TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS . . .

Standing is James, my father. 
His baby brother sits in the highchair. 

. . . and all through the house. 

With James in his knickers and I in my chair

we stood and we sat with greatest of care.

When out on the lawn we heard some prancing

It so moved James that he quickly started dancing.

I'm attempting to move myself into the Christmas mood today by sorting through some of my old Christmas photos while making up the above silly little ditty for this post. The 1916 photo above is of my father, James, when he was about four. The family had just moved to Detroit so his father (my grandfather) could begin working at Henry Ford's manufacturing plant.

This photo was taken about 100 years ago. As I look at it I smile at the small pine tree lacking the traditional electric lights -- a sheet acting as a tree skirt wrapping its base -- the tree's tinsel chain winding past a few large glittery ornaments, and the calendar hanging on the wall along with my great-grandfather's picture. A lone children's book sits under the tree. I wonder if the book was a gift my father received for Christmas? 

I am especially thinking of my father today. He gave me the greatest of gifts  --  kindness and love.

Happy Holidays to all.

ROOTED

Wandering roots

Kentucky

I never saw a discontented tree,

They grip the ground as though they liked it, and

though fast rooted they travel about as far as we do.

They go wandering forth is all directions with every wind,

going and coming like ourselves . . . .

~~ John Muir

Aerial tree roots

Mount St Helen's National Park, Washington State

NATURE'S DRINKING CUPS FOR THE LITTLE WILD CRITTERS

The stub of a decaying tree limb has become a basin for catching rain water

Nature always provides surprises to a walker along a trail. Recently, a few days after a rain, I moseyed down a  trail close to my home and observed something I felt was a bit different. This was what could be considered miniature watering holes or as I call them -- nature's drinking cups. 

Above is a decayed limb that has a basin-like cavity at the top of its stub. When we have rain it fills and remains for several days. 

Close up of the decayed limb's drinking cup

Here is a close up photo of the tree's drinking cup. As you can observe, clear fresh water is caught in the decayed basin. I imagine that birds and insects love these small places.

Boulder with a natural basin providing a drinking cup that fills after a rain

Another basin like drinking cup. This one is in the hollow of a large boulder. I thought that the two examples of drinking cups displays the ingenious way that nature takes care of its little wild critters.