Author: Karen

The Lights are on and Everyone’s HOME

When we bought this run down old farm, our goal was to restore it and create a family gathering place for many years to come. With our kids now grown and making their way in the world, tonight I see the bonfire up on the hill with the boy and his cousin and long time friends gathered round the fire once again as they have since their high school days, all college graduates and professionals living near and far. Next door, I see the lights on for the first time, my daughter and her boyfriend’s first night in their new home. I have a husband with vision and tenacity who saw this all through, and I’m grateful for every second of it. ♥

A little tour of the new home…

 

Wishing my daughter and her partner in life many happy years here!

While the new home owners were unpacking, the Mr. and I went down to Stella by the Sea to sit on her now vacant deck once again and enjoy the early fall breezes.   (more like… he enjoyed the breezes and took a nap while I did laundry, picked tomatoes, dusted, vacuumed and  packed away bedding  for the coming winter months.)

I did manage to stick my feet in the water and absorb a little more  Vitamin Sea.

The last of the seaside garden tomatoes… those four plants yielding more fruit than my 10 or so here on the farm – go figure.

I’m too exhausted by all the noise coming out of Washington to dive into it much here…  – Bonfire of the Vanities –  sums it up, new meaning of course.

Apple Slab Pie with Maple Icing – link HERE. 

Till soon –

 

Welcome Fall in Connecticut!

Connecticut has become an expensive state to live in,  and it’s also suffering financial woes.  The current government is trying to fix those woes but unfortunately is applying tactics like tolls on highways and tax on foods that will only hurt the people who have already been leaving the state in droves –  Young people, families, blue collar workers,  businesses big and small, all important members for the health of an economy and communities.   So, there are a lot of complaints about the state by residents. Those added taxes and tolls are getting pushback, and rightfully so in my opinion, so we can hope the men and women in office will find solutions and make this state affordable again.  This isn’t a Democrat or Republican issue alone, because the problems have been roiling for many years under both parties.

That being said, we do live in a truly beautiful area of the Country.  Steeped in history,  the beautiful old homes,  the quaint New England towns, the shoreline and rolling hills, the woods, the  lakes and streams and stone walls are not something I take for granted.   I love the seasons and the “flavors” each brings to our lives. The weather is finicky, this is true… saw this recently on FB and it’s SO true of our region…

This past weekend we were in the Second summer faze, as it was actually warm and humid!  Beautiful weather though – and so the Mr. and I took a drive to browse antiques –  found a wonderful antique shop whose owner is going out of business, retiring to his original home town (bummer!).  The following photos were taken from his actual FB page because I neglected to pull out my phone, that almost never happens.  Black Whale Antiques at Rattleberry Farm, owned by reknown painter and muralist Thomas Rose, is indeed for sale.   A link to an article and photos of the property  HERE. 

We did come home with a few books – Normal Rockwell’s autobiography of which I’ve just started reading, and an old Bread Baking book, of which I plan to bake from this afternoon.  The Mr. bought a small end table for the mancave and I found a charming, if not at all antique, chicken picture to hang in our country kitchen.  We had a lovely discussion with Mr. Rose, sad to have met him as he exits stage left.  We wish him a very happy retirement.

Across the street is an old and beloved deli that makes gourmet sandwiches – we grabbed a few and drove up the road   to Devil’s Hopyard and Chapman falls to take in the beautiful day –

Someone’s Prince perhaps?…..

 

 

 

 

 

The Civil Conservation Corps  worked here and the stone walls, roads and bridges stand strong…  The story of the CCC is very interesting, click the link for more info.  The parks in our state benefited greatly from this program and I’m often reminded of their impact when out walking the trails.

We headed home after lunch with a stop at a roadside farm market, where I grabbed some fall treasures…

…..and the Mr. promptly jumped on his Big Green Tractor (Henry)  to mow the last of the hay fields already harvested.

