Lighting up the night

This morning when I walked Ella down to the shore, it was a dark dawn sky, so heavily clouded with the snow that would fall later that no sun broke through.  Then I remembered that the winter solstice is less than 2 weeks away, and after that, the days grow longer.  Okay, imperceptibly at first, but longer, not shorter, leading inexorably to spring and then summer. (Pretty demoralizing to be thinking ahead to summer when winter is just getting started!)

Meanwhile, one of the schooners at the docks at Ulmer's Point has strung holiday lights on its standing rigging and hoisted a lighted Christmas tree to the top of its main mast.  Here's the lights and at the top of the photo is the tree:

I tried to zoom in on the tree, which made it appear to be floating in space:

Meanwhile, an inch of snow, which is going to be melted away tonight or tomorrow as the weather warms and dumps rain in place of snow.

Okay with me.

Peace.

Nelson Mandela

I woke up today to learn that Nelson Mandela had passed away last evening at the age of 95.  Periodically through the day, I was able to hear some of the NPR stories reviewing his life and accomplishments.  27 years in prison!  From prison to president of a country.  Always speaking out against discrimination and hate everywhere, promoting reconciliation, embodying kindness and compassion.

May Nelson Mandela's memory be a blessing for people all over the world who still languish in prison, suffer hunger, poverty, disease, discrimination, injustice.  Long live Nelson Mandela!

Peace!  Justice!

Thanksgiving + Hanukkah

Long time, no writing here.  I apologize to anyone still checking in from time to time.  After my trip to Connecticut, I was busy with work and getting ready to go to Atlanta for a visit.  Then came the Atlanta trip, and I came back bringing a bad cold.  Ten days of recovering from the cold - working while doing so - and I had no energy for much of anything not connected to eating, sleeping or working.

The visit to Atlanta - apart from catching the cold (for which I blame the flights on the virus-incubating flying metal cylinders) - was very lovely.  My daughter, Corinne, my grandson, Cachao, my brother, John, and I all went with my son, Sam, to the showing of the film Sam edited (Knock Around Kids) at the Atlanta-based BronzeLens Film Festival.  A very appreciative if not huge crowd enjoyed the film, and Sam answered questions from the audience at the end.

I also got to go with my daughter-in-law, Cachao and his little brother, Cello, to see Cachao play his last soccer game of the season.  His team "lost" - although no one seemed particularly stressed by that fact.  Each kid on both teams received a trophy with his/her name on it.

I had a lovely breakfast with both my kids and both my grand kids, and then we sat in my sister-in-law's front yard (my daughter is living in one of the 2 duplex's apartments), watched the kids play, listened to Corinne's chickens clucking, and did that old southern thing, "visited."  It was lovely.  I also got to enjoy a lot of reading with Cachao - me reading to him, him reading to me, books by others, books that Cach has written (he's written several entire series!).

A few photos from the trip:

           













Now it is erev (the eve of) of the conjoined falling of the first day of Hanukkah and Thanksgiving, a highly unusual event that has caused more national media attention to Hanukkah than I recall in my lifetime, even in "Jewish" New York.  I'll light candles tonight, and tomorrow David and I are making Thanksgiving dinner here for David's niece, Sara, and her husband, Ed, and son, Christopher.  We have a very large 16 pound turkey to cook (smallest kosher turkey they had locally).  Sunday we volunteer at the local soup kitchen and it will be December.

We already had a dusting of snow yesterday morning, already melted away in today's rain.

Ready to cook turkey, ready to give thanks for family, friends, food and life generally.

Peace.

Goodbye October

I came back on Friday from another trip to CT.  Beautiful weather, the height of fall foliage and perfect driving conditions both directions, and the two days of meetings at work went well, too.  Also had a lovely visit with Helen.  The only disappointment was that our friend Susan was unable to join us from NY because she became ill.  

On coming home, I began preparing for the Challah Workshop that I offered to lead at the synagogue, which took place on Sunday.  Apart from an hour-long delay due to the burglar alarm going off - turned out to be a failure of the keypad - requiring multiple calls to the alarm company, help from other synagogue members, etc., in the end those who attended each left with a lovely brown baked loaf and their own dough, rising in a bowl to bake at home.  But, whew, am I glad that's done.

