The Fence Post

It fried my hair!

During my days working in labor and delivery, I watched one story after another unfold—stories full of humor, delight, and sometimes surprise.

One such surprise happened to me. In labor and delivery, anesthesiologists are essential members of the team. They put in epidurals for pain relief and administer anesthesia for C-sections. Everybody loves the anesthesiologist!

At least two anesthesia carts on the unit were always plugged in until needed. One day, as I was plugging the cart back in, I got a tremendous electrical shock. It just so happened that I had gotten a perm in my hair the day before, leaving it huge, curly, and teetering on ridiculous. Oh, yes, it had brought lots of feedback. My ego wasn’t so big that I minded. We got lots of laughs out of it.

Well, back to the electrical shock. I called the hospital's mechanical department to report the shock, and they came almost immediately to check it out. He found the problem and proceeded to fix it. Now, I’m one for conversation, and I have never met a stranger, so I started a friendly conversation while he was working. I asked him to look at my hair, which he did. Then, I told him that my hair was straight before the shock. His jaw dropped; his eyes got big as saucers, and he exclaimed, “Oh, no!”

Okay, I don’t remember if I ever told him the truth. Oh, those youthful jokes that are lies. I do know that I didn’t tell him that day. As I told the story to my nursing colleagues, everyone roared. We were all sure he couldn’t wait to get back to the guys and tell them what had happened to that nurse in labor and delivery. Once, she had straight hair, and now it’s frizzed with curls to the max!

And if my hair looked wild that day, you should have seen it after a night of dancing on a hot Atlanta night. My friends who were with me that night still laugh about it. Bill asked Lisa after the dance, “What happened to Debbie’s hair??!!??

I don’t think this has anything to do with fencing. If it does, I’ll leave it up to my readers’ imagination to make the connection. I’m sure I’ll hear from someone with a brilliant connection. Let the comments come.

Fall is a fabulous time for fencing projects. Get yours started now! On September 4th, our fence expert, Terry, will have worked for Louis Page for 24 years. Call her at 978-486-3116.

All my best regards,

Debbie Page

CEO, Louis E. Page Inc–Woman-owned business and Family-owned since 1893. (So 131 years ago our family ancestor Louis E. founded the company)

The dog trot and Gooseberry Knob

One my favorite places on earth(not that I've traveled that much) is a small, rustic country inn tucked into the Smokey Mountains. The property abuts the Smokey Mountains National Park.

I call it my happy place. I want to live there. Though not even this inn could drag me away from my precious grandchildren.

I'll create my own happy place where I am planted. Where I live really is a marvelous and wonderful place, but, alas, I don't have a private chef. And I can't walk out my door, through the opening of the fence dividing the two properties, and step into the Smokey Mountains National Forest.

So, what's so special about this inn? The views of the mountains are breathtaking. The wide porch with rocking chairs is inviting and relaxing. The food is fabulous: breakfast and dinner served and lunch is provided via brown paper bag for hikers or picnic baskets for lovers.

On Wednesdays and Saturdays, picnics are served on Gooseberry Knob. Good ol’ fried chicken and deviled eggs, burgers, salads, seasonal desserts. Oh my goodness, be still my heart.

The dog trot is the open air passage way between the dining hall and the lodge. As you step into the dog trot you immediately see the mountain range with its smokey blue colors and the sunset in the evening. Every morning, fresh flowers, ferns, and mosses are arranged in an old wooden dough bowl. Snap! Snap! I took tremendous inspiration from the creative arrangements.

One thing I noticed was even though you are in wide-open spaces, until you step into the forest, fences were present to show boundaries. They didn't curtail the views and didn't feel intrusive. Instead, they gave a subtle sense of belonging.

I love this about fences: a subtle sense of belonging. Fences can be beautiful as they fade into the background and still allow you to see through them..

We have some exciting projects going on with our customers right now. Join the bandwagon and get that project started!

Call Terry.

All my best regards,

Debbie Page

CEO, Louis E. Page Inc–Woman-owned business and Family-owned since 1893. (So 131 years ago our family ancestor Louis E. founded the company)

Through the eyes of the fence

In my small, quiet town in New Hampshire, we have a sweet preschool. Every time I frequent the Post Office, I see and hear the children’s voices in their play yard.

My grandchildren and I often walk over to the wooden slat fence and watch the children busy playing with dirt, trees, and forts. I love seeing those little faces peering through the openings to the outside world where I stand with my little ones who are peering right back through the fence.

Three of us are fenced out, and a dozen or so are fenced in. Both have their purposes and benefits. I once heard an interview about the importance of having boundaries for children. The guest discussed various studies that showed that children who know their boundaries feel more secure and are more likely to be creative in their play.

Boundaries do not necessarily mean fences, as teaching children that certain things are off-limits, unsafe, or not allowed teaches them to respect guidance with humility. Growing up, we had a post-and-rail fence separating our backyard from the forest that lay beyond. While we were little preschool children, we knew the fence was our boundary, but as we grew older, we began to explore the woods full of hardwood trees, and then, as we ventured further, we played in the pine forest.

