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Musings from the Hill |
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Auld Lang SynePublished December 31, 2021 -- As I write this for the ending of 2021, I grow even more aware of all the joys (and, well, not sorrows; let's call them aggravations and those mostly with my computer) I have found in writing these Musings. My math has grown a bit haphazard but I think that's a total of 594 columns. |
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Cats and DogsPublished December 24, 2021 -- Predawn on a late November morning when I know there's no chance of its getting too much brighter offers me little. I have been known to bury my head in the pillow, snuggle close to Hero (if he's around; he isn't as great about sleeping on the bed as earlier dogs), and hope to rest. It wasn't to be. |
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Extinction, ContinuedPublished December 17, 2021 -- The fact is, humans have made a huge hole in nature in the last 10,000 years. We have the ability now, and maybe the moral obligation, to repair some of the damage. When an audience was asked if they wanted extinct species back, the applause was tentative. |
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Playing GodPublished December 10, 2021 -- I'm really quite happy having my own words appear in my column but, in this case, I believe what has been printed can't be bettered – and is definitely important enough to be shared with all my readers. Therefore, most of the remainder will be direct quotes and pictures from my alumni magazine, “CALIFORNIA, Fall 2021.” |
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Following the Erie CanalPublished December 3, 2021 -- Suspecting I was being whisked away for a longer stay, I grabbed a book as I packed. Well, naturally when the immediate future seems a bit iffy, it makes sense to plan big. In this instance, that meant the 922-page “Three Stalwarts” by Walter D. Edmonds. I had already enjoyed “Drums Along the Mohawk” so this time chose “Erie Water.” It's not a title I'm particularly fond of, my only complaint with a magnificent novel. |
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Watching the MaplesPublished November 26, 2021 -- He's become an erstwhile partner and revered friend and the best travel companion I'd ever encountered. The memories piled up as high as the photographs from our trips to Maine and thereabouts and then the cruise to Alaska with stops in Washington along the way. |
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Finding More New Things to EatPublished November 19, 2021 -- Ready for more suggested recipes? I do suspect one would now have to wait until the lovely days of spring and summer to continue gathering the goodies. I have omitted many (there is a space limit plus some are rather more obvious). |
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Finding New Things to EatPublished November 12, 2021 -- Before Mark Baldwin sailed happily across the Atlantic he gave talks at the RTPI on Edible Wildflowers. I enjoyed the discoveries as well as the eatings which followed. Yum! The thought of the aroma of batter frying in oil quickens me even as I type. |
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Making Life EasierPublished November 5, 2021 -- I confess I've had a ball researching the Crossett Shoe Company and its founder Lewis Abbott Crossett. Didn't think there could be such a thing? Well, guess again. They were pretty famous – and large, back in the early 1900s. |
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Then There Are Those DaysPublished October 29, 2021 -- To be absolutely fair to us both, my day was long with four appointments and errands taking me all over the area as well as taking most of my day. Hero, who has begun chasing the car when I drive off, had to be left inside. |
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One Great Big Glorious WildflowerPublished October 22, 2021 -- The pages of my wildflower album number 190, all with photographs I've taken on the property with one exception, and that found just a ways down the road. Definitely one of the tallest, this could rise to ten feet, looking like a giant husked corncob, the yellow flowers in corn-cobby rows. |
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There Is No Third ShoePublished October 15, 2021 -- Hero is full of hell and hormones. A treasured paper bookmark is taken from my reading table to his mouth. A silly stuffed whatsit, a gift from my kids and then only for fun, became another of his stuffed animal collection. (Not for long.) |
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Solanum Nigrum (Common or Black Nightshade)Published October 8, 2021 -- In June, I told you about Bittersweet Nightshade which is in fact quite deadly. We can close the chapter on these plants after first looking at Black Nightshade which, though also called Deadly Nightshade, really isn't. |
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A Favored SeasonPublished October 1, 2021 -- Can one truly have one season that outshines the others? I suspect my reply might be rather universal: whatever's going on right now. “I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” L. M. Montgomery, of “Anne of Green Gables” fame. |
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Wildflower or Not?Published September 24, 2021 -- All three of my books list sedum as a wildflower but search the internet and you'll find lots of offers for sale. Sedum comes in a variety of colors: orange, pinks and purples, deep red and even yellow. |
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Such an Attractive Water BirdPublished September 17, 2021 -- Why did I choose to write about a bird when the few photographs I have are decidedly poor? Why? Because, the way this summer is going, I'd feel myself fortunate to see any birds in the not-too-distant future. |
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Butter-and-EggsPublished September 10, 2021 -- It was Emmy, the friend who led me into the waterless wilderness at Heart's Content, who, on a very different occasion, spotted this intriguing plant. Butter-and-eggs (isn't that a marvelous name for a flower?) popped up right in the middle of my garden proving I'm not as thorough a weeder as I proclaim. |
