Friday 6:30am Soft Rain Bird calling coffee almost ready

Our heat wave broke last night. The scoring heat is now soft rain in my gardens.

Unitarian Church in Newburyport Sign in Sun

First Gladiolas of the Season

Still life of Straw Hat with PINS

MS Becky Doodle almost smiling face

Plein Air Poetry Walk and Basho's Haiku in Harvard, Massachusetts

We went on a day trip to Harvard, Mass. to visit Old Frog Pond Farm  & Studio.

This beautiful organic farm is very peaceful. On the property is a wonderfully wild pond with lilies. Near the pond is a beautiful screened in Meditation Cabin which is well used.

I loved the art work and sculptures that graced the scenery.

There was a deep stillness on these grounds. 

It was an extremely hot day. The summer sun was at high noon. 

I found and bought organic blueberries and raspberries that had been lovingly hand picked early in the day. My poet friend  had just spent 20 minutes in the meditation cabin writing a poem for the upcoming Frog Pond's upcoming event: Plein Air Poetry Walk on Sunday, September 13, 2015. He was also thrilled to find fresh kale for sale. His eyes  sparkled  for either the poetry success or the kale.  Either way,  he was very happy to spend an afternoon in this magical spot.

Pictures tell a better story than words.

                                                           Furu ike ya                Old pond!                        
  Basho's Haiku                                 kawazu tobikomu      frog jumps in                    
                                                               mizu no oto                water’s sound              

Meditation Cabin with a water view

Apples growing on the farm fence

Hints for the Rain Goddess

Art works in front of the covered berry field

Little building by the dam

Along the pond walk way  

A very still dragon fly

Meditation about exercising with an iphone....

Ok, there is nothing you could meditate about while using an iphone. I am just trying to get your attention.
Stop, lock up your iphone, walk outside, and exercise. Listen to the quiet. Take deep breaths, smell the air and relax.

If only it were that easy.

 First of all, I really don't care to hear your private conversations from my garden, or while I ride my bike next to you. Yes, I am a baby boomer, and yes, my generation is going deaf-thanks to rock & roll concerts. But, why do people yell into their cell phones. Don't they want some privacy?

I LOVE my privacy. I am a private, introverted person, and love silence. Is that too much to ask of my fellow beings on this planet. Is there any silent zones left on our planet.

It used to be  that hospitals were considered "QUIET" zones. In the last few years, I have visited too many patients in hospitals.  An ICU is the most distracting place that I have ever been in. I guess that I watched too many old hospital shows in the 70s.  Computerized health care is just plain noisy.

I have always wanted to put a quiet sign in front of our house on its country road. Is that rude? Would it be taken away like my no spray mosquito sign from the 80s?

It is  just a thought, but, next time you are walking in the country, take the time to unwind and use no devises. Just you alone in nature. Open your eyes and see the beauty around you.

July Memories

On the 4th of July,  I turned 66 years old in Sedwick, ME. We rented a cottage on a pond and relaxed, and edged another step into retirement bliss. No worries, no time, no deadlines, just relaxation.
My favorite memories of this trip is the sounds that were all around us. The constant sound of the movement of water. The songs of the birds, the wood thrush, phoebes, and the loons. Some of our MA migrating warblers, were now parents and enjoying the wilds of Maine. The rains came and out came our books and picture puzzles. We cooked almost all of our meals, and ate listening to BBC radio.

No computers, no cell phone reception and no technology.

We went to bed early and work up even earlier. We both enjoyed the oddity of sleeping in twin beds across the room.

We sat out on the deck when at long last, the sun paid us a visit. We explored small towns of Maine, island homes, craft schools, local artists homes/shops, and farmer's markets.
We laughed, played and enjoyed each others company.

I no longer think that I am a young person. Neither my thoughts, clothes, or body have any thing in common with a younger person.  I do not regret growing older.  But for years, I have been in denial of who I was becoming. Some would say as I aged, I grow more and more like a crazy old lady.
So be it. It is an occupation that suits me very well.

So when I turned 66, I was given the biggest and best birthday card of my lifetime.  It was too large to bring home. But, I am still laughing about that card and how silly a spouse of 27 years can become; when he is relaxed, unstressed and in vacation mode.

View looking out an artist's studio onto the wide open blueberry fields.

After resting on my left shoulder for 20 minutes, this dragon fly cools off on the side of our cottage.

Best cherries in the world, ok life in Main is like a bowl of cherries. There I said it.

Old fishing lodge cabin door with reflections of the the pond.

