Berries and Gardens

  I loved so many things about my Grandmother, Elsie.  She was one heck of a great cook and baker, our family was treated to many a three course meal at her elegant dining room table, good china used regularly! ..( I think my mom still has it).  Boy, could she make a mean pie – Apple, Chocolate Cream, Banana cream, Blueberry –  and speaking of blueberries – she knew how much I loved them. Often when I came to visit,  she would offer me one of my favorite snacks – a bowl of blueberries in heavy cream with just a little sugar sprinkled on top.  To this day it’s one of my favorites… 
   With global food transport nowadays, you can get just about anything at any time of year.  But, when berry season comes around, I buy local and oooh, that fresh local berry taste!  Of course, blueberries and strawberries, blackberries and raspberries warm from the sun, fresh off the vine and popped right in your mouth is the absolute best, and we tried to create that experience here on the farm – more than once.  The bird and insects and bunnies won out, however, and we gave up that ship eventually.  
 Along with my love of berries comes a love for warm berry cobbler, berry pies, scones, the list goes on. Below are a few recipes I’ve found over the years and prove to be a hit –  *these are not my recipe, nor are they my pictures.   Served warm with slightly melty vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream, delish! 




  Now, on to the gardens.  
   We had a glorious weather day yesterday, so I took advantage and stuff got done here at the farm in the gardens. 
   First, we got rid of all the knock.out roses we planted around the foundation of the house 9 years ago when restoration was complete, because despite their reputation for being a really easy rose,  they turned out to be a pain in the @$$.  They just were never truly happy – between the bugs and the rain rot and the mold and the grubs and the beetles and the worms –  we finally ripped them out and replaced them with some interesting shrubbery… 
Below is a shrub that’s new to me –  an orange Azalea that has a lovely scent – 
 In front of the back porch –  (this picture taken just minutes ago – yes, rain again. )   I planted two spirea yellow/green leaf)  and another in the center, who’s name I have forgotten.   There are day lilies  and Sweet William in front of them,  a hydrangea to the left, bee balm,  daisies and two large shrubs who’s name I have also forgotten on the right, that have tripled in size in one year. 
Three of the four shrub nest babies have hatched! They are Chipping Sparrows, 
thank you to Florida Farm Girl,  who correctly identified the parents! 
I cleaned up the bird bath garden –  and beyond it you see our vegetable garden. 
   
      The raised beds are now full with Tomatoes, yellow stringbeans, purple peppers, sweet basil, eggplant (the little ivory and purple striped variety)  artichoke – because my son wanted to try them, Spinach, dragon tongue beans (yellow purple stripe) and two rows of Zinnia (Thanks, H).  

 Over at the shed in the little Pig Garden … 

     It felt so good to get all that in the ground, I separated some perennials that could afford the thinning  ( well I could sure afford some thinning)  in the remaining shrub pots and brought them down to Stella by the Sea this morning and planted those too, before the raindrops began to fall.

Some gems hand painted in water color by Susan Branch…

 I’ll just never be a toenail painting chick, and I suppose this blog is as close to a diary as I’ll ever get,  but the rest of it sound perfectly wonderful to me.

Thanks for stopping by –

    

    

This one requires a cup of coffee ..

  No really – lots to cover, go get one.  And a donut – trust me on this.  side note: I just found out the Redneck Donut Truck  (actual name) up the road a piece is packing up after today to move back to their homeland four towns over – this is terrible news, and it’s very good news, depending on whether you talk to my mind or my “matter” .  Their canoli donut was thebestpieceofdonut I have ever had, ever. 
Anyway… 
 First let me say, if you were in on the religion conversation post, thank you so much for your thought provoking and respectful answers – I so enjoyed reading your take on the subject. And that’s all I’m gonna say about that.

