Middle aged musings from farm & hearth
When I find myself running low on faith in humanity, I’m often refueled while out observing nature.
He comes every day to feed his friends. They are wary of others, but not him, it’s clear there is trust between them. After I observed for a while, he motioned me into his circle, spoke softly and encouraged the birds to take a cracker from my hand, and eventually they did, trusting him next to me.
My mother has always had a wide circle of friends, whether it was within her long career as a public school teacher, as a neighbor or a volunteer (Snug Harbor, Staten Island, Democratic Town Committee, to name just a few). Unlike so many friendships of my generation, they have remained close despite moves, retirements, etc . These four in particular are what I’ve always referred to as The Golden Girls. They have a comfortable friendship that spans decades, still going strong. They’ve each known personal trials, moves to different cities, illnesses, and in one case the worst form of grief. None of these things has frayed the ties that bind these women, and I’m grateful to bare witness to it all. Below is a piece my mother wrote this fall after one of their trips together.
** Mom’s version is spaced properly. For whatever the reason, my tech incompetence, perhaps? I haven’t been able to fix the spacing.. my apologies.
✨ Autumn’s Golden Girls✨
I am picked up at Metro Park by my friend with a sandwich in her hand
for the drive to Cape May
Never at a loss for words the chatter begins there and continues in Dawn’s driveway
Hugs all round and cookies from Staten Island’s Cookie Jar
Soup, talk, and cookies from the Cookie Jar
Gracious Thomas grinds coffee beans for tomorrow’s breakfast
Chattered out, sleep beckons
Plans for the next day revolve around cloudy skies and the threat of rain
A visit to Stone Harbor with the movie “Downton Abbey” in mind
And shopping, of course, clothes today
Autumn colored blouse for Roseann and tailored coat for Dawn
Necklace thrown in there somewhere
Diane and I literally sit this one out in the store’s comfortable sitting area
(Probably meant for bored husbands)
Walk through the boutique hotel The Reeds at Shelter Haven
Menu there for Thanksgiving Dinner
Not bad price, Dawn
Movie theater for snacks—nice set up
And then a reunion with Lord Grantham and other old friends
Whether upstairs or down, Mr. Carson greets us still as Violet raises her brow at the intrusion of the hoi polloi
Dining out at Ebbitts after drinks by their fire
Good food, good drinks, more good chatter
And home to those wonderful cookies
Ball game on, Tommy keeps us posted as we catch up on pretty much everything
families, the state of the younger generations,
old friends, new homes and a LAP POOL , trips enjoyed and those planned
It’s pretty much all good
And now everyone of us is in our seventies (at least until next May)
Where did all the decades go?
The lesson there: Seize the day, every damn day!
So we seize a shopping day, you knew that was coming
For the first time I spend the most, in a Christmas shop no less!
Even need to mail stuff home.
It is the proximity of Rosie egging me on I think.
So yeah, Rosie’s fault.
Lunch at Congress Hall
and more shopping
How do you spend $37 on Birthday cards in five minutes?
Easy at the Whale’s Tale
Diane and Dawn are the most restrained shoppers this go round
Dinner of sandwiches and left overs and cookies
Earlier to bed for tomorrow’s trip home
Breakfast and chatter
Pack up and head out
Train is not missed, Diane is home before it leaves station
Another visit of friends, a little creakier and grayer
But just as happy to share time together, a glass of wine together,
A walk through an iconic town center together
The Cape May of a golden October afternoon
A few thoughts found and cherished about friends and friendships
“Life is partly what we make it,
and partly what it is made by the friends we choose.”
Tennessee Williams
“Friendships multiply joys and divide griefs”
“Friendship can’t be a big thing. It’s a million little things.”
Til next time, my friends. While we get grayer the friendships remain golden. And that’s a fact.
On Saturday the Mr. and I woke up at our usual time, 5:00 am ……why? We have no idea, but it’s just always been our way, to be up at the crack of dawn. In that way we are well suited for each other. With perfect temps and sun on the horizon, no big obligations for the day we decided … Let’s go to Woodstock.