Self-Exercise Motivation With Some Help From My Friends

I have been in an self-exercise rut.

The Dark Side of Exercise

Years ago, when I first hurt my back, I ended up in bed for over seven weeks.  Then I was up on crutches, with a numb right leg. After years the numbness,  it  slowly went away. That is the short version of a very long and painful story.

The Newburyport Runner can exercise

Fast forward, about five years ago I stopped my daily exercise. I rode my bike, I did gardening, I walked, and I did yoga. Then I started to have trouble standing for any long period of time. I went to the Doctor and he told me, it was my back. I was in total denial.

My Exercise Shoes Glowing

So, I really had to get back into my routine of exercising. I would do anything except exercise at home or as I call it self-exercise.  I kept moving my yoga mat around the house. I fooled myself that I was getting enough exercise and did not need to stretch.  I could not motivate myself.

One day, I started to exercise with my friends: Sting, BBKing,and Paul Simon. These guys have helped me get my exercise/stretching grove back. I tuned into New Orleans music, Muddy Waters, and Ella & Louis.  The louder the music, the better.  I found out that loud music kept my new kitty out of the room and off of my yoga mat.  I am back doing back stretches and yoga. I am feeling each muscle as I stretch slowly.

So as I song goes, I get by with a little help from my musical super star friends. They keep me rocking and rolling.

Officially, I declare it is summer today.

I am inside on a early warm morning. Today, I start the old New England tradition of washing of the wools.  The old washing machine is on gentle cycle and my irish purple shawl & my scottish brown blanket are now being gently washed. I love wool and even though I have become allergic to it, there is nothing on a cold new england night that snugs and warms you at the same time.

Ok, everyone now knows that we had over 120 inches of snow last winter. It was awful. Too much snow to go snow shoeing in the woods. Too much snow that there was no place to put the snow.  We had a month of white and grey days and if you listened closely, you would hear the wild wolfs in the distance. Ok, so we really don't have wolfs, we have coyotes and we did not start to burn our furniture. But, it was a long winter.

So, with great cheer, I announce that we are now in summer. Time to water the gardens, put on the bug sprays, clean off the bikes, and oh yes, go to the beach. We go to the beach all winter long. It is quiet and lonely out there. But, the birds are great. The Snowy Owls return each winter.  The loons are dressed in their winter outfits and swim in large flocks  by the shore.  Fingers and toes get darn cold but, it is quiet and peaceful out there.

We are very lucky to live near a National Wildlife Preserve. No crowds in the winter, except if a rare bird is flown in during a bad storm.  Then the place goes wild with binoculars and scopes.

But when summer comes, the miles of beach are open to the smart few who get up very early in the morning, and show their beach passes before the rangers. Once the allotment of people has been reached, the refuge is closed to new comers.

The waters are icy, but, the miles and miles of beaches are not crowded. Long walks along the waters edge, picking up shells, and afternoon naps are mandatory. It is heaven on earth.

Winter on Plum Island

Frozen toes and fingers

Summer at the beach

Driftwood castles at Plum Island

A Simple Explanation of the Meaning of Life

 John Updike put it, “the mystery of being is a permanent mystery.”

Evelyn RuthTrilling Milhender, young and gorgeous.

It is my mother's anniversary of her passing. Three years since she blessed the earth with her wisdom, humor, and kindness.  

 Beautiful people come into our existence and leave our existence. Why are they here today and gone tomorrow? Why is their hatred in the universe? Why is there war? Why can we not all get along?

No simple answers. 

I feel honored to have a wonderful, loving mother. I wish I could tell her how much I miss her. Oh, for just a quick mom hug...it would be luscious. 

It is spring and it is time to make plans for the coming year.

If you look between the two yellow dandelions, you will see the proud Mama Killdeer on her nest.

The cat and the wild turkeys woke me up about 5:15am. I fed the cat and cursed at the big fat gobbler.

Last weekend was mother's day.  It is a very hard day for me since I lost my mother, Ms. Evelyn Ruth.  Next year, instead of being sad, I will plan a celebration for Evelyn's spirit, strong will, and great sense of humor.

We are almost done with the garden cleanup.  Every thing in the gardens right now are pink. How can any one be unhappy with such splendor around the house?

This time of year is when I renew my plans and make changes with my so called life. I always thought it is silly to have a New Years's resolution. I do make them, one year I vowed to avoid toxic  people, another year I planned to "Make it So!" So, once the trees have fresh, new,  light  green leaves on their branches,  I think about the coming year.

