New Orleans 1: First Time
I planned this trip a few weeks ago, when I learned that my favorite uncle was heading out on the cruise of a lifetime—to see the ancient ruins of the Aztec, Inca, and Maya civilizations. While I couldn’t take the equivalent time from work (new job), I was able to book a few days off, in order to meet my uncle and cousin on their way back. So here I am in New Orleans, for the first time, sat poolside at the Best Western in the French Quarter. I have never been to New Orleans before, but did spend some time in Baton Rouge as a teen—back when I…
The Bard, On Love at First Sight
I am currently reading Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, for the first time ever. By reading, I mean that I sit in the park on a blanket, taking in the sun, and reading aloud to the birds, bees, and passersby walking their dogs. Thankfully it's a big park (Sherwood Gardens). Anyway, very early in the play, I come upon the brief mono by Olivia, after having just met Cesario (Violet disguised as a young lad) for the first time. She has fallen immediately and irretrievably in love: What is your parentage? 'Above my fortunes, yet my state …
Winter Holiday: UK 3.0
Banksy 'n 'em It's funny, each time I travel abroad, I fall in love with something new. England is no different: Me, traveling. In winter 2023, on the advice of a fellow traveler, I started following and fell for the the Northern England EFL team Hartlepool United Football Club (this season relegated to the National League) On that trip I also fell in love with a young woman bartender, an island girl like me, but from Dominica, who was living in a flat with her partner, and making a life for herself. Saviola and I chatted about o…
Walking in Baltimore, Mid-May
Gorgeous pink and peach roses, in a dry garden... I decided to bike from my neck of the woods to visit a friend who lives a couple miles north. After enjoying the ride for a few blocks, I opted to hop out of the saddle and stroll, taking in much more of this glorious day. Dogwood shrubs, and no wire! On my first photographic pause, I bent down to pick up some trash in the parking lot of the Northwood shopping center, a redeveloped retail space meant to serve the community. My personal feelings do no align with those of community members and ne…
Lessons from London 2023
My traveling buddies are intrepid. I used to aim to fill my passport book with as many stamps as possible. But today I just can't be arsed. My buddies are headed to Scotland, France, and Belgium durign our 2 week stay in London. Day trips--and I do mean day--to visit European tourist traps, walk fast to catch everything, then sit stationery for at least 2 hours, to bookend the excursion. I suppose I gave up collecting stamps back when heading out of the country I presented my passport to the desk agent,she scanned it and handed it back, st…
Costa Rica V: What do you Want to Take Away
Back in San Jose, Hotel Presidente awaits us…a clean room, warm bed, and a substantial breakfast. Then a taxi to the plane, then a flight to another flight…..these thing spring to mind as our vacation winds down. While there is plenty of time left in this paradise-like setting, I can’t help but look forward to our next international trip, even to our summer bike trip, and more immediately—springtime gardening in Maryland. The gardens here give me inspiration for our little tree orchard and my yard! One surprising thing I’ve learne…
2017 From Gruesome to Garden I
There is pretty much no way that I can photograph my garden to camouflage the weeds… so I’d better get to work. This season has been a storybook spring, so far. The temperatures are moderate in the 50s-70s, and there are indeed April showers that encourage May flowers! (Columbines, pictured above) Curious About What’s Growing? Here are a few of the plants making a return to our small growing plot: Thundercloud Sedum : one of my favorites has made a return. For some reason plants closer to the house are more robust and those by the …
It's Officially Pesto Season
Presently in Montpelier Orchard, we have a glut of parsley, rosemary, basil, and other aromatic herbs.....and the weather is getting colder. This is a basic pesto sauce recipe, made with basil, olive oil, pine nuts, and Parmesan cheese. The recipe adds parsley, another garden herb that needs to be used up before the first frost, alongside the traditional basil. You can add a little extra Parmesan to the mixture if you like." Ingredients: 3 cups packed fresh basil leaves 6 cloves garlic 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/2 …
From Gruesome to Garden: 2016 III
We have been working so hard on their garden.. with the drought conditions and extreme heat, it's tough to keep green from browning. There's a gigantic photo album, showing off our flowers and plantings, paint job, and bijoux gazebo around the back yard... Google photos have changes so I'll need to r -elink the slideshow (it's spectacular, take my word of r it)
Montpelier Orchard…Work in Progress
The difference that this beneficial community space can make to our neighborhood is significant! Plus a community orchard is a really special place (to get organic food). From it's inception, it was an audacious idea. However, once the idea guy left, the orchard went to pot. After we bought the house, a couple neighbors helped to weed the area and plant additional trees into the orchard. At one point in the 2.5 years since we bought and got involved, hubby and I were the only folks taking part in the planting and upkeep of this double l…
2016 Trip to the Farm
Northland Sheep Dairy This year’s trip is at an end, but true-to-form I took enough photos to make even the hardiest city slicker feel like he was right there with us. Even though we took this annual sojourn over a week earlier than usual, we completely missed making hay, and instead we helped harvest the garlic crop—a much less strenuous endeavor. (Click on the pics to view all flu size images) Leaving our home base I was diligent in checking the forecast for our drive. The day began with promises of afternoon rain in Marathon, NY…
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