   I’m not a dyed in the wool Royal Watcher  although I’ve read the headlines over the years, seen the stories, watched news coverage of the weddings, the funerals, the scandals even.  I watched along with everyone else  in horror as Diana’s world unraveled and ended really badly and far too soon.  Who doesn’t admire how those two boys have persevered in the glare of the royal spotlight over the years, carrying out their born duties with some grace and class, and fun! Harry underlined here.   Harry is my favorite and he and his bride were humanitarians before they met each other – imagine the dynamic team they will be.  Watching the royal wedding today, you’d have to be dead not to notice the radiance and genuine smiles shared between he and Meghan M. I loved her choice of simple yet elegant gown and veil,   and the personal and refreshing twists they bestowed on the wedding ceremony itself. Truly they are a breath of fresh air, bringing the Royal Family into a more modern light.  Surprisingly I had tears in my eyes as I watched this morning,  and I’m no sap.  
   So… this guy showed up on our side porch the other day…   a gift from a dear friend just because, a fellow blogger who shares my birthday!   It was evident right away that Henry was  not made for farm life,  so I brought him down to Stella by the Sea to see if that environment suited him better. 
   Aaaah, MUCH better.
  While we’re here, let me show you the new furniture reveal.  The couch and chair  are of rugged material a summer cottage demands, in soothing shore colors that say Relax! Summer!  The Mr. and I moved furniture around yesterday because last year it felt like we just jammed stuff in there in our big rush to enjoy our first “cottage life” season.  So the little space felt.. rushed.  
 The table and chairs are now centered in the room, not pressed against the windows… 

The rug that was in that floor space all by itself is now in the kitchen work area…

  My  $100.  “Edith” chair now in the “living room” area instead of squished in a corner of the bedroom where it got no use.  (the table and chairs used to be in that back corner to the left of the Mr. )  We do have to relocate the little chandelier now that there’s no table under it.

The new recliner and couch with a sturdy whitewashed bench type table for putting feet up or resting drinks, etc. on. 

     Let’s head outside… An Awesome quality about cottage life – small spaces are easy to clean – and mow!  Garden management is minimal.   My new perennials are happy and growing… they like all this rain we’ve been getting. 
 The robins on the back porch – initial there were four eggs in the nest. 
  Then it  looked like this just four  days ago…  and I thought there were only two… 
Now they look like this… and there are very definitely three.  Absolutely amazing, the speed of the development of birds from egg to fledgling. 
 I’ve also  put a few galvanized pots of flowers on the stone steps down to the water.
Believe it or not, this type of  super petunia is happy in that environment –
 wind of the water, rain and all. 

   And meanwhile, back at the ranch… we’ve got another cold, rainy day in store.  This is my current view out the kitchen sliders.  There is a little tiny nest in the shrub at bottom right… 
Inside that shrub is a perfect little nest with four tiny tiny eggs. 
This is momma or dad.  A song sparrow perhaps? 
Waiting anxiously for me to leave the area. 
  My rescue friends are holding an adoption event this weekend for shelter dogs in neighboring Durham, CT at the fairgrounds – 30 of the 60 dogs in attendance got homes in the first three hours, just amazing.  This is no easy feat – The dogs from down south are  most often  pulled from kill shelters or taken from abusive situation or strays that have been caught. Then they are  spayed, neutered and fully vetted and housed with fosters or with the rescues directly and evaluated for temperment and training.  Applications are taken and references are called and interviews conducted before any of the dogs are allowed to go home with their new families – It’s quite an operation, takes many many volunteers.  We’ve been doing this for about 9 years now, and it’s heartbreaking and extremely rewarding at the same time.  
   Yesterday I stopped in to drop off food for volunteers and help unload the dogs that had just arrived.  This little guy, whom my friend Lillian calls a squirrel, would have come home with me if I didn’t have four already.  He and his litter mates were so darn cute, hard to believe they were dumped.  Those ears!!… 
 

If you’re local and want more information, visit
www.homewardboundct.org
Whew! are you still with me?  We covered a lot of ground today – 
Time to spend a little quality time with the Mr. 
Got to stay in good standing in case I want to 
bring another “squirrel” home some day. 
Till soon, friends – 

On Being Religious, Or Not

    A friend once told me she wasn’t religious, even though she is prolific in her sharing of the Word of God and pretty quick to judge others who don’t live by “The Good Book”.  Well, a general description of the word “religious” is as follows: relating to or manifesting faithful devotion to an acknowledged ultimate reality or deity.    I’m thinking she qualifies… not that there’s anything wrong with that,  but it was a perplexing answer.  When I asked another how she came to be of such strong faith, she simply replied – I have to believe there is something better than this.  Well that’s just sad, never mind perplexing. 
      The whole subject of religion is perplexing, I’ve always been curious as to it’s origins, why so many people can have  blind faith in something or someone they’ve never technically seen or heard.  But even that sentence is tricky.   I am not a religious person, so who am I to say what your interpretation of communication with  God might be?   Indeed, it’s a very personal experience or belief.  We can’t ever know for sure whether there was a divine intervention in any particular situation, and so we are left to interpret in the many ways it’s possible with an event, a story,  a feeling, an intuition, a healing or a damning, even.

