Nov
30
2024
We clustered nine around the table for Thanksgiving this year, with Sarah absent (she celebrated in Strasbourg). We had all the traditional favorites, although we experimented with new recipes for turkey, gravy, and stuffing. We also had some splendid new additions, such as a sour cherry pie contributed by Geoff. Jen made an exceptionally delicious […]
Sep
08
2024
Summer may be ending, but the dahlias are plentiful.
Aug
11
2024
Sarah rode both bicycle and horse this weekend. Jen took a short break from jam-making to see what the birds were up to in Vlei Marsh.
Aug
04
2024
The kitchen was abuzz for our weekend visitors, Julie, Stacey, and babysitter-for-life Lauren Ballback. Between meals, Jen managed to put up quite a few jars of marmalade. Stacey lent her customary good cheer. Lauren stopped overnight on her drive from Virginia to Maine. While here, she and Sarah made approximately 30,000 calories worth of granola. […]
Jun
23
2024
We have entered the shank of blackcap gathering season. Jen never leaves the house without a Ziplock bag, or possible two.
Jun
02
2024
Jen has been hard at work in the Secret Garden, which is currently awash in peonies. She has been planting some of her vast collection of dahlia tubers, which requires extensive excavation of rocks and roots. We look forward beautiful dahlias later in the summer. The roses also seem to be doing well.
May
18
2024
Jen received her customary breakfast in bed for Mother’s Day, despite having no daughter — really a sine qua non, in our case — in view. Sarah returns from Colgate this weekend, and she will be with us all summer.
Jan
20
2024
It must be getting close to Sarah’s birthday …
Dec
03
2023
Once again George Cole has met one of our hitherto undetected needs in the form of this late 19th century Tiffany & Co. sardine fork. We are slowly building our collection of obscure silver. Jen has been hard at work digging up the dahlias so they can survive the winter in our basement. The dahlia […]
Nov
27
2023
We had a mostly happy Thanksgiving, although we were very sorry not to have Julie and Stacey with us. They stayed home out of concern for Rinda’s health. It was wonderful to have Sarah back with us for the week. She was in high spirits throughout. Lew was in good form, tucking into a Thanksgiving […]