I love finding nature-themed games and puzzles. Credit for this one goes to Frank Grindrod of EarthWork Progams. Foraging with Frank at the Hawk Circle workshop was as enriching as meeting Sam Thayer. Here’s the riddle:
In marbled halls as white as milk
With a skin as soft as silk,
In a fountain of crystal clear
A golden apple does appear.
There are no walls to this stronghold,
Yet thieves break in to steal the gold.
Feel free to comment if you think you know the answer to this brain-teaser.
I am new to your web site and I have to say I just have been enjoying. So much study and observing you have done and have shared, Thank you.
Now to this riddle , it is driving me crazy. Any hints? I think it is probably something that is growing in the woods and this time of year to harvest. I was thinking maybe a Hedge Apple , but they are green. But then again they could go for a gold tone.
My I share of your site on my blog. I’m a camper and have been staying 9 weekends at my Outpost in our woods. Plans to do until I can’t stand the cold , would love to try stayin out and camping in the snow. Going back to things that I did when I was younger, so your site has just been the ticket : ).
I am working on my Fox walking . Its tricky just like a fox!!!
Thanks again
Comment by Linda — October 17, 2008 @ 9:12 pm
Thanks for your feedback, Linda. I paid a visit to your site and am delighted that you are sharing your love of nature with your family.
Cold weather is a great time for chopping wood (I was told that the wood warms you twice - when you chop it, and when you burn it), snowshoeing, and anything that keeps you moving.
As for the riddle, I also made the mistake of making it more complicated than it is. It is not something that grows from a plant.
If you’re still stumped, let me know and I’ll give you another hint.
Enjoy the blessings of the season.
Happy Trails,
JJ
Comment by jj_murphy — October 18, 2008 @ 5:58 am
Good morning JJ, thank you for visiting my web page. My gammar and spelling is off the chart but I do enjoy. And I wanted to be a teacher, parents can thank me that I went into a different field.
The riddle , thanks for that clue. Could this be an egg, like a soft turtle egg or snake eggs. Maybe its honey from the hive. The apple being something like the apple of ones eye. Oh what is the word for that?
I would have to add one more “getting warm” to your list that my Dad shared with us when we moved to the sticks. “Bringing in the wood”. Yep, lots of good ways to keep one warm.
Have a great weekend.
Comment by Linda — October 18, 2008 @ 9:05 am
Good for you, Linda. It took me a bit longer to get the answer. The “apple” metaphor can be really deceiving.
I’m always delighted to discover people who love the natural world as much as I do and who find value in my writing. I’m even happier to learn from the people who contact me. I’ll remember that the wood warms you three ways.
If you ever decide to submit your work for publication, that’s the time to worry about spelling and grammar. Ideas are most important. You can always hire an editor (like me) to clean up your writing without taking your voice away.
Comment by jj_murphy — October 19, 2008 @ 7:21 am
Whahoooo I was so excited to see that I got it,gotta love those metaphors, lol. I had my sister and hubby on this one as well but I guessed the egg. DH thought it might be a spider. Sis thought it might be a Mayapple, she was way off. But I too with the hedgeapple.
I camped out this weekend (this being my 10th weekend)and I think I might lose my camping buddy, sis says its getting to cold. But there is so much to see in the crisp cold mornings I tell her, yes, frost she answered back.
Submit my work!!!, i’m not a writer just a blogger that lives life very simple on our homestead. But thank you for the thought of doing such : )
Let me say again that I have been enjoying your reads, there is so much info. Plus those links to others that you share, oh my goodness. I’ve been studing your works and adventures sense I came across your site. Good stuff!
Thank you , this has been in my very being to get outdoors, eat of the wild plants, smell the deep wood and mindful of the critters. And knowing that I could live in the woods if I needed too and survive. Theres so much more to learn which is never ending.
Happy trails to you to.
tc , linda
Comment by Linda — October 20, 2008 @ 9:21 am
Thanks so much for your comments, Linda.
I have camped solo in the winter. Preparation is key. Make sure you have a good supply of firewood and water - and dry socks.
One neat tip I learned from Morrs Kochansky, via Barry Keegan, is to wear your cotton socks as the OUTER layer and your thinsulate or wool socks next to your skin. I put this to the test last winter. All the moisture from perspiration collected on the cotton socks, leaving the wool and thinsulate warm and dry next to my skin.
Enjoy your nature adventures.
Comment by jj_murphy — October 22, 2008 @ 6:51 pm