With K living right next door now, a simple text ….. can you feed and turn out horses and dogs today, etc. so we can take a day trip?… and because she also gets up at the crack of dawn religiously, the answer was immediate.. sure thing!
And off we went. The colors are so glorious this year, conditions must have been just right. We hit our favorite places along this route – Scott Orchard first in Dummerston where I grabbed a few bags of heirloom apples you don’t find anywhere else, and their delicious heirloom apple cider. I love their farm buildings, too… hundreds of years old. The slate roofing.. just beautiful.
Then into Woodstock, were we walked on the green, visited the Woodstock Inn, inquired to see if there was possible just one room left so we could stay overnight – nope. Bummer. This is the weekend we usually come with the family and stay for a few days, booked way in advance. With other travel plans next spring, we decided to forgo the expense this year, with just a day trip for the Vermont Fix we crave.
We had a delicious lunch at the Mountain Creamery – a lovely old shop that retains it’s simple farm style charm (they raise their own livestock for their signature meals and ice cream) A better sandwich or ice cream float you will not find in Woodstock, I can attest to that. Their mile high apple pie is so good, I took an entire pie home in a box for later enjoyment, just a slice would not have been enough.
Turkey Bacon Cheese Pesto sammy with a side of potato salad like no other (shredded veggies in it, what a perfect addition)
Then we headed over to Billings Farm to visit our cows. I say our cows because I’m hoping one day to convince the Mr., who loves them as much as I do, that our little farm needs two cows, and two cows need our farm. I’d like to buy two bull calves who would otherwise be sold most likely for veal and let them live their lives out on our farm the natural way, as pets. If you have to be a dairy cow, the Billings farm is a good place to be, as they take excellent care of their herds. But.. the realities are still what they are – any boy calves born are not needed unless you’re one of the lucky few who are kept for breeding purposes.
Our Woodstock trips aren’t complete without a stop in the old Gillinghams General Store, not much has changed here either in many years, and we’re so glad of it.
This good dog did not move one inch, didn’t gaze anywhere but directly into the store where his mom was right inside the door for just a few minutes. I loved his intensity of duty.
Till soon, friends…
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.
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.
We had two glorious weekend days, perfect weather for doing anything outside. We decided to hop in the truck with two of our four kiddos and head over to Newport, Rhode Island. What comes to mind for most people when they hear that destination are the famous mansions on Bellevue Avenue, also know as Mansion Row. Over the years we’ve taken a tour of many of them, including the Breakers, Rosecliff, Marble House and the estate of the eccentric Doris Duke. They are something to behold if you’re ever in the area.
On this trip, we went for the food, the shopping, and in search of a possible mantle for the kids future home. We didn’t find one that was reasonably priced or in great condition, but we had plenty of fun on the hunt. See the alligator statue in the pool?
The kids loved this table – it’s bigger than it looks in this photo. Each of those teak chairs were $450., so… you can imagine what the table goes for.
These benches were so comfortable and unique, I’d love to have one on the farm perhaps in the back yard near the garden, or down at Stella by the sea. The price tag put a squash on that idea – around $3,500.
We pulled out of that parking lot with a truck bed devoid of new furnishings, and headed downtown for a delicious meal and drinks at The Red Parrot.
It’s a beautiful thing when your kids bring into the fold another person who becomes a loved family member. The chocolate monkey drink is another beautiful thing on a warm summer day.
After a savory lunch of Sexy Steak Salad (that’s what they call it!) we walked out into the crowds and browsed the shops. Those fun buggies can be rented to cruise the area, but the traffic is so heavy I’d be nervous in such a small craft.
After the little bit of shopping ( we came away with a few bars of soap, how’s that for constraint) we appeased the menfolk with a tour of the car museum located near the Tennis Hall of Fame.
They don’t make them like they used to, the detail on these early autos is just stunning.
We stopped by the water just briefly so I could stick my feet in the water and soak up a little Vitamin Sea, and then we drove home in the expected summer traffic down I-95. It was a very good day indeed 🍹⚓🌞
A quick easy fun recipe to share with you, from a friends fb page… I made them yesterday, delish! Perfect summer dessert. I used a red Cabernet and red seedless grapes.
I hope all is well in your world, thank you for stopping by –
