Month: June 2021

Forgiveness

Old Wound By David Jacobi

We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

On and On

Ignited By David Jacobi

Their churches and synagogues were absorbed

By a couple of dozen persons

While seven hundred preachers

Tried to keep them in the fold

A new kind of freedom manifested

Someone changed into someone else

Said a prayer for the reformation of the poet

Attuned to the rhythms of human life

Too busy for a conception of bearing

Like a boat stranded on an island

Causes a muddling cry of a thousand sentinels

The cosmic validity of which was not doubted

Now the walls are stained by anguish

Bitterness hardens, and the troubles go on and on

Premonition asserts its mystic will

A glimpse of a dead world drifts by

2012 By David Jacobi

Travel Log: 1995 Minnesota, Part Two

Our kids around the time of this trip.

Part One of this travel log can be read here.

Aug. 23 – Broke camp, showers were out, hit Hwy 371 South around 10:15 AM, Shelly driving. (My 30th Birthday!!) Down to Brainerd, 18 East to 169 South to 27 East and Father Hennepin State Park, around 12:30 PM. Set up camp, Shelly and Sarah into town of Isle for a few provisions. (And a B-Day present for me, a blue Mille Lacs Lake T-shirt) Down to beach, children played 3 hours in water and with other kids. Shelly and I sat on the beach, in the sun, enjoying the sights and the sound of the waves breaking on the beach. I drove up to the phone and called Mom just before 7:00 PM. [the time I was born] We talked for around an hour, then back to beach to pick up Shelly and kids. Once at camp lit the fire and Jacob and I up to shower. Shelly and Sarah went when we got back. Two women and three seven year old girls had set up a couple of campsites down from us. Jacob and I and two of the girls ended up taking a walk down a path in the dark, all of them with flashlights in hand. Walked down to beach and back along path to campsite. Stew and French bread for supper. Campsite #7. Counter @ 1,290. Raccoons and squirrels had to be chased off all night.

Aug. 24 – Woke up around 8:30 AM to lightning and thunder and strong winds, tent starting to leak around the edges and dripping from above. Finally decided to head for the van, bringing most bags, packs, etc. with us. In van only 15 mins when tent collapsed under weight of water and poles slipping in the mud. Dozed in van, hoping storm would pass, didn’t, so decided to break camp and head for I-35 South. Put all wet things in garbage bags and hit the road around 11:00 AM. To Hwy 18 then I-35 South, eating on the road. Down through Minneapolis/St Paul to Myre-Big Island State Park for some fishing. Caught seven or so bullheads (let them go) then quick drive through Albert Lea around 7:30 PM to Bel Aire Moter Inn, 700 Hwy 69 S. Room #20. Counter @ 1,582.9. Kids played on playground equipment in front of motel then we checked out “V.I.P. Room” in basement (portrait of Elvis hanging above stairs) Shelly played piano, she and I played game of ping pong (I won 15-12) Ordered Godfathers Pizza to be delivered. Children ate first, then to bed. Shelly and I ate about an hour later, watching Forbidden Planet (old sci-fi movie) then to sleep.

Aug. 25 – Up around 8:30 AM (me around 10:15) and checked out at 11:00. Had read about a man building a grotto like series of structures just outside of town called The Itasca Rock Gardens. Eventually found them (no signs) and walked around the grounds for 30-60 mins. When you observe a work of art/love like Itasca one can not help but…be impressed by one mans lifelong vision and goal. Back on the road into Albert Lea to liquor store to pick up some five point beer for home. Hit I-35 South again, back into Iowa to Clear Lake State Park. Drove around park then on into Mason City for a late lunch at Perkins restaurant. Over to I-35 South again and decided while on road to just drive on back home (had thought about stopping at a few places) Got into Des Moines, picked up the puppy at my sisters house then in our driveway around 5:00 PM. Home Again!! Counter @ 1,792.6. Shelly and I took our time unloading the van, talked with our next door neighbor Pat Irish (who took care of our [other] dog Hannah while we were gone) Started some laundry, did dishes, put things away, etc. All in all, a very good vacation.

A Mystery Kill and Vanishing Views

We have seen more deer around us in the fields this spring than during previous years. When we lived in the city they would come up from the river valley in the winter to eat the acorns on the lawns and at night they would walk right down the middle of the street. Out here there is not much cover for them until the corn grows high enough during the summer. That rabbit that Dean shot on Mothers Day must have just had time to do his duty before he bought it because there are at least four little bunnies hopping around the place now. The dogs tear after them, and Steve almost caught one the other day that had run into a dead end but at the last moment it turned and ran right past Steve, who was slowing down to turn and was caught off guard. Marley, our 13 year old lab, is still in the game and brings up the rear huffing and puffing with her bow legs galloping as fast as she can move them. We were walking around the acreage the other day when the dogs stopped ahead of me sniffing around very intently. Usually when this happens they have found something dead or poop, and as I got closer I could see it was an adult rabbit, maybe the mama. The curious thing was the head was gone, the backbone was half pulled out and the pelt was hollow but intact. Whatever creature did this had somehow removed almost everything inside without tearing through the skin of the body, with the exception of the missing head. We spotted a groundhog waddling down the drive a couple of weeks ago but thankfully have not seen it again. Because of the dry spring the lilacs barely flowered at all, but we are keeping the flowers around the house well watered and most of them are thriving, as is the garden. We have two chairs outside of the garage facing the west and every day we sit there we notice the fast growing corn covering up more and more of our view.

Photo: Steve (left) and Marley on Bunny Patrol

The Roundup

Glamping Hub “is one of the world’s leading luxury camping websites. Find glamping spots all over the world; ranging from pet-friendly hotels or eco-friendly hotels, glamping retreats & getaways. With inventory perfect for family vacations, romantic getaways, and near top solo travel destinations, Glamping Hub is where to book. Read Glamping Hub reviews, reserve your dates, and then head for the best glamping weekends possible!”

Currently I am reading a compilation of Robert Louis Stevenson stories and I wanted to learn about his life. I found the RLS Website “a freely available online resource dedicated to the life and works of Robert Louis Stevenson. The site makes Stevenson texts and information about his life and works available worldwide, appealing to students, scholars and enthusiasts.”

Rare Historical Photos “is a website/blog exclusively dedicated to historical and rare photographs. Each historical photograph has a story to tell, each of them documents a major event in human history, each photo is a way to grasp the full meaning of the past.”

Misfits Market “is the online value grocer dedicated to making affordable, high-quality food more accessible while helping break the cycle of food waste. We work directly with farmers and makers to source organic produce, sustainable pantry staples, and other high-quality groceries that might otherwise go to waste and deliver them to you at up to 40% off grocery store prices.”

Garden 2021

We planted the garden in the same plot as the last two years. It gets full sun from dawn until late afternoon when the sun dips behind our western willow trees. This year we put in 7 tomato plants, 2 pepper plants and one each zucchini and cucumber plants. Along the north side of the house we have chives, basil, parsley and rosemary in pots. Shelly picked up two purslane plants and for a couple of days I puzzled over them growing smaller, thinking I was watering too much or not enough, until I realized the rabbits were munching on them, so they have been moved to a bench hopefully out of their reach. Shelly discovered a new weed control method whereby she cut an X in the flat cardboard we put down, opened the four flaps and that is where we dug a hole for a plant. We dismantled a huge dog kennel in the machine shed last year that was full of straw, which we saved for this spring to spread over the cardboard. Currently there is a heatwave here in Iowa with temps in the 90’s, with the forecast calling for the same all next week into the following weekend. All we can do is keep the garden watered and hope for the best.