Still Here...

I'm still here trying to be inspired by your wonderful blogs. I had a lovely time visiting my mom and old life over vacation. We visited our old school. My daughter spent the day in her old classroom. Since then there have been lots of spontaneous tears missing her friends. I'm in that funk too. I ate lunch at the school with the teachers I used to work with. Everyone was welcoming and warm. I walked in a park with an old friend and it was just like old times. For a few hours I walked right back into my old life.

I'm enjoying some things about being back in my new home though. The lilacs are out. Viburnums and cherries are blossoming. Everything is green and purple and fragrant. I've been taking some photos, but I'm still having computer problems. I hope to get some new photo collages on here soon.

Added photo on May 11:

The yard has gone from the white and yellow of magnolia and daffodil to the pink and purple of lilac and cherry.

Stillness...

I have been very clumsy lately. I dropped my son's digital camera about two weeks ago and broke it. Then the other day I spilled a couple tablespoons of water on my laptop. It's done for...

My husband set it up so I could use his computer, but I'm all disoriented and not quite ready to borrow my son's new camera so I'm taking a little break here to try to slow down and quiet this body and mind. Time to find some stillness.

Daffodil Surprise!

Thank you Sarah Palin. Your incessant voice on NPR this afternoon from your Boston visit led me to turn off NPR and put on a radio station with one classic '70s song after another. I opened a bottle of wine and danced around to Fleetwood Mac, Hall and Oates, Barry White, Abba, Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight, Saturday Night Fever, Elton John (Levon). Every song a fun memory.

I created a delicious dinner too. Greek Chard Pie and Sweet Potato Fries. Here's a photo. Check out the delightful daffodils in the vase. My daughter picked the bouquet from our meadow which is filled with naturalized daffodils. There are certainly some lovely surprises when you move to a new house!

There's also a beautiful star magnolia out front. It's nearly gone by now, but here's a collage of pictures from the first and second week of April.

"Shake your Bootie" just came on. I'm turning off the radio and computer. Hope your spring has sprung.

Lincoln Library

Our town library suffered significant damage in the recent floods. The books were removed from the lower level, but rugs, walls and structure will need repair. It's closed until further notice. Sad, sad.

I am using the opportunity to visit other libraries in the area. A friend had told me to visit the library in Lincoln. And he was right. The original building built in the late 1890 (the same time as parts of our house) has beautiful stone carving and stained glass windows. The modern addition completed 100 years later compliments the older structure in a playful and enlightening way. In many libraries I've visited the children's room is stuck in the basement. This one is on the second floor. It's filled with light and whimsy.

The carved sign on the old building:

The back with the old building section on the left and new on the right.

An amazing twisty tree on the grounds with a typical New England church behind. I have to ask if anyone knows how it got this way.

The teen reading room with beautiful carvings and stained glass fis urnished with bean bags and modern lighting.
I spent quite a while reading here in the the adult magazine/reading room.

Busy, Busy Holiday

Busy, busy holiday. We had friends staying with us for 4 days. We doubled the number of people in our house and doubled the mess. But also doubled the fun. I even ended up hosting an impromptu party for 14 with a few hours notice (with help and not too much expectation).

Day 1: We went to the DeCordova museum. There are wonderful outdoor sculptures and a biennial exhibit inside. A very kind docent gave us a tour. She was wonderful asking questions and explaining the art to the kids.

Renee, P and E (nutches in nitches)

Renee and I in love.
Reading the Lorax in the recycle room. Everything in there is made of recycled paper, wood and fabrics. It's so soft and cozy.

Thank you to this lovely tour guide who was so generous with the kids.


Day 2 in Cambridge around MIT. First lunch at the Miracle of Science Cafe.

Check out the menu based on the Periodic Table.

And a closer look. H for hydrogen is now H for Hamburger, etc.

Then off to the small but oh-so-inspiring MIT museum. It contains exhibits about medical robots, holograms and my favorite, the mechanical art of Arthur Ganson. I have a few still pics, but check out the videos because all his delicate sculptures move and that's the beauty of them.

A dried artichoke leaf takes on wonderful anthropomorphic qualities as it walks the wheel. Video.

This wishbone pulls a wheeled machine back and forth like the end less toil of Sisyphus.

Gears, fine wires, metal rods and paper capture the elegance of flight. Fantastic Video.

Day 3: Spring is here. It was beautiful and in the 70s while we walked the Freedom trail. Friends hanging out at a dry fountain near Boston's Old North Church. (Yes that one - "One if by land and 2 if by Sea".)



Then dinner and Mike's Pastry in the North End. Yum. Thank you friends for the special memories.