Vera was the first to notice the leaning - it seems that Tory and I are so used to seeing the tree everyday that its slow movement toward the earth was imperceptable. She knocked on our door with some concern. The tree stands (stood) at the corner of our driveway and was enormous. Years of trimming by the electric company had given the tree a definite bias to one side. earlier this spring edith and John had told us they were making calls and were going to have it cut down. However, they left for Europe last friday, and Tuesday Vera knocked on our door. "it's definitely leaning more" she worried, it rpobably has somehting todo with all the rain weve had lately - and so calls began - she got on the phone to NYSEG (New York State Electric and Gas) and they said they would have someone come and look at it. Wednesday morning she knocked again "I think it's leaning even more' she said - again she called NYSEG, and they said they would have someone out that day, and I promised to meet them, as Vera was leaving for Montreal for the day. We were all in the kitchen preparing for another hot sticky day, and I was at the kitchen sink when the earth shaking crash came. We ran out to see the tree firmly planted in the house. One large branch had pierced and upstairs window, another had broken through the wall on the second floor, yet another had broken a bottom window, and the some huge branched had pierced the roof and broken the eaves. We called around and rallied the troops, first the fire department was called, but they said there was nothing they could do, but they did gawk a lot and festooned the place with a lot of yellow tape. vera was contacted on her cell phone, but would not be returning until later that afternoon. We called Pam, down the street, and she started making calls too - I boarded up the lower windows, to save them from being broken from any further falling limbs, and started taking the chain saw to some of the non-weight bearing limbs to ease the load on the house. After a while there was nothing more i could really do - lacking any large equipment. Pam came from work and we went into the house, move some furniture, cleaned up a lot of glass and Pam called a tree surgeon. The tree surgeon came in the afternoon, just as a thunderstorm was brewing - and very proficiently removed the large limbs from the house. That was late afternoon - and then Vera and Gary came, and toegtehr with the tree surgeons cherry picker, we got tarps placed on the house to keep out the rain. I have been working on removing the wood from the front yard, but it's huge, and heavy, and the weather is still steamy hot. Edith and John return this weekend.
30/06:
30/06:
Zoe celebrated her graduation from Kindergarten last week, and summer began in earnest. The girls and I hiked Poko-moonshine last Saturday, and then spent the twiilight watching firends of ours (collectively known as Crossing North) play at the Kent-delord House in Plattsburgh. It was a beautiful setting, they played in an old barn at the back of the property with the doors swung open, and we sat with a big group of our friends on the lawn. Jen sang 'You are My Sunshine" with such beauty and sincerety that it forever transformed for me that seemingly simple song.
I took the girls fishing on Sunday, and, while Liz busied herself freeing the baby worms, Zoe reeled in her first catch - a beautiful sunfish. She wanted to take the it home for dinner, but, after the requisite photo I set it back into the water and we all watched it swim away. By then the worms were all set free, and we returned home. In a reversal of emotions she suffered from great guilt that evening as she worried about the wounds the hook may have inflicted - lizzie assured her that there were mamy more fish in the sea.
Today we went Strawberry picking, A hot day - near ninety even when we were there kneeling in the rows at 10:30 this morning. An older gentleman, 88, was charmed by the girls and struck up a conversation. He lives at his family home near White Face Mountain six months out of the year and picks strawberries every year as a thank you to those who help him out through the year. He was telling stories about how frugal his parents were;
"I would ask my dad for an icecream when we were visiting Ausable Fork and Dad would say "your mom can make you some at home'" and she would chip off ice from the icehouse and get out some custard and make some. Never spent a dime he didn't absolutely have to" While he was talking he would take out a handkerchief from his pocket and wipe his head. "two years ago, when I was eighty six, I passed out picking here, in that field over there" he said kind of matter of factly, and wiped his brow again "I bet you don't rememeber that?'" he asked a worker that was lurking near by. "oh yes," the man replied knowingly "I remember" The older gentlemen went on to say that he only came-too when he heard the sirens approaching "kept me in the hospital for a couple days, but couldn't find anything wrong with me." He assured us he was going to quit after he had finished his last flat, but he was still there, worker near by, as the girls and I left with our baskets. I always go a bit overboard, and after the final weigh in came home with 11 pounds of berries (and thats not counting the many that found their way into the girls mouths).
