FIRE IN THE SKY

December 9, 2014November 27, 2014 ~ Jnana Hodson ~ 1 Comment

Nightfall blazes with dramatic flair, challenging the deep cold just ahead. — Nightfall blazes with dramatic flair, defying the deep cold just ahead.

BRUSSELS SPROUTS & LETTUCE (INCLUDING UNDER PLASTIC)

December 5, 2014October 14, 2014 ~ Jnana Hodson ~ 9 Comments

Some vegetables turn sweeter if you leave them in the garden after the first hard frost. The Brussels sprouts and kale are good examples.

My wife’s best friend and I are the ones who love the miniature cabbages, and that’s led to a tradition at our Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, regardless of whether we’re all sitting down to eat at their place or ours. Yes, like me, she’s especially fond of the sprouts, any way they’re served. So here’s looking ahead, with anticipation.

BRUSSELS SPROUTS ETC.

out in the garden, I use an ax to dig out Brussels sprouts
from under two feet of snow
for Christmas dinner

and maybe some kale
to boot

SO WHAT’S THEIR EXCUSE?

December 2, 2014 ~ Jnana Hodson ~ 7 Comments

Days after what’s been dubbed the Thanksgiving Nor’easter, much of New Hampshire was left without electrical power. It wasn’t just people out in the sticks either, where homes are scattered and require long lines for connections. No, major sections of the largest cities were also affected.

It’s not that this is an isolated incident, either. Officially, this was the fourth worst outage ever — following December 2008, February 2010, and October 2011.

The electrical grid has become undependable, and that should have the utilities worried. Customers are given more incentive for seeking not just backup relief, mainly generators, but energy independence by means of solar and wind sources.

While many of the big-bucks folks have been insisting that global warming — or more accurately, climatic instability and upheaval — is a fabrication, these kinds of disasters fit right into the predictions they’re denying. And these kinds of events will just keep coming. Or should I say snowballing? The four worst within eight years? Think about it.

The other argument that comes to mind has to do with line maintenance. Again, the four worst in eight years. The utilities can plead all they want for rate hikes, but they’ll be facing increased hostility. Folks will ask, “Just what are we getting for our money?”

It’s safe to say that for somebody here, things are going to get worse before they get better. Or before the public, at least, turns the corner.

WAKING TO THE FIRST SNOW

November 28, 2014November 27, 2014 ~ Jnana Hodson ~ Leave a comment

It's a lot of weight stressing those branches. Falling limbs through the night had the power flickering. We were lucky, though, the lines kept running. — There’s a lot of weight stressing those branches. Falling limbs through the night had the power flickering. We were lucky, though, the lines kept running.

It’s pretty but also heavy, wet, dense — you much prefer the lighter, fluffy stuff when it comes to shoveling. Still, you can’t help but admire it as the sunlight starts strumming through the branches.

We’ve had several rounds of flurries before this, when some of the neighboring towns found their ground covered. Real snow, in my book, means digging out the driveway.

I like having the raised garden beds to be covered by a blanket of snow, especially when the thermometer plummets. The wrought iron loveseat by the bushes is one way I easily calculate the depth of our snowfall. I'm wondering how soon before it's completely buried. — I like having the raised garden beds covered by a blanket of snow, especially when the thermometer plummets. The wrought-iron love seat by the bushes is one way I easily calculate the depth of our snowfall. I’m wondering how soon before it’s completely buried.

HERE IT COMES

November 27, 2014 ~ Jnana Hodson ~ Leave a comment

Glancing out the window as our first real snow of the season arrived had me feeling grateful I no longer have to commute to and from the office in nasty weather.

TURKEYS IN THE WOODS

November 26, 2014October 14, 2014 ~ Jnana Hodson ~ 5 Comments

I pulled over to photograph some ducks on a pond, or so I thought. When I turned around, this is what I found.

Wild turkeys have made a remarkable comeback in New England. The other day, I had to stop behind a stopped car on the road. That’s when I saw the gobbler stroll off the pavement. There was even one in our yard, we’ve been told.