Goodbyes and hellos

 

We laid to rest our dear Dane, Ben.   At 10.5 years of age, (ancient for a Dane) his hind end gave out.  We are lucky to have a very good vet who came to the farm so that there would be no added stress to poor Ben, and he had a peaceful passing.   We miss the big guy, he was a horse in the house and there’s a big hole in our hearts and hearth where he once took up space.  I don’t know that we’ll bring home another giant dog, they don’t live long enough and their decline is so heartbreaking to watch, although that’s true of any living thing.

New England has experienced many  perfect weather days in recent weeks. Fall is unfurling slowly into the morning and evening light, the leaves beginning to change color.  Some Autumns are a dud as far as foliage color depending on weather conditions, and some are just glorious.  We’ve had many Monarch butterflies in the hay fields and in  our Zinnia patch!

We will soon tuck our Stella by the Sea away, as her 2019 season has come to an end.  Closing up a summer cottage is a reluctant good bye, thankfully just a temporary one.

In this glorious month of September, my sister’s youngest son was married on their farm.  The bride and groom were so clearly happy and in love, and the wedding was a fun event – with fall decor and comfort foods and a great DJ who got the crowd dancing, rocking the house all night.  The wedding cake wasn’t a cake at all – it was DONUTS!… a nod, no doubt, to the groom’s profession – a police officer.  Wishing Brian and Kate many many happy years.

My kids, my niece and my other kids……

Mom and sister, Sue

I think my most favorite picture of my mom, ever… in my sister’s Sunflower patch on that day…

On the better health front, I’ve lost 10 lbs of my 25 lb weight loss goal so far, and the rest ain’t gonna come off easy.  Menopause sucks in some ways, this is one of them.  A nutritionist has helped me sort out why I overeat and how I can make changes that are doable for the rest of my life, to keep the weight off.  I’m still tweeking, because Lord I Love To Eat.  And Cook, And Bake.  But… slow and steady wins the race.   This below is a good mantra to keep in your arsenal for making positive change in your life.

In closing,  I’ll give you a sneak peak of our daughter’s new home, right next door to this old house on the farm.  By September 30th, they’ll be in!

Till soon, friends…

 

 

Nine Eleven : Then and Now

 

Written by my mother, Kathleen Amoia  ❤️

Nine Eleven: Then and Now

There we were

Under blue skies
White clouds, clear air,
Surrounded by star sparkled water,
A people and place
Renewed by autumn’s grace.

And there they stood,
Magnificent in their arrogance;
Reaching above their sisters,
Symbols of commerce
And a nation’s invincibility.

And then they came
In their silver bullets,
Crazed martyrs for a regressive world order.
And they plowed into that magnificent arrogance
And brought it down.

Others came
In uniforms, rescue trucks.
On or off duty, there!
Rushing in to save, to put out fires,
Manage the unimaginable.
And they too were brought down.

Then we came,
Grieving and betrayed,
Yet rising to the occasion;
Doing and giving,
Kinder, if not wiser.
Answering the mournful wail of bagpipes,
We bore witness
On endless funeral lines.
And became a better people.

For a while.

Two Weeks Later
This ferry ride was unlike hundreds I’d taken.
Sorrow sat on every bench.
Silence screamed its presence.
No commuters here,
We had all come to bear witness

Zombie-like we left the terminal.
Still no voices, yet an unfamiliar noise
Assaulted our ears:
Huge generators plugged into the
Heart of commerce.
The smell was of wet cement,
The sight, army tents in Battery Park.

Four deep, we walked the washed sidewalks
Toward the epicenter,
Passed windows coated in the
Grey sands of death:
Passed smiling photos of the missing, presumed dead.
In a dust filled shop two Pakistanis (perhaps)
Watched over ruined merchandise,
Their faces masks of despair.

Putting one foot in front of another, we advanced,
Gently prodded by grieving cops.
And then it was there,
An eerie skeleton,
Diminished, off balance, smoking still,
Twisted steel a stand-in for twisted minds.

We heard trucks removing what had been and
No longer was;
Saw ambulances awaiting those
Who would never need them.
Our only comfort
The commonality we saw in each others’ eyes.

Will it be enough ?