      It’s absolutely true that  religion brings peace of mind and comfort to those who find respite and joy in their faith, in their shared beliefs with fellow worshippers.  It gives many a sense of community, a belonging.  There is comfort and safety in a belief that there is something greater than us that created and loves us, that is watching over us and will guide us now and when we leave this world one day, as we all do, and hopefully – join another, free of pain and suffering if we earned it.  Religion  has often given order and moral code where there wasn’t any and for some it  gives meaning or attempts to make sense of what is sometimes a senseless world.

    If I’m being completely honest, when my daughter was in a coma years ago,  despite my non-religious status, I visited the hospital chapel daily – knelt before the altar and prayed.. and prayed.. and prayed, that my child up in that ICU hospital bed be saved, be healed, recover. I also complained – why do this to such a good, young, caring soul?  Why?  I was mad, I was scared, I was begging just in case there is indeed someone listening.  What eventually happened was – my daughter recovered.  Was it an answering of my prayers? Or good medical care and her own young body’s healing ability?  Maybe both?  We just can’t know.

     Religion has it’s dark side too, of course.  There are those who abuse their power because they are a representative of the deity and are adored and obeyed by trusting followers. There are those who justify hideous actions in the name of their  God. There are those who use their followers adoration and devotion for profit.  Look at the mega churches and the mega mansions they live in.  What comes to mind when I see those particulars is… think of all the good that money could have done, instead of these massive shrines and mega mansion lifestyles.  Not. very. charitable. A bit hypocritical! Sleezy even.  We all know how terr*rists use their religion as an excuse or justification to do some horrible things.

     There are approximately 4,200 religions in our World,  and that number astounds me.  Some share the same basic theories for the most part, others are a different concept all together.  If you believe absolutely in just one – then all 4, 199 of the others are just plain wrong?.. doesn’t seem right.    For me, I’ve had no trouble believing in evolution.  It’s proven, how we evolved, beyond a shadow of a scientific doubt.  But even with that belief, the concept of the human spirit, the conscience, the soul – has not been explained – and it is truly a miraculous thing, I can’t deny it.  Sometimes I wish I truly whole heartedly believed that when we die,  those who are worthy ( Well, now there’s another issue – what determines worthiness?  Church attendance?  Good deeds?  Confessional attendance? Donations? Kindness and charity?  )  are united with those we loved  who have passed before us, and go on to a heaven to be at peace with those we love and our creator in a pain-free other existence.  The hard parts of life would be easier if I had that belief, for sure.  But the reality of science and just this feeling that we need to make the most of this life is a bold thread that runs through the fabric of my belief system.   I try to do just that, knowing that we simply don’t know for sure what comes at the end of mortal life, regardless of our chosen beliefs.

    Here’s where the concept of  religion bothers me. I was raised a Catholic, but I don’t practice that religion.  I found it to be a bit hypocritical on several fronts and so I choose something different that I’ll describe below.  I read a very popular blog, and what initially attracted me to it is the incredible journey of a  young woman who was severely burned in a plane crash, a small plane her husband had been piloting. An instructor friend died in that crash.  Her story of survival and how she has moved on to raise her (now 5) children is powerful. I mention this now because she is a very devout M*rmon and it’s a strong theme throughout her blog. In her writing, one can’t help but get the sense that the M*rmon faith is more of a cult than anything else.  Much is demanded of it’s followers.  Some very big changes have occurred in the family’s life in recent years and she repeatedly refers to decisions they’ve made as having been sent by God.  I went for a walk and God told me selling this house and moving to the ranch was the right thing to do.    They did… and eight months later they are moving again, because even their readers could see it was a big mistake from the beginning for so many reasons.  When things like this occur,   it’s described  as a test God must have planned and they had to endure, they learned so much, it was part of the plan.    I don’t know… how about… you made some poor choices,  you learned from it, you’re moving on.  Did God really speak to her and tell her to sell the beloved family home and move to an isolated ranch in literally  the middle of nowhere where her kids wouldn’t see other humans for days on end, leaving all they knew and loved behind?  Did he send a note or was his voice in the air or coming from behind a burning bush on that walk?

