So I live in a very tiny town. (It is in Massachusetts, and does not even have a Dunkin Donuts. I rest my case.) scott_lynch and I just walked over to the tiny but TARDIS-like co-op to get some lunch, and while we were paying for a sammich and some spicy tomato wild rice soup, [Redacted,] one of the women who works there, asked me if my housemate [Redacted] ( Read more... )

We came here on a porpoise: ecotourism spectacular. The one with the gannet. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. And like that.Yesterday was my friend Jack's annual birthday whale watch. This year it was a smaller group than in years previous: Jack, me, two other members of our Pathfinder group (Hi, Julia and Lou!), and the illustrious ( Read more... )

It's finally Spring in New England (I got out of Wisconsin just in time, apparently; I beat the blizzard by a day) and I get to be home with my dog for a whole three weeks before I head back to the Midwest.


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Slate blue sky smolders
At the western horizon.
Bare trees clutch last light.

Home from the first kayaking expotition of the year. We did seven-odd miles in about four hours*, there and back again with a lot of poking around, and my hands are letting me know that I do not have those particular calluses any more. As soon as this post is up, I will be taking a shower and a Flexeril, not necessarily in that order ( Read more... )

Good morning, internets.


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Tonight, the Town of Brookfield turned out to set out and light hundreds of luminaries on the town Common, and up and down Route 9.

Here was the view from our porch an hour ago.

(Yes, at least one Briard helped.)


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The Congregationalist church next door just fixed their carillon and we are getting an impromptu Christmas carol concert while they are tuning it.

They came over to make sure it wasn't too loud.

Meanwhile, the UU-occupied old stone Presbyterian church across the Common is decked out in Chanukah gaud.

I love this town.

Today, I have conformed to Yankee stereotype and mended a stone wall. I didn't take a before picture, but suffice it to say that it was slumping, and on the verge of total collapse.

Here is the "after" photo:

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The Jeff and I had the last kayak of the year today:  first time out on the Quaboag river. We paddled from the put in on 148 up to Quaboag Pond. Lovely, sere, shadowless November day...


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