Saturday, November 28, 2020

A Generally Cheerful Accounting Of A Day


If this Bradford pear leaf was a dance, it would be a Tango. Or perhaps the Electric Slide. Certainly not a minuet, a waltz or a (shudder) box step. It's a Cha-Cha of a leaf, a whirling Sufi dancer in a ballroom full of sedate people wearing somber gowns and too-tight tuxes, a Santeria priestess trance-dancing with a lit cigar clamped between her lips and a bottle of rum in her hand. 

Or something like that.

It's been a nice day although I've thought it was Sunday all day. I woke up from a strange dream wherein I was in a play and, as usual in these dreams, I had no knowledge of the script and my costume was not the one I was supposed to be wearing and I couldn't make my hair do what it was supposed to be doing BUT none of that mattered! Who cared? The play was being performed in a library, not on a stage, and I just kept laughing at my foibles. Of course, I did lose a child somewhere but that was an entirely different part of the dream. That part was stressful but the play sure wasn't. 

I made us a nice breakfast which we finished around noon because we were both being lazy and then did some crosswords and more laundry and eventually, went outside to do a little pulling of plants that have served their yearly purpose and also some weeds. I am listening to the audio version of The Queen's Gambit, the book, and quite enjoying it. So far it would appear that the series is quite faithful to the novel. We shall see if that continues to be the truth. 
While I was yardworking, my chickens came to observe what I was doing. 



What would I do without my chickens? And look what they gave me today:


These are semi-arranged in order of size, the largest one being the egg at approximately 2:30 which, although you can't tell, is HUGE, to the smallest which is little Miss Tweety's in the very center. I doubt that three of them would have the volume of the largest one. 

Here's a funny story involving eggs- Mr. Moon got a guy to come over to give him an estimate on how much it would cost to get some trees in the yard taken down. Now, as I have said before, my husband has been making deals since he was six years old when he sold a herd of cows. He lives to bargain. Loves it too. So he asked the tree guy what he was thinking for taking down the trees we want taken down. 
The tree guy says, "X thousand, five hundred." It is quite expensive to have trees taken down and I'm not saying what the "X" stood for and basically, I don't remember anyway. 
BUT. Tree Guy then says, "What were you thinking?" 
And Mr. Moon says, "X thousand and a dozen eggs." 
Tree Guy says, "Sounds good," and they shook on it. 
We are now joking about how our eggs are worth five hundred dollars a dozen. That's approximately $41.67 an egg. 
My hens should be proud. 

And so it goes. Maurice and Jack had a huge fight in the middle of the night and now Jack can't walk on one of his paws and Maurice has spent the entire day sleeping in the Pack'n'Play. What is WRONG with those cats? Kum Bah Yah, you assholes! 

And to end the day on a festive note, I just got a text from Jessie with pictures. They went down to Tate's Hell today to cut a Christmas tree. There's some program where you can pay a fee and go out and cut your own tree just like the pioneers (and my family when I was young) did, and they got stuck but they Macgyvered their way out so all was well. 


As I always say, Florida isn't all about Disney World and Miami Beach. There's Tate's Hell, too. 

Ho-ho-ho. 

Love...Ms. Moon

34 comments:

  1. I though the name Tate's Hell was interesting so I looked it up. This is from Songs of The Earth and Man

    Jebediah Tate was a superstitious farmer that lived near Carrabelle Florida. He had one son who was born just before the war and named him Cebe. Jebediah was a Civil War veteran, and his wife was half Cherokee Indian. He bought 160 acres for $5 as a homestead grant after the war.

    Cebe Tate helped clear his father’s land, chased cattle, and gathered pine oil. His mother died from scarlet fever sometime after the war. It was hard going, and Cebe’s father made a pact with a local medicine man for good fortune. As long as they stayed out of the tiny cypress forest and gave him one pig a year, they would have good fortune.

    For three years, they gave up a pig when the medicine man came around, and things were good. But in 1874, they decided to keep the pig and deny the old Indian. The Medicine man warned them that they would not only see hard times, but they would go through hell. That year Cebe’s father died from malaria, the pine trees gave very little oil, the sugar cane was stunted, and scrub cows started to disappear. But the pigs ate good, and multiplied so fast Cebe had to build two new pig pens in the fall.

    In the spring of 1875, Cebe got married to a mail order bride from New York City. She was a fiery German Immigrant. But there was a problem, Cebe only had pigs left, and she was of the Jewish Faith. She ate corn, potatoes, and pancakes with molasses, but she wanted beef. Cebe took off into the woods to find a cow, any cow, to quiet his bride.

    Armed with a shotgun and accompanied by his hunting dogs, he journeyed into the swamp in search of a cow. His dogs took off chasing a panther, and he lost his gun in the mud. Tate was lost in the swamp for seven days and nights. He went into the Dwarf Cypress stand to escape the relentless bugs, and fell asleep against the trees that were protected by the Indian’s magic. He awoke when bitten by a snake and ran blindly thru the swamp, delirious from the bite and from drinking the murky waters. Finally he came to a clearing near Carrabelle, living only long enough to murmur the words, "My name is Cebe Tate, and I just came through Hell!"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've heard that story and it's a good one. There are plenty of other versions, almost all involving Caleb Tate and getting lost in the forest. Anyway, the truth of the matter is that it's now a State Forest and it's still a pretty, wild place. I wouldn't want to get lost in it!

