Spending the Holidays

Photos:
Left: A rock! (no kidding ☺)
Right: Me with a brook babbling down the hill behind me. You’ll notice that for once I’m not babbling as well! ☺
Felt good to be outside and moving. Jon and I recently walked around the north end of Shenipsit Lake in Tolland. It was a cloudy day, but mild. Just right for a brisk walk. That’s where these pictures were taken.

Spending the Holidays
Christmas day was very quiet for my mother and me.

On Sunday, the 28th, the family got together for exchange of gifts. My mother wasn’t up to going so I went alone. We gathered at Andy and Lori’s house. In addition to my mother not being there, Anne and her family didn’t make it. They went out to Chicago for Christmas and it was just too much to expect them to come to CT too.

Because the family is so big we draw names of all those who are 18 years old and older. That way, Christmas doesn’t become a financial nightmare for anyone. This year Kathy drew my name and she gave me an HP Photosmart printer and an extra pack of ink and paper. It took me an hour and a half from opening the box to printing my first photo. Now I will go back and read the directions! ☺ It has a lot of features I want to play with. Maybe next year I will create my own Christmas cards. How about a picture of my bike all decked out in red ribbon and a wreath?

Publishing
It’s not easy finding someone to publish your work…in my case, poetry. I can have a chapbook published, but I pay for the privilege and will be lucky to make my investment back in sales. Since I have a lot of experience with publishing The Door Opener for almost 20 years, why can’t I publish my own chapbook?

The first one would be my poetry from the categories of Magic, Spiritual, and Dark. Pretty much mirrors where I have been dwelling during this very stressful year.

I know how to lay out pages. I would have to work with someone (preferably Leanne Peters) to design the cover, but I already know what I want. Once I have all that together, I can print out a half dozen copies or so and see how they sell. Then I can print on demand. The only thing I would have to do is either buy a stapler deep enough to secure the pages in the middle, or take them to Staples and have them do it. It will probably take a few months for all this to come together.

Snowing today, New Year’s Eve
The last day of the year and we are dealing with a snowstorm. Haven’t heard yet if Channel 3, WFSB, has given this one a name. I think it has all the requirements. I have to go out a little later this morning, but it’s only a walk out to the mailbox.

This year has been really sucky. It’s sucked so bad the entire Universe has a hickey. It hasn’t been long enough either, because the “whatever government agency” is adding one second to this year before we can ring in the new. I’ll be sleeping…as usual.

I wish for you a New Year filled
with an Abundance of
All Good Things.

From my house to yours

Merry Christmas

and may the

New Year

bring you an Abundance of All Good Things.

Storm Brooke

Photos
Top: The waters of the Genessee River and Erie Canal meet in Rochester.
Left: The Dewitt Clinton NY State working barge helping to trim the trees along the Erie Canal.
Right: More tree trimming barges on the Erie Canal.

Digging out
Yesterday, Sunday, we were treated to four more inches of snow thanks to Storm Brooke. I said the other day the next storm would be named Bonnie. Either I heard wrong or the meteorologist was misinformed. It doesn’t matter what it was named, it didn’t really ever stop snowing from the time Austin hit.

Today was cold. Really, really cold. It was 10° here at 6 a.m. but once the wind started blowing the wind chill was in the minus single digits.

Hopefully we can relax from all the shoveling and snow blowing for a few days. The weather is supposed to warm up and rain is predicted for Christmas Eve/Day and again over the next weekend.

The Blessings of friendship
Had a wonderful afternoon catching up with my high school classmate and friend, Margie. She is up from Florida to visit family for Christmas. Having been brought up here she doesn’t mind our New England winter that much. At least she knows she will be going back to Florida in a couple weeks. Hopefully we’ll get together again if she comes back in February.