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The Second ShoePublished September 3, 2021 -- I have no idea if the thought is universal though, the story I heard growing up, pertained only to my maternal grandparents. When my mother brought home a beau, she was allowed to entertain him in the parlor. |
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SlugfestPublished August 27, 2021 -- Deep in thought about the Federal Reserve and how I embarrassed myself not knowing how to pronounce “taupe,” without really thinking about my weeds I tossed (gently, I assure you) the critter onto the lawn. I was repaid with a handful of the stickiest stuff. What in tarnation? |
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Shooting QuillsPublished August 20, 2021 - My end of New York and Vermont seem very far apart (particularly when my pup is still there) but, talking daily, I know we share more than we don't. Anne and I see the same birds. Well, she has a tree full of nesting bluebirds. I definitely don't. But I have the heron, a lot of geese and a lovely variety of ducks who will pay a call on their way to wherever their fancy takes them. |
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An Open and Shut CasePublished August 13, 2021 -- Sometimes what I find on the internet surprises me. There are times, when writing these columns, I feel as if I'm stuck in wildflowers and all of those seemingly have something good to offer me. I will accept – and appreciate their beauty and variety while knowing others – not I – are aware of their health benefits. |
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Anticipating a Heroic HomecomingPublished August 6, 2021 -- Writing these Musings in advance for eleven years has shown me the wisdom of penning my words early to avoid any of the last-minute deadline panic I still remember from college years. By the time you are reading this, Hero should be happily settled in here with me. |
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Picnic TimesPublished July 30, 2021 -- When I was ready to double-check my writing with the internet, I discovered there was no National Picnic Day anywhere near this time. It's observed on April 23rd (which is usually far too chilly) with the international day set for June 18th. What was I thinking? |
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A Fun PlantPublished July 23, 2021 -- Since I just wrapped up my Musings on the Oriole, let me linger in the oranges with a lovely eye-catching plant. Seems we've been hanging on for too long to plants that may (I must stress the “may” part for I don't encourage experimenting with unknowns) help or cure some of us. |
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No Tigers HerePublished July 16, 2021 -- As a Bryn Mawr girl, I never particularly cottoned to Princeton boys. Oh, sure, their campus was lovely. But so was ours – same Gothic architecture. Chuck's and my relationship was brief (was his name even “Chuck”?), ending with a finality when I mailed him a dead goldfish. (I did NOT kill it. One of my roommates just happened to have one available.) |
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Moth MulleinPublished July 9, 2021 -- Hot diggety! It's Moth Mullein time! There's so much to say, so let's dig right in, starting with its pronunciation. Without being mulish, I pictured the “mullein” being pronounced like Moline, Illinois. How wrong! It's accented on the first syllable and sounds as if I were mulling what to say next. |
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The Hero Has LandedPublished July 2, 2021 -- I have a dog! Well, to tell the truth, my daughter has the dog, “Hero” (yes) is another mail-order pup. Only this time once I'd sent my money, they sent the guarantee. Part of the stipulations were that this dog could not be exposed to parvo until two weeks after his fourth shot. |
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Honoring Our Neighbors to The NorthPublished June 25, 2021 -- “The Constitution Act of 1867 united the three separate British colonies of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick into the single Dominion called Canada. On July 1, Canada Day is celebrated with concerts, parades and fireworks to commemorate the union of the three colonies.” |
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Not the Way I'd Recommend Doing One InPublished June 18, 2021 -- Dear Readers, I'm certain most (if not all of us) have entertained larcenous, if not murderous, thoughts at one time or another. I grant that some may be valid indeed. BUT if you plan to commit murder, may I suggest you use something besides Bittersweet Nightshade? |
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The Rum Pum Pum Pum LadyPublished June 11, 2021 - Readers know I'm a long-time opera fan. That includes having favorite singers, baritone Thomas Hampson definitely among them. Tall and quite good-looking, Hampson has a robust voice which serves him well in any role he chooses. |
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Sick PuppyPublished June 4, 2021 - My apologies to any reader with youngsters around for I know the pain and worry you experience with a sick baby can't be compared to a dog. But to those of us whose grandchildren have settled in the farthest reaches of our country, acquiring a puppy is a second chance to enjoy those early days again. |
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Meeting WinstonPublished May 28, 2021 -- Let me tell you straight off: There is no Winston. That was the name his breeder chose. I checked the meaning of his name: basically “Victory-town.” Could anything have been more blah? Besides, I know his groomer would abbreviate it to “Winnie.” No, thank you. |
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Mr. RoundaboutPublished May 21, 2021 -- I learned something new the other day from a motorist much more experienced than I. When entering a roundabout, once you' re in the circle, keep going until time to leave it. Do not hesitate. You know, G&S: “Fair heart never won fair lady” – or got one out of a roundabout. |
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HoneysucklePublished May 14, 2021 -- I'm so happy I write these columns for it seems I'm learning new things every time. Winter now past (or close to it), I was eager to get back to what's outside at this time of year. I'm set to write about a prime nuisance in many parts of my yard. |