    I know that sounds harsh – I’m not making fun of her, here  – I believe what she wrote is what she believes happened, however she interpreted the “message”.  But for a person like me, that’s not living in reality.   Through her writing it’s also clear that M*rmons believe only through their way of worship can you live a good and proper life.  Her husband once implied (in different words) in an article written for a local paper that a single mom and child was not a real family.   The M*rmon church seems to  have a lot of demands of their members, and are not warm to the outside.   That attitude is  probably true of many religions, to be fair.. and I have never practiced it, I don’t know all there is to know about being a M*rmon.  But I don’t find it to be very charitable – and isn’t that what religion is supposed to be made of  most of the time?   One more example…  M*rmon worshippers are segregated into wards. Districts, if I understand correctly.  If you are a M*rmon you are assigned to a ward, and you are expected to go to that temple, even if there is one a heck of a lot closer to your home that you would prefer.  If you weren’t assigned to that closer temple – you’re not supposed to go there.  The members will let you know that you are not welcome if you start to make it a habit. Stay in your Ward.   Again – not .. very.. charitable.  So much of organized religion is about control.

  There are those who say our current President brought God back into the White House.  Well.. if the reason behind that  thinking is because he now claims to be pro-life, anti-abortion – Let it be known that  until he decided to run on the Republican ticket, he was pro-choice for 69 years.  The flip was just another tool, another lie he used to get to where he is. He knew what his base wanted to hear.   If all his lies since election day, if his three marriages and many affairs and pussy grabbing lingo and mega-ego aren’t enough of an indication that God did not send D.Tr*mp to the White House,  well I’m stumped as to how that conclusion was drawn. Enough said on that subject.

    Then there is my friend, Vicky – who endures living with Stage 4 Breast Cancer.  Her faith is unwavering, and she finds much courage and strength in her beliefs. I find her references to her beliefs uplifting, encouraging.   It gets her through some very hard things, some very difficult days and nights – there’s no denying the power of prayer and a strong faith that brings much to her life, and many others.  She’s still here, longer than was expected.. and I do believe her faith has something to do with that.  I hope with all my heart she eventually resides in the Heaven she so deserves and we all hope for.

    So where does that leave me?  I call myself a spiritual person, and even that description has different interpretations.   For me it means I live and feel connected to and am responsible for the care and keeping of  myself, my people and  the natural world.  I feel connected to all people of this world  and I try to leave things better than I found them.  I exercise kindness to others and charity where I can afford to give it.  I don’t always get it right, but I right the wrongs and move forward.  If there is a God, hopefully he is not as impressed with  weekly pew sitters, some of whom live hypocritically once they leave the church on Sunday, as he is with those out there doing what they can where they can for the betterment of this world.   Hopefully there is a heaven where I may some day be reunited with all those I’ve loved, family, friends and animals.  And if there is not, I’m doing the best I can where I am now, here among the living.

   I know this is a difficult  and sometimes offensive subject because there are so many beliefs and they are often strongly held.  I welcome your views, similar or differing,   if you would like to join in the conversation.  Respectful conversation and an open mind, especially when opinions differ, are how we learn and grow, so I will always encourage the practice.  The above is just my opinion and how I choose to live and share my life.  By no means do I think I have all the answers.

Thank you for stopping by –

     

Spring on the farm and a Happy Mother’s Day to all –

     This is truly the most glorious time of the year for farms, even a small one like ours. Fresh green grass in the hay fields, blooms on the fruit trees and ornamentals, the garden plants beginning to grow, perennials have made their reappearance and even multiplied, even the animals demeanor is uplifted.  This particular Spring season took it’s sweet time arriving, but here she is in all her glory – 

 The beginnings of a Kale crop, below… 

Dragon Tongue Bean plants in abundance, hooray!
These beans are a very tasty string bean, and
very attractive too, yellow and purple striped.   

