The Fence Post

Intriguing, adorable, annoying

Raccoons with their masked eyes and almost humanlike paws are adorable. Can I say that about wild animals? Baby animals are cute, though I have yet to see the young of all mammals. Through the centuries, people have assigned human characteristics to nonhumans, called “anthropomorphism.” We may see animals this way until their behavior proves otherwise.

This was the case with the curious raccoon lurking around Ramona’s tent one night while camping in the White Mountains. At first glance, she thought, “Oh, how adorable.” She was young and naive. She fell back asleep and woke to quite a bit of noise. Peering through the tent door, she watched the raccoon eating her ground beef from the ice chest! Yep, it's not cute anymore!

I thought everyone knew that food must be out of the reach of wild animals, including bears, raccoons, squirrels, and mice. My sister ignored my warnings when she left her cat food in a covered container outside. It only took one night for the raccoon to discover it and eat to its heart’s content. She was at the back glass door locking up when she came face to face, albeit through the glass, with a very full and satisfied raccoon. She was shocked that it had opened the container.

I love wild animals, but I certainly don’t want them damaging my crops or orchards or helping themselves to my animal feed. Fences will do their part, but the rest depends on your common sense.

Are you looking to protect your property from wild beasts? Wire mesh comes in a wide assortment of opening sizes, gauges, heights, and finishes. Louis Page has exactly what you need.

Call Terry, our fence expert. T2C Solve your fencing needs today!

My warmest regards,

Debbie Page

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

The Mystery of the Mesmerized Highland Cattle

In the summer of 2000, Duncan, my cherished late husband, and proprietor of Louis Page, whisked me away on a spellbinding journey to Scotland for our honeymoon.

August draped the Scottish landscape in a cloak of enchantment as we ventured from the east coast and meandered our way north, west, and south, tracing the contours of the breathtaking coastline. It was a time of unparalleled beauty to be in Scotland, with the local children returning to school, leaving behind tranquil sites for us to explore in blissful solitude.

The weather, too, favored our escapade, with bonnie sunshine gracing our every moment, save for a gentle mist that veiled the air on the eve of our departure.

Duncan, renowned for his penchant for unearthing hidden pathways and off-road escapades, delighted me at every turn. We ascended hills, traversed pastures, and followed babbling brooks, our journey punctuated by encounters with quaint cattle-crossing bridges and picturesque scenes.

Each morning, we would visit the local grocer, selecting an array of cheeses and a freshly baked loaf of bread to fill our picnic basket before setting off in search of the authentic pulse of local life.

One particular day has etched itself vividly into my memory. As we wound our way down a narrow, stone-walled lane, the forest enveloped us in a serene embrace, whispering secrets of centuries past.

Suddenly, as if conjured by the very magic of the land, a quaint stone bridge emerged before us, its ancient facade barely wider than a footpath. Below, a gathering of Highland cattle stood in silent communion, their majestic forms forming a perfect circle, their intentions shrouded in mystery.

Parking our car by the roadside, we approached the wire fence that bordered the pasture, drawn by curiosity to unravel the enigma before us.

And then, amidst the tranquil backdrop of nature's symphony, we heard it—the roaring of a chainsaw.

At that moment, the cattle slowly and deliberately stepped back as if to give us a glimpse into the sacred gathering. Our eyes traced the source of the sound to the figure of an old, weathered farmer, his rugged frame silhouetted against the verdant backdrop as he embarked on cutting logs from a felled tree.

Yet, not the farmer nor his labor captivated us, but the solemn congregation of the Highland cattle, their sober gaze fixed upon the unfolding scene. They were in harmony, and neither were bothered by the presence of the other. Cattle and Farmer understood one another.

At that moment, amidst the rustling leaves and murmuring brooks, it felt as though time held its breath, as if the land's very essence had converged to witness the age-old dance between man and nature.

As the old tree yielded to the relentless onslaught of the chainsaw’s biting teeth, falling to the earth repurposed for the cook stove, the Highland cattle stood as silent sentinels, guardians of a timeless bond that transcended the bounds of comprehension.

In the hallowed embrace of Scotland's ancient landscape, Duncan and I shared a fleeting glimpse into the ineffable harmony between humankind and the natural world—a harmony woven into the fabric of existence, echoing across the ages in whispers carried on the wind.

Although our journey may have ended, the memories we forged amidst Scotland's rolling hills and misty moors would endure, forever etched upon the tapestry of our hearts.

