From the Guestbook Saturday, Aug 24 2013 

Esperanza and Historical Events , , acairfearann 08:42

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“This diagram is intended to convey a faint idea of the manner in which Mr. Carleton’s bedroom door was barricaded on the morning of July 31. The Besieging parties being Miss Nellie Rounce and her fellow conspirator Miss Nellie Yale.” July 1876

We don’t do that to our guests these days!  Mr. Carleton was Julie’s publisher and frequent summer guest.  I suspect that the ‘Miss Nellie Yale’ is Helen Yale Smith, not her namesake Helen Yale.  The latter was a close friend, but was not referred to as ‘Nellie’.  So, two teenage girls cheerfully making Mr. Carleton welcome!  It is the plethora of bottles that I find most interesting in that sketch…

Note that the door trim matches the Little Parlor, nice confirmation that the trim on that room was not modified when the fireplace was redone at the turn of the century.  The trim also suggests that Carleton probably had the long vanished bedroom where the main hall now is (as the only other possible bedrooms upstairs have plainer trim).  The main hall and the north end would not be built for another 17 years.

Note too our mysterious bird signature once again.

 

‘La, la, la!’ Thursday, Aug 22 2013 

Uncategorized acairfearann 10:41

I am not listening to the town grader, I am not, I am not.

Anyone want to place bets on the quality of their job on the lane? Taking into account past performances? Taking into account that this is Connecticut, and the concept of grading a dirt road on the side of  a hill is a lost art in this state? Taking into account our relationship with the town?

No takers?

Funny that.

 

The Old Wall Wednesday, Aug 21 2013 

Esperanza and Landscapes and Modern Photos , acairfearann 10:02

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The West Meadow wall, a view looking along the top.  And yes that is poison ivy!

 

Where’s My Leaf! Monday, Aug 19 2013 

gardening and Modern Photos , , acairfearann 15:45

Caterpillars

Haven’t a clue as to his identity, but the curled ‘tail’ is decidedly cute, even if his head is exceedingly, indeed unfortunately ugly.

 

Caterpillars

We always have these little white and black furry caterpillars on the porch, no clue with their identity either.  If anyone knows of a good Caterpillar ID guide, I’d love the reference.

 

Old Garden Phlox Saturday, Aug 17 2013 

gardening , acairfearann 10:45

We have a lot of phlox, mostly the reverted tall, pink, as seen here.  The white in the background is also phlox, ‘David’. This pink seems to be what garden phlox breeds back to when it is allowed to cross and reseed.  A named variety clump will stay true to itself, and can be propagated by division; but the majority of seedlings will be tall, middling pink. even when a true white such as ‘David’ is around Not all, of course! And isn’t that the problem, you keep all of them in hopes of one really neat one…

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Apples Thursday, Aug 15 2013 

gardening acairfearann 17:47

There is, in my Not humble opinion, few things more lovely on a cool, August day than ferreting out the first dropped apple and eating it.  This may be because we have a wonderful old style McIntosh.  It has small little apples, barely bigger than a crabapple, unsprayed, unreachable, and incredibly crisp and sweet.  But not too sweet, no toothache.  No mealiness either. Of course, given the bugs, and the odd shapes, and the bruises, one can only get a few bites per apple.  But, that almost makes them better…

 

(and no, I don’t wash them, or peel them, or cut them!)

 

‘Closed Canopy’ Wednesday, Aug 14 2013 

gardening and Modern Photos , , acairfearann 10:33

Technically, in a forest a fully mature stand is referred to as having a ‘closed canopy’: the tree has grown together and there is no open sky.  If viewed from above the two big oaks and the cucumber magnolia have a closed canopy.  You won’t see the north lawn in the summer from above no matter what you do.  However, trees like their space, they compete, they quarrel, and they do not happily share.  You can see the dividing line quite nicely in this photo, looking straight up: the magnolia is the left side, the oak the right (the third oak has a bit of the top left as well)

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Contemplations on a Chambered Nautilus Tuesday, Aug 13 2013 

Esperanza and Modern Photos , acairfearann 10:28

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I know, an overly grandiose title for a picture that I could Not get to work.  Still, the empty room (which won’t stay empty, but that is what it is) does put me in mind of Wyeth’s work.

 

Looking to the Fall Monday, Aug 12 2013 

gardening acairfearann 10:02

I’m a Vermonter by birth, a Yankee by blood, and a Scot at heart…I Love November.  November is my favorite month; preferably complete with bare, rain-lashed trees and smoke on the wind.  January rain in Edinburgh is a close second (except it is a city)

August is when the weather turns, no hint yet of fall in the air; but there are the cool, clear nights that hold the promise.  August is probably a happy compromise for most people.  Still emphatically summer; but the heat and humidity are easing; the twilight is lower, longer, and often colder.  You can still go to the beach and enjoy it; morever, if you are a beachgoer, a night bonfire becomes more enjoyable.  Thus satisfying those night-owls amongst you.

In some ways, August is also a time of reflection for gardeners here.  For the most part, whatever you have gotten done for This summer, this year, is done.  Whatever you do now is aimed at the future not the present.  That, for me, gives me a chance to reflect, to readjust, and to hope.  Not for tomorrow, but for next year.  Hoping for next year is old behaviour.  Next year….  That ability to hope for something so far away? A pretty amazing thing to be able to do.

 

Garden combinations Sunday, Aug 11 2013 

gardening acairfearann 12:41

White clethra and red cardinal flower look rather nice together: gorgeous ivory and red spires.

Joe Pye and Goldenrod: old rose and gold

Cardinal flower (blue and red), Black Eyed Susans, Coneflower, Shasta Daisy: white, blue, red, gold, with just a bit of dusty pink

Phlox against the trees: all the shades of pink, plus pure white

The last few flashes of orange daylilies, white oriental lilies

Burgundy coleus and silver leaved Rose Campion

and so forth

August, unlike July, gives one some wonderful days: no humidity, blue skies, full of life.

 

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