Jim Atwell
Once, back in 18th-century
England, Samuel Johnson
was bouncing along in a
crowded coach, heading for a
town some distance from his
beloved London. He was
probably deep in thought, ignoring
whatever scenery was
beyond the open windows. (A
stolid urbanite, he once described
the countryside as
unused space between
towns.)
Next to Johnson, jostled
every time the coach struck a
rut and bounced his considerable
weight, was a society
woman in all her traveling
finery. She was breathless,
not from awe for The Great
Man, England’s most famous
citizen, but for the stench
rising from that large and
rarely washed body. Finally
she struck him on the wrist
with her closed fan.
“Dr. Johnson,” she cried,
“you smell!” The compiler of
“A Dictionary of the English
Language” opened his hooded
eyes and spoke, but only
to distinguish between active
and passive verbs.
“No, madam, it is you who
smell. I stink.”
These days Johnson comes
to mind every time I enter
the barn and hit, face on, the
stench of the caged turkey
poults. I do the smelling;
they, passively, stink. I also
recall advice from an old
nurse, veteran of a thousand
sickrooms: “Just breathe
through your mouth, dear.”
That’s what I do.
Thank goodness, the birds
will be moving soon to larger,
airier quarters in the former
pig shed. And after a few
weeks, I hope, the barn’s
downstairs will again smell
pleasantly of sawdust, machine
oil, and stored hay. By
then the turkeys ought to
look a lot better, too. Right
now, they’re downright ugly.
I’ve watched generations
of baby chickens and enjoyed
their transition from fluffy
yellow down, through fledging,
and into full feathers.
These turkeys had a very
brief stage of downy cuteness
and then leaped into a gangly,
awkward adolescence,
careening around on feet too
big for them, knocking into
each other, making a mess of
their room. And eating, eating,
eating.
And, like some of our own
species, these teens dress
terribly. Their present first
feathers are mostly dull
brown and always rumpled.
It’s unkind, I guess, to comment
on their faces, but these
young birds are downright
ugly — sharp beaks; long,
naked necks; eyes bright and
beady like a vulture’s.
Of course they’ll grow out
of all this and end up handsome
birds and credits to society.
Now, more from the Fly
Creek General Store and the
Sages who gather there for
coffee. The same day we were
talking about turkeys, wild
and domestic, we shifted to
the signs of the times, especially
changes around here
that suggest more and bigger
ones to come.
A first one noted was the
near hysteria of the relentless
car ads now on TV. The
archetypes, of course, are
Billy Fuccillo’s, who uses
megaphone tones to tout
smaller cars with modestly
improved mileage. Billy’s
backed up now, not by a
straight man in a suit, but
mostly by a leggy girl in
skirts reaching to meet her
cleavage. Billy himself, his
pitch all sweat, spit, and
stammer, shouts nothing
about the big clunkers on his
lot. If you buy a compact from
him next year, I bet he’ll
throw in an SUV.
But there are other, far
more positive signs of change.
Lots of us are driving slower,
keeping a lighter foot on the
accelerator, even coasting
down our long hills. (Advice
from Michael Thrower in
England, where petrol is now
the equivalent of $18 per gallon:
Drive and accelerate
softly, as if you had a raw
egg under the pedal.)
And another positive sign,
if a frustrating one: waiting
time for a new Prius (about
the best around right now) is
up to seven months. By luck
or providence, Anne and I
got ours 14 months ago, just
before things began to get
wild. We love it, found it
great last winter with snow
tires all around. And in June
we traveled comfortably
around southern Canada,
four adults and four big suitcases,
plenty of leg room.
The only flaw of the Prius,
I’m told, is that their owners
talk incessantly about them.
So I won’t mention the 55-60
mpg we got on that Canada
trip.
But here’s the best positive
sign around here just
now. Through spring, vegetable
seeds flew off the
shelves. And lots of us are
building chicken coops.
Friends at Cooperstown Agway
tell me their one store
sold over 3,000 chicks this
year, and is still selling. Good
signs, I think, of growing
awareness that a major sea
change is under way. All but
the most stolid nay-sayers
acknowledge that, these
days, it’s not only cheaper,
but far safer to buy locally
produced food. The booming
farmers’ markets are proof of
that.