Did you notice mention of “the wire fence that bordered the pasture” above? That wise old farmer was not so entranced by the romance of his surroundings that he neglected to protect his herd.

And neither will you. Order yours from my website. There's a sale on - worth a peek to see if what you want can be scooped up: https://louispage.com

Debbie Page

CEO, Louis E. Page Inc–Woman-owned business and Family-owned since 1893. (Sigh! Notice how fast businesses and management can collapse these days? Better you deal with a business under family management that’s stood the test of time… 130 years!)

The prancing predator

He was too busy dancing around the hen house to notice the intruder. When he came face to face with Daniel, the fox was too stunned to dart away. That pesky, sly fox was back again. He’s already eaten 15 hens! It didn’t take long for him to realize he was up against something more significant than him.

The hen house or pen is brand new this time, and the fox can’t get in. Daniel came up with a new plan, and it’s working! The entire coop is made of hoop posts, like a high tunnel. He built a high tunnel for the chickens and covered it with black vinyl-coated hexagonal netting. It’s pretty lovely, and as I said, it works!

I like having the chickens enclosed in the netting. That way, the children can feed them through the openings without fear of getting zapped by an electric fence. The baby is enthralled with these creatures. We sat outside the pen for a while, listening to the high-pitched chirps and trills.

I love watching these children grow up with cows and chickens on a farm. Who knows what else the family will add to their menagerie? They are talking about hogs. I’m talking about horses. Every child needs an old horse to play with on a farm.

Do you want to raise hens for eggs and roosters for meat? Take a cue from Daniel. This hoop tunnel works much better than an electric fence for keeping out predators.

Call Terry at 978-486-3116. T2C Let her help you decide which wire mesh you need.

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!)

It’s a three-day blow

I’m sitting at my makeshift desk at the lake. I had planned to leave last night, but the pull of gorgeous June weather made me change my mind. It was a wee bit chilly at 5:30 a.m., and I was glad for the extra comforter. Yesterday being rainy all day, I fired up the wood stove. My brother, sitting outside in Alabama yesterday, announced it was 93 degrees. Today is warmer and dry, but the wind is just below the level of whipping up white caps.

Duncan taught me about the three-day blow on this New Hampshire lake. I had never witnessed that at home, but a large lake can generate its own weather. So, here I am in a three-day blow. But which day is it? Saturday had strong winds; yesterday, it was hard to judge because of the rain. I’ll find out tomorrow if this is day three or one.

While Duncan was still roaming this beautiful earth with me, we’d head out hiking when it was super windy. Though we both loved sailing, we weren’t interested in having to work that hard to harness the wind—we were fair-weather sailors. I miss him and our wooden sailboat. I have a great deal to learn to sail well as a solo. I keep saying I will take a sailing course at the Wooden Boat School in Maine. Yep, one of these days.

One of these days, maybe you’ll decide it’s time to put in that much-needed fence. Dream up that project until you get emotionally involved. Go window shopping at https://louispage.com You can see it! You can cherish it! You want it! That emotional involvement will help you feel invested and motivate you to get cracking.

Need more motivation or help with the choice of materials? Call Terry. She’s an expert at sourcing the materials. 978-486-3116. (Tap to Call)

Choose motivation over procrastination! You’ll be glad you did.

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)

Color and magnificence in every entrance

The doors of Toulouse are grand and magnificent and colorful. I'm snapping photos right and left.

The rues of Toulouse span out from le Capitole. It's almost a maze of these old historic cobblestone streets spoking off from the large plaza where the capitol building stands.

Some of the doors are quite tall and wide, obviously reminiscent of the carriage doors that allowed for tall, stately horse-pulled carriages. How I long to live in those days. My son is quick to point out the smells that accompanied those days!

The French are fond of wrought iron and being one of my favorite things, I'm drawn to it like bees to nectar. These grand doors often have panels of wrought iron, which magnify the beauty while adding visualization into the courtyard and out to the rue. I'm trying hard to envision the original courtyards.

The colors I've seen: many hues of blue from the French blue to royal blue, greens, reds, yellow, brown, black, grey. They truly delight the senses.

Many doors appear to have their original knockers and handles. I plan to create a webpage with my pictures. I'll keep you posted.

Back to wrought iron, all of the security fences I've seen are iron or wrought iron and they're glorious. Of course, they offer utmost security. I love security and beauty combined.

We now offer security fencing made of aluminum and steel. Keep your property and your clients’ property safe from intruders!

I am looking for a source for wrought iron in the States. Let's bring this beauty back!

Bonjour!

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)