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Wearing those creepy gym suits and having to shower at school were two things I didn’t like about h  igh-school
P.E. One thing I did like was when I elected to take archery. Just
as in Grandpa Davey’s “Ticket
to Freedom” in which responsibilities and commitments delayed
his dream to become a mountain man, I didn’t get a chance to shoot a
bow again until last spring when my daughter and her family
surprised me with one for my birthday.Weather permitting, I go out to Lone Pine State Park on Thursdays. It’s time I set aside for myself to practice and take a break from mommyhood. M, E, and I climb the steep hill to the archery range. We get some exercise as we walk the hilly seven-target course and once in a while, we spot a deer. One July morning, E took her wildflower identification book to the range. She had purchased it with winnings from her artwork and instead of complaining of boredom, she would identify the blooming wildflowers along the path. I started practicing at the turkey target and then made my way farther down the range. Somewhere between the white-tailed buck at 25 yards and the down slope elk at 30 yards she discovered chicory. We proceeded to the last and what is my personal favorite target, the bear. I’ve considered why this is my favorite and have come to some conclusions. By the time I’ve shot turkey, deer, pheasant, grouse, rabbit and elk, the bear epitomizes the peak of my skill and a sense of accomplishment. My concentration improves with each target and by the end I’m ready to score big time. Also, it’s the last target and I won’t have to hear M & E complain of how boring the whole thing is. Oh yes, boring! On this particular morning, E was identifying wildflowers to make it more interesting and had found some chicory. Being a southerner living in Montana, it has been impossible to find good coffee, so I joined Community’s Coffee Club and receive a monthly package of their New Orleans Blend Coffee and Chicory. On the way home from archery practice, I decided to make the connection between the pretty blue flower and the beverage I have with breakfast. The girls would have to look it up. The chicory plant is a perennial that grows to about 24 inches tall. Found in grassy places, stems are branched and tufted; flowers are blue, lavender, and sometimes white. Common chicory is also known as blue sailors, succory, or coffeeweed. Chicory is an endive, or type of lettuce, and its leaves are used in salads. It is known for its medicinal qualities and is high in vitamins A and C. The root is roasted, ground, and used as a coffee additive or substitute. During the Civil War when coffee was scarce, it was found that adding chicory gave body and flavor to coffee. Considered to take the bitter edge off of dark pure coffee, chicory has also been described as giving coffee a chocolate flavor. I disagree about the chocolate flavor, but having compared the two, coffee and chicory is my preference because of the rich smooth taste. Pure coffee is just no comparison. ©10/30/08 |
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