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This post is part two of the series about something near and dear to my heart that began with Anna Botsford Comstock (see link below). Just one more person to tease you with, and then I'll tell you why I'm sharing about these two.
Liberty Hyde Bailey was born in Michigan in 1858, but ended up in New York at Cornell University. His life actually overlapped with mine as he did not die until 1954.
At Cornell, he became chair of Practical and Experimental Horticulture, and founded the College of Agriculture, one of Cornell's signature courses of study.
He is considered to be a champion of farm and rural life. He is credited with starting 4-H, and bringing electric service to rural areas.
A prolific writer, he published books about botany, agriculture, horticulture, and even poetry. He wrote 65 books and edited two magazines. Wikipedia says he "dominated the field of horticultural literature."
There is no doubt that he knew the Comstocks.
But the connection between these people, as it relates to my life, is not directly a result of their professions. However, there is a thread of common ground. Stay tuned.
In other news: I was gooder than good today. I did laundry, I cleaned the kitchen, I did paperwork, I did editing. I may have worn out my self-discipline for a while.
Cathy and I wanted to do a good walk today, but with our sudden spring-like temperatures the trails have turned to total mush. Rather than struggle and not be able to get very far, we chose a road walk in the county that isn't just squares, and has some nice things to see. It also has some decent topography to enhance the workout factor.
We began in some agricultural areas, mostly fruit farms. Orchards can provide some great pictures, but this is not one of them. Couldn't get a good perspective. You'll have to settle for a view that does at least show acres and acres of rows of fruit trees.
Here's the joke of the day. Carom boards are made in Ludington. Someone has found a use for old broken bases- as the backboards for their No Trespassing signs!
Eventually, we ended up on the back side of Pere Marquette Lake. So we were across the channel from the Ludington lighthouse. Not a great picture, but I like how the water and the sky are almost the same color. The lighthouse is the blockier tower toward the right. The building in the foreground is on the same side of the lake we were on, and the round tower is a channel marker.
Another interesting destination on that road is White Pine Village, a living history museum. There are 30 actual historic buildings that have been moved there, and during the season there is almost always some fun demonstration going on. This house is actually an administration building, but it made a nice picture, and is visible from the road. I haven't been there in a while- I really should go. It's a treasure of a destination, but when it's open, it's so overrun with tourists, I end up avoiding it.
Here's a winter view of the two carferries, head on. This side of the lake is the only place one can take a picture like this. The link below shows a similar shot taken in the fall.
And one more... this is definitely not a great picture, but these bird are so skittish I was just thankful to end up with a picture that has the whole bird in it. This is a pileated woodpecker. They are really large, over a foot from crest to end of tail.
How did we do? We walked 10.8 miles!
In other news: After that (and clean up and lunch) I had an appointment about some editing. Now I am home and crashed for the evening!
What besides a hike can get me out of my pajamas and into layers and boots before 9 in the morning? How about a gorgeous hoarfrost morning?
I don't have a lot to say about these pictures other than to tell you they are all in color. I did not change any of them to grayscale!
Yet, this picture of apple tree branches is the only one where any color shows up.
No one was at work yet at the dentist office next door. I wonder what they would have thought of the crazy lady lying on her belly in the snow to get these shots.
Maybe there is a hint of brown in this one of the Queen Anne's lace.
It was all gone in an hour!
In other news: I edited. I had a meeting. I walked to the Post Office (to mail my sales tax check- trying to be responsible about business paperwork) in 40 degree weather under blue skies!
Today, four of us drove to the M-20 Trailhead of the North Country Trail in Newaygo County. This is just far enough away from home that I don't get there too often. So, here we are: Becky, Laura, Peg and me in front.
It was a gorgeous day for a hike on my favorite trail. We didn't need snowshoes, as the treadway was well packed. It was kind of mushy on the way back, as the day warmed, but not too difficult.
Temperatures were above freezing and the sun was glorious!
I think this is my favorite picture of the day, with the two shades of brown leaves (beech and oak) looking so rich.
We crossed Rattlesnake Creek and then walked beside it for a distance.
Our turn-around destination was the White River. Here's the bridge. This was just over 3 miles, so our total was 6.
