Merry Christmas

The Chancel Choir of Third Presbyterian Church in Rochester, New York sings "Let Every Heart" by Cary Ratcliff, on Christmas Eve during the Lessons and Carols Service.

A blessed Christmas to you!

Advent - A Season of Preparation

Here are a few suggestions for special gifts this holiday season: a firm handshake to a shaky soul; a kind word to a lonely person; a warm smile to the disheartened; a sincere concern for someone troubled; a feeling of compassion for the neglected; a comforting thought for the bereaved; a respect for the dignity of others; a defense of the rights of individuals.

Tis the season!!

I spent the day after Thanksgiving cleaning up from the turkey dinner and putting up the 9 foot tree. The weather almost matched the season - hail, not snow, but the ground was white for a few minutes!

Chico and Maya, the cats, are SO excited to have the tree in the living room. They've been climbing and chewing and chasing each other around the tree. Once they calm down I'll be able to hang ornaments.

May your season be merry and bright!

Toy Hall of Fame

The National Toy Hall of Fame in Rochester, New York announced this year's inductees. Here is Jon Stewart's coverage from The Daily Show.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Windowless News Van for Kids - The Ball
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

Happy Halloween Y'all

Here's a primer on our favorite Halloween Prank!

In Memory of Richard Gladwell

Public Radio lost a gentle voice last week when Richard Gladwell, host of With Heart and Voice, died after a mercifully brief struggle with brain cancer. He passed away peacefully at home, with his wife, his granddaughter and his hospice nurse at his side.

Richard was born in London in 1920, and came to the United States in 1955. He helped to found public radio station WXXI in Rochester NY, which signed on the air on December 23, 1974. With Heart and Voice began a few weeks later, and is heard on more than 100 public radio stations across the United States. The weekly program of sacred choral music is a mainstay for music loves around the world, with regular Internet listeners from as far away as South Africa and China.

Throughout his life, Richard loved the Anglican choral tradition, and as an adult, he felt called to share God's music with the world. He will be missed, and remembered with love and respect.

Praise God with heart and voice for the life of Richard Gladwell!

The fun part of exercise

A friend of mine posted this on his FaceBook page. Would anyone be interested in creating more of these?

Eastman Theater reopens in Rochester, NY

After four months of work, the Eastman Theatre, built in the 1920s by George Eastman, reopened this weekend as a 21st century concert hall. Audiences experienced a visual and acoustical transformation that dramatically enhances the concert experience.

While retaining its grand Italian Renaissance style, the newly renamed Kodak Hall features a new sound system as well as new patron amenities. The addition of orchestra- and mezzanine-level boxes and a new back wall on the orchestra level return more sound energy to support both the performers and the patrons seated in the orchestra level. Approximately 800 seats have been removed on the orchestra level and the walls carefully reshaped for concertgoers to feel more enveloped in the sound. The removal of back rows of seats not only creates a greater intimacy on the orchestra level, but also allows for the expansion of the hall’s inner lobby and the creation of five lounges, providing more comfortable gathering spaces. Kodak Hall also has new carpeting, a new heating and air conditioning system, and enhanced house and exit lighting.

The Rochester Philharmonic opened the hall on Thursday, October 8, and on Friday October 9, the Eastman Philharmonia consecrated the house with Beethoven’s famous overture and the 5th Symphony of Dmitri Shostakovich. It was a stunning evening; the video shows the newly renovated theater shortly before the Philharmonia began the concert on Friday night.

The renovation of the performance hall is part of a $46.9 million project at the University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music that also includes a new building, currently under construction, for teaching, rehearsal, and performing spaces.

High Five New York City!

If you need something to lift your spirits on a Monday, enjoy this video set to music by Mendelssohn.



Happy Monday!

Happy Equinox!

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.

~Albert Camus

The Morning Newspaper

Everyone complains about their local newspaper... too many adds, biased one way or the other, doesn't cover important local issues. This morning Chico (the cat) had this commentary about our local paper.

