Vermont Musings

New Blog

2010-03-01T08:29:00.000-08:00

I will be moving my blog to wordpress from March 1, 2010. Please hop over to this address:
http://montgomerymusings.wordpress.com/
I will see you there!
Polly

Arpilleras-Women and Creativity

2010-02-12T06:56:00.000-08:00

On Thursday I headed up to Pamplona Alta by bus with my friend Jean to meet with a group of women at Mision Nazareno. Across from the church, a house had been torn down leaving the shell and interior remains. This is part of the grit of Peru Ian and I often mention. I find the piles of trash, the untended gardens, and the dog leavings difficult to view each day. My eye has not yet learned to edit out the ugly and see beyond it. Some days I find myself searching for the lovely, the beautiful, the hopeful. On Thursday I found it in the Arpillera work of these talented women.
Three days a week Jean unlocks the door of the church and welcomes a group of women to a time of sewing, listening and sharing. This work provides a livelihood for the women. Some have added bathrooms to their homes, laid tile floors in their entryways, and one even put her son through law school. For many, this is the only source of income for their family.
Jean coaches the women in their designs and suggests changes when the colors don't quite work, or the work does not match the order. In this picture, Angelica is finishing up some bags depicting farm scenes. They are lined with fabric, have interior pockets and are closed at the top with velcro. Arpillera pieces are sold to churches in the States and England and to people like Ian and me. I have a toilet roll cover that would make Kimberly Clark proud!
When I visited, we looked at a glasses case I had that also had a zipper on the side to provide storage for cell phone, keys, and money. The women were going to make up a copy to add to their designs. Here they have finished cell phone and glasses cases and oven mitts. The little stuffed dolls and vegetables are made separately and then stitched onto the backing fabric. With needle and thread, the women add short stitches to show expression and add texture. The result is colorful and three dimensional. Each creation begs to be touched. I made certain my hands were clean! I asked one artist how long it took to create the oven mitts and she said a day; the glasses cases take about 4 or 5 hours. The women work in their homes and bring their finished projects along to the church. Usually, they spend their time at the church adding finishing touches or asking Jean for advice about design questions.
Jean works on this piece to help the women decide where to put the dolls. It was a custom hanging to be given as a gift. Each of the three dolls represented a woman known to the recipient.
When I looked at this wall hanging for a nursery, I was confused by the little animals and objects within each pocket. There was no correspondence in English or Spanish. I said nothing, but when Jean returned to the work room I asked her about it. "Oh," she said, "that is going to Holland. Those correspond to the Dutch words." My appreciation rose.
Sometimes the women ask for help in deciding where to put pieces, such as the lost sheep in this hanging called Jesus the Good Shepherd. The artist will add a Jesus figure, stitching detail and some leaves for the tree. One woman had a purple cow in a design that just wasn't working. She was advised to replace the purple with another fabric.
As the women worked, I walked around admiring their ability to do such detailed work. I felt clumsy in comparison. I asked one woman to show me how the little dolls were made. Their little heads are made with a small piece of fabric stuffed with a tiny wad of batting and then wrapped with thread to create a sphere. From there, other body parts are added and stitched on. No one uses glue for assembly; it is all with needle and thread.
Arpillera is not unique to Peru, I found out. It exists in a number of South American and Central American countries. The scenes generally represent community life and/or religious themes. In the tourist markets around Lima you can buy Arpillera pieces, but the quality varies. The women at Mision Nazareno produce work of the highest quality.

This hanging is the finished version of Jesus the Good Shepherd. He is the doll figure in the middle; the sun is rising behind mountains and three dimensional sheep dot the meadow in the foreground.
I loved the color of these parrots on the glasses case. This artist had chosen the fabric, stitched it on and added puffy leaves to the branches to give the piece wonderful texture. Her work is of such high quality!

Jean and I left the church with the women around six o'clock. She had ended the time together with a prayer circle where we prayed for some of the concerns the women had raised. Earlier, as the women worked, she had read aloud from Little House in the Big Woods. As she read, she translated the words into Spanish. The women enjoyed the reading and were caught up in this chapter about a bear visiting the farm. At the end I shared in my broken Spanish about a black bear which had visited our house in Vermont. I would love to establish rapport with these women and spend more time with them. Let's see where this leads!

News flash: For those of you in the USA, here is a note from Cindy Rawn about how to find out more about this ministry. I did not know about this wonderful name for the group, nor how to contact the Texas folks supporting this ministry. The Body of Christ is amazing! Cindy's comment:

Thank you for highlighting the remarkable women who make up Threads of Hope, the non-profit that supports Jean and 22 artisans of our sewing groups! I hope anyone interested in learning more about how to purchase or support Threads of Hope will visit our website at www.tohteaxs.org, or email me at threadsofhope@gmail.com.

God bless,

Cinde Rawn, Director
Threads of Hope
972.809.7500

Please read the third comment, too, about the history of this project. I cut and pasted it in comments.

Children at Play in Ventanilla

2010-02-11T17:39:00.000-08:00

On Tuesdays and Saturdays the children in this area of Ventanilla come to the Anglican church, San Patricio, for play and Bible class. They arrive around 3 p.m. and stay until 6 p.m.When I visited Ventanilla with Sarah this week, I observed the children playing at the various centers set up around the large room. We had transformed the sanctuary space to a large play area with tables, chairs, and floor mats spread around to accommodate ten play stations. After helping to set up the play centers, the children choose an area and settle in to play, read, or draw. In this picture Freddy is tracing a picture and the others are watching him. Every class has a Freddy--active, short attention span, bright and full of potential. I have always had a heart for the Freddys.
After an hour of play, the children gather for a Bible story. Sarah tells the story with lots of expression and animation. It was the story about the healing of the paralytic, and the children were fascinated.

These children are constructing a marble maze. This same group designed and re-designed this tower a number of times and were quite successful at it. Having studied education for twenty years, I am a strong advocate for this kind of free play to help develop problem solving skills, social skills and learning. The educational gurus would love what is going on here. Sarah and I visited the stations periodically and encouraged.
At this station the children were drawing. What is interesting here in Peru is how the children approach art. They are quite keen on tracing and copying. Some produce lovely pictures of perfectly copied figures or designs, all colored within the lines. The schools place the emphasis on doing it right. I believe that creativity needs to be encouraged, but I am concerned that my American values may be at work here, so I temper what I suggest. According to others I have spoken with, this rote learning also spills over into adult education. Questioning, problem solving, debate and experimentation could be encouraged more. I believe this needs to start with the children. I think ahead to the economic impact creativity and problem solving have.
I loved this photo. These two girls are just lovely and full of spunk. The older sister reminds me of the actress in Amelie, Audrey Tautou. Perhaps she will be discovered as she walks the streets of Ventanilla! I complimented her on her darling haircut, and Sarah later told me that she had been teased about it because girls in Peru wear their hair long. She is a spunky young chica, so I think she will hold her own.
At the reading center, children picked up books and read them. One boy I observed was slowly following his reading with his finger under the words. Next time, I would like to sit with this group and encourage them. This station was empty toward the end of the hour.
This station with blocks and farm animals was popular with this group of boys. They eventually constructed two corrals filled with sheep, cows, some hens and shrubs. Another pen had pigs only. I enjoyed practicing my Spanish with them as I named all the animals. No girls joined this group during the hour of play.
The young girls loved the doll station. Older girls and younger girls played together acting out family behaviors. Sarah had asked me to keep any eye on them because sometimes sharing was difficult for them. They were quite the little mothers. A doctor's kit was nearby and sometimes the babies received shots and bandages.
Sarah worked with one young girl as one of the neighborhood dogs looked on. The street dogs come in a variety of shapes and colors, and are generally friendly. They wander in and out of the room through the open doorways that lead out onto the street and the back yard.
Jonathan and his brother worked together on these flying tinker toys. His patience with his younger brother was delightful to watch. As Sarah and I later walked up the road to their house, she told me that Jonathan had attended the youth retreat the previous weekend and was involved in the worship and prayer time in significant ways. His peacefulness and quiet joy were evident as I watched him. His mother helps Sarah by making up the snacks for the children on Saturday, and his father drives the local public bus. An intact family such as this is rare in these communities. Jonathan and his brothers are blessed in many ways.

