On Dec 27, 4:06*pm, jeff wrote:
thanks for the finely phrased word pictures and events that nudged my
mind from its accustomed seat.

An exercise born of a long conversation in excellent company over a
good supper and a subsequent glass or two of cheap wine. We spoke of
books and monographs, mostly relating to a shared love of trees....of
which our host for the past four days has planted many thousands. One
thing led to another. Much ink was spilled.....none of it intended
for publication. Ah, what the hell, thinks I.

not sure where the heck you are just now,
but a winter's life in that north country is a razor's edge i prefer to
experience vicariously, avoiding the injury while grazing about here in
the distant warmth of carolina.

Back home, now. We were about three hours drive from here, near La
Crosse, in the coulee country. Larry's place is thirty miles or so
roughly north of Avalanche where, if memory serves, you were first
introduced to Hexagenia limbata. Thursday and Friday were relatively
warm days, mostly drizzly rain that soaked into the remnants of a 17
inch snowfall from about a week before. An aging John Deere tractor
and a snow blade ensured that we'd be able make our way out of the 3/4
mile long driveway, but getting the job done before Friday night's
hard freeze used up the better part of a day.....warmly dressed and
well lubricated. By Saturday morning the temperature had dropped to
near zero. The resulting ice would have overmatched the John Deere.

Of course, we were safely ensconced in a very comfortable place with
enough supplies to last us a week or more, but failing to get the
driveway plowed would have resulted in some major inconveniences.

best wishes to you and becky for the new year.

jeff

And to you, from us.

giles