My son’s patch out in one of the fields – 
Pumpkins and melons 
  These zinnia seeds were planted  in a long double row 
on the edge of my vegetable garden this morning after horse  and chicken feeding – 
we’ve got rain on the horizon. 
A gift from Hilary 💓

The only  tulip that bloomed this year, out of at least 50 originals. 
Damned voles and grubs. 
This is the look I get from the girls if I take too long
opening their coopyard door… 

So they can do this…. Bug hunting

My glorious, most treasured ancient pear tree… 
half hollow,  with lost limbs in the recent
ice storm –  Still Standing. 

  The behind-the-porch-lantern Purple finch babies… 

Two days later – 

Now – an empty nest. 
Speaking of Empty Nests…. 
Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there – 
Being a mother is truly my most treasured role in life.
I feel blessed every single day to have 
my two children, both of whom I am so very proud of 
for so many reasons. 
AND…
for my mom, who is truly my best friend in life.
Who Woulda Thunk it… back in the days of
my mouthy teen aged self. 
AND… for my aunt, who gave me a huge opportunity
to move to and reside in this part of the world
where I was eventually able to make my dreams come true.
And.. for my sister, who not only raised her own daughter
to be a smart and fearless young woman – 
New Uconn Graduate! Hooray S!
… but raised someone else’s three children as well. 
And.. for my mother in law –
a genuine, generous person to all. 
 AND.. for my children’s significant others, also a blessing, 
a second set of children.  I’m grateful to feel that too. 
And.. how could I leave these guys out?  
They complete my world, for sure. 

What would Regis Do?

   I was  in the gym two days ago bitching to myself about how I had slacked off on my better health goals this winter, how I had not lost the extra weight yet, how I could be in better shape than this if I had more will power when it comes to food, blah blah blah….  and then in that very  same moment of bitching and self anger I heard some news from a good friend that spun me around real quick 💔.  Someone I worked with years ago at Unilever,  a woman who had known  real hardship but was a friend to everyone, regardless, who was always upbeat and had a wicked laugh that would make you  instantly laugh along with her despite any struggles she had – died suddenly, too young.  How I will miss her straight forward, no nonsense  political banter  and hearty zest for friendships and life.  I am so mad I didn’t visit with her last time she was in town, or the time before that. 


   Sometimes in those hard places in life, besides the pain of the loss, we are reminded of what really matters.  As I sat on the weight bench beating myself up over yet another thing – I thought of Regis’s outlook on life and  I knew what our departed friend would say  –   LIFE IS SHORT. Every minute of every day is a new opportunity to get it right. Let go of the baggage and any negativity. Embrace the gift of life and don’t waste any more time on anything or anyone that will bring you down. Rise up and live your best life, in all the little and big ways that have the most meaning to you. And, finally- those you love? Tell them. Tell them today.

  I had a good cry, shared a few conversations of disbelief with other friends of Regis, and set myself back on track with my health goals, right then and there.  Indeed – each minute of each day a new opportunity to get it right, and to appreciate all that is good. 


  
Rest in Peace, Regis – 
If there is a Heaven, 
you are certainly in it bringing them
all up to speed on current events
with a big dose of humor thrown in. 
Chris and Jeter, of course, by your side. 

The Elephant Trunk Flea Market

   Yesterday was a drizzly grey experience here in New England, the typical Spring day we are actually happy to see now that the Big Chill has left the area.  Holy hell, that was one long cold winter…. 
     Anyway – the Mr. and I went on a little rainy day junk hunting adventure about a 1.5 hour drive to the South West of us to The Elephant Trunk Flea Market in New Milford, CT.  The “ET” has  been in operation since 1976 , open Sundays from March to October, rain or shine.   In over 40 years time, the market has grown from just 15 vendors to over 500 on a good day – with food trucks galore from all over the East Coast.  It is a popular filming location for Lara of Good Morning America, Flea Market Flip.  We saw the film crew in action, rain didn’t deter them at all.  For more information, visit www.etflea.com.  If you live within a few hours drive and it’s a nice sunny day, I highly recommend the road trip.  Due to the rain and very muddy isles, the crowds were small and some vendors didn’t show up – things were a bit soggy, but I can see that on a sunny day, the place is a booming goldmine if you love treasure hunts like this.
Metal sculpture above – I almost bought a fish for Stella.
Why didn’t I?  *sigh
The headboard below is a very unique mix of wood varieties.
    