Clothesline Arts Festival

This weekend the 53rd annual Clothesline Arts Festival is being held on the grounds of the Memorial Arts Gallery in Rochester, NY. This is the best arts festival of the season, and draws hundreds of the finest artists and craftspeople in the country. WXXI has done a live broadcast from the festival every year since 1997, making this one lucky #13. Is was a perfect day and wonderful broadcast. Our hosts talk with a selection of artists who are showing at the festival, and of course we take some time out for shopping after the broadcast. The festival continues tomorrow (Sunday, September 13) from 10 am to 5 pm. Here's a sample of the quality you'll see; we spoke with woodworker William Peck about his windsor chairs and bentwood rocking chairs during the radio broadcast.

Late Summer Wine Tasting

This afternoon My friend Carol and I took an excursion to Keuka Lake for wine tasting at my two favorite vineyards - Ravines and Dr. Konstantin Frank.

Both vintners practice generations-old family wine making techniques, using vines that were brought to upstate New York from Europe. Each make beautifully crafted fine wines that hold their own against most California wineries and many Europeans as well.

Some of my favorites include the Dry Riesling and Cabernet Franc from Ravines and the Brut Champagne (made from authentic Champagne grapes), Dry Riesling and Chardonnay from Dr. Frank.

Dr. Frank's vineyard sits on the west shore of Keuka Lake, with a fantastic view as shown above. The grounds include picnic areas where patrons can enjoy their purchases and relax in the pastoral setting.

Ravines offers specialty wine tastings; today featured dry red wines paired with artisan chocolates (yummy). Here Carol is enjoying a dark chocolate and a Cabernet Franc.

We finished the afternoon with a stop at Lakeside Restaurant on the west side of Keuka Lake, just a couple of miles north of Dr. Frank's. We enjoyed coffee and chocolate lava cake while watching the boaters on the lake. A beautiful afternoon of wine tasting and scenery that I highly recommend!

The Harvest Begins!

The tomatoes are ripening, the onions are curing and the peppers are ready to pick. I'm taking my annual "stay-cation" this week, and the first batch of salsa jsut came out of the canner. The recipe is below.

I'm also making tomato sauce (for pasta and pizza), pesto and pico de gallo this week.

I need another pantry closet!



Jeanne's Salsa Picante

24 roma tomatoes, peeled and diced
12 jalapeno peppers, seeds removed and diced
3-4 onions, diced
1 cup corn kernels
2 heaping tsp minced garlic
1 tsp lime juice
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
2 tsp green chili seasoning (available online at heartofthedesert.com)
2 tsp cilantro
1 Tbs ancho chili powder
2 Tbs ground cumin

To peel the tomatoes, use a strainer to dip them in boiling water for 30 seconds. Cool the tomatoes slightly and the skins will peel off easily.

Combine all ingredients in a large pot and simmer 4 to 5 hours, covered. Before canning, simmer uncovered 1 to 2 hours to reduce the water content a bit.

Enjoy!

Weekend in Canada

The Rideau Canal Waterway consists of a series of lakes and rivers connected by canals that stretches from Kingston to Ottawa in Ontario, Canada. Cranberry Lake, just outside of Gananoque is part of the Rideau Waterway, which is boaters' paradise. An old swing bridge over the lake allows car traffic to and from the rustic cabins on the lake, and boat traffic on the waterway. A bridgekeeper opens an closes the bridge as needed. Once a manual operation, an electronic system lets the bridge to open or close in just over a minute. After spending a lovely summer weekend on Cranberry Lake, I decided to share this quaint swing bridge, which speaks of slow relaxing summer days at a Canadian cabin.

Sign on Keuka Lake

OK, what's wrong with this sign?????

Garden Update

We probably had the rainiest July in many, many years here in Rochester. As a result my little backyard garden patch is exploding at the beginning of August! I just picked the first ripe tomatoes this afternoon. (Actually, there were three on a vine close to the ground that were ripe a couple of days ago, but the chipmunks living under the deck got to them.)