If you regularly read this journal, you will recognize her family as the ones who, every June, throw a Spring Flood Party. They celebrate the fact that either they didn’t have a spring flood or that they survived one. Since they live right on the banks of the Connecticut River, it’s a sure bet they did one or the other! (Ya think? ☺)

Family Christmas
The family will be gathering here on Sunday the 28th for family gift exchange. I’m really looking forward to it. Anne and the boys won’t be here again this year. Since Rick’s folks can’t travel any more, they go to Chicago for Christmas. We won’t see Anne and the boys until some time over the summer.

By the way
I have added links to two blogs I feel are worth your while checking out.

One is Conscious CT authored by Jon Roe’s alter ego, Jon Quixote. Jon keeps the members of the spiritual/wholistic community in Connecticut in touch with each other.

The other is Cindy Miller’s Sacred Ground. You will find beautiful poetry and photos on this blog. Cindy is looking for a book publisher. It may be the book I submitted an article for. Any publishers out there? Contact Cindy. In addition there are beautiful photos, poetry, and inspired comments.

Storm Austin

Naming storms
Here in Connecticut, one of our TV stations, WFSB Channel 3, names winter storms. This practice started in 1971 when Meteorologist Ken Gary named the Thanksgiving Day storm, Arthur. The TV station at time had the call letters of WTIC. The station has been naming winter storms every since. In order to get a name, the storm has to have the potential for 6” or more of snow or (I think) ¼” of ice.

I measured the snow depth in three places in the driveway and got a solid 8” in all three. I shoveled off the deck in back and reved up the snow blower, Big Red, to take care of the driveway and walk way. I did a wide path to the back yard and to the bird feeder. The reason for the wide path is in case of emergency my mother and I need to exit the house through the back door. The path to the bird feeder gives the birds a place to feed and makes it easier for me to refill the feeder.

Parlez-vous français?
Anyone out there speak French? How would I say "bird feeder" in French and make it sound like a restaurant? Would I use the word Maison or Chez? I’m writing a poem and the last line is at the bird feeder and I want it to sound like it’s a restaurant. If all else fails I will consult a teacher of French at the local high school.

Event canceled
I was supposed to go to a poetry reading tonight in Middletown at The Buttonwood Tree, but I had message on my voice mail telling me it has been cancelled because of a parking ban and more lousy weather on the way. I really want to go and support the featured reader, Greg Scott. His poetry takes us places we didn’t know existed. Late tonight we are expecting Storm Bonnie, but I’m not sure when the precip will begin. Then you have wet roads that freeze over. I don’t know…I’m sorry we won’t get to hear Greg, but I'm glad I won’t have to go out and stress over possible driving conditions.

First Snowfall

Photos:
Left: Gardens in Lockport, NY where the Erie Canal tour begins. Besides the beautiful flowers, there is a small waterfall and benches where one can sit and contemplate.

Right: This is called an upside-down bridge. Notice the girders are on the bottom rather than the top. When the railroad came through they wanted to discourage canal traffic, so put the girders under the tracks prohibiting tall sail boats from coming through. To keep costs as low as possible the railroads wanted to build low bridges which would prohibit canal traffic. Both sides came to a compromise that the trestles had to be 15 feet above the canal. The loophole was it said nothing about where the girders had to be. The bridges were removed or "disassembled by more angry methods" when the canal was widened. This info comes from The Erie Canal: The Ditch that Opened a Nation by Dan Murphy.

Snow, Snow, Beautiful Snow!
Woke up to the first measurable snow this morning. Snow depth was a whopping ¼ inch at best. Also woke up to cold temps and wind. I guess it’s winter.

The Christmas book is done!
I have all the Christmas books (Come Ride With Me) completed and ready for delivery at Christmas. It’s not as thick as the Volumes I and II were, because of this years added activities. Planning and doing the Erie Canal bike ride, my mother’s multiple hospitalizations, and believe it or not, the elections took up a lot of my time. As far as the elections go, I was not involved in either race other than rapt interest. I could not be happier with the results.

Mom should be home soon
My mother sees her surgeon on Wednesday, and it is hoped she will get the “get out of jail card”. She is physically more than ready to leave the nursing home. We are just waiting for the medical OK.

