CertainSeason

A Very Busy Two Weeks or so...

For some strange reason, my computer and my camera have decided they can see one another again and I have pictures to go with a post. Not as many as I would like...say, for example, shots from CNN's "Decision Desk" for the midterm depression...er...I mean election coverage.

I put up about a dozen pints of jalapeno jelly and then took off for the city on the train...the Hudson River in all it's autumnal raiment. Had dinner with Bev and Robert (who worked the election with me) and Ken Monday night at Cafe Loup, which was lovely as always. Spent two nights in a chic little hotel right at Lincoln Center and headed back home on the 

train Wednesday morning (reading Angela Miller's Hay Fever all the way -- she's the proprietrix of Consider Bardwell Farm here. I recommend the book. It was fun to read about Granville and Pawlet and Roy Egg and the West Pawlet Fish and Game Club.) Which reminds me...I need to submit my invoice so I can get paid (CNN is notoriously slow in payment...I probably won't get paid till January!)

Got home and hit the ground running with two days to pull the second First Friday at the Pember together. Had a nice break from the Post-Star which ran a front page of the Arts section story on Tuesday about one of the artists we featured. The wooden bowls (over on the left there) were a big hit...turned by our neighbor Tony Mesaric, using local woods.

Had another 80+ people turn up (in a village of 2,000+ people, that's not bad), which was what we had hoped for. Battenkill Creamery (by the way, they were just named "Best Milk in the State of New York") served ice cream sundaes and a delightful time was had by all. 

And last night...we went to the rodeo...YEE HAW! [Pretty horse...prettier cowboy]

 

 

Really Neat AND...not so odd...

This recent segment on Nightline, something I stopped watching when Ted Koppel rode off into the sunset, speaks volumes to me and the values I hold. I would be delighted if we could do all the things this family does...perhaps solar panels are in our future?...we already get our clothes at Salvation Army and Goodwill...and our furniture mostly came from the streets of Brooklyn.

But I find the reporter's bias somewhat disheartening...that he needs to characterize these people as either/or "really neat or is it really odd?" ...as though a) it couldn't be both really odd AND really neat, or that b) these people are an inspiration...

He does, finally and somewhat half-heartedly, come around to the idea that these are very ingenius people. Their loving family, their connection to their community, their contributions to their community, and how lightly they live...only in a society that fetishizes consuming would these people be "really neat, but a little odd."

Local Color

Had the most delightful crab cake dinner with Mark and Patty at their home, which is about the same age as ours. I'm becoming quite accustomed to dining in front of roaring fires in old hearth fireplaces. And let it be said: it's always nice to find people who enjoy cocktails.

Sunday, we took off to check out some of the local color. First stop, Roy Egg's gallery/studio, literally right around the corner from us (as "around the corner" as anything is here...a short drive, down Rte 22 to the first left, and up into Vermont. Roy's at the first turn.) Patty had introduced me to Roy and Doug after the Pember board meeting, in the library. Roy does these wonderful tromp l'oeil paintings, painted furniture and chickens. Lots of chickens. So I bought this chicken. I want more chickens.

Right after Roy's, we headed up into the hills and were soon at the entry to the Merck Forest. Very beautiful location, with breathtaking views. My L.L. Bean boots, with their stupid heels, made walking on icy and uneven stone trails difficult to begin with, were further hobbled by Brewster needing to be on leash, something he hasn't had to contend with since we moved to the country. So he was very "pull-ish" and made the already wobbly walk all but impossible for me. We'll return to Merck Forest with better shoes (the right shoes are so important!)

We drove down as far as Manchester, where Robert Todd Lincoln's home, Hildene, is. Since Mark is the architect who did the restoration on Hildene, I want to wait to tour it a) when Mark can go along, and b) when it's spring. The location is very beautiful...and will only be more so when it is in bloom.

Found a nice cheese shop, which I suspect is about as difficult and rare as it is in Wisconsin...which is to say NOT. Bought a really delicious Irish whiskey-washed cheddar and a cheddar and bleu layered "duet". Loved them both.

Finished the day with chicken parmigiano and the Oscars. And...OK...I'm just going to say it: I don't get all the big fuss about The Hurt Locker. It's a good movie...but what exactly is new about it? That a woman directed it? Surely there have been better films directed by women. Jane Campion's The Piano comes to mind. For my money Best Picture is a timeless pick...or should be. I have my issues with Avatar, too, ("noble savage" "white man to the rescue" "woo woo spirituality"  to name a few) but it breaks new ground cinematically and is the kind of movie you can see over and over again. District 9 actually surprises. And A Single Man wasn't even nominated. Ten slots and they still miss a good one! And An Education makes it? If the young woman in An Education had been a  young man I wonder if things would have been different?