Saturday

hammock ~

Ever wonder why your mind wanders?  Well I do ~ because it happens to me ALL the time ... almost to the point where sometimes I have to question my sanity!  I swear.  I'm the biggest daydreamer and can lose my train of thought at the drop of a dime.  I can be doing something and right in the middle of it my mind goes off wandering and before I know it I'm off a totally whole new direction.

I'm blaming it on the hammock. 

It either has to be from all the daydreaming I did as a kid in a hammock or from the knocks on the noggin ~ from all the times I fell out of a hammock.

I was surfing the internet ... I came across this photo:


 Well... that got me thinking about hammocks.  I have many fond memories of laying in a hammock, looking at the clouds and tree tops and daydreaming my time away.  We always took a hammock with us when camping to hang between the trees. 

Then my mind goes wandering off to laying in the hammock once down by my Aunt Margie and Uncle Earl's place one time when I was quite young with my Dad.  I must have been around six or seven years old. 

Dad was always teaching us kids about nature.  Always pointing things out to us ~ teaching us to look beyond the obvious.  Well on this particular afternoon I learned the difference between two trees, the Common Poplar and the Balsam Poplar, aka. Balm-Of-Gilead Poplar.  The hammock that we were laying in was tied between a Balm-Of-Gilead Poplar and a Common Poplar.  The perfect set-up for a lesson to given.

~ leaves of the Common Poplar ~

 ~ leaves of the Balm-Of-Gilead Poplar ~

"The Balm-Of-Gilead Poplar", according to my Dad, "wasn't as popular of a poplar as the Common Poplar" in our area.   

Try saying that ten times fast.  

"The Balm-Of-Gilead Poplar wasn't as popular of a poplar as the Common Poplar."
"The Balm-Of-Gilead Poplar wasn't as popular of a poplar as the Common Poplar."
 "The Balm-Of-Gilead Poplar wasn't as popular of a poplar as the Common Poplar."
 "The Balm-Of-Gilead Poplar wasn't as popular of a poplar as the Common Poplar."
"The Balm-Of-Gilead Poplar wasn't as popular of a poplar as the Common Poplar."
 "The Balm-Of-Gilead Poplar wasn't as popular of a poplar as the Common Poplar."
 "The Balm-Of-Gilead Poplar wasn't as popular of a poplar as the Common Poplar."
"The Balm-Of-Gilead Poplar wasn't as popular of a poplar as the Common Poplar."
 "The Balm-Of-Gilead Poplar wasn't as popular of a poplar as the Common Poplar."
 "The Balm-Of-Gilead Poplar wasn't as popular of a poplar as the Common Poplar."

The leaves of the Balm-Of-Gilead were a tad bit larger than the Common Poplar and not as shiney and showy. 

BUT... there was a big difference ~ the smell.  

Ahhhhhh... the sweet smell of the leaves of the Balm-Of-Gilead and the sticky resin on the back of the leaves.  The same resin that was collected way back in biblical times from the Land of Gilead to be made into perfume and a salve or balm for healing.

That is what Dad pointed out to me that day.  

Laying in a hammock.

Until next time ...
So it goes in my neck of the woods.
~mel



14 comments:

  1. Never cared for hammocks but to each his own. I liked something a little more strudy.

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  2. I really enjoy where your mind wanders when you wander to the wonders of youth and share such wonderful memories with us. Your Dad sounds like a darling of a fellow.
    I've never spent more than a few moments in a hammock that I can recall. I always wanted too though. Casually swinging and dreaming in the country air under the poplar or unpopular trees sounds totally delightful to me.
    :)
    Just want to add that I think the hammock under the rock ledge is the epitome of insanity. :/

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  3. we had a hammock that we made out of braided and woven binder twine. when we weren't on it, the barn cats would have a great time running and swinging on it. :)

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  4. Now sweetheart, Seeing that very intelligent person, at least a very nervy person, all I can think of is how in heck do you do it?

    What a great entry. Day dreamers are wonderful, all us day dreamers say that. LOL I love the memory. YOu were very fortunate to have a dad who was so full of knowledge and information, and know how to pass it on.
    Great entry.
    ((HUGS)) stay warm...

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  5. I love my hammock, but I cannot leave it outside or the squirrels will eat it. Found that out through experience. Like the poplar song.

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  6. Well of course your mind is wandering you are dreaming of balmy summer days. May your icicles melt really fast!!!

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  7. I loved the hammock too! I believe we have one of those nylon type ones tucked away in our camping gear. Which takes my mind to memories of all those camping trips we shared.
    Here I go daydreaming again .... thanks!
    'love & hugs from afar'

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  8. Oops, you forgot to mention how 'poplar' our papa was! lol
    'missing you'

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  9. LOL Cher, Yes, our Papa was "POPLAR", he sure would have loved that reference...
    I still have the two canvas hammocks I made and the one gets used every summer strung between the maples by the tire swing...the grands love it.
    Once little Ryele was laying there looking up at the trees and her 5 yr. old (at the time)daydreaming spoke out, "Now, this is the life."
    The other hammock is at the cabin but I need to braid new ropes...the hunters used the originals...hmph..
    Sweet memories Dad always shared. Sure do miss his wisdom.
    BlessYa LovedThisOne

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  10. I haven't laid in a hammock in over 50 years!!Hahaaaa....but I can attest to the fact that they can be Loads of fun!!
    hughugs

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  11. I think you have solved the mystery of this rogue tree that's growing up my trellace. Sure looks to be the "common poplar." The birds brought it's seed in and I tried to cut it back. Would hear nothing of it and only grew back twice as steady. Now it's over 6 ft. high and thriving. I love it....how it's leaves are so dainty and turn yellow/orange in fall and quiver in the wind.

    Also, thanks for the wonderful memories of your "poplar" dad. lol As for daydreaming, I don't see one thing wrong with that. If so, I'm in trouble. lol

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  12. LOL I dont think I could even write that ten times without messing up...thank heavens for cut and paste LOL

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  13. I always wanted a hammock - but never did get one ...

    Pomona x

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  14. Hanging under a cliff in that hammock ... now that doesn't look all that relaxin'. Hanging under a couple of poplars now and learning their differences ... that sounds more like it.

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