Today, I will plant my parsley seeds, and dig in my gladiola bulbs. Next week, I will go to the HerbFarmacy  and buy some basil, dill, tarragon, rosemary and scented geraniums for my herb garden.

A very silly Aunti B enjoying a green house full of wonderful herbs.

This Spring, I finally started to address the changes in my arthritic body. I donated all my beekeeping equipment to Essex County Greenbelt Association. I had splints made for my hands to protect my little fingers while I garden and I decided to host my bird watching team to lunch for our annual bird-a-thon a fund raiser for Mass Audubon's Joppa Flats. I will not pretend that a 24 hour bird watching weekend does not hurt. Instead, I will be a great hostess with the mostest, by serving delicious sandwiches, pink lemonade, and New England Old Fashioned whoopee pies for desert.

We are who we are, sometime, it just takes us a long time to realize that we are no long 20 years old. Ok, I admit that I am now a mature woman;  but a woman who wears neon bright pink sneakers.
A gal still has to have some glitz in her life.

Happy spring to everyone one. May this season bring joy, health and happiness to one and all.

Take all of your life and embrace it; both good and bad.

May has always been my favorite month of the year. New leaves, flowers and warm sun on my face.
Life just does not get any better than the Month of May.

    Both my parents died during the month of May.  Dad passed on May 8, 2008 and Mom departed on May 28, 2013. I miss them very much, and they are in my thoughts every day.  I do not like be an "orphan".  Granted, I was lucky to have my parents for 90% of my life so far. Ed and Evelyn loved each  other from the first day they met in Magnolia, Massachusetts so many years ago. Each May, when I hear my first trill of our house wren, my thoughts go to this loving couple who were my parents. 

     

   

Ed, Barbara, and Evelyn enjoying Portsmouth, NH years ago.

In May, the wood warblers migrate through our area on their way to their nesting sites. These pint size birds are without doubt the prettiest birds that you will ever want to see. They hide behind leaves, chasing after tasty bugs. They have wonderful bird calls, that inspire a novice birder to purchase the newest Sibley's bird guide and Stoke's CD of bird calls. They are the some of the hardest birds to find and watch; but, it is pure joy when you do see & hear them in your neighborhood. 

In May, our gardens explode in pinks, whites and yellows.   

This month reminds me that life has its ups and downs. It also reminds me that one must embrace the good and the bad of one's life; the joys and the sorrows. That is what life is all about.

Some days it rains, and other days the sky is deep blue. Embrace it all.

A Princess is born and A King is dying...

I woke up to the news that a unnamed Princess was born in the UK today. What sweet news. The monarchy is such an old fashioned idea. But in this modern fast world, it is so sweet to hear a little old fashioned news. A tiny new baby who is all pink, cuddly, and so sweet;  was born into a world of hate, prejudice, and insanity today.  In my mind set; the new princess is a small miracle. She is something to remind us of the good in the world.  Small miracles happen around us all the time. We need to take the time each day to slow down our thoughts.; so we may be present in mind and thoughts to a  miracle or two each day.

The other morning news was not so good. B.B. King has gone into hospice care. I admire his strong spirit that he has always shown us and  up to the end. Hospice care is such a loving, kind way to depart this world. B.B. King's music, his voice, and his guitar Lucille have been an inspiration to my soul.  How can you be sad, when you can listen or sing the blues. The blues can cure a broken heart, lead your life into a new direction or even help you  dream of better days.

I salute The King of music and hope his next journey is smooth as his guitar playing.

Thoughts of the blues and small wonders.

Meditations of Spring Garden Cleanup

This morning my cat woke me around 6:15am.  Becky, the cat got her breakfast early. I went out on the deck to soak in the sounds of a spring dawn.

Our neighbor has  a medium sized vernal pond by the road . Nothing says springs like spring peepers. These tree frogs are the ultimate singers. They come on strong in the spring while they are mating and as the disappear when the vernal pond slowly dries up to nothing as summer approaches.
Along with the frogs, I heard a cheerful am chorus of our local bird varieties. The chickadees, gold finches, and cardinals sing their sweet mating songs.

We still have a wee bit of snow, but, who cares. It is officially spring in my mind.

Spring cleanup in the gardens begins now. Weeding, removing leaves, branches and twig is a mindless task. But every spring as I put on my gloves, roll out my garden card filled with my tools, I am joyful and put into a meditative state.

Each leaf, each garden beds is like an old friend. First I do the herb garden slowly with gloves. The chives have been waiting patiently for me to uncover them. I have three types of chives. I have the common standard type, curly chives and my favorite garlic chives. Each has different colored blooms. Garlic chives have a small intense white bloom. Honey bees love their blooms and so  do I.

