Friday, May 19, 2006

BLogging in the Quiet of Night

WATCHING ANTS AT WORK
During the summer of 2005, I sat in my back yard and watched a colony of ants work to refurbish an abandoned ant hill. In an earlier year, that hill had been a home for a different colony of ants. (the earlier ants were of a larger-size).

It seemed uncanny to me that before the ants started their work, a small group of ants congregated, as if to discuss how best to do the work. Soon, in my presence, ( I was a little distance away) the ants busied themselves, carrying materials to repair the roof. The task seemed endless.

With a few handsful of materials, I could have finished their work, in minutes, but I didn't interfere.
Every life is entitled to achieve its own goals; or to band together with others for a community's goals, and without interference from outsiders.
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WEATHER SAYINGS
I adore having weather sayings stored in my memory.
Long ago I learned a weather saying that, I find, still holds true:

"Wind before rain, not much rain"


OLD TIME RULES FOR SUCCESSFUL FISHING
Now, as a town person, I no longer need concern myself with how good a day may be for fishing. I am still interested in a factor of weather and fishing that I learned about from my husband and from my father-in-law: "Wind."
The weather rules told the men the likely chance they had on a particular day, to catch fish. On occasion, despite a prediction that fishing might be poor, the men came home with fish for dinner. Forthwith, the sayings:

Wind from the North, a fisherman does not go forth.
Wind from the East, fishing is not good for man, or beast.
Wind from the South blows the bait out of the fish's mouth.
Wind from the West, fishing is best!

My husband taught me also how to tell which way the wind is coming from. He told me to wet my index finger (in my mouth)
and hold it up in front of me. The side of my finger that dries first indicates the direction from which the wind is coming. If we're uncertain which direction is N-E-S or West, luckily, the sun still sets in the West! We can start from there......
marylee manson armour, May 18,2006
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SOLITAIRE and our family in the East.

MY BROTHER JOE still plays solitaire and has taught his youngest grandaughter, Molly, almost age 6, how to play. Now, she can play the game by herself.

Molly's brother Cole, age 10 1/2, and her sister, Emilie, age 8 1/2 both took part in plays at their school last week. They memorized their parts. It is amazing, the abilities children have, and the confidence they have to try new things.
The children's late great-grandmother, would say, "Will wonders never cease!"

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