The Trees

In Indianapolis, there's a Kile Oak that's 500 years old. Oldest tree in Indiana, but before you get in your car with your camera, it's my sad job to tell you that our old oak is closed to visitors because of alleged "safety concerns" after Hurricane Helene.

A basin bristle cone pine is our country's oldest tree. Coming up on its 5000th birthday, it lives in Inyo National Forest in California. Unfortunately I can't tell you more than that because its exact location is kept "secret." Evidently someone decided old tree lovers are shifty, untrustworthy sorts with evil in their hearts. 

The Big Oak pictured above behind 3 of our children is over 200 years old.  Our 200+ year old Big Oak is right there on Big Oak Trail near Lake Monroe.  No one bothers it a bit as far as I can tell.  

Elderly trees probably would enjoy some company.  I hope in 2025 we can lighten up and let the tree fans drop by for a chat and a photo. 

 Until then, don't forget that you can always come to Bloomington if you want to see a majestic tree that's super old. If you're really desperate for some aged flora,  drop by High Street if you want to see our 36 year old house plant that my parents gave us when we first moved to Indiana. It's pretty amazing. 

  

 

The Wrongs and the Songs

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child lists about 40 unconditional rights that all children on the planet have. 

 I taught about this amazing international treaty several years ago.  At that time only 3 countries had not ratified the treaty:  Somalia, South Sudan and the US.  

Teaching the treaty now, in 2024, I discover that the US is the only country ON THE PLANET that will not ratify the UNCRC.

Really ticks me off.  Can we just ratify?  The treaty protects children from dangerous labor, cruel incarceration, and corporal punishment. Can we just ratify it please?  We look like idiots. 

There are the usual reasons why we won't ratify, but the big one is that Parental Rights groups and Republicans don't like the treaty.  Surprise Surprise. 

On a lighter note, I'm really getting in to this Cool Yule song.  Enjoy if you want to.

 

The Salmon

Hermit Crab in Captivity - Gig Harbor

 CARKEEK Park in Seattle is the site of a record breaking salmon run this year. In the past month, thousands of CHUM salmon have flailed up Piper's Creek to spawn and die.  

We ventured to CARKEEK over T-Day break to witness this incredible event. We saw salmon fighting to hurl their bodies further upstream in the rocky shallows.  We saw hundreds of salmon corpses rotting along the creek beds.  We smelled the putrid stench of death.  

I'm trying to focus on their inspiring life stories, but the trauma of watching the chum struggle to their deaths lingers, haunting my days and nights.  The smell wafts through my nasal cavities as if I never left Piper's Creek.

I wish the chum salmon could have a more peaceful end.  Could more water be added to the creek?  Something to think about for next year, Seattle. At the very least, prompt, respectful removal of chum carcasses should also be considered. 

I didn't get photos of the salmon run because of the trauma I experienced, but I'll never unsee the images from that apocalyptic visit.  Here's  a photo I found online.  Multiply this scene by one trillion and you'll come close to understanding the heroic end of the chum. 

The Hand Turkeys

 Our hand turkeys this year expressed our homage to favorite artists.  Here's the rundown.

Husbandman - Inspired by Starry Starry Night.  I loved this one.

30 Something turkified Wayne Thiebaud's beautiful paintings of pies and cakes. I loved this one too.

I took an easy road with the Matisse collage turkey. Pretty basic, but I still love it.

JL calls up the joys of painting of the indomitable Bob Ross.  Hilarious.  I love his little easel.

Neph knocked it out of the park with this homage to Jacob Lawrence.  I mean.  Wow.  Frame this one immediately. They're holding little turkeys. Love it so much.

Botticelli.  Birth of Venus.  So beautiful. Thanks, Eve for this amazing work of art.

K saw the reliquary containing John the Baptist's hand in the cathedral of Siena. I wish I could see that some day but for now, this turkey is the next best thing.  I love it.

Maurizio Catalana taped a banana to a wall.  The rest is history. What a fun hodgepodge of art deco with minimalist modern.  LOVE it!

Obviously we've done a great job with the hand turkeys once again. 

It's pretty amazing.