I learn new things every day. If I was an attorney I would be studying up on the impact of new legislation and recently decided cases. An accountant – the impact of new GAAP and the merging with international standards; a business executive – new moves by competitors as they strive for competitive advantage. For me, my classroom is observing what’s going on around me.
In my post of February 23 I noted that one of twelve muscadines (grape vines) I transplanted did not survive and I provided a sensible (to me) explanation for the failure. My test for viability (the universal test) is to scrape the trunk and if there is green underneath then it is ok. Eleven vines had green, this did not and its trunk was peeling and a piece at the end of the vine had broken off. So it was dead, or so I thought. This morning as I tended the vines, I noticed it was leafing.
|
|
|
So I learn the slow way through trial and observation.
ps – it occurs to me that I planted 11 muscadine and one grape vine and the specimen above is the grape vine, which is why it looked so different/dilapidated compared with the others. It still failed my scrape test – perhaps I didn’t scrape deep enough or this is a characteristic of grape vines?
I have a constant companion for the ride to the farm and throughout the day – Trudy. She is a Heinz 57 who awaited us at the dog shelter after trying out and, presumably, rejecting two other families. A real cutie. At times I think of the dismissive comment of the Nearings in “Living the Good Life” (1954 page 28, one of my favorite books):”Cats and dogs live dependent subservient lives under the table tops of humans. Domestic pets kill and drive away wild creatures, whose independent, self-respecting lives seem far more admirable than those of docile, dish-fed retainers.”
Can this be my Trudy they are referring to? When we return to the house after working the fields she waits patiently for her snack. I usually hold it in my hand and she gently takes it from me. Once, being in a rush I dropped it on the floor for her to eat. She was not happy and ignored it. On another occasion she waited a bit and then ate it. And then it occurred to me, my second learning of the day. When she takes the food from my hand this is not an act of subservience but acceptance of reward for work performed, which in her case involves diligent searching for rabbits and rats and keeping an eye on me at all times. I think she views it as a fair exchange for services provided. I could go on about her and I will, together with pictures, at a future date.