A Good Day Indeed

In case you didn't know, most of my blogging these days is over at "Terra Nova Design.
I am delighted with my new newly designed Terra Nova blog. Check it out. The banner photo is of my pond late last summer. The creative spirit behind it is my daughter "Jet" who is an artist and an 8th grade science teacher. Two fields that require a tremendous amount of stamina in addition to creativity. She teaches over 100 middle schoolers every day and also hand silk screens and embellishes women's t-shirts and also makes furniture from recycled objects. Sound interesting? You can see what I mean at b and j greene".


Thanks Jet!

I am also delighted tonight by Obama's speech today. No matter who you plan to support for President, this speech today is one that is long overdue. The conversation, hard as they may be, needs to be started and our nation needs to find ways to move forward on the issues of race and class. I teach college students who need to understand these complex issues and who need to see my generation leading the way to making progress on these issues. We discuss these matters in my classes. My students mentor children of immigrants right here in our town and partner with highly impoverished people 25 minutes away from bucolic Amherst, in the poorest city in our state and one of the poorest neighborhoods in our country! We must talk and act. Our nation will not be a "white majority" nation for much longer; race and class issues abound. If we do not find a way to walk forward together....then.... divided we will fall.
* Disclaimer: I am fully supportive of Obama's campaign and have been since before he announced he was running. However, I think this matter transcends my support of Obama .

I am also delighted that Spring is almost here. My Terra Nova blog will tell you more about that as the season unfolds!

Dormered

Recently spent some time helping J and B paint their new room under their awesome dormer. One room of the two is almost done. Here is a sneak peek of the peaks, lol! Sorry, I couldn't resist!!

All of the angles made this job a real bear but at the same time, the angles totally make the room; it's awesome. The roof used to cut down into the room where you see the pitch in the picture. The room was teeny. Now it is much larger and feels really spacious with the peaked ceiling and 6' wide window with a great view.

The wall paint is a layered effect with a Ralph Lauren paint and glaze...modified of course. J and I can't do anything just "normal."

I think the floors are sanded now and ready to be stained and poly'ed.

Spring Fever

I'm in trouble! It is only mid-February in New England and already I have Spring fever! Today I surfed garden blogs and looked at concepts for tea houses and garden sheds. I want Spring, but the high today was only about 18 degrees! I am afraid there is a long way to go. I am hoping that in 8 more weeks I can begin some outdoor work. That seems like forever right now.

This picture is from an awesome site called My Japanese Tea House with step by step details and photos of a great tea house and garden in the UK.

I think what has me itching to get out into my garden and begin the 2008 projects (which are unfortunately NOT likely to include a tea house) is that it is now official that my garden will be on the Amherst Garden Tour in June. Yikes! That is only 5 months away :-)


btw: I am still posting more often on my Terra Nova Design blog if you are interested in checking it out.

Baggins is Back

Baggins (aka Gary) is back home from Afghanistan for awhile. Great to see him! On New Year's Day he joined us and a bunch of others for a 2 hour walk around town, over through UMass and back to Sweetside through deep, newly fallen snow. Sitting in front of our roaring fireplace, chatting about this and that, eating Antonio's and drinking awesome hot cocoa afterwards was the best!

Had a Wonderful Day....

..... hope you did too!

Getting Ready For Christmas!

'tis the Season!
Come visit me at my Terra Nova Design blog (see link on sidebar) for more frequent updates!

George's Baptism

Today was little George's baptism. We are honored to be his Godparents. Trying to decide on a gift for such a momentous occasion is not easy. The idea of a vessel came to me, along with a vague idea of a Scripture verse. I began a hunt and at the first shop, right near my house, found an amazing, aged, 20" diameter, hand carved, well used, wooden bowl. I loved it but was not immediately convinced that this was "it." B. and I shopped around near and far and the more we shopped the clearer it became that the first vessel had indeed been "the one." The next day I returned to the little shop near my house and brought home the giant old bowl. It felt totally right. Last night I poured out some verse and today the large vessel was accompanied by this poem, read by his mom to the gathered friends and family.


Your Vessel

I am a humble vessel
aged and well used,
here from a distant land,
by the name of India.
I was of service to a man
for rice and such necessities.
Journeyed now to Amherst
George’s vessel I shall be.
Sticky grain may not fill me up,
a vessel of toys I may be or
some other precious commodity.
Though one day perhaps
you may knead bread with me
or toss within my handsome walls
some garden greens so sweet.
However I might serve you,
it need not trouble me
I only ask to journey on
and your useful vessel be.

2 Timothy 2:21
Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from evil things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.