Inventions

I recently finished a book about the inventions of Clarence Birdseye. If you think you might have heard of his name, you are probably right. He was the man who introduced America to the possibilities of frozen foods. He was clearly a man before his time. The average American didn’t even own refrigerators, much less freezers that didn’t involve ice blocks and sawdust. He was a persevering soul with a longsuffering wife and he went to his grave still sketching inventions that he was sure would make the world a better place.

I’m not an inventor but I am grateful for the inventions that have enhanced my life. Here are a few of them:

1) Showers—When I’m forced to use a bathtub, I feel like I’m sitting in my own soup, watching my skin curdle. Not very refreshing in my estimation. I’m not sure if the shower was ever “invented” but someone had to follow up on how good it felt to stand under a waterfall as compared to sloshing around in a murky river. As my husband likes to say, “There’s nothing like a hot shower to wash the stink of the day away.”

2) Pencil sharpeners—Using a knife to whittle away at a nubbin of graphite embedded wood is one way to sharpen a pencil, but not very efficient. We now have crank sharpeners, mini-hand held sharpeners and electric sharpeners, all of which will probably be displayed in the Smithsonian Institute as relics of the pre-IPad generation. Until then, I’m happy to crank away.

3) Bunn coffeemakers—I love my Bunn. For those of us who have survived percolators, jars of instant coffee and the early models of Mr. Coffee, it is a blessing to use a coffeemaker that has your cup of java brewed before you are finished brushing your teeth. A coffee addict needs a buzz early and often.

4) Air Conditioners—This tundra girl never lets a summer day go by without thanking the Lord for the air conditioner. Having grown up in a house without such a convenience, I’m well aware of the toll that heat takes on one’s nerves and productivity. My mom was an expert in utilizing the “prairie air-conditioning system”--open all the windows in the evening and put a large box fan in the window to pull the cool air into the house. Then, promptly close all the windows in the morning to keep the sultry air of the day outside of the house. I can still see the feet of my sister and I as we stuck them into our bedroom window from our bed, trying to cool off enough to get a good night’s sleep.

5)  Curling irons—Believe it or not, folks, there was a time before curling irons were accessible to the general public. As someone with poker straight hair, I am grateful for the chance to add a little lift to my lifeless tresses. I remember a time when some women did their Saturday afternoon grocery shopping with a head covered with hair rollers.  Electric rollers and curling irons have pretty much eradicated that fashion statement. Probably a good thing.

6) Pasteurization—Thank you, Louis Pasteur, for your obsession with microbes. Pasteurization has made it possible for me not to worry about pathogens doing the backstroke in my dairy products. I’ve been up close and personal with a cow’s udder and I think it is best to leave the raw stuff to the baby cows.

I hope you are grateful, too, for all the inventions that make your life a bit more pleasant. And, thank you again, Mr. Birdseye, for making peas just as delightful in the winter as they are in their summer pods.

 

 

 

 

Splendor

 

For those of us who adore the season of fall, now is a glorious time of year. Not only do we finally get to enjoy a reprieve from the gripping jaws of heat and humidity, we are also treated to sights that can only be described as splendorous. I can’t help but be stunned by trees clothed in golden and crimson glory. As the long afternoon rays of sunshine catch the branches of dazzling leaves, one can only pause and bathe in the beauty of such created goodness.

I do not live in a state known for majestic mountains and dense forests. Our state does not have waterfalls found at breath taking heights or ocean waves lapping upon seashell studded shorelines. We do, however, have wide open spaces that offer panoramic views filled with as much as the eye can drink in. The longer I live here, the more privileged I feel to have been born and raised in the midst of such splendor. Here are a few sights that continue to amaze me.

1) The horizon—Several years ago I went to New York City and had a fabulous time experiencing the sensations of such a mega city. It didn’t take long, however, for me to feel claustrophobic and penned up like a caged rabbit. I remember thinking how sad it would be to never see a sunset or a sunrise. I can’t imagine only seeing clouds that graze the top of skyscrapers. Plains people are able to watch the passing of clouds and experience the weather that so often accompanies the different cloud formations. The horizon also provides an unshuttered view of magnificent sunrises and sunsets. The colors of such glory defy description.

2)  Storms—Those who know me well will be surprised to see this one on my list. I’m an anxiety ridden wreck when I hear the rumble of thunder or the howling of a gale force wind. Nevertheless, a prairie storm is certainly something to behold. With our landlocked wide open spaces we are subject to winds that would be classified as hurricane force in many coastal states. As our precious trees bend and sway in the path of a storm and crops flatten toward the ground, prayers are sent up for mercy from hail and the vortex of a sudden tornado. There is a helpless splendor about such furies of weather than can only be experienced on the plains.

3) Amber Waves of Grain—For some, this is just a phrase in a song. For others, it is a reality based on the sights and sounds of a fall harvest. I am awestruck by the tenacity and perseverance of farmers who defy the odds of weather, weeds and weevils so that the world can be fed. A combine gliding across rows of summer’s accumulations is a glad sight, indeed.

4) Night Sky—If you’ve never looked at the sky on a clear evening in a place unencumbered by the residual lights of city dwellings, you are missing one of life’s sweet pleasures. The velvety backdrop is awash with flickering stars, gleaming planets and streaks of galaxy denizens. Occasionally, a glittering meteor races across the sparkling canvas, rivaling the splendor of a 4^th of July display.

I certainly hope you are enjoying the fall season as much as I am. It matters not whether you are climbing the trails of mountaintops or sitting at your kitchen table with a hot cup of coffee. Splendor will always be in the eye of the beholder.

Enjoy.