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In Search of a Good Used DogPublished May 7, 2021 -- I borrowed – all right, stole – the term from Tony. It's too perfect not to use. I have indeed been searching for a used dog ever since Molly died. She was so perfect for me – why can't I simply find another Molly? |
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A Day for TreesPublished April 30, 2021 -- Arbor Day (April 30th here though already celebrated last Sunday in Australia and New Zealand) seems like the perfect time to talk about trees. That's one thing we can probably always enjoy in common. |
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Meditating on LeisurePublished April 23, 2021 -- Oh, dear reader, I have a little quiz for you. No. don't bother reaching for paper and pen. Just the opposite. I want you to sit back, close your eyes if you'd like and picture yourself at rest. Sorry, no books, nothing whatever to distract you. |
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That GullPublished April 16, 2021 -- Exceeding all expectations, my cruise to Alaska less than two years ago allowed me to discover new wonders at every turn. Sailing has to be tops for me but life on a floating resort ain't all that tawdry either. |
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Coltsfoot: Why I Love It and You Shouldn’tPublished April 9, 2021 -- Having been diving through the internet and ending up with a sheaf of papers on the plant, (we'll get to those in a second), I must say I have no interest in eating, smoking or ingesting coltsfoot. |
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The Pelican CanPublished April 2, 2021 -- I have never seen a pelican in my yard. Fact #2. I never knew there were two kinds of pelicans: White and Brown. I've only seen the brown though a white bird that big could be hard to miss. |
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The Hawk and IPublished March 26, 2021 -- Two years I published a "hawk" column that ended up being far more about my search to identify the bird than the Red-Shouldered itself. When FeederWatch questioned my identification, I simply sent the photos I had earlier sent to Twan Leenders (RTPI) with his comments. |
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Meeting Mr. DonleavyPublished March 19, 2021 -- I am very glad I read “The Singular Man” and “The Ginger (which I want to term “tangerine” for some reason) Man.” Author J. P. Donleavy refers to the character by that name only once in the novel and gives no explanation why he chose that adjective. |
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Never Mind the Why or WhereforePublished March 12, 2021 -- January 27-28, 2021. Will the snow ever stop? Will it warm up again? |
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Those Teeny Tiny Ants Are BackPublished March 5, 2021 -- I was agreeable to letting them visit as long as they cooperated so I could take pictures. That required time because most of those I took were so close up they came out blurred. "Delete" is a marvelous invention. As for the ants, I was patient. VERY patient. Even when they weren't. |
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My Singular Take on a Very Small Part of My UniversePublished February 26, 2021 -- My column on Singularity brought two recommendations of books I might like to read. Surprising myself, I happily succumbed to both suggestions. Saving dessert for last, I turned first to “The Singularity is Near” by Ray Kurzweil. |
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Goodbye, Old GirlPublished February 19, 2021 --I have always liked to write about Molly. She has fans who only contact me when a column about her appears. Besides that, it's she who fills my days with joy and causes unexpected outbursts of laughter. Writing about her is obviously overdue but, come on, she and I are just like the rest of you – basically stuck indoors with, for most of us, not a heck of a lot going on. |
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M’Lady’s FanPublished February 12, 2021 -- Lunch with a special friend way back in the olden days when we could meet and greet without masks. She was special even before she handed me a gift – a lovely intricately carved fan which, I believe, she said she had purchased on a recent trip to Gettysburg. Shades of my grandparents! And how very lovely! |
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Flowers For SpringtimePublished February 5, 2021 -- It's mid-January as I put pen to paper, hardly the stuff of springtime yet, but fun to dream. In all fairness I must add, I have only had to be plowed twice (well, then came February) and have only been able to watch the snowmobiles one evening. That is not to say I imagine this will continue though I'm not one to complain. |
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Whittle While You Work Published January 29, 2021 -- I love the beavers. I have fought Pomfret over their attempts to rid the area of them – particularly when they allowed – no! encouraged – trapping. Higher powers (and I do say thank you) must have intervened for a huge cast iron screen was installed at the edge of the road and has worked perfectly ever since. |
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Lemons Don't Always Produce LemonadePublished January 22, 2021 -- Suspecting its demise might be imminent, I feel it time to revisit my lemon plant. (Do I call it a tree? Or a bush? Or, simply, more accurately, a nuisance?) In spite of my usual superb record-keeping, I was unable to find anything on its origins. |
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Small WonderPublished January 15, 2021-- I hardly, if ever, find myself lacking for ideas for columns but I never expect one to fall onto me. My bathroom has a nautical decor so a small set of shelves with a buoy at the peak fits right in. The three shelves are filled with shells, sharks teeth, coral, a sand dollar and probably more. |
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Why Us?Published January 8, 2021 -- Trust me, dear reader, I know nobody likes to listen to anyone else describe their ailments and maladies. It's quite acceptable to go on (and on) about our own – that no one else wants to have to listen to. Got it? |
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