Children in Ventanilla

2010-02-10T07:33:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I traveled with Sarah Tester, another missionary here in Lima, to Ventanilla, an area north of Lima. Each Tuesday and Saturday, Sarah works with the neighborhood children at the Anglican church, San Patricio. While I gazed out the window of the bus as it moved through cityscape, airport, oil refineries, cow pastures and desert mountainsides, Sarah worked on her lesson plans. During our travel time of about two hours, we took three different buses with a stop in between at the local supermarket to use the dependable restroom.
In the areas leading to Ventanilla, the houses sit up on the sandy hillsides. Ventanilla looks down onto the Pacific Ocean. The sun rises behind the mountains, and sets down below them into the ocean with its white breakers and sandy beach.

Sarah and I got off our final bus and headed up the hillside. Running down the road, the children greeted us warmly, shouting "Hola!" They grabbed Sarah's hands and walked up the street to the church building which is up on the left. On Tuesday and Saturday afternoons Sarah runs a Bible camp for them that includes play centers, Bible stories, games and teaching. The 30-50 children are from two years old to about twelve. Older siblings bring the younger ones along, so there is quite an age range. Some moms stay and help, and on Saturdays a mom prepares and helps serve a healthy snack for the 40-50 young children who come for Bible class.
The older children take charge of the younger ones and teach them all manner of things.
Sarah with her young charges. They love her and she them! She visits their families on the hillsides after the program finishes around 6 p.m. Mothers greet her affectionately and she always asks how they are doing. On this day she had some used clothing to share with some of the families.
This young boy was ready for the program to begin. I enjoyed playing catch with him later in the area out behind the church. Children and the neighborhood dogs wandered in and out of the church during the afternoon.
I was struck by how helpful the children were in setting up the space and sweeping it clean of the ubiquitous sand. When Sarah brought out the containers of games and toys, they helped arrange them into centers. At the end, they helped put things away. She had taught them well and they took responsibility for the toys and supplies. I think they are used to helping at home with cleaning and care of siblings.

Cooking in Peru: Rocotos Rellenos

2010-01-04T16:47:00.000-08:00

I bought four rocoto peppers at the market and some rubber gloves to use while I cut and seeded them. They are very hot; don't rub your eyes! I had had the dish Rocotos Rellenos in the local restaurants and loved the spicy peppers, ground meat filling and cheesy sauce. Potatoes gratin provided a complement to the heat of the rocoto peppers.
After seeding and boiling the peppers, I stuffed them with the ground beef, onion and spice filling. I used a local "fresh cheese" for the topping. Boiled sliced potatoes provide a base and help keep the peppers standing. The sauce is milk, eggs and oil and it sets like a custard around the peppers and potatoes while the casserole cooks for 45 minutes in the oven.
The cheese melts into the meat mixture, the peppers topple over, and the custard holds the peppers and sliced potatoes together in a mild gratin.
The recipe I used needs work. I am thinking mozzarella would be a better cheese, and I would adjust the filling with herbs, red wine, and spices. Some restaurants add raisins to the meat mixture and add some olives. My recipe added chopped hard boiled eggs and peanuts. That makes it very high protein! Look up Rocotos Rellenos on the web for various recipes and try it out! These peppers are probably not available in the States, but try something spicy as a container for the meat mixture.

Summer in Barranco, Our Neighborhood in Peru

2010-01-04T14:29:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my home! Bienvenido!
The flower market provided a wonderful selection of plants for gardens and containers.
People are always sitting around this central park in Barranco: a good meeting place and people watching opportunity.
I love this dog. He looms over the passersby in my neighborhood. He has a noisy buddy who yips and annoys, but he just sits there and smiles down at you as you walk by.
The view out one of our windows. Roof tops seem to store junk and the water cistern.
When Ian and I walk to the Pacific Ocean from our apartment, we can look down onto the fishing boats in nearby Chorrillos. We walked down there one day and looked at the fish market. Since it was afternoon, the early morning catch looked a bit tired, so we did not buy any fish or octopus.
When we headed up from the beach into Chorrillos, we looked back at the beach and downtown Lima in the distance. We then walked back along the top of the cliffs to our apartment.
It was cheery to come into the apartment and see the Norfolk Island Pine we had bought for our Christmas tree. It is decorated with Peruvian straw ornaments.
We loved having our son Joe and his girlfriend Virginia visit for Christmas. Ian helps out at the cathedral in Miraflores, so we celebrated Christmas morning there: La Catedral de Buen Pastor.
At our local artsy gift shop, Dedalo, the creche scene is very crafty and charming!

A New Year in Peru-2010

2010-01-01T09:19:00.000-08:00

Christmas Day, 2009
Looking out onto the Pacific Ocean from the coast in Lima. A piece of found art sets the tone along the wall. Reminders of Jesus appear as we walk on Christmas Day.

New Year 2010
It was a busy year last year with retirement, moving to Vermont, raising support for our missionary work in Peru, and moving to Peru. Whew! Spanish lessons and missionary training in Colorado fleshed out the year. Now we move into the next 3 1/2 months in Peru before returning to the States to lead a workshop at New Wineskins on Retirement Ministry. We are among a large group of Baby Boomers who are beginning the next half of their lives in a new career. We are able to give back during these years, so here we go! We will then return to Peru in September for nine months of ministry with the Anglican Church.

Final Days in Vermont

2009-11-12T09:40:00.000-08:00

Vermont

November 12, 2009

Ian and I leave on Monday for Lima, Peru. We are using these last few days in Vermont to close up the house, walk the woods, and say good-bye to people, places and things. We purchased a garden shed this past month and Ian created a writing space for me in one of the front corners. The window, the view and the quiet create a perfect space for me to get away to think, pray and write. Thank you Ian!

Missionary Training in Colorado

2009-10-25T18:25:00.001-07:00

Our classroom at MTI (Missionary Training Institute) in Colorado Springs

After the first week of class at the Institute, Ian and I drove to the Garden of the Gods and explored the trails and enjoyed the rock formations. Later we took a trail ride along some of the paths and rocked atop the old horses provided by the riding stable.

In the classroom we listen to lectures on cross cultural issues, conflict management and how God works in us and through us--if we let him! Humor is vital! The days pass quickly as we talk in small groups, have worship times and listen to lectures on key issues in the missionary life. The group is bright, articulate and energizing--and young. None of the dowdy, pedantic, rigid types I feared!

Besides the day-long class time, I am loving the time to hike, study Spanish and get up early to read and pray. I have found the coffee making supplies, the china mugs (not the plastic ones!) and a carafe so that my early morning ritual is well equipped. I sneak down each morning in my bathrobe before anyone else is around! It works. I was surprised this morning to find Ian had done the very same thing--beat me to it, so the coffee was ready for me. A treat. Our time together is good, too.

We are one of three older couples and love being with the 20/30 somethings. Many of the young couples have children aged 9 months - 11 years. One couple will be taking their 5 to Slovakia. I am amazed.

We head into our second week now after a weekend of hiking in the outdoors on a sunny, warm Saturday and cozying up to the fire on a blustery Sunday. We all had an assignment to talk with three important people in our lives about our style of handling conflict. Very revealing. This next week we will learn how to handle conflict in better ways. Apparently this is a key make or break issue out there in the field. Here goes....

A New Garden Shed

2009-10-21T06:43:00.000-07:00

We tore down the "tin foil" shed and had a new garden shed delivered. Ian leveled it and added a stoop for sitting upon.

Here I stand in the doorway after we gave the new stoop its first coat of paint. After the second coat, it matched the shed and the nearby wood shed.

I have been closing up the Vermont house in preparation for our November move to Peru. As I hike up the hillside or head into the shady woods, I bid goodbye to familiar trees, boulders and mounds of moss. I will miss this place, and the contrast of the Peruvian desert will be stark. The nearby Pacific Ocean will assuage my need of nature.

