Autumn Blog 2020

 

What a busy time!  We are preparing for winter here at The Farm at Johnson Pond, tucking in everything for the long winter ahead…..summer furniture to store, leaves

to rake, gutters to clean, and wood to stack.  The to-do list seems endless, but it always gives me a warm and cozy feeling knowing we are ready for whatever Mother Nature throws at us.

 

On the nature front, migrating birds are at the feeders with voracious appetites.  It seems that I cannot put out enough seed to keep them satisfied.  I try to meet their needs, since I know how far they travel on their journeys.  The geese are still flying with one of my very favorite sounds echoing from the sky.  I will never tire of looking up to watch and to listen.  I capture ever flock in flight and etch them in my memory.

 

Today I counted the squirrels at the bird feeders and was shocked with the number reaching 15!  The poor birds don’t stand much of a chance with these demanding competitors.  The chipmunks are also very busy, filling their cheeks to the point of explosion before darting off with their stash for the long winter storage.  I just hope they remember where their collections are in the numerous stone walls throughout the farm.  There is a good chance that a wandering black bear may make a return visit to fill up before her long winter nap.

 

The Farm has numerous old apple trees up by the barn, and this year certainly provides a bumper crop.  Every morning and evening the deer are under them, munching on apples to their hearts' content.  The juice runs from their mouths during their enthusiastic munching, probably due to the sour nature of the crop or maybe from their over-indulgence.  This is when I remember Robert Frost’s poem, ‘A Cow in Apple Time’, one of my very favorite poems and one of my very favorite poets.  Please enjoy it here……

 

 

 

The Cow in Apple Time

 Something inspires the only cow of late
 To make no more of a wall than an open gate,
 And think no more of wall-builders than fools.
 Her face is flecked with pomace and she drools
 A cider syrup. Having tasted fruit,
 She scorns a pasture withering to the root.
 She runs from tree to tree where lie and sweeten
 The windfalls spiked with stubble and worm-eaten.
 She leaves them bitten when she has to fly.
 She bellows on a knoll against the sky.
 Her udder shrivels and the milk goes dry.

      —Robert Frost

 

His poem works just as well for the ‘Deer in Apple Time’!

Along our dirt road, at the dam of Johnson Pond we planted red oak trees.  This was a labor of love, because I always wanted “to plant trees under whose shade I will never sit.” Neil’s patience was tested to the very limit, because we had to replant a few trees each year for three years.  That was 20 years ago, and the magnificent oaks are here to provide shade and beauty for many years to come.  I am so thankful that we never gave up.  This year they produced a bumper crop of acorns which the turkeys, squirrels, and many deer visit on a daily basis.  I have read that acorns are the best food source for wild turkey, and I am grateful that our efforts are providing fuel for the upcoming winter.

Winter in North Eastern Pennsylvania can be harsh and very difficult for wildlife, and we are blessed this year with abundant crops of nuts, apples and seeds that will help to sustain the amazing variety of critters that we share this wonderful farm with.  I shall cherish each season here at the Farm at Johnson Pond and be thankful for the opportunities to share this incredible land with all of the creatures that also call this place home.      Blessings…..Sonji

BEAR WITH US

 

The property where we live was a very small, abandoned family dairy farm.  The house was long vacated.  The small barn was collapsing to the ground.  The fields, once farmed, were ignored and taken over by years by growth of self-seeded ash trees, grasses, and assorted brush.  Nature was alone, without interference from man.

 

Right after acquiring the land, we built a pole shed and gradually cleared some of the land while building our house.  All this activity occurred amid our appreciation of the events of nature which we interrupted.  Even though a few years ago, we lost many of our trees to a tornado, and then to the emerald ash borer, we remain dedicated to preserving as much of the original beauty as possible.  Careful land management and tree plantings remain paramount in preserving the area that we've adopted.

We're blessed with wild critters including deer, the less obvious turkeys, and innumerable species and numbers of song birds.  In the recent past, we've been visited by a possum, usually in the evening, searching the bird feed area for spilled morsels.  Our night time guests may include coyotes and an occasional but persistent raccoon.  Over time, quite an array of other day visitors show up.  These include turkeys, squirrels, rabbits, chipmunks, coyotes, foxes, and even snakes.  These wild creatures provide us with much enjoyment.

