Welcome to the Wakefield Doctrine (the theory of clark, scotts and rogers)

Despite our temporary hiatus, the force of habit developed over five years or so is not to be ignored.

A normal person, confronting the tie-loosening, laid-backedness that is quite common in workplaces, classrooms and most public areas could be forgiven for suggesting, “It’s not an official Ten Things of Thankful bloghop so you can write anything you want, throw your hair to the wind, let your tie down… go crazy.” We would smile and, if in a somewhat charitable mood, reply, “What a great idea. Merry Christmas and yo ho ho!”

But lets get pictorial on this post.

Both Phyllis and Una are TToT Post emerita and surely need no introduction. Phyllis has a talent for the exercise of what is sometimes referred to as whimsical gratitude. Which is a good thing for me, especially at this time of year.

Example: we use a moderate amount of firewood, mostly for special effects. The wood stove has a glass door, more efficient than a fireplace, still attractive in the paleo-security sense. We have a guy for the wood. He’s a scott. His thing is that he kiln dries the wood. This has the effect of making for a fairly effortless fire. This is important because, as I’ve implied, we have a fire in the stove maybe twice a week during the season. In any event, the supply was approaching the replenish level at the end of last summer. Bob, our scottian fire chandler doesn’t like being predictable. So the way it works is, I call and say, ‘Hey Bob! I need a half a cord of kiln-dried wood.’ He says, “Yeah, why the *&$^ not? Don’t know when I can get there… real busy, ya know? Send me an email.” So I did. Last September.

In the meantime I finished constructing my firewood stack base thingie. The rectangle with beach rocks and sand contained by 4×4 lumber?  Looked kinda like a kitty litter box for giant, zen cats*. In any event I finished this week. Put a top layer of white marble chips (accidentally erased the photos…lol) and it was ready for Phyllis to stack wood.

No wood.

Yesterday, out of nearly nowhere, Bob showed up with the wood. Phyllis was out at the time. When she got home this is what she did:

Like I said, gratitude with a touch of whimsy.**

And, the stacking?

Mimi and Denise are, I believe, in TToT-mode more traditionally that we are here at the Doctrine. You should stop over at messymimi’s meanderings and GirlieontheEdge. tell ’em the Doctrine sent ya.

* photo:

** whimsy, (according to dictionary.com)

2. an odd or fanciful notion.
3. anything odd or fanciful; a product of playful or capricious fancy