“How’s your garden this year?” This is the question on everyone’s lips this summer, and in my case the answer is “Not good.” I began with the usual good intentions, and even more energy and enthusiasm as I decided to start my own vegetable seedlings and enlarge the garden. My plan was to grow more of my own vegetables than ever, and thus save lots of money on grocery bills. However, we all…
Today is our 32nd official wedding anniversary. On our 25th, our children set themselves, their children and our friends to create squares for a celebratory quilt. The quilt hangs in our Great Room where we can tell the stories of our history together. The Nilla Wafers box patch recalls a story about our friend George who decried the 2 cookies for dessert rule - and gave each child their very own box of cookies, which they ate two…
First I have to say the very most important event of the past week was the wedding of my cousin Jay and his beloved Juliet in a beautiful garden in Manchester by the Sea. It was a glorious day and celebration was in the air. Our hotel was hosting three wedding receptions and packed to the rafters with SEVEN groups of wedding guests. Juliet is a Nanny in the classic mode. The wedding guest list was filled with her…
If only I could keep them down on the farm things would be in great shape! Everyone came home for a big weekend; the main project was prepping and painting the north wall of the house. Gerry was on deck bright and early Friday, but it poured - so Gerry mudded several needy walls in the house. On Saturday the paint crew was on duty. Ryan can wield a mean paint brush. Ryan, Henry, Chris and Diane were…
Summer blues are nothing to weep about. The low bush blueberries are ripening on Burnt Hill. Anthony, Drew and I went picking over at the Benson Place. You can see forever on that hill, even the spires of the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. We picked and picked. For about 15 minutes. That's as long as it takes two energetic boys with the efficiently designed blueberry rake to pick about 20 pounds of berries, along with a few…
It began with a birthday celebration (slightly belated) and a game of Settlers of Catan (excellent), but as we often say here at the End of the Road 'We are having fun, but we are on a tight schedule." And yet there are chores, or chores that are so unheard of in a Houston suburb, that they become entertainment. Anthony and Drew got to watching the goat milking, and then reward the goat with a stimulating brush off.…
At this time of the year the walk to the hen house and back is a particular delight because of the subtle fragrance in the air. The linden trees are blooming. Lindens are also called basswood or lime trees. We planted 6 linden trees (Tilia cordata, with cordata referring to the heart shaped leaves) about 18 years ago. Three were for our three daughters, and three for the three (at the time) granddaughters. We chose them because they are…
The weeds grow larger, but the adventures with Rory, large and small continue. Rory and I visited Frances Avery and her model of A.L. Avery's General Store, an essential supplier of what we need. This small model of the store includes tinier models of everything in the store, clothes, hardware, office corner, kitchen stuff, groceries and EVERYTHING! Mrs. Avery's brother in law and his family lived over the store for many years. It took her a long time…
No matter how devoted we are to our gardens, most of us would admit that the most important crop we tend is the children in our lives. The Major and I are happy to let the gardens take a back seat to grandson pleasures on these cool summer days. We had to say farewell to Tynan, but we met our daughter Betsy and her older son, Rory, in Amherst for lunch and a 'backyard circus at the Emily Dickinson…
Yesterday we traded off boys. After attending the 'backyard circus' at the Emily Dickinson Museum, daughter Betsy took Tynan home and left us with Rory. We had an elegant BBQ with friends (before the storm) and woke up to a beautiful Sunday - perfect for an afternoon of lawn mowing. Rory will be 13 next month and I have been waiting for this day for almost 13 years too. The Major is giving him a good lesson, and keeping…