What does Sherlock Holmes have to do with Esperanza? Tuesday, Jan 27 2015 

Esperanza acairfearann 10:42

Not much actually.

Except, William Gillette was a close friend of Helen Yale (Smith) Ellsworth, daughter of Julie Smith. And Helen, as much as Julie, helped to create Esperanza.*

William and Helen went to school together in Hartford and she very nearly went into theater along with him. His first job outside of school was in New Orleans, what if any connection there was to Morris’ company branch I don’t know. Likely no direct connection, but certainly a useful network to have.

A fun article on him and Sherlock Holmes:

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-30932322

*It is a family thing, which member is most important? All or none?

 

Merry Christmas! Thursday, Dec 25 2014 

Esperanza acairfearann 10:45

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Painting by Holly Hall

 

Photo for the day Thursday, Nov 20 2014 

Esperanza and Landscapes and Modern Photos , acairfearann 12:06

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Taken a few weeks ago. I always like subtle colors of the beeches, (top right in this instance a European Copper Beech) and the oaks (center, an ordinary volunteer black).  Top left is a Sugar Maple,. The closer trees are the apples which hold their leaves quite late.

 

The last gold Monday, Nov 17 2014 

Esperanza and Landscapes and Modern Photos , acairfearann 20:49

Before the snow and the cold rain! Now it finally looks like November here, the dark trees and the grey fog that steals through the woods. This was October, though barely a week ago.

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Winter? Monday, Nov 3 2014 

Esperanza and Modern Photos acairfearann 22:01

Not here yet….weird, we still haven’t had a frost here!

But, I am sure it will come, so in preparation here is a picture from a few years ago:

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Wondrous works Monday, Oct 27 2014 

Esperanza and gardening and Julie's Pond and Landscapes , acairfearann 17:38

‘Will you cherish the wondrous works of God, and protect the beauty and integrity of all creation?’

This was the text of a resolution passed by the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut on Saturday as a proposed sixth baptismal question (it now has to be run through the General Convention twice before being officially adopted, so 2018 at the earliest). As a lay delegate to the convention, this resolution was one of several that I had a particular interest in.

Those of you who know me, know that I have very little patience with the ‘green’ movement. And when this question was posed last year, it had serious problems with obvious political overtones: ‘trigger words’ and very little Scriptural grounding. A year later, and the kinks were worked out. It now reflects the fundamental truth which has been so often warped: the universe is wondrous and we are part of it.

So what does this have to do with this blog? Well today, I spent time working on the annual cutting of unwanted brush up on the house lot, Holly spent time working in the garden, and Jamie spent time cutting the trees in the Spring Lot that I had marked for removal.

The thing is, the ongoing thinning of the Spring Lot, which will eventually result in a towering* grove of Maple, Oak, Beech, Black Birch, and Ash is a long running project. Its final glory won’t be evident for about a century or so. But in a century or so, God willing, someone will have a stand of forest giants. As I have enjoyed the trees that are giants now, so will they. A cathedral of trees and a pond caught at the break of the hill, where the sunset falls. I won’t see them, and the land almost certainly won’t still be in the family. But that does not matter. It will be there in glory.

 

*when the little guys, that don’t even hit the lower branches of the canopy are 50 feet in height…..

 

Mom, this hill is long! Thursday, Oct 23 2014 

Esperanza and Modern Photos acairfearann 22:18

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And where is My food bucket!

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Much drama trying to figure out why he wasn’t eating, finally figured out that it was due to the feral cats having used his food dish for, ah, other purposes.

You will note the path he creates every year in the hay field. Ten plus acres and he walks the same path every time.

Hard to believe that his star used to be a nice neat diamond and a short snip on his nose… some twenty and a half years ago!

(and yes, he has a blanket for particularly cold and wet nights, such as last night’s Nor’Easter!)

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Back out to pasture, and yes he has his eyes closed!

 

Every once in awhile Friday, Oct 17 2014 

Esperanza and gardening and Landscapes and Modern Photos acairfearann 23:05

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One ladybug, two ladybug, three ladybug, four Tuesday, Oct 14 2014 

Esperanza , acairfearann 21:11

(hundred or thousand or….)

The perils of autumn include ladybug swarms. This year they are in two spots: the south wall and the northwest corner.  It is the northwest corner which is most disconcerting, because they have gotten inside and seem to have an affinity for the library ceiling. Ladybug tea is unfortunate.

Thankfully, they aren’t too interested in the southwest corner of that section of the house, which is nice because ladybugs in bed are even more unfortunate.

It is not limited to this house, I was somewhat comforted by observing the inevitable swarms in the church tonight, which is down in the valley.  There, they seemed to be enjoying the northeast corner. I can’t imagine the numbers in the steeple!

 

What is that little building? Thursday, Oct 2 2014 

Esperanza and Landscapes acairfearann 16:19

It is likely obvious to most of my readers 🙂 but it occurred to me that some might be intrigued by the little building with its lovely diamond paned casements in the previous post.  An awfully fancy tool shed! For it is a tool shed these days and potting shed. But actually it is the Little Kitchen, a peculiarly Esperanza (Esperanzonian?) term.  Built in the late 1880’s (its windows match the diamond panes found elsewhere from that period, notably the Butler’s Pantry) it was a summer kitchen. Now, the main kitchen was used as well since the cook was usually cooking for around ten people; but the Little Kitchen was used for making jams, jellies, preserves, etc.  Anything that would tie up the main cook stove all day long.  With a massive vegetable garden and orchard, it is probable that it was in use almost daily throughout the summer.

It is a remarkably well built structure, we did have to square it up a few years back, but otherwise!

 

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