Family Visits to Vermont

2009-08-31T04:49:00.000-07:00

The Joy of Family Visits!

Katherine planting Echinacea and Russian Sage above the stone wall.

Sam and Katherine, Joe and Virginia after dinner on the porch.

Joe and Polly looking at photos with the Northern Leopard Frog watching from the rim of his terrarium. Nearby, a black swallowtail caterpillar munches dill inside its jar.

Hugs in the woods are good! Jon and Andrew rest after hiking up and down rocky ledges.

Katherine reconnects with Andrew after a year.

Rebecca and Andrew after a mile ride to the covered bridge.

Ian and I have enjoyed having family visit us here in Vermont this past month. The siblings and cousins get to see each other and the boyfriend and girlfriend get to know us all a little better. Nature is a wonderful hostess providing entertainment, beauty and surprises along the way

We spent time biking with young Andrew, Jon and Rebecca and exploring the woods together.

The new front porch was a great place for meals and WI-FI. Early morning tea or late night s'mores are all more special outside. Occasionally we'll see deer or wild turkeys in the meadow. Several chipmunks enjoy climbing up to the bird feeders and taking the food off to their holes in the ground. The goldfinches return and don't seem to mind sharing.

We always have projects underway and this summer's theme was stone walls. Joe helped Ian build the wall and Katherine helped me landscape with Russian sage, echinacea, and various sedums. Mulch makes everything look good and keeps the weeds at bay.

A family photo is always a must, so we take any opportunity to get one in during visits. Nowadays it is not often that we are all four together. We treasure these times!

Fall is approaching with cooler weather and shorter days, and Ian and I begin to plan for Peru. We leave in November, having enjoyed the color of fall in Vermont and anticipating the new adventure ahead.

Chester Music Series

2009-07-31T09:00:00.000-07:00

Ian and I, along with Joe and Virginia, went into Chester last night to hear a blues singer named Chris Kleeman. The music was foot tappin' good and our picnic of taboule, hummus, and pita bread was delicious. We brought along a bar of dark chocolate from Burdicks in Walpole to round it off. It was a clear blue-sky night, so we came home and built an outdoor fire to sit by and enjoy the stars.

Life in a small town is comfortable for us. We know a few people now that we have been here for 4 summers and a bit of last winter. It is nice to be able to go into the local bank and have the tellers know your name. The local bookstore owners recently hosted a poetry night with poems and potluck. The entrance ticket was a poem on the theme of "debt." Ian and I dutifully brought our poems, our dessert, and read aloud our tributes to the theme. What a great way to meet a group of creative and fun people!

We have met the local traffic cop and paid our dues (I have...) for speeding into town on a rainy night. The hardware store folks greet us eagerly on our frequent visits to buy materials to fix up or repair our house and gardens.

We love the little Episcopal church, St. Lukes, and the people who attend. Tomorrow night is the church supper. I have a turkey in the oven right now, preparing for the buffet of cold meats and salads. Saturday morning I will join the "chop and chew" group to help prepare the last minute dishes. Saturday night will be another opportunity to meet new friends, listen to their stories, and share about our call to Peru.

This area is filled with people who have been all over the world and people who have lived in Vermont their whole lives. It is an interesting mix which we enjoy.

Fun with Food

2009-07-31T08:14:00.000-07:00

While in Peru we enjoyed delicious meals prepared in restaurants and homes. Since our apartment only had a hotplate, we did not try out many recipes. Our plan was to try them out this summer. Not always sure how fresh the fish is here in Vermont, we will not try our favorite: Ceviche.

We brought home a cookbook with most of our favorites dishes described and illustrated, The Art of Peruvian Cuisine by Tony Custer. So far, the Causa a la Limena, Pisco Sours and a Quinoa Tabouleh have turned out well.

I used quinoa instead of bulgar for the taboule and lime juice instead of lemon juice. The other ingredients were the same: parsley, mint, olive oil, chopped green onion, chopped red pepper and feta cheese. We took a container of taboule with us for our picnic last night in Chester where we listened to blues singer Chris Kleeman.

Causa is a cold dish made with mashed potato flavored with lime juice, ground yellow ahi pepper, oil and seasonings. I had brought the ahi pepper paste with me, but you could blend up yellow pepper and some jalapeno to get the color and the heat. The potato is then layered with a choice of ingredients. I used tuna and mayonaise and egg salad mixed with some tomato and herbs. I recommend sliced avocado and chicken salad, too.
It is pressed into an oiled mold so that it can be turned out and sliced.

The Pisco Sours are made with a Peruvian brandy called Pisco. The fresh lime juice is important to the flavor, but the sugar syrup is a standard. We blended the mixture with ice cubes and an egg white until it was white and fluffy. We topped it off with a drop of Angostura Bitters and then gathered around with our son Joe and his girlfriend Virginia to toast the stormy evening outside our cozy house.

Building a Wall with Local Stone

2009-07-31T07:41:00.000-07:00

We have needed to tidy up the entrance to our property, and a stone wall provides that definition. Here in Vermont stone walls snake through property and along the roads. The walls on our property provide the boundary lines and evidence of a former road. Large rocks protrude from the cleared fields and along paths in the woods. With so much rain this year, many are covered with moss. They look like someone's craft project: rocks felted in green wool.

For our flower bed along the front we ordered a pallet of local wall stone. Composed of granite, marble and mica, the pieces were manageable so we could lift them to transport and arrange. I loaded and pulled the wagon and offered advice while Ian designed the wall using a visual spatial skill I've always admired.

When that wall was finished, we used the rest to line the driveway. We needed to augment the supply with "found" rocks from the property and former projects. Our son Joe was on hand for more artistic input and muscle to lift some very large flat rocks.

The wall is still in process, and we are deciding whether to order more rocks or glean from the streams and hillsides nearby.

More Fun in July

2009-07-23T14:54:00.000-07:00

We visited Christ the King Healing Center in Greenwich, N.Y. these past two weeks and found a lively worshiping community. We also connected with friends from the past. Ian built a stone wall and I enjoyed cooking local produce flavored with our own herbs. We are blessed with friends, freedom to worship, a lovely home and great food!

July in Vermont

2009-07-23T14:18:00.000-07:00

The time is speeding by this summer as Ian and I work on the house here in Chester, Vermont, visit churches and friends and work on our Spanish via Rosetta Stone. I have made two trips to Ohio to visit my mother and my brother and his family.

I am enjoying the return to gardening and cooking. The farmers markets and our own garden are supplying wonderful fruits, vegetables and herbs. Ian and I are fly fishing, too, but that has not provided dinner--yet! This is a wonderful respite and God has blessed us so abundantly!

A Respite at the Ocean with Friends

2009-07-09T18:34:00.001-07:00

Ian and I enjoyed driving to the Atlantic Coast to visit Brad, Barb and Emily Lauderdale. The Nonquitt compound was lovely and we enjoyed the beach, the views and the gardens. It was wonderful to be back with friends from Neenah, WI. We have traveled to Africa together, and now we have met in Massachusetts to spend some time. Maybe we will next meet in Peru!

Final Day in Lima, June 2nd

2009-06-07T18:06:00.000-07:00

On our last day in Lima, Ian and I looked out our apartment window at the streets below and then wandered over to a favorite restaurant for a final cup of excellent coffee and some croissants. We had cleaned the apartment, picked up the clean linens and thanked the doorman for his many kindnesses. We had lunch with some dear friends, checked our e-mail, watched some re-runs on TV, handed in our keys to our lovely landlady and then hoisted our luggage into the taxi. Our trip to the airport went smoothly, and we got there with plenty of time before our midnight flight to Newark, New Jersey. The flight was full, but we still managed to get up and walk the aisle a few times before landing around 8 in the morning. After checking through customs, we boarded our plane to Hartford, CT, where we were picked up by another dear friend who escorted us to our home in sunny, green, Chester, VT. It was good to be home in the green hills of Vermont.