   My only treasure for the day was a sphere of flourite from this vendor –

  I hope I convinced this fellow below to join our Artisan Market at Parmelee Farm in September.  More on that in a future post.

   I’ve asked this fellow to join us as well…

      These weathered chippy old sage green doors would be a beautiful backdrop for something – portraits, even!

 Here’s Lara’s film crew working through the rain.

 

   On the way home, we had lunch at Maggie McFly’s – a great chain restaurant here in Connecticut that has an extensive American fare menu and prides itself on using local sources for produce, etc. to help support the communities around it.  I love that concept. I think they’ve just branched out to New Jersey also – if you’re near one, I recommend the dining experience.    On the menu it will tell you where the honey in your dish came from (Three Sisters Farm, Essex, CT), and there are many other examples such as that.

 Have a good day, All – and thank you for stopping by. 

Seaside Gardening

  Last year was *renovation year *for Stella – we had a lot of work to do, the smaller details had to wait.  Because the entire 300 acre parcel of land that these cottages sit on used to be home to many cows,  still is on a portion inland, the soil is rich.  Many of the cottages on island have little gardens, right now the daffodils planted along the little roads and in cottage gardens are in full bloom, some tulips too.  
 Stella’s street side… 
    This year I want to concentrate a little more on the  garden spots around our cottage.  The past few days have been in the 80’s –  wow! .. and that allowed me to get some serious gardening done.   I went to a nearby garden center and picked  up a flat of hot pink geraniums for the pots around the place.

Those two chubby toads came with the place..
I didn’t have it in me to kick them out. 
       On the street side,  I planted a few varieties of Iris  and purple balloon flower to blend with the Astilbe, hosta, hydrangea and something with a name I can’t remember but given to me by our dear friend, BJ, just down the road.  I also bought a bird bath which Momma Robin up in the porch has been using frequently.    She’s not happy we’ve returned. 
  There’s a perfectly good and quite charming birdhouse installed just 15 feet away in the large oak tree.  For whatever the reason, the birds ignore it completely, go figure. 
  
     Below is Stella’s waterfront, as seen from our neighbor’s yard. 
We’ve got a grub situation, so the Type A husband who likes the perfect
lawn is a bit frustrated with the patchy look. 
I say life’s too short to care about perfect lawn. 
He’s having none of it and is down there
this morning tackling the grubs.
May the force be with him. 

 In the firepit garden I have planted some Speedwell and 
Red Jewel to blend with the daisies I took from This Old House
and  Alium and native cranberry bushes. 
 Within a few years this should all fill in nicely, with something 
always in bloom throughout the summer. 
Sage and Lavender grow in a little patch on the other side
of the patio. 
I  also spent the last few days washing down surfaces,  mopping floors, 
running throw rugs and towels etc. through the washer, 
making beds and dusting furniture. 

   We’re still waiting for the new couch and recliner to be delivered – 

     And the refrigerator is stocked with water, gatorade, coke, dove ice cream bars, hotdogs, hamburgers,  cheddar, condiments and beer,  just the bare necessities to get the season started.  We also have enough toilet paper and paper towels for the next generation of inhabitants.  Notice a globe missing from the  light in the ceiling.  Yep, sometimes, you think you’re doing a good thing, and then you drop the globe in the sink just to add some excitement.  Fingers crossed they still make replacement globes for what I call the spider light.

Sharing a few summer recipes I am going to serve 
on Stella’s deck this summer
 – found them on pinterest 
(not my photos or recipes!) 
 We’re all trying to make healthier food choices – 
these fit the bill and are refreshing on hot summer days. 
Summer Corn Avocado Black Bean Dip 
Garlic Parmesan Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Watermelon Spa Smoothie
Found on Pinterest


Ingredients

    • 1 cup chopped watermelon
    • ½ cup chopped peeled cucumber
    • 6 ice cubes
    • Squeeze of lime juice
    • 2 teaspoons agave nectar (optional)
    • 1 tablespoon mint leaves for garnish

Directions

  • 1Combine watermelon, cucumber, ice cubes, lime juice and agave (if using) in a blender. Puree until smooth. Garnish with mint, if desired.

