Art for active lifestyles
ADHD season has arrived with the extended light of day.
Projects in the works:
Mache, red sorrel, bib lettuce, arugula, cress have been planted.
Germander (Teucrium) propagated
Mint propagated
Restoration of antique French scroll top armoire strip sand painting has begun
Chickens are off the table right now, hands are full, days are full .
United sodas and San Pellegrino restocked in the WFH bar.
February was an ice storm day after day. Need to order the Danish boots with tiny spikes and stock up on pet safe salt for the north facing gravel driveway.
Press in Wickford has provided solace in the chill.
Greenvale Vineyards had their members party, we had fun!
The stars have been incredible. Breathtaking most nights.
Today, March 1 was spent on the boxwood. Pruned the two year old New Gen Freedom hedge, propagated cuttings. Moved the cold frames to face north. Important to build burlap frames in the fall.
It’s a 3 acre project. Managing invasive japanese stilt grass and green briar. Using AI for quick solutions.
Piles of wood chips. Neighbor Jack keeping them in order.
Tellie watching lately includes an Italian show called Ice Cold Murders, filmed in the Italian Alps. Entertaining.
United Sodas of America variety case for the 3pm slump.
Submitted two paintings to South County Art Juried show, my painting were accepted, they’re hanging in the gallery until Mid March.
Keeping busy with pottery, and soon pickleball.
Lunch at Dads tomorrow.
Sauna at the beach in little C next week.
Two comedy shows on deck in March, an Irish one in EG and Sebastian Maniscalco in Pvd, post Al Forno’s!
AB returned home from business trip with Covid. First time, we have both managed to dodge it until now.
Masking in the house, in quarantine essentially for a full 10 and up to 14 days. If it lingers past two weeks and threatens to consume the entire month, this will require a growth mindset to say the least.
I’ve abandoned my most needed and enjoyed Friday 5pm heated slow flow yoga, feeling the loss.
Before AB left for this infectious business trip, I hosted a tiny but decadent lunch for Dad and Sharon. Served delicious braised short ribs, english roasted potatoes, a winter green salad with radicchio, tasty fig crostini. It was a beautiful bright sunny arctic day, I do savor days like those. Especially grateful for the ability to have the bandwidth, nothing better than an empty calendar and a mind free from distraction or work or rushing, to be able to be fully present preparing a memorable meal for people I love.
Photos are of recent blooming amaryllis, sunset, sunrise, frosty trees.
Enjoying our beautiful avian friends as they dine on mealworm three times daily. We have 3 pairs and are hoping they nest on the property in spring, nesting boxes are ready for them! They are heavy drinkers and are often lined up on the heated birdbath, tipping their heads down for tiny sips in the most elegant manner.
Recent winter hikes around Trustom Pond, Matunuck and Beavertail, Jamestown.
8 days out from mandibular tori surgery on my jaw, the best day yet.
New definition of a luxurious way to start the day
Listening to the piano trio by Schubert while watching a beautiful variety of winter birds, including blue birds with rosy breast feathers enjoying their breakfast at the many feeders in the back yard framed by ancient stone walls, with the fireplace going and one well behaved Norwich terrier in a cozy hand knit wool sweater at my feet, sipping freshly brewed Dave’s coffee, enjoying a nourishing bowl of warm sprouted oatmeal with fresh blueberries, wearing silk pajamas, wrapped in a cashmere robe, wearing shearling slippers. Blissful on a snowy morning on the edge of 2025. Focus of the day will be planning a May trip to Ireland to visit the family and six new cousins under age 5, followed by a trip to London for the Royal Horticultural society’s Chelsea flower show.
Werkapaug Inn 5k, new friends at Old Man Joe’s coffee. Fellow sociologist, so much to discuss at this point in time.
Old summaries about the rise and fall of civilizations apply, we live within fragile systems.
Reading Sapiens and then Nexus.
Listening to Eckart Tolle on repeat.
A comfort to dwell on the facts, we are and always have been only primates after all: money, guns, technology, aviation, automobiles, borders on maps do not move the needle on our biology.
Spirituality, and the ability to not identify with incessant mind activity, the ability to rise above thought is the only solution I see.
The only way out of suffering is meditation and resting open into the being behind the human.
Redirect attention away from thoughts increase the power to observe your own mind and emotions.
These teachings are ancient, Buddha and Christ described the same solution.
From the inside out, relax open to the present moment, end the illusion of time - past and future. Life is always now. Time is moving towards you, you are not moving towards the future.
The human being.
Human is the animal, the amygdala, the scanning for danger or threat, trapped in a time bound mind and a body on alert, the human never has enough, chronically dissatisfied. Occupies the horizontal dimension past and future.
The being is the spirit, the ghost in the machine, the one who is listening to the voice in the head and watching the images of the imagination, direct your gaze inward, look right at it, drop back, observe, rest open and feel the aliveness in the body, focus on your sense of hearing - on sounds in the now. Occupy the vertical dimension of present moment.
On the human side we are hardwired to love and protect our own, seeking safety in a hierarchy not equality. Conflict and fear along with violence have always occurred, there has never been peace on earth because we are animals. We’re too frightened to be spiritual when our attention is absorbed by mind activity.