On the hike in November (link below), this was also our turn-around point, but we came from the south on that hike. We met one of the hikers from that day, today!
This picture wasn't taken on the trail, but I really like the way the vines are curving up the tree, and the moss on the tree is just glowing in the sunshine. I didn't go look closely at the vines. They are not Poison Ivy or grape, and I don't think they are Virginia creeper. That leaves me with bittersweet. Next time I'm at that spot I'll have to check my "drive-by botany" skills.
Hike 100 for 2021 is at 73 miles.
North Country Trail, Newaygo County, M-20 south to the White River and back for a total of 6 miles
In other news; There isn't much. We went out to eat afterwards, and when I got home I prepared for tonight's virtual book event. When that is over, I think I'll be done for the day!
Today was one of those days that just sort of floats by. I did some work. I did some goofing off. But it all ended with a deep dark sunset at... 6:30. That is sure better than 4:30. So that's my quality item for today.
Hopefully, my motivation will return tomorrow. Today, it was in hiding.
Cathy was out of town last week, so we had a lot to talk about when we got together today. It must have made us walk fast! It almost felt like spring, but this is Michigan, so don't get too excited. However, the sun was out and it was over 40 degrees! This is some unnamed creek that flows into the Lincoln River. Quite a pretty scene for in town- sure it was residential, not downtown, but still nice.
It was growing a healthy crop of watercress. The key feature here is that it is GREEN! With no Philadelphia Flower Show this year, I'm going to be in serious need of green things.
The Lincoln River and upper end of Lincoln Lake are frozen solid.
Here's today's mystery item. This board had some things screwed to it. Maybe some sort of electrical relays or circuits? What from a distance I thought was rusted metal is just where the surface of the board has been scored to hold whatever was fastened on it. But it sure made an interesting pattern.
We walked 4.5 miles in less than 1.5 hours. Lovely day. Felt good to be crankin' out some miles.
In other news: I edited/formatted all day until I met Cathy and then had bell choir practice, and then a zoom event this evening. I'm beat!
Some of these winter days there isn't very much to blog about. And, there is no Philadelphia Flower Show this year. I usually show you pictures from that for more than a week. And, there will also be no trip to Philly to see David's family and Marie. Instead, I'm going to start a series of posts about something very close to my heart. I'll keep it a secret where we are going with this until the next post in this series, and for now I will just say that we are starting here.
This is a picture of a person I never met. In fact, she was dead before I was even thought of. Her name is Anna Botsford Comstock. She was born in 1854 and died in 1930.
Anna Botsford was born in western New York, an only child. She grew up on a farm and developed a love of nature study early in life.
She was admitted to Cornell University (Ithaca, New York- and now much closer to where I grew up) in 1874. She fell in love with her entomology (study of insects) instructor, John Henry Comstock. They married and she dropped out of school. However, she taught herself to do illustrations for his books about insects. She later returned to school and received a degree in Natural History, and was one of the first women inducted into Sigma Xi, a sorority for honor students.
She went on to study wood engraving, to prepare plates for many more book illustrations. She became the third woman to be admitted to the Society of American Wood-Engravers.
This is one of her engravings.
She wrote, among other books, The Handbook of Nature Study, which is still in print! She was a pioneer in the practice of actually taking students outside to study, rather than bringing specimens into a classroom.
She was the first female professor at Cornell. (Although she was not the first to receive a full professorship. All women were denied that until many years later.)
Stay tuned over the coming days to learn why this woman is important to me. I'll add a post on days when there is nothing current of interest.
In other news: I worked really hard on editing/formatting jobs today.
Today was handbell Sunday at church. The services are still virtual, but there are hints that people may be able to return in a few weeks. We recorded this on one of the practice runs before the service started because the service is streamed on the local cable channel, and I didn't want to be running through the scene to turn the camera on and off. Carleen announced that we were recording and asked people to be quiet, but there is still talking. Sorry about that.
Before this was chosen as a song we would play, I had been thinking about what song might best characterize Christianity in the 20th Century. I have decided that this is probably THE one. This was used as the closing for every Billy Graham Crusade. It was used as the closing at many a church service. It has very moving and powerful words.
