The Fence Post

An imagined world and other tales

I walked through my garden this morning, my puppy at my heels, and I savored the beauty of the blooming rhododendrons, the Johnny Jump-ups, and the wild geranium. Every year, the garden grows bigger and more beautiful, and so does my imagination.

As I write this, I can see the dragonflies flitting to and fro; I imagine they’re catching bugs for dinner in flight. I see my chocolate vine trailing over the rock wall and imagine the blooms I’ll enjoy later. The hydrangeas have abundant leaves this year, and my hope springs eternal. Life. Life begetting life brings the desire for eternity with it.

And then I spot the weeds. They are every bit as abundant as the wanted and cherished plants. They often rise higher with more pride as if to say, Hahaha, look at me!

This garden I inherited from the previous owners is big! It's massive, actually, as far as tending to it. Then I looked further and saw how the ferns encroached on every border. That’s when I started to imagine. Oh..if only I could imagine the weeds away! How glorious that would be. I’ve heard silly nonsense that we wouldn’t appreciate beauty without the ugly or the chore. I totally disagree with that. We were created out of beauty; therefore, we are beautiful and recognize beauty.

My imagination goes further. I imagine the fence I long to have around my raspberries and strawberries to keep the deer from munching them to the ground. Imagination is the first and essential step in creating. I am imagining a beautiful fence with an arch over the gate and clematis climbing the arch—perhaps a stone arch, but maybe a wooden or metal arch.

I once visited an inn on the island of Vinylhaven, Maine. It was magnificent, made from the local granite by a local stone cutter. Peegee hydrangeas in full bloom framed it on either side. I fell in love. Beauty has that effect.

Now as you know I sell fences, so I’d like you to start imagining your fence and perhaps add an arch over your gate. Protect your crops. Protect your flowers. Fences have that effect.

Head to Louis Page to pick out your fence, or call our wonderful fence expert, Terry. 978-486-3116. (Tap to Call) She will not disappoint!

All my best,

Debbie Page

CEO, Louis E. Page Inc–Woman-owned business and Family-owned since 1893. (It adds up to over 131 years owned and run by our family. Think about it: Nobody stays around in business that long without really supporting customers so they want to come back!)

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Ready to explore your options? Call Terry today to discuss your next project and discover how we can help. T2C

Kind Regards,

Debbie Page

CEO, Louis E. Page Inc–Woman-owned business and Family-owned since 1893. (131 years of continuous service through 2 world wars and 2 pandemics)

Are you drinking the Kool-Aid?

I’m an entrepreneur at heart and have been for as long as I can remember. I was forever finding ways to get my siblings to pay me—”I’ll wash the dishes for you for 50 cents.”

By the time I was 12, I was earning my own spending money by babysitting. I was making 50 cents an hour and thought I was rich! I was. Before this, I had no money to call my own as our parents didn’t give us an allowance. I remember the summer I made $50! Woohoo!

One summer, when I was old enough to know better, I mixed up a half gallon of Kool-Aid, grabbed six plastic cups, and put it all into a wooden crate. Off I went to the new development behind us, where they were building the houses. I stopped at the first house and asked the workers if they wanted a glass of Kool-Aid. It was a hot summer day in Greenville, South Carolina, so everyone said, “Yes!”

People didn’t carry water bottles with them or colas as they only came in glass bottles, so getting something cold and sweet to drink delighted them. They paid me 5 cents a cup!

I trotted on to the next house, not washing the cups in between. They all bought from me! I went on and on through the neighborhood, from house to house. My memory tells me every single worker bought from me. By the time I got home, I had earned a dollar and a half. And I had made some hot, thirsty construction workers happy!

Isn’t that what it’s all about? Making others happy by serving them? Whether in our families, jobs, or companies, we strive to please others and make their lives better.

I received a delightful email from a customer today. He’s a monk. He asked me how he could pray for me and the company. What a beautiful question. It warmed my heart and delighted my soul.

As I go through my day, when the names of family, friends, or customers come to mind, I pray for them to have a blessed and peaceful day. The funny thing is, after I’ve thought about a customer, we’ll get a phone call or email from them. I’ve seen this happen over and over again through the years. Sometimes, it’s a fence customer who has not called in a year!

When you think about us, call or email us, even if you don’t need to buy anything. We love serving and hearing from you!

Call the BEST fence expert in the world, Terry, and say Happy Anniversary! She’s celebrating 24 years at Louis Page! T2C

Kind Regards,

Debbie Page

CEO, Louis E. Page Inc–Woman-owned business and Family-owned since 1893. (It adds up to over 131 years owned and run by our family. Think about it: Nobody stays around in business that long without really supporting customers so they want to come back!)

One and eight, the call of infinity

Sitting on the lake house porch within feet of the water’s edge brings innumerable joys. This morning did not disappoint.

First was the call of a single loon almost right beside me. From the other side of the point I heard a loon return the call. Within the minute eight loons swam around the point and into the small swimming bay where the single loon was. One and eight. I don't study numerology, but a good friend of mine does. She was quick to point out the meanings of the numbers one and eight.

