My Backyard

I understand that it's all about where you were born and spent your formative years. But I still find the beauty of my surroundings almost more than I can take in. Other places also have great beauty. I love the desert, for example, after having worked in the northern Mojave for some time, but this is where we have chosen to live. And this is what we see around us.

The road to Elgin, with the mountains of Brimstone beyond.

A mountain stream at Zenith.

One of our many natural arches, now protected within the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.

Cliffs along the Obed River.

Descent into the "Valley of the Three Forks" of the Wolf River near sunset.

Whatever the season, however familiar the road or path, there's always a "wow!" moment around every turn.

Car Show

Do you like old cars? Then come to Historic Rugby's first ever car show this Saturday, June 9, from 10 AM to 5 PM.

There will be vintage cars,

antique cars,

beautifully restored cars,

and some real classics!

In addition there will be vendors, food, and classic rock & roll with Legacy in concert. For more information, visit the Historic Rugby web site by clicking here. Y'all come!

July 4th Picnic

Community-wide Independence Day weekend picnics are a tradition in Rugby, graciously hosted by our neighbors John and Kathy. Everyone brings food to share, everyone eats too much, and everyone has a good time.

 

 Elizabeth got to drive Julian's horse-less carriage,

and we helped Bob celebrate a milestone birthday.

Butch and Doug entertained with some bluegrass and classic country music,

and friends got to hang out.

THANKS NEIGHBORS!

 

Independence Day 2011

Sunday morning

Free Kittens

Observed this afternoon on the porch of the Rugby Commissary Museum Store. I understand the kittens' names are Lester and Earl, no doubt named by the bluegrass musician who has a shop across the road, and whose wife rescued the kittens from a roadside.

People in the area seem to think Rugby is a good place to abandon unwanted pets, and I guess they're right. Our residents do attempt to find homes for animals that have been "set out" here. And they also reserve a special place in hell for those who abandon animals.

TODAY'S SERMON: Spay and neuter your pets. And if you do end up with a pet you can't care for, either find it a good home or take it to an animal shelter. Don't leave them to suffer by a roadside!

Oh, Deer!

I am now reading Allan W. Eckert's "That Dark and Bloody River," a narrative history of European settlement of the Ohio River valley between 1768 and 1811. The settlers built forts to protect themselves from attacks by Native American Indians, and those venturing outside the forts to hunt or raise crops were always at greater risk of death from Indian attacks. It dawned on me we still have an analogous situation, although considerably less serious. Deer.

We live on the edge of a national park in what can only be described as prime deer habitat. The houses nestled in the woodlands and the few farmers' fields around provide abundant forest edge, which for deer is the Garden of Eden. We've erected our fort of chicken wire to a height of 6 feet to keep them away from the tomatoes and peppers. But the Black-eyed Susans outside the fence have fallen prey to their avarice.

Each of those bare stalks once had a blossom or a bud ready to open. Just like the settlers who ventured outside the forts, some have been scalped.