Mom says it best

     Lately I’ve tried to stay out of the political fray because I am so very tired of the bickering amongst we the people, let alone our governing forces.   Who would have ever thought we’d see such a polarizing POTUS….or that he could get away with so much utter crap.  (how about that forged doctors letter! – that is just bizarre).    One small comfort I take is – our government needed a shake up.  It needed a reality check – we the people were not being represented in our best interests for a variety of reasons and in several big arenas.  TR*MP isn’t wrong in calling out some of the very big issues we have faced for years and have not fixed.  The following came up and I want to share it, even though I’ve been enjoying the hiatus – which I’m returning to after this post, lol.  I welcome opposing views as long as comments are respectful.   
  I’ve spoken here before about living in a house politically divided.  I’m not affiliated with a particular party because I’m one of those who walks the middle ground in my views on a lot of issues, so that helps just a smidge.  Until the election of  DT – because TR*MP.      So, in order to avoid World War 3 on a small scale up here in this house,  we don’t talk politics often. The other day, the Mr. thought Dr. Charles Kra*thammer shared an opinion that should please us all and he sent it to my mother and I.  Turns out the piece is falsely credited, the author was actually another political columnist.   If you’re interested in that piece.. you can find it HERE.  with the snopes correction.
   Since he threw down the gauntlet and started the conversation, we both replied politely (really!)  on what we thought  of the piece.  My mom said it best – and I’ll share it here with you.  In it’s simplest form, the piece calls TR*MP a pragmatist, not a republican or democrat,  who is just what this country needed. It was clearly written by a conservative republican, because while it lays blame on both parties for the ills of our society today (I agree!!) it labels  Cl*nton and Sanders as Crazies trying to out crazy each other and speaks of being liberal as if it’s a disease. While I didn’t agree with Cl*nton and Sanders on all points, nor do I think Cl*nton was a stellar choice for President, they certainly aren’t lunatics in any sense of the word and being liberal is no more a disease than being a conservative republican.  There’s another little blurb about those of us who haven’t achieved greatness or -done anything ! –   we  apparently can’t understand  or appreciate true greatness and  the confidence 45 displays because we haven’t achieved anything –  (wow, dude). 
    Anyway –  my mother’s response to the piece in the link above……
I agree that Trump is not a Conservative. He is a pragmatist  in the 
sense that what is good for him is what he wants. He is also a 
pragmatist in the sense that he will keep on the issues that he feels 
will keep his base loving him.  There is no question in my mind that 
both established parties have left the mass of the people behind, 
sometimes out of ignorance, sometimes out of arrogance,often just to 
ensure they got rich.

 We need a new paradigm for the new age we are 
facing. Globalism is not going away unless there is a planet wide 
catastrophe. I see that as being a viral or bacterial pandemic, nuclear 
war, or the more gradual effects of unaddressed global warming. 
Pragmatism and straight talking is helpful, but that is not what we are 
getting and I think the author of the piece  knows that. What we’ve got is a bull in 
a china shop thrashing around. He may break some things that need to be 
broken but he is not discriminating. Breaking the Justice Department and 
the FBI will have consequences. Encouraging the dog whistles of racism 
will have consequences. Hyper-divisiveness will have consequences.

  We are hopefully in for a sea change in our political life over the 
next decade and if it is more pragmatic, transparent, and genuinely 
aimed at strengthening the economic position of the middle and working 
class, then we will all be better off. The other possible changes of 
which there are signs  around the world are less democracy and more 
fascism. We are at a tipping point and could go either way. Trump by his 
very nature leans fascist.

     
   Well said, mom.  Thank you – 

Glorious Day!