More Fun Peruvian Food

2009-05-24T12:05:00.000-07:00

After Spanish class we have cultural events once a week. During a past week we learned how to make Papa a la Huancaina. This yellow sauce is made from hot yellow peppers (ahi), onion, olive oil, milk, soft cheese and some crackers. The ingredients are blended until smooth and then poured over cold, sliced boiled potatoes. The garnish is olives and cilantro or parsley. It is a good summer time dish.

The other dish pictured above is Rocoto Relleno, a stuffed hot red pepper.It sits on a cheesey potatoe mixture. This one is one of my favorites! I am sure you can find the recipe on the web; the rocoto peppers, though, are particular to Peru.

Visiting Churches in Peru

2009-05-24T11:12:00.000-07:00

After working on our Spanish studies during the week, Ian and I visit the Anglican churches around Lima each Sunday. The Church of the Good Shepherd is the cathedral in Miraflores and it has services in English and Spanish. The picture above was taken at yesterday's ordination of two to the priesthood and one to the diaconate. The traditional organ music is lovely at the English service, and the guitar music at the Spanish service is lively and energizing. We have attended both and enjoy each for its special attributes. For me, it is sometimes easier to enter into worship in my mother tongue because I don't have to concentrate so hard on understanding the words of songs and text. At other times, I just let the music and words in the Spanish service float over me and I pretend it's Pentecost!

Church of the Ascension is another church in nearby Surco. That service is in Spanish with contemporary guitar music and lots of praise and worship time. The priest is building a lively family church in the midst of a suburban community. Pictures of this parish appear in a previous blog.

Last week we went up to St.Andres church on the outskirts of Lima, an area called the pueblos jovenes. We climbed the hillside up to where they have built a church. It was a steep climb past doorways to homes, local dogs and friendly residents. About 30 children attend the church and about ten of them were awarded prizes that day for memorizing Bible verses. I felt privileged to be the one handing out the colorful books to them. They were patient with my Spanish and loved saying "Good-bye" to me in English. Their mothers were so proud of them, and their joy was contagious.

Bike Tour on Easter Saturday

2009-04-11T12:36:00.000-07:00

Ian and I joined a bike tour on Saturday morning and road along the top of the coast following a guide from Biketour Lima. The bikes were good city bikes that bumped easily up over curbs and across potholes. We stopped along the way for bits of local lore and history, and had lunch at an old hole in the wall place in Barranco. Looking down at the fishing boats, we focused on the pelicans enjoying a resting place. The others in our group were from Norway, Canada and Lima--a fun bunch.

Church in Peru

2009-04-10T07:09:00.001-07:00

On Palm Sunday Ian and I attended a mission church, Church of the Ascension, in Surco, a suburban area of Lima. Before the service we paraded around the neighborhood singing and waving palms. People greeted us with smiles and waves.

You get a sense of the worship space from the photos. The service was in Spanish, but I knew some of the words. Having a Spanish/English Bible helped, and the order of service was familiar Anglican.

The photo at the bottom is a group of clergy wives including me and our hostess, Judith Godfrey, wife of Bishop Bill Godfrey. We each shared a bit about ourselves, listened to plans for the coming six months, and then enjoyed tea in the garden behind the Biship's house. Before leaving, we gathered around and prayed for one women who was moving to Belize, and another who was soon to be married to a priest. It was a joy to be a part of a fellowship where women actively minister to women. Prayer ministry is alive and well here, and I have found myself already a recipient of helpful prayers as I struggle with learning Spanish and living in a foreign place. God is faithful and very present here in this church. My hope and prayer is to be able to communicate easily with these new friends. At this point, I am a woman of few words!

A Typical Day After Class

2009-04-09T15:39:00.000-07:00

After our four hours of studying Spanish, Ian and I find a local spot for lunch. We order from "le menu," which is the plate of the day, and usually typical Peruvian food. For our first course this day, we had stuffed avocado: palta rellena. I then had a main course of a chop, cold potato and beet salad and rice. There is always rice, even with fries! The bill for both of us is $7. Not bad!

This day we then went back to the school for a field trip to the Coin Museum (pictured) and the Inquisiton Museum. No pictures of that because the manequins and displays were a bit tattered. Madame Tussaud had not been here. Perhaps just as well. The story of the Inquisition was not a happy one, and we came away rejoicing in our current freedom. May it continue! See Ian's blog for more pictures and a wonderful perspective on this city. The city is closed down now for the Easter weekend and we are enjoying the quiet. No workman building condominiums, fewer car alarms and no banging in our building as they add to the 13th floor. Hopefully the dogs won't howl in the night. Ian and I will attend church and go on a bike tour of the coast on Saturday.

Some examples of Peruvian Food

2009-03-28T18:20:00.000-07:00

As we visit various supermarkets and street markets, we are learning how to eat in Peru. We drink bottled water and are careful to wash all the fruits and vegetables. That said, the food is delicious and so full of flavor! The lettuces and vegetables are often organic and some so unusual, I have to look up methods to prepare them. Our Spanish class will have a "field trip" lesson this week on the fruits. I will share what I learn. These pictures record treats we have enjoyed this week. At the top is a fruit tart purchased from the Cafe Amor down the street from Spanish School. The stuffed pepper is a Rocoto Relleno, a very hot pepper stuffed with meat, hardboiled egg, olives and spices. We bought it at the market today and picniced with it and the next photo, Papa Rellena, stuffed potato. Potatoes reign in Peru; there are at least 13 varieties! Maybe that is why they are called "papas." Papa Relleno was an oval lump of mashed potato stuffed with olives and hardboiled egg and chopped vegetables. It had been deep fried.
We laughed at the Bimbo Bars! We bought these for our mid-morning snack during Spanish Class. They are diet bars with some grains and dried fruits. The name makes us laugh! Is this irony, we ask?

Saturday at the Ecological Market in Lima, Peru.

2009-03-28T14:01:00.001-07:00

Ian and I went to a local market today, Saturday, March 28th. Our friend Rachel Hill had told us about it, so we decided today was the day; it was our reward after studing Spanish and cleaning the apartment. We walked down the street and across the bridge and there it was--a long line of well staffed tables filled with vegetables, breads, woven materials, toys, honey, grains, food for take out, and many shoppers. The displays were colorful, artfully arranged and staffed with friendly helpers ready to answer questions and serve customers. A great place to practice our Spanish.
We bought lunch to go: papas rellenos (stuffed potatoes) and rocoto rellenos (stuffed spicy rocoto peppers). I could not resist the long scarves: an azure blue cotton one and a tweedy green alpaca scarf woven by women out in the hills. Ian bought a batik black and rusty brown table cloth that will be great for Vermont. In the meantime, it drapes our sofa and brightens the living room. We also bought a sourdough bread that is tasty and dense; it will complement local cheeses. We will make this a Saturday routine!

Clergy Wife Tea

2009-03-23T18:57:00.000-07:00

Today I attended a delightful clergy wife tea with the local Lima Anglican Clergy Wives. This photo depicts some of them. Our hostess, Judith Godfrey, is taking photos. We shared our names and a bit about ourselves. I showed pictures from my computer and spoke sentences I had carefully crafted in Spanish. I slaughtered the pronunciations in my anxiety, but at least I was trying out my new language. After our time of sharing, we had iced tea and lemonade along with delicious quiche, bread pudding and chocolates. The backdrop was Judith's lovely garden filled with flowering shrubs.

Central Lima Photos

2009-03-22T10:24:00.000-07:00

We had a field trip from Spanish Class and went to the center of Lima. Here are some photos Ian took last Thursday afternoon, March 19th. One of staff members of the school drove us around. Lots of traffic and honking horns It was crowded and bustling with buyers and sellers, all surviving in a tough environment. Men, women and children of all ages. Everyone moving.
Ian wrote an interesting piece on his blog about what he sees here.

