One year my boss at Greenfield Community College gave me this ornament. I thought he was giving me a compliment, but no. He was merely acknowledging my flock of chickens and the eggs I brought to give out at work. Have you even been given ornaments at work? Were they compliments? We have lots of other chicken ornaments on our tree. I think chickens are cheerful, domestic and productive. I emulate the chicken.
There have been times when we lacked a full compliment of ornaments. There was the first Christmas in Greenfield, and there was the first Christmas in New York City in 1975. The apartment was not large and there were seven of us! Some things had to stay in storage, including most of the ornaments. Once again we sat around the table with sheets of octag and paint. We were still dreaming of the day we would get to…
My Christmas tree holds the history of my family, and I am sure that is true of many family Christmas trees. I gained boxes of my early history after my mother died. My two brothers and I went to her house or organize and clear out and found a surprise. Although she did not tell any of us, my mother actually knew that her health was failing and had done a lot of clearing out and organizing herself…
We have had many different kinds of Christmas trees over the years. Below is a column I wrote in 2005 that chronicles our history in Christmas trees. Many family Christmas memories revolve around the Christmas tree. These stories rarely have to do with the magnificence of the tree. In fact, Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree may be our culture’s most famous Christmas tree, standing for the true meaning of the season. We have many family stories about our Christmas trees…
Houseplants have never been my strong suit. I rarely get cyclamens or amaryllis to rebloom, and I even gave up my everblooming abutilon this summer. I simply could not get rid of scale. I had to put it out of its misery. And yet I have kept succulents alive and in good shape for decades. My jade tree is over 20 years old. It survived being moved to my daughters’ houses while we were in China, and it…
A gray day with gray skies, and silver reflections. For more skies visit Skywatch Friday.
On Tuesday afternoon I was signing my book at the Festival of Trees at Springfield's Tower Square. There were the trees of course. I particularly enjoyed these singers from a local school I got my picture taken by this tree with some extraordinarily colored poinsettias. What a wonderful day. AND I sold books. Do you have all your presents bought yet?
Congratulations to Laura Bell! Succulent Container Gardens and The Roses at the End of the Road will be on their way to you - as soon as I get an address. I know you will enjoy them. I also want to thank all the other commenters for visiting and making these past four years such an enjoyable time.
Today is the last opportunity you have to win a copy of my book about life on and off the Rose Walk, and Debra Lee Baldwin's book, Succulent Container Gardens: Design Eye-Catching Displays with 350 Easy-Care Plants. Click here and leave a comment by midnight tonight, December 6. I will announce the winner, chosen at random tomorrow morning by 9 am. Four years ago, on December 6, the Feast of St. Nicholas, I gave myself a present that…
Life looks quiet here at the End of the Road, but looks are deceptive. Yesterday I read and signed my book, The Roses at the End of the Road, at Boswell's Books in Shelburne Falls. On my way home I stopped at a friend's open house - and sold more books there! Tomorrow I will be signing books at Tower Square in Springfield, right outside the fabulous Festival of Trees exhibit. Expect some photos. And inside the house…