The first batch of tomatoes will probably go to the food cupboard at Third Presbyterian next week.

The poblano and jalapeno peppers will begin to ripen in a few more days. I think the onions will be a few more weeks - this is my first try at these. The rosemary, basil and cilantro has been going gangbusters for a while, and has already made appearances in several dishes.

I can't wait to begin making salsa, pasta sauce, pesto and - my favorite - cream of poblano soup!

More from the Music Horizons Program at Eastman

My goddaughter Linnea is here in Rochester this month for the Music Horizons Program at the Eastman School of Music. Music Horizons is for high school students currently who are seriously considering a career in music, emphasizes chamber music and solo performance. Thursday night Linnea played in the Chamber Ensemble Concert; Friday afternoon was the Solo Recital. Here she is performing the Rondo Pastorale from Ralph Vaughan Williams's Oboe Concerto in A Minor.

My Amazing, Talented Goddaughter!

I just got home from a concert at the Eastman School of Music, given by high school students from across the country who are participating in the Music Horizons Program this summer. This evening was the Chamber Ensemble Concert, and my oboist goddaughter Linnea performed in three ensembles. Here she is with her quintet playing Edward Elgar's Harmony Music. She's amazing!

StoryCorps has Left the Building

After spending three weeks at the Rundel Library in Downtown Rochester, the StoryCorps MobileBooth crew has moved on to their next recording site, Erie PA. Over 200 people in Rochester shared their stories, some of which will be heard on WXXI starting in September. Here is a sampling of some of the stories that will be broadcast:

• A one-hundred year old nun talks about what Rochester was like in the early 20th century. She remembers when Mr. Wegman used to push a vegetable cart through the streets of the city; now Wegmans is a huge chain of grocery stores.
• The director of the Center for Holocaust Awareness talks about growing up as a child of Holocaust survivors. She is also a singer/songwriter, and she shares a song she wrote to her grandparents, who died in Auschwitz.
• A young mother tells the tragic story of losing both her daughter and her husband. Her nine year old daughter died after developing flu-like symptoms, and her husband’s health declined in the wake of this untimely death.
• A Laotian-American artist created the sculpture “Let’s Have Tea” at the Susan B. Anthony House. He’s proud to be an American, and to create art inspired by the men and women of American history.
• A young man tells his mother about the time he stuck his tongue to the flagpole after seeing Ralphie do it in the movie “A Christmas Story.”

StoryCorps Rochester will be broadcast Thursdays at 6:35am, 8:35am and 5:45pm on WXXI-AM 1370, WRUR-FM 88.5, WJSL-FM 90.3 and WXXI-FM 91.5 HD2, and will be streamed on the web at wxxi.org/listen. The stories will also be available as pod casts on wxxi.org/podcasts.

I’m proud to produce these stories in partnership with StoryCorps!

The End of an Era in Journalism

Yesterday evening America's Anchorman, Walter Cronkite, died at the age of 92. You can hear NPR Media Correspondent David Folkenflick's coverage here:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91902373

My boss at WXXI Public Broadcasting met Mr. Cronkite on several occasions and found him to be a warm and gracious man. Here is Norm Silverstein's memory of a great man:

My journalism professor at American University, Ed Bliss, Jr., was Cronkite's first editor on the CBS Evening News. Ed always told his students about the day that President Kennedy was killed. Cronkite went on the air right from the newsroom in his shirt and tie. There wasn't time to "get dressed" in a suit jacket to deliver the news. He chocked up and shed a few tears when the confirmation came that Kennedy was dead. Still, CBS received complaints that he had shown "disrespect" for the President by not stopping to put on his jacket. (The clip used to be displayed at the Smithsonian Institution, in an exhibit about Communications.) It was clearly a different time in broadcast journalism, before blogs and the entertainment that passes for mainstream news today.

