The Fence Post

Pass the Skewer and Dangle the Dog

Jerry and Ramona wanted me to come over and enjoy their fire pit this summer. They like to roast marshmallows for s’mores, but this didn't appeal to me since I don’t eat sugar. I called her up recently and suggested we roast hotdogs on their firepit. She was thrilled.

A Hilarious Hotdog Roast

I cooked some fabulous “hotdog” chili, as we called it in the South, made coleslaw, bought my favorite hotdogs and buns, and headed over for an evening of outdoor roasting. Their friend Bill came as well. The guys headed to the fire pit and got a nice fire blazing.

Ramona and I joined them with a tray of dogs to roast. Ramona ran back into the kitchen to grab the skewers. When she reappeared on the scene, I burst out laughing.

“Ramona, those are your skewers?” I exclaimed, looking at tiny metal 10” skewers. “Is this what you normally use?”

“We’ve never roasted hotdogs,” she replied.

“What? I thought you had been roasting all summer.”

“Only marshmallows,” she sighed.

“How will we keep from getting our hands burned with such short metal skewers without handles? Oh, my word,” I declared.

Jerry and Bill were laughing, but Ramona didn’t seem to understand the dilemma. Jerry attempted to explain it to her, but it really didn’t sink in at first.

Always wanting to make the best of a situation, I speared a dog and tried to hold it over the hot coals. I couldn’t get it close enough to cook it. Jerry excused himself to find an alternative. Meanwhile, I looked over and saw Bill was dangling his dog vertically over the coals. I followed suit. Ramona returned, and now she began laughing.

Jerry, a fine woodworker of furniture, rejoined us with narrow pieces of wood about 20” long. His idea was to thread the wood through the eye of the skewer to lengthen the skewer. Bill and Jerry managed to do that, but every time I tried, the blasted skewers with the hotdog rotated upside down. I’m having difficulty painting the ludicrous picture of what was happening. I was laughing so hard. Ultimately, I dangled my hotdog vertically and got a bit of a char on it.

We decided to head indoors to eat.

“Ramona, are you having a chili slaw dawg or a nekkid dawg?” I asked with a smirk.

“What in the world are you talking about?” she inquired.

A Legendary Hotdog Story

In the little town of Lincolnton, North Carolina, there is a famous cafe on the square across from the Lincoln County Courthouse called City Lunch. They serve good ole country cookin, including hotdogs. I’ve been told they sometimes sell upwards of 10,000 hotdogs in a day when supplying a fair or rally. When you order your hotdog, it comes with mustard, onions, chili, and slaw. If you want none of that, you order a naked (nekkid) dog. It’s a family tradition to order these chili slaw dogs whenever I'm in town.

They only take cash, and they don’t have an ATM. A reputable source told me that the late owner, a delightful and friendly woman, Lynette Greer, took the cash home each night. By her death, she had a million dollars in cash in “safe” keeping. Urban legend? I don’t know.

I hope she had a tall security fence, a burglar system, and a fireproof safe for all her money!

Though she dressed simply and didn’t wear makeup, she was a smart, savvy woman and always had a smile for you. She made a fortune selling her hotdogs—the diner still serves up an average of 700 a day, and they fry chicken the old-fashioned way in a cast iron skillet every Thursday.

Fencing Solutions

What do you need to protect from the outside world? Hopefully, you aren’t keeping a million dollars of cash in your house! However, I hope you have a million dollars if that’s your dream. Fences will keep your children and your dogs in and keep the deer and foxes out.

Call Terry today! (Tap to Call) She’s waiting to hear from you!

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.)

P.S. Let’s keep your property safe and secure with the right fencing!

Silencing the Noise in the Woods

Friends Jerry and Ramona used to do a great deal of camping with friends in Texas. Then, along came another friend. It took this friend Dave coming along, to cause a significant shift in the sleeping arrangements.

A Night in the Woods

They arrived by noon that Autumn day, unpacked the car, and set up camp. Then, off to the lake for kayaking. They had a merry afternoon exploring the lake’s nooks and crannies. Once back at camp, they began preparations for a simple chili and cornbread dinner. Everyone was ready for sleep after a few rounds of songs by the campfire. Ahh… falling asleep to the sound of crickets is delightful.

And then it happened. A noise so loud it awakened and scared Ramona. “What is that noise?” she declared to her sleeping husband.

“I don’t know,” uttered a sleepy Jerry.