Off to the Beach in Lima

2009-03-22T10:06:00.000-07:00

Ian and I walked down a path to the rocky shore of the Pacific. It was misty and very humid on Saturday, so we took breaks along the way to watch the surfers. Most were in wet suits, and they caught the waves really well. It was fun watching the young kids head out, too. Quite the social scene, it seems. I dipped my toes into the water, but the incline was steep and the rocks tricky to walk on. We then walked up the steps and roadway to another part of town and explored the little shops and stopped for a Coke. Coke Zero is delicious here--even lukewarm!

Poem from The Writers Almanac

2009-03-21T04:44:00.000-07:00

Poem on a Line by Anne Sexton, 'We are All Writing God's Poem'
by Barbara Crooker

Today, the sky's the soft blue of a work shirt washed
a thousand times. The journey of a thousand miles
begins with a single step. On the interstate listening
to NPR, I heard a Hubble scientist
say, "The universe is not only stranger than we
think, it's stranger than we can think." I think
I've driven into spring, as the woods revive
with a loud shout, redbud trees, their gaudy
scarves flung over bark's bare limbs. Barely doing
sixty, I pass a tractor trailer called Glory Bound,
and aren't we just? Just yesterday,
I read Li Po: "There is no end of things
in the heart," but it seems like things
are always ending—vacation or childhood,
relationships, stores going out of business,
like the one that sold jeans that really fit—
And where do we fit in? How can we get up
in the morning, knowing what we do? But we do,
put one foot after the other, open the window,
make coffee, watch the steam curl up
and disappear. At night, the scent of phlox curls
in the open window, while the sky turns red violet,
lavender, thistle, a box of spilled crayons.
The moon spills its milk on the black tabletop
for the thousandth time.
"Poem on a Line by Anne Sexton, 'We are All Writing God's Poem'" by Barbara Crooker, from Line Dance. © Word Press, 2008. Reprinted

I love the way she wrote this. This spring I will be here in Lima and miss the amazing changes that bring such hope after a long snowy winter in the north. Rejoice in those changes! They are such colorful metaphors for life.
Polly

Spanish Class March 12th

2009-03-12T19:08:00.001-07:00

We enjoyed a lesson in ceviche preparation after class today. The raw fish is "cooked" with fresh lemon juice and salt. Thinly sliced red onion is stirred in, and bits of cilantro add flavor and garnish. The chef suggested any fresh white fish, but they often use tilapia. Ian and I will try making it, but I want to be sure the fish is fresh.

Our classroom is upstairs with a large open window to keep us alert. Our teacher Carmen paces the class well with speaking, games and writing for four hours. The school provides water, coffee and snacks at 11 for a much needed break. Ian and Steve (from Canada) are sitting at the table with Carmen while I snap the photo. Today we worked on regular verbs, how to use them and how to conjugate them. We also worked on pronunciation. I am learning to roll my "r's" with the best of them! Our sentences are simple at this point: Yo trabajo en mi espanol y yo hablo con mi esposo en espanol. Adding in all the adverbs and adjectives will take a bit more time, and yet I think of E.B White and Mark Twain who admonish us to write simply. Yo escribo sencillimente. What a great adverb! We will drop the pronouns such as "Yo" when we have our conjugations down pat because the verb indicates the person.

Our other "firsts" today were visiting the laundromat: la lavanderia and the hair salon: la peluqueria. Ian's haircut turned out great and the chicas fawned all over him trimming his eyebrows etc. He balked at a nose hair trim. El es guapo (handsome). Next week I'll try out the mani/pedi--both for $10! I will work on some phrases to say so that I don't have to use pictures and gestures all the time. At least I can say my name: Me llamo Polly and how much does it cost--Cuanto cuesta? and of course, gracias. We'll call this a field trip...

Every day is a new adventure. Just this evening we returned to the apartment only to find a sign that says the water will be turned off due to some cause we could not translate. So far, it is still on. We drink bottled water, so that is fine, but showers could be tricky in the morning.

Birthay Dinner March 7

2009-03-12T18:59:00.001-07:00

Ian and I had a wonderful birthday dinner on the coast of Lima. After dinner we looked out at the coastline and watched the waves. The city at night is lovely, especially when there is a full moon. It is fun getting older together!

Lima Apartment and Area

2009-03-08T10:26:00.001-07:00

Here are some pictures to help you see where we are going to be spending our time. This is our new apartment--furnished. We will add a few touches! I will take pictures of the language school soon.

Early Days In Peru

2009-03-06T15:11:00.000-08:00

Ian and I are now in Peru. We visited our language school today, took the entrance test, and passed into the beginners' class. That will be a comfortable start and provide a reassuring foundation.
Tonight is the World Day of Prayer service in the cathedral, so off we go! Our immersion begins.
Here are some pictures of our time in Lima as we check out an apartment, shop at a fancy grocery store, and visit the parks. This is the "high end" of Lima, not the Shanty Towns. Those will come later when we visit around on the weekends. Our main task these three months is to learn Spanish and the culture. This will take all of my energy, so having hot water, decent food and some walks in the park will keep me going in this foreign culture. Ian and I pray every
day for patience and the ability to learn Spanish so that we can communicate with our new acquaintances.
The next post will include a few words I have learned in Monday's class. For now- Adios!

March 1, 2009 Vermont

2009-03-01T17:38:00.000-08:00

Ian and I are preparing to head to Peru March 3rd-- stopping the mail, cleaning the house and packing our suitcases with books and clothes. We will be in language school in Lima, Peru, for three months staying in an apartment, studying each weekday and visiting local churches on the weekends.

Catching one of those perfect clear Vermont days, we got in some cross country skiing on a beautiful Saturday in Saxton's River. Joe and Virginia drove up from NYC to join us for the weekend. We first watched the ski races at Vermont Academy where we were daunted by the ski jump and amused by the ski outfit of one of the skiers. Guided by our friends John and Mary Shepard, we skied on the trails behind the Academy. A perfect day! After a number of falls, we are fully aware of our fallibility. This prepares us well for learning a new language and facing challenges which may cause us to land face first and need a helping hand to get up off the ground. Here we go!

A Cozy House

2009-02-23T06:41:00.000-08:00

We have finished adding furniture and pictures to the downstairs of the house. The dark English furniture goes well with the beams and old pine floors. The artwork in the dining room is by Freke Field, one of Ian's ancestors. Although the space is a bit crowded, we are surrounded by things we love.

Time to Bake

2009-02-21T05:20:00.000-08:00

Now that the necessary boxes have been unpacked and the house organized, I have time to bake. What fun to create this Ginger Cake from a recipe my neighbor Phyllis had given me along with a new bundt pan and cake holder. The trick was finding the Guinness Stout. After visiting 5 places and even calling a local pub, I had to wait another day for the grocery store to renew its stock. I now will keep a six-pack in the fridge to use in the future. We tested the cake, and it was good; not as good as Phyllis' version, but I am working on that! We love a local Ginger Ice Cream created by the nearby Walpole Creamery, but the local suppliers have sold out. There is one more little grocery to check... Meanwhile, we also like it with vanilla ice cream. Hungry yet?
Here's the recipe:
Gramercy Tavern Gingerbread
Recipe given to me by Phyllis Goodenough, my neighbor in Neenah, WI
P. 153 Feb. 2000 Gourmet
Serves 8-10
Oven 350 degrees
10 inch bundt pan
1 cup Guinness stout (other dark beers have been used) Sip the rest as you work.
1 cup dark molasses (not blackstrap)
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
2 Tb. ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp nutmeg
pinch of cardamon
3 large eggs
1 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup vegetable oil
confectioners sugar for dusting

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Generously butter bundt pan and dust with flour, knocking out
excess.
Bring stout and molasses to a boil in a large saucepan and remove from heat. Whisk in baking soda, then cool to room temperature.
Sift flour, baking powder, and spices in a large bowl. Whisk together eggs and sugars in another bowl. Whisk in oil, then molasses mixture. Add to the flour mixture and whisk until just combined.
Pour batter into bundt pan and rap pan sharply on counter to eliminate air bubbles. (Batter is thin.) Bake in middle of oven until tester comes out with just a few moinst crumbs adhering, about 50 minutes. Cool cake in pan on a rack for 5 minutes. Turn out onto rack and cool completely.
Serve cake, dusted with confectioners sugar, with whipped cream or ice cream.
Enjoy! I have frozen this quite successfully. It is also good gently warmed.