 

On a year around basis, we supply foods to birds just outside our kitchen window using a series of different types of feeders.  These allow us to supply different mixes and varieties of bird feeds to suit the varying appetites.

 

Through the years we've been aware of our some of our neighbors reporting occasional sightings of bear in the area.  (This kind of information spreads rapidly.)  It is well known that these bear have big appetites and will travel substantial distances in search of food.  Usually the search for food is mostly, but not always, after dark.  They've been here before very sparingly, but now appear to be more frequent.

 

Early this spring there was a middle-sized bear attacking our bird feeders.  He (we really don't know the sex, but will guess, for now) stole a bird seed feeder, of which we never found a trace.  Maybe he was saving it for a late day snack.  He visited us repeatedly returning to raid the contents of the bird feeders.  Then our friend returned daily to clean the ground beneath the feeders of spilled bird seeds.  We soon caught on to his plan, and now each evening we meticulously take each feeder inside.  And our evening response includes sweeping the ground beneath the feeders and hiding the sweepings inside away from him.

His returns became predictable.  And, he was quite persistent.  Clapping our hands, jumping up and down, and hollering didn't really phase him.  About the only thing that caught his attention was the clanging the two metal dog dishes together, much like a cymbalist.

 

The last resort was to call in the neighbors.  They offered Sonji lots of advice and equipped her with shotgun shells loaded with rubber pellets.  It  didn't take long for our furry friend to come back.  Again, Sonji  quietly sneaked to get a good shot.  Of course, he saw her and scampered away down the hill  away from his food.  Sonji let loose with one blast.  The noise hit its target, but the rubber pellets likely flew harmlessly over his head.  But, it seems that he got the message, for he's not been seen since the blast.

 

Recently, however, he was most certainly the culprit who, under the protection of darkness, cleaned all the berries from the wild blackberries along our driveway and who also trampled some ferns in the nearby perennial bed.  It appears that this was completed in one evening.  The evidence is rather convincing: the unmistakable scat that he left in the driveway and in one of our walking trails.  We assume now that he has probably moved on to more lucrative and less threatening areas for his food scavenging chores.

 

In overview, mister bruin is just one tiny component of the extremely complex realm of nature.  We speak of encountering visitors from nature.  However, in truth, we are the intruders.  It is not they.  We are in their home turf, their land.  Our challenge is to recognize and accept that all of this is being lent to us.  In all seriousness, our roles are to live as dedicated stewards of nature.

~Sonji and Neil

Spring 2020

 

Neil, my husband, wrote this note to a few friends and I wish to share it with others to show how blessed we both are to live and share this wonderful farm with many critters.

 

Often, as soon as the supper kitchen is cleaned, Sonji and I retire to the chairs on our back deck to enjoy life.  The deck faces south and the house shields us from the occasional vehicle on the dirt road.  These evening times are filled with thoughts and relaxation, away from nearly all the concerns of the world.  A couple nights ago we watched a young fawn lead its mother along the fence row.  Typically more than a couple deer wander from the woods to our open fields.  We watch many birds traveling to and from their feeders along on the east side of the house.  Usually the spilled bird feed brings a visitor at sunset - a medium sized raccoon.  In the past we've enjoyed watching a 'possum’, but it's been absent recently.  However, we do have to move the bird feeders inside at dust, lest a good-sized bear comes to enjoy the leftovers.  His(?) visits are not confined to dusk, as he's been visiting the area almost anytime except midday.

 

As for more domesticated creatures, we are still parents to two very aged laying hens who are retired in a caged area inside the barn.  They share the building with one very feral cat called Wild Bill and (probably the same) raccoon whose existence demands that all feeds are secured in closed containers.  We host two very tame cats, brother and sister, whom we adopted many years ago.  They have been housed between outside and our mud room until now, but they now have a homemade heated & insulated 'cat box' on our front porch that we hope they'll become accustomed to before winter.