Moon, Jupiter, Venus Conjunction

Photo: Moon and Jupiter. You will have to click on the photo in order to see Jupiter. Venus is there, but not seen by the camera.

The twilight hours of Sunday and Monday (yesterday) offered a spectacular conjunction of the Moon, Jupiter and Venus. Sunday night the moon formed a “cup” below the planets, but, because of the nasty weather was not visible from my Connecticut skies. Last night was a little better.

As the sun went down, I positioned myself in the parking lot of the Shoppes at Buckland Hills in Manchester. From there I had an uninterrupted view of the southwestern sky. There were also increasing dense clouds coming in from the southwest.

I was able to get the above picture…the best of many I took. You can see the Moon and Jupiter. However, Venus was visible with the naked eye, but too small to show up on the photo. The Moon had moved to a position above the planets.

I hope you got out to see this conjunction. I have heard that it will be anywhere from 44 to 54 years before this happens again.

Volume III is Ready for the Printers

Photos: Sunset from Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod.

I can’t believe Vol. III of Come Ride With Me has been burned onto a CD and will go to Staples in the next day or two (depending on time and weather) to be printed. I was feeling quite smug, thinking I was so early. I decided to check my on-line journal to see what date I did it last year. I found Nov. 18th where I said the books were all compiled and ready for gifting. WHAT? Here it is Nov. 29th and I’m thinking I’m doing pretty good with timing. Nothing like busting my own bubble!

Once it’s printed, I then have to put the pages in sheet protectors and assemble the books. That is truly back breaking. I have to find a method of assembly that doesn’t require me to hunch over so much. I’m thinking of using the long table in front of my desk and sit in a proper chair!

For some reason I had a tough time realizing today is Saturday. Kept thinking it was Friday, therefore nothing was making any sense. I was confused by the morning news anchor and weather person. What were they doing there on a Friday? Even after I realized it was Saturday, it was still a tough go for most of the morning.

Tomorrow night I hope to get outside with my camera and try to capture the Moon/Venus/Jupiter conjunction low in the southwestern sky just about sundown. I can’t do it from my yard because of all the trees. I need to go to the parking lot of The Shoppes at Buckland Hills where I will have a wide open view of the sky to the southwest. I heard that this conjunction will not happen again for another 54 years. The chances of my seeing the next one from Earth, in this body, is very slim to non-existent. ☺

I’ll Be Ready For Snow…Eventually

Photos:
Left: The skeletal silhouette of the trees makes a stark contrast. Taken in Brookside Gardens and Nature Center in Montgomery County, Maryland.
Right: A tree growing out of a different tree. I wonder if this could be called accidental grafting? Photo taken in West Branch Ecological Greenway in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Hanging around
Today I have a list of errands I need to do, but I have to stick around until Manchester Honda comes to get my snow blower. It’s going in for service. I would like to have the lawn mower done, too, but that’s more money than I want to spend right now. I don’t know how long before I get it back, so the snow had better hold off! ☺

I will be doing one last proofreading of Come Ride With Me before I take it to Staples for printing. That’s one errand on today’s To-Do list. While I’m there I will buy the 3-ring binders and special design paper for the section dividers. I will need to pick up another package of sheet protectors. Before I take it to Staples I will find out what my price/copy will be. There are several pages with color photos…those will cost more to print.

Right now it’s raining quite hard so I don’t want to go anywhere anyway.

Home for the day
Yesterday went very well. My mother came home just for the day, and was able to go up and down the stairs easily. That tells me her leg strength is good. Yesterday was also the 23rd day at the nursing home with more to come. She was ready to go back around 4 p.m. I’ll bet she slept well!

Much To Be Thankful For

Photos: Turkeys in my back yard. They are very thankful that they are still running free! ☺

Foremost today is being thankful that my mother will be able to come home just for the day. The nursing home has many residents who are able to go home with family just for one day. My mother has not been home since October 10th, so I’m sure everything will seem strange to her…especially that everything is so clean! ☺☺

I’m thankful for my family and many friends.

