Coming home from working at Heath's Emergency Shelter yesterday, I had to come the long way home because of power trucks still working on our road. I had to pass this spot on Rowe Road where the landowners had cleared a large field providing a magnificent view west to Mount Greylock. No matter the season or hour, the view of field, mountain and sky is always breathtaking. This major limb on our ancient apple tree didn't come down…
Even the workers from Verizon and National grid must have seen some of the beauty through the damage that the heavy ice caused. We were fortunate that there was no wind, even though it was very cold, or even more damage would have been caused and the workers would have had much more trouble.This yellow birch is a tree I love and I have often photographed it. It was so beautiful in the rosy light, but it was…
The cyclamen that I carried over from last year is looking a bit leggy, but the color is so beautiful and it is the one thing around here that is looking a little Christmas-y. I am very happy to have it.The Abutilon or parlor maple is ever dependable. It hasn't minded the 42 degree temperatures in our bedroom during the ice storm power outage.Holdiday cactus are really wonderful carefree plants. The Thanksgiving cactus is still in bloom and…
All day Thursday the ice and rain fell out of the sky. The dirt road seemed impassable. Henry telecommuted. A first. By the time the blue hour arrived the radio told us that the ice storm was intensifying. Henry, always expecting the worst, filled the bathtub with water, as well as a couple of large stock pots. I brought in more firewood.At 9:30 the power went out, shortly followed by the telephone. Fortunately, we are experienced with Heath…
Once upon a time the only bulbs that anyone thought of forcing and bringing into bloom during the dark days of winter were paperwhite narcissus. And very nice they were, delicate and elegant and subtly fragrant. Who would not want a bowl of these beautiful pale flowers in a cozy room while the snow is falling outside the window? I have forced many bowls of paperwhites and been delighted each time, but I have learned over the…
We are on the road from blog spot to Wordpress and it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas here at the End of the Road. Keep watching for further developments.
Jane Beatrice Wegscheider's prize winning portable, multi-media, installation piece honoring individual and collective efforts at sustainability is built around this mosaic topped dining table that has lots of room for a convivial gathering. Currently it is on exhibit at the Northampton Town Hall, but it will be traveling throughout our region.The prize was granted by the Pioneer Valley (Mass.) Sustainability Network, which is comprised of numerous private, municipal and non-profit organizations and networks devoted to bridging the gap…
On December 6 last year I launched the Commonweeder blog. I had only discovered garden blogs a short time before and I was fascinated by a subject that was commented on at length (I can't remember which blog) about whether older experienced gardeners were too old to blog or read blogs - and thus help younger gardeners. Well, of course, I never feel too old to do anything I want to do, so I began a new life…
Sonnet 73 by William ShakespeareThat time of year thou mayst in me beholdWhen yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hangUpon those boughs which shake against the cold,Bare ruin'd choirs where late the sweet birds sang.In me thou see'st the twilight of such dayAs after sunset fadeth in the west;Which by and by black night doeth take awayDeath's second self, that seals up all in rest.In me thou see'st the glowing of such fire,That on the ashes of…
Yesterday we went to middle daughter's house for the family feast. Lots of family was there and nine year old Amanda took charge of the camera and she kept clicking away all day. The day is well documented: the basketball games on the driveway, dodgeball (?) on the lawn, chatting on the deck, cooking in the kitchen, eating in the dining room, football on the living room TV and Bibi, the French bulldog everywhere.The day was mild which…