Hickory nuts from our shag (or Shagbark ) hickory – nicknamed Junior. Junior was a baby when we first moved here. A sapling. His father, one of the four magnificent trees in our front yard that we fell in love with when we first saw the property, mysteriously died several years ago. We have no idea why. We also had to take down our weeping willow, which was one of the trees that sold me on the house, because its roots had invaded our septic system. Now, there are only two of those four trees left – the catalpa and the maple.
Junior started producing nuts a few years back. Between Junior and several black walnut trees on the property, we have a lot of nuts on the ground. (Some might say that there are two nuts living in the house, as well.)
They’ve really weighed down the lower branches this season.
It rained over the weekend and rained all night long – torrential rain. More to come later today and on Wednesday. Sigh. I wish I could describe how waterlogged this property is. After I finish this post, I’ll go downstairs to empty the dehumidifier bucket.
Oh, for a cool, crisp and dry autumn!
I am now reading the epilogue of War and Peace. It’s long and rather dry, with Tolstoy talking about war and historians. In my younger days, I would have skipped it, saying I had finished the book. But really, if I skip it, I haven’t finished this book. I’ve just stopped early. So I will finish it, knowing Tolstoy was very wise and that I am sure to glean some gems from his musings.
Then I’ll be done!
That book I reserved from the library – where I am number one in the queue – is still not on its way to me. So maybe I am #1 in line, but the book itself hasn’t been returned yet so it cannot travel to my library. Our branch isn’t open today, so I won’t get an update until tomorrow. Can you tell I’m anxious to read it?
Don just left to grab a few things at the grocery store. I threw all the towels in the wash. I need to find the subject matter for my next painting. Don is writing a new song.
That’s kind of it, my friends. Not at all exciting. We need to work, but there’s nothing on the horizon for me. Darko has two productions coming up, but neither of them need a speech/dialect/acting coach, as far as I can tell.
Don can’t work because of the strike.
In keeping with the theme of the post, we’re going a little bit nuts!
Yes, I know it’s September 11th. I’ve talked about it many times over the years, so I’ll leave it at that. At some point, repeating what has been said before is unnecessary. We all know.
Stay safe.
Happy Monday.
Yes, we all remember that day and its tragic events. It changed the world. Sorry you’re getting so much rain. It has certainly not been a dry summer for you guys. Keep reading, keep playing with your dolls and keep the faith that fall will be beautiful – blue skies, coloured leaves, a chill in the air. Hugs, Elaine
Thanks so much, Elaine.
Stay safe.
I just put our flag out to honor the day.
I’ve never seen hickory nuts before…. very interesting. I’ll have to Google them and read more! I can see where you would have been so taken with your willow tree…they are so beautiful! But pipes clogged from tree roots are not! Happy reading!
I had to leave for the day when they came to take it down. I couldn’t bear to watch.
Stay safe, Barrie.
minus rain for you, that sounds like a nice day … chores balanced by interests, a bit of this, a bit of that … enjoy!
i’ve always done the same thing with books … read the forward, the epilogue, even the acknowledgements … places the author can include something important about the book or to him or her. if i ever get my books published, i want people to do the same for me. :)
an update … finally received a letter from the bone doctor about those parathyroid scans. said no tumors found, thinks the high “intact pth” level is due to very low vitamin d level so am taking a lot more d supplements now. will have the occasional test of vitamin d and calcium levels in my blood. apparently low vitamin d levels are very common, like maybe 50% of people in the world have that deficiency and it has some not-good consequences so please get that checked.
a little more jimmy, please? (always!) last wednesday i had an experience that made me think my beloved mother and jimmy buffett have met in heaven and had a conversation in which my mother thanked jimmy for all the happiness he’s provided her parrothead daughter over many, many years and he (after meeting my mother) said he now knows that her passing/my missing her are the reason i cry during some of his songs. and the thought in my head continued that they decided to ask God to give me a sign that they’ve met and are both safe and happy as can be up in heaven (i’ve known that about her for nearly ten and a half years). how else to explain that, as i was heading over to see family members, on a quiet road (blocks of trees and a walking path on one side, a big open space on the other), on a windy afternoon, i saw something in the street … a beach ball (like the dozens and dozens i’ve brought to jimmy’s shows) was in my lane, the 15 mph winds not blowing it around, like it was there just for me …? made me cry, made me smile. :) i took a couple photos, put the beach ball in my car and will share it with another parrothead. :)
at the risk of anyone thinking i’m cracking up, please know that i’m not. just wanting to share an experience that, among the tragic, feels like a bit of magic and is really what i’ve heard called a “God-wink”, a sign from God that He loves our loved ones and us, too, that He cares about the things we care about. :)
also, as a Christian, i was happy to read that jimmy joined a church in his later years. :)
okay … time for doing other things.
hope everyone has a nice, easy day! stay safe!
kathy
ps to claudia and vicki … thanks for the good wishes about going to see gino vannelli or not. no decision yet. will let you know.
Love the beach ball story, Kathy.
