AI-driven Dreaming

This morning I awoke from a dream that seemed to be lengthy and intense.  It was as though I was having a long conversation with an expert who was explaining something to me.  He was explaining that we are in a state of electronic warfare on a global scale and went on to describe the various ways that it was playing out and affecting all of us.

We discussed things like isolation from the Internet, shielding of sensitive computer hardware and we talked about AI data centers.  I got the sense that those AI data centers are the weapons of the next phase of the war.  Some will be defensive and some offensive in nature.  They are mostly being located in rural areas due to the threat of conventional or nuclear weapons against them.  Those locations expose smaller segments of the population to the potential collateral damage.

It was just a dream.  It was my mind attempting to make sense of the random information with which we are daily bombarded.  It was a dream that makes sense in the light of day.  Many dreams don't.

As I have mentioned many times, I enjoy dreams and look forward to them.  I believe our minds often do their best work while we dream.  I believe we all dream but some are more tuned to those dreams than others.  Even our dog dreams as he lies down in some of the strangest places.  I wish I could go to sleep and dream as easily as he does.

 Fields of Clover

Clover is often associated with wealth, prosperity and good fortune.  This is especially true of a four-leaf clover which is considered to be rare.  Clover symbolizes that "all is right with the world."

Clover is an interesting perennial that grows lush with the coming of spring rains.  It fixes nitrogen in the soil which is then bio-available to grasses and forbs which need it for proper growth and health.  It is highly palatable to grazing animals and is an excellent source of protein which is needed for the growth and health of those animals.

It creates a soft carpet that is pleasurable to walk in barefooted.  People have been known to lie down in it due to the pleasant smells and softness of the natural blanket it provides.

City dwellers don't like clover growing in their manicured monoculture lawns that use tons of water and mine the soils of their nutrients.  On the other hand, those who raise grazing animals generally love it for the benefits it provides.  That attitude is just one of many that divides the thoughts of those who take comfort from the proximity of many people to those who are most comfortable with solitude.

Solitude typically is only comfortable for those who have accepted themselves as they are.  It is for those who are secure in their being rather always seeking solace in the company of others.  Solitude is a place of communion with God.

I like to see clover growing in the meadow.  It brings with it a sense of peace.

Below is a picture of White Clover (Trifolium repens) growing on our place.  It is one of the most widely cultivated clovers worldwide and is a highly desirable forage crop.  If in need, the plant can be consumed by humans as well.  It is high in proteins and is sometimes mixed into salads.  Boiling it for about 10 minutes makes it more easily digestible.  (No, I haven't tried it, but it is good to know should an emergency arise.)  White Clover is known to occasionally produce the four-leaf configuration.  I didn't see any in the photo below.

 Fostering Uncertainty

"Although our intellect always longs for clarity and certainty, our nature often finds uncertainty fascinating." -- Carl von Clausewitz

Arriving at a point of certainty is a sure indicator that we have stopped learning and have dismissed any new information that might inform our opinion of outcome as otherwise.  -- me

I want to always be learning.  I desire that those around me be learning.  I want to be around people who are curious, who are looking at things in new ways and constantly aware that there might be better ways to do things.  I want questions that probe current understanding.  I want uncertainty.

That seems a strange thing to desire -- uncertainty.  Most of us want a blanket of security in knowing with certainty what the day holds.  It is an unrealistic expectation.  Safety and security are illusory.

I believe businesses need to foster a level of uncertainty and I believe our educational systems need to do the same.  The fires of curiosity must constantly be fanned -- not always to a blazing heat, but at least to a constant glowing ember that can be brought to flame with addition of new fuel.  Growth is found in curiosity.  Without curiosity we slowly fade.

I am uncertain what the flower pictured below is.  My best guess is that it is a Soft Golden-aster (Chrysopsis pilosa).  It was growing near our entry, and I thought it was very photogenic.  If you have a more accurate identity, please add it in the comments.

 Visitation

Yesterday was one of heat and humidity that discouraged outdoor activities.  I don't mind sweating in the sun when necessary but have never been one to seek out the heat without purpose.  I found things to do inside where the air conditioning was working quite well.

We had made plans to meet some friends who were camping out at the lake sometime in the afternoon and I was dreading it.  I knew that sitting around visiting in the heat would be uncomfortable, even in the shade.  There was virtually no breeze to stir the air and the humidity remained high throughout the day.  I was not excited.

When I say that they were camping at the lake I mean that they were there in their RVs with most of the comforts of home.  In fact, we waited until after they had all taken an afternoon nap in those air conditioned "campers" before venturing out to meet them.  I thought camping meant tents and campfires and mosquitos and no shower.  That's not what is considered camping anymore.

When we arrived, we set out our camp chairs and joined the group in the shade of several large trees.  Fortunately, there was an occasional light breeze that helped to cool us off -- especially if you stood up and let it blow through sweat-dampened shirt.  Even the birds were quiet for the most part as they drowsed in the shade high in the trees.  I suspect they had a little more breeze at that height.

Despite the slight discomfort, it was an enjoyable visit.  As sunset neared the temperature began to drop and it became much more pleasant.  However, by then it was time to break up and go our separate ways.  Little did I know that a campfire and late-night fun was not in the plan.  I guess gray hair affects behavior more than our minds want it to....