“Well, get up and find out!” demanded Ramona.

Jerry got to his feet and poked his head outside the tent. The noise was coming from the tent next door. Puzzled, he walked over and tapped on the tent. No answer. He tapped harder. No answer. Then he called out Dave’s name. Finally, the zippered door opened, and out stepped Dave.

“What’s the matter, Jerry?” asked a bewildered Dave.

“What’s that noise in your tent?” asked Jerry.

“A generator,” replied Dave.

“A generator? Why, on earth, are you using a generator?” quizzed Jerry.

“To power my CPAP machine,” Dave responded. (CPAP: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, treats sleep-related breathing disorders including sleep apnea)

Jerry returned to his tent and wife and gave her the information she had wanted. “Now, go back to sleep, Ramona.”

“Are you kidding me? You think for one minute that I can sleep with that blasted noise next door?” squawked Ramona.

Ramona marched her petite self over to Dave’s tent and informed him that he needed to move his tent far away from theirs. Dave obliged her and relocated a grand distance away.

Back in her tent, Ramona settled into her sleeping bag and fell fast asleep. Now she laughs when she tells the story, but that was a night from hell, she says!

Fencing Solutions

Well, a fence wouldn’t help in that situation unless it was a noise-blocking fence. Maybe that would deafen the noise some. There must be other alternatives for CPAPs in the woods. Write to me and let me know!

Check out Louis Page for fantastic fence solutions! We've got the best.

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!)

P.S. Let’s find the perfect fencing solution for your needs!

Up to the Ledges and Over

Yesterday we hiked to the knoll beside my farmer boy's mountaintop farm. Baby on papa's back and the six and three-year-old hiked alongside the other three adults. My roommate from nursing school was visiting from Charleston, South Carolina. It was a delightful walk.

A Delightful Hike

The kids and I sang and looked for newts which were numerous. Acorns and oak leaves galore had come down in the hail storm the day before. We found a few ripe blackberries. Summer in New Hampshire is wonderful.

Daniel made sure to point out the stone walls going up the mountain. The interesting thing about this stone wall was the way it went to the granite ledges and then continued on top of the ledges. I’d never seen a stone wall do that. The stone walls marked the old property boundaries and are extensive throughout New England.

I thought the stone walls also fenced in the farm animals, but I was completely wrong about that!! Thanks to Daniel for setting me straight.

Fencing Stories

From time to time you'll pass old wire mesh fencing in the woods, sometimes some barbed wire on old cedar posts. If only the fences could talk! Imagine the stories of people and animals, houses and barns.

Fencing Solutions

Thinking of putting in some fencing? Check out Louis Page. We’ve been delighting customers since 1893! We know fencing!

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.)

P.S. Let’s make your fencing project a reality!

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.

A Morning by the Lake

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.

The Circle of Life

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.

Fencing for Domestic Animals

For your domestic animals though, you need a fence! Call Terry 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.)

P.S. Let’s ensure your domestic animals are safe and secure with the right fencing!

The Girls Have Arrived

I am living the life! The girls arrived on Friday, and I was waiting at the gate for their arrival. We’ve been waiting for this moment for nine months. Finally, we heard the truck coming up the hill with trailer in tow. And lo and behold, we were ready to welcome Mama and baby to their new home at Daniel’s farm.

Welcome to the Farm

Red Devon cows are known as a triple breed because they can be dairy, beef, or breeding cows. They first arrived in America in 1623—one bull and three heifers. They are perfect for New England winters, and they prefer sleeping outdoors year-round.

Daniel chose electric fencing as it was quick and easy to put up. Eventually, he may install permanent fencing. One strand is enough for the cow, but the calf needs two strands, so he installed both.

We enjoyed watching the cows unload, wander into the pasture, and start grazing away. These cows look black, but you can see red shining through. After seeing them, we began to toss out different names. Rachel wanted floral names. The final choices were Hyacinth for the Mama and Clover for the female calf.

Now, when the kids wake up in the morning, they rush to the windows to look at the cows. What a life for these kids. And, I am delighted and so blessed to live ten minutes down the road. Farm life delights my soul.

Fencing Solutions

Are you dreaming of getting cows? We would love to help you choose your fencing. Moo…ve right over to Louis Page and find the perfect fence solution.

Call Terry if you want an expert to help you. (Tap to Call)

In the meantime, start thinking about names!

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.)

P.S. Let’s make your farming dreams a reality!