Welcome to the Wakefield Doctrine (the theory of clark, scotts and rogers)
A photo of a pineapple upside down cake* The view is from slightly above and in front, so that the full height of the edge closest to the camera is visible. The cake is on a white plate that shows as a bright crescent in 3/4s of a circle around the cake. The cake itself is varying shades of brown. The slices of pineapple on top are a shiny, pale yellow and there are cherries on the top (mostly in the center of each pineapple slice). The cherries are very red (one might be tempted to say ‘cherry red’ but one suspects a trap in so simple a description). The top of the cake is shiny enough to reflect light (little spots of white on each cherry and other places on round top). The side of the cake is mostly light brown, darkening at the very base where it looks crumbly, like the top of a coffee cake. * well, in answer to the un-asked question, this is the Wakefield Doctrine, we pretty much go stream of conscious on these posts. but you probably guessed that already
This is the Ten Things of Thankful bloghop, hosted by Josie Two Shoes each and every weekend. It is a ‘gratitude blog’ with a difference. The difference very much being what is asked of participants. (Of course, every and all bloghop(s) have requirements (although, it might be fair to use the work ‘definition’), because, well, because you wouldn’t want to work hard on your post of the perfect pineapple upside down cake, complete with alphabetized ingredient list, oven temperature (in both F and C), recommended sources of the basic materials, and, of course, time-lapse photos of every step of the process from, start to finish only to discover, (after seeing that your post received 1400 views, 6 blocks and a scathing letter from Facebook censors), that you’d posted it to ‘Cars, Craters and Babes.com’. (Why yes, that certainly was a long way to go for a slight chuckle and a, “those people at that Wakefield Doctrine, I do declare”).
So the idea is to share a glimpse of your reality. It is a given (at the Wakefield Doctrine) that perspective is the secret of the universe.
1) Una Garden update: In soil reclamation phase. The soil in our yard is way inhospitable to anything other than pine trees, moss and violets. The layer of loam is only a few inches deep, then it goes to clay and gravel. The solution is to dig up the good dirt. Dig up the gravel to a depth suitable to a successful vegetable garden. Replace it with good dirt. (photo below)
A photo of the Una garden. The left half of the capital ‘U’ and the upper left quarter of the small ‘n’ have had dirt dug up and removed. The top of the photo is the interesting part. There is a ‘lumpy, lozenge-shaped pile of dirt on top of a pale, almost aqua blue, square. Hard to see, but there is a red wheelbarrow at the right end of this pile of dirt. My gardening is all about the primary colors, apparently, no 64 crayon Crayola set (“Now with built-in sharpener!!) necessary to draw a picture.
2) I will cite health and (mostly) working body parts as Item 2 on the basis of being able to dig up dirt and move it from one place to another place, one of my all-time favorite things to do in life.*
3) * Speaking of Mother’s Day, actually Item 2 totally makes me think of Mothers Day. My love of digging. No, wait! I’m totally serious. I trace my life-long love of digging to a throw-away remark from my mother when I was 5, maybe 6 years old. I still remember the phrase, if not the context, ‘Clark never be ashamed of honest work. Even if you’re only digging ditches for a living, it’s something to be proud of.” And, to this day, I derive pleasure from the act of digging, not simply what the digging produces. So my compliment-in-a-question to those readers who have children is, ‘Given my example of the power of a mother (or father) in shaping a child’s mind, how do you work up the nerve to say or do anything with very young children?!!’ (My customary joke with the digging story is, ‘Why couldn’t she have said, “..even if you’re only driving around in an Aston Martin full of movie starlets, it’s something to be proud of.”
4) Chapter 8 of ‘Home and Heart‘ is on the shelf. I’m trying to get myself back to the once-a-week, Sunday Night publishing schedule. Hoping to get that re-established this weekend.
5) the Wakefield Doctrine (the theory of clarks, scotts and rogers) a perennial Item on our TToT posts, the Doctrine is both useful and amusing. A wish for many of us from the moment we stepped off the school bus for First Grade. Anyway, this past week, I was driving around, (seen Item 6) and talking to Phyllis, (see Item 8) and something came up in the conversation about ‘the three jobs’ (as defined in the Wakefield Doctrine). They are: Salesman, Scientist and Machine Operator. All jobs, professions, vocations, avocations and hobbies can not only be characterized as one of these three, but, as with so much of the Doctrine, links and associations between traits of the three personality types offer a very helpful perspective on the behavior of the people in our lives. (Hint1: the underlying principle of the Wakefield Doctrine is that our ‘personality type’ informs us of the relationship between (us) and the world around us. Hint2: scotts are Salesmen, clarks are Scientists and rogers are Machine Operator). Just in case Hint2 is not sufficiently intriguing, consider this: the definition of Machine Operator includes symphony orchestra musicians. No, really!
6) I am very grateful that the work I do allows me to drive around, and, if the need or desire strikes, talk on the phone while doing so.
7) Thanks to zoe for the photo of Skip on the landing page of the post (one of my favorite dog photos) (A most excellent doggie)
8)
Phyllis and a (very) young Ola This photo is from, like, 1991. Phyllis is sitting cross-legged on the carpeted floor which is a grayish color. She is wearing khaki pants and a white blouse with purple stripes forming large squares. Sitting in front of Phyllis is Ola, a German Shepherd puppy. She is kinda sprawled (Ola, not Phyllis) Leaning against Phyllis’s folded legs, she has a toy mouse in her mouth (Ola, not Phyllis) and is totally staring at the camera. Her ears are up (which is unusual, as German Shepherds take 18 months to have their ears mature enough to stand up). Ola is probably not yet a year old and her colorings are mostly black, with beige front legs and some lightness around her eyes. The inside of her ’rounded triangular’ ears is pink enough to see in the photo.