Below is a late afternoon view of Pat Mayse Lake from near where we sat in the shade.

 Under Attack

Sometimes the best sign that you are accomplishing something worthwhile is the increased level of resistance that you face.  To put it into a Christian perspective, why would the devil attack if you aren't doing anything?

We have transitioned from a beautiful Spring to a sultry early Summer.  We still have the humidity of Spring but have added the heat of Summer.  The result is oppressive.  With abundant moisture the plants are growing rapidly and the need to pare back the growth is constant.  You can practically see the grass grow.

With Summer comes a transition in the types of flowers we see.  It also means an increase in the number of insects that tend to swarm any living thing.  Black-eyed Susans and Sunflowers are now becoming the dominant flowers seen across the pastures and roadsides.  If you look closely at them however, you see myriad small six-legged creatures seeking to make meals of them.  Those bugs then become meals for birds and on and on.

Growth comes with setbacks and attacks.  Just like in nature, it happens in our personal lives.  As we grow, new challenges seek to set us back.  The key is to keep on shining like the Black-eyed Susan pictured below.

 Staying Optimistic

It is far too easy to allow negativity to drag you down.  The constant bombardment of challenges and barriers can cause even the most positive of personalities to struggle with anxiety and depression.  At least part of the solution is to focus on the positive things you find along the way.

I have been looking forward to picking lots of dewberries from the plants growing wild on our place, but they have only been ripening a few at a time.  I have a bag in the freezer in which I place the ripe ones that I have picked.  Eventually there might be enough for a pie.  If not, they might garnish a piece of cake or some ice cream.  They are so close to being ready that I daily expect them all to have turned ripe overnight.  Instead, it is one here and one there.

Life is a bit like that.  We look ahead with hopeful expectations, but it seems their realization remains firmly in the future.  Every once in a while, something positive occurs, but the thing we aim for seems to remain elusively later in time.  It is important that we continue to do what is necessary and to remain hopeful.  With my berries it is a short walk each day to check their progress and to harvest the few that are ready.  I expect any day to make the trek and find the bushes loaded with ripe berries and I will have to go find a bucket to gather them in rather than carry the few ripe ones in my hand.

There are several species of dewberry.  I believe ours are the Southern Dewberry (Rubus trivialis).  They create a bright spot in the woods, but don't stumble into them unaware because the thorns will quickly entangle you.

 Cooking Biscuits

This post has nothing to do with cooking or biscuits, but it needed a title and for some reason, homemade biscuits with lots of butter and honey came to mind.  The title may be unrelated, but cravings are.  In this case I'm not sure how they are related except that our desires always stem from our cravings -- whether it be happiness, wealth or biscuits.

Often, with the increasing influence of each new generation, we see that the meanings of some words are changed.  The word "bad" comes to mind in that it is often used to mean "the best."  A previous generation used "the bomb" to mean something good.  I thought bombs were used to kill, maim and destroy.  What do I know.

National Socialism defined the political party of Hitler.  Socialism was viewed differently than Bolshevism which was the Russian form of Communism which was derived from the Marx version of Socialism.  Bolshevism and Capitalism were considered the enemies of Socialism by the Nazis who believed that the Jews were behind both of those opposing systems of government/economy.  It is that belief that ultimately drove the behavior of the Nazis to their "Final Solution" to the "Jewish" problem.  It was a movement cloaked in euphemisms and rhetoric that was designed to coerce any who were not "true believers" to accept the party line.  Propaganda was a primary tool of such coercion, and it used words in ways that meant one thing to "the party" and something different to those not privy.

 I believe we see similar tactics in this country today.  I leave it to you to choose (a form of the word choice which also has been twisted) who you wish to accuse of such behavior.  It likely depends on which end of the political spectrum you stand as to how you might respond to that choice.  For those in the middle it appears to be choosing between the lesser of two evils.  The answer is still evil.

The Carolina Horse Nettle (Solanum carolinense) is one of my least favorite weeds.  It is invasive, perennial and toxic.  It is difficult to kill even with most herbicides.  It was once listed in the United States National Formulary (a medical guide for treating various ailments and conditions).  But keep in mind, we also used to use leeches to treat ailments.

I think the Carolina Horse Nettle is an appropriate illustration for this brief blog because it can be attractive when in bloom but watch out for the prickly stickers that can penetrate even good leather gloves.  It may even look like the solution to our ailments but is actually quite toxic.

 What's in a Name?

Camel Crickets are of the family Rhaphidophoridae.  Looks to me like the name says they are fast -- and they can be if you are trying to catch them for fish bait.  I grew up calling them "Sand Crickets" although that is commonly associated with "Jerusalem Crickets" which are something entirely different.

Regional differences, ignorance, folklore and other "fuzzy logic" sometimes causes confusion when it comes to naming things.  My dad, who was exceptionally intelligent, had names for things which didn't coincide with what the books said.  My grandfather on the other side of the family was the same way.  Dad grew up in southwestern Oklahoma whereas my grandfather was from Central Missouri.  Their early years formed much of their thinking and nomenclature on certain things.

That is a small piece of what causes differences in our views of what should be, what is and what was.  We may speak the same words but mean totally different things.  Unless we take the time to understand those differences which arise from varying experiences and education, we exacerbate the tendency to believe someone else is wrong and we are right.  It could be we are both thinking similarly but using different words to describe our thoughts.

