Dear November Hill

Dear November Hill,

Thank you for the gorgeous autumn show you’re putting on for us. Fifteen years ago we met you in the springtime, made the offer that same day, closed the deal in late summer, and then November came. You were in your glory.

This year, as every year, I know that when November comes I’ll see it again. The colors and textures and changing season of a house and a barn on a hill, where I’m still learning the land and the wildlife,  trying to be a good steward of what keeps you happy and healthy.

The gifts you give are moment by moment. I’m grateful and still in awe.

Love,
Billie

Audrey Hepburn and adorable donkey

I saw this someplace online a few weeks back and it reminded me of a young Rafer Johnson. What a gorgeous photo, in any case! A pair of stars.

Photo taken by Norman Parkinson

“In 1955, Audrey and Bimba the donkey are photographed together at Villa Rolli, South of Rome, during the filming of King Vidor’s War and Peace.”

November Hill farm journal, 85

Busy weeks, autumn color, good rain.

The busy:

Clementine went into her first heat cycle, which took me by surprise and has been interesting to navigate. She’s on hiatus from her Canine Good Citizen class, and we’ve tried a few different “diapers” that work but aren’t ideal. The winner by far is the Suitical, which is a soft stretchy cotton cat suit type of garment that you can put a pad in or, safer for chewers, a washcloth folded in thirds. The suit itself seems comfy and while you do have to unsnap it so she can urinate, it really works well.

We finished planting the things I had on hand and with the good rain we’ve had, the grass seed in the back pasture, the paddocks, and the barnyard is all coming up beautifully. The front pasture is another matter, and I think we might need to divide it in half or possibly thirds to do the overseeding. We’ll figure it out.

I have never seen so many acorns in my life. Every oak tree has mass produced this year, covering the ground beneath. I suspect one factor is that the deer no longer come onto our property due to the fencing, and so the only creatures eating the acorns are a few squirrels and a few equines. I need to get out there and scoop them up into buckets so I can distribute them outside the fencing.

Two dear writer friends and I had a wonderful retreat last weekend on the Pamlico River. I got so much done! I’m not sure if I mentioned it here, but I took a 6-week remote writing workshop called The Art of the Fractured in September/October, and generated 4 exciting essays that are either out on submission now or still being revised. I begin a 4-week remote workshop next week called The Visceral Self and I’m very eager to get started. Jeannine Ouellette is the instructor, and she’s wonderful. If interested, look her up at Elephant Rock. She offers a number of workshops, both remote and in person. I highly recommend!

A few shots of writing retreat weekend, from our writing spots in the cottage:

I’m home now, enjoying the daily routine of animal care, laundry, and chores while the soft rain falls outside. Autumn is here. 

Rafer Johnson the donkey, Rafer Johnson the man

I’m so excited to see that UCLA is naming its new track after one of its well-deserving students, Rafer Johnson.

Our Rafer Johnson was named by his breeders, Ken and Marty, for the track star and humanitarian, and we love the name, the story behind it, and also the fact that he now gets to share in the limelight just a *little.*

Here’s the press release UCLA released today:

UCLA Athletics

UNIVERSITY NEWS

Drake Stadium track to be named after Betsy and Rafer Johnson

UCLA Newsroom | October 16, 2019

UCLA Athletics today announced plans to honor track and field legend and humanitarian Rafer Johnson, along with his wife, Betsy, by naming the track at Drake Stadium after the couple.

The Betsy and Rafer Johnson Track at Drake Stadium, the home of UCLA track and field, will be formally unveiled in a dedication ceremony on Friday, October 25, 2019 at 1 p.m. The ceremony is free and open to the public.

“As we look back across UCLA’s first 100 years and think about the people who helped shape this institution’s core values, Betsy and Rafer Johnson are among the first who come to mind,” said UCLA Chancellor Gene Block. “Their selfless efforts to inspire others and encourage opportunity for all perfectly embody UCLA’s mission. That’s why we are so proud to dedicate the Betsy and Rafer Johnson Track at Drake Stadium.”

Johnson, a two-time Olympic medalist who captured gold in the decathlon at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, began his UCLA track and field career in 1955 as the captain of the freshman team. In that same year, Johnson won a gold medal in the decathlon at the Pan American Games in Mexico City. He ran varsity track from 1956-58 and led the Bruins to their first-ever NCAA track and field championship in 1956 under head coach Elvin ‘Ducky’ Drake. Prior to helping UCLA win the national crown, Johnson won the Pacific Coast Conference title in the low hurdles en route to guiding the Bruins to the conference championship.

“It is such an honor to have the tracked named after us,” said Betsy and Rafer Johnson. “UCLA has always been a special part of our lives and the lives of our children, Jenny and Josh. We have been and will always be Bruins.”

While competing at UCLA, Johnson won a silver medal in the decathlon at the 1956 Olympic Games despite being handicapped by a knee injury and torn stomach muscle that kept him out of the broad jump portion of the competition. He reached the pinnacle of his Olympic achievements in 1960 as the USA team captain, flag-bearer (the first African-American to serve as such), and gold-medal winning decathlete. At the 1984 Olympic Games, Johnson was selected to light the Olympic cauldron at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Johnson served as UCLA student body president in 1959.

Autumn, and rain dancing

Finally, our temperatures have dropped to something more normal for this time of year, and it actually feels like autumn again. We’re seeing a little color but mostly falling dried leaves from the trees because we have been so dry for the past month - only a very light rain on a couple of occasions. 

They say drought makes fall colors more intense but this year I’m not seeing that yet. The dogwoods are turning and their red berries are lovely. I’m thinking about grass seed and young native plantings needing water, and the idea of rain dancing is also on my mind.

Everything needs a deep slow-falling drink. Meanwhile it’s dusty and dry and my very hardy native perennials are thriving without much water at all. Plant natives in the fall, make sure they get an inch of water a week for their first year, and you’ll be gifted with healthy, low-maintenance plantings that host your wildlife and allow you to put your energy into other things.

It’s hard for me to believe it’s already October. Time flies in general it seems, but this year the endless summer has exacerbated it. Last week we had a 100 degree day, and it felt like the middle of July.

Rain dancing: mostly consists of me standing and looking up, silently compelling the clouds to come, the rain to fall, and the plants and trees to drink their fill. There’s a possibility of rain tomorrow. Sending wet thoughts to all who need it!