I’m thankful that I have a comfortable roof over my head, food in the fridge and clothes on my back.

I’m thankful for my excellent health.

And I’m thankful that there are men and women from this great country who are serving in our armed forces to make sure we are safe.

What Color Is It?

Photo: This is me at the dinosaur track kiosk in Windsor's Northwest Park. Photo courtesy of my good ol' hiking buddy, Jon Roe.

Not since the end of August have I colored my hair. That was just before my Erie Canal bike ride and since then there's been a lot of life happening and no time for all of it to happen in! Until today.

I have taken a day off from hectic running of errands and dashing over to the nursing home to visit my mother. Today I play catch-up. That included sleep.

Laundry is done.
The rest of the cleaning and picking up of the house is done.
I did go to the grocery stores. Some things just have to be done.
And, finally, my hair color is done, too!

No more mousy (my apologies to any mouse that might be offended) grey/ dirty blond/washout brown/yuck. It is all beautiful medium golden brown, thanks to Loving Care #78. My hair was never blond, but as the color fades to yuck, that's what it looks like.

When I was younger my hair was auburn. That beautiful shade of red/brown. It was long and thick and curly. Then it turned very dark brown. Then it started turning....grey. It has lost its curl, but in humid weather it is quite wavy.

Who cares? you might ask. I do and I'm the only one who matters.

Where Do I Start

Photos:
Top: Jacob and Andrew hiding in a hollow log!
Left: The boys contemplate a recent beaver chew.

Too much going on
The last three months have been crazy and chaotic.

September was the Erie Canal bike ride.

October had my mother in and out of the hospital for her 3rd, 4th, and 5th intestinal obstruction. The first two (Feb. and June) and the first two in October were resolved without surgery. The 5th one left her surgeon no other options. At age 96 her chances of surviving with or without surgery was 50/50. Surgery was a success and she is now completing her recovery at a skilled nursing facility. But, that has meant a lot of running back and forth for me. Or, in the case of this afternoon, sitting around doing nothing waiting for the transportation service to pick my mother up at her doctor’s office. They dropped her off before 2 p.m. for a 2:30 appointment and didn’t pick her up until 4:25 to go back to the nursing home. I met her there and waited with her. Both of us could have been more productive elsewhere! ☺

Because she is being so well cared for, I was able to fly to Maryland to visit my daughter, Anne, and her family this past weekend. I had a wonderful 5-day visit, which included helping out at Andrew’s school as a volunteer aide. That was fun! Her boys also took me on a couple of hikes.

Now I’m home again and trying to get all the loose ends tied before my mother comes home. There is laundry and cleaning. Then there is putting the finishing touches on my Christmas book, Come Ride With Me, which I publish for my family. This is Vol. III. I have a lot of work to do on this including proofing the stories I’ve written, making revisions, checking the poetry to be sure the ones I want to included are indeed included and listed, and I still have photos to scan in to finish off the story of my hang-gliding adventure out in California in 1991.

Thank goodness my journal and photos from the Erie Canal bike ride are up on the web and I can now let it go and move on to all these other things.

And so it goes. At times I get so frazzled by all I have to do, that I don’t get anything done. That’s when I have to take a deep breath and go into “what’s-the-most-important-thing-I-need-to do-now?” mode. That was all day today. Tomorrow should be easier. Sure.

So Much Is Going On!

On a recent hike through Northwest Park in Windsor, CT, we came upon this gigundous 'shroom. Actually it is an Artist's Fungus. I knew a woman years ago who would pick these, dry them in a very slow oven and do pen and ink drawings on them. Then she would shellac them and sell them. I'm not sure there is a market for them any more, but it could be a fun thing to do with your kids this winter.

My mother is finally out of the hospital and in a nursing home for rehab. She has not been home since Oct. 10th! However, she is doing remarkably well considering she's 96 has just had surgery! Even her surgeon says she's a tough old bird. All this driving back and forth every day has really racked up the miles.