Due to our storytelling minds and shared narratives where myth, imagination reign, we conjure up The Other instead of looking for how we are the same.
Death has always been and will continue to be the great equalizer for all beings. Such short lived creatures are we.
Truly great civilizations have come and gone, war and disease have always been since the homo sapiens secured the gene pool.
Back to the wonderful day to day living in peace for now. Lucky to have enjoyed peace so far.
Uncle Scott turned 69 at Al Forno’s, where I will always remember the amazing person I once met there three years ago, wishing we knew each other better.
Dads house for football games and whiskey.
Making connections at Shepards Run, beautiful space with outdoor heated saltwater lap pool, boutique gym, yoga studio and spa. Looking to begin working with clients again, training to age with strength, mobility, stamina in the face of estrogen loss. Develop a foundation at ages 45-65 to protect 75-95.
Fireplace going after work each day, bluebirds and deer in the yard each morning.
Happy for our espresso machine, thick feather duvets, car in the garage - little luxuries in winter.
Favorite new quote:
If you want to be happy for a year: get married
If you want to be happy for a decade: get a dog
If you want to be happy for the rest of your life : make a garden
Grand day out to the hidden gem vintage car garage sanctuary in Middletown. Iceland Green VW Bug unforgettable, plus one gorgeous Porsche, three enormous Mercedes, one Karmann Ghia, five VWBugs including one 1952 split rear window- swoon!!
Garage with heated floors, elevated lifts and dehumidifiers ensures their meticulous preservation.
More fun than an art gallery, so many clever details to admire.
Such thoughtful proportions and beautiful lines, especially curved glass windows, charming knobs, handles and buttons.
The upholstered seats and interior roofs and floors were textured elegantly with patterned rich fabrics, perhaps mohair or wool, or patina worn leather, so luxurious.
The nicest guy ever TF, reminds me of an American James May.
Blustery walk on The Cliff Walk to see many harlequin ducks bobbing and diving in the beautiful sage colored sea.
We were lucky to enjoy a glorious sunset on the bridges after stopping off at Aquidneck Farm AQF for grass fed everything. Grateful!
Another gorgeous weekend! Leaf mulching completed courtesy of U. Scott and Andrew, hopefully spring will reveal beautiful compost for the new beds.
First time for Arial yoga and first time at a chiropractor this week, both experiences made me feel apprehensive and surprised, exhilarated and slightly terrified. Will go again to both, decompression is wonderful.
Farmers Daughter, Matunuck Oyster Bar are providing seasonal cheer.
Planting indoor bulbs and outdoor containers for the season, tomorrow.
Conjuring up wild ideas of throwing a small soirée, then quickly trying to remind myself that I did enough entertaining already this year, just relax, do more yoga, spend more time at Martin House Books, more swimming and sauna.
Clocks back. Days are done at 5. Fireplace, candles, tea, soups and stews. Writing and reading.
Planning the holiday cheer: classical music in Newport, yoga at the Weekapaug Inn, wine tasting at Ocean House.
On the garden front, looking to get as many camellia, winter green ground cover, hellebore, heather as possible. Huge day collecting leaves for next spring compost thanks to Uncle Scott. Wood chips and composted manure to the rescue.
Build propagation tables using cinder blocks. Raspberry and blueberry beds.Dead wood hedge down by the mailbox 5’ tall. Get 40’ rebar and have it cut down in Warwick 6’ to accommodate 1’ in the ground.
Looking at property in Europe for the next possible phase of our lives, America is looking unpleasant to say the least. not here for it.
Workwise, many train trips on the horizon parties and gatherings.
Dental surgery ensures long recovery over Christmas week, dreadful but necessary.
Today was a caffeinated (Old Man Joes) adventure in Watch Hill- long sunny walk out on Napatree Point. The finest sand on that beach! piping plovers, multiple schools of jumping bluefish keeping flocks of cormorant in a feeding frenzy. The tiny town is mostly shuttered now, Olymipia Tea Room still open. The Cooked Goose is thankfully a nice place to find a recovery snack post beach walk.
Yesterday, was tree planting volunteer day with Karen R and The Newport Tree Conservancy. Five native willow and tulip trees are now in the ground in the forest restoration zone of Miatanome Park in Newport. Followed up with a visit to Newport Vineyards, Food Love and a walk on Second Beach with Karen K from yoga.
Decided that TC’s little brother will be a Yorkie after meeting and amazing little bright one on the beach. Asked many questions about the breed. Easy, fun, endearing and adorable, conveniently portable.
Feeling guilty about the lack of garden time this week, knowing I’ll have to finish projects in colder, darker days ahead, planning those outdoor outfits already; how to stay warm and flexible?
The universe gave me two signs : A picnic boat called Snow Goose ( still in the water as November looms) and a Salem sweatshirt. Trust.
The best way to trick or treat is to visit the charming classic cars at fort adams. Love the old logos and hood ornaments and curved glass windows. A gorgeous little robin’s egg blue or tiffany blue VW bug stole my heart. Impeccably restored little beauty with the smallest well crafted details. A grand day out!
