Sidewalk art in SoHo.
June 29, 2005
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Baird w. artist_web
Baird and Andrea talking to Primitivo (a street artist). Baird had read about him on the web just the day before. He was going to do an altered photo piece of us, but it started to rain :-(
Maybe next time??
June 29, 2005
Maybe next time??
June 29, 2005
lamp lady2_web
Lamp lady in gallery section of cafe where we had gellatto, on Greene Street in SoHo.
June 29, 2005
June 29, 2005
NYCart_web
Street artist with detailed paintings on doors and other large pieces of wood.
NYC 6/29/05
NYC 6/29/05
newspaper art_web
Art done on newspaper. The street artist gave Dave Thom a long talk about how his "children" need to be protected from the sun or they turn yellow :-)
NYC June 29, 2005
NYC June 29, 2005
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
From Carlin to Sufjan and much in between.......
So thanks to family and friends' blogs and emails I have, in the past 24 hours, traveled the web, including logging significant google time, from Carlin (yes, George) to Sfujan (Stevens, the musician). It has been an education of sorts.
Tomorrow I go to NYC with Baird and Dave. We will tour around town and in the evening take in dinner and a talk at the Colony Club by Lauren Winner, author of Girl Finds God and Real Sex:The Naked Truth About Chastity. Niece Andrea will join in the ride to NYC and see a friend there for the day.
Hope to write more about all that in the next days.
Tomorrow I go to NYC with Baird and Dave. We will tour around town and in the evening take in dinner and a talk at the Colony Club by Lauren Winner, author of Girl Finds God and Real Sex:The Naked Truth About Chastity. Niece Andrea will join in the ride to NYC and see a friend there for the day.
Hope to write more about all that in the next days.
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
From Cellar Cleaning to Compost
Today started out with a few hours of cleaning out the cellar. I think I packed up 3 huge contractor trash bags for the dump and another couple for the Survival Center. Not bad. I then spent well over an hour watering my poor hot garden. Aaron came up and finished stacking the fire wood. Once in Amherst, I couldn't resist and rescued several more plants from Andrew's Greenhouse...I had to....those little pots are deadly for those poor plants in this late June heat! I then firgured out I didn't have money left for supper and I had a counseling session to do at 6PM so I called Baird and we met at Bueno for tacos....he paid :-) Yum. Emily Schulze was working. After my session it was on to Compost where we chatted and made personal maps. Shannon and Hija led, Aaron B, Anneli and Baird were there as well. I saw Chris and Alec for a bit too.
No big readings to report on and no new photos either. I think the turtle moved away from my pond tho. I haven't seen it.
I am looking forward to Weds when I will join Baird and Dave Thom on a trip to NYC. If all works out as hoped I/we will be attending a talk by Lauren Winner, author. Check her out on the web if you haven't heard of her. Sounds very interesting. I'll blog about it later in the week.
No big readings to report on and no new photos either. I think the turtle moved away from my pond tho. I haven't seen it.
I am looking forward to Weds when I will join Baird and Dave Thom on a trip to NYC. If all works out as hoped I/we will be attending a talk by Lauren Winner, author. Check her out on the web if you haven't heard of her. Sounds very interesting. I'll blog about it later in the week.
Monday, June 27, 2005
Sunday updates
Went to see Nana at 8:30 this am and got back to town about 5PM. Long day but we went out to lunch for lobster rolls , went to the mall for a phone battery, vistied Connie, had ice cream at Friendlies, etc. Good visit overall. Connie is quite depressed tho....crying on an off, etc. He has an MRI tomorrow to see if the abcess in the spine is any better but it doesn't seem like it if you judge by the pain when he sits up. He may go to the Dalton Nursing Home early this week if his MD says he's good enough. That might help..more people he knows, maybe more visitors , less stress on Nana. Nothing new on Nana's potential move to Amherst. Not enough data in for her to make that leap. Hard decision for her.
Big storn hit Amherst just as I got back into town. Took down a huge tree on Amity near ther condos which caused a big detour for hours. Also took out the power at the Panera Plaza, casuing comptuer issues in the stores and took out many lights: RT 116 and Pine, University and Amity, Univeristy and Rt 9, North Maple and Rocky Hill Rd......pretty crazy....branches and leaves all over the place. It didn't hit Shutesbury hard tho thankfully....my gardens would not have held up too well to the hail!
Had a good LAOS meeitng. I am now vice president (after significant reluctance on my part) and will be working on special events for 2005-2006. Any ideas? Any contacts?