We all need to spend more time seeking understanding and less time proving someone else doesn't know what they are talking about.

 Nightmares

Maybe the title should be "Aliens" rather than "Nightmares."

Do you ever wonder where the inspiration for some of the wild creatures we see in science fiction or horror movies comes from?  I think it often comes from nature.  Oh, we perceive it as coming strictly from our imagination, but imagination must be fueled by reality.  Nature provides many examples that inform those imaginative fictions.

Our dreams take those things that we have observed and morph them into even more grotesque things.  I believe the chemical processes that drive memory and stored images flows and melds with other images in a never-ending cascade of combinations that feed imagination.

I love dreams.  I look forward to dreaming when I sleep.  I attempt to channel my dreams into pleasant themes rather than those which might be horrid, but I know that if nightmares occur, they can be manipulated into victories over evil.  Always, our mind shapes what we feed it.  Feed it the good stuff and constantly reinforce the idea that even the bad can be worked for good.

The American Green Crab Spider (Misumessus oblongus) is one of those creatures that might provide at least a partial template for an alien lifeform.  I can certainly see how it might inspire some creative writer or videographer to use it as a pattern for an invading alien species.  I just think they are interesting.

 The Debating Society

I detest debate but I truly enjoy meaningful discussions.  There is a huge difference.  Debate is about winning an argument.  Discussion is an exchange of ideas and viewpoints that can be educational.  There is no education in a debate because the participants are singularly focused on winning.

Society today is all about debate.  Each side of a political argument wants only to win.  There are no compromises and no middle ground, only a win or loss.  It makes no sense since those same people insist that every child gets a trophy.

We can learn from each other if we will learn to discuss without the vitriol which is often present in debate.  Cogent arguments on behalf of one's position are not the same as debate.  They don't ignore the other's position but support a point of view.  We also must listen.  We must listen with the desire to understand why someone believes the way they do.  We should never belittle their position but help them to understand there is merit in other views and hope that we can clearly explain the merit of our own or perhaps change our position with enlightenment.

We had several Black-bellied Whistling Ducks (Dendrocygna autumnalis) land in one of the large Sweetgum trees near our house the other evening.  Listening to their whistling chatter reminded me of the constant bickering on social media.  Some were bullies and some were bullied.  All chattered constantly as they sat on limbs looking down on the rest of the world.

 Expanding Knowledge

It seems that advanced education today focuses individuals on narrower and narrower fields of study so that they become experts on their subject, but often ignorant of other fields.  Interestingly, though, that advanced degree often instills arrogance that causes the individual to be blinded to learning from others who are not also experts in their field.  To paraphrase, "If you don't have an advanced degree, you are inferior."

There are many people in this world who are wired to be generalists.  They easily assimilate a wide variety of knowledge and are able to see cross-disciplinary applications and approaches that are missed by the experts.  These are the type of people who are often extremely successful in business because they assemble teams from multiple disciplines and bring them together to solve problems.

Deep knowledge of a subject is useful; it is where new discoveries are made.  Knowing how those discoveries can be applied to solve problems requires a completely different type of thinking.

Solutions typically come from those with a wide variety of interests who see the fit within a larger view.  They are "dot connectors."  They look at a puzzle piece and see where it fits in order to complete the larger puzzle.  They see the connections.

This world is filled with specialists.  It needs more generalists who are educated in a cross-disciplinary way so that they are trained to see connections.  They will never be the expert in a field, but they will be well-versed in multiple fields.  They will solve problems.

Fungi intrigue me.  They fill a niche at the end-of-life phase of most of the visible world.  But they are also the precursor to new life.  They break down the dead and decaying and make the usable nutrients available to the living.  They also signal, through networks of fibers in the soil, that nutrients are available by releasing chemical signals which draw roots, worms, microbes and other small creatures that build the base of the food chain.

Each species of mushroom is somewhat specialized to break down certain species of plant or animal.  The Golden Reishi (Ganoderma curtisii) is one common to our area which feeds primarily on dead and decaying Loblolly Pine.

 Freedom's Cost

Memorial Day is a time of remembrance that originated after the Civil War.  Mourning the soldiers lost in battle helps us to grasp the great cost paid to remain a free and independent nation.

I think too often we confuse freedom with safety.  Freedom is the ability to choose.  Safety is a feeling that we need not fear because we have surrendered the risk of danger to others.  It comes with a hidden danger, though.  It is the danger that those to whom we have surrendered will abuse that trust.  The nature of humans is such that those who seek control do so for their own gain and will use the power given to them for their own purposes.

I subscribe more to the philosophy of Patrick Henry who said, "Give me liberty or give me death."  Let me make my own decisions about what to believe and whom to trust.  Grant me the freedom to fail, to risk and to challenge those who would seek to block me from the pursuit of happiness in the way that I would choose.

I believe the best government is the least government.  Society needs agreed upon rules of order that protect citizens from abuse.  People do not need a "nanny state" that controls every aspect of their lives.  Happiness cannot exist in the absence of choice.

Some would argue that the government must protect those who society deems to be inferior or different.  My question is simply, who defines the inferior or different?  The innocent, the powerless and the incapable should certainly be protected.  That should primarily be the role of community, friends and family.  