 

Still have our two male dogs – in the house.  The older is a German short haired pointer, whose worst feature (given he's a hunter) is his nose.  We got him as a rescue, complete with Lymes disease and loaded with shotgun pellets throughout his body and one eye out of commission due to a pellet.  But he's a real gentleman that has adapted very well to being a house pet.  His name is Bark Lee.  Note that his last name is the same as his 'mother's'.  His brother is younger - a heavy, stocky English bulldog,  complete with short legs and the typical severely projecting lower jaw.  His body, with the exception of his face resembles a pig's.  His first name is 'Ugh', while the last is the same as his brother's.  We really enjoy the dogs and their antics.  'Uggy' has taken to sliding down the hill of lawn, squirming head first on his back to maintain motion.  OK.  Sorry for this chatter about our extended family.

 

Sonji's encaustic art working has evolved to include another interest.  A close friend has started her on sewing - with a machine, that is.  Her first project has been making about a dozen pairs of winter mittens from discarded woolen sweaters…..seems that she skipped sewing in high school home ec, even after she was not allowed into the wood shop class.  She did a really good job on the mittens which have drawn some real positive feedback from different folks.  So now she has her wax works, card making, and gloves…..doesn't leave a lot of time for house work, reading, and gardening, but it is still accomplished.  We're lucky to have her twin sister next door, and the girls often share and double up on cooking (and eating) chores.

 

So far we haven't been personally introduced to the Wuhan virus.  Our county seems to be relatively well off in this regard.  Sadly, church activity has been nearly eliminated.  I wonder if looking back some time from now will judge the restrictive actions to be proper and effective.  Certainly the press and political folks are having a ball.  I feel for the effects on the economy and our churches.  Quite an education, isn't it?

 

So, meanwhile we're pretty much isolated in our rural pleasures.  We have really good lives and are truly blessed.  This becomes very apparent, especially when we're sitting on the back deck at dusk, nursing a mug of diet root beer, gazing around us, counting our blessings, and casually chatting.  How very fortunate we are.

April 10, 2020 Good Friday

 

 

Today, I woke up to a dusting of snow on the ground and a fierce, howling wind making spring seem as dismal as the spirit of the world suffering through the corona virus.

 

Let us maintain our hope and our faith.  The spring flowers are blooming outside of my window and they remain resilient, providing beauty to those who take the time to look, even in a spring snow. On this Good Friday let us be thankful for God’s blessings.

Sonji

“The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day he created spring.”   —Bern Williams

 

 

January 15, 2020—The view to the south on a sparkling winter day……

 

I will never become tired of the beauty on this farm.

 

Winter has arrived, with all of its beauty, to the Farm at Johnson Pond.  The days are quiet and very productive for me in Studio 512 where I work on many projects at once.  I am at peace and do not have the pull to be outside as often as I do in the other seasons.  I start a fire in the fireplace, brew a good cup of coffee, and buckle down to work.

 

This morning I started working at 3:45 A.M., finishing up about 20 hand-made cards, and then designing a wooden bowl to decoupage.  I also finished painting the edge of an encaustic work that has been waiting for my final touches.  On the studio table is a large wooden panel with four sheets of Japanese papers.  Hopefully, later today I will use gel medium to attach the papers to the panel, giving plenty of time to dry before I add encaustic medium, and attach a branch from our white birch tree.  This will be my largest work to date….4’ X 2’ and I recognize that it is going to soak up a lot of encaustic medium!

 

Please pause and appreciate all that the winter season has to offer.

Wishing you all the joys of nature,

Sonji

 

The Beginning - Studio 512

 

So it begins…..The Farm at Johnson Pond Blog.

Why do I want to blog?  This is an appropriate question, and one that I have put a lot of thought into.  It basically comes down to my passion for nature and this wonderful farm that I live on. I truly treasure this land and the beauty and the joy that I receive from living here. Every day, when I take the time to look, I see something amazing and magical.  I wish to share these moments that inspire me so much.  Hopefully, you will begin your own journey of exploration, increasing your ability to observe and embrace the wonders of nature. A hike outside creates a whole new and wonderful experience.

 

Please enjoy reading my blogs as much as I enjoy writing about ‘The Farm at Johnson Pond.’

Until the next time….

Sonji