The sermon was about grace. This was the altar decoration. I love all the handmade crosses.
This song was written by Charlotte Elliot in 1835. It has been sung to several tunes, but this is the best known, by William Bradbury. I'm including the lyrics. I'm sure most of us remember the first verse, but some of the others are quite timely almost 200 years later. I'm pretty sure I'd never heard the last stanza before!
Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, Thy love unknown
Hath broken every barrier down;
Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, of that free love
The breadth, length, depth, and height to prove,
Here for a season, then above,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
In other news: I got groceries on the way home and did some promotional things in the afternoon.
I walked my favorite of the close-to-home 5-mile road loops today. The trees on each side of the road are giving each other a high five! Or maybe they are dancing- one set of hands is high and the other low. What would that be? A polka?
Of the pictures I took, the theme seems to be "vertical." And these are all color photos. Without any sun, it was quite a monochrome day. Vertical trees in the woods
The vertical ridges in the bark on this tree are highlighted with something- I'm not sure what. Lichen? Fungus? Snow? Salt thrown from the road? But the vertical line is broken by the fence wire that the tree has grown around. What's the message there?
These cattails have resisted the pull of ice and snow and remain perfectly vertical. Only the hummocks at their bases differ.
All my usual hiking buddies were not available this week, but today I took a short walk with another friend, Margaret. We went to the Ludington Beach and started by walking the waterfront.
I think there is just a hint of blue in this patch of ice. There is a serious amount of blue ice at the Straits of Mackinac this year. Lots of people have been posting pictures, the color there is so stunning. Margaret said she walked this route yesterday and the lake was calm, almost glassy. Not so today!
Wind and snow kept us moving right along! The Ludington lighthouse is visible in one of these next two pictures. Can you find it?
With the snow swirling through the air, the camera had trouble focusing. What I wanted to show you was the loose chunks of ice agitating along the edge. What you get is probably more realistic. Cold and blustery with snowflakes in your face!
We then walked some city streets. Margaret had a sore back, and I also have pulled a muscle or something. We might have walked two miles.
Then we went back to her house and... what else... worked on a puzzle. Title- Evening Meadow. We didn't finish, but we added a whole lot to the upper part, and a little to the lower part. There are horses and a barn in the middle. The real problem was that neither of us wanted to stop, but she had to go to dinner with her grandchildren, and I had to get home for a meeting.
I've known Margaret for years, but not very well. She was my editor for North Country Quest, and we got better acquainted. We have a lot in common. This could happen again! And the proof? Another horrible selfie.
In other news: I did some editing, and had a zoom event this evening.
This will complete the tour of my little stuffed animals for now. Today you get the "me" edition. Both of these dogs are ones I purchased myself.
The one on the left is a "Pound Puppy." These were made by Tonka in the 1980s, and for a limited time you could get one with a Burger King meal of some sort for an additional... something in the range of... a dollar. He has the genuine Pound Puppy logo. I actually found a couple of these for sale at an appreciated price. However, you'd have to sell a lot of them to actually make much money.
And this one is not for sale. I just like it. His name is Odd Spot.
The dog on the right, I'm sure you recognize. This is Wishbone, possibly the most famous Jack Russell terrier of all time. I purposely bought this because I like Wishbone. The PBS TV show was one of the most creative educational shows of all time for kids. The dog acted out classic literature (in case you somehow missed knowing about Wishbone). It was a real dog, and he would wear costumes and strike poses in various staged scenes with a voiceover. There were also modern day kids and the story was usually woven into a secondary plot. It was a very cute show. If you have no idea what I'm talking about just go to YouTube and search for Wishbone TV show.
When this toy was newer it would say, "Be like me; read a good book," when you squeezed its tummy. But whatever powered that voice loop has died. That makes me sad, but I suppose those kinds of things don't last.
So, today's stuffies are just for fun. But they each make me smile.
In other news: I did a lot of editing/formatting. Software issues- I finally solved othe problem, and then final tweaks and all the small changes that take forever. I did not make as much progress as I hoped, but at least I worked on it.