Abuse of others should never be tolerated but it is not the role of government to define what is to be considered as abuse because by making that determination they create new forms of abuse.  There must always be mechanisms by which the citizens can quickly and easily correct that abuse.  Otherwise, the ultimate price will again be paid as was the case in the U.S. Civil War.

Life shouldn't be about safety and living under the dominion of abusive power.  It should be about choosing to face the challenges, to overcome the odds, to create and build, to love and to cherish those whom we would choose without the interference of abusive power.

On this Memorial Day let's remember the ideal that those who paid the ultimate price fought and died for.  Let's focus on freedom.  That includes the freedom to be wrong, to make mistakes and to fail.

The Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is one of my favorite flowers of summer.  They were not native to the area where I grew up but are common where I now live.  Their blooming is a sure sign that Summer is near.  The one pictured below is wild although many times they are found in cultivated beds, safely tended by their masters.  I prefer the wild and free ones who blossom where they choose.

 New Pathways

When the path becomes worn

And the ruts become deep

Life becomes dull

And the soul goes to sleep

That's when it's time

To strike out anew

To carve your own way

To experiences new.

 Another One Down

If a tree falls in the woods and there is no one to hear it, does it make a sound?  I can attest that if it is nearby when you are walking it definitely makes a sound.

The other day we were taking a walk down the driveway and heard a loud "crack" nearby.  There was a light breeze, but nothing too strong.  We could see nearby a tree that was just beginning to settle against other trees, and I made the comment that we might need to watch out that it was likely to come to the ground.  It did.  Slowly at first.  Settling against the upper branches of surrounding trees.  Then, with a final crash it came to the ground about ten yards from where we stood.

The photo below doesn't do it justice for size.  Apparently, the top had broken off previously.  I had seen it lying in the woods but hadn't yet had time to drag it out.  The broken end is about 8 inches in diameter.  I don't know how long it is, but it will take some time to cut up.

It being dead, I knew it would eventually come down, but I wasn't expecting it to do so as I walked by.  It makes you stop and think about how disaster can sneak up on you if you aren't paying attention.  The fact that it was dead was a warning sign.  I simply ignored it.

We need to be aware of the warning signs around us.  If we don't tend to the business of keeping things in order, disaster can occur with surprising rapidity.  That applies to our families, our homes, our businesses and our country.  Plenty of warning signs out there.  A little maintenance can fix much of what is wrong but until that happens, we'd better be paying attention.

 Designed Fit

Have you ever noticed that pollinator species tend to choose specific flowers?  I am certainly no expert on the subject, yet it seems to me that species such as Hummingbirds, Bees and Butterflies are very discriminatory in the flowers they choose to land on.

We have different types of flowers, most of which are either native species, or closely related to native species, in our flower beds.  The Ruby-throated Hummingbirds like the Texas Lantana right now, but we know from past observations that they will go to the Texas Sage equally when they are in bloom.  However, they seem to ignore the Gaillardia and the Coneflowers.  Likewise, we see certain species of butterflies that prefer the opposite and still others that only visit other species of flowers which are in the meadow.

Design is important.  I'm referring to the specific shape, size and function of various body parts of these creatures.  The long beak of the Hummingbird is well-suited to reaching into trumpet-shaped flowers whereas the butterflies appear to be more suited to flowers that don't require reaching into a deep well to access the food supply.

Everything we see or build is designed with a specific use in mind.  Whether it be a rocking chair on the front porch or a military aircraft, design is based on use and functionality.

Why do humans sometimes think they should ignore their own design and attempt to be what they are not?  It puzzles me.  It's their choice, but still, it puzzles me.  We don't see that in nature.

Below is a Horace's Duskywing (Erynnis horatius) perched on a domesticated Gaillardia.  Their caterpillar stage is especially fond of oak trees of which we have many.

 In Disguise

There are many who claim that during the Cold War, the Soviet Union placed "sleeper agents" among U.S. citizens that were able to blend in and appear completely non-threatening to the general population and who were unidentifiable by government agencies.  Their role was to blend in, hidden, until needed for some type of covert, or overt action against the country.  They quietly lived what appeared to be a normal life until or unless, activated.

It was the ultimate disguise.  Your best friend might be a foreign agent, and you would never know it.

Some might claim the same is happening today although the powers behind such actions are different.  Your next-door neighbor might not be as benign as they appear.

I have no desire to stir up fear, merely to create an illustration of behavior that was developed by mimicking behaviors that are common in nature.  The cuckoo lays its eggs in the nests of other birds, so it doesn't have to rear the young.  Other behaviors are more overtly parasitic in nature where one species lives directly off of another.

Dasymutilla bioculata, in the photograph below, is commonly known as a Velvet Ant.  This one was passing near our fire pit the other night and I was able to take the picture.  Velvet Ants are actually a parasitic wasp.  Notice that its coloration is similar to some of the paper wasps which are common here.  They lay their eggs inside the cocoons of other wasps.  Upon hatching they frequently kill their hosts.  Their stings are extremely painful.

 Climbing

I spent a few years believing that I wanted to climb the company ladder.  I made it a fair way up before I learned that it wasn't much fun.  The politics become fierce and the dirty tricks come out.  Too often those rewarded were the least deserving based on merit but were masterful at manipulation and foul play.