After cleaning up the major leaf cover, I remove my gloves and gently caress my perennial herbs. I remove any weeds, small leaf covers, and moss. My raised herb garden was a birthday a gift from my hubby. Best gift ever.

I am grateful for the tree frogs, birds, herbs, and mother nature. Nothing puts a smile on this girls face like springtime meditations in the gardens.

My herb garden in late summer.

Many Happy Returns day lilies next to my herb garden.

Spring Is In The Air...

Finally, spring is coming after such a long winter. Our hummingbird feeder is up just in case we get some early migrating hummers.

Early this month, we took a long driving trip to Philadelphia, New Castle, DE, and DC. were we visited friends, family, and flowers.

The highlights of the trip was walking through the fabulous greenhouses of Longwood Gardens, and having a private tour of the orchard collection greenhouse in Hillwood Estate Museum and Gardens and driving around DC searching for the best cherry trees in full bloom.

 We were disappointed that a power surge in DC caused the Indian Museum to evacuate their buildings and grounds. We also tried to see the 150 anniversary of Lincoln's Assassination  display of artifacts from that fateful day. All tickets had been sold out for a long time. We did see the items on the Sunday Morning TV show. Abe's hat, Booth's pistol, and the contents of Abe's pockets. Wish we saw it in person, but, living in bed and viewing the display was kind of cozy.

Another highlight was sitting on my sister's bed and opening a treasure trove of my dad's collection of tie tacks, cufflinks, and some of my moms's silly jewelry.  Dad's collection was in his old leather initialed case. It smelt of old leather, after shave and mostly of Dad. Nice memory.

So today, after my coffee in bed, I did stretching exercises with Paul Simmon, groomed the cat, and silently watched the trees starting to bloom out. Our phoebes have returned and are updating their nest from last year.  Home is heaven.

Driving with Captain Judy (who is one hot mama) around DC looking for ultimate Pink Cherry Trees.

Pretty in pink Orchard  @ Hillwood Estate

Luscious Hibiscus @ Longhill Gardens.

Gorgeous orchard at Hillwood Estate Museum & Garden.

ELM my dad and some of his male jewelry. 

You've Got Bad Case of Love-Your Heart is Going Through Misery

My Heart is filled with Misery. Ah, yes, Mr. King sing it out. When you miss someone or somebody, it hurts. It does not matter if it is a breakup or a lose of a love one, it still hurts. Some days it does not hurt, and other days start with a deep hurt. Gone, gone, gone.
I try to be shrug off this feeling. It just gets worse if you hold it in. Pop that ballon filled with hurts and pains. Let it go. Bur, it is not ready to go. I am not ready to let it go. I just want to hold onto the memories just a little bit longer.
So thank you Mr. King and company. There is no one else in the world wide that I would rather be with tonight.

Picture of my Japanese Case with its wooden comb, mirror and Kleenex case - a gift from a wonderful lady.

It was fun when it was fun! What's done is done! I'll survive.

Love Is In The Air

Pink Neon Bliss Sign

Love serenade with guitar on Newburyport Boardwalk

 As I sit at my desk, a yellow shafted flicker is drilling our chimney cap as a sign of love for any female flickers who might be passing by.

Our deck still has snow on it, but, I can see a large section of wood..so we are moving in the right direction.

We used to have mating woodcocks in the field across the street. Woodcocks are an odd bird. When we first moved into our house years ago, we kept hearing a peeping sound. It took us awhile to figure that that was no bug, but, a woodcock. When the male is ready in the spring, he finds a good wide open field. Without hesitate at dusk, he flies high into the sky, and starts spiraling in large circles down toward the field. He also is making chirping, clicking, and love notes to the females as he returns to his original spot in the field.

We no longer have woodcocks. I do miss their love tumbles. The whippoorwills that called are also gone. Our habitat has changed over the last almost 26 years at our house.

But it finally spring; and I am still in love with my love 'cause love is in the air.

Stopping Time for a Few Seconds a Day

Floating Penguins and Friends, Newburyport, MA by Michael Updike (ducks by Mother Nature)

Old Carnival Act of High Jumping into a small Pool of Water at the Topsfield Fair Ground

I almost always have a camera close at hand. I never knows when my eye will catch a good picture. The shots are fast. Click, click and the visions pop into my camera's screen.

Heavy equipment in Portsmouth, NH

I get a real thrill when reviewing a wonderful shot. To me it is liking stopping time for a second.

