Welcome to the Wakefield Doctrine (the theory of clarks, scotts and rogers)
Item 8. Phyllis and Una sittin in a tree(house). This photo is taller than wide. The left half is clearly in the foreground and it is half of a bird house made in the shape of a man with a large nose. (Think: Grumpy of Seven Dwarves of Snow White fame) The bird house is stuck to the tree that rises above (and behind) the two downward angles of the roof of the bird house). The bark of the tree is very visible. Like peanut brittle or trying to smooth out corduroy pants that you found at the bottom of a suitcase that didn’t get un-packed. The texture of the trunk is primarily vertical ridges and un-even valleys. The right half of this (taller than wide) photo is of the door to Phyllis’s treehouse. The opening that shows has a dog at the edge of the door and Phyllis in the background sitting in a beach chair. (You know it’s a beach chair because: it’s low to the floor, the legs are thin and chrome-shiny and the back of the chair shows has horizontal stripes of greens-trying-to-escape-into being blue. There is pea-soup green, aqua-marine-ish blue and real blue. You know they’re strips ’cause there are white dividers between them. Sort of a prism of light from the Planet Beach.) Una appears to be glancing around the left edge of the doorway at the bird house. Half her face and most of her tongue shows. Tongue is pink with its central groove (just like humans) lined with a row of white teeth (like some humans). Her right eye shows enough to be able to see the small beige marking in her otherwise black fur. Think: apostrophe mark at the start of her eyebrow.
Lots to cover, it having been a fairly busy week. As I was mentioning to Kerry (in a reply to her comment) this week: The Rock, The Bridge, The Garden and Visitors from another dimension (it’s virtual but only sometimes scary).
First things first. This is the Ten Things of Thankful bloghop. (New Readers: a bloghop is a type of blog that is centered on interaction among the participants. Now, that last part is not as awkwardly-half-redundant as it might read. What our Host, Josie Two Shoes, does is host (ok, that might be a touch redundant), an exchange of things that we (collectively) have experienced (individually) during that past week (month/year/lifetime) that inspires us to say, “I’m grateful that happened’, or ‘They add a certain thing to life that I would be loath to be without’. The exchange part is where Josie provides an invaluable service. Go to her site, (through the link in the icon at the bottom of this post or HERE), and you will be able to read any number of reflections/recounting of/ recollection/remembering of things that made the writer include them on their list, and, ...and! you get to link your own post and be included in the ‘hop, which makes for easy commentationing and such. So come on down. If you’re concerned with following a format that a part of your mind might be whispering to you, at this very moment, ‘Yeah, sounds like fun but suppose you don’t have enough things to list or, worse, suppose you don’t follow some protocol and they laugh. Although, this Doctrine guy seems to be pretty comfortable writing what charitably can be called stream-of-caffiene-metaphysics in his post.’ That’s the spirit! This week only, the Wakefield Doctrine is offering a newcomer special offer! ‘Write 8 (or less) Items and Get One Free! Just let us know that you might be coming up short and we’ll dig through our archives and send you a Grat Item!’ (Offer subject to restrictions and limited to one or three or whatever per participants. Participant accepts full responsibility for dealing with the “what the heck?!!” comments that a ‘Wakefield Doctrine Write 8 (or less) Items and Get One Free!’ Grat Item might generate or instigate.)
1) A Bridge Too Far
The Bridge Before. Photo is taller than wide. The surrounding woods are shades of green ranging from pale to dark, with tree trunks showing as black. The water that divides the scene’s top of green and bottom of browns and pale (and which is is the raison d’être for the bridge) is reflective black. You know it’s water because all you see are the trees reflected. Although, ironically, the only blue is the sky reflected in the black-appearing water. The color of the bridge is browns into nearly white beige. There are two parallel wood beams running from the immediate foreground up the middle of the scene to a patch of light brown (where the vegetation has been cleared on the far shore) for the other end of the bridge to rest. There are rectangular planks that are attached across the two beams. Originally there was a complete walkway of these planks. The majority have been removed. Now its two adjacent planks-space-then two planks, then space. Like a film strip. This bridge, including the two carrying beams, will be taken apart and removed as the new beams (and eventually, planks for the walkway are built in it’s place)
Construction of the new bridge. Regular landscape orientation photo. Top half is of the deck off the back of our house where Phyllis and Denise assemble the beams. The lower half is Una keeping watch over their work. The beam is quite long, twenty-eight feet to be precise. It is made up of two fourteen foot lengths end-to-end. They are (both) secured to a second fourteen foot board which is runs seven feet along both of them. Sistering, I believe is the carpentatory term for joining boards, side-by-each (which, I believe, is a local Franco-Canadian expression). Denise is standing at the left end of the beam, which is long enough to overhang the deck to both sides. Phyllis is to the right at the far end. Denise is drilling holes for the bolts that attach the boards together. Phyllis is hammering the bolts in and securing them with nuts which must be quite tight. Una is keeping an eye out for job site safety. I’m taking the photo…. lol (I know, work, work, work)
Phase One Complete! The scene (another photo, taller than wide, due to the subject matter) from the opposite shore shows two parallel beams resting on top of the old bridge, spanning the stream. The new beams are a very light brown almost cream-colored. Being spruce, the dark brown, circular knots show at seemingly random points along the length of the beams. The beams are closer together, starting in the lower foreground (where you can see the square cement pad that supports the beams), over to the other side. Phyllis and Denise stand at the far end of the bridge, on the opposite shore, justifiably proud of our accomplishment. (The house and deck where we assembled the beams are about five hundred feet away. The beams had to be carried, one at a time, out of the backyard, past the Rock-at-the-Edge-of-the-Forest, down a hill through pines and ferns and thorns (oh my) to the site.) This photo would not have existed had they not been there.