Peter Drucker once said something like, "a person will climb to the level of their incompetence."  I think that is very true.  We are each designed with certain gifts and abilities that make us uniquely suited for specific roles.  Those who find themselves outside those roles due to blind ambition or poor choices will reach a point beyond which they can't go.  Others simply reach a point beyond their personal talents and abilities.

One of the most glaring examples that I have seen through the years is to take an outstanding salesman and put him into management.  Some do well in the role, but most are average at best.  Both sales and management suffer due to the promotion.

Pride and greed often get in the way of good decisions.  Pride in the form of "look at me and how far I've come!"  Greed in the form of seeking a higher level of income in a role that makes you miserable.  The key is to find what you are made for and do it to the best of your ability.  Bloom where you are.

The Climbing Prairie Rose (Rosa setigera) is found from Texas to Wisconsin and all the way east to the coast.  The beauty pictured below was in a hidden area of our small acreage.

 In The Shadows

Tucked up next to our house in the most shaded spot possible is a plant growing in compacted soil.  As it first made its appearance earlier this year, it looked almost like a coarse-leaved grass of some kind.  With growth it became clear that it was probably some kind of Lily.  It finally bloomed this week and even in its most showy state still seemed somewhat hidden in the shadows.

There are a lot of people like that plant.  They face tough circumstances and throughout their life quietly remain in the shadows doing their job where they not only survive but thrive.  They do what they do well despite the adversity they face.

I admire someone like that.  They have found a niche in which to build their lives, and they work hard to make it the best life possible.  Often, the next generation, their children, succeed in unexpected ways because they were taught the values that drove their parents to excellence despite their circumstances.  They deserve our respect and they deserve recognition for what they have done.

Many of my classmates in school came from such circumstances.  Their families worked hard through struggles that others didn't face.  Many of those classmates have gone on to have very successful careers.  Several were the first generation to go to college.  Others own their own businesses.  They have fought to succeed and have done well.  I admire them.

Below is a photo of the orange daylily (Hemerocallis fulva) growing in the shadows near our home.  It thrives despite its circumstances and when you stop and take notice you see its glory.

 Invasion With Benefits

There are many invasive plant, insect and animal species that have found their way to our country.  Most of them exploit a niche that may be occupied by other species which may be unable to resist the invader.  Some of them are harmful and some less so.  Some may be beneficial.

It is wise to be cautious of uninvited guests.  That's why the government has inspection services that seek to limit or prevent the entry of plants, animals and other species that might be harmful.

We are very careful what plants we bring onto our small piece of Texas.  We prefer those which are native and try to avoid those that may proliferate beyond our ability to control them.  Over time we hope to identify all of the different species currently on our land and eliminate those which are invasive and destructive.  It is only common sense that we protect our home.

One of the invasive species that we have found is the Asiatic Dayflower (Commelina communis).  It blooms for only one day each year.  It originated in Asia but has spread to many areas throughout the world.  In China it is used as a medicinal herb and for making certain dyes.  It is sometimes found as an ornamental.  Recent research indicates it may have beneficial properties for soil remediation where it is found to remove copper, lead, zinc and cadmium from the soil and does well on reclaimed mining sites.

 Contentment

Jake is the faithful guardian of our place.  He was found by the side of the road as an abandoned puppy, rescued and through a series of connections, ended up as part of our household.  He is, and has always been, an outside dog.  He generally refuses to come in when invited.

Until we moved to our present home, Jake always had a fenced yard in which he stayed.  Until a couple of years ago he had an older companion which kept him company and, in many ways, raised him.  Due to age and infirmities, she did not make the last couple of moves.  Before bringing Jake to his new home, we constructed a fenced area specifically for him.  Our assumption was that he would be more comfortable in an enclosed area since that is the way he had always lived.  That assumption was incorrect.

Jake became an escape artist.  It became apparent that we would never be able to confine him again, so with admonitions to confine himself to our property (yeah, like that was going to happen) we allowed him to roam.  We are far enough from busy roads that we felt the risk of being hit by an unwary driver was low and that he had the age and maturity to remain close.

Jake did introduce himself to our neighbors and was especially welcomed by the children.  He seems to have a way with young humans and is like a big teddy bear.  Our grandchildren all seem to be happy to see him and my father-in-law, who is in his upper 80's always asks about him since Jake stayed with him for a brief while during our transition to this place.

He seems content.  He often lays on the front porch surveying his domain and protecting it from wandering rabbits or other small creatures that stray into his vision.  I don't think he could catch one and am somewhat certain he doesn't really try; he just lets them know that they are in his territory and he is the boss.

Contentment is something that most of the human race never finds.  Learning to live in the moment and know that all is well is rare.  I think we all need to learn to take life a little more like Jake.

 Homemade

Do you ever think about how we learned to do so many things?  I spent some time the other day researching how to make paper.  It stemmed from reading a book in which one of the characters made their own paper and ink to draw and illustrate plants.  I will likely attempt it at some point, but it looks like a lot of work.

I wonder if early paper was conceived by watching wasps build their nests.  There are over 1100 species of paper wasps around the world, so it is quite possible that primitive man sought to reproduce the material that comprised wasp nests.

