Happens once a year a gathering of the arms Illinois Farm Bureau 407,378 members represented by 342 delegates from each county in the state Cars and busses trains and pickup trucks the farmers pour in to the Chicago Loop toting suitcases (and billfolds!) Delegates and alternates, friends and staff officers and directors and onlookers [...]
Fascinating to watch a skilled chef who knows the chemistry to watch him or her mix then taste, savoring, thinking a little bit of this, a little bit of that With soil, we dig a trench to see the profile, from top to deep we slice a sample a core then head to a [...]
Sandy soils overlaying the ocean holding back that behemoth of waving, foaming power give way to sandy soils over plentiful water Fields carved by streams and rivers water, water everywhere! Navy, fishermen, pleasure boaters attuned to the waterman life What a treat! Refreshing, for the flatlanders of Illinois! How tempting to wet a line [...]
Our structures stand wind and rain sun and cold strong against the elements But in a moment the wind can torture the rain can flood the sun can certainly age them hard and the cold can make them crack Above these things the humans reign building, tending, repairing but in a moment an angry [...]
Delight comes in ever so many ways! Years ago a college student called. "Could you use some harvest help?" Indeed I could, so I invited the young man out. On the farm he was in his element. 'Can do!" was his aim. He did! Expeditiously with a smile! In the field or at our [...]
A friend stopped by the other day Business on his mind We sauntered to the backyard a retreat environ to set n talk a bit Settling back, he observed: This sure is a peaceful place! Patio surrounded trees and shrubs and flowers Blue sky, white clouds shades of greens and splashed of flowering plants [...]
Thoughts can often be threads opportunities alone happening but needing friends Alone they reach out but can't survive going further and further until they disappear But joining with others they become a cloth offering great things Think sails on great ships think uniforms on a million soldiers Think warm blankets in a cold world [...]
Something about the fog that quiets the cattle me the world A fine white mesh shrouding the earth closing us in together We move more slowly me the cars the ships nosing our ways on quiet Slow down earth it seems to say you've been hurrying much too much! Peace, now, murmur to each [...]
Climbing to the top of the Hill The forest floor tilts slides and rises trees bored in flora and fauna blankets rich The sun shines through, filtered beams of light through tall black and gray soldiers, the mountain world challenges, teases we humans to conquer We are born to climb every hill, every mountain [...]
Humans have a core value deep within their spirit hearts we see it in attractions especially when they're focused Words come hard to define emotions that hold us firm love, being at the top commanded, by the top So we are blessed to come to a place, a time, when inhibitions melt and someone 'leans [...]