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The Christmas Spider, an Eastern European Legend
Many cultures have their own unique Christmas ornaments… When I was little, my folks had a straw goat ornament from Finland, a “Joulupukki”, or “Jule Goat”, a representation of the harvest season’s spirit – something that made an appearance when folks celebrated the return of the light.
The mind is not a vessel to be built, but a fire to be kindled. -Plutarch
Festive Parasites
Mistletoe is a classic Christmas decoration, which has always struck me as rather odd, considering that all varieties of mistletoe are parasitic plants. Depending on how bad the infestation is, mistletoe is quite capable of killing its host plants. There are many types of mistletoe (117 species globally, 5 species of dwarf mistletoe are common…
Remnants of an Industry
Walking the place in November’s fresh snow, I notice the remnants of an industry – stumps that were left to grow a second, third or fourth Christmas tree. The phrase was “stump culture” and the practice fit in with production of wild Douglas Fir Christmas trees. By cutting high and leaving branches on the stump,…
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Winter changes voles’ moods, too.
As the seasons wear on, and we begin another year with our movements restricted by Covid19, it’s easy to see cabin fever creeping up on folks. This plight turns my mind to the voles, and how much better they handle winter than us humans.
How Long do Gift Cards Last?
Buying gift cards has some appeal, as a way to help out local businesses. Buy it now- giving the business some much needed cash, redeem later when business is better. What about using an existing gift certificate? Does putting off redeeming a gift card actually benefit the business? It depends on the state, and how…
Thinning in Winter
When I start the chainsaw, I attract deer. The inflow starts with a doe who learned, as a fawn, that my chainsaw meant there would be winter food near the house, She shows up, with her yearling daughter and two fawns. She often chooses to browse the mosses and lichens on the trees, as do…
Trego's Mountain Ear 