2) A Rock at the Edge of the Forest
The Rock at the edge of the woods. Tough to make out much about the rock in this photo, due to the lighting. It is generally ovoid in shape, rough-smooth granite of a size that if you interlaced your fingers and held the rock it would touch the insides of your arm at least to the elbows. (It would then touch your toes, ’cause its got to weigh 150 pounds) The rock sits on a low tree stump that is not visible due to the shadow cast by the rock, towards the camera. The ground around the rock is low green growth, mostly vines and low bushes. In the foreground left there is a good-sized tree trunk (branches too high to see). The trunk is sorts smooth, being a white pine. There are small, vertical streaks of very light green which is moss. Oh, yeah, that structure in the background, above to the left of the rock, is the remains of a wood swing. Two triangles joined at the top by a single pole. There used to be a swing suspended from the horizontal piece. Now there are bird feeders that Phyllis adds food to. (lol… I included that last to remind myself to write about what is in the photo for real, as opposed to… never mind)
3) A Dog at a Window (to follow on Sunday be sure to stop back!)
4) Friends from the Virtual World, in Three D! (accompanied by canine companion)
Visitors! (Landscape orientation photo) Cynthia and John and Vinny say goodbye to Denise as they continue on their Summer Journey. (I just laughed because I saw something in the photo that I hadn’t seen before, and even then I would only see it, remembering that it was raining at the moment.) Anyway Cynthia and John are standing and looking down at their Labrador (with a white chest) and Vinny is looking back at them, his tail caught in mid-wag. Denise is bent at the waist over Vinny patting him. She is holding an umbrella. This is where I just lol’ed. The only umbrella is over Vinny who is the center of attention of the three humans. I personally agree with those priorities.
5) The Wakefield Doctrine simply one of the coolest, most entertaining and useful perspectives on the world and reality and such.
6) Una’s Garden
7) Home and Heart ( ‘a Sister Margaret Ryan novel’)
8) Phyllis and Una (here in Number 8 but photo at the top of Post)
9) Sunday feature
10) SR 1.3 (Book of Secret Rules (aka Secret Book of Rules) First discovered Rule which states, in part, “…approaching completion of a List of Ten Things, is, of and unto itself, something to be grateful for; [therefore] as an Item (precedentus repeatus pro quo: try to make this discovery at or near Item 9 or so) therefore may serve as the 10th and/or concluding Item in said List…. er, factorum yo.”
Bonus music vid
About clarkscottroger
Another overflowing post of vivid descriptions of your yard and home Clark. Thanks. I love bridges, what they span, the water beneath. Simply fascinating structures.
This was my favourite part…The bark of the tree is very visible. Like peanut brittle or trying to smooth out corduroy pants that you found at the bottom of a suitcase that didn’t get un-packed.
Great photos and list of thankfuls. I had never heard of this doctrine, I am definitely a Clark.
you are in good company (both those who have not yet heard of the Wakefield Doctrine and those who are clarks (aka the Outsiders))
we (as a people) tend to be quick to pick up on the Doctrine if for no other reason than we’re all trying to make sense of the world, to find a system that a) explains things and 2) (the real Grail) one that will help us learn the information that will allow us to become real people.
Welcome to the TToT and the Wakefield Doctrine
So thankful you posted, i always enjoy your list.
thanks, Mimi!
Splendiforous list yo!!!
lol ‘cellent neologism, z
Excellent post.
It was a most wonderful week of family, friendship, accomplishment, superior canine companionship….I drank coffee in a treehouse, prepared breakfast for virtual friends made flesh, put a little bit of sweat into the bridge too far…hey! wait a minute! I need to go write my own TToT lol
Thank you for everything.
it was a grand adventure is all it was
This time you’ve truly outdone yourself, Clark! I was laughing so hard when I got to the “Get One Free” offer, what a perfect solution to help our TToT newcomers feel at home! (And I’m certain that none of us old-timers would ever wonder about that one or more “very unique” items at the end of a fairly regular type list. :-)) Your clever posts are always one of the things that makes the TToT linkup such fun!
