INDEPENDENCE DAY, 2012

Broderbund ClickArt

For 76 years I have had the incredible experience of having been blessed to be born in the land of freedom, which is not free but for those 76 years has continued to be paid voluntarily by blood of untold numbers of patriots, most of whom I have never known.

I have walked among the many names of graves in Arlington cemetery and many private cemeteries. I know only a few with whom I may have actually had some knowledge of. Some graves bear marks of a preferred religion, but I have never seen a military marker with a political party designation. The military protect all of us, even those of us who are unappreciative, disobedient, or anarchist, all races, political and religious persuasions--everyone.

Flag in Snow Storm- Our Front Yard

When I consider the writers of our Declaration of Independence, I don't see all these divisionary political and religious terms thrown about today. From history I know they were of different persuasions politically, socially, religiously. Yet they were able to reach a consensus of wording, not only for the Declaration of Independence, but also a Constitution that has been minimally amended for over 200 years.
By the way, the four Presidents chosen for Mount Rushmore, were not of same political persuasion, from conservative to progressive, yet at the time of its inception those four Presidents were considered the outstanding presidents from the birth of a nation.

What happened? I lament.  I can only speculate.

The direct purely democratic process evolved into largely a representative  democracy for a rapidly growing nation. In fact the Constitution created this type of government. The town hall where citizens met to directly address issues among themselves became a relic with the ever enlarging nation of states and peoples..

With this evolution, and the right of petition, the democratic process became somewhat polluted by special interests with finances to influence, and even promise financial backing in  re-election to our representatives from President, Senators, Representatives, even down to the larger city officials.

US Flag & Dallas Cowboys Flag
Yes, I Can Fly Another Flag As
Long As the US Flag Is Higher
Than Any Other Flag. Oh! Yeah!
I Think The Cowboys Claimed
the Name of America's Team,
a Disputable Fact, I Know!

But I still can choose to celebrate our Nation's birthday anyway, I choose. If  I don't go for hot dogs and hamburgers, watermelon and ice cream, there is not a food police coming by with a baton to enforce a tradition. I can choose to fly a flag, or not. [At our house it flies 24 hours on a permanent pole, and yes, there is a yard light on it, too.]

I can travel within the nation across state lines without being stopped and asked to show some national ID card, because I am a naturally born citizen.

No place on earth has ever been enticing enough for me to entertain the thought of permanently living somewhere else. Visit- yes, Live, no.

Even though I personally feel some facets of the Bill Of Rights, the first amendments to the Constitution, are being eroded, I still believe at 76 the first unique experiment in government is still  man's best achievement in this world!

PHOTOS: NitWit1, unless otherwise attributed.

So Happy Birthday! United States of America!

MOUSE IN THE HOUSE!

Mouse in the House -1
We Have Not Yet Baited Trap Today.
[Available Light Photo (no flash)]

Caution: Mouse in the house! Saturday I noticed the tell-tale dropings of mice in a food cupboard where dog food is also stored. Unfortunate for the mouse, storage in this pantry, one of two, is mostly canned goods or other containers usually impermeable to the razor sharp needle teeth of mice.

I began to search the house for other tale-tale signs and found one under the sink. We set three traps but no luck. The critter stole the cheese and did not trip the two of three traps.

Monday morning I found the tacky mouse and maybe companions had dined on tomatoes on the kitchen counter which I had separated from others I was ripening on the window sill. At least those were chosen for discarding as Husband is fighting blossom rot.

So a trap will be set on the counter tonight. I may buy some more traps and several boxes of D-Con which I can only put in places Luckie cannot reach, because she will eat just about anything within her reach and that is remarkably extensive.

I am afraid I have a case of nausea that the nasty critters are on my kitchen counter that I scour daily with Chlorox wipes. In fact I hate the critters so much I hauled in the Fence Defense Deer and Rabbit Spray and put in crevices; even Luckie can't stand the smell of that stuff.

Mouse in the House -2
This is nearly same photo, except I used flash.
I prefer #! as I hate the harsh shadows an
on camera flash produces. My point-and-shoot
camera has no choice. I can turn the flash
off on my Nikon.

My best friend has found out the product works on raccoons and armadillos, too; just a little tidbit or information to tuck away for future use.

I spend the day looking for likely places the mouse found entry. In a manufactured home there are many, most of which I have dutifully stuff steel wool which cuts up the little critter's mouth. But I have found a couple of pieces under the kitchen sink. I check the bar sink which we reinforced against an earlier mouse invasion which ruined a case of paper towels.

I still have several more difficult places to look, and for all I know, they may march right in the dog door flap. Some time ago I watch one hop out of my husband's armoire drawer of outdoor shorts and run through our master bath under a darkroom door that had a seal flush with floor prevent light leakage.

Since the digital age this room has become a linen storage area, but there is water pipes through the floor in there, too. However, ceiling lights are also a nice entry way.

