HARVEST TIME

Harvest time occurs around the autumnal equinox. Between the vernal equinox in March and the Autumnal equinox in September, the Sun spends more time illuminating the day in the northern hemisphere and therefore the days between March and September are longer than the nights.  It is during this season that crops grow and become ready for harvest.  Typically around September 22 or so the Sun focuses its rays on the equator of the earth so that days and nights are relatively equal.  Soon thereafter harvest begins in the North as the nights grow longer and days grow shorter.  The first full moon after the autumnal equinox has become known as the Harvest Moon.  Perhaps the Harvest Moon got its name because that particular full moon helped to illuminate the fields as farmers worked long days into the night to bring in the harvest.

In our modern society with powered lights in the fields and harvest performed mostly by workers driving combine type machines, the Harvest Moon seems largely irrelevant.  Indeed, harvest time is relatively unimportant to our diets, as crops grown around the world are imported so that every day of the year is a celebration of the bounty of the world’s harvest at our local grocery stores.  

Nevertheless, even though thriving on global agriculture, harvest time is still celebrated in our urbanized world. This month there will be county fairs and harvest festivals across America. I notice that a great many Anglican churches in England and a few Episcopal churches in America will be celebrating their Harvest Communions this Sunday October 14. 

Alice Waters, the famous chef from Berkley, California, has created a revival of celebrating the bounty of the local harvest.  Now chefs and restaurants across America have menus that feature locally harvested, seasonal, fresh picked fruits and vegetables. 

As the days grow cold in the distant north they find themselves with freeze warnings in South Bristol, Me. Autumn, harvest time, is short there with winter following quickly on its heels. Here in New Orleans we are experiencing the crisp weather of cool fronts. And for us in the American South its festival time.

AUTUMN COLOR

 

The Autumn Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1833)

Go, sit upon the lofty hill, And turn your eyes around, Where waving woods and waters wild Do hymn an autumn sound. The summer sun is faint on them — The summer flowers depart — Sit still — as all transform’d to stone, Except your musing heart. How there you sat in summer-time, May yet be in your mind; And how you heard the green woods sing Beneath the freshening wind. Though the same wind now blows around, You would its blast recall; For every breath that stirs the trees, Doth cause a leaf to fall. Oh! like that wind, is all the mirth That flesh and dust impart: We cannot bear its visitings, When change is on the heart. Gay words and jests may make us smile, When Sorrow is asleep; But other things must make us smile, When Sorrow bids us weep! The dearest hands that clasp our hands, —Their presence may be o’er; The dearest voice that meets our ear, That tone may come no more! Youth fades; and then, the joys of youth, Which once refresh’d our mind, Shall come — as, on those sighing woods, The chilling autumn wind. Hear not the wind — view not the woods; Look out o’er vale and hill — In spring, the sky encircled them — The sky is round them still. Come autumn’s scathe — come winter’s cold — Come change — and human fate! Whatever prospect Heaven doth bound, Can ne’er be desolate.

GOLDEN LABS

Yellow Labrador Retrievers are one of America's favorite pets, and the above Lab is certainly our favorite pet.  A beautiful animal, full of love and charm, yet even in his playfullness he can strike a stately pose. The first registered Yellow Lab in America was signed up in 1929 by the American Kennel Club.  Several thousand if not millions of Yellow Labs have been registered since, but for our money the above AKC registered Lab is one in a million. 

Our dog is a British Labrador.  While we are not sure what the British designation means it apparently at least means a gorgeous dog with a wonderful disposition.  Not just man's best friend, but in the modern lingo, Man's Best Friend Forever (BFF).  This breed has a wonderful history and is one of America's favorite dogs for a reason.  So here is to the Yellow Lab, may fun and playfullness reign forever in the life of this wonderful animal.

Check out the history of the Labrador Retriever at http://www.lorkenfarms.com/labrador%20Retriever%20history.htm.

HURRICANE ISAAC

In the 1948 Movie, Key Largo, there is an exchange concerning a hurricane:

Ralphie: Hey Curly, what all happens in a hurricane?
Curly: The wind blows so hard the ocean gets up on its hind legs and walks right across the land.

This week in New Orleans we were visited by Hurricane Issac.  It has an impressive satellite image but coming in it had a hard time gaining strength barely making it to a Category 1 storm.  But it still packed a punch with 80 mph winds.  It blew through the night of Tuesday August 28th and Wednesday August 29th.  Unfortunately, what was supposed to be a smaller storm turned into a terror for some when it stalled just after coming ashore, and whipped the coast with its winds for almost 24 hours -- getting up on its hind legs and walking right across the land. 