I also have to commend you for the awesome descriptions, of the Phyllis and Una in the treehouse, work on the crossing bridge, and the “umbrella covering dog” images. They each stand alone as a great writing effort of description adequate enough for one to shut their eyes and fairly well imagine what you were describing! I love, LOVE the “peanut brittle, corduroy” description of tree trunk, how creative. I often think that my descriptions are much too mundane, you’ve added life to yours and they were much enjoyed!
On to the real thankfuls… Phyllis and Una, and Denise visiting there too! Their bridge project is amazing, a lot of hard, heavy work and surely it will be a reason to smile every time it is crossed. That old one was getting a bit precarious. Please share another photo when it’s done! I love Phyllis’ treehouse as well, everyone needs an awesome little retreat like this and who doesn’t love a tree house? Obviously, the old swing set frame makes a great repurposed birdfeeder.
I’m still liking that rock on the stump and finally got back to take a look at the added photo last week of growth progress in Una’s garden. I especially liked the “cornfield”, just the right amount for a small family meal!
I bumped into the “Pre-dominant World View Assessment” on your home page and just had to try it. Not surprisingly, my score was an “A” landslide. The questions and potential answers were an entertaining read, and at times I really needed a “none of the above” option! I also found myself thinking “OMG, much to my horror, I know someone who actually does/says that!”
I will be back in the days ahead to check out the infamously pending #9, but can’t leave without commenting on the Neil Young video… that song took me way back to a time when the world, and my world, were so different. Those were the days.
Have a great week ahead, Clark, keep the good stuff coming, and don’t be surprised if I take you up on that “Get one free” offer! :-)
I forgot to mention that Una’s “comma eyebrows” are so cool, and without your apt description I probably never would have taken note!
yeah that one came to me just as I was about to move on (in my description of Una)
Thank you, J (as of this comment, I’ve had no takers… still time, though).
The effort (of the description) is returned by whatever improvement I might enjoy as a result. I enjoy your captioning and also Pat’s both are direct and simple and most of all, make sense. (I have to keep reminding myself that the goal is a description that is sufficient to replace the actual image.
The Pre-dominant Assessment was fun to create (with help from others, I would ask scotts and rogers to not only verify what I would put in for ‘their’ answers but also to create questions/situations.) Fun. But, of course, the Doctrine is about how we relate ourselves to the world around us. I once did a video and the analogy I used was based on eye tests. Comparing our view of the world through each of the three, one will not make sense (be totally skewed and blurry to the point of vertigo) the next would seem ‘ok’ and the last (our worldview) would be comfortable and not out of focus. Because, in the final analysis, the Wakefield Doctrine is simply an additional perspective on the world and life and all them people.
The comparison of the Doctrine to an eye test is good, a simple but easy to understand explanation. The whole thing is fascinating.
Thank you, Josie
This was quite an interesting post. What a wonderful yard you have! You write great descriptions of your photos. I’m doing good to write “This is a picture of a cardinal in a Texas backyard.” haha
Have a blessed day!
Enjoyed having you join in on the ‘hop. It’s fun to read about exotic places (Texas) lol being from southern New England and all.
That bridge work looks like an balancing act, a weight bearing exercise, and an effort to communicate between the two as they make their way across the old bridge. I’m looking forward to seeing the finished new bridge.
Of course, Vinney is the center of attention of three humans! Isn’t that why Labs exist? LOL
Your description of the tree bark as resembling the forgotten corduroy pants which needed smoothing out after being found at the bottom of a suitcase took me back quite a few years when so many clothing items were made from corduroy. They could become quite wrinkled if they weren’t removed from the dryer right away, and even then they quite often needed to be ironed on the wrong side or required a pressing cloth.
That was very much the case in taking apart the old bridge, since it was too heavy to pull on to land as it was. I managed to work backwards from the far shore, removing the decking and the cross-bracing, the structure very much became less and less stable. Much more work left. btw, this is the third bridge in that spot. One for each dog, as it were. The bridges eventually give way to the elements and a re-building is called for. Funny thing, I’m really quite sure it took less time the first two bridges…lol
and the noise! got to find that perfect onomatopoeic word for the sound of corduroyed legs.
That old bridge is scary. Looks like a lot of nice work is being done.
I have just done gardening (more like weeding) yesterday. It took me and my teen four hours.
My lawn is drying out unlike yours. I need to do some TLCing on my poor yard.
It’s time has come and the replacement will take some time but will serve for a number of years. We’re just getting to the time of summer when things usually dry up, but this year there’s been a great deal of rain.
Love the first photo. It is deep…..like you! The bridge project looks fun. I would like a chance to stroll across it and keep on going. You really do appear to have such a great set-up there.
It has been fun… in an adult puzzle with over-sized pieces sort of way.
Great list, yo. Love the photos and the explanations. Una’s garden is coming along nicely.
Visitors – I know some of them!!! How exciting!
thanks, man. It was a brief visit, but one of the best we’ve had at this here house here.