9) Yeah, I’m totally sure I’ll see something cool tomorrow, be sure to come back!
10) Secret Rule 1.3 ( as cited from the Book of Secret Rules, (aka the Secret Book of Rules), ‘the act and fact of the completion of, in liming as you complete Item 9, the gratitude felt upon this stage of completion may serve as its own Item.’ It is customary to place SR 1.3 in the number 10 spot, but, there is a body of thought that would propose that provided the writer could produce convincing and compelling evidence of the (future) completion of the list, they could put it any damn place they wanted. (lol)
About clarkscottroger
Frist
And I cannot wait to see the Una garden in bloom!
Frist it is
Watching someone who really knows how to work some machines is poetry in motion, as much art as skill. Nice list!
good insight, and with (some) musicians, there is an incredible talent for technique and, (especially with classical music) the parts/notes are there, it’s a question of the skill to play them
what a nice mother’s day post – thank you.
yw
This was a totally awesome post! I bow in deference to your remarkable talents at photo description. I tend to struggle to come up with “there’s a round cake on the plate”. Try it folks, it’s harder than it seems! :-) Speaking of the luscious pineapple upside down cake… is it as delicious as it looks?
I am enjoying the Una garden in progress, something so simple, yet so cool! And again, a lot more work is involved in the preparing and planting than one might think. I had to smile at your wish that your mom might have used another autosuggestion in relaying an important piece of wisdom! Let’s face it, digging in the dirt is fun at any age! Hauling the dirt, maybe not so much fun, it’s heavy, but it feels good to see progress! And it is a true thankful to realize that you are able to do this without a great deal of paying for it the next day.
Love, love your photo of Phyllis and Ola-the one with mouse in mouth, LOL! I am ever thankful for your marvelous sense of humor!
You have much to be proud of with your continued success in producing chapters for your latest tale. The fact that you can do it so well week after week, is impressive… and it’s truly good stuff!!
You are blessed to have a job that permits you to drive around in such beautiful surroundings, and also to schedule work to best fit both business and personal needs.
I smiled at the career perceptions for the infamous Wakefield Doctrine trio, makes perfect sense. And of course I saw myself in the role to which I am well suited.
Carry on, Clark, and have an awesome Sunday, I’ll be back in a day or so to see what you came up with for #9. #10 is a solid win for a wrap up! :-)
thank you, Josie
I’m enjoying the challenge (of writing descriptions of photos)… what a concept, which, I think I already wrote here, it is what all of us who enjoy writing are trying to do, describe things. and people. and place. and concepts lol
the Garden is useful in reminding me that I totally need to get more exercise! fortunately the digging and subsequent wheelbarrowing to a section of the woods where I will dump the gravel should provide a workout of a variety of muscles and such.
‘Home and Heart’ is fun and challenging in a way different from Almira. Cynthia and Denise and I were talking about it last night, the role of plot and the role of character in writing. The first Sister Margaret Ryan book I had the plot but none of the characters. With ‘Home and Heart’ I have the characters but not nearly as much an understanding of the plot. lol I will be tested in my belief that writing is about coming to know the characters so that I am able to hear the story they would tell me.
Before I comment fully, just want to say Phyllis looks 12 years old in the photo with Ola. (Rob the cradle much). Haha. I know Clarks are younger in mind and mostly body than others of a different worldview. (See how I pay attention). NB: Tim is a couple + years younger than I. I loved Chapter 8 – one of your best. I love the update on the garden. #9 is a thing of thankful in itself, from my worldview. See you in the week.
yeah, I know! Thanks for the comment over at the Jukepop I think I’m on the trail of the story, and things will get moving along.
A very interesting post , Clark. Your Mother’s remark on dignity of labour is a wonderful lesson for a child . Love the pic of Phyllis ( your wife? ) and Ola . The pineapple cake looks delicious 😊
yes that’s Phyllis and Ola…from a seemingly such a long time ago, yet I can remember it like it was yesterday.
Now I am craving pineapple upside down cake. I may have to make one tomorrow to keep myself from becoming cranky for wanting.
can’t claim credit for (the) cake… from a photo on line. But thats been the nature of my practice of the TToT lol…. can’t remember how pineapple upside down cake got in my head… but that’s the way I write most of my TToTs
I love how you describe that cake Clark, including the cherry red cherries.
Haha, ah…a primary colours garden. Love it.
starting the primary digging yesterday. I am happy to report that I am not getting old…. I’m simply getting better at getting a workout! It used to take hours before I felt I’d gotten a good amount of exercise from things like digging up the impermeable layers of clay and gravel that lies just a few inches below the surface. I managed to feel that way yesterday in a much shorter time!
lol
So, where I am at this stage: dig out the soil between 3 inches and 18 inches down, then replace it with loam and decent-for-growing-things- soil.
Hopefully planting of plants can begin by the weekend.
I love your very detailed descriptions under the photos you share. If I were to lose my sight, hearing someone read those descriptions would help me to see. That pineapple upside down cake looks delicious.
Our son had a fascination for digging and using a hose with the water turned on of course. As a preschooler, he had a knack for changing the landscape of our shrub beds.
Congratulations for getting Chapter 8 on the shelf.