Inevitable Daffodil Post

Yes, I think I have done one of these posts every year since we moved to MA. But I can't help it. This naturalized daffodil meadow planted by the previous owners is one of the things I love best about this house. The first photo is the view from the deck. The next few show the variety of blooms. I think as the years go by, hybrids become genetic mutants, freaky fantastic flowers derived from those traditional types.






Daffodils have made their way inside the house too. This beautiful little painted cup was $1.50 at our recent church rummage sale (half price during the last half hour).



Other blooming plants include the cherry trees and viburnum. Lilac is on the way.



I'm planning to put bean and pea seeds into the garden tomorrow, but last year's kale is going strong already.

Please tell me what is blooming in your part of the world. What's going on in your vegetable garden? I'm confused about when to plant because of the heat and dry weather. This feels like July not April. Last year at this time, we were still having freezing nights. Today it got well into the 80's on the day of the Boston Marathon.

Town Meeting, Mooo....

Here in Massachusetts, our town government is very interesting. We have an elected Board of Selectmen and School Committee and an appointed Finance Committee. All these bodies hold hearings, plan budgets and accept proposed articles from citizens on town business. Once a year a Warrant of Articles get sent to every household. Then a multi-night meeting takes place where all registered voters can go and speak and debate. Then the citizens vote. They approve the budget (or not). They make amendments. They argue about technical legal and financial municipal rules. It is very wonky and quite a free for all.

Last night one of the articles proposed to lower a surcharge on our taxes that goes into a dedicated fund to support conservation, historical preservation and low-income housing in town. The fund has gotten quite large in anticipation that the 200+ acre farm that is across the road from us will at some point in the near future be available either for development or conservation restriction (or some combination). There is a contingent in town very concerned and doing good work to keep our taxes from continuing to grow. Our taxes are high for the state because we have incredibly wonderful, well-funded schools and very little business or industry. Amazingly, the town is a semi-rural enclave only 20 miles from Boston. There are conservation areas, national wildlife sites and farms everywhere.

Thankfully, people voted overwhelmingly to support continuing this fund. In fact, this vote took place around 10 pm and right after the proposal failed, about half the crowd got up to go home. (They didn't care as much about the hour-long argument that followed to create a dedicated water fund.) I was truly heartened to know how deeply people in this town want to preserve its open space and beautiful character.

Here are some of my neighbors.


Town meeting continues tonight and likely another night after that too.
Democracy at work!

Beautiful Easter

We spent a lovely day in Boston today. Doug's been doing a lot of exploring during his lunch walks and took us to see some new (to us) sights.

First, the Boston Public Library, and there was a book sale going on!

The stairway with sculptured lions was a bit reminiscent of the New York Public Library to me. I'll have to investigate which lions came first.

Beautiful mosaic ceilings in the entrance.


The contrast of old and new architecture as seen from the indoor courtyard. Hancock building framed by the library.


The tour then took us through the public gardens where exuberant people entertained the crowds watching the flowers bloom, the willows sway and the blushing brides (behind the sax player).



An anime convention was going on. Were these ladies on their way?

Onto the Statehouse where Occupy Boston is now protesting transit fare hikes. It's hard to understand why our state would want to send a message that driving into Boston is preferable to taking the T while placing an increasing burden on poorer citizens who depend more heavily on public transportation. By the way we parked at Riverside and took the Green Line!


Next we headed into the Beacon Hill and ended up on charming, exclusive Acorn street, where more care is taken in the window boxes than in our whole yard.




The view from the top. Might the 1% live here? They really don't have to take the T. They're in the center of everything.

We ended the day with dinner in the North End. YUM
Thanks honey for a great day.


Happy Easter and Passover to all. Hope your weekend is lovely.

April's Song

What a wonderful way to begin the month. This morning was "Music Sunday" at church. Our remarkable adult choir, children's choir, guest soloists, and piano and percussion players performed Carl Orff's Carmina Burana.


This church amazes me every week with its talented, humane, welcoming congregation. Today this austere beautiful building was filled to the rafters with laughter, joy and song.


Is it rare that a church would perform this piece on Palm Sunday? I believe it is. Orff wrote the music to accompany selected 10th to 13th century poems found in Germany in 1803. The Carmina Burana's overall thesis is that in both life and love, man is the pawn of capricious fate. With the famous "O Fortuna" as the first and final of the 24 songs. In between come songs of tragedy, whimsy and love.


The photos were mostly taken during rehearsal. The performance was time to focus on the music fully.

Some song descriptions follow.

Veris leta facies (Spring's joyous face shines upon the earth)


Floret silva (The forest is becoming green again, but where is my lover? He has ridden far away. Who will love me now?)


Estuans interius (Inwardly burning with violent rage, I speak bitterly to my soul.)


Si puer cum puellula (If a lad were to dally in a room with a sweet lass, what a happy union!)


The piece including the children's choir of cupids: Tempus est iocundum (Oh,oh, oh! I am bursting out all over! I am burning all over with first love!)


And the silliest: Olim lacus colueram ("Once a lake was my home" the song of a roasted swan about to be served "Miserable me! Now I am black and roasting fiercely!"


The performances of our choirs and guests were spectacular. The ovation went on and on. I carried the feeling of joy and renewing spring out with me into my day.


Information about the work and the translations are from our church service bulletin from the Grove Concise Dictionary of Music and Michael Moore from 2004 program notes for the Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia.

First Flowers

Our first snow storm since October is covering the ground as the first flowers are emerging. (Last year was a record 70" of snow. This year about 8".)

Snowdrops:


Daffodils on the way:


The first early crocus:


A neighbor's witch hazel. I'd love one of these in our yard.


Working in the yard and taking walks as the days lengthen is brightening my mood too.

Quick, Watch this movie

For those of you here today or tomorrow, watch this amazing movie:
FRESH

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/02/26/fresh-video-documentary.aspx

It features Michael Pollan and Joel Salatin whose book, Folks, This Ain't Normal, is terrific. I'm almost done with it. He's a conservative environmentalist. It's an eye opener.

You can watch the movie online for free through March 3rd.

It's got me thinking about where I get the food I put in my one and only body. While I frequent a traditional and Whole Foods supermarkets, I also support my local farmers.

I just happened to take some photos of the cows and pigs on Mainstone Farm, the sustainable farm across the street from me, the other day. It is where I buy my beef and pork. It is were I get some of my vegetables during the summer.




I also have a CSA share from June to December at Siena Farm.

What food choices are you making today?

I'm making some kale/bean/sausage soup adapted from this recipe. It's in the crockpot. Can't wait!

Valentine Card Party

I had 5 ladies over last Saturday for a Valentine Card Party. I offered the party as part of the Dining for Dollars fund raiser for our church. I got the idea from a magazine article I had read. It seemed like a great way to raise a little money and get to know some people from church better.

I provided some ideas (as did Martha Stewart's website), many craft supplies and snacks. The attendees brought some photos or mementos and their creativity.

We got right to work selecting papers and trims. There were stencils, stamps, stickers, gel pens and sparkly glue. Everyone was impressed with my collection of supplies, but it was easy to pull lots of things together from more than a dozen years of doing crafts with my kids.




After about an hour and a half, it was time for some sustenance: homemade peanut butter and jelly cookies, fruit, yogurt and pound cake and Waldorf salad, tea, cider or sangria.




Everyone had a great time taking a break from the usual weekend chores. We got to get to know each other a little better. Raised some money for our church. And went home with beautiful homemade cards for our loved ones.

The smile tells the story.


In fact, there were smiles all around.