Rock, wood and vellum (animal skin or membrane) were likely the first writing or drawing surfaces for primitive artists and calligraphers.  Around 3,000 BC the Egyptians developed a process of making paper from the papyrus plant.  It was commonly used for thousands of years until replaced by thinner, smoother sheets made from milled plant and wood fibers in a process thought to have been developed in the Han Dynasty of early China around 20-220 AD.  Because it provided a better writing surface it spread westward and became widely adopted by the Islamic world by the 8th Century.  It was another 300 years before it spread to Europe where it replaced the use of animal skins.

Papermaking continues to improve even today with the addition of plastics as well as more advanced fiber processing.  Adding a wax coating to paper allows its use for drinking cups or straws that are completely biodegradable, unlike plastic based coatings.

Paper wasps construct their nests with fibers pulled from dead wood and other dried, fibrous plant material.  The fibers are chewed and mixed with saliva before being pasted into the familiar umbrella-shaped nests filled with chambers for raising the next generation.

The wasp in the photo is stripping wood fiber from some oak firewood.

 Mid-Air Refueling

Hummingbirds are amazing creatures.  We planted Texas Lantana and Texas Sage specifically to attract them and the butterflies.  A couple of the Lantanas are in beds which front our porch where we have a couple of rocking chairs that allow us to enjoy the beautiful weather we have been experiencing.  We sometimes sit there watching birds and using the Merlin app on our phones to help us identify them by their calls.  We also hope for the tiniest of winged visitors to helicopter in for a quick sip of nectar from the flowers.

The Ruby Throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) is the most common out of the 363 species found across the Americas. (For a great list of 10 Interesting facts, click here.)  I was fortunate a couple of days ago to have phone camera in hand when one made a brief re-fueling stop.  The buzz of wings sounded like a giant bumblebee as the tiny, winged blur dropped in for his snack.

How can such a high-energy consumer drink enough nectar in tiny sips to keep its body fueled?  It is no wonder they always seem to be in a hurry, dashing from flower to flower for quick a caloric boost before moving on.  Unlike bees and other pollinators, they don't lite upon the flowers but delicately partake of their meal without touching other than with their beak and tongue.

I wonder if engineers got the idea for mid-air refueling from watching hummingbirds.

 Preconceptions

As we sat on the patio yesterday during a break from our yardwork, I noticed what I thought was a beetle land on one of the tomato plants.  I watched him a moment then decided to take his picture to see if I could identify what he was.  He was rather unique looking, but I feared he would start munching on the leaves and if that was the case he would find his life span shortened significantly.

It was identified by iNaturalist as a Black Firefly (Lucidota atra).  That gave me pause because fireflies are supposed to fly at night -- hence the name.  It turns out this particular species is diurnal (likes the daylight).  It preys on soft-bodied invertebrates such as snails and slugs.  That makes him one of the good guys.

I have to admit that I judged him prematurely.  I thought he was there to attack the tomatoes, and I was prepared to take immediate action.  We do that about a lot of things -- prejudge.  It is because our crazy minds are wired to defend against things we have been conditioned to see as potential danger.  These preconceptions can be useful but can also cause behavior that is harmful.  That Firefly was a beneficial that would have fallen to my preconceptions had I not paused to learn a little more about it.

One of the things that sets humans apart from animals is the ability to override the wiring in our DNA and use reason.  That ability to reason opens doors of understanding.  This world needs a lot more understanding.

 Confusions From Conclusions

Sometimes the "Ah ha" moments shouldn't be.  Jumping to conclusions with incomplete information can lead us down paths that only add to the confusion already sloshing away in the chemical solutions of our minds.  A small piece of information can ignite those synaptic connections in a way that could best be described as a short-circuit.

Using the iNaturalist app on my phone I identified the flower pictured below as Carolina desert-chicory (Pyrrhopappus carolinianus) and given the name, jumped to the conclusion that I had finally discovered what Chicory looked like.  Chicory has been a common substitute or, addition to, coffee for many years.  In my mind I associated it with the Deep South -- especially during the Civil War when Naval Blockades limited the supply of coffee to southern ports.  So, seeing the "Carolina" in the name as well as the word "chicory" I had an "ah ha" moment that led me to believe we had the coffee substitute growing on our place.  I was wrong.

When I dug deeper and did a little research on the plant, I found that, although in the same Family, Asteracea, it was not the same plant as is used as a coffee substitute.  I did learn that it is also called the Texas Dandelion and is common on roadsides throughout the state.  Hmmm...maybe the leaves are edible like those of the true Dandelion.  Nope, wrong again.

Our brains are amazing and work in ways beyond our understanding.  Unlike the massive AI data centers currently under construction, they utilize only a small amount of energy to gather, organize, store and comprehend vast amounts of information.  But, just like a computer program, the saying, "garbage in, garbage out" is also true.  That amazing organ in our skull can make mistakes but it also holds the power to limit those mistakes and to correct them.

We believe many things that are simply not correct.  Those beliefs stem from the information that we feed into that amazing organ which resides between our ears.  If the information is incorrect, or incomplete, we draw wrong conclusions and what we think we know is really the confusion caused by incomplete or incorrect information.

In today's world of social media, the propagandists understand and exploit that weakness.  We all need to learn to dig a little deeper.

 On The Shelf

Being put on the shelf can be a good thing or it can be a signal that utility has diminished.