One stands for unity. Eight stands for infinity.

I looked up to see an eagle flying low and close. It landed on the tallest tree on the tiny island that separates our swimming bay from the open water.

Then, to my utter surprise, the mergansers ( large sea ducks) paddled in and climbed on the rocks Duncan's mother had named when she was coming to the lake cottage as a child--Big Turtle and Little Turtle. As they settled, I counted. 21 mergansers in the swimming bay!

What a day for wildlife. I'm quite sure I've never seen so many of God's creatures in the bay at one time.

I love the freedom of these wild creatures on the lake. They seem undisturbed. Though the nephew saw the eagle swoop down and carry off a duckling early summer. Life eating life. It's both unity and infinity.

I hope you have the freedom and opportunity to see unfenced wild creatures or you visit zoos.

My friend recently returned from an African photographic safari where the animals roam wild--no fences-- sometimes in unity and sometimes in infinity, or so it appears.

For your domestic animals though, you need a fence! Call Terry T2C to help you make your fence selection. She is ready to help!

Grab your camera and plan a trip to a zoo, a wildlife park, or head to Africa for a safari.

All my best regards in gratitude,

Debbie Page

CEO, Louis E. Page Inc–Woman-owned business and Family-owned since 1893. (That’s right! A little more than 131 years ago our family ancestor Louis Everett Page founded the company in Boston)

Deviled eggs, forest moss, and chocolate bunnies

What a glorious Easter we had. It was warm enough in the sun to sit a spell on the deck with Ramona soaking up the rays. I do believe these are the first warm rays to hit my house since last October! Yes, winter in New Hampshire is longer than I prefer.

Deviled eggs are a must on a southern table. Yes, I live in New Hampshire, but I’m a Southern girl and not letting go of some of my childhood traditions. An unexpected and pleasant visit from the three and five-year-old grandchildren meant I had helpers in the kitchen--very involved helpers!

Aprons donned, we proceeded to make the deviled eggs. I used the Instant Pot to boil the eggs, which were the easiest to peel. We made mayonnaise using walnut oil, and it was delicious. While filling the eggs, the little guy happily ate mayo spoonfuls! Life in the kitchen with little ones. Always an adventure!

Remember that I found the missing two leaves? I think I told you about that. But the challenge was getting the table to open fully. Daniel, Rachel, and I pulled and pulled to no avail until Daniel realized a slight adjustment the previous owner had made was rendering it impossible. Once he corrected that, the table opened easily! Woohoo! It was a dream come true for me.

Now for setting the table and gathering the necessary chairs. The day was ending, and I still needed to gather moss for the centerpieces. Using a full-size baking sheet, I plodded up the muddy hill before cutting into the woods to hunt for moss. My woods are full of luscious moss, so I needn’t go far. The moss I was after grows on rotting logs and stumps and easily lifts off its growing medium. Before long, I had a stack of moss about 12 inches high.

Back in the kitchen, I arranged the moss on four smaller cookie sheets, gently placing it so that it overhung the edges. Much to my dismay, my granddaughter had previously filled a basket with Princess Pine!

Since I had it, I used it to create little forest floors on the sheet pans. Then, I arranged bird nests with little birds and speckled eggs. I stood back, admired my table arrangements, and felt deeply satisfied. Placements, cloth napkins tied with ribbons, wrought iron candle sticks, and two beautiful and ornate beeswax egg-shaped candles. Beautiful pink and white hyacinths draping over the vase created a lovely effect in the center of the table. Complete!

With all 17 people seated around the table, Ramona commented how beautiful it was to see all these young families enjoying the food and the company. There was lots of chatter and laughter. The huge selection of food delighted everyone’s senses and palates. My little guy was eating brisket as fast as he could shove it in. The four-year-old was delighting in the sweet potatoes to which she had first turned up her nose.

After a brief gastronomic rest, we started with desserts and coffee—carrot cake, banana pudding, figs, and blackberries. The children were thrilled that they could finally eat candy, including Cadbury eggs and chocolate bunnies.

Later, sitting in the living room and glancing over at the long, extended table, I reflected that within the year, life would change. I’ll return the moss to its natural habitat until next year. Our baby will be at the table next year, and the baby due in June will be sitting up and eating by then. Life never stops, not for one second. And we continue to journey on as the world turns, chocolate bunnies always returning to our Easter celebration.

Since we’re talking about bunnies, maybe you’re building rabbit cages or thinking about it. There’s no better time than now. Check out the wire we recommend to our rabbit cage makers. We provide the absolutely best wire for building rabbit cages in the industry. Call Terry now at 978-486-3116.

Warm regards

Debbie Page

CEO, Louis E. Page Inc–Woman-owned business and Family-owned since 1893. (It adds up to 131 years owned and run by our family. Think about it: Nobody stays around in business that long without really supporting customers so they want to come back!)