    Glorious morning turned to a glorious day! – even the chickens were excited when I turned them out for a few hours while doing barn chores.  Bugs everywhere ! – a chickens dream come true. 
    It feels so darn good to  MOW THE LAWN again!  I wasn’t sure mother nature was ever gonna let that happen , like.. ever.. again!  I don’t mow the lawn here at the farm – it’s acres worth so I leave that up to the menfolk.  But Stella – well, her little postage stamp grass plot is totally doable – even with a manual push mower – you remember those, don’t ya?  I get a lot of satisfaction out of that little chore, believe it or not.  
    Once the water is turned on for the season (any day now) we’ll spend more time down there giving her a thorough Spring Cleaning and some repair work to the cement dock/launch pad. 
  I did this again too – 
I actually felt guilty sitting down at waters edge for no more than 15 minutes, knowing I had chores waiting for me here at home – how silly is that?  Truly – we all need to grant ourselves permission to stop and smell the roses – for more than 15 seconds. The recharge is necessary for our well being, our sanity.  Why all the effort if we can’t relax and enjoy the fruits of our labor?  Does it sound like I’m trying to convince myself here? Yep and yep again.  
I discovered there are now FOUR eggs in the porch nest at the cottage – and they are Robin eggs, not a catbird.  Momma Robin was there today very annoyed with the racket I was making. 
Meanwhile, back at the farm – this picture taken just minutes ago of the Purple Finch babies in the nest behind the lantern porch outside my office door.  Can you believe the difference in just a few days?  Birds are amazing for so many reasons. 
   Do you like to cook?  I  ordered this cookbook on Amazon, have already made three recipes out of it, and it is my favorite already.  This is gooood home cooking from scratch but not too complicated.. absolutely delicious, fresh food.  I am not paid to say anything on my blog, no ads here, just honest recommendation when I find something I love. 
  So far, the Parker House Rolls (so damned good they oughta be illegal – you know, that buttery, crusty, salty combination of a good roll that melts in your mouth – so good it’s bad! ) , Beef Chili and Chicken Cacciatore are divine! Delish!  Picky Husband approved!  And there is everything in this book, from apps to soups to salads, dinners, desserts and even drinks…

Some moon shots I took the other night – still learning some of the more technical settings that would require manual reading – bleh, not a strong suit of mine,  map reading, ditto – thank the lord for Nav in the car.  …. .
   Today – My husband just returning home from a long day of work, and this is what I saw  –   
   Apparently sometimes those last 30 steps to the house are just too much…. 

    So go… sit for a spell – somewhere that brings you peace of mind.  Someplace that lets you breathe deep and exhale slowly. Thank the powers that be and your own power – for all that is good. Don’t forget to record the moment and  take a selfie without worry of no-makeup and unbrushed hair and wrinkles and fat rolls  .. and.. and.  Because we’re just so damned lucky to be alive and relatively well.  That’s the cake –  The rest is icing. 
     

Till soon – 
  

Cottage Days

 Yesterday was glorious – the sun shown bright and it’s warmth on our skin was a much needed reprieve from what has been a very long, cold winter into spring.   
  M and I went down to Stella and cleaned out the rest of the little perennial beds and raked the lawn yesterday.  What’s truly awesome about a little place like this is, it takes very little time to winterize, and open her up for the season.  Little accents like fresh annuals in the pots, now refurbished with new soil, and a few more perennials to fill out the beds will come around Mother’s Day – the usual ‘safe date’ for spring planting in New England.  Come Mother’s Day, the garden centers around here are bustling with people itching to get out in the garden and add some color to the ‘scape. 
The forsythia is finally blooming, daylilies making their way up…. 

And the hosta is returning, having multiplied some. 
We have a Catbird nest and so far, one egg on Stella’s porch… 
    I am so happy to see how very clear the water has been this year in our cove, therefore the Sound and out to the Atlantic.  The Save The Sound efforts of the last 20 or so years have been successful.  Any improvements in our environment are something huge to celebrate. 
 After this winter’s ice storms, we need to repair our cement “deck” down at the waterfront. The ice broke it up pretty good – those repairs will happen soon and a hand rail will be installed so swimming and kayak launching will be a little easier.   The water was so clean and the temps warm enough to tempt me to test the waters, so to speak. 
These were Happy Feet – 
for about 30 seconds. 
   We came home to find our son out in the garden, planting the artichokes he had begun from seed.  Kale already growing in two rows.  I joined him, soaked some Dragon tongue beans in water while I sowed two rows – and planted those seeds as well.    Are we a bit hasty?  I hope not.  As you can see, the leaves aren’t even out on the trees yet – just the red haze of buds that are a promise. 
This morning, rain again. 
Frasier, Sally and Bailey have the right idea, I think. 
 I’m going to try like hell to resist
the urge to bake something. 
Because the eating of it would come next. 
Will power of a flea, truth.

I’m also trying to ignore the urge to rant about
that egomaniac who can’t shut his own mouth
long enough to pay decent tribute to  Olympic athletes
without insulting them.
*hard to watch  …. 
 actually, my description for this entire 45 Presidency
can be described with those three little words.

Have a good day, All – thanks for stopping by.