An Mature Miniature Rose with Buds
[Using Zoom Telephoto w/Macro Built-In]

Usually field mice, which I am assuming this is, don't enter buildings until fall and winter when outdoors pickin's are thin to none. However, this is not a normal summer, nor do I expect it to improve. Rain is not in our forecast for the next 10 days. It has been at least 7 days since we have received any significant moisture. My water meter is spinning so fast, it is meeting itself coming and going.

Deer are already moving around because grazing is scarce. A whole herd of deer were standing in the middle a town on a state highway near us. Usually, this occurs when they change from grass to acorns here which is about October, or hunting season.

To rid myself of the indignation of  mice army invasions, I have posted a couple of mini rose photos, with which I am still experimenting with my close-up dioptors.

Photos: NitWit1, unless otherwise attributed.

Miniature Rose Bud, Lower Right of Above Photo
[added+10 diopter to Telephoto Maco Lens]
Center of focus is center of bud; when using
a large magnification the focused area is
quite small. What I have not figured out
is the awkward white highlights tinged with
blue edges. I will figure it out eventually.

HENS AND CHICKS

No! not the 'cluck'-click,' 'peep'-peep,' 'cock-a-doodle-doo type, especially the White Leghorn type. My Dad kept a  few chickens on his gentleman's ranch as we call a 40 acre piece of land for a little farming as a side business or relaxation if you could call working the land - relaxation.

White Rooster painting, possibly White Leghorn
Broderbund ClickArt

He had White Leghorns, including a rooster. The rooster was over protective of his flock, I guess. In fact he was sort of a 'bully' rooster.

For no apparent reason MR BULLY decided Mother needed a good flogging one hot evening in the middle of a gravel driveway, causing her to fall.

She was calmly walking (more like very slowly ambling) the driveway to the gate where Dad was feeding cattle. She passed within about 50 feet of the hen house, but certainly nowhere near it or any hens, much less the rooster. She was no threat to rooster or hen. In fact I cannot remember she ever gathered eggs, because occasionally there were snakes or other varmits robbing nests and reclining  after a good meal of eggs.

Hen and Chick
Broderbund ClickArt

Being heavy she had difficulty in regaining a standing position, even with Dad's help. Of course, she was bruised and somewhat roughed up, but nothing broken.

Chicken Soup
Broderbund ClickArt

MR BIG STUD ROOSTER, who probably had too much male steroids like HMG, was chicken stew the next day. Much to my chagrin, I could not eat it; in fact I gagged trying, as the "clean you plate, remember the starving people in China" ruled our dinner table. I was not accustomed to eating freshly slaughtered chicken, or any other meat from our farm, IF I KNEW. The grocery store was much more impersonal and came in sterile white wrapped packages--no pinfeathers to singe or mess, etc. 

Hens-and-Chicks in Bloom
in Old Rusty Deco Tiller

Being originally a southwesterner from Texas, I have a natural fascination with succulents, albeit the non-thorny varieties. When I moved to north central Arkansas I noticed a number of succulents seemed to thrive, despite sometimes severe winters. Yucca plants lined driveways, property lines, or just among other plants, offering contrast to other plantings.

Several years ago I purchased several varieties of hens-and-chicks at my favorite nursery, Camp's Plants, which has several outlets in my area. It pleased me they thrived with little care, mulitplied, too, and even bloomed in a special sort of way. A big plus is these smallish plants have no thorns,  a feature of some succulents I thoroughly dislike. My yucca leaves can slice a finger.

So this year I planted quite a few more replacing annuals with them, as they also are perennials. There are several web sites about hens-and-chicks. However, just to illustrate the great variety of these plants, I have linked a catalog here. Wikipedia's brief description is here.

Hen Bloom Head & Stem
After Blooming Finishes,
the Hen Rots and Dies,
but Leaves plenty of Chicks
to Become Hens

I have scattered photos of the varieties I have bought around here, but feel sure many others are able to grow here. Next year I may mail order some as I love the deep ruby leaf ones, too. The only name I remember of the varieties I have is Cob Web Buttons. If you check the aforementioned catalog, you will see there is great variety of spider web hens-and-chicks, too.

These little plants are not flashy nor even seen by a passerby who may hone in on roses, redbuds in bloom, my Japanese maples, etc.  Most are planted near our home entrance steps. When blooming, the flowers are tiny, almost like many field flowers.

Bloom Head Before Flower Opens
(+4 diopter added)

An advantage to succulents, thus hens-and-chicks, is they disdain overwatering. None have died on me; some have not thrived in exceedingly dry summers. This year is a bumper year for blooms and chicks propagation. I need larger pots next year.

However, once the hen sends up a stalk and flowers, it then dies. But there is a multitude of chicks who can become hens. One of the best articles on growing hens-and-chicks is here.


PHOTOS: NitWit1 unless otherwise attributed. Most photos in this post are made with camera lens in Macro mode; some had a +4 diopter lens attached to camera telephoto zoom lens.

Cob Web Buttons Hens-and-Chicks

Cob Web Buttons Hens-and-Chicks

Flowering Hens-and-Chicks Stem
[+4 Diopter Added]
(One of my favorites)