Cronkite was an old UPI correspondent, covering World War II and many other major stories. Those of us old enough to remember will recall Cronkite following Apollo 13 as the astronauts struggled to return to earth in their damaged spacecraft. Many say that President Johnson knew he had lost the public relations battle over the Vietnam War when Cronkite went to Vietnam and questioned the war. He also helped broker a peace deal between Israel and Egypt.

He remained active in public affairs later in life and was a supporter of public TV, serving on the board of the New York City public station, WNET. He was an avid sailor, visiting Annapolis many times when I lived there, and was often spotted at a local tavern, who's owner sailed with Cronkite. His death marks the passing of an era.

A Day at the Beach

I'm visiting the family in New Jersey this weekend; we're all here to celebrate my father's birthday.

My sister Anne and I took my nephew Patrick and my niece Megan to the beach. We went to Ocean Grove, which is a very quiet resort town, owned by the Methodist Church.

It's very quiet and family-friendly, so it's a great place for kids to enjoy the ocean.

It was warm and sunny but very windy. Patrick and Megan enjoyed boogie boarding in the large waves. Anne and I enjoyed standing in the breakers watching them!

We all highly recommend Ocean Grove, NJ for a great family day at the beach!

Happy Fourth of July!

Just in time for the holiday weekend, the Queen Elizabeth roses have finally started to bloom. It's been a wierd year for the rose bushes in my yard; they're all blooming later than the rest of the roses around the area.

This holiday weekend, take time to enjoy the sunshine and the flowers, family and friends, and all the the great things in your life.

Happy Fourth of July!

StoryCorps is Here!

The StoryCorps MobileBooth opened in Rochester this morning at the Rundel Library. It rained all last night and early this morning, but the showers held off during the opening festivities and the sun even made a few brief appearances.

Norm Silverstein, President of WXXI, welcomed the assembled onlookers and told them about the station's celebration of the 25th anniversary of the NPR News Station, which broadcasts StoryCorps every Friday morning during Morning Edition.

Jean Howard, Chief of Staff for Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy, offered a proclamation, declaring July 2, 2009 as StoryCorps Day in Rochester.

Members of the press corps from RNews Cable 9, the Democrat and Chronicle and the local broadcast television affiliates were also on hand to mark the events. And the Po Boys Brass Band made it a real party!

The StoryCorps MobileBooth will be at the Rundel Library through July 25, collecting stories and helping the city celebrate its 175th anniversary.

StoryCorps Opens in Rochester, NY

StoryCorps, the national initiative to document the everyday history and unique stories of Americans, opens in Rochester this Thursday, July 2nd. WXXI invited StoryCorps to the Flower City to capture the stories of Rochesterians as part of the celebration of the City’s 175th Anniversary.

The StoryCorps MobileBooth -- an Airstream trailer outfitted with a recording studio -- will be parked outside the Rundel Library at the corner of Broad Street and South Avenue from July 2nd until July 25th. The Rochester Public Library has graciously donated this space for StoryCorps to utilize as it collects interviews during its stay in Rochester. The first round of reservations opened June 18 and was filled in about 10 minutes. A second round is scheduled for Friday, July 3rd at 10:00 am, and can be made by calling toll free 800-850-4406 or going online to http://www.storycorps.org/record-your-story/locations/rochester-ny

WXXI will host an Opening Day Event on July 2nd at Rundel Library to introduce the project to the community and allow press and the public to tour the booth, speak to the StoryCorps staff, and hear from the first set of participants. The event begins at 10:15 am with live music by the Po Boys Brass Band. Please stop by and check out this exciting oral history project, and a great Rochester band!

Garden Update Week 8

We've had quite a bit of rain in Rochester over the past couple of weeks. While it's made for a few days of gloomy weather, it's also been good for the flowers and vegetables growing in my yard. The daisies are happy and blooming.

The lavender bed has blossomed with lovely fowers, and everytime the wind blows, the yard is filled with beautiful frangrance.