We have all heard of "Top Shelf" items such as a valuable Crystal Bowl, or for some, a high-dollar bottle of Bourbon.  It's also where one might place objects they wish to admire such as photos of loved ones.  Maybe it's an old Cream Pitcher that a great-grandmother used which once held cream separated by her own hands that ended up on great-grandfather's oatmeal.  Whatever it might be, it is held in a place of honor.

We have also heard the term used in a less honoring way such as when one is "put on the shelf" which connotes that they are no longer needed for service.  This happens to older employees who are given a watch and a plaque as they are retired.  It is a symbolic way of telling them they are no longer needed.

Life is a series of cycles, all of which fit into the larger cycle of birth, growth, death and rebirth.  In nature, death is followed by resurrection as the nutrients are broken down and then utilized by plants, animals, insects and other living things such as fungi.  If your view of life is simply that of the natural cycles, then that is what you have to look forward to.  My view is that is what will happen to our physical body and if you have never experienced a Spiritual Birth, that will be the end.

Stereum fasciatum is a fungus that colonizes dead trees.  It is a "shelf fungus" and clearly signals the end as it breaks down the wood into its component nutrients.

 Aggressive Home Invaders

Yesterday was tree trimming day around our place.  We have several large Sweetgum trees that needed some shaping up.  One of them contained a birdhouse which I had not seen any birds approach.

We've only been here since mid-January and things like the undesirable branches and the birdhouse were left by our predecessor for the new owners to handle.  There are a couple of other birdhouses, one of which was featured in a previous post with a nest of baby Eastern Bluebirds in it.  No birds would come near the birdhouse hanging in the Sweetgum tree.

I decided that since the birds didn't like the birdhouse in question, I would remove it from its prominent place.  After trimming limbs which had grown near it, I unhooked it from its perch and let it drop to the ground.  I quickly found out why the birds avoided it as a number of red paper wasps came boiling out of it in search of something to blame for their short drop and abrupt stop.

After batting the most persistent of them away with my sweaty cap, they learned to keep their distance from me but continued to remain in the neighborhood.  Wasp stings are not something I desire and when younger, would react somewhat severely to them.  Needless to say, I was wary of the tiny, winged warriors as I completed my task of trimming the tree.

In recent years there have been numerous stories of home invaders in the news.  I find it disturbing that someone would think it is an acceptable thing to do.  As I think about it though, I realize it is simply animal behavior.

In nature it is not uncommon for animals to occupy burrows created by other animals (think Rattlesnake in a Prairie Dog hole).  Animals will slip into a temporarily unoccupied den and then defend it by force.  In this world of increasingly animal-like behavior by humans I suppose it was only a matter of time that such things as home invasion and adverse occupation would occur.

Below are a couple of photos of the birdhouse in question.  The first shows the entire house while in the second you can see the dislodged Paper Wasp nest resting on the bottom.

Fear vs. Knowledge

We sometimes fear things that we know to be harmful.  Through past experiences or, perhaps, through study, we learn -- we expand our knowledge -- regarding that thing and acknowledge it is potentially harmful.  Knowledge helps us to know how best to respond.

There are many things, however, that we fear due to ignorance or misperception.  We are wired (my term for our genetic inheritance) for fight or flight.  It might be as simple as public speaking or as complex as using a computer for the first time.  In the case of speaking, it is fear of appearing foolish or of failing to make a positive impression.  In the case of the computer, it is fear of breaking it.

One of the things most people grow up with is a fear of snakes.  That fear is societally programmed into us and likely wired into us.  Some snakes can be deadly and if you don't know what kind of snake you are dealing with it is best to err on the side of caution.

Snakes play a beneficial role in nature.  They are especially adept at managing the population of many pests.  Rodents are a primary source of sustenance for many species whereas insects play a significant role in the diet of others.  Even those species of snakes which are potentially deadly due to their venom can play an important role if they are respected and given space.

My grandfather's barn had a workshop just inside the main door, and Grandpa always threw junk scrap metal in one corner at the end of his workbench.  It was on an outside wall and in time, a rattlesnake made that scrap pile its home.  I knew about it as long as I can remember.  Until I was old enough to understand the danger, Grandpa wouldn't let me go into the shop alone.

He didn't have any rodents in the shop thanks to that snake.

After Grandpa died and we were cleaning his shop that snake played an interesting role in a story I will relate at a later time.

Learn about snakes.  They are interesting creatures and provide an important service.

Below is a Western Rat Snake (Pantherophis obsoletus) pictured both coming and going.  He was resident in a small woodpile we moved.  I don't think he was happy that we discovered his hiding place but there are plenty of others to which he can relocate.  Rat Snakes are interesting in that they often winter in shared dens with other species of snakes -- especially Copperheads and Timber Rattlers which are both poisonous.

 Gone Wild

I think sometimes that we have become too domesticated.  People don't know where food comes from, they live more in fear than in freedom and they have lost the ability to survive and thrive in this world gone mad.  Skills for survival, many of which are genetically programmed into us, have been suppressed and are slowly being bred out of many genetic lines through the natural selection process which draws individuals of similar temperament to each other.

A couple of days ago we stumbled across some roses growing wild in an off-the-path part of our place.  We were astounded at their beauty.  They spread over a significant area and were in full bloom.