 

New Orleans fared well with its $15 billion dollars in improved levees.  Thank you America for those tax dollars, they came in handy for this storm.  The experts say that if we had the old levee system we would have had significant flooding in New Orleans.  But as it happens we had very little flooding within the levee system. 

 

Unfortunately, those who lived outside of the levee system though did not fare well with significantly high waters and thousands flooded.  Keep them in your prayers.  

BACK TO SCHOOL

It's time to return to school -- sports, homework, education, enlightenment are the order of the day. New friends are sure to be made and old relationships are sure to be broken.  To those of us who have served our decades in American schools and now see our children navigating these muddy waters, it seems well worth the struggle.  As Edward Everett once said "Education is a better safeguard of liberty than a standing army."

To all the students of every age may you have a sterling year.  Let the games -- and gamesmanship -- begin!

MAINE IN THE SUMMER TIME

Mid-Coast Maine in the summer time.  What a wonderful place:  beautiful views, cool temperatures, lobster buoys dotting the bay like easter eggs.  Truly a fantastic vacation.  Henry David Thoreau said it best concerning Maine -- "There  certainly men would live forever, and laugh at death and the grave."  -- The Maine Woods.

A STERLING LIFE: STEPHEN COVEY

Stephen Covey was the author of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. He passed away on July 16, 2012. A force of nature in the business world for his simple yet insightful seven steps.  Win-Win was one of his steps and that phrase has become a mantra in the business world.  His recommendations concerning P/PC balance and always keeping the end in mind are the steps that seem to impact me the most.  If you grew up in the 80's or 90's it is impossible to not know about Covey and The Seven Habits.  But it has come to my attention that several of those educated in the 2000's have not been exposed to Covey's wonderful insights.  I highly recommend you study and practice these habits.  It will most certainly lead to a sterling life.

USA Today Article on Covey's Life Appears Below:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/story/2012-07-16/stephen-covey-appreciation/56258068/1

Amazon Link to the Seven Habits:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Habits-Highly-Effective-People/dp/0743269519/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342825666&sr=8-1&keywords=seven+habits

PINOT: ANOTHER GOOD SWIRL

Celebrated another turn of the calendar last night.  In honor of the 15th anniversary of my 29th Birthday, the wife and I enjoyed Merry Edwards Pinot Noir.  This Pinot is excellent and very affordable.  I highly recommend it with Coq Au Vin offered at Superior Seafood in New Orleans in honor of Bastille Day.  Which happens to be my birthday.

Cheers

American Work Ethic

It seems that we live in a time when we all long for a break from tedious work.  The notion of a quick buck seems to have infested American society.  The recent economic troubles of the last several years though seem to have returned Americans to a more industrious mode.  And that signifies a return to American roots. Americans built a grand country by living  upstanding lives as industrious workers.  So I take this moment to focus on some of Ben Franklin’s comments concerning industry and leisure from the 1700’s.   

Ben Franklin wrote Poor Richard’s Almanac, an annual publication full of wit and wisdom for the Colonial American.  One of his sage pieces of advice was that “A life of leisure and a life of laziness are two things. There will be sleeping enough in the grave.”

As Franklin noted: “He that hath a trade hath an estate; and he that hath a calling, hath an office of profit and honor.”  But  there is a catch –

 “the trade must be worked at, and the calling followed, or neither the estate nor the office will enable us to pay our taxes. If we are industrious, we shall never starve; for, at the working man's house hunger looks in, but dares not enter. Nor will the bailiff or the constable enter, for industry pays debts, while despair increaseth them.

The point being that we are called to work.  But at the same time there needs to be balance.  We need leisure to balance those things.  Franklin’s advice on that is that ironically being industrious produces more leisure time.  Franklin points out though that even leisure is a time for doing something useful. As he states:

Employ thy time well, if thou meanest to gain leisure; and, since thou art not sure of a minute, throw not away an hour. Leisure is time for doing something useful; this leisure the diligent man will obtain, but the lazy man never; for A life of leisure and a life of laziness are two things. Many, without labor, would live by their wits only, but they break for want of stock; whereas industry gives comfort, and plenty, and respect.

Valentine's Day 2012