Five Years Later

Here we are today:
Awash in opportunities lost
Cynically divided
Called unpatriotic supporters of terrorism
Should we point out the obvious
Led by shallow ideologues and a
Constipated Congress that lacks both spine and statesmanship.

We have allowed:
Form to triumph over substance
Lobbyists to write our laws
Simplistic slogans to influence when
Critical thought was needed
Science to be denigrated
Fundamentalism to hold sway
Fear mongering to win.

The question has become:
Do we have the wisdom or the will
To work for the broader public good
(Assuming we still know what that means)
Take honest stock of the effects
Of capitalism as Holy Grail
Plan a future worthy of the legacy
Of our founders
Participate in our democracy
As the responsibility it is
Call to the fore, by a renewed sense of purpose,
Leaders and statesmen worthy of the titles
Rediscover our commonality
And again, become a better people?

 

Summer’s End

I cannot believe how fast this summer has flown by, are you all feeling the same?

Summer is my favorite season, although as I’ve grown older I have  developed a real love for the treasures of each of the four.  When I was a young girl I dreamed of someday living in the land of endless Summer – for me that was Florida.  As an older adult that goal has shifted – I feel sorry for those who never know the golden light cast on a cool autumn morning as orange, red and yellow leaves swirl about your feet.  The crunch of snow under boots and the sparkle of sunlight on snow on a January day. The song in the heart when the first crocus unfurls from the thawing earth with the promise of Spring.

I’ve been letting myself get all crazy with the freak show that is our current governing body, praying with everything I’ve got that those who still support The Orange Scream will see all the damage he’s inflicting on our integrity, our relationships with allies, our natural resources, the protections from abuse of animals, truth in general…. I’m just too weary of soul to continue with this list.  It’s dumbfounding, the support – just WTF is happening to this country?   So because of the fret over this menace in the White House, in this greed and cruelty gone rampant, the fibromyalgia in my body  has done the same.  I need to walk away from it, but that also feels irresponsible to me… we need to bear witness to the destruction so we can perhaps recognize and assist whatever will be the catalyst to get us the hell out of this mess.

Below is a picture of my ancient Dane, Ben, right now as I type, sharing his bed with Frasier.  They weren’t friends, ever, but now as Ben struggles with the simplest tasks in old age, Frasier has stepped up ❤️. As I am discouraged daily watching humans become more bold with their darker side, I am continuously reminded of the simple Grace of the animals. We still have things to learn from those we consider lesser beings.

I think it’s safe to assume I am now in the Autumn of my life – 54 is middle-middle aged, right?  The lines on my face and the ache in my body tells me so.     Until recently I had an inherent belief that the country I lived in, for the most part, was made up of people who believed we are all equal, that despite our differences, we were one nation, whether under a God or not.  I truly believed greed and racism and hatred for anything that isn’t what we think we are, was dying out.   Or at the very least, not -winning-.     So.. much.. winning.   What I fear most for our country, this land that I love, is that we are in the autumn of our decency, our respect for each other, and others beyond.  This earth is dying slowly, and we’re killing it daily, now untethered, unrestrained because Greed has been given the green light, the hate that flows in the veins of so many has been given permission to flow freely.  Division seems to be the goal, unity be damned.  These are not my assumptions, just listen to the message being sold. And so many are buying it.

I’m going to continue to try like hell to  maintain a little of Summer, even in the darkest nights of Winter, because without hope for the future, we are a lost cause, all of us. We will kill ourselves out in the end if we don’t wake up, if we don’t work hard to save  the gifts we were given from the very start.   Here’s to a return of Summer to the psyche of we, the people of this earth so that we may thrive in harmony, our samenesses and our differences alike.

 

 

 

 

Cape Wonder

I am in love with the house nextdoor! ❤  It just so happens to be the home my husband is building for our daughter and her guy.

When we first bought This Old House and the land around it, we knew there was potential for a few building lots, if the kids decided when they were grown that they’d like to settle in this area.   We are very fortunate to be in the business of building houses, so we can help them do this.  We’re also lucky they don’t mind living near mom and dad.  We’ve made the promise  that we’ll respect privacy so no one feels like the ‘rents are breathing down their neck.   A stand of trees planted in the field between us helps too.