The Unitarian Fellowship is full of a lot of new experiences, and a lot of farmiliarity at the same time. To me, the white airy sanctuary space combined with the smell of brewing coffee remind me very much of the North Argyle Presbyterian Church that my family attended, it was one of the closest buildings to our house. The steeple rose above the fields a comfort when it was lit up during the dark early evenings of late fall, our land surrounded the graveyard across the street. We always sat in the back pews, to the right hand of the minister. At the end of the service someone would start the coffee brewing, and it would be ready and waiting at the end of the service, with white styrofome cups of sugar and milk, a stainless steel brewing pot with a black spigot and a little red light. But that was all, no cakes, no cookies, and so my sweet tooth had to be satiated by sipping the sugary remnants of my Moms coffee. Eventually the membership of the church dwindled and the hard decision was made to close it when I was in Highschool. For Tory Coffee reminds her of anything but Church, Growing up LDS she remembers feeling scandalous nibbling on coffee cake. At the Fellowship, Flower Communion was held on father's day this year. It is one of the best Sundays of the year, everyone brings flowers, they are gathered together and then distributed by the children of the fellowship. festooned with flower crowns the girls ran up and down the aisles of the old synogoge where we meet, and climbed the apple tree outside. The smell of coffee filled the white space, but, as usual, there are always lots of cookies.
For days now it has been raining, particularly last night. As we lay in bed we were lulled to sleep by the heavy drumming sound of raindrops on the tin roof. As I took Zoe to school we could see the Little Chazy that curves behind our house was fast rising. The rain continued through the day, and in the afternoon Vera stopped over, and together we walked over to see how high the frothy water had crept into the rose beds next door. Bodoni came bounding from the back of the house, and ran ahead of us, and moments later I stopped our conversation to say that I didn't see her anymore. Seemingly un-aware that her swimming hole had changed considerably, Bodoni had jumped into the raging waters, and I looked up just in time to see her yellow head go quickly by. She struggled against the water, but the current was to fast and walls of the river are built up with old cobbles. She disappeared under the bridge just near us, and I watched flumoxed as she was swept downstream toward the old dam and waterfall. I called to Tory and drove the car to the dam, past a group of firemen called out to pump water out of a corner basement. I arrived at the second bridge; No Bodoni. Four kids were standing, watching the water course over the falls, and I asked them if they had seen a dog go over. They gave me a confused look and said "no". I returned home defeated, and found the dog had found her way back, very wet, and greatly reprimanded.
A field trip to Shelburne Farms. (more later)
14/06:
Do you rememeber field day? sack races, tug of wars, hit dogs and a fist full of ribbons? Zoe's school celebrated both Flag and Field day today. Before the rain moved in the skies opened up they were able to play several games outside. Zoe was "line leader" today and got to carry the flag. You can see Liz getting into the act on the Tug of War.
All right, its not really summer yet, but it certainly does feel like it. One of my favorite things about this time of year is the light in the evening, shadows stretch across the lawn, and the light comes through the front of our house, which it never touches during the colder months. Long days mean it does not get dark until well after nine. So, in order to see the lightning bugs the girls have to stay up late. There have been a lot of lightning bugs lately they love the heat and humidity, and also the long grass in our lawn. The humidity also makes the evening light and even the moon orange. The picture below was taken about 8:00 pm. The old flag has 48 stars. My grandmother used to hang one every year that my great great great grandfather carried back from the civil war. it was so thin the light seemed to pass right through it.
11/06:
Another hot day, and no clouds in the sky. The girls escaped to the beach this morning with their friends Connor and Jackson and then went off to a birthday/pool party this afternoon. Each time slathered in a generous helping of sunblock and sporting sun hats. Despite our best efforts we have a couple of little lobsters tonight, with handsome strap marks. We shut the windows up early this morning to keep the cool in, as evening came on and Zoe tinkered away on the piano, distant thunder started booming, and as we read stories in bed, flashes started. Lizzie was fast asleep when Zoe came downstairs to us. She, Tory, and I, sat on the corner of the bed and counted the mississippis as the storm rolled in, Zoe excitedly started on each flash, and jumped with glee when the thunder boomed. We threw up the windows and the cool, wet wind filled the house. Just for the record: the closest was less than a Mississippi, and Lizzie never stirred.