It was so reassuring to return to the fence, thus in sight of the house and within reach of our mother’s voice after a long day's play. I look out over my yard today, and I have a stone wall that separates me from the forest above. The puppy loves running along the wall as if it provides security for its boundary. This many years later, I still feel safe and secure when I return from my forest walk and see the stone wall again: ahh..home.

What boundaries do you have or want to have on your property? Creating your boundaries will give you peace of mind, be it a stone wall, a picket fence, or wire mesh panels. A way to say, “This is my home, my orchard, my sheep pasture.”

Deer fencing is a great choice for gardens and orchards. Our deer fencing comes in different materials and finishes and in many sizes and heights. If you are looking for the simplest way to fence out deer, consider using Tenax plastic netting. It’s super easy to install and will last for years. Because it’s black, it practically disappears into the background, not blocking your view.

Warm regards,

Debbie Page

CEO, Louis E. Page Inc–Woman-owned business and Family-owned since 1893. (Without question, that is 131 years owned and run by our family!)

Toddling our way up and down through life

I’ve had the absolute joy of watching my one-year-old granddaughter learn to walk over the past few weeks. It’s been a source of endless entertainment—and inspiration. She toddlers along, full of determination, only to stumble, fall, and—without a second thought—get right back up again. What’s truly amazing? By the time she’s back on her feet, she’s forgotten she even fell.

No complaints, no whining—just pure focus on moving forward.

It got me thinking about a famous quote from Thomas Edison. When asked how it felt to fail 10,000 times before inventing the light bulb, he said, “I haven’t failed 10,000 times. I’ve found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Edison, like my granddaughter, didn’t see his falls as failures—just as part of the process. He kept getting back up.

Watching her, I realized how much we can all learn from that simple act. Whether it’s in life, business, or building fences, we all stumble. But it’s how we get back up that makes all the difference. Like my granddaughter, we should embrace every fall as a stepping stone toward success.

This applies to fencing projects, too. Maybe you’ve tried a fence that didn’t quite hold up—whether it’s keeping an adventurous pup (like my Phoebe) inside or protecting your garden from the local wildlife. But just like Edison, you haven’t failed; you’ve just found one way that didn’t work. And at Louis Page, we’re here to help you find the solution that does work.

Our high-quality, durable fencing materials—sourced from the U.S., Italy, and China—are built to withstand whatever life (or animals!) throws your way. So whether you’re securing your yard or protecting your crops, we’ve got a fencing solution that will stand the test of time.

Got a story of perseverance, or need help with your next project? I’d love to hear it! Drop me a line at debbie@louispage.com, and let’s keep standing back up, one fence post at a time.

Terry is always ready to take your call. Call her now at 978-486-3116. You’ll make her smile.

Wishing you a day full of resilience, joy, and standing tall!

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)

Making It Real Down On The Farm

Back in the day, in the early 70s, my best friend had grown up on a dairy farm in Georgia. I first met Betty in 1972 when we started nursing school in Atlanta–good old Georgia Baptist Hospital School of Nursing. I took many trips down to the farm with Betty. What an eye-opener for this suburban girl accustomed to dresses and bows.

One of my most memorable moments was when we were hanging around the cows. Betty’s big old teddy bear of a dad called out to ask if I wanted fresh milk. He didn’t call it raw, just fresh. Inside the tank room, he put a glass under the spigot on the milk holding tank and filled it with fresh, 32-degree milk. It was the best milk I had ever tasted, even today.

Raw milk is making a comeback these days because of the enormous benefits of drinking non-pasteurized, non-homogenized milk. Oh, there’s plenty of information warning you against raw milk, but it’s what human beings have consumed for most of our existence on this earth. I

In cultures where people still follow their ancestral diets, they never pasteurize or homogenize milk. However, they ferment it and consume it in forms like yogurt, kefir, cultured butter, and sour cream.

If you want to learn more about groups of people still eating their ancestral diets, look up Mary Ruddick. She is terrific and continues to study these people around the world. They are the healthiest people in the world--no diseases!

Living in New Hampshire, it’s legal to sell raw milk, even in the grocery stores, though I’ve never seen it in the large chain stores. I buy it at the little grocery store down the street.

This past week, I made yogurt from raw milk. I used my Instant Pot, which I love for many things, and let it ferment and set up for 24 hours. Anxiously, I put my spoon into the mixture, which was quite runny, and took my first mouthful. I wasn’t so sure about the taste.

Nevertheless I put it into jars and refrigerated it. Once chilled, the flavor was delicious. I plan to hang it in cheesecloth to drain the whey, as I prefer a thicker yogurt.

There is such a connection between life and the earth when we make our foods at home.

For those considering homesteading and contemplating cow ownership, look no further! We offer comprehensive fencing solutions tailored to your needs, ensuring the safety and security of your livestock. Https://louispage.com

Warm regards,

Debbie Page

CEO, Louis E. Page Inc–Woman-owned business and Family-owned since 1893. (True: That’s 131 years now, owned and run by our family)