There are many beautiful varieties of roses that are grown domestically and there are many people who deeply enjoy cultivating various special varieties of roses.  To me they seem a little unnatural -- too domesticated.  Finding the wild variety in an unexpected place reminded me that it is often the untamed that exhibits true beauty.

 Is It a Weed?

Green Antelope Horn Milkweed (Asclepias viridis) is an important plant for the Monarch Butterfly.  The Monarchs reproduce in the southern U.S. in late summer when the plant is tough.  The problem is that they prefer tender leaves which provide food for the caterpillar stage.

Many ranchers see the Milkweed as just that -- a weed.  It is often targeted along with other weeds that compete with the grasses for grazing.  In many areas, although the Antelope Horn is a perennial, their presence is declining due to the use of herbicides for the control of all non-grass species growing in pastures.

For those ranchers who utilize mechanical means, such as mowing to control pasture weeds, the Antelope Horn and Monarchs can benefit.  Mow in July so that there will be new, fresh growth of the Antelope Horn in August when the Monarchs arrive and are looking for places to reproduce.

Any plant can be considered a weed.  The definition of a weed is any plant growing where it is not wanted.  Competition between plants for limited resources is a critical issue for ranches -- especially during drought conditions.

The way ranchers choose to control weeds is generally an economic decision.  Often, chemical means are the most effective and the most cost effective.  Many weeds are a sign of overgrazing.  They colonize where the grasses have died due to drought and inadequate leaf cover -- not enough left standing.  Without the standing forage, the heat and drought conditions can kill the roots, creating bare areas.  When the rains come, forbs -- weeds mostly -- are the first plants to return.  Reducing weeds allows more grass to be produced.  It is something of a balancing act that requires careful attention to maintain soil health and a healthy balance of the plants growing.  Those factors then determine the level of grazing that can be healthily maintained.

When you add the desire to retain habitat for species such as the Monarch Butterflies, the equation becomes more complex.  Despite the bad reputation they often receive, most ranchers wish to see nature thrive and work to maintain healthy land and pastures.  For those who have areas where the Antelope Horn is established, they can use mechanical means only for weed control while utilizing the more effective chemical means in places that don't contain critical species.  Summer mowing would open the canopy for late season growth while stimulating re-growth of the milkweed prior to the needs of the butterflies.

 Perspective

According to Merriam Webster the first definition of "perspective" is "a mental view or prospect."  It recognizes that our mind shapes what we see.

The obvious shaping by our mind is the simple interpretation of the light reflected from an object that creates an image on our retina that is then transmitted to the brain by the optical nerve.  The quality of that image is a function of the shape of the lens, the eyeball which determines the focal length and the healthiness of the tissue over which that image is passed.  It is purely physical in nature.  But there is also a mental aspect to perception.  The mental part of interpreting what we see is shaped by experience and knowledge.  It is something I might call positional perspective.

Positional perspective might simply refer to where we are standing.  If I am in front of an object and you are to the side of that same object, we might see very different shapes.  It's like the old tale of the blind men touching an elephant -- each at a different point -- and each describing it very differently.  We do the same thing mentally when we view something.

Sometimes our view is of an idea or concept.

City dwellers see things very differently than those who live in sparsely populated areas.  The problems that face those living in a crowded environment are not the same as those faced by rural populations.  Their perspectives of what are the most pressing problems vary widely.  Even when they recognize each other's challenges, they often perceive very different solutions. Their environment and experiences shape their view or, perspective.

Much of the division in our country is due to this issue of perspective.  Until we learn to "walk in the other guy's shoes" occasionally, we will not solve the problems that we face as a nation.  Understanding comes with experience and knowledge.  If we feed ourselves the same thing every day in the news we consume, the books we read or the people we listen to, our understanding of other perspectives is not likely to occur.  We all need to spend time with those who are not like us -- whatever "us" happens to be.

 Spur of the Moment

Not everything has to be planned out, but it is usually easier when it is.

There are times that I want to know exactly where I am going or what is expected of me, and there are times when I want it to all be spontaneous.  I like the adventure of spontaneity.

When we travel, we sometimes combine the two approaches.  We generally have a definite destination in mind with an expected time of arrival, but we often leave the details to spur-of-the-moment decision-making.  "Oh, look, there's a rabbit!" -- or maybe it was a squirrel.  Making a U-turn to capture a photo is not an uncommon occurrence for us.

The other day we decided to explore our neighborhood a bit.  Since recently moving to the area we wanted to get better acquainted with our surroundings.  There is a large lake to the west of us, and we wanted to check out the amenities and look for where we might be able to launch a canoe once we deemed the weather was conducive to that activity.

As we traveled along the backcountry roads, we saw a large patch of wildflowers and decided to make a record of their ephemeral appearance.  We found ourselves wandering for longer than expected as our vehicle sat parked on the side of the road while we went from bright-colored blossom to bright-colored blossom using the iNaturalist application on our phones to photograph and identify the various species.  Several of them have been used in posts on this blog.  Today will be another.  It is a species of Larkspur in the genus Delphinium.

There are about 300 different species within the genus which was named for Chios (Delphinium) which was an ancient Greek city.  There was also a Roal Navy ship, the HMS Delphinium.  The plants are often cultivated for their beauty, but they are very toxic to humans although butterflies love them.