The attractiveness of rurality

We're fortunate to live somewhere there are a number of gravel roads running through patches of relatively undeveloped country. We've been ambling around on some of those roads this week, as well as some paved township roads. We're providing dog care for the Daughter Person and Son-in-Law while they're otherwise engaged. It's been a treat. Several fields that have been harvested held large flocks of Canada geese. Pheasant roosters in ones and twos have been strutting along or across the gravel roadways. Whitetail deer sometimes hang around with the geese. All of this has been framed by increasingly vibrant roadside hedges and woodlots or farmyard maple trees. The intensity of colors this autumn are near or at the top of the list for the decades of time the Better Half and I have been in Minnesota.

front yard maple

Photo by J. Harrington

This morning we drove through, past and around large and small patches of ground fog and mist. Yesterday, moisture formed a layer of clouds about 200 yards off the ground. That dark gray contrasted against the much paler light gray clouds at normal altitudes looking like the country was being invaded by wraiths, spirits and / or ghosts. Next week is forecast to be much cooler and cloudy. Who knows if the "clouds" will hang high or low?

a large patch of this morning's ground fog

Photo by J. Harrington

The Better Half and your friendly local blogger filled out our ballots and put them in the brown, then white signed, then white mailing envelopes. We'll mail or hand deliver them in the next week or so. It seems like there's more we should be able to do to support our democracy. We've made a number of political contributions and I sound off here from time to time. It was encouraging to read this from @OatesBryce on Twitter this afternoon:

Wow. @BernieSanders just laid out one the most simple and concise plans for #rural prosperity I’ve heard. Stop Factory Farms. Break up corporate control. Invest in #ruralinfrastructure, education and job creation through family farming and renewable energy. Etc.

I can readily support each element of Sanders' plan and hope to push a #Biden/Harris administration to adopt, at a minimum, the simple plan as part of a #GreenNewDeal.

Mist

Henry David Thoreau - 1817-1862

Low-anchored cloud,
Newfoundland air,
Fountain-head and source of rivers,
Dew-cloth, dream-drapery,
And napkin spread by fays;
Drifting meadow of the air,
Where bloom the daisied banks and violets,
And in whose fenny labyrinth
The bittern booms and heron wades;
Spirit of lakes and seas and rivers,—
Bear only perfumes and the scent
Of healing herbs to just men’s fields.

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