Researching Historic Homes

I have posted only two things since last fall. That's because I've been busy doing research on three historic houses I lived in from 1974 to 1986.

I was asked to write the stories and memories of when I lived in each of these houses...and I did. Then I realized it was a piece of trash! My stories were full of I think, I was told, and I assume. Since my intention was to give these stories to the East Windsor (CT) Historical Society I had to have facts. 

And so it started.

I needed to know for sure when each house was built, confirm the builder and anything else of historical significance I could dig up. One house was built in 1835; another in 1672; and the third was built in the early to mid-1800s.

My search started at the Town Clerk's office; then across the hall to the Assessor's office. From there I scoured old tax records at the Historical Society as well as old books and the oral histories others had written. My search also led me to the folks at the Windsor (CT) Historical Society. All along the way, everyone who aided me in my search was so gracious and helpful. It didn't matter that I had never done anything like this before; everyone just wanted to help.

This project kept me occupied from October 2015 to February 2016. It's finished and the East Windsor Historical Society has their copy. I thoroughly enjoyed this challenge.

Now that the weather is getting better, and getting better earlier than usual, I'm itching to get out into my gardens and back out on the bike paths. 

I expect you'll be reading my musings on a more regular basis. Until next time...

Willimantic (CT) Multi-Use Trails

Back in November 2015, Peter Marteka (Hartford Courant columnist) wrote, “By next spring, two popular multiuse trails ... the Hop River and Air Line trails—will link together along a series of asphalt paths snaking along the Willimantic River.”

The greater part of both trails is compact stone dust, which makes for a fairly good bike ride and is good for equestrian travel (although I wish the horses would have their own path). This new section is paved.

I went out to Willimantic today (Thursday, March 10, 2016) to see what these trails look like. I wish I had my bike with me! It was a humid mid-70s and perfect for a ride. All I was able to observe was the beginning and end of the Hop River section.

In May, I will start at Mackey’s on Columbia Ave. and ride toward the terminus at Bridge St. Now that’s not going to be a very long ride, but along the way the trail splits (I’m told) where it joins the Air Line Trail. Who knows how far I’ll go? Truth be told…not far. It won’t be more than a 20-mile round trip.

The ride will be significant, however. I will be celebrating my 80th birthday.

Here are the photos I took today:

Nice parking area next to this business, 249 Columbia Ave., Willimantic.
Best place to start your ride.

This is the beginning of the new section.

A view of the Willimantic River. The trail parallels the river. 

Another view of the river.

How's this for a bike path? The new wood smells so good.

I hope it holds!

Good to know!

This is the Bridge Street end which, basically, is the end...of the new section at least.

S N O W

What may back yard looks like

Connecticut (at least north central) is finally getting snow. Earlier, the rate was estimated at 2” an hour. So far, I have about 5” at my house and increasing.

As I sit here, looking out my sliding glass doors into the back yard, I have to admit I think it’s beautiful.

The birds are in a frenzy looking for seeds. I had to go out and clean the wet, heavy snow off the feeders so they can get something to eat.

It should be over in an hour or two. Then I’ll go out and shovel a large area on the lawn so the birds can have their feeding ground back. Next will be cleaning off the car and moving it so the plow trucks can do their job.

But, all in all, I’m pretty excited to finally see a decent snowfall.

Fall Beauty and Gardening Chores

Never did I think I would be out in my back garden on October 29^th in a tank top, working the soil, and sweating like crazy. It is crazy!

I cut the sedum back as well as the pink phlox. The sedum has already started on next year’s growth. That plant, by the way will be divided into 4 and three given away!

The bleeding hearts have stopped blossoming but the plants seem to be unaffected by any frost we’ve had…and we’ve had a few. I’ll just leave them.

I worked the soil with my garden weasel and was able to pull up some of the biggest clumps of grass that started growing. I think I’ll put down some weed and feed now and maybe it will discourage grass and weed growth in the spring, as well as give them a feeding boost.

The shepherd’s crooks are up and ready for filled seed feeders. I bought the seed today and I’m waiting for it to turn cold. As long as the weather stays mild the birds will be ok. I checked the low temps for the next ten days and they will be from the high 30s to the upper 40s. If this keeps up I’ll save money on birdseed (as well as natural gas heating). For 6 months last year (Nov. through April) feeding the birds cost an average of $80 a month. I don’t mind. Watching the birds all winter gives me so much pleasure.

This picture has nothing to do with gardening. It's all about beauty. This is what I look at out my back door. And, as I write this, a weather front is blasting through from the SW with 25 mph winds. I don't think the leaves will last much longer.

Bleeding Heart. They still look great!

This is the sedum. Two years ago it was a little bitty thing. Look at it now!

Resurrection of Frost--bit Plants?

Can plants that have been frost bitten come back to life? Apparently yes, and apparently they were not killed by the frost. My blue delphiniums were really dead except for one stem of flowers, which is now in a vase. The rest of the plant was squish.

However, halfway through cutting back the bee balm, I realized it had come back to life. Early this morning it was wilted. By 11 a.m., it was rejuvenated.

Instead of cutting back everything on the other side, I looked to see what had not come back. That meant the ornamental peppers got pulled up. The sedum, pink phlox, and bleeding heart were left for another day.

Out front, just the peppers were pulled up. The petunia, that insists on growing, was left in the ground. It’s so determined that it deserves to be left in the ground until it succumbs on it’s own terms.

Looks like there will be another cutting back in the garden. Not what I had planned. Wish now I had left the bee balm! 

First Cold Snap - Fall 2015

Last night north central Connecticut had temperatures below freezing. Our local weather forecaster on WFSB Channel 3 showed our low temp this morning at 27°. The thermometer I have outside my basement sliders showed just 32°.

As proof of the freezing temp, the water in the birdbath had ice in it and as of right now (11:15 a.m.) still has ice! My flowers, however, seem to be unaffected by the cold.

My back garden, on one side, has had huge pumpkin plant leaves that came through the fence from my neighbor's garden and have hung over mine for quite a long time now. They were the only ones that got nipped by the cold.

It will be interesting to see what tonight’s temps will do.

That's ice on the bird bath.

If you look at the second and fourth pictures down in the previous posting, you'll see what this garden looked like a couple weeks ago. Notice the huge leaves from my neighbor's pumpkin plant that you don't see in this photo. They succumbed to the cold.

The front garden looks fine. Even the petunia looks good. My neighbor has roses that survived the night. I'll pick a few peppers and bring them inside to dry...that will be next year's crop. The rest I'll leave out until they get frost bit. You can see where I have already cut back the phlox.