So thankful the test results are “fixable.” Answered prayers there! And no, I don’t think you are cracking up at all. I had a similar thing happen to me many, many years ago after my father passed. Even though it happened 50 plus years ago, I still remember it vividly and know it was a sign from God to reassure me that my father was fine and happy. Thanks for sharing.
thanks, dottie! prayers felt and appreciated. also reciprocated.
the possibility of a parathyroid tumor(s) and surgery was scary, but the idea of such surgery solving troubles literally overnight honestly sounded like a pretty good trade. as is … supplements and regular testing of vitamin d and calcium levels (because too much can be a problem just like too little). at least there’s an answer.
dottie, i am so sorry that your father passed on … you were both way too young! :( sending a hug (if okay), sincere condolences and gladness you had that comforting message. thank you for sharing, too.
kathy
thanks, shanna.
it is comforting and makes me smile when i think about it. and that’s the point (or one of them), isn’t it? :)
hope you and fred are well and happy, having a good day.
kathy
see below, please. i replied in the wrong place.
kathy
First, I’m happy about your test results, Kathy.
Second, I love your story about the beach ball. What a wonderful message to receive!
I have had many experiences like the one you described. One that comes immediately to mind is the “visits” I had from my mom as she declined in the nursing home. Always when I was alone. Always with the scent of her favorite cream, Oil of Olay. On the day she died, Don said, what’s that smell? I hadn’t smelled it yet but I soon did. It was my mom.
Visits from my brother and grandfather. All sorts of stories.
So happy for you.
thanks much, claudia. :)
i am glad you’ve had those experiences! some people might find them spooky or nothing more than emotions running wild, but we know better, don’t we?!? to me, they are comforting, a reminder that life and love and connections don’t end, that there is more beyond just what we can see or imagine.
my mother used “oil of olay” and i loved that scent (wonder if they still make it?)!
before covid, my sister and i went to a huge store out of state, arrived way too early and (as we were stiff from driving about four hours) we got out of my car and stood in an otherwise huge and completely empty parking lot. at the same time, we stopped what we were doing, looked at each other and said “grandpa’s pipe tobacco! do you smell it?!?”. there was nothing like a bakery, factory, etc. nearby (we were at a new-to-us ikea store; their parking lots are huge and there wasn’t a single other car there yet), but we had each just then smelled the cherry pipe tobacco that our paternal grandfather used to smoke (had not smelled it in 35 years nor since). wonderful experience. wonderful man. :)
thanks for sharing.
hope you and don had a good day. happy early tuesday.
kathy
I find those experiences enormously comforting, Kathy.
xo
ps … thank you; i appreciate your happiness on my behalf.
i am a person with faith in God, but can also admit that for a couple of moments i was really kind of stunned to see the beach ball out there, then very quickly into my head popped those thoughts about my mother and jimmy meeting and then i was smiling through my tears. oh, God is good. more than good! :)
kathy
xo
I am glad to hear the test results were good. Vitamin D is an important vitamin. Wishing you the best Kathy. ;)
thanks, donnamae! :)
been learning more and more about vitamin d … you are right; it is very important!
hope you and your family are enjoying cooler weather and fun, easy days, donnamae!
prayers for and good wishes to you, too.
kathy
I tend to be low on Vitamin D too and take 4000 units a day. Works for me! I feel better with it. And that’s very good news on the thyroid tests.
glad that helps you!
my doctor said for me to take 2,000 of vitamin d in the morning and another 2,000 in the afternoon. not sure why to split it instead of taking it all at once, but hopefully it helps me, too.
thanks, jeanie. happy, safe tuesday!
kathy
Hickory nuts! Reminds me of that old tv commercial by Euell Gibbons for Grape Nuts, “tastes like wild hick’ry nuts!”. You should try them and see if they taste like Post Grape Nuts.
I remember that!
Stay safe, Shanna.
I am so sick and tired of thunder and rain. My dog seconds this.
Oh my god, so am I!!!
Stay safe, Betsy.
Do you harvest and eat the nuts off your trees, Claudia?
No. I’m not a big fan of nuts. I don’t think Don has ever thought about it. We leave them on the ground for the various critters (and there are many) who love them.
Stay safe.
dear Claudia/Don — we are very dry here (still) — wish you could box up some of that rain and send it to us, haha!! a little slim chance for rain tomorrow — hoping wxman is right!! vividly remember that 9/11 assault/tragedy — many memorial services around here today — never, never should we ever forget. stay safe
It’s raining here on Wednesday – again.
Wish we could send some your way.
Stay safe.
I had to do some research on hickory nuts. Didn’t know you could cook with them. Have you ever tried?
It was a little rainy and misty today. We were at a funeral about two hours away…so the mist hid our tears.
Hope you don’t have to wait too long for your next read. My TBR stack is not going down….I just keep adding to it. Have a good evening. ;)
sorry for your loss, donnamae. :(
sending a hug (if okay) along with the hope that your available time to read is big and matches your “tbr” pile!
kathy
Hugs are always okay…and thanks! ;)
No, we’re not big on nuts – especially yours truly.
I’m sorry for your loss, Donnamae.
Stay safe.
RIck has a hickory nut tree — eating outdoors at this time of year can almost guarantee a nut falling on the table — or our heads! Of course, if it doesn’t warm up or stop raining soon, eating out is a moot point!
But it is hard to lose a tree. I hate it when that happens, even when necessary (like the roots.) HOpe it dries off soon.
It’s always heartbreaking (to me.) Trees are wonderful beings.
Stay safe, Jeanie.