Frost dates closing in. A tiny crop of dahlia this year, the boxwood hedge around them grew tall casting a shadow early in the season. They will need a new bed close to the hose, in full sun, thirsty tubers. On the hunt for KA’s and more spiked cactus and pompon to replicate the most beautiful garden in Dorset by Charlie McCormick. White, pink, purple and orange.
Empty clean bright lap pool swim stretch out float, followed by unhurried lounge time in toasty soothing sauna as the fall air chills down. Planning this weekend routine for dark days ahead.
flying through the air
The lane is changing each day and trees around the house are looking color drenched.
Day trip to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute to find out more. Parking is a problem for sure, but it is a small and interesting place, focused on doing good work researching and understanding our oceans. It is desperately in need of the donations from titans of industry, the buildings are dilapidated.
Dinner (finally) at Little Moss in Padanaram, worth it despite the strict reservation process. Everything felt (and tasted) special. I love small restaurants owned by people who love and care about delicious food. By keeping it small there is the ability to focus on quality.
Long holiday weekend ahead planting bulbs, spreading wood chips and moving shrubs. Hunting down specimen trees for spring color.
Side note: one of the most comforting things I’ve found after scanning the depressing and repetitive headlines of the NYT - the cooking section and particularly the comments readers leave on recipes of interest.
The number of comments on butter, vanilla or flour and how to tweak the measurements makes me smile every time!
On the train today up and back to Westwood for all day meetings. Getting to the beach with feet in the sand, strolling with TC and AB for magic hour quickly undoes the grit and tension The waves rolling in sets were a beautiful deep green against the pink band at horizon. Nature restores.
We’re grilling local Tautog at sunset facing west and the light is divine. Gratitude for beauty.
5x daily up the lane is 10,000 steps, a rare day to accomplish the full requirement. Today the fall colors are fading out the green of summer, getting ready for the enormous leaf transformation. This year promising myself to gather massive piles for leaf mulch as the garden projects are increasing what feels like tenfold.
Matt our Tree guy will be dumping truck loads of wood chips and I’m on the hunt for a Polaris with dump truck. Looking to whip this 3 acre compound into a pollinator paradise and rid the property of a lawn.
Overcast crisp morning yoga on rooftop of Matunuck Oyster Bar. Incredible views with vinyasa. A sea fowl feast for the eyes, as the salt marsh below and skies above were teeming with heron, swallows, cormorant, egret.
Local dahlia in the restaurant from Moonstone Flower Farm.
A priceless rich and beautiful mosaic from MFA Houston to remind me of a special person one great night at Al Forno’s Tuesday November 9th 2021.
These arial photos of my home little Island in Narragansett make me feel so grateful.
Finally feeling space to process and reconnect with old dear friends and the yoga community I’ve missed so much.
Mid-September now, incredible weather, perfect beach days, delicious crops in season, ocean water temperature feels silky and beautiful, savoring it all, soaking it in. Sleeping after salty swim sessions, dreamy.
Random Summer Food list : Quonochontaug Pond Oysters, Sancerre wine, Smiths Berry Farm blueberries, sungold and heirloom tomatoes, local sweet corn, native peaches, big fluffy bunches of basil, burrata, Provence rosé, lobster rolls, Seven Stars sourdough and almond cookies, homemade grilled pizza, Brickley’s ice cream, spicy cucumber margaritas with Casamigos Tequila, Sift Bakery Blueberry Sourdough, AQF steaks.
Farm Stands: The Stand by William Wright & Co, Quonnie Farm Market, Stone Acres Farm, Wehpittituck Stand
Coffee runs: Old Man Joes, Nana’s Cafe in gorgeous local pottery, Dave's Coffee Charlestown, Caf-Bar, Sift in Watch Hill.
Focus : Laboring in the garden, proud of what I’m creating.
Obsessing over plant combinations, still learning how the light swings around the house in each season. Tree came down, new beds have been installed and they are hungry for plant material now. Looking for ways to maximize the textural interest in winter, building winter gardens first. Focus is on seed heads, bark and shrub interest. Yew, grasses, anemone, boxwood.
Today the goal is to get the vegetable raised bed planted with the cold hearty greens and begin the seeds for carrots and spinach - a little late but it will work. Nothing better than peeking into the mini greenhouse in February to see tender greens growing just fine on even the coldest, wettest, greyest winter day.
Summer was full of family. U. Jack turning 90, Dad turning 80 and gatherings galore. On the Cape and here at home. So grateful for our Irish cousins making the trip to stay with me to surprise Dad on the big 80! It worked, it was months of planning and preparing, moving my office to the basement, guest bed and bath refresh, powder room refresh, new outdoor seating area installed, menu planing, hosting two back to back parties for 9ppl and 17 ppl + two 6 hour Logan airport trips at the worst time of year - but we did it!!! Great memories were made, feeling satisfied, my heart is full!
Wildlife recap: Wild turkeys, deer, fox, great horned owls, bobcat, finches, bats, and most celebrated hummingbirds - thank you for infusing our life with your daily visits. Wishing safe journeys on the winter migrations, can’t wait to see you back here in April.
A few flashback photos added.
