Back in Vermont --July 22

Taking a trip to Ohio earlier in July, I attended a lecture on a topic dear to my heart: children and nature. Based on the book Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv, the powerpoint lecture emphasized all the areas time spent in nature nurtures: emotions, physical well being, spirituality, intelligence and self confidence. What could be more fun--all for free? Within the next few days, we took my five-year-old nephew Andrew to the Holden Arboretum to the "Wild Child" sections. He explored the pond area, falling in, and then we found the fort building area. We went right to work!

Back in Vermont on July 19th, I got busy with the antique booth and the lawn (fields?). The grass and gardens had run wild and the birds had left for fuller feeders. I am still trying to woo them back. After three days, the goldfinches have returned along with a few chickadees. When I saw a chipmunk jump up onto the round feeder, I knew why that seed had disappeared so fast. I wonder if birds are afraid of chipmunks? The hummies are back, too, and I will fill up their glass feeder tomorrow with the 1-4 sugar water. Meanwhile, they have enjoyed the red and pink bee balm nectar.
I looked forward to my date with the big John Deere tractor on Friday afternoon. The weather was hot but dry. I pulled out my numbered directions and reviewed them carefully after strapping on the seat belt. Where was the throttle, and what did that little diagram of a rectangle mean? I checked the handy direction booklet rolled up in its canister behind the seat. I figured it out and mowed for two hours. I have yet to figure out the most efficient way to mow this large area. I seemed to go around a lot of curves and unnecessary loop de loops. Once I relaxed and realized that I would not tip over, I began to smile. Fun. The fields look good, flat and green with some areas of desert. I call them EBG: Everything But Grass. Next time, I will put on the earphones to protect my ears and get my can of soda all set up in the cup holder. I did have my hat and sunglasses on. The weather had been dry, so the dust and dirt flew everywhere. Friday was the first of several two-shower days.