Calendar Of Discoveries

Day 79: The last year had its ups and downs, but almost daily, something new and marvelous caught my attention. It is my belief that no single thing is ordinary, however common it may be. There is always something to discover or to learn if you are drawn to look more closely. Consequently, I have not given preference to the outstanding finds of rare species; those have been described in detail elsewhere in my writings. No, here we have a selection of the simple things which give me joy each time I see them: critters, birds, plants and the face of Nature who has me in her keeping. I could wish no finer thing for my friends than a New Year of exploration and observation. May yours be filled with curiosity and wonder!

Mnemonics

Day 78: How can you tell the difference between spruce and fir? That's a fairly common question around here, and something a simple mnemonic device can resolve. The needles of Spruce (starts with S) are square. Fir is flat (F). The images in the boxes show enlarged cross-sections of the needles, but you don't need to make a microscopic analysis. Simply try to roll a single needle between your thumb and forefinger. If it rolls easily (if somewhat bumpily), it's spruce. By virtue of being flat, fir needles won't roll. Wasn't that easy?

Houseguests

Day 77: In and out, in and out. Nights in the low twenties might be fine for Sarracenias living in a bog, but with no more soil around their roots than can be contained in a pot, that's the point at which I bring them indoors for a sleep-over. When morning comes, it's back out on the porch for both of them. As you can see, the system is working. Sarracenia rubra (right) has been with me for three winters, and has gone from a mere half dozen pitchers to a pot so crowded, I may have to divide it next spring. Carolina Yellow Jacket (left) was a new addition to my collection of carnivorous plants early this spring. It has also multiplied rapidly. As exotic as they appear, the Sarracenias are amazingly hardy!

Relaxing, Crow-Style

Day 76: I started thinking about making orange marmalade way back in November but with the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it just wasn't going to happen. Today, I decided to "relax" in true Crow manner, lining up for a job of work running three hours from start to finish.

Removing the white pith and slicing orange and lemon peels thinly is a time-consuming project ordinarily, but this year, I discovered a shortcut which should have occurred to me years ago. I used a potato peeler! The width of the blade was perfect for creating the one-inch strips necessary for a good "shred" style marmalade, and I had only to do the imitation of a microtome I've perfected in preparing lichens for microscope slides in order to achieve thread-like bits of rind. The slivers of peel are cooked with a touch of baking soda until they are tender, and then the fruit is added and cooking continues for ten minutes to soften any remaining membrane. From that point, canning is the same as for most jam...boil, add pectin, cool slightly and pour into jars. I prefer to process my jams and jellies in a water bath to ensure a good seal. Unlike most jams and jellies, marmalade takes a week or two to set, but oh, it's worth the wait to have it homemade!

More Christmas Fun

Day 75: Warning! There are people out there who want you to Grow Up. You know who I mean. Maybe you work with them. Maybe they live next door. Maybe they're even some of your closest friends. Somewhere along the line they did, and now they want you to join them in their misery. If you've managed to get this far with some residual child in your soul, resist!

I think I was about ten when I first realized that something important to survival was fading from my life. Scientist that I was even then, I determined to isolate its essence in the hopes that I could tuck away a tiny bit of the distilled product in a safe location in my mind. For most purposes, I appear today to my colleagues and acquaintances to be a fully functioning adult, but there are a few close friends who know the Other Me, the child who enjoys silly songs, games and colouring books. I look forward to opening their gifts at any season, but especially at Christmas. Like any kid, I love Christmas morning.

So here's a bit of philosophy from a little old lady who never grew up: go be a kid for a while. And if you colour outside the lines...well, that's okay too.

Lego My Doctor!

Day 74: I am not one to endorse products ordinarily, but I cannot recall ever having been so favourably impressed with the quality of an item as I am with Legos. I bought the "Doctor Who" set after seeing it at at friend's (still in the box), although I did so with some reservation because it looked rather complicated for someone who had no prior experience with the brand. I grew up with wooden TinkerToys and in those days, Legos were not much more than bricks with bumps. Modern Legos are infinitely more complex, with tiny pieces which take the craft into a realm not too unlike model ship building. I'd fiddled with a handful of pieces from the huge bins maintained by Kevin's two sons, but quickly became frustrated when I couldn't put them together to make anything recognizable. I didn't realize you needed a blueprint. However, when you purchase a kit such as this, Lego comes through with the most thorough and clear assembly instructions I have ever seen, and does so without the need of language. The manual for this kit is a book, literally. The illustrations are large and are from perspectives which utterly annihilate any possibility of confusion. I've been taking my time this morning, but at this point, I have the TARDIS about a third of the way completed, and am finding that I am greatly enjoying the building process. Move over, jigsaw puzzles! I think I've found a new sport.

Christmas Greetings!

Day 73: You might think that a Christmas tree decorated largely with birds would be more temptation than any two cats should be asked to endure, but although I caught Skunk patting one of the lower ornaments, Tip is content to observe politely. Both of them have been known to investigate bows and ribbons, dragging lightweight gifts out into the middle of the floor, but they've been very well behaved this year. My good kitties and I would like to wish you all the most merry Christmas!