Indiana Roadsides

by
Jean Hughes
April 17, 1995

There are some lonely places in my hills. No paths lead there. I seek them out in springtime and find them adorned with wildflower necklaces and drenched in daffodil perfume. I say, "Here I am. I've come to see you." And the lonely places aren't lonely anymore.

Together, we draw the birdsongs from the air and take into our hearts the wind, the sun and the rain. The brew is sweet when April stirs the pot.

* * * I love to walk the woods' paths at this time of year. Each step is a move into the beauty of delicate white isopyrum blossoms, lavender bittercress and pinkish toothworts. I wonder who could have named a beautiful wildflower a toothwort. That it was named for its toothed leaves and for its root (wort) that has tooth-shaped scales is not excuse enough for me. We can identify those named for their blossoms just as readily, and those flowers have beautiful names, such as shooting stars, sunflowers, spring beauties and bluebells.

*** April is a hodgepodge month. One minute she wears her old snow-white coat and the next minute a new flowered dress. When she decides to do a washing, she almost drowns everything in sight.

This is the month when trout lilies bloom, and May apples raise their green umbrellas. My dogs howl an octet as a bedtime serenade. One howls with a bass voice, there are several altos and sopranos, and one is a tenor with a yipping howl. When I feel I need a little uncivilizing, I join in.

The tiny yellow and purple butterflies are out--little violets on the wing. Male cardinals are feeding the females. They think it is all fun and games now, but soon they will be working at a frenzied pace, shucking piles of sunflower seeds and carrying mouthfuls of kernels to their babies. Nature keeps them trim. At least they don't have to jog. Or would that be flap?

Homemade baked beans are a favorite at our house.

Hot Smoky Beans

Bring to boiling and boil 1 minute: 1 lb. large, dried lima
beans and 4 cups cold water.
Allow to sit, covered, for 1 hour.
Cook slowly until almost done.
Add: 1 large chopped onion, 1 cup brown sugar, 1 cup 
hot ketchup, 1/3 cup molasses, 1 T. salt, 1 T. liquid smoke
and 1/4 t. hot pepper sauce. Place mixture in a casserole.
Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees, for 1 hour.

These are days of silent dawns. Birdsong-quiet comes with the light.

I walk back of my barn, past the rose bower and into the woods. I do not see one blossom and then, suddenly, I get the vision of the flowers. It is as if they had all popped up at once. They are everywhere.

Taking my breakfast with me, I climb down to a bog along Sugar Creek. The morning sun sparkles on the green water. I sit on the bank, among the leaves of wild geraniums. Food tastes so good in the open air. I sit for a long while. I don't keep time today.

A rabbit darts not two feet from me. I hear water gurgle as it swishes around a tree root. I glance at the hill behind me and find thousands of flowers. I whisper in awe, "All this for me! All this for me!"

* * * Oh, how I wish that April would slow down. There are too many sights I haven't seen. I stroll and stroll. Sometimes, I just sit. I'd give up the sitting if I could, but I am in a reverie. I find a beauty, and I cannot tear myself away.

This evening, I walk my road at end of twilight. The moon is almost full, and there is a skyful of stars. There is such a simple, beautiful life with nature. It is in every breath I breathe. It surrounds me. I hear the sweet, wild music of the spring night. It is in harmony. The chords ring. I listen.

Jean's book of ramblings and recipes "A Country Mile of Winter" and her book of poetry "The Earth's My Home" are available for $4.95 each plus $1.30 for postage and handling. Her nature letter "Diary of a Back Yard Naturalist", published 5 times yearly, is available for $12.50 per year. Ten of Jean's favorite recipes will be included free with each book or nature letter ordered. Order from...

Country Mile Publications
616 E. Monroe St.
Delphi, Indiana 46923

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