The vegetable garden has taken off, and the tomato plants have multilple little green fruits. The basil, cilentro and rosemary has also made several appearances in my cooking. The poblanos and jalenos should start making an appearance in the next few weeks. Then it will be time to make salsa, pasta sauce and crema de poblano.

Fun with JSB!

A Facebook friend recently shared a video she found on youtube. It's so much fun, I just have to pass it along!



This is for real!

Cat Nap on a Summer Evening

It's been pouring rain for two days straight, with a few rumbles of thunder every now and then. The windows stayed closed to keep the sheets of rain our of the house, and many of the bushes and flowers were bent almost to the ground under the weight of all the water. The temperatures dropped back to early spring highs of low 60s, and it felt like we might get cheated out of our first day of summer.

Then early this afternoon the clouds began to part and the sun has eventually broken through. It's 75 degrees and Chico and Maya are ecstatic to have the windows open again. Here, Chico is napping in his favorite window seat while Maya takes a break from bird watching. We're all enjoying the first evening of summer here in Rochester.

Garden, Week 6

It's nearly summer in Rochester!

We're now about a month and a half into gardening season here on Brittany Circle, and signs of life are starting to appear.

The first tiny tomato has sprouted, and the poblano pepper plants are flowering profusely.

So far the organic "stink bombs" are still keeping the bunnies and the deer away. Can salsa-making season be very far away?

Making Cucumber Sandwiches for Devonshire Tea

In my last post I wrote about this afternoon's Service of Choral Evensong. The music will be glorious, and if you're in the Rochester area, I hope you'll come. Evensong will be followed by a traditional English High Tea, or Devonshire Tea. Devonshire Tea is more like a meal than a snack, and almost always includes cucumber sandwiches. I just finished making several trays.











Traditional English cucumber sandwiches are made by placing cucumber slices between two pieces of buttered bread. In New Zealand they are made a little differently. A butter and cream cheese spread is used instead of plain butter, and various spices are mixed into the cucumber. Garlic, dill, Italian seasoning, curry, pepper - there are many variants of New Zealand cucumber sandwiches. Here is the recipe I used:

1 (8 oz.) pkg. softened cream cheese
1 stick butter, softened
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh dill
2 cucumbers, unpeeled & thinly sliced (or 1 long seedless English cucumber)
1 Loaf white hearty sandwich bread

Remove crust from bread with a sharp knife and cut into shapes: triangles, rectangles or squares.
Place cream cheese, butter, garlic powder, salt, pepper and dill in a small bowl; stir to combine, or use an electric mixer. Spread lightly on all bread slices, top one slice with cucumbers and another bread slice.
Cover with foil or plastic wrap until ready to serve.

Choral Evensong

In 2001 and again in 2005, I had the privilege of singing in Great Britain with the Chancel Choir of Third Presbyterian Church. In 2001 we served as choir-in-residence at Rochester Cathedral in Kent, England. When we returned to England in 2005 we served as choir-in-residence at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. It was an awesome experience to make music in these beautiful and historic places of worship. We sang daily evensong in cathedrals where these services have been sung for a millennium.

This Sunday afternoon, the Chancel Choir will share this experience with the community, when we sing a Service of Choral Evensong at 4:00 p.m. The service music will include Richard Shephard’s Preces and Responses, O Taste and See by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Sir Charles Villiers Stanford’s Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in G, and Faire is the Heaven by William H. Harris. The service of Evensong will be followed by a traditional English tea, featuring cucumber sandwiches, scones, cookies and, of course, real English tea.

It’s an ecumenical and cultural event, open to the public. If you’ve never experienced evensong, I highly recommend coming to Third Presbyterian on Sunday afternoon. The church is located on East Avenue at Meigs Street in Rochester, and here is a link to a map:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=East+Avenue+at+Meigs+Street,+Rochester,+NY&ie=UTF8&ll=43.155465,-77.590749&spn=0.00706,0.013819&t=h&z=16&iwloc=A

I hope to see you there!

