~
~
On a drive to Mactaquac, we saw yet another story being told. Narrow tracks, each with a small snowball at the base, document the activities of gravity and wind. I think they are taking the first steps toward making snowmen along the roadside.
~
~
~
snow games
~
at first
wind and gravity
collaborate, roll
the heads of snowmen
down the grade
~
wind nudges
the tracks, plays games
of parallels
and criss-crosses
~
gravity tires
of rivalry, abandons
bodiless heads
in the snowy ditch
~
~
May you encounter interesting stories on your winter travels!
All my best!
Jane
ice falls
Last weekend we took a drive along Highway 8 from Fredericton to Boisetown, a relatively new road to bypass Marysville and the older winding road along the Nashwaak River. For some of its length, the highway has been carved through bedrock and includes several impressive road cuts. I find these interesting because they show the geological formations in the bedrock. In winter, they are beautiful, a result of the frozen curtains of runoff and overland flow.
~
~
Some of these cuts show thick ice flows, frozen waterfalls and dripping icicles.
~
~
~
Most are browning in colour, probably from inclusion of sediments, but some are clear and blue.
~
~
In a few places, it’s possible to look through gaps in the flow, and get a glimpse of the still, cold spaces lurking just out of sight.
~
~
~
curtain of ice
~
frozen land drools, and water
follows contours of rock
encounters cold, sculpts
cataracts and waterfalls, builds
frozen walls, solidifies
panes of glass, stitches
curtains of frost and filigree
icicle knives
~
behind the curtain are caves
spaces where light glimmers,
diffuse where whispers shiver,
muted, protected from wind
glimpse inward layers
through flaws in rigid curtains
frosted shards of rock
icicle knives
~
~
For more on ice falls, including another poem, see
https://janetims.com/2012/03/10/snippets-of-landscape-ice-falls-on-rock-walls-2/
~
My best always,
Jane
black ice
black ice – a transparent coating of ice on a road, usually asphalt
~
Winter comes with its driving challenges. Heavy snow, slippery roads, poor visibility … a good driver is aware of them all. Black ice is particularly challenging … it’s hard to see, often unnoticeable until you are trying to navigate across it. It may look like bare pavement, smooth sailing all the way! Black ice can be a metaphor for any dangerous encounter in our lives.
~
~
charisma
~
your eyes glitter
crystals of salt
I think you are
untrustworthy
your charm a veneer
~
black ice only shows
in a stray beam
of moonlight
or when headlights are switched
to high
~
~
Drive with care in every incident of life!!!
Jane
first ephemeral snow
snowflakes
absorbed by wet pavement
as though
they never existed at all
~
~
all my best,
Jane
herb growing in winter #3
My AeroGarden guide says “don’t be afraid to prune.” Me, I love to prune. I must be doing it correctly since I am getting a small harvest every day or two!
~
My plants are Basil, Tai Basil, Genovese Basil, unknown (labelled ‘Curly Parsley’ but definitely not), Thyme (hardly growing but trying) and Romaine Lettuce (planted last week).
I chop the leaves as I prune them and they are crisp enough to crumble in a couple of days.
~
Photos of my ‘harvest’ …
~
my garden after today’s pruning … gro-light makes a good photo difficult
~
my ‘harvest … lots of leaves make a small amount of dried herb …
~
~
Copyright Jane Tims 2018
a new birdfeeder
My coke bottle bird feeder finally succumbed to the weight of our colossal grey squirrel.
~
My next attempt at a home-made bird feeder – a feeder made from a string of coconut shells. I cut the shells in half and removed the coconut many years ago, in an attempt to make a wind chime. They have been hiding in a bag in the closet and are part of my latest de-cluttering effort. I drilled a hole in the bottom of each half and strung them on a nylon chord. Let’s see what the birds think of them.
~
~
Back to my writing. Enjoy your sunflower seeds, birds (and squirrels).
~
Copyright Jane Tims 2018
herb growing in winter #2
A while ago, I told you I was starting an AeroGarden. The garden grows plants in ‘pods’, with addition of light, water and nutrients. After 54 days, my garden is growing mint and two kinds of basil in profusion. Two of the plants, thyme and another type of basil, are very slow, but growing and healthy. A fifth pod got mold and never grew.
~
~
Every three days, I prune about one third of the growth. I remove the leaves, cut them into smaller pieces with scissors and spread them to dry on parchment paper. Our house is very dry and in 24 hours I can crumble the dry leaves and add them to my growing store of herbs.
~
~
Basil is one of my favourite herbs, so I am very pleased with my AeroGarden.
It uses lots of water so I have to remember to add water every day. A little screen tells me how long the pods have been growing and when to add nutrients. Otherwise, as a garden it is trouble-free – no weeds, so I am happy!
~
~
Copyright 2018 Jane Tims
