Creeping Out

This picture looks like many different things. One, the rock formation looks like a foot wearing one of those shoes with a dangling ball on the toes, but the ball is submerged under the water. Two, it looks like a goose feeding in the water. Three, it could be a left hand with the index finger curled outward. Four, it could be Hooks claw! Floating black thing in the middle of the water...what is it?

One day. One night. Frost upon the ground..crunching under the weight of my feet. Need for the scraper the remove the frost from my cars windows. its not winter yet...thats not for another month. Why the frost? Oh and it makes it better...next day. 50 degrees. Sunny. Warm. A beautiful day. Midwest weather is ridiculous let me just say.

The Trees by Rush

There is unrest in the forest,
There is trouble with the trees,
For the maples want more sunlight
And the oaks ignore their pleas.

The trouble with the maples,
(And they're quite convinced they're right)
They say the oaks are just too lofty
And they grab up all the light.
But the oaks can't help their feelings
If they like the way they're made.
And they wonder why the maples
Can't be happy in their shade.

There was trouble in the forest,
And the creatures all have fled,
As the maples scream "Oppression!"
And the oaks just shake their heads

So the maples formed a union
And demanded equal rights.
"The oaks are just too greedy;
We will make them give us light."
Now there's no more oak oppression,
For they passed a noble law,
And the trees are all kept equal
By hatchet, axe, and saw.

Into the Greens

Straight for as long as the eye can see...right into the trees. The sun shines bright, but the road dark, shaded by the many trees lining its length. Grasses and bushes choke the road as it stretches itself through the greens, endless road through green, contrary to endless road through brown.

LOTR

So as one can see, this photo is a waterfall water hole. When I look at this picture I immediately think of Lord of the Rings when Golem is banging a fish to death on a rock in the Forbidden Pool thing. This pool is far more elegant however, with its lush assortment of plants along the rim, and only small rocks away from the falls. This to me would be a wonderful place to sit, relax and listen to the sound the water makes as it crashes to the pool below.

This picture, caught my attention as well. A bridge, out of place in all the foliage around it, yet a feeling that it truly does belong. It is withered and rusted with time, implying it has been present in this environment for a long period of time, integrating into the nature around it; becoming one with the life surrounding it. I feel like if this bridge were removed now, it would take away the strength of this place, this picture.

Invasive species. Metaphors. War. Invasive species are often referred to in terms of war through metaphors.  This way of communication about invasive species can be both beneficial to informing the general public about the need to get rid of them, however it can also be harming to do so. My stance: I believe it is useful to refer to invasive species in terms of war.

Cold. Bright. Windy. Sunny. Barren Trees. Green Grass. Blowing Leaves. Fluffy Clouds. Crisp Air. Clear Skies.

This and that, parts of which can be seen in most seasons...others in only one. Some mornings I wake up thinking it will be a wonderful warm day...turns out its freezing.

Doorway to Otherside

So I found this picture, and it immediately struck me with awe. With its beautiful orange and yellow and red colors blending in the essence of Fall, a lone stone doorway sits. It is an inviting doorway, one that will show one all that they desire. It is not easy to find, for it shows only to those worthy of its use. The path leading to it is shroud with leaves, but on the otherside, there is only grass. No path leads past the doorway.  A new existence is through that door. Tho looking through it, you see only the rest of the forest...walk through it, and the world you knew will be gone. Possibly. Forever.

Quotes

"Farmers are the only indispensable people on the face of the earth."

— Li Zhaoxing, Ambassador, China

"The diligent farmer plants trees, of which he himself will never see the fruit."

— Cicero

"The correlation between poverty and obesity can be traced to agricultural policies and subsidies."

— Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore's Dilemma

"Cows were made to eat grass.... The two biggest things that harm a cow are grain and concrete. By kicking the cows outside and letting them be on the sod and letting them eat the grass, you can get rid of about 90% of your cow problems."

— Kevin Sullivan, dairy farmer

Another nice fall day today. No work. Enjoy the day. Sun shines, birds sing. Leaves fall, the air crisp. Love Fall.

I am very interested in restoration. Learning about the invasive species, how they grow and ways to get rid of them, I would enjoy a project with which I was a part of the removal of these species. Getting to work on the earth, dirtying my hands with labor as people did long ago before modern technology is very appealing to me. I hope to one day do just that...be a part of restoration....but for now...medicine is my calling.

Buckthorn. An invasive species that has invaded many environments in the Lake Forest area. We pulled some today in class. This species is clever in its growth. The stems connect underground where a non-absorbtive extension produces new buds for new growth. Furthermore, the berries, which are eaten by birds, are distributed over a vast area when the birds excrete the seeds. An excellent invasive species. Buckthorn.

Although the weather today is completely atypical of November in the midwest, i couldnt be happier...after having cold days when there shouldnt have been, having warm days when there shouldnt be is joyous. The air is so fresh and clean, the trees still showing off their colors and dropping their leaves to the earth. Fall is a wonderful time of year.

Chicago

Over the last 4 days I have spent 2 full days in Chicago, and what an experience it has been. The structures in the city are magnificent, every one of them drawing my attention in some way or another, from its sheer size to its rundown appearance to the artwork drawn upon the walls. I had only recently been playing with the idea of living in Chicago following graduation, and after spending the 2 full days there, I have almost solidified my desire to live in the city. Hopefully I can find a great deal on a place soon...