Drove by Jess and Ben's new house in Amherst. Looks empty. Waiting for their arrival...in several weeks. I'll probably get in there this weekend to check things out.
Later!
Big storn hit Amherst just as I got back into town. Took down a huge tree on Amity near ther condos which caused a big detour for hours. Also took out the power at the Panera Plaza, casuing comptuer issues in the stores and took out many lights: RT 116 and Pine, University and Amity, Univeristy and Rt 9, North Maple and Rocky Hill Rd......pretty crazy....branches and leaves all over the place. It didn't hit Shutesbury hard tho thankfully....my gardens would not have held up too well to the hail!
Had a good LAOS meeitng. I am now vice president (after significant reluctance on my part) and will be working on special events for 2005-2006. Any ideas? Any contacts?
Drove by Jess and Ben's new house in Amherst. Looks empty. Waiting for their arrival...in several weeks. I'll probably get in there this weekend to check things out.
Later!
Sunday, June 26, 2005
Hot and Hotter Still
Today was hot and hotter still...it got hotter and hotter as the day wore on. I realized at dinner that I was sweating from the exertion of chewing!
No big news here...just the following:
1. We really really enjoyed the peacefulness of Shutesbury while in the yard this AM and this eve because the dog across the street was not barking and barking and barking. This is because next week the neighbors are moving and the dog has gone elsewhere to live. I think this may be the first summer in 7 or 8 years we have had real true quiet out there!
2. The turtle was still in the pond this AM. I didn't see it later on in the day but it may have been chillin' out on the bottom since it was so hot..or..maybe it found it's way out. We'll see.
3. Baird cleand out his van today, in preparation for cleaning out our cellar, in order to clear our stuff out of the William's cellar this week. Multi-step process.
No new photos today either.....it was a pretty low key day. :-)
No big news here...just the following:
1. We really really enjoyed the peacefulness of Shutesbury while in the yard this AM and this eve because the dog across the street was not barking and barking and barking. This is because next week the neighbors are moving and the dog has gone elsewhere to live. I think this may be the first summer in 7 or 8 years we have had real true quiet out there!
2. The turtle was still in the pond this AM. I didn't see it later on in the day but it may have been chillin' out on the bottom since it was so hot..or..maybe it found it's way out. We'll see.
3. Baird cleand out his van today, in preparation for cleaning out our cellar, in order to clear our stuff out of the William's cellar this week. Multi-step process.
No new photos today either.....it was a pretty low key day. :-)
Saturday, June 25, 2005
Something NEW in Shute-Ho
Today I came home in the afternoon and began watering my gardens. It has not been THAT hot here yet, but hot enough and sunny, so things were beginning to wilt. Anyway, as I was watering out in the front garden I noticed this peculiar looking frog floating around in the pond. I went closer and noticed this particular frog had yellow stripes on its neck and a big oval shaped shell on him, just below the water's surface. HA! Yup, for real, there is (was?) a turtle in my pond! It quickly submerged when it saw me. I ran inside and got my camera and took many shots over the next 10 minutes. Each time it surfaced I got about 3 shots in before it detected me and went under again. The slightest move would frighten it. Later, I put a board from the water surface to the edge of the pond b/c I thought perhaps it could not get out. We'll see if it is still there tomorrow.
I have to run b/c we are taking a brief break from watching The Motorcycle Diaries and Baird is about to hit the PLAY button again.
I have to run b/c we are taking a brief break from watching The Motorcycle Diaries and Baird is about to hit the PLAY button again.
Friday, June 24, 2005
Turtle in My Pond
Here is my best shot of the turtle who visited my pond today. It was quite camera shy. I wonder if it's planning on staying around awhile?
Mutant Strawberry
Three more quarts of fresh local strawberries all frozen...but...check out this odd ball!
More Chris Hedges
Tonight's 40 pages of my " Losing Moses on the Freeway" reading covered the commandments about honoring parents, murder and adultry...heavy stuff and much of it powerful but not blogable. However, this one passage, about his now deceased father, jumped out at me for a variety of reasons. His father was an Episcopal priest in Upperstate NY who took an early (but unpopular stand) in support of MLK, civil rights and much more...... so I'll share this with you:
"My father gave me freedom. He taught me that to make a moral choice means taking a risk, even as it means losing status with the institutions you work for, or losing status within your community. It can mean suffering the censure of people you care about. But when we care too much about our image and our status, when we need the label of the institutions we work for, including the church, to define our worth and identity, when we allow these things to become the ultimate source of meaning in our lives, we worship idols. We allow idols to determine what we say and how we act, how we make moral choices, how we live. Fearing the wrath of the idol we remain silent in the face of injustice or perhaps carry out injustice. We give up our freedom."