Garden Update

Day One

Week Four

It’s been about a month and the garden is coming along. The tomatoes and peppers survived the mid-May cold snap, and the organic stink bomb spray is keeping the bunnies and the deer away. I’ve added cilantro and another basil plant, and I’m starting to see tiny yellow flowers on the tomato plants.

Another new addition to the garden is the bird feeder. The cats absolutely LOVE sitting in the window and watching the cardinals, goldfinches and other songbirds eating the seeds and berries. It’s pleasant to relax in the garden with a glass of wine or a camera after work.

Stay tuned for more garden updates.

Enjoying a Long Holiday Weekend

In Leviticus 25, God commands the people to honor the land by letting it rest from planting and pruning every seven years. This is similar to the decree given in Deuteronomy 5, where the people are told to honor God and themselves by keeping the seventh day as a Sabbath of rest.

Some interpret these instructions very literally, and follow strict guidelines for resting on the Sabbath as God rested after creating the world. For me, the sabbatical is a time to step back from the stress and the pressure of the daily work routine and do things for myself or my family and friends.

The long Memorial Day weekend has given me some much needed sabbatical time. Yesterday I was able to spend some time cooking for myself and friends. Today was spent planting flowers, weeding the vegetable garden and trimming bushes that been experiencing spring overgrowth. Tomorrow I plan to see an afternoon movie.

The best thing I did was to not think about work, the economy, downsizing or doing more with less. Instead I’ve been taking a few days to just care for and enjoy creation and be thankful for what I have been given, and not worry about what I may have to do without. I’ve been giving my mind and my soul a much needed sabbatical rest. I think that’s one good way to keep the Sabbath holy.

2009 Rochester AIDS Walk

Once again the time has come to continue the fight against HIV/AIDS. The 2009 Rochester AIDS Walk will take place on Saturday June 6th at Highland Park. My friend Rob White is walking again this year, and I am sponsoring him again.

Over the past years that Rob has been walking for this important cause, he has raised over $10,000 to support the many programs that AIDS Rochester offers. These include education, prevention, advocacy and support services.

You can help by sponsoring Rob in the 2009 Rochester AIDS Walk. Just follow this link:

http://www.firstgiving.com/robwhite

You can register to participate in the AIDS Walk, and find out about volunteering at this link

http://www.aidsrochester.org

If we work together, we can end AIDS in our lifetime!

Thanks Rob, for continuing to walk and work for the fight against HIV/AIDS

Spring is in Full Bloom

Earlier this week we had three nights with frost advisories for the Rochester area. I carefully covered the tomato and pepper plants each evening to protect them, and they seem to have survived the cold nights.

Warmer weather has returned, and the deep purple lilacs in my yard are now in full bloom. Their fragrance fills the air and makes it into the house on breezy evenings like tonight.

I'm not sure what variety of lilacs produce these deep purple blooms. If you know, please leave a comment. Here are some more shots of these lovely bushes; I wish I could also share the fragrance on these pages!

Happy Mothers Day!

Every year on Mothers Day, Third Presbyterian Church has its annual Music and Arts Recognition Sunday. To begin today’s service the Carol Choir, comprised of 1st and 2nd graders, sang “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.” It’s a lovely service in which all the children’s choirs sing, and each 6th grader graduating from the Junior Choir receives a copy of the Presbyterian Hymnal. It’s a wonderful tradition and a great way to honor our mothers, by celebrating children and families.

Earlier this morning, I was listening to an interview with Rabbi Sandy Sasso on the public radio program Speaking of Faith. She talked about how important our family rituals are, and how these everyday experiences in families support and nurture a child’s spirituality.

She told the story of the weekly Shabbat ritual that she and her husband observed with their children. They lit the candles and said the traditional Shabbat prayers. Then they would embrace their children and say a prayer blessing for the children for the week to come. And now that her children are grown, they still call every Friday evening to receive the Shabbat blessing.

