96 ~ A hoot! (or two)

Last July, Madison Magazine ran an invited essay I wrote, “Three Years Without Groceries”.  Since I’d already written it, I didn’t bother to take a close look at the piece once it was published. Well, I just did recently, and dove into a better look at this wonderful illustration (above), done by artist Linda Bleck to accompany the essay.  What a hoot!  That’s me pulling up a beet and a bunch of carrots, and the carrots point to my neighbors Dave & Mary heading over with a quiche they made from vegetables I gave them, and my neighbor Greg trading a Christmas tree from his place for eggs from my hens. The ‘milk maid’ with the cow is one of the brothers from whom I get milk and other dairy (I didn’t specify their gender in the essay…).  In the basket are some of the wild trout I catch (looks like a rainbow trout this time), a jar of my maple syrup, eggs from the hens, and a wedge of cheese made by and bartered with my friend Willi. 

     A lot of fun. The image is also a beautiful summary and reminder of how good life can be when connected with the Earth and with community. I’m in contact with the artist now about getting a print suitable for framing in the house.  If you’d like to read the full essay, please click here.

Speaking of hoots, friends recently sent me this remarkable photo, taken about a week ago along a driveway near Troy, Wisconsin. Owl-on-owl predation:

  That’s a great horned owl on top and an unfortunate barred owl in its talons. Indeed, in these continental United States, great horned owls are the most powerful birds of prey other than eagles (perhaps tied with goshawks for that distinction; but I’d put my money on the owl, especially after dark…). I love the French name for our great horned owl: “hibou grand duc d’Amérique” – the grand duke of America.

Jusqu'à la prochaine fois! -L'Oiseau Dans le Buisson