It's still early and somewhat cool and I know it won't stay cool or quiet for long. This is not a holiday I celebrate, especially this year. And my neighbors are really into it. The explosives part. I'll be dyeing during the heat of the day while the vat is all happy. And maybe then I will take a nap because I am sure I won't get much sleep. Maybe I will join Soul-o under the bed.
The shagbark hickory was new to me when I moved here. They have become my favorite...
I was surprised that someone in the neighborhood was shooting off fireworks last evening, it’s not usual. Then I smelled smoke and wondered if the forest was on fire, then decided it was probably the camp ground a couple miles away. The wind was right. Anyway, hope it wasn’t too terrible for you last night.
it was ridiculously awful…
But my neighbor is pretty stupid, hate to say stuff like that but in my experience, pretty stupid.
What an exquisitely darling pussycat.
I can understand why the shagbark hickory has become your favorite. Is the wood as beautiful as regular hickory? Ha! Is there such a tree as ‘regular hickory’?
yes the wood is the same …
good question…
A cloths line; what a difference an e makes. Magnificent hickory.
Too much noise here, the illegals have been going off all week. I may join the cats under the bed, willing to share my once-a-year banana split. I worry about all the fires in the 100+ heat; feel sorry for the firefighters.
Cloths line, good one.
That’s one of the smaller ones, some really big ones in the forest.
Yeah it’s early, the noise has started already.
It’s so so hot, awful…
Lovely trees and growing things everywhere….dye vats and land….my heart breaks…..
L0ve.
it’s a lovely day so far…
I used to love fireworks until a couple of decades ago when they were happening so often they weren’t special any more, and they are much easier to buy now so the explosive addicts play with them all year long, often after midnight, and as far as I know the police do nothing about it. That’s my “get off my lawn” speech for today, hopefully.
Like everything, it has become overdone.
Well I guess no place is safe without politics, so I am out…..it’s been following you, Jude…best of luck in the future….
Was there politics here? Just the sound of bomb like noise and flag waving is not appealing to me. Gee wiz.
With you on that one Jude. Nothing political about what you said. Most holidays have lost their appeal for me. But I do enjoy interesting tree bark and that shagbark is new to me. Thanks for sharing!
Maybe they have become too commercial. Or too something.
I grew up with shag bark hickory trees, they were the easiest to identify when my dad was trying to teach me about the trees in our woods. We never thought to eat the nuts though, do you? I should get out and tend my garden now, while it’s still pleasant to be out there. The 4wheeler noise starts first, before the pyrotechnics and firearms. Not much democracy for my household to celebrate today. I guess the neighbors are ok with it. Yuck.
Yes, I do, but they are famously difficult to get out of the shell ..
I’ve been thinking of putting up a clothesline. Remembering as a child frozen sheets hanging on the clothesline in winter.
I appreciate being able to remove my hearing aids when the fireworks start. They scare me to death.
I remember frozen laundry!
The fireworks are really bad here this year. Absolutely insane.
I’ve thought for a long that fireworks would be lovely without all the noise. It seems that people today just don’t know what to do with quietness, there has to be something else going on to reach out and grab you, if not it’s no good and boring.
Ah, just the visual! What a lovely idea!
I’ve never heard of the shagbark hickory. Assume it doesn’t think much to UK climate. Can see why you’ve taken to it. A series of faces all the way down the trunk. Maybe it’s something else, to you.
Hoping for damp squibs tonight, or your behalf.
Yes, faces appear , love that. There are the nuts too, love them, and the they have big lea especially and lovely shade. Precious firewood too when they fall
Wow Victoria, you have brought up something I have noticed for years: people just don’t know what to do with silence, quietness, it’s as if they are scared of it, confused by it, frightened that they may have to sit still and consider their lives. Silence and sitting are one of my favorite things, it’s then that I am my most creative. Yeah, they’re always on the hunt for the next shiny thing. On another note, I’ve never heard of the shag bark hickory tree, how interesting. Have a lovely and creative day, Jude!
Never did hear of them before I moved here, They are dominant here.
Here, there is a push to replace fireworks with drone light shows. Quiet, interesting, and no air pollution. Lots of pushback.
Here, our neighborhood has been assaulted by constant aviation noise abuse for the last couple of years now.
Biden was in town a couple of weekends ago and they shut down the airspace to general aviation.
Everyone was basking in the silence. We were giddy! It was much enjoyed.
We were reminded that silence is, indeed, golden.
the world is way too noisy. Even here in the woods…
Two of my grandchildren are autistic. Their parents take them to quiet firework displays where the bangs are much reduced. There is also a quiet amusement arcade fairly locally.
Our smallest (much to the annoyance of the older two) introduces them to all and sundry, saying “Please don’t make too much noise. My brother and sister are artistic!” Which they are also 😉
loved this
I love your cloths — a darkened tribute — on the line. So much is “on the line” right now. Making art is one positive — even resistant, revolutionary – response. As always, thank you.
Beautiful insight…
On the line, yes, exactly.
Margery~ Oh, I love how you put this! A darkened tribute…SO MUCH is on the line!
Jude~ I’d never heard of the shagbark hickory…but, wow, the texture and the faces 🙂 Of course being on the west coast, I have to wonder about how all of the great bark would burn.
CA is crazy with fires right now…just one of the reasons this holiday does not suit me. Some places are starting to use ‘drones’ instead of the dangerous fireworks. Sadly, my neighbors Love the good old fashioned boom, bang fire danger type of entertainment. It is a new world, fireworks should be done away with. That’s my soapbox. Stepping back down.
Fire works must be forbidden
Or at least limited to professional use.
the bark makes great kindling!
My neighborhood is crazy like yours. Both Jake and Kitty Kat are scared of the noise and – although I know what it is – sometimes I am too. It’s very unsettling. Not my idea of how to celebrate something.
West Point Military Academy is within earshot hear, don’t try to imagine…
I am a Canadian friend, sympathiser, Sadly, our country, too, is following yours, as we usually do. So here, too, everything is on the line.
Surely there must be a a higher purpose for world leadership…
There will be some, but not much fireworks here. The city passed an ordinence a few years ago. I wish they had done it when I still had Briar…she was terrified of them. Just washed my first batch of indigo dyed cloth. Time to do some more!
This is pretty much a rah rah town, there are laws but nobody cares.
The vat is really really happy today.
Deb~ They are illegal here too. Never stops them though.
I’m glad we’ve had so much rain; so many pyrotechnics going off last night, tonight will be “fun” 🙄ha.
Oh geez…here we go, 7 a.m. and I hear emergency sirens…
That tree is really cool!
Never a dull moment!
Oh, those colors look dark and deep, Jude! Yes, the fireworks began last night (multiple nights of celebrations here), and it never bothered me much (I am an Army Brat), until we adopted our little rescue dog…she barked and barked and fretted…You have cool mornings there?
I used to love the little firecrackers and sparklers but it has really gotten out of hand. A war zone is not my idea of entertainment.
Cooler mornings until the heat dome returns…tomorrow.
Good luck to you and Soul-o. Independence day is not for women anymore. Or for many others I’m afraid.
Seriously.
Shagbarks in the woods here. I love them.
Yes, good looks, good food, good wood and standing strong.
yes, today or rather tonight will be horrible.
hickories are good neighbors, even if the loud ones aren’t.
Yes and they have the good kind of nuts…😂