Snowy February

2009-02-20T04:21:00.000-08:00

We have enjoyed another snowfall this week and the snow is piling up! We are cozy inside with the fireplace, good books and the internet.

Speaking of cozy times, Ian and I watched the movie Fireproof last night. It has a strong Christian message about marriage. Have the tissue box handy and watch it with your spouse.

Home in Vermont--February 17

2009-02-17T17:15:00.000-08:00

Now back in Vermont after around 5,000 miles, 15 states and 10 different beds, Ian and I have returned to unpacking boxes and squeezing furniture, clothes and dishes into our charming but tiny house. Every day I pray for a miracle of space and organization!
We returned to a beautiful snowy and blue sky Vermont. Our house is cozy and warm; even the mice found it so. Four brave ones met their match in one evening thanks to a new kind of trap that works neatly with a dab of peanut butter. Ian adeptly disposed of our unwelcome guests. Sorry, no pics of this slaughter!

On the road I read three books I can highly recommend. First was Richard Russo's Bridge of Sighs--a wonderful slice of life and relationships set in upper New York state. You will fall in love with the characters and wish that you could sit down and have dinner with them.

Next I picked up the current Christian must read, The Shack by William Paul Young because my Nashville friend Kathy Edwards suggested it. It helps the reader picture and get to know the Trinity in a whole new way. I found myself thinking about it when I went to church, talked with people about God and as I went about my day. It feeds your soul. Why do people fight God? Sometimes I get tired of being patient with church member's anger at God and constant challenges to what seems so obvious to me--his love for us.

The next book was passed on to me by Mary and Steve Smith in Houston. We swapped books; they got The Shack and I got Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore. It's an autobiography of two men who alternate telling their life stories. Ron is a white man and Denver a black man, and they begin from different backgrounds, but end up in a powerful friendship forged at a mission for the homeless in Fort Worth. Ron's wife Deborah fosters this friendship and prayerfully follows what God is directing her to do. Quite a witness. Some parts are humorous, and other parts make you weep. Read it!

For my devotional time, I am reading Christ, My Companion by Marilyn Chandler McEntyre. My friend Mary Hays in Pittsburgh gave it to me. It takes the prayer of St. Patrick (Christ be with me, Christ within me, etc.) and describes each line of the prayer/hymn. She brings in current literature, poets, and even Star Wars to make her points. Her writing is poetic in itself and beautifully crafted. Each chapter is a jewel and an encouragement. A good Lenten book.

Now I need a next read...

Taking Some Time for R and R in Texas

2009-02-07T13:21:00.000-08:00

After several days of meetings, we took a break and headed south to San Antonio and back up via Austin. We stopped at a cute town, Hico, on the way down. The Koffee Kup served a great brunch and had the best sign over its pies. Billy the Kid may have come from Hico. Here is what Wikipedia says:

Brushy Bill

In 1949, a paralegal named William Morrison located a man in West Texas named Ollie P. Roberts, nicknamed "Brushy Bill", who claimed to be the actual Billy the Kid, and that he indeed had not been shot and killed by Pat Garrett in 1881. Most historians reject the Brushy Bill claim. There were numerous points that both supported and discounted the Roberts claim. Despite discrepancies in birth dates and physical appearance, the town of Hico, Texas (Brushy Bill's residence), has capitalized on the Kid's infamy by opening the Billy The Kid Museum.

Visiting Dallas--February 1-4

2009-02-07T12:51:00.000-08:00

Ian and I visited Dallas and Fort Worth to stay with friends and visit churches to talk about our upcoming missionary work in Peru. Staying with families has been a joy. As one new friend suggested, each home is its own little microcosm. I could extrapolate that and include all the story elements: setting, characters, theme and dare I say plot? I am the observer, but also one of the characters who comes into the scene, altering the usual flow of events.We talk about our lives, enjoy wonderful meals together, and discover connections. Our conversations wander about topics as diverse as irony, writing a novel, C.S. Lewis' furniture, guns, our children, the Church, Neiman-Marcus (it is Dallas!), good and evil. One topic was a discussion of the book, The Shack--read it!

We were thrilled to find out that Bishop Bill Godfrey and his wife Judith were in Dallas, too, so we met them for lunch along with Susan Kerr (on staff with Christ Church, Plano). They were visiting Christ Church, Plano, and were on their way to England and Spain for speaking engagements. Our last connection had been in Wisconsin last October where the bishop was speaking at Nashotah House.

Our travels have included so many serendipitous meetings of Christian friends we have known from our past and present. Ian refers to them as "Divine Appointments."

Former church, dear friends. and our old house in Nashville

2009-01-29T15:49:00.000-08:00

We loved visiting our former parish, St. Barthololmew's, our friends and our house in Nashville this past weekend.

On the Road South

2009-01-27T05:50:00.000-08:00

January 27
Ian and I are down in Texarkana, TX today and heading toward Dallas to visit friends and churches. We will be talking about our upcoming missionary work in Peru and raising support for this experience. Our visits to Albany, Pittsburgh and Nashville have been full of reunions and "divine appointments." There is nothing like running into friends you have not seen for years and just picking up where you left off. I bet that's what Heaven is like!

After a few days in Dallas, we head to Houston, TX and then onto Destin, FL. We are hoping this cold 32 degree weather and freezing rain morphs into sunshine and warmth before we head back to Vermont on February 11th! When I have more time at the computer, I will post photos of friends we have seen along the way, our old house in Nashville and Ian preaching at St. B's in Nashville--a great reunion experience.

Snow Raking

2009-01-20T08:59:00.000-08:00

Snow builds up on the roof of the Vermont House and must be removed. We bought a snow rake last week and practiced using it today. It works well tidying the roof of the house and removing the weight of the inches of snow. Here Joe works at this fun chore.

Snowshoe Time in Vermont

2009-01-20T08:35:00.000-08:00

We enjoyed a fresh fall of snow on January 18th and brought out the snow shoes. Polly and Ian trekked through the property and then Joe and Virginia took their turn exploring the trails.

First Week in Vermont-Retired!

2009-01-14T13:48:00.001-08:00

We were greeted by lots of snow, some sunny days and an opportunity to use the new snowblower/tractor. We continue to unpack boxes and try to fit everything into the little house we have now moved into. Jado the cat was a bit spooked the first day, so he hid in the cupboard with the pots and pans. He has now adjusted and sits in front of the wood stove, very content.
Ian and I are working on the bedroom upstairs getting it ready for company this weekend.
Snowshoeing has been great in the sunshine and we've seen tracks of many deer and other mysterious critters.

Family Together to Celebrate Retirement

2009-01-03T05:04:00.000-08:00

Joe and Katherine joined us this week to help pack up boxes and close up the Neenah house.
After a day of work and a dinner of Shrimp Creole we headed out into the cold night (10 degrees or so) for some fresh air. We ended up downtown Neenah at Bogart's, a favorite spot to sit and talk.

Moving to Vermont, Leaving Neenah, WI

2008-12-25T09:46:00.000-08:00

On January 6th, 2009, the moving van will pull out of our Neenah, WI driveway and carry our household goods to Chester, VT. We will drive on ahead and stop in Cleveland, Ohio, to see family before the final day's drive to Chester. Here are my thoughts on leaving Neenah:

Goodbye Neenah
(After Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown)

In the quaint town
There was a main street
And a well-stocked library
And a vibrant YMCA
And a lovely white colonial house
And friendly neighbors
And a tall-steepled church
And a two-mile walk around the Point
With a lighthouse, fishermen and harbour
Filled with sailboats

In the quaint town
There were friendly people
And church bells ringing every day
And friends to join for coffee, drinks or dinner
And people walking dogs on leashes
And weekly garbage pick-ups
And Bob and Dave at the Post Office

In the quaint town
There were shops and eateries
And Sheri to cut our hair
And Jody to do our nails
And Kelly to check our bank balance
And Cy to cook our curries
And Mitch to pour our brandy
And RC to teach us Italian cooking
And Kyle and Debby to welcome us
And Mike, Dennis and Trish
To make us look our best
Julie to brew our coffee and
Find cool stuff to buy and sell
And Kathy and Linda to frame
And supply our art
So much local talent to leave behind.