I have a gentle suggestion
for the Cooperstown leadership.
Consider dropping the
prohibition on raising fowl in
the village. Instead, establish
a minimum lot size for
doing it, and permit up to 10
hens. No roosters, since their
cock-a-doodling can be really
annoying, especially if several
are at it. And, you novices
to egg production, you
don’t need a rooster to do it.
Hens can handle it all on
their own, thank you, and up
to an egg every 30 hours.
They aren’t fertilized, but
who cares?
Well, maybe the hens ...
Find out about Jim Atwell’s
book, “From Fly Creek
— Celebrating Life in Leatherstocking
Country” at www.
JimAtwell.com.
Columns
More from the general store
- Columns
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In These Otsego Hills: The losses are adding up ...
It is with sadness that we note the passing of long time friend, and distantrelative, Jane Patrick. Over the years we have worked with Jane in a number of organizations including Women’s Club and the Community Advisory Committee at Bassett. And, of course, in later years we joined her, along with the other Dinner Belles, for any number of delicious meals. But we do think that our favorite memory that we shared with Jane was when we discovered, having both married Cooperstown natives, that we shared Cooperstown Christmas plans.
Continued ... -
Up On Hawthorn Hill: Bird Feeder?
Bird feeder is a relative term. At least that is the case around here. A few mornings ago we spotted the first rabbit to visit the feeders. Normally, all we see during the winter are rabbit tracks crisscrossing the gardens.
Continued ... -
From Fly Creek: Cheers for the Blue Rabbit!
My handwriting’s always been an embarrassment. Way back in elementary school, while most of the others were developing a clear, sometimes graceful hand (especially the girls), my penmanship showed no improvement.
Continued ... -
In These Otsego Hills: This and that ...
We have found the weather so far this year to be on the unusual side. And while we have no problem with the fact that we have received very little snow, we are of the opinion that what we have had instead is not particularly to our liking either. In fact, we are very hesitant to venture out much as we live in fear that the rain will turn to mixed precipitation which will freeze into a sheet of ice. And we are definitely opposed to encountering a sheet of ice underfoot. In fact, we are so hesitant that we now have taken to canceling our participation in events based on what just might be a dubious forecast.
Continued ... -
Book Notes: Feinstein’s latest is sheer enjoyment
Most people who follow sports have probably heard of John Feinstein. As a nationally known author, sportswriter, pundit and broadcaster, he has brought a unique angle to sports journalism. His groundbreaking book on Bobby Knight’s 1986-87 Indiana University basketball team, “A Season on the Brink,” still resonates today as an all-time classic.
Continued ... -
Book Notes: No Trekkie should miss Shatner’s books
It would be hard to find a television phenomenon as popular as “Star Trek.” Even though it was only on television for three seasons and 79 episodes (1966-69) it attracted viewers and devotees that still follow it passionately 45 years later. The fanatical supportspawned several movies and television spinoffs. Star Trek conventions continue to this day. There has never been anything like it.
Continued ... -
Up on Hawthorn Hill: Making sense of things
A book I have been reading investigates the various ways over time that we have made sense of the world. It carries the reader through to the present via several seminal classical texts and ultimately aims to suggest a strategy for “ finding meaning in a secular age.”
Continued ... -
In These Otsego Hills: ‘Property must be secured or liberty cannot exist.’ − John Adams
Last week we were asked if we would be interested in previewing a documentary, “The Empire State Divide,”produced by the Foundation for Land & Liberty. And we were more than happy to do so as we understood the documentary dealt with the problems that continue to face family farms.
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From Fly Creek: Now wait a minute!
On the ninth day of Christmas, driving down Cooperstown’s Eagle Street, I saw something astounding! No, not “nineladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans” etc. I saw one jogger jogging. And puffing on a cigarette.