Its hot, the mornings begins with a steamy haze draped over the the valley. In the last week I have been rising early to refinish the roof, looking out over the trees and river the atmospheric effect is more dramatic than a Leonardo painting, the forested hills turning blue, and the green mountains of vermont disappearing altogether. By 9:30 the heat and humidity combine to make my perch on the roof too hot, so the job is progressing slowly. Back on the ground I am confronted by the mosquitoes that seems to thrive in this same weather. Thank heavens for deet, or we would be sequestered inside, as it is I find excuses to go down to the basement, where the stone walls remain gloriously cool. The dog overheats after a few throws of the frisbee, and the river is off limits to her, vets orders, due to an infection on her belly. However, when we are not looking, she sneeks down and stands in the middle of the river (her poker face is good, but a soggy dog is dead give-away). The tomatoes are thriving, potatoes growing like mad, and the lettuce is bolting. Thunderstorms boom every afternoon, but have not amounted to much here (a little hail, a passing shower). We have been spared the floods that occured just south of us, yesterday Westport received 4.5 inches in an afternoon - I would like a happy medium. My old Westinghouse hums along in the girl's window, the old metal blades and open cage adding unpleasant thoughts to Tory's dreams, but it cools down those sweaty little girls, and maybe their dreams are filled with rain.
After their weekend travel, the Village post office started calling at 5:00 this morning for someone to pick up the noisey box of chicks. The order (split between us and the neighbors down the road) had only one casualty - but the company adds an extra "mystery'" chick, so the math turned out allright. We have eleven little chicks, five barred rocks (My choice) and three barred cochins and three partridge cochins (Tory's choice), They are, however very much the girl's, with Lizzy taking an extremely maternal role, screaming at Bodoni when she sniffs near the brooder, pulling down the blanket we have draped over the box to keep in the warmth (she won't let anyone peek inside), and running through the house declaring the temperature when it registers the change of a single degree. The girls sat on the mud porch and watched the chickens for hours.
06/06:
04/06:
Happy Birthday to Mom!!!! Here's a recent photo of Lindsey and LIz at the Saratoga racetrack watching the canine disc competition (in laymans terms; dog frisbee catching).
04/06:
After an unusually cool spring, the last few days have seemed like summer. With temeperatures in the eighties and nights in the low sixties, the evening are filled with the heady scent of lilacs in the back and lilly of the valley in the front yard. But beware! the scuttle-but around these parts concerns lilacs thieves! Overheard conversations at the post offfice and diner concern upstate's favorite nemesis: The New Yorker. It seems that these concrete canyon dwellers are so starved for green that they will pay up to five dollars a branch for lilacs and this has spawned a black market. So protect your blooms! Our yellow hound is a bit of a soft touch, but along with the blooming lilacs come the birth of mosquitos and black flies. I am confident that these bloodthirsty critters will keep any potential thieves away.
03/06:
The Congress Park Carousel is near the old canfield casino in Congress Park. the carousel was carved by Illions in 1910. It is the only two-row Illions carousel that remains intact. It has been in various locations in Saratoga County, but is associated with Kaydeross Park, on Saratoga lake. It has 28 horses with real horsehair tails. When the Kaydeross Park amusement park closed the carousel was to be broken up and auctioned off. Locals raised the funds to save the carousel. After a morning at the Saratoga racetrack, watching dressage and dog agility activities, A thunderstorm blew up - We arrived at congress park just as the sun was comng out again. Saratoga is a great town, but this carousel is a family favorite. A ride costs 50 cents, under fives ride free. The girls each had their favorite horses.
02/06:
01/06:
It seem sthat I have looked for wild ginseng in the woods since I was in high school. I have never had any success - until this weekend. After locating one plant I found three patches around the woods. I harvested one plant from each patch, and replanted the "neck" of the root. After doing some research it appears that it is legal to harvest ginseng in New York, though it's sale is tightly controlled. Because of the loss of farmland, and reforestation the habitat for ginseng is actually on the increase after being picked nearly to extinction. I suppose I had such a hard time finding it because it looks so much like other plants on the forest floor - Sasafrass, and Doll's eyes - as well as some other creeping thing I don't know the name of. I am drying out the roots, and I will try it in teas. I don't believe Liz will be trying it though, judging from the look on her face.
01/06:
01/06:
