Benjamin Vogt's Blog, page 29

Job Ad For My Wife and Me

Benjamin and Jaclyn Cruikshank Vogt invite applications from colleges
for two tenure-track assistant professor positions: one in creative writing
(poetry & nonfiction), Native American literature, and environmental
literature; the other in twentieth-century American literature specializing in women's
and gender studies, ethnic literature, and with an interest in digital
humanities. Both have taught a full array of courses and have a PhD in their
field with a collection of books, journal p...

Job Ad For My Wife and I

Benjamin and Jaclyn Cruikshank Vogt invite applications from colleges
for two tenure-track assistant professor positions: one in creative writing
(poetry & nonfiction), Native American literature, and environmental
literature; the other in twentieth-century Americanism specializing in women's
and gender studies, ethnic literature, and with an interest in digital
humanities. Both have taught a full array of courses and have a PhD in their
field with a collection of books, journal publicati...

Healing Monarchs Heals Us

Ran across this article. Says a lot we already know, but has new tidbits, too. Besides, can't harp on this enough. Reminds of the Bible quote that goes something like "what you do the least of these you do to me." It says a lot that we don't have to live like we do, but we choose to. No wonder we kill each other, have kids born as meth addicts, can't trust a government to get things done amicably and for the greater good when we're too blind by our own immediate concerns.





 “Monarch bu...

The Great Giveaway

I've always wanted to have a giveaway, so why not include my friends at Native Plants & Wildlife Gardens and Beautiful Wildlife Garden.



Leave a comment ranking your choices in order of preference. I'll use a random number generator, and when I land on your comment, I'll go down the list and give you the first available prize (you can also just say "yo" and I'll randomly hand out a prize). I'll then hook you up with the author so they can send you the book.



You have until Saturday, Decem...

Piecing Together a 21st Century Prairie Memoir

Finally a week to my own, my own thoughts, no papers to grade, no classes to plan. Only at the end of my week off is there a glimmer of the book, a moment to try and focus on the thesis that I've struggled with for a good seven months. I've written 40,000 words based on research, and before I start the other 40,000 based on personal stories, I need to find the pulse. Here I am, tossing up darts at a board in front of you with no context, just trying to find the path. So tell me--does any of t...

Timelapse Garden Video & Announcement Time

Here's a timelapse of about 1/3 of the main back garden, from July 2011 to November 2012. Sometimes a grey-shirted, blue-jeaned ghost with greying hair makes an appearance--just ignore that.



This video attests to the miracle of herbaceous prairie perennials; when I cut down the garden every March there's almost nothing left, yet the following year many things are 6-10' tall. Enjoy.







And I might as well take this time to announce some things:



1) In 2013 I'll be serving on the all-voluntee...

Of Cats and Fall

With temperatures in the 60s (normal high is 47) we spent yesterday afternoon outside with the cats. Lounged in the grass, walked through the gorgeous winter garden (leave stuff up!), and then I remembered I had a camera and other people might also like cats. If you want to see a video, link here.








Come on in, the foliage is fine.

















V likes winter sowing seeds.

Re-Planting Lincoln's Union Plaza

A few months back I criticized Union Plaza--a new dowtown park here in Lincoln--both on my blog and in the local paper. I stand by what I've said, and I'm finally going to go further, looking deeper at what I see to be major landscaping flaws. Lincoln has and is currently undergoing massive "big boy" civic construction--this park is one, the doubling of the downtown haymarket (arena, hotels, etc) is another. The grandeur of our new buildings (and roundabouts) outstrips the awe of our gar...

And That Was Fall

Still warm and bone dry, and although early hard freezes (three at 22 degrees) prevented some perennials from turning nice colors, we ended up having some of the nicest vistas ever in the small garden. A few bees are still out on the last of the asters and a fall-blooming onion. Most of the below photos were taken over a week ago before our 50-70mph wind storm that lasted two days (the high number is a gust, the low number a steady breeze).





























This fall has been a bear....

Catching Breath

I didn't realize it had been over a week since I posted here. I don't think I've ever neglected this blog in such a way. But in the last 5 days I've graded 80 essays, been attempting to apply for academic teaching jobs (which cycle around only once a year, in the fall), mowed the lawn for the first time since early July, and have attempted to clean up garden tools and containers while gathering seed before the goldfinches take it all--which they already have I suppose.









I've also been wo...