Continued ... -
In These Otsego Hills: Goals of the past and goals of the future
We have long subscribed to the concept that we are always more successful if we, number one, set a goal and then, number two, meet it. And this was our thinking when we decided before Christmas to watch at least part of every college football bowl game. It was perhaps an odd, if not completely nonsensical, goal.
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In These Otsego Hills: Not to our liking ...
It is with sadness that we note the recent death of Steve Nagel. The son-inlaw of our late husband’s cousins, Alice and Harvey Eckler of Fly Creek, Steve was married to the Ecklers’ oldest daughter, Gail. We had the pleasure of spending Christmas Eve with the Nagels and the Ecklers in Fly Creek, greatly enjoying the delicious food and delightful conversation.
Continued ... -
Up on Hawthorn Hill: Of birds and faith
I watch birds quite a bit. Every five days or so I send in a report to Cornell as partof its annual Project Feeder Watch program. The data, collected from volunteers from all over the country, enables scientists to track population trends. I would spend quite a bit of time checking out the visitors to our feeders anyway. Participating in the feeder program makes a personal pleasure that much more meaningful. It is rare that aesthetical and scientific endeavors work in tandem.
Continued ... -
Book Notes: Biography captures the real Stephen Colbert
It would be hard to find a comedian as unique as Stephen Colbert. As the host of “The Colbert Report” on Comedy Central he hasmanaged to leave his mark on the nation’s consciousness in both a serious and humorous sort of way. His unusual wit has allowed him to become American icon. It would be difficult to find another entertainer quite like him.
Continued ... -
From Fly Creek: Christmas and varied blessings
I’m still astounded! The last farmers’ market before Christmas, I was sitting up front, directly under the ceiling heater, shmoozing with the hoi-polloi. (That’s an awkward linguistic mix,but let’s let it go.) As I sipped my hot coffee, a gloved hand came to rest on my shoulder and a warm voice said, “Merry Christmas, Jim.” I looked to my left—it was Santa Claus!
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In These Otsego Hills: Always a learning experience ...
We must admit that we thoroughly enjoyed our 2011 Christmas celebration. We partook of Christmas Eve dinner at the home of Alice and Harvey Eckler of Fly Creek and Christmas Day dinner at the home of Sandy and Al Bullard of Milford. We had our usual Christmas Day brunch at home on Pioneer Street, although we must admit it was a tad bit later than usual as, what we enjoyed most about Christmas, namely our granddaughter Abby, took a great deal of time opening her Christmas presents.
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In These Otsego Hills: Coming up ... 2012
Difficult as it seems, 2011 is fast coming to an end. And it is always our hope that as a year draws to a close, the issues which have been in the forefront during the year will be resolved. Unfortunately, we suspect that will not be the case this year. Instead, we are fairly certain that many of the issues that plagued this year, will continue to plague next year. Thus we will find ourselves still musing about the same issues we have spent time with already. And while we have not come toany conclusions about many of the issues, we do think they would all likely benefit from both sides thinking critically about perspective, risk assessment and possible solutions.
Continued ... -
Up on Hawthorn Hill: Circularity
When she was a puppy my dog Gabby would run in what I described then as “circles of joy.” She celebrated her15th birthday a few weeks ago and despite the inevitable frailties that old age imposes upon all of us, she is doing pretty well.
Continued ... -
Book Notes: Grisham doesn’t disappoint
John Grisham is one of this country’s most popular authors. Every time he publishes a book it’s an instant best-seller. He appeared on the scene about 20 years ago with his tense legal thrillers, “A Time to Kill” and “The Firm,”and hasn’t stopped producing top-notch novels since.
Continued ... -
From Fly Creek: Still singing, beyond our hearing
This column from Christmas 2001 still speaks deeply to me, and perhaps will to you, too. Take it, please, as my Christmas gift.
Continued ... -
In These Otsego Hills: The 2011 Cooperstown Carol
Since 1984, with the exception of one year, 1999, we have looked forward at the end of the year to going through all the issues of the paper in order to glean those news items which have been worthy of note throughout the year and which should make their way into our annual Cooperstown Carol.
Continued ...
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In These Otsego Hills: The losses are adding up ...