      Delete
  2. I must tell you, Mary, I don't believe they Macgyvered themselves one inch of the way. Levon did it all! How I love that little man.
    And then I got to read Cebe Tate's story, too! I hope his fat German widow became enormously rich.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think there were some rich folks in Carabelle at one time but I think they were in the cotton business. It was a shipping port. But it's nice to think of the widow becoming rich on Caleb's misfortune.
      I think you're right about Levon getting them out of the forest. Or least he was greatly interested and gave advise and supervised the operation.

      Delete
  3. Yummy post, i love your chooks, they are so mannerly! the photo of the little family getting a tree is absolutely gorgeous, those people are so damned pretty! The eggs are artful magic. That photo could go in any gallery and folks would oooo and ahhhh, your hens could be very rich from their eggs as you have already found out! They may just strike out on their own.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A entire kid's story just unfolded in my mind about a flock of hens who decide to cut out the middleman and sell their own eggs. I could get May to illustrate it! Thank you!

      Delete
  4. The story of Tate's Hell was very interesting. We had two very large trees cut off a house for $2300. I thought we got off lightly. Of course, I never once thought to offer him eggs! But you've given me one more bargaining chip. When we move to our retirment property, I want chickens. My husband doesn't. He might be easier to persuade once he hears how valuable the eggs can be!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, you can probably talk your husband into chickens if you play your cards right. (Wink, wink.)
      Isn't it crazy expensive to get trees taken out? But it's a scary job and requires a lot of equipment and know-how.

      Delete
  5. You struck it lucky with that tree man! Thanks for telling me about the tea book.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think you'd like the book. Good story. Lots about tea. I like this tree guy. He's country through and through and funny. Also, he called Levon and August "handsome". So yeah, he's a good guy in my book.

      Delete
  6. I have loved all of your chickens since Miss Betty - and your pictures of them calm something in me. The eggs are absolutely worth 500 a dozen!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They calm something in me, too. They are just so funny and curious and industrious and have such a complex little society. I never get bored with them.
      I sure do love you for sticking around this long.

      Delete
  7. i grew up near satan's kingdom....... google that for a quick laugh. so much history in these old place names tho. glad the eggs got you a deal.

    xxalainaxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, god! Satan's Kingdom! Too rocky to grow anything, huh?
      It was nice of the guy to accept the eggs in lieu of five hundred dollars.

      Delete
  8. I doubt the eggs would work a deal around here as so many people have chickens. that is one fancy leaf up there and I need some of Miss Tweety's eggs for when I make crostatas

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think the guy was just so amused at my husband's ridiculousness that he agreed to the deal. It made him laugh. Plus, he must have decided it was a pretty fair deal.
      Tweety's eggs are perfect when you just need a little egg.

      Delete
  9. Sounds like you got the chucks that laid the golden egg(s)!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know! And pink and green and beige and ivory and...

      Delete
  10. Tate's Hell sounds like an interesting name for a park, not a park I would want to visit but still, interesting. I just read the first comment, wow.

    Glad you had a nice day. The leaf is beautiful and apparently you have chickens that lay golden eggs:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, it's a forest and a swamp and woods and everything you can imagine that would remind you of a primeval place. I wouldn't be surprised if some of those giant armadillos aren't still wandering around there somewhere.

      Delete
  11. A dozen of those 2:30 eggs might be worth $500. :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Interesting, informative, and exciting post! Thanks so much!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is the service we provide.
      On a real good day.

      Delete
  13. That's an amazing leaf. I always keep an eye out for interesting leaves and that's a winner for sure.

    Tate's Hell -- have I ever been there? I don't think so. I'm not even sure where it is. Sounds way to rugged for me, unless they serve martinis there!

    Kudos to Mr Moon for driving a hard bargain! That's quite a savings!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I ALWAYS think of you when I see a beautiful leaf, Steve. And I thought of you when I took that picture.
      Tate's Hell is a bit west of here. Between here and Apalachicola. I don't think you'd find any martinis there unless we were camping at which point you might!
      Mr. Moon is the deal-maker for sure.

      Delete
  14. My friend. I see your words re covid on another blog and I applaud your stance
    Well done x

    ReplyDelete
  15. That looks like an egg mandala! You’ve given the most glorious description ever of a fall leaf!!I can see the Sufi dancers twirling round and round. If I had to run through hell, I’d want to end up in Carabelle too. Angelo’s seafood! Much love.
    Xoxo
    Barbara

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Angelo's! Yes! God. I haven't been there in years and years. It's still open though. Same family runs it.
      It is a very pretty leaf, isn't it?

      Delete
  16. eggs are gorgeous.....as is your human family as well as your chicken family! That leaf......... Lady of Guadalupe colors........that was the first thing that came to mind for me.
    Happy Sunday...... get that chili and soup ready for Mr Moon's hunting trip!
    Susan M

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cooking chores done!
      And yes- those colors are so rich. Even the brown and I am not a big fan of brown.

      Delete
  17. What an extraordinary leaf! What handsome hens! What gorgeous jewel toned eggs! Most especially what a beautiful, joyous tree macgyvering family!

    ReplyDelete

Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.