We found a home plan on the internet that’s style is in keeping with the other 200 year old homes in this area, including Grace (our restored home).   The size is perfect, too –  we did some tweaking to the plan and the finished home will have a nice big kitchen and  open family room layout with master bedroom and bath on first floor, an office room which they both need for their jobs, a second half bath mud/laundry room and attached rear garage.  Upstairs, which for now will remain unfinished to keep mortgage and taxes down, has the potential and is rough framed for two bedrooms and two baths, should children come along or they want the additional space down the road.  There is also potential for a bonus room over the garage,  rough framed for now.  It’s a fantastic layout for a retired/empty nester person or couple as well.

Some light fixtures we’ve ordered ….

Their condo is sold and the closing is in a week, so they’ll be moving into Stella by the Sea for the remaining four weeks it will take to complete their home.

 

Do I even comment on the hundreds of atrocities in the news?  How about I just post this…

 

 

Martha’s Vineyard 2019

The Mr. and I took a mini vacation to one of my favorite places on earth, Martha’s Vineyard.  For us it’s just a 2.5 hour drive and 40 minute ferry ride to get there.  Although we’ve visited many times, this was a first in the month of August.  We probably won’t do that again, as the island was crazy crowded.   It dawned on me afterwards why…. This is illumination night week, Ag Fair week, and the Obamas come to stay for a while in the month of August… they arrived Saturday.  Would have loved to meet them…alas, we did not.

Before celebrities and politicians made the Cape islands like MV and Nantucket “chic”,  these were  simple, beautiful, rustic, windswept agricultural  and nautical treasures.   They still maintain much of that charm, although summer crowds and high grocery prices, mansions for the mega rich and the now crazy-high cost of real estate has most likely driven many of the past generations of families out, which is a sad thing.   I do feel for the locals as the summer people descend on their home territory.  We used to toss around the idea of buying a small cape out there for our family to enjoy, but that window of opportunity has closed now that the cost to buy is outrageous.  Stella, our little cottage by the sea here in CT,  is an affordable alternative.

The ferry ride is where I let go of any tension and take on the island vibe.  There are three major Ferries that take island visitors, delivery trucks, etc.  and residents back and forth all day and a few high speed ferries as well.

There are six towns on MV, each having a unique vibe.  Some more rural  with more of the rugged island beauty, like Aquinnah, Chilmark,  West Tisbury , whereas  Oak Bluffs, Tisbury (Vineyard Haven Village)  and Edgartown are very populated and developed.  All are steeped in a rich maritime, literate and agricultural  history.

We usually stay in Edgartown where the dining and shopping is plentiful and the walking neighborhood and gardens are absolutely beautiful.  Our morning ritual is to get up before the crowds and walk along the waterfront street to the Edgartown Light and along it’s beach. It’s so peaceful on an early summer morning with a light breeze off the water.  The few people we pass along the way usually greet us with “Good Morning” and we do the same.  You know… that simple gesture is an uplifting thing, I wish more people took part. On island  I have noticed many people were cordial, friendly, quick with a smile or a small kindness.  Perhaps we are all getting weary of the hate and greed fueled circus in the news and Washington.

So come take a stroll with us…

The roses, hibiscus and  Rose of Sharon were in full bloom everywhere – and the colors! Like this one below… were stunning.

 

At the end of the Edgartown Light beach, tucked around the bend we found an installment of the Kindess Rocks Project.  So many inspirational messages left here and the creator left a box full of markers for those inspired to leave a message of their own.  I loved it – more balm for the weary soul.

My small contribution  below…..