We all carry our traditions and rituals from one generation to the next. They shape who we are and how we approach life. When my sisters and brother and I were children, our parents read to us and prayed with us every evening. That has stayed with me my entire life, and is still part my daily practice, and also my siblings and their families.

Remember to say a prayer of thanks today for the family rituals and traditions our mothers (and fathers) shared with us at the beginning of our life’s journey.

Happy Mothers Day!

Garden Update - Week 1

My little vegetable garden has survived its first week. So far the night temperatures have stayed well above freezing, and there has been enough rain that watering hasn’t been necessary very often. It gets about 6-8 hours of sun each day, so there has even been a little bit of growth.

So far the fences and the organic stink bombs have kept the deer and the bunnies away. I will spray some more this evening just to be sure… pew!

In about two months I’ll be making salsa, pasta sauce, pesto, roasted poblanos and crema de poblano (a cream soup). I’ll also be drying hers, and donating extra peppers, onions and tomatoes to local food ministries here in Rochester.

The Garden is Planted

I have finally finished planting tomatoes, peppers, onions, basil and rosemary. It’s a bit early to plant here in Rochester, but spring seems to have come to stay. So I’ll be watching the forecast carefully for the next couple of weeks.

I planted extra plants this year, because of something I’ve been hearing on NPR. Scotts Miracle-Gro has started a program to help feed those at risk for hunger. By planting a little extra and donating the surplus to local food agencies or soup kitchens, we can help Scotts raise one million pounds of produce.

If 40,000 people donate 25 pounds of produce - about one grocery bag - then we’ve met the goal! It’s not hard. One cucumber plant can yield 15-20 cucumbers; a single bell pepper plant can yield 6-8 peppers.

If you’re interested in finding about Plant A Row for the Hungry and the GroGood program, visit http://www.grogood.com/

Update on Sam the Koala

In February, during the devastating Australia Bush fires, we all heard about Sam the Koala, who was rescued by volunteer firefighter David Tree. Her picture, drinking from Mr. Tree’s water bottle while holding his hand, became a symbol of hope for Australia and the whole world.

Three months later, The West Australian reports that Sam is on the road to recovery, and David Tree is working to raise money for the Victoria Fire Authority and wildlife relief efforts.

The last of Sam’s bandages have been removed, but she is still on antibiotics to prevent infection in second-degree burns to her back and feet. And she is enjoying a diet of fresh eucalyptus leaves served to her cut daily by volunteers at the Southern Ash Wildlife Shelter.

Shelter Director Colleen Wood has cared for over 60 koalas since the fires. "Every one of them will go back into the wild as soon as we’re satisfied they are going to be able to cope out there with any ill effects," she said.

Sam, and her mate Bob - another fire survivor - will most likely be at the shelter for another six months. She will continue to help Ms. Wood and her volunteers raise funds for wildlife relief efforts.

The San Diego Zoo in California is one of many reputable organizations that are helping with wildlife relief efforts. You can find out more on their website:

http://www.sandiegozoo.org/zoo/australiabushfire/index.html

Please let people know about this. And thanks for caring!

It's Bird Watching Season!

My two cats, Chico and Maya, just LOVE this time of year. In addition to the birdie entertainment in the "mystery tree" in the front of my house, there is all kinds of avian activity in the willow tree behind the house and in the forsythia hedge along side.

The kitties like to sit in the open (screened!) window and talk to the birds. This morning's show included what looked like some alpha male courting rituals with 2 male robins and a female in the willow tree.

The birds twittered and sang and the cats meowed and purred... nature's music with perfect pitch!

More Signs of Spring

There is a beautiful flowering tree in my front yard. Every year in mid-April, it bursts into bloom with lovely white flowers. Next green leaves sprout and the white flower petals drop, creating a tiny spring snow storm when the wind blows. In early summer small red berries ripen out of the flower crowns, and the neighborhood birds feast on the fruit and then leave bright purple droppings all over the walkway and the drive.

