My father never felt dinner was over until he had eaten his apple. The apple was a ritual. He loved cutting an apple in half around the equator to show us, or any available children, the star hidden in the center of the apple. And he proved the adage that an apple a day keeps the doctor away. He rarely needed the services of a doctor until his short final illness. With news coverage of the H1N1…
No, we didn't have an ice storm here yesterday, but many residents of Heath did form a Flash Mob! We were photographed on the steps of Sawyer Hall waving signs and cell phones (which don't actually work here) and looking mad as part of the Wake Up Call we were sending our President and legislators. We want them to Do Something in Copenhagen in December. We were only one of about 2500 groups around the world telling our…
Replicas of The Roundhouse, built in 1899 were everywhere at this year's Franklin County Fair which celebrated its 161st anniversary. This edible version was a prize in the raffle supporting a major renovation of the roundhouse. It is a beautiful icon of the Fair which has shown off the handiwork and skills of farmers and residents of the county for 110 years. Nowadays there is a midway with games and rides, but for me, the heart of the Fair is…
Last week some friends and I declared a Girls Day Out and set off to the Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boyleston, MA. There is so much to see and enjoy and learn at Tower Hill. I always come away inspired. Some people manage to arrange several plants in a single pot for a beautiful arrangement. But it might be just as easy to get that beautiful arrangement by massing several pots with different plants together. A lesson…
Snoopy asked the question, “Is there any reason why mealtime should not be a joyous occasion?” In our family we have always welcomed the chance for joy three times a day, but in recently mealtime has been an anxious time for many people across the country. There have been a number of local responses to the plight of families who have been affected by the economic downturn. The Belly Bus showed up on the Greenfield Common last week…
By the time the Heath Fair is done, the family has departed and the leftover books from the Friends of the Library book sale are taken care of, I am tired. The excitement, family noise and general chaos are all great fun, but last week I was feeling the need for some quiet. Some Serenity. Fortunately for me, my friend Kate's parents were renting the Serenity Stone Cottage for the month and they invited me over for tea and…
We first met Dan our first spring in Heath in 1980. He stopped by the house to say he had come to get some farm implement that the previous owner said he could leave in the barn. The ensuing chat revealed that he and other friends had lived in our house for a time. Although we could not know it then, this was really a sign that our lives were already joined through the house, and would become even…
The Belly Bus came to Greenfield Town Common on Friday. When I dropped off my donations Sara Cummings of Franklin County Community Action told they had already collected almost TWO TONS of non-perishable foodstuff and more food was still coming in. Families First brought in their cartons of donations and other groups were waiting to drop theirs off. The Belly Bus helps stock local food pantry shelves; at this time of the year pantries are nearly empty. And this…