There are many beaches on Martha’s Vineyard – some private, some public, some small, some large, some clothing optional and most respect the privacy of those who wish to go all natural and stay away from those sections.  Funny story… once when my kids were young and I didn’t know the separate areas, we were walking down a long stretch of beach coming from the full bathing suit section and I noticed up ahead it appeared everyone was wearing pink bathing suits… that’s strange, what are the odds? must be a special group? ….  until we got close enough for me to realize those were NOT pink bathing suits at all.   So I grabbed the hands of my kids and we turned around before they noticed.  Not that there’s anything wrong with nudity, but when you’re not prepared for public nudity it can be a bit of a shock and the reaction might be… rude.  Or at least obvious.

Our favorite beaches are South beach and State Beach, as differing in temperament as the towns.   South Beach at times can be wild in nature, wind and waves powerful, the ocean showing her might.  Swimming is possible here but you better be good at it.   We were here early morning just after breakfast and a  rain storm. The atmosphere was truly exhilarating! I got soaked but it was worth it.

State beach (below)  is a family favorite because it’s bayside and quiet.  Great for small kids to play and swim and relaxing overall. The famous “Jaws” bridge is along this beach.  It was our first stop after leaving the ferry, taking advantage of the sunny day.

We also indulged in our favorite meals at our favorite restaurants, the Black Dog tavern among them. (Building on the right) Many of the Black Dog clothing company photos you see in their catalog are taken on that dock.  They have a great cookbook and children’s book about the original Black Dog, too.

I am a big fan of  artist/author Susan Branch and we did a drive by of her home.  She’s so generous with her readers, sharing her home and recipes and heart warming art on her blog and in her books, it was a treat to glimpse her home in real time.  I tried to be respectful and quick, taking a photo from across the street and not gawking for more than 30 seconds.  The home is every bit as charming as she is, with paper cut out hearts strung in the window, just one of the many touches she designs and applies.  You can visit Susan Branch at susanbranch.com

 

We paid our respects to the late John Belushi, buried Up Island because he loved MV too… When he discovered the island and particularly “Up Island” where the rugged dunes and pastures and wind sweep coastline remain rural, he felt he finally found a place he could grow old.  Sadly, he didn’t.  People still leave stones, little messages, cigarettes, sometimes a beer.   Rumor has it his body is no longer here – the partying got so bad at his grave site and his widow felt people were disrespectful, so she had his body  moved to a more private site.  A grave stone remains… and reads.. I may be gone, but Rock and Roll Lives On. 

 

 

Fresh Salt

My gardens this year have been a bit of a mystery.

For one thing, the combination of some really intense rainstorms and some really humid days throughout the summer have produced an abundance of flowers and growth on all the perennials.  I’ve also noticed  the wild flowers/blooming weeds all along the roadsides seem to have multiplied tremendously,  Queen Ann’s Lace and  what I call black eyed susans in particular.

As for the vegetable gardens… well, despite my fortification attempts in the two large raised beds here on the farm…. all my tender care and raising from seedlings the tomato, eggplant,  yellow squash, onion and yellow beans….they were a miserable lot.  Having produced only a pathetic yield,  I cannot tell you why.   The only plants that were marginally happy in my farm garden this year were parsley and basil, zinnia and new-to-me Dahlia.

The SEASIDE cottage garden, however…. Stella’s little 1′  x 5 ‘ raised garden bed crammed up against the side of the house?  The one we did almost NOTHING to coax? … has triple the yield, go figure.    I’m thinking it must be the fresh salt air, the moisture off the water, and the fact that for hundreds of years, before the “island” became a  140 summer cottage retreat, it was a New England seaside cow farm.  Lots and lots of old fertilizer makes really rich soil.

Despite that wicked heat and thunder storms, we’ve had some beautiful weather this summer.  The family has been enjoying our little Stella by the Sea in between work and volunteer and farm obligations, and that brings me great joy.

As does a really good pound cake -Like this one found on the internet I’ll share  below.  I hope you’re having a good summer!  I’m trying to look away from  the ugly and look for more of the good.  It is out there, we need to underline it, highlight it… celebrate what is beautiful, choose kindness and spread that shit like fairy dust wherever we can.