Goodbye main street
Goodbye white colonial
Goodbye friends
Goodbye restaurants and bars
Goodbye good haircuts and pedicures
Goodbye church family
Goodbye sailboats on the lake
Goodbye dogs barking at 6 am.
Goodbye 5 am street cleaners and snowplows
Goodbye backyard birds and gardens
Goodbye perfect little town.

Goodbye, from Late Middle English Godbwye/God.B.W.ye, from the Middle English phrase "God be with ye," meaning "God Be With You," is a traditional parting phrase in the English language.

Returning for November Check-up

2008-11-19T19:02:00.000-08:00

On November 12th I drove up to Rockingham from the Hartford airport to check on the work that had been done to the house and surroundings. The sun set behind me in a golden glow as I drove in the driveway, expectant. I knew the larger septic system was in and the new garage door had been put on the tractor side of the garage. The white garage door looked just right. I then looked toward the house. What an eyesore! The septic system clean-out stack stuck up out of the ground a good ten inches! Ugly! Who wants to look out over a green field and think "septic system"? After meeting with the contractor, I can now say that it will be covered over with soil and seeded with grass seed.

Inside the house, everything looked and smelled clean. No bats, dead mice or huge spiders lurking in dark corners or the bathtub. Within the hour, I had the wood stove warming the living room with yellow and orange flames. The house dried out and felt cozy.

Before long it was dark, and I settled in for the night to read and relax. There was enough food in the cupboard to provide dinner and breakfast. The white wine from summer was still decent and drinkable even though it had been left in the fridge for 6 weeks.

During the weekend I worked on organizing the garage to make room for our impending move. Everything is ready for January. We will need a storage unit for the extra furniture from the Wisconsin house, but some will fit into the various rooms without creating a cluttered feeling.

Someday our WI house will sell and we can build up on the hill. We are thinking of a barn structure that can house worship, parties, art shows etc. below and an apartment above for guests and offices. We dream on about posts and beams, windows and porches. It is fun to look ahead.....

Final Days of Summer in Vermont

2008-09-17T18:14:00.000-07:00

Fall approached, the nights cooled off and Ian and I finished our projects. We put away our summer toys for the season--the John Deere tractor, the fire pit and the antique booth. Workmen will come in now and finish the jobs that require experts: installing a new septic system, roofing the garage, mudding the bedroom and felling the giant white pines. We are already missing the quiet mornings and nighttime crickets.
We look forward to seeing the changes when we return in a few months! Meanwhile, various men and trucks will be coming and going. The pictures show the finished mulch pile and the lovely red wood shed filled with the first cord of wood for the winter.

Busy August in Vermont

2008-08-18T09:45:00.000-07:00

This month has been full of guests and projects.
Family and friends have all helped me update the antique booth with new arrangements of furniture and "smalls." The antique keys from England labeled "Secret Keys" sold like hotcakes! Katherine had cleverly packaged them in little bags, cute labels and ribbons. The September Martha Stewart magazine has the same kind of key in the same kind of baggie. Perhaps the maven had shopped our booth here in Chester, Vermont, on her way to Maine.

Our friends Paul and Julie collapsed an old shed, and Ian began a new wood shed for the three cords of wood we have ordered for the new woodstove. He was able to use much of the shed's aged wood for the support beams. Now it's time to stack the wood!

I also enjoyed a wonderful Nature Journaling course in nearby Grafton at the Nature Center. Along with 10 local teachers and two Nature Center Directors, I worked on creating nature journal entries, studied beaver habitats and dipped aquatic creatures (tadpoles, water striders, beetles, salamanders and leeches) out of a local pond. Lots of ideas here to use here for my fall language arts classes. Nature journals link science, art and writing so beautifully! This summer has been quite a sabbatical.

August 1, 2008 Gutting a Bedroom

2008-08-02T10:36:00.000-07:00

Ian, Katherine and I knocked out the walls and ceiling of an upstairs bedroom so that we could insulate it and raise the ceiling a bit. Katherine uncovered at least five recognizable mouse skeletons, and we thought of the times we had picked away at owl pellets to find creatures.
The piles of mouse droppings were overwhelming and smelly. Ian uncovered three whole corn cobs, picked clean by squirrels in their attic nests. We had hoped for golden coins or treasure maps tucked away between the rafters, but no such treasures surfaced. Next week: new framing, insulation and finally dry wall. The bedroom will be transformed!

Back in Vermont --July 22

2008-07-22T08:06:00.001-07:00

Taking a trip to Ohio earlier in July, I attended a lecture on a topic dear to my heart: children and nature. Based on the book Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv, the powerpoint lecture emphasized all the areas time spent in nature nurtures: emotions, physical well being, spirituality, intelligence and self confidence. What could be more fun--all for free? Within the next few days, we took my five-year-old nephew Andrew to the Holden Arboretum to the "Wild Child" sections. He explored the pond area, falling in, and then we found the fort building area. We went right to work!

Back in Vermont on July 19th, I got busy with the antique booth and the lawn (fields?). The grass and gardens had run wild and the birds had left for fuller feeders. I am still trying to woo them back. After three days, the goldfinches have returned along with a few chickadees. When I saw a chipmunk jump up onto the round feeder, I knew why that seed had disappeared so fast. I wonder if birds are afraid of chipmunks? The hummies are back, too, and I will fill up their glass feeder tomorrow with the 1-4 sugar water. Meanwhile, they have enjoyed the red and pink bee balm nectar.
I looked forward to my date with the big John Deere tractor on Friday afternoon. The weather was hot but dry. I pulled out my numbered directions and reviewed them carefully after strapping on the seat belt. Where was the throttle, and what did that little diagram of a rectangle mean? I checked the handy direction booklet rolled up in its canister behind the seat. I figured it out and mowed for two hours. I have yet to figure out the most efficient way to mow this large area. I seemed to go around a lot of curves and unnecessary loop de loops. Once I relaxed and realized that I would not tip over, I began to smile. Fun. The fields look good, flat and green with some areas of desert. I call them EBG: Everything But Grass. Next time, I will put on the earphones to protect my ears and get my can of soda all set up in the cup holder. I did have my hat and sunglasses on. The weather had been dry, so the dust and dirt flew everywhere. Friday was the first of several two-shower days.

Little Red House and Gardens

2008-07-11T07:55:00.001-07:00

The back of the house faces south with a grassy terrace, stonewall and porch. Ian and our sister- in-law Julie are sitting on the terrace ready for lunch. Near the old brick path, our old dog Barney is enjoying the back porch. Clematis climbs around the bedroom window. The pathway leading to another door is actually the "front" entry to the house just off the driveway that leads in from Gaskill Road.

Garden Tours in Vermont

2008-07-11T07:36:00.000-07:00

Above is a pool with a wonderful garden nearby. Imagine floating on your back and looking into this garden!

On Sunday, June 29th, I toured four home gardens around the Westminster area.It was a fundraiser for their Westminster Cares program which ministers to the elderly in the area. My favorite garden was the series of gardens around Gordon Hayward's house. My mother had given me one of his books a few years ago when I moved into the Vermont House. When I asked Gordon how long he had been working on his gardens, he said 25 years. That gave me great hope! Mine are on their way and he is an inspiration. Here is Gordon signing books with visitors. No, I am not in the picture!

Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain

2008-07-10T19:37:00.000-07:00

A productive, useful and fun seminar in Vermont.
I attended this class with 14 other adults at the Southern Vermont Arts Center. We listened to short lectures, watched demonstrations and then tried our hand at drawing our hands, perspectives, profiles of classmates and a final self portrait. Based on Dr. Betty Edwards' book Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, the seminar was taught by the author's son Brian Bomeisler. "The skill of drawing is largely about relationships." We learned to work on the right side of the brain and get around the critic haranguing us from the left side.
Here are some good quotes about drawing:
Paul Klee noted that "a line is a dot that went
for a walk." More creators and more collectors need to be taken
on that walk. Edgar Degas noted, "Drawing is a species of
writing: it reveals, better than does painting, an artist's
true personality." A student who sees progress in drawing gains
the greatest self-esteem. For that reason alone artists ought
to be drawing like crazy. When Michelangelo died, a note for
one of his assistants was found on the studio floor: "Draw,
Antonio, draw. Draw and do not waste time."

PS: "Do not fail to draw something every day, for no matter how
little, it will do you a world of good." (Cennino Cennini) "You
can never do too much drawing." (Tintoretto) "There is nothing
so delightful as drawing." (Vincent Van Gogh) "You never
graduate from drawing." (John Sloan)

Finished Rooms

2008-06-23T07:24:00.001-07:00

The painting helps the rooms seem bigger. I used Kansas Grain, a Benjamin Moore color. The bedroom looked a bit bare, but restful.

More Stripping

2008-06-23T07:16:00.000-07:00

Stripping the bedroom walls revealed old wallboard, not today's usual sheetrock.
The scars, lines and gaps between moldings and wall don’t show in the photos, but they are there. This is an old house, 1849, so I have to let that new house appearance go. It reminds me of going to the plastic surgeon as an over 50 year old and hearing about all the options available to fix up an older face: lifts, tucks, injections and creams. If I started with the eyelids, I know I would then want to work on the sagging jaw line. It would never stop. Gravity would always win. I am no longer 29. I bought the creams and makeup to fill the cracks and cover the lines just like a good Benjamin Moore pearl luster paint. So like accepting my aging face, I will just accept that this is an old house, charming and etched with character. Low lighting and distance help.

June 22, 2008

2008-06-23T07:10:00.000-07:00

Befores and Afters: Stripping and Painting 150 Year Old Rooms

June 12, 2008 Antique Dealer?

2008-06-16T12:38:00.000-07:00

Setting up the Antique Booth at Stonehouse Antiques in Chester

Ian and I drove the Pensky truck over to the antique center and unloaded a few items to begin our antique sales. I had always wanted to open an antique booth. It seemed a good way to unload our extra furniture along with providing a place to put it. Within the first day, pillows and a footstool sold. Now, we want the big stuff to sell to help pay the hefty $200/month rent. After a week, we are nearly halfway there!

June 11, 2008 A Date with John Deere

2008-06-16T12:33:00.000-07:00

A date with John Deere. The tractor came on a huge truck early Wednesday morning. Ian could not have been more thrilled with his new toy. George, the salesman and our tractor tutor spent time with each of us explaining the engine and the operation. We’ll wait until winter to learn about snowplowing. I’ll leave that up to Ian.
All went well until later in the day when Ian was mowing the upper meadow. I returned from town to find Ian nowhere in sight, but the large green John Deere was up the hill, tethered to a tree, nose pointing into the pond. Boards were wedged under the back tires. I found Ian sitting on the front porch with a glass of water in hand. “Oh, my gosh, what happened?” I asked. He replied, “I can’t get it out; the tires just spin. Will you get on and try backing it out while I stand in front and put a wedge under the front?”
I had visions of running over my husband, killing him or maiming him for life and having to play nursemaid for our retirement years. Would I go to trial? This was way too much responsibility. My heart was pounding and my hands shaking. I prayed out loud, “Jesus, help us solve this problem. Help!” I strapped on the seat belt, gritted my teeth and started the engine. I gently pressed the reverse pedal. The tires spun. Nothing else moved. It did not slide forward into Ian. I got off and said I would try the neighbor men, the ones who had towed me up the hill. It would be another neighborhood bonding experience—flatlanders from Wisconsin bailed out by the locals.
I got inside and the phone was dead. This was not going well. I grabbed my cell phone and the phone numbers and headed out to hike up the hill where I could get a signal. As I passed the hillside, I heard the tractor engine. Oh, no, he won’t give up! As I looked up, I was surprised to see Ian backing up the tractor. “What did you do?” I yelled. “It wasn’t in four wheel drive!” he yelled. Dare I say it was an answer to prayer? We celebrated the rest of the day!

June 7, 2008 Cheese Seminar in Ashfield, MA

2008-06-16T12:28:00.000-07:00

Cheesemaking in Ashfield, MA
It was fun to return to Ashfield, a perfect small New England town set back in time. Back in 1976, Ian and I had led an Episcopal Vacation Bible School in the Congregational church.
This day was spent with 38 men and women from all over the country and all walks of life—an ob-gyn, a lawyer, hobby farmers with their own goat herds, mother-daughter duos, cooks, and the curious, like me. We made mozzarella, a farmhouse cheddar, and other soft cheeses. The classroom was set in an addition to the large, sprawling Victorian house set on the main street. The New England Cheesemaking Company has grown since Barbara Kingsolver mentioned it in her book, Animal, Vegetable and Miracle. That’s what started my journey into cheesemaking and eating local. I am not a hard-core localvore, but I love Farmers Markets.

June 4, 2008 Arrival

2008-06-16T12:25:00.000-07:00

It’s Wednesday night and I head up the hill to the house. The trailer behind the Honda Element is loaded with teak garden furniture and a large flat limestone rock from Wisconsin. Yes, bringing a rock to Vermont is like bringing coals to Newcastle, but this one is large and flat and will accommodate the fire pit on the front terrace.
I stepped on the gas to go up the hill and came to a halt as the tires spun into the sandy surface. I was stuck. Ten and a half hours of trouble free driving, and here I was, 500 yards from the house, stymied!
I pulled the emergency brake on, turned on the flashers and locked the doors with Barney the yellow lab oblivious, quietly lying in the back. Thank the Lord that Shannon was home down at the base of the hill. She called her husband and left a cell phone message, and then she called up the road to Dan who has a large truck and the know-how to get me out of this predicament. Dan tried a few tricks, but to no avail. We were ready to off-load the furniture and try again when Shannon’s husband Pete came up the hill. He thought to tow the Element with chains and Dan’s big truck. It worked and my car and trailer traveled into my drive, right in front of the garage. I thanked everyone and headed inside to get settled and call Ian to tell him I had arrived safely. It was now 9:30 and dark, but clear and starry.
I unloaded a few things, including the dog, had a drink and then collapsed into bed ready to sleep and greet the next morning.
Thursday and Friday were spent cleaning up the house, visiting Stone House antiques to set up a booth, and gardening. The gardens had stayed clear of weeds thanks to May’s mulching time over Mother’s Day weekend. The new plants had survived and grown some. Lupins were in bloom and oriental poppies were ready to burst open. Is that why we call them poppies?

May in Vermont

2008-05-28T13:52:00.000-07:00

Saturday, May 10th

I had tea in bed and then hit the gardens. Much had been delivered the night before. As I weeded the beds I heard a bird overhead and looked up to see who was trilling behind me. It was a Rose Breasted Grosbeak. His bright red/orange breastplate shown as he flew from the garage roof to the maples. He continued to serenade me. The mulch looked good around the house. I then rewarded myself with a trip into town to buy border and planter plants from my favorite nursery on Rt. 11. I came home, planted and watered the new annuals--impatients, petunias, and a variety of border plants.
It was not until later as I took my bath, that I realized ticks were a problem. One had latched onto my shin. He was dug in. I climbed out of the tub, put on my reading glasses, and found a match. I lit it and touched the head to his body to try to get him to back out. No luck. I grabbed a pair of tweezers, focused on where to pull and yanked him out. Ouch. I think I got his head out. I squeezed the area and it bled. He had blood in his gut, too, so I knew he had feasted. I poured antibiotic fluid on the site and put some ointment on it. Will I get Lymes Disease? I will certainly call my GP!

May in Vermont

2008-05-28T13:16:00.001-07:00

May in Vermont

2008-05-28T13:06:00.000-07:00