That is real power. It makes me feel like my hero, Wonder Woman. But, that is another story for another day.

Thoughts on the Great Blizzard of '78 and the Winter of 2015

My mother and my Cat Esmeralda Blizzard of 78

My Dad with his shovel Blizzard of 78

In 1978, I had just returned back in Massachusetts from California. I had a fabulous 2 years in Garberville which is located in Northern California. There were two type of people in Garberville: lumber jacks and hippies. These two groups did not get along. I lived in many different homes in Garberville.  I lived in a two story trailer, a gorgeous modern home with picture windows overlooking a stream, a tent in a camp ground by the Wild El River, and alone with my cat in a small rustic camper on 40 acres of land. The majority of homes had not electricity. Life was very simple. Some family members said that I left California because of the lack of electricity. The true reason was that all my married women friends had more dates than I had.

I spent my first two months back east in Vermont studying weaver with master weaver and Scottish folk singer, Norman Kennedy. It was a quiet and very productive time. I carded sheep's wool, spun yarn, dyed yarn, and wove two blankets. My only regret of being in Vermont was that I missed the Great Blizzard of '78. Vermont got some snow from the storm but, Vermont never shuts down.

I heard everyone's stories from the Great Blizzard of '78 and felt left out. I like stories and this was a major New England event which I  sadly missed. Even my cat had the blizzard experience. My folks had baby sat for her while I was in Vermont.

So we move up to the great storms & blizzards of this year 2015. I now have stories to tell my grandchildren if I ever had children. The winds, the snow, the ice dams, and the grey white skies.
Blizzards are not fun. For the last 37 years, I felt I missed out.  But now I have lived through historic snow storms in January & February and I sincerely think that great blizzards are highly over rated. Believe me when I say, the next time that I hear that we will be getting record snow; I will be on a plane and find myself on a nice sandy beach in Virgin Gorda. Please just forward my mail.

Two Words That Changed My Life

One of our garden walkways is exposed through the mighty snow.

Looking across the driveway to side yard.


I had always had a reading & comprehension problems since 1st grade. 

In 10th grade I asked my  English Teacher, Mr. Reynold, a question. How could improve my reading skills? He said that  I must start to read everything in front of me.  He added if you see a bottle of ketchup, read it,place mat,-read it , cereal boxes, phone books....read everything.  I trusted this young, hip teacher. So, I took his advise and over time I  became an avid reader.  Thank you Mr. Reynolds. So I owe a lot to Mr. Reynolds, aka, jolly green giant because he used green magic markers to correct our papers. I can still see his large handwritten note in green spread across the entire page of one of my papers.What a gift he had. I asked him how to solve a ten year problem, and he changed my world in two words - read everything.

Winter Hump Day

Driving up Newman Road towards Old Town Hill

Today, the sun is shinning. It is a very warm 33 degrees outside. Wednesday's temperature  may jump to 40 degrees. Blue skies shine down on me.

We have not had any snow in over a week. There has been no shoveling, no plows, or Arctic blasting winds. Our snow drifts, mountains, and luge  run driveway are all melting. I am ecstatic. Spring will be visiting us soon, I can see the end of the winter tunnel. This day has all the feel of a hump day.

Tonight, we spring ahead our clocks.

I put on my snow shoes today. I climbed Mt. Glenn in the back yard and followed an animal track. We are certain it was a raccoon. The suet feeder was on the snow and in the snow were paw marks.  All our New England stone walls are  hidden under the snow. I walked over the invisible  stone wall and  around the large wooded land trust that is our next door neighbor.  There were a few animal tracks but, no sign of deer. Years past, I have followed a small deer path into the woods until it opened into a large deer highway with many deer visitors. The deer must be in deep trouble this winter. The deer that survive into spring will be very thin and tired. 

Thoughts on Snow

Lincoln, NH Ice Palace 2015

When the snow fall starts to hit the ground, I enter a magical world. 

Mother Nature is a wise, designing deity. She gives us a snowflake design which lasts only minutes and it is  never to be duplicated.  Each flake is unique unto itself. 

I love the  quietness of the season. When I walk in the snow,  the only sounds I usually hear are my boots crunching in the snow. Birds and animal are very quiet during this season. I know they have been around by following and deciphering their tracks in the woods.

The winter cold will take your breath away. In subzero weather, the hairs inside your nose freeze together. Nothing can wake up your senses like a walk in the subzero New England winter. Although the winter can be a shock to my system, I love winter. Oh, I complain about the getting stuck in side due to the weather conditions, but, there is nothing I love more than fresh snow falling onto me.