Just We Weepers

This a picture from my place of work - My days always BEGIN nicely!

I mentioned a while back on one of my blogs, I like to read blogs where I can learn something new…I think I wrote about a tent for that one.
Well, here is another…inspired by a recent letterboxing experience..the LB expereince was quite uneventful except that I ran into a fellow town person riding his bike 10 miles from our home town. What are the chances? Sheeez. Of course, this is not quite my FAVORITE tree –how could it be with my name?..LOL…but it is 2nd!!!!

Willows are very cross-fertile and numerous hybrids occur, both naturally and in cultivation.

Willows are often planted on the borders of streams so that their interlacing roots may protect the bank against the action of the water. Soil depth for roots 24 inches minimum.

The leaves and bark of the willow tree have been mentioned in ancient texts for a remedy for aches and fever, and the Ancient Greek physician Hippocrates wrote about its medicinal properties in the 5th century BC. Native Americans across the American continent relied on it as a staple of their medical treatments. This is because they contain salicylic acid, the precursor to aspirin.

Wood from willow trees are often used for the following products:
Boxes, brooms, cricket bats (grown from certain strains of white willow), cradle boards, chairs and other furniture, dolls, flutes, poles, sweat lodges, toys, tool handles, veneer, wands, & whistles.

Maximum Height 70 feet after 20 years – a short life span these trees have.

Flower color is yellow & fruit seed color is white. Leaves are not retained on tree each year.

A couple of stats that struck me odd they be mentioned at all…ready?




Fire Resistant – NO!!
Causes Livestock Bloating – NO!!


Willow trees are quite prevalent in folklore and myths.
Wisdom of the Willow Tree (Google this title – it’s a short enjoyable read!)
~Osage Tribe story --come now, google it- I know you want to, Go ahead, give it a read!
And more recently, of course, The Harry Potter Series…The Whomping Willow.

Stewie took this picture while we were boxing locally.

For years now, I have thought the Weeping Willow to be a lovely tree. I can always imagine myself under such a tree on a hot summers day with those feathery branches wisping about me while reading a book in an Adirondack chair (cushioned, of course), sipping a glass of sweet tea with a slice of lemon. However, you won’t catch me under one after dark!! Creepy, creepy, creepy!

I do like that mysterious natural look of the branches. If I were ever to make a “Coffee Table” book – you all know the ones I am talking about; you see them at Barnes & Noble on the clearance rack – I would do one of just Weeping Willows in their natural state. Of course, I’d need a better camera than I have now – Lisascenic might be able to help me out on that front - & I need way more time on my hands!!

I actually had to do research for this blog entry. It was kind of fun. My favorite piece of trivia - the medicinal aspects of the tree. And running across the story of The Wisdom Of The Willow Tree. I will also sleep better knowing this tree will not cause livestock to BLOAT!!!!

Think I will blog about my most favorite tree soon. Any guesses on what that may be?

Want to Play?

I have gotten myself mixed up in a little game with one of the teachers at our Elementary School. Something I am thoroughly enjoying, thanks to a Virtual by Mama Cache that came up on AQ last Autumn. BTW…I could not solve it…but it touched my soul!! Enough to the point where I actually enjoy these now…not all – I am quite choosy with my pickings. When I was in school, I shuddered, just shuddered, when ever any teacher mentioned this specific word//subject. I see now that those teachers were in teaching mode – how can I blame them? They after all, were just doing their job. But sometimes I feel teachers need to give the student a “Freebie”. A project or example that is easy to understand & figure out. Builds self esteem & may hit that addictiveness in all of our brains. Since most of you reading this are letterboxers, you know exactly what I mean when I use the term “addictive”…LOL.
Well, I’ve kept you in suspense long enough. Now after you see the subject manner to which I am referring to…please, please continue reading (none are very long – on purpose *nodding*) you will not be disappointed & please feel free to play along!!

I sent the teacher an email, asking her to use this on her web site…you see, she posts a new one each week. I sent her an invitation to come to:

October’s Party

October gave a party;

The leaves by hundreds came —

The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,

And leaves of every name.

The Sunshine spread a carpet,

And everything was grand,

Miss Weather led the dancing,

Professor Wind the band.

The Chestnuts came in yellow,

The Oaks in crimson dressed;

The lovely Misses Maple

In scarlet looked their best;

All balanced to their partners,

And gaily fluttered by;

The sight was like a rainbow

New fallen from the sky.

Then, in the rustic hollow,

At hide-and-seek they played,

The party closed at sundown,

And everybody stayed.

Professor Wind played louder;

They flew along the ground;

And then the party ended

In jolly “hands around.”

