Happy Halloween?

This holiday season in New England we see all sorts of displays that are designed to frighten & scare us. Devil worship, celebration of death and the wearing of costumes at work or school becomes the norm. In their disguises people wear out their fantasies be it violent, sexual or political(I understand the most popular mask this year is Hilary Clinton which may include all three).
I noticed this lawn ornament on my way to work this morning while driving the back roads of Western Massachussets. I was particlurly appalled to see this in light of the current racial climate that has crystalized around this symbol in Jena Louisiana. The yard was filled with other Halloween paraphenalia pumpkins, skeletons and the like but this center piece caught my eye. Am I reading too much into this symbolism, being too thoughtful or PC. Should I rather enjoy the spirit of the witching season and not let my own mind wander into a more sinister place. Could it be better to think of this as someone having fun with their own ignorant, yet innocent demons.

Wildlife sightings here and there// mostly here.

A local resident sent this notice about what she has seen this early Fall. Some of these sightings are highly unusual in these parts especially all in the same day. She is a reliable source though.
I do wish that the pack of coyotes will move on and stop snacking on them chickens.

Here is a description of what she saw:
"First it was the huge bull moose with a full rack of antlers Tuesday morning on her road while she was running. He came out of a swamp and walked right in front of her, crossing the road slowly, giving her a long stare before he ambled into the woods. No need for something that big to fear a lone jogger. A car slowed behind her as she waved it to a stop. The woman driver's jaw dropped too. Speechless. And this morning it was a pack of coyotes after the chickens (first one showed up, grabbed a bird and took off, then the pack and her dog chased them away the second time). The dog was gone half an hour and she worried but he came back just fine and barely panting. Then just last night she heard a noise outside the dining room and not one, not two but FOUR bears, a mom and 3 large cubs, walked across the darkening deck not five inches from the French doors where she and her husband were sitting (inside) and eating apple pie for dessert! Did they smell the pie, are the animals striking back at the development up here, who knows? It certainly got the adrenaline going. He grabbed for his ever present camera but it was too dark for a shot. Mama gave one baby a swat as he tried to climb a tree and they continued up the hill through the trees.
She is hesitant to ask, "What's next?" Life in the country."

The Clothesline

Climate change is so much on the minds of all us at this point. What can we as individuals do but to be more mindful and creative in our attempts to prevent or at least slow the apparent inevitable.
Despite my obvious pessimism I thrive to reduce the environmental impact I have on the planet every day. Driving a low emmissions car, recylcing all my edible scraps feeding them to my chickens, heating the house with wood harvested on my land within feet of the house and drying my clothes in the sun on a clothes line like my Mother used to do.
I remember going with my Mom to the roof of the six story apartment in NYC to hang out the wash. Several others were up there too armed with their wooden clothes pins or folding freshly dried laundry, gently placing gleeming white sheets in yellow plastic baskets . Chatting up a storm with eachother while enjoying the breeze of a dry sunnyday.
I carry on this tradition and loving it as I hang the wash on my line facing south behind the house underneath several pine and birch trees. I always like to see our clothes flying like colorful flags blowing in Spring, Summer or Autumn wind. On occassion it is even not beyond all reason to get the job done under optimal conditions in the dead of winter.All can be right with the world when one hangs out clean clothes to dry in light of the sun.