I finally have my Erie Canal bike ride journal and photos up-loaded to a new, dedicated blog. Go to http://www.eriecanaladventure.blogspot.com if you are interested in reading all about it.

Let's see, what else is going on.

Oh, yes. I will be heading down to Maryland in the near future to visit my daughter, Anne, and her family. As long as my mother will be in the nursing home for a while it's a perfect opportunity for me to get away. I'll no doubt have pictures when I get back.

And finally, I'm starting work on my Christmas book for the family, Come Ride With Me. It is a 3-ring binder of my poetry, essays, and other writings. This year is Vol. III. When I'm no longer here, my kids and grandkids will have insight into who their mother and grandmother was.

I've been going crazy trying to do my fall cleaning so don't be surprised if I don't post anything for a while. I'm not even sure which year I'm working on! ☺☺☺

God Bless the United States of America

It will take a while for the reality of this election to sink in. Americans have made history!

I first heard of Barack Obama when he appeared on Oprah. I was taken by his honesty, loyalty, and ideas for a better future every American could be part of. I say better future, because what I, personally, was experiencing under the presidency of George W. Bush was not good.

I retired in 2001 and things looked pretty good. Then we were led down a slippery slope that ended in a global economic disaster that my great grand children will probably be paying for.

I pray, and I really mean that, I pray that by virtue of this election the people of the world will rally to work together. United we succeed, divided we destroy civilization and probably the planet.

It will not be easy. There is so much that needs to be repaired. The lose of life in two wars being waged simultaneously (one we never should have been in!) can never be fixed, and the economic crash that has brought the world to it’s knees will not be fixed in a few months or even a few years.

I am a registered Independent. I don’t care what party a candidate belongs to. I do care about a candidate’s ideas and vision for the future. That’s what I vote for. That’s why I voted for Obama.

Let us go forward as a united people.
Let us put God back into our public places and schools.
Let us admit God back into our daily lives.
Without unity and God, we don’t stand much of a chance.

The Universe is watching and waiting.

Published Poetry

Photos
Somewhere on the Berkshire Spur between Albany, NY and the Massachusetts state line.

I can't get over the fact that I have been published twice this fall.

The first poem, "Who Walks the Tower," published in Equinox, an annual literary journal of stories, poems, essays and art.

The second poem, "Worms", published in the brand new Naugatuck River Review, a journal of narrtative poetry that sings.

Considering I'm pretty much a new-comer, it's quite humbling.

New England Folklore

Photo
This is a squirrel nest in the woods behind my house that has to be 60 ft. off the ground.

What squirrel in its right mind would build a nest way up there? Kathy calls them “tree rats”. This one must be related to the one I had around here a couple years ago that was longer than your average varmint and was able to get at the bird seed without dropping the “door” over the seed tray. That son-of-a-gun hung by one back paw, right over the seed tray, and ate to its heart’s content! That was when I bought a big water gun to fight off that damn squirrel!

Folklore of northern New England (told to me by a New Brunswick, Canada friend) says the height of squirrel nests, is an indication of how much snow the winter will bring. I hope that is as wrong as the one that says the day of the month the first measurable snow falls, is the number of storms for the winter. This year that would be a big OUCH considering we just had a heavy snowfall in many sections of the northeast.

Would you believe I was married on this day in 1959? If you are a regular reader of this journal you will have no problem believing! ☺

Wind and Rain

All day yesterday the wind was blowing in the 20 mph range and gusting into the 30s. Then came the rains last night. Thank goodness the temperature stayed in the mid to upper 60s.

However, over night we also lost cable. I have no phone. I have no TV. I have no internet connection. It is very quiet.

My first reaction was, OH, NO! (like Mr. Bill ☺). How could I get through the morning without my TV? My emails? While I was contemplating the lack of these things, I realized how quiet it was and how loud my tinnitus is. ☺

I will use my cell phone (if I have an AT&T signal, grrrrrr) and call Cox cable to find out how long we will be out.