The tree becomes the focal point for cat entertainment at about this time every year. Cardinals, blue jays, robins, goldfinches, blackbirds, chickadees, and even crows love play in the branches and tease the two house cats who sit in my front window and watch with great interest for hours at a time. Chico and Maya recognize the word "birdie" and run for the window that looks out on our lovely tree when ever they hear me say it.

So here's my question. Does anyone know what kind of tree this is? The builder landscaped the property before I moved in, so I have no idea what this tree may be. Here's a close up of a flowering branch.

If you know what kind of tree this is, please leave a comment. I've been wondering about this for years.

Happy Spring!

Spring has Sprung!

It's a beautiful spring weekend with sunny skies and warm temperatures... a perfect time to start the season's yard work. First up, making a larger garden plot out of the small flower bed next to the deck. After all, how hard could that be?

Well, it took two days to dig up the lawn, lay the landscape timbers and fill with garden soil, but this will be worth it when the poblanos and tomatoes arrive. I know it just looks like dirt now (which it is), but let's check back in a few weeks when the plants are in and growing.

There are more obvious signs of spring too. The forsythia are in full bloom and the lilacs are ready to burst, just in time for the Rochester Lilac Festival in May.

Every Day is Earth Day !

When I traveled in Australia and New Zealand earlier this year, my eyes were opened to some new ways of taking care of creation. Water is a precious commodity in drought- stricken Australia, and not one drop is wasted. A bucket goes into the shower to capture the water that runs while it heats up. Washing machines for clothes and dishes are drained into gardens, and earth friendly soap is used. In New Zealand, just about everything is re-used; water is never served in plastic disposable bottles, and trash is not thrown into waterways.

On this Earth Day 2009, let’s all be thankful for the beauty of out fragile planet, and find new ways to make it better every day of the year, so that future generations can enjoy the bounty of the earth we call our home.

I found a wonderful quotation from Dr. Glen David Brin, American scientist and award-winning science fiction author, that puts a thought-provoking spin on Earth Keeping:

A living planet is a much more complex metaphor for deity than just a bigger father with a bigger fist. If an omniscient, all-powerful Dad ignores your prayers, it's taken personally. Hear only silence long enough, and you start wondering about his power. His fairness. His very existence. But if a world mother doesn't reply, Her excuse is simple. She never claimed conceited omnipotence. She has countless others clinging to her apron strings, including myriad species unable to speak for themselves. To Her elder offspring She says - go raid the fridge. Go play outside. Go get a job. Or, better yet, lend me a hand. I have no time for idle whining.

AMEN!

Just Like Old Times

The greatest friendships always survive time and distance. You know that when you come together, sometimes after 25 years, and feel like you've never been apart. I'm blessed to have many of these kinds of friends.

When Gordon, Margo and I came together in Wichita to celebrate the life of Gordon's mother, we all felt the years slip away. We were immediately younger in spirit, as we remembered the wonderful times we shared in college.

Tequila shots and fajitas help blur the passage of time, and our wait person, Adam, had fun taking our picture.

And just to reassure friends and family that tequila isn't always necessary for good times with old friends, here we are at lunch the next day. I love you, Gordon and Margo, and I miss spending time with you!

Friends and Family

When I lived in Wichita, Kansas (1977-1982), I met one of my dearest friends Gordon - the tallest on the right. His family was like my family and Gordon and became as close as brother and sister. 30+ years later the bond is stronger than ever. But it was with sadness that we all came together this week to celebrate the life of Gordon's mother, Darnell, who passed away on Palm Sunday. Gordon's sister Debbie - next to him - wrote a beautiful tribute to their mother and shared it with us at the service. The rest of the siblings in the picture are, to the left of Debbie, Melinda, Tony and Michael.

Another college friend, Margo, drove down from Omaha this morning for the service. We'll get together this evening to reminisce and share a bottle of wine.