Sweet Rocket for Mom

I saw the Sweet Rocket  ‘come to bloom’

In our yard today…………. Like it does every year.

Memories come over  my heart of many years ago.

It was Mother’s day and I was driving to visit her.

It had not been easy times for me,  but I had not told her.

Mother’s don’t always need to hear about it all.

I really didn’t  have the money for a present nor a bouquet

Of pretty flowers.

But what did catch my eye  from along the roadside

Was the array of Sweet Rocket. 

Ah ha I thought ….. some beautiful wildflowers  that

She will enjoy.  

I pulled over to pick a bundle of them

And traveled on …..  to present them to her.

She greeted me at the front door with a huge smile.

She said ‘let me put them in water before they wilt’.

Little did I know the reason why they did.

She was so happy with her gift.

You see the Sweet Rocket as we know them,

Is really a weed  and not a wild flower, but it thinks that it is. 

Mom  knew that very well  but it was the thought of the gift,

Not the monetary value of it. …..  The value she found in it was Love.

This one grows back every year in your  Garden,

To bring memories of your Love for me.

Happy Mothers Day  Mom !

RLH 5.9.21

The Backyard Fence

”This Backyard Fence”

Something  Special…..

That Old Backyard Fence

How long has it been there , 

……nobody knows for sure.

It matters not the age ,

Rather……..

the story that  it might tell.

The timbers have come from   a good stock,

I am sure…..

It   stands so   well,  throughout  the years.

There was no printed design for it,

only using ‘what fits’.

Did it stand strong with a purpose? ……

Only the builder would know.

From it’s mass, a grapevine grows,

and the camaraderie  friends,

with the  exchanges of morning greetings

and exchange of produce

from their  gardens.

Passing through it’s gate  may not

be going somewhere,

but rather,

What we may have left behind.

This speaks of our Lives.  

It is not for us to question intent or appearance of those things which  in life  we have come to appreciate…… but only a fondness and respect for them.

Hmmm,  that could be a Grandfather ….

© Richard Hoback 2/13/21  

Just an Old Wooden Gate

The old Wooden Gate

It has stood so long,

this old wooden gate.

It was built with care

…..and love

for the given talents it took…..

to give it life.

The Old Wooden Gate you see

is one that holds the animals in

and the cold winds out

but more.

It holds within it’s strong body

a spot for memories of those

who came….. and went,

but also for You and Me .

R L Hoback

February 2021

Looking Into The Forest

I am sure that you might have heard the expression:

It has been used in so many ways, however to me this picture uses it well.

It relates to our lives.

This huge “tree” occupies our thoughts and view. In the trees behind it though, is a whole forest of Oak trees just as large and strong as this one.

Simply: Our lives can be enhanced if we look into the forest for additional strength .

Walking on Water

If you want to … You’ve to Get Out Of The Boat

Walking on water means Facing your Fears and choosing not to let fear have the last word in your life. 

Walking on water means discovering and embracing the unique calling of God on your life. 

Walking on water means experiencing the power of God in your life to do something you would not be capable of doing on your own.

Expect a few waves to slap you in the face.  Failure comes with the territory–but so does the strong hand of Jesus, pulling you up when the bottom drops out.  And so do brilliant successes and rewards that far outweigh all of the risks.

Failure is not an event, but rather a judgment about an event.  Failure is not something that happens to us or a label we attach to things.  It is a way we think about outcomes.

Jonas Salk made two hundred unsuccessful attempts to create a polio vaccine.  Salk, “I never failed two hundred times in my life.  I just discovered two hundred ways how not to vaccinate for polio.”

Failure does not shape you….. but the way you respond to failure shapes you.

God isn’t finished with us yet! 

I am still on the “potter’s wheel”.

R L Hoback

The Kentucky Coffee Tree

The nuts of this tree were used by early settlers, trappers and guides like Uncle John as a coffee source.

The taste no doubt was strong, much like chickaree coffee or bark coffee or Kona Coffee.  It was referred to as “coffee nuts”.  Picture it now….. smashed with a boot heel then tossed into a pot of boiling water on the campfire.  Let the campfire coffee simmer until all the grounds come to the top, pour to your cup, straining the grounds with your bowie knife or back of your plate….mmmmm

Now then, they didn’t have a grocery store  to run to, although I am sure that if  ”Sam”  would have thought about it, he would have opened a store on the Oregon trail.     

Even if one were not to brew the coffee over a campfire, the tree is a beautiful shade tree.

It is an easy tree to care for.  It has a large “sweet pea” pod  to a healthy 6 inches long with  the above leaves which disappear with mowing.  Then because of it’s minute structure, the sun shines through it as though the branches were not even there.  Hence, this is a great tree to plant on the south / west side of your house.  It provides great shade in the summer but disappears in the winter time when you need the sun’s warmth.

The seed pods are  large and hold seeds the shape of an M&M only twice the size, yum yum but don’t taste them.

Basic protocol for planting Kentucky Coffee seeds is, like mother nature would provide, however the hard outside  of the seed itself will not deteriorate well without help.   

Next with seeds from the pods:

Remember Mother Nature provides the digger and an inbred technique for planting nut seeds = the squirrel !

Chatter will pic  it up, taste to see if worth saving, plant it in a shallow enough spot that it can be found later.

After a winter’s rest, and a supply of moisture , it comes alive.