David spent his day off today building a composting bin -  very impressive, 3 separate compartments in one long bin, with chicken wire sides.  It's not quite finished yet - still needs front and top panels.  It looks like it will be able to create enough compost for us, our neighbors on both sides, and a few other gardeners besides.  But hey, can you really ever have too much compost?  And it is time to start composting.  The dregs of our garden are looking pretty scraggly and sad.  Of course, as soon as I get off my butt and rake the yard, we'll have a slew of leaves to add, too.

Synagogue services this weekend - Judaism and Buddhism is the theme - and on Sunday, we volunteer at the local soup kitchen.  David and I are signed up to make green vegetables.  Hmmm... green beans?  zucchini?

Meanwhile, a few more items from our local weekly paper give at least a sense of what's happening around here:

"Ladies Night" Shoppers' Showcase, Fri., Nov. 1, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Medomak Valley High School cafeteria, 320 Manktown Rd., Waldoboro. Bring the family for fun, food and fabulous merchandise. Benefits 2014 Project Graduation. FMI: 542-3822 or 691-8402.
Chainsaw Safety Course Level II, Sat., Nov. 2, 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Hidden Valley Nature Center, 131 Egypt Rd., Jefferson. Students will get practice felling trees in an applied setting. You must be proficient with modern directional felling techniques and demonstrate safe habits. Small groups will work closely with instructors. FMI: hvnc.org, andy@hvnc.org or 200-8840.
"Fish, Wind and Tide: Maine's Future Resources?" The Penobscot Marine Museum's 2013 History Conference runs 8:15 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., Nov. 2, at UMaine's Hutchinson Center, 80 Belmont Ave. (Rte. 3), Belfast. Panelists and lecturers include professors and researchers from New England schools and institutions. FMI: PenobscotMarineMuseum.org or 548-2529.
Have You Ever Met a Saw-Whet?, Sat., Nov. 2, 10 a.m., Warren Library, Main St. Wind Over Wings brings a variety of birds, including the smallest owl in Maine, the Saw-Whet, and the largest, the Great Horned Owl, to the library. Free, for all ages. FMI: 273-2900.
Pickleball Drop-In Clinic, Mondays-Thursdays, 6-7:30 a.m.; Mondays, 10 a.m.; Tuesdays, 1 p.m.; Thursdays, 10 a.m., Central Lincoln County YMCA, 525 Main St., Damariscotta. $2/free for Y members. FMI: 563-3477.

I don't meet the prerequisites for the Chainsaw Safety Course, and besides, I sort of want a lot of other people to take that course (like everybody who HAS a chain saw).  I haven't met a Saw-Whet, but pickleball sounds like it might be fun.

Peace and pickleball for all.

  

One year anniversary

Yesterday was the one year anniversary of our move to midcoast Maine.  It's been a good year.  A year of health for me - for which I'm supremely grateful -  a year of David working first as a "seasonal" employee, and now as a permanent (but part-time) employee, a year of making our house into a home, exploring the area, joining a synagogue, growing a first little garden, participating in community events, making new friends.  A good year.  Here are photos from this morning's walk with Ella.  

We were "late" this morning, about 6:45 am (usually we're an hour earlier), so the sun was just over the horizon.  

A sign that it is truly autumn:  the schooners are being dry docked.  Here's one pulled up on land:

and others winterized with tarps and left in the water at the docks.  If this winter is like last, they'll stay there all winter and as the holidays approach, their shrouds will be decorated with strings of lights.  Last year one had a Christmas tree perched at the top of its highest mast.

It's been a hard few weeks at work, really busy, deadlines and stress.  Yesterday David had to work. Ella and I went to Camden State Park and hiked for 90 minutes or so.  There's something about strenuous exercise requiring deep breathing and exertion that releases stress.  Today, however, is to be a lazier day (with breaks for a little vacuuming).  We may go see the new movie, Gravity.  Meanwhile, Ella takes her relaxation to a higher level:

I think Ella joins me in saying:  Peace!

