Doggy Dawn

Taking the dogs out pre-dawn on a crispy winter morning makes me appreciate the awakening process. The dogs stretch and snort sort of like humans do when they get up early. I find dogs particularly affectionate in the early morning. After a long night they seem to want to commune with the humans.

Dogs were the first animal to be domesticated by humans around 10,000 BC in Southwest Asia, China and North America. Humans wanted them as sentinels and hunting companions. Unfortunately for the dog they were also raised for food in some societies. But regular dog eating has been a last resort of meat-deprived human societies.

Our "sentinel" dogs mainly preoccupy themselves with eating, sleeping, and playing with each other and the humans. They look so peaceful on a cold morning sleeping on a warm pad. They certainly make a walk around the farm more interesting.

Winter warm up

I think most farmers hope and count on some warmish days peppered throughout the late fall and early winter to finish hunkering down before the deeper cold and snow arrives. Today in the uplands the temperature is pushing 50 degrees with no wind. One is able to get out and grade the road, fuss with the truck, and move around outside without having to pull your head in like a turtle.

For farmers with animals, the warm up provides an opportunity to check and repair fence and feed with relative ease. The rabbit hunters were out today and the dogs sounded happy as they ran around the hills. A big skillet of braised wild rabbit with root vegetables would be nice on a chilly post-solstice night.

Snow on the Allegheny Front

Cheat Mountain east of Morgantown is the western front of the Allegheny Mountains. After you cross this long ridge, which runs from West Virgina up into Pennsylvania , you drop down into the rolling hills which stretch out toward the more level lands of Ohio. A hike on this ridge down the Scott's Run trail turned out to be a chance to walk on a very blustery day. The rains which had preceded the snow had turned the Scott's Run trail into a run itself. The creeks were swift and high. It seemed like most of the wildlife was hunkered down waiting for better weather to feed.

Our small group had the trail to ourselves. The forecast was accurate that day and deterred the casual hiker. We were dressed appropriately and enjoyed the beauty of the snow in the woods. As I left to return home, I noticed 2 crows on a perched on a power pole. At that moment one carefully nudged under the wing of the other with its beak. It was as though it was tending to the other bird. They were much more oblivious to the weather than we were--- right "gear" I guess.

Back to Appalachia

It was soothing to turn east onto Ohio state route 725 and leave the sprawl and big boxes behind. It is a nice road cutting through an edge of Centerville, Ohio and coasting down into the Little Miami River valley. I glanced up to see a red tail hawk all puffed out surveying a large field next to the river. Soon a large cloud of blackbirds shifted back and forth over the road. The road wound through farm country with large exurban houses peeking out here and there. It took me to US 42 on which I headed north toward US 35 around Zenia. Both 42 and 35 were smooth wide roads with restful scenery. US 35 is one of the roads to travel if you want to get the high end EPA rating on your car's window sicker. It has very little roll and driving is effortless. Large farms border US 35 for miles as it heads around Washington Court House toward Chillicothe.

The next day I was able to take state route 32 back into Appalachia. The rolling hills were a welcome site. On both days the sky was an even grey but seemed appropriate for the time of year. The bare trees and earthy tones had a winter solstice look. Daylight seemed to drain away early. It was good to arrive home and be snug on a cold night.

Sprawl Land

Last week I was a temporary resident of Sprawl Land= Big box stores clustered together near the interstate. It was kind of a shock to the system after enjoying the textures of rural Southwestern Ohio. These blobs of concrete and obnoxious lighting jar the senses. I am sure even the persistent white tail deer aren't even tempted by the shrubbery around the chain hotels.

During the week my coworkers and I traveled up and down the interstate 75 to sample some of the local fare. Unfortunately we only managed to eat at one truly local restaurant, the Red Onion in Monroe. The other meals were at upscale chain restaurants. The wait staff at these corporate establishments parrot scripts cooked up by some MBA school grad. The food was good, but Sysco reins supreme.

I fortunately was only a temporary resident of Sprawl Land, and turned east on Friday back toward Appalachia.

Out of Appalachia

Traveling across southern Ohio toward Cincinnati, one sees the landscape flatten out leaving Appalachia. The farms look more substantial west of Chillicothe. The further west you travel the less trees and more plowed fields you see. Relief from the "cultivation" comes as you approach the Little Miami River. State Route 350 suddenly plunges, via some hairpin turns, down to the river and pops back up just as quickly on the other side. It looked like an interesting area to explore, but it was getting dark and I had to reach my destination.

It was encouraging to traverse the town of Greenfield, Ohio. The main street looked like commerce was alive, and the old building facades were largely intact preserving the historic vernacular. The New York Times reported recently the world's population has changed from a rural majority to an urban one. This is a scary statistic, as it seems to me that rural life facilitates a sustainable lifestyle better than an urban one. Although the big carbon footprint from commuting from the country to a city is a negative. That's why it is nice to see viable small towns scattered at through the countryside.

Bare Trees

Winter seems to have set in. Last year, fall seemed to run through December. But this year the woodburner has been running constantly for the last 2 weeks. The bare trees make it look like winter, so I am resigned to it. Winter was invented so farmers(except dairy) get a break for a couple of months. Another cup of coffee in the morning is nice..........

It is a good time to look for air leaks in the house. Although it sometimes feels like cold air is getting in, actually hot air is going out. Stopping up those "holes" will save significant energy. With the price of energy going through the roof (no pun intended), it is a good time to think about weatherization, turning off lights not in use, and programmable thermostats. The country seemed to be taking energy CONSERVATION seriously in the 70s and early 80s. Unlike those times, energy is not ever going back to the old rates. Where is the conservation conversation these days? The current focus is all about alternative energy sources, with very little about less energy consumption. Energy audits make more sense than ever.