Old School Butter Pound Cake

 

Ingredients:
1 1/2 c cake flour
1 1/2 c all-purpose flour
3 stick butter, unsalted (softened at room temp)
8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
3 1/4 c sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 tsp almond extract
1 tsp salt
6 large eggs

Directions

1. Beat butter and cream cheese with a mixer on medium speed until mixture comes together.

2. Add sugar and extracts; beat until light and fluffy. Reduce speed to low.
3. Add eggs, one at a time, alternating with flours 1/2 cup at a time until all eggs and flours are used.
4. Transfer to a buttered, oiled and floured, 10-cup shaped pan such as bundt pan.
5. Place in cold oven. Heat oven to 325 degrees. Bake until an inserted tester comes out clean about 1 1/2 hours.
6. Remove cake from pan. Let cool on wire rack.

Thoughts and Prayers

Gun violence and hate in this country have reached epidemic proportions. The NRA is a known propaganda machine, corrupt to its core- a totally different animal than it once was and it pumps that corruption through our republican politicians veins. A government and President that does NOTHING about this and encourages the white nationalist hate with his own rhetoric …..“ there are fine people on both sides” ….is poison to our already troubled society.

I am not anti gun, I’m no snowflake. Why the Fuck isn’t every single person screaming for sensible gun laws? And why are social media pages allowing hate groups like the one the Texas shooter belonged to online? Freedom of speech? I get it, but hate? It kills and kills and kills.

The bullshit line that guns don’t kill, people do… is true and false. We have no idea how many lives could be saved by implementing more sensible gun laws, and that does NOT mean taking them away from sensible law abiding mentally healthy people. Just one example – How wonderful it would have been if mental health history was considered before the Sandy Hook slaughterer was allowed to take shooting lessons and his mother was allowed to give him access to hers and encourage his use of them. What are the statistics in countries where sensible gun laws are applied? Yeah… so I guess we do know.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the POTUS would give a thorough anti hate speech for once? But he won’t, because he knows hate fuels his campaign. Just watch any one rally, I’m not asking you to take my word for it. He stokes it! This isn’t just a mental health issue, of which this country is sorely lacking in affordable treatment options. It’s a hate issue as well.

WAKE UP.

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Ambrosia

I may do a lot of communicating my views on social media, but I don’t often get too personal regarding whatever my life struggles. Believe it or not, I usually view that as a weakness and I’m not a cryer. This morning I woke with a song in my head and then tears in my eyes, and neither is a normal occurrence. With my hearing loss I lost music as well as language identification.  The the biggest tragedy for me with this handicap? – no music. But the song is an oldie and because of my love for music and my participation in bands in my younger years I remember every inflection, every cymbal, every trill, every beat, every note of most of the songs we all loved in our youth. So this song this morning – Ambrosia – You’re the Only Woman. I wondered why it’s making me tear up now, what heart string is it strumming so deeply that it’s bringing me to tears … and then I realize what this release is and how those words apply …and now I can’t stop the flood.

I am so horrified and heartbroken at all this hate I’m seeing on the news, on social media, even from some of the people I know well – our country is in real turmoil and it’s coming from all angles and all walks of life. I might some day go for that operation that could restore some hearing and perhaps some music in my life… ..and I hope and pray every single day this world finds it’s way back together in some form of peace we can all live with.  As with that operation , the fix might be painful and there are some risks, results not guaranteed, might have to step out of our comfort zone, but isn’t it worth it? Aren’t we worth it? How comfortable is what we have right now for any of us??

This is a beautiful world we live in and I  see it more acutely now that I can no longer hear it. I want to take every one of you in my arms and heal these wounds for all. I’ll pray that we all wake up and smell the coffee, see the value in loving and respecting each other and truly hear the music, inside ourselves and outside in the world … despite our differences. We are so lucky to live here, we should all love this place with all it’s flaws, and fix them. I just want us all to realize that, and to find the path that leads us to loving and respecting each other for whatever time we each have here on this earth..

When the pain of love surrounds you 
And the world may be unkind
I’ll put my lovin’ arms around you 
Take you far from this place and time

Because you and I been in love too long 
To worry ’bout tomorrow 
Here’s a place where we both belong….……………………..