A weekend in the early fall sun

We spent much of this past weekend outside.  One day we took Ella to what I think is the Rachel Carson Salt Marsh Preserve down Pemaquid Peninsula.  We specifically went at low tide so that we could explore, only to learn that "pets" are not allowed.  Makes sense I guess if they are trying to protect the wildlife.  David and I took brief turns walking a little while the other held on to Ella.  I took a couple of photos.

From there we went to Dodge Point where we hiked the "Old Farm Road" down to the shore.  It was a beautiful day.  Ella enjoyed what she, at least, thought of as putting the fear of God/Ella into a number of chipmunks (although no wildlife was actually harmed in the exercise).  

We drove from there down to Boothbay Harbor just for a look.  David showed me a couple of boat launches he'd gone kayaking from with one of the kayaking groups.

Yesterday Ella stayed home and we went kayaking on the Pemaquid River.  Beautiful day, slow and lazy river between banks turning lovely autumn colors.

We paddled up river.  A relaxing and easy paddle, light breeze, warm sun, then under the shade cast by the trees on the bank into suddenly chilled air.  Just lovely.




We came upon a drowned canoe.  Nothing apparently wrong with it, just capsized.  Spooky but kind of beautiful.

And we shared the warm early fall sunlight with other creatures.

A peaceful afternoon.  

Now back to Congress holding health care hostage, a pending government shut down (actually that doesn't sound that bad to me except they'll shut down the wrong things - let's keep the national parks open and shut down Congress).  All this, taking place on the same planet as the photos above.  

Sometimes hard to keep it all in perspective, but trying.

Peace.

Through Sukkot, under the harvest moon and into fall

Happy Sukkot - the Jewish holiday known as zeman simchateinu - the season of our joy.  It is the holiday in which Jews build sukkahs - temporary shelters, 3-sided sheds sometimes covered with canvas or plastic sheeting and with roofs made of natural material - pine branches, bamboo, or in our little synagogue's case, with corn stalks (and not too covered - one must be able to see the stars through the roof covering).  During the 8 day Sukkot holiday we are to take meals in the sukkah.  Some even sleep there.  As always the case with Jews, there are multiple interpretations as to why we do this (2 Jews, 3 opinions, 4 synagogues).  The one I cotton to most is that the fragile, temporary nature of the sukkah is a symbol of the fragile, temporary nature of our lives, reminding us not to take the gift of life for granted.

David and I went off for a day trip to Pemaquid Point.  It was a crisp, clear and sunny day.  A couple of photos:

Meanwhile, back at home, we've passed the 1 year anniversary of closing the purchase of our house.   One year ago last night I spent my first night in the house.  Now it is a home.

As increasingly is the surrounding area.  Last night we went to Belfast to "open poetry reading" night at Bell the Cat.  There was quite a group - 7 or 8 poets. Each read 2 poems, including me.  Mine may have been a little too serious and political for some, I think.  Ah, well...

Here are 3 more random notices from the Free Press - another good example of what's happening in midcoast Maine:

Community Seed Swap, Sat., Sept. 28, 10 a.m.-noon, Merryspring Nature Center, Conway Rd. off Rte. 1, near Camden's Hannaford. Bring your collected or favorite packaged veggie and flower seeds, seed-saving tips and seed stories. Merryspring will provide some seeds, too. Free.
• First Annual Maine Chicken Coop Tour, Sat., Sept. 28, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. An array of backyard coops, from those made with recycled materials to custom designs, will delight people planning to start a backyard flock, those who want to know why backyard chickens are so popular and the merely coop-curious. Free and open to the public. Locations will be posted at www.deliciousmusings.com.
• Free Kantele Workshops, Sat., Sept. 28, noon-1:30 p.m., Finnish Heritage House, Rte. 131, South Thomaston. Learn how to play the wooden lap harp. Instruments provided. All ages welcome. Additional workshops will be held noon-1:30 p.m. Saturdays, Oct. 5 & 26. Attend one, two or all three. FMI: 594-4506.

I'm thinking seriously about the Chicken Coop Tour.  In Connecticut they gave tours of homes and gardens, but I think there might be more going on in chicken coops.  Did I mention that the house 3 doors down from ours on our street has backyard chickens.  Cluck.  Cluck.  

Peace.