- George Cooper

Yup, you guessed it. The subject matter is POETRY!!
Her response:

Invitation

If you are a dreamer, come in,
If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar,
A hope-er, a pray-er, a magic bean buyer....
If you're a pretender, come sit by my fire
For we have some flax-golden tales to spin.
Come in!
Come in!

Shel Silverstein

Now doesn’t that just make want you get out of your comfort zone & talk to anyone that is different than you? We all have something to share.

BTW – she accepted my invitation *grin*

My responses to her have been the following:

“I'd like to also invite....”

The Sunflower Fairy

Fields of yellow faces following the sun

Impossible to count them each and every one,

Waving gently in the breeze they make a sunny sigh.

Stretching up their heads they smile at passers by.

Lots of little fairy helpers for the sunflower’s needs

They are the hidden secret for scattering the seeds

Hiding amongst the petals opening at dawn

Working all day to scatter, so new flowers will be born

And weary from the day’s work, at dusk with failing light

They close the petal shutters to rest throughout the night.

Should you be a believer, next time you pass, please try

To spend some time alone, amongst the faces to the sky

You may be the lucky one, for a magic sight to share

A sunflower fairy’s smile is a ray of light so rare.

Myrea Pettit©2004

“You have no idea how many poems I've read, as this party is just getting started!! And I so love to gather with others!”

Then I sent this to her:

“Hopefully these guys will send their regrets - YIKES!!”

Betty Botter's Biting Beaver

Betty Botter bought a beaver.

But the beastly beaver bit her.

So she bought a biting badger.

And the badger bit the beaver.

Since the badger bit the beaver,

now the beaver will not bite her.

So 'twas better Betty Botter

bought a beaver-biting badger.

© 2002 by Bruce Lansky,

And here is the most recent:

“Maybe we could have some of these at some point...but only if all guests are going to heed the 2nd to last line:”

FIREWORKS

Fireworks go bang in the sky
There fire works bang up so high
There are lots of bangs and sparks
The fireworks go bang my dog barks

Watching them is like a dream
When they make a noise I sometimes scream
Fireworks you should never throw
But how they make a lovely show.


I have to apologize, I cant give the author credit for this one, as I found this among my scout stuff…something I was going to use at a Pack Night in June…one of those, ”Repeat After Me” fun things, that includes a safety message…something most Cub Masters feel is part of their “job” & are more than happy to oblige!

Now my middle son will want to invite the character described here, as they have something in common – You know – the old saying regarding, ”the one that got away”, they would enjoy swapping stories…this I know for a fact!


A BREAK IN THE LINE

I walk up to the river and in it I peer.

So soothing is the water and crystal clear.

A slight wind from the west awakens the trees.

I watch as they dance in this sweet cool breeze.

Tired is the sun as it sinks in the sky.

Little time left so my best I must try.

I reach back with my arm then bring it down like a hammer.

Releasing my line, in the most graceful of manner.

Through the air my lure soars, what seems like a mile.

Evoking from me, a most pleasurable smile.

A perfect cast, a wonderful shot.

I see my bait slip flawlessly into the best of spots.

Slowly I reel taking in slack.

Just then an explosion, a vicious attack.

Hard I pull back. Then from nowhere a snap.

The fish was gone to travel on.

An outing on the bank all gone wrong.

A 7 Dollar lure still in his lip.

I hang my head low holding my rod at my hip.

He got lucky this time, but not the next trip.

© RyanOS.OHarvey

Now, I admit, these poems are not the kind of poems that should be torn a part & studied, but gosh, they are fun to read, don’t you think?

And that is the lesson I learned last Autumn on AQ. I so thank, Mama Cache, a fellow boxer for changing my attitude & connotations about the word “POETRY” that has followed me around for many many years until last Fall!!! Oh, and by the way, for those AQer's..did you happen to notice the graphic that goes with this virtual *nodding* just makes Maple Leaf Red grin ear to ear - I just can't help myself *wink wink*

Want to play? A party has many different facets to it. Do you know a poem that should be included? Come on, now, I dare you... post it NOW so all can enjoy!!!

This one just came in.

I have read the way this person uses the words of the English language many times before - *sigh* some just have true gift!! A direct quote from the author - "I am in favor of a good party, but I am also in favor of keeping everything in perspective and understanding the need we have to gather together."

The Party List

The Bible calls us “craftsmanship.”

We are God’s pride and joy.

He takes each of us seriously

because we aren’t a toy.

He fashions and creates us

just the way He thinks is best.

Then adds a bit of His Spirit

to help us pass each test.

He sees us in a different light

and knows our full potential.

He loves us all the way He does

never weighing our credentials.

Paul tells us in Ephesians

that God puts His heart in us.

In Greek it’s called “Poima”

and all He asks for is our trust.

So when you throw a party

invite the maker of all things.

For since we are His poetry

it’s because of Him, we sing.

Wendell Jones 2008