Indiana Roadsides

by
Jean Hughes
August 7, 1995

It was in the month of August that I first began to write a weekly column about the beauty of the natural world. I was 47 years old, and had never written a word for publication about nature, nor about anything else, and knew almost nothing about wildflowers or birds. It was natural beauty that set me on my quest.

I have learned that a week is a very short time. Days fly by. It is the moments that have filled my heart and my columns.

These have been years of fun, joy and the sharing of our beautiful earth with readers. I have looked at the hills every day with eyes of love, and love has not made me blind, but has shown me the glory of everything.

   Nature's Question 		
 
 When nature asks, "What do you do with
     the gift, life, that has been given to you?" 
  I do not list the ways that I employ it.
  I answer, "I enjoy it! I enjoy it!"

During the years, I have inhaled the fragrance of fieldfuls of wildflowers, learned to whistle with the birds, danced in the rain and skated on snowy paths. I have waded in streams, climbed a lot of hills and walked thousands of miles along my roadside and in my woods. I have enjoyed sunsets and sunrises, stars and moonlight nights that sweetened my heart and gave me words to describe the beauty of both light and darkness.

There is a feeling on this land, and some of it has rubbed off on me. Love lies on the breezes and shines from every corner. Nature speaks here. I listen and record.

Tonight, a red-tailed hawk sits on the top branch of a dead tree. He looks around and then gives a spring and pushes himself into the air. He swoops toward me, and when we are looking eye to eye, his mouth opens and from his throat comes his loud, raucous cry! My heart thrums a wild beat, as he skims over my head and up into the air.

There is a wild realm that is unknown to hearts that are completely tamed. It is a majestic warmth, a common bond shared at wild moments. It is a creature love of earth available to all, a gift to every heart that opens to its charms.

* * * When I look at my simple house and barn, and at all the beauty that surrounds me, I think of kings and queens of old, who spent their lives in fortresses with moats around, and with barred doors and windows for protection.

Who are the real kings and queens of this world? Are they not the free, like you and me?

After working in the garden, cool salads and desserts are inviting.

Cool Cool Cake

Fold into the batter of your favorite white cake or the
batter of one box of white cake mix: 1/4 cup creme de menthe.
Bake according to directions in an 8 by 11 inch pan.
Mix together and spread onto cooled cake: 12 oz. chocolate
fudge topping, 3 cups frozen whipped topping, thawed,
and 1/4 cup creme de menthe.
Refrigerate. Serve Cold.

I sit on my back porch and watch the sky turn storm-cloud blue. It is just before twilight. The storm gathers. I hear the rumble of thunder in the distance. The wind lifts and swishes a muted jingling through the leaves. Momentum increases. Flashing and cracking and booming fills the skies. A light rain begins to fall.

As quickly as it began, the storm ends. The clouds roll away and the wind ceases. A light rain continues. I hear raindrops falling one by one, hitting the leaves, the roof and the windowpanes.

The rain stops. In the full twilight, the sky takes on a deep, last-of-light blue. Every moment the sky pulls a little more blackness into its color. A soft quiet rain begins again and sings the twilight into oblivion. A peaceful summer night comes to the hills.

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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