I find myself agreeing with this....and finding affirmation and comfort in it. Each time I read it, it grabs me again. I think I will be mulling it over for a while. Choosing justice over silence is indeed costly....even as it is freeing.
"My father gave me freedom. He taught me that to make a moral choice means taking a risk, even as it means losing status with the institutions you work for, or losing status within your community. It can mean suffering the censure of people you care about. But when we care too much about our image and our status, when we need the label of the institutions we work for, including the church, to define our worth and identity, when we allow these things to become the ultimate source of meaning in our lives, we worship idols. We allow idols to determine what we say and how we act, how we make moral choices, how we live. Fearing the wrath of the idol we remain silent in the face of injustice or perhaps carry out injustice. We give up our freedom."
I find myself agreeing with this....and finding affirmation and comfort in it. Each time I read it, it grabs me again. I think I will be mulling it over for a while. Choosing justice over silence is indeed costly....even as it is freeing.
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Shute-Ho Update
It was a beautiful summer day here...warm but not too hot and not too humid either. Of course I was inside 90% of the day. The hot hot WI type weather is supposed to come this weekend (oh joy). Anyway, here are a few new photos of the garden from yesterday. Unfortuantely, I found a few deer hoof prints and a few insignificant (so far) tops chewed, despite all the little bottles of cayote urine I have scattered around. What's next? Fencing??
Something NEW in Shute-Ho
Today I came home in the afternoon and began watering my gardens. It has not been THAT hot here yet, but hot enough and sunny, so things were beginning to wilt. Anyway, as I was watering out in the front garden I noticed this peculiar looking frog floating around in the pond. I went closer and noticed this particular frog had yellow stripes on its neck and a big oval shaped shell on him, just below the water's surface. HA! Yup, for real, there is (was?) a turtle in my pond! It quickly submerged when it saw me. I ran inside and got my camera and took many shots over the next 10 minutes. Each time it surfaced I got about 3 shots in before it detected me and went under again. The slightest move would frighten it. Later, I put a board from the water surface to the edge of the pond b/c I thought perhaps it could not get out. We'll see if it is still there tomorrow. I will upload a photo or two later tonight. If the photo is not up yet, check back!
I have to run b/c we are taking a brief break from watching The Motorcycle Diaries and Baird is about to hit the PLAY button again.
I have to run b/c we are taking a brief break from watching The Motorcycle Diaries and Baird is about to hit the PLAY button again.
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Carol at old stone bridge
Picture taken at Elizabeth Park in Hartford, CT where Baird and I went on our anniversary
June 20, 2005
June 20, 2005
Peas in a pod??
Aaron, Baird and ????
Army Barracks in NoHo
(which is closing soon)
Father's Day June 2005
Army Barracks in NoHo
(which is closing soon)
Father's Day June 2005
Chris Hedges on academic solutions to suffering and more....
Began reading Chris Hedges new book called Losing Moses on the Freeway, The 10 Commandments in America.
Wow.... he has a lot to say. As a preacher's kid, a Harvard Seminary graduate who lived and attempted to do youth work in Roxbury while in seminary, and then 15 years as a war correspondent for the NY Times, covering, on the front lines of battle, every major world conflict from the late 80's on....well, let's just say he has more experience and more perspective than most voices around us.
I could quote many powerful passages from the first 100 pages... but here is one. Some of you know of my sentiment about the benefits of a seminary education. Here is one thing Hedges has to say:
In Roxbury we were ordinary men and women. The powerful and destructive forces of the ghetto were a daily reality of our impotence and smallness. But many of those who taught theology at Harvard had a barely disguised distain for the Bible and an inflated view of their intellect in shaping the world. They assumed the right to speak on behalf of the poor and oppressed, although they knew nothing about them. The romantic images they conjured about the oppressed bore little correlation to the brutal life in the ghetto. The solutions they offered, using such catch words as "empowerment" were only possible if they kept themselves isolated and removed. The intrusion of relaity on their illusions would, after all, only obliterate them.