Let’s see if we can duplicate that process to shorten it a bit.

First, peel the pods to get the seeds.  Save only the dark  colored shiny ones.

Then, in a zip loc bag……. O my gosh, what would I have done in 1850….  Probably plant the pod whole! J  However they may never germinate.  

Since they must go through the winter before germinating, simulate that step by tossing the bag in the freezer for two to three weeks or leave it outside where it is safe, but freezes. 

Then after thawing, pretend that you are a squirrel and take a “nip” out of the seed….. no silly, not with your teeth….. an electrical wire cutter or strong scissors will do….. just a small one mind you…. The size of a squirrel tooth.  You know, not nearly the size of a cubit 🙂

Then, plant the seed (probably three to the hole because germination might be 30%) about the depth that a squirrel would plant……… okay to the point, ½ to 1 inch below the surface of the ground.

Now lets simplify the process a bit.  Place  the  seeds that have been frozen in  non metallic shallow dish or bowl  that is at least 1 inch deep.   Then boil a cup or two of water.  Let  the water quit bubbling then pour over the seeds , covering them at least ½ inch.   Let ‘er set for at 24 hours , while the hot water and soaking has softened the rock hard shell.   If any seeds float,  toss them.  The remaining should start to swell.    When the have started to swell,  it is time to plant them.   Use peat pots filled with light potting soil  mixed with a bit of peat moss  or a  prepared  potting mix.    Moisten the soil slightly so that you can push your finger in it to make a hole an inch or so deep.  Then drop one of the swollen seeds in each hole.   Water enough to soak the peat pot, then very lightly until the germination process lifts your tree upward ! Just  like in nature,  not all seeds will germinate, nor will they at the same time.  

That’s it…… that’s the story of the Kentucky Coffee tree (don’t wait for a cup of the coffee that it provides)  as I don’t know how it  would taste  ……J  Now you know  how to plant one.

I planted the seeds from one pod and 10 years later , they are 25 feet tall.   When planting them in  the ground , protect them from the  rabbits and deer.    Remember that they will grow as wide as they are tall, so  plant them  at least 25 feet apart.     

They will grow in Zone 4 in easy winters to Zone 8 or 9  but they really love it in Zones 5 and 6.

Rich Hoback  with  Natures-Invitation  helping you  learn and experience Nature .

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

It has been said over and over that  a single picture is worth a thousand words and that is so true, however …… only if you let it share it’s story.

If the photographer sees something deeper than the surface appearance, then indeed it is the duty of him or her to share the thoughts that was going through their mind when they pressed the shutter button to capture it.   It will help the viewers understand those thoughts when viewing it. 

The eye transmits to the brain “choose me” in a myriad  of perceptions in just a millionth of a second .    But lets look with me in this photo.   It is a simple Autumn picture along a path.

To me, it displays toil of a Sycamore tree to produce the beautiful huge tree.  The mighty hand that has gently laid it to rest for my enjoyment.  It is not a dying process but one of renewal .   It’s large torso might provide a shelter from the approaching winter for nature’s tiniest creatures.   It displays to me something unique and not generated by a ‘cookie cutter’.   It says to me a “Renewal“

The leaf’s resting place is on the ‘Evergreen’  of the forest’s surface.  It never goes to sleep.  It will be a green carpet on the balance of the forest sleeps and  the winter’s snow melts away.  It’s deep color was painted by it’s  strength in seeking a nourishment.    It is a unique gift to all who sees it’s beauty.  To me it about  “Sustaining ”  in our lives.

They both lay reside on  timber of  the bridge along a forest path.   The bridge provides a safety in traversing  the tiny creek below.   It was built by the hands of man who was with his labour’s, providing both safety and a happiness for others who follow the path.      To me it says the “Giving” of life.  

The bridge, the leaf the  forest moss   are all part of and along the  Trail though the forest .   The trail is easy to describe.   It provides to all that travel it:  A means to me,  a wide array of things.  It offers exercise and fresh air to our lungs.  It provides a safe route to another place.  It provides a view of a depth of nature  which without  the trail , many will never see it’s beauty.    It is the foot’s version of a super highway.   Mostly to me, it says  “Happiness“

Now you see , a picture is worth a thousand words….. and I have just said a lions share of them but that it just a walk through the mind of Rich.

Lift those ‘。Wings….

“Just because you want to at times……..

simply lift those wings and fly..

They were a gift for you to use !”

We as humans tend to fall within a time of stagnation or in a ‘rut’

or that it seems to us.

Through perhaps our upbringing we have been placed in a box with four walls , sometimes higher than we can reach over the top.

That is purely our state of mind.

We can do anything that we set our mind to do!

That is anything that We set our mind to do. 。

Oh yes, it will take perseverance, hard work and Courage. With the will to crawl over the top of that box, you can and will be able to achieve your goal.

When you are standing on top of that wall:

“Just lift those wings and fly” for YOU.

Let’s Walk together ….. Side by Side

Another year has flown by again.

As I think of all the things we can be thankful for; I also think of the things that could have used a bit more Unity.

I have taken dozens of pics along a trail or path this past year and typically compare them to our journey along the path of our lives.

Looking at this one today, I scribbled some thoughts about the year the need for unity and togetherness for the best year, 2021, making it the best ever !!!

Happy New Year !!!!