As soon as I’m back on-line I will post this. Right now it is 7:50 a.m., EDT.

Later:
I’ve been outside since 10:30 (it is now 2 p.m.) cleaning up around the yard and mulching leaves. Cable is back on (don’t know when that happened) but I need a shower before I can watch the Patriots game.

First of This Season!

Photo
Crandall Pond, Tolland, CT


I went out onto the deck to change the water in the bird bath, and much to my surprise…the water was frozen. It was icy crystals all the way to the bottom and solid on top. I wish I had paid attention in other years as to the first date for frozen bird bath.

It was 28 degrees here when I got up at 6 a.m. That’s cold.

Winter is Coming

Photos
Left: Autumn foliage at Crandall Pond in Tolland, CT
Right: Probably the most exquisite photo I have ever taken. This is a picture of the water with the trees reflected.
Click on photos to enlarge. They are worth it!

Ancient Memories
I know when cold weather, winter, is coming. I go through a change from “go-go-go” to let’s curl up with a good book and soft music. My body genetically remembers an ancient time when the cave had to be readied for cold weather. Foods had to be stored against the time of little or none.

In my current body, I start cutting out recipes for hearty soups. In no time I will have a pile of recipes for just about every cream soup imaginable—some in duplicate or triplicate. I can’t help myself. I have this desire to feel warmed from the inside out.

Anyone who knows me, knows I am not considered “a cook.” Oh, sure, I can fix a meal that will taste good and look good on the plate. But fancy I am not!

So here we are, the 23rd of October (Happy Birthday, Kathy!) and I just cut out a recipe for Roasted Butternut Squash with Saged Crème. I already have a recipe for roasted butternut squash that uses tart apples. Both are thick, hearty, winter, warm-me-up-from-the-inside soups.

Winter’s coming. Gotta winterize the cave and pack in the roots and tubers. Mastodons will have to be stalked and processed before the snow flies.

Lots to do. Gotta go! ☺☺☺

Vietnam Memorial Wall

A traveling replica of the Wall is currently in East Hartford, CT at Rentschler Field. I went tonight to view the Wall and to watch the Marine Corps Battle Color Detachment which includes the Color Guard, Silent Drill Team and Drum and Bugle Corps.

The first time I saw the wall in D. C. I was overwhelmed with emotion. It seems the Wall does that to people. Tonight the same thing happened viewing the replica. I was so overcome with emotion/grief I had to leave before the performance started.

God Bless all of them for their sacrifice in all wars where American blood has been spilled.

Lincoln Sculptures #14

That's it folks
And this concludes the postings of Lincoln Sculptures. If you get the chance to see them in person you will not be disappointed. The sculptures and their locations make viewing a pleasant experience.

Back to normal?
I think I have fully recovered from my bike tour. I am busy writing and editing my journal and photos of the trip and will be ready to post them in a couple of weeks. As soon as it's on the internet the address will be posted right here. So stay tuned!

Lincoln Sculptures #14

Lincoln Sculptures #13

Lincoln Sculptures #12

Lincoln Sculptures #11

Lincoln Sculptures #10

Lincoln Sculptures #9

Cick on the plaque in order to read it. I don't know who said it, but the information presented on the plaque is a fine example of "It doesn't matter how many times you fall. What matters is how many times you get up."

Lincoln Sculptures #8

The first time I viewed the Lincoln Sculptures Jack the turkey was standing proud on his pedestal. However, when I went back to photograph the plaques, I couldn't find him. I thought he was at the top of the hill before the Bulkley Bridge. Because of river flooding I was unable to go beyond that point so I didn't realize Jack was on the other side of the bridge. Once the water receded, I went on another photo op tour and found Jack...or at least where he had been. I haven't been back since, so I don't know if he is back on his pedestal.

Lincoln Sculptures #7

Lincoln Sculptures #6