........ These discussions were an intellectual shell game, intriguing, even interesting, but finally meaningless without the visceral experience of the world. (p.48)
Wow.... he has a lot to say. As a preacher's kid, a Harvard Seminary graduate who lived and attempted to do youth work in Roxbury while in seminary, and then 15 years as a war correspondent for the NY Times, covering, on the front lines of battle, every major world conflict from the late 80's on....well, let's just say he has more experience and more perspective than most voices around us.
I could quote many powerful passages from the first 100 pages... but here is one. Some of you know of my sentiment about the benefits of a seminary education. Here is one thing Hedges has to say:
In Roxbury we were ordinary men and women. The powerful and destructive forces of the ghetto were a daily reality of our impotence and smallness. But many of those who taught theology at Harvard had a barely disguised distain for the Bible and an inflated view of their intellect in shaping the world. They assumed the right to speak on behalf of the poor and oppressed, although they knew nothing about them. The romantic images they conjured about the oppressed bore little correlation to the brutal life in the ghetto. The solutions they offered, using such catch words as "empowerment" were only possible if they kept themselves isolated and removed. The intrusion of relaity on their illusions would, after all, only obliterate them.
........ These discussions were an intellectual shell game, intriguing, even interesting, but finally meaningless without the visceral experience of the world. (p.48)
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Our 24th anniversary day
Today was (still is...for one more hour) our 24th anniversary. Hard to believe...seems like a lot less years...well..except for the fact that we have 2 grown kids and a son-in-law! Today is also Jess and Ben's anniversary: Happy first anniversary J & B.
Baird and I went to Hartford, a trip we made 2 years ago as well. At that time one of the thigns we wanted to do was check out Elizabeth Park and the 2 acre rose gardens (generally at their prime about now). Two years ago, it poured and we did not see the park. So, today we ventured down there again. The day was beautiful. The gardens were wonderful....the roses though blooming nicely, are still about a week to 10 days behind their peak due to the cool spring we've had. But, anyway, all was lovely. They have a pond and a rock garden, perennial and annual beds as well. We walked all around and then sat in the shade and read for a while enjoying the view of the gardens. Then we went to West Hartford and ate at a great Italian place, sitting outside. We have photos which I will load onto Snapfish. I'll post the link here for those of you who want to see them. I think we got some really good ones.
Tata for now.
Baird and I went to Hartford, a trip we made 2 years ago as well. At that time one of the thigns we wanted to do was check out Elizabeth Park and the 2 acre rose gardens (generally at their prime about now). Two years ago, it poured and we did not see the park. So, today we ventured down there again. The day was beautiful. The gardens were wonderful....the roses though blooming nicely, are still about a week to 10 days behind their peak due to the cool spring we've had. But, anyway, all was lovely. They have a pond and a rock garden, perennial and annual beds as well. We walked all around and then sat in the shade and read for a while enjoying the view of the gardens. Then we went to West Hartford and ate at a great Italian place, sitting outside. We have photos which I will load onto Snapfish. I'll post the link here for those of you who want to see them. I think we got some really good ones.
Tata for now.
Monday, June 20, 2005
LAOS update
So it is official, I am on the LAOS Board.
LAOS is the Lay Academy for Oecumenical Studies. Interesting spelling for ecumenical. I'll have to find out more about that. Any-who.... the physical manefestation of LAOS is the bookstore, formerly at Grace Church and for 3 years now, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, just north of campus (in Jess and Ben's new neighborhood). The idea is to be an interfaith organization, educating about and creating communication and understanding between the various faith gorups (ie Christian, Muslim, Jewish primarily). Most people invovled are from some form of a Christian background. There is one Muslim woman and one Jewish man on the Board, tho the organization would like to see more diversity in that way. They sponsor talks, and book groups etc. They have a lot of heart and vision but barely stay alive financially. The book store, of course, has been hard hit by chains and the web. In fact they almost closed the book store last year. It stayed open by ONE vote! The vision is broader than a bookstore and so they need to build up their communications, membership and donation base.
But, things are in forward motion. This is a time of re-visioning and re-organizing things. A new book store manager was hired in recent months. She is part of the Qyaker community. She has major experience to lend and a lot of ideas as well. Many of the old timers went off the board this year and three new people came on (now 15 of us total). There are new by-laws and new energy. So we'll see where it leads.
They need volunteers for all kinds of things so.....let me know if you are interested or know others who might be. They would love to have college students invovled. They need book table tenders, book reviewers, help choosing books on various topics, help with PR materials and more. It is also a good place to host book groups etc if anyone is interested. The store space can be used after hours and sometimes even during hours. Space at the church can also be used for LAOS sponsored events (ie related to topics in line with the LAOS mission). I was part of a God's Politics (Jim Wallace) book group there this Spring. So, it might be a place to launch some new things that are not affiliated with any specific church.
This could well be an answer... or at least part of one, I think......
LAOS is the Lay Academy for Oecumenical Studies. Interesting spelling for ecumenical. I'll have to find out more about that. Any-who.... the physical manefestation of LAOS is the bookstore, formerly at Grace Church and for 3 years now, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, just north of campus (in Jess and Ben's new neighborhood). The idea is to be an interfaith organization, educating about and creating communication and understanding between the various faith gorups (ie Christian, Muslim, Jewish primarily). Most people invovled are from some form of a Christian background. There is one Muslim woman and one Jewish man on the Board, tho the organization would like to see more diversity in that way. They sponsor talks, and book groups etc. They have a lot of heart and vision but barely stay alive financially. The book store, of course, has been hard hit by chains and the web. In fact they almost closed the book store last year. It stayed open by ONE vote! The vision is broader than a bookstore and so they need to build up their communications, membership and donation base.
But, things are in forward motion. This is a time of re-visioning and re-organizing things. A new book store manager was hired in recent months. She is part of the Qyaker community. She has major experience to lend and a lot of ideas as well. Many of the old timers went off the board this year and three new people came on (now 15 of us total). There are new by-laws and new energy. So we'll see where it leads.
They need volunteers for all kinds of things so.....let me know if you are interested or know others who might be. They would love to have college students invovled. They need book table tenders, book reviewers, help choosing books on various topics, help with PR materials and more. It is also a good place to host book groups etc if anyone is interested. The store space can be used after hours and sometimes even during hours. Space at the church can also be used for LAOS sponsored events (ie related to topics in line with the LAOS mission). I was part of a God's Politics (Jim Wallace) book group there this Spring. So, it might be a place to launch some new things that are not affiliated with any specific church.
This could well be an answer... or at least part of one, I think......
Sunday, June 19, 2005
links
I've successfully edited the links box to add alternative news and sites about faith-based movements to overcome poverty. Check it out when your have a few minutes.
Muffin and Tea
Sun and clouds, muffin and tea.... this is how my day begins.
More later...........
If any fathers are reading: Happy Fathers' Day
More later...........
If any fathers are reading: Happy Fathers' Day
Musing #1
OK..so.... here we go... Carol starts a blog.
Wow...... I feel 10 years younger already.
So..what to say first?
This weekend, last year, was very busy and wonderful b/c it was Jess and Ben's wedding.
This year..by comparison...things seems so.... um....dull..... I guess.
Jess and Ben are out in WI. Aaron has moved to Amherst.
The house is quiet. Life is fairly quiet or at least not very upbeat.
Today I spent most of the day driving to and from the Berkshires, visting my Mom and Connie. Connie, at 92, is still in the hospital. This raises all kinds of questions and issues regarding where my mother should live and if in Amherst, how and where and when. It is one of those times when you just want to fast forward to when it is all settled.
Somehow the widely varied weather of recent days: sunny and blue one moment and dark black/tinged with pink and pouring rain, seems reflective of my life at present.
I am looking foward to tomorrow. Aaron and I will celebrate Father's Day with Baird. Then at 4PM Baird and I will go to the LAOS annual meeting. I have been asked to serve on the board...about which I am pretty psyched. Something new. That sounds good to me.
Wow...... I feel 10 years younger already.
So..what to say first?
This weekend, last year, was very busy and wonderful b/c it was Jess and Ben's wedding.
This year..by comparison...things seems so.... um....dull..... I guess.
Jess and Ben are out in WI. Aaron has moved to Amherst.
The house is quiet. Life is fairly quiet or at least not very upbeat.
Today I spent most of the day driving to and from the Berkshires, visting my Mom and Connie. Connie, at 92, is still in the hospital. This raises all kinds of questions and issues regarding where my mother should live and if in Amherst, how and where and when. It is one of those times when you just want to fast forward to when it is all settled.
Somehow the widely varied weather of recent days: sunny and blue one moment and dark black/tinged with pink and pouring rain, seems reflective of my life at present.
I am looking foward to tomorrow. Aaron and I will celebrate Father's Day with Baird. Then at 4PM Baird and I will go to the LAOS annual meeting. I have been asked to serve on the board...about which I am pretty psyched. Something new. That sounds good to me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)