MASSACHUSETTS, August 8, 2011
Hello once again, friends!
It is Monday night, August 8, and once again, I am reporting in from Hamilton, Massachusetts. Again, rain either fell in a slow cadence or threatened all day long, and humidity was, consequently, quite leaden. This morning, Marthe's daughter Sarah and her son, baby Owen, and I left the house armed with a whole list of things to undertake on behalf of Marthe's show. We had supplies to get at Staples and at a local hardware store, and we hit about 10 stores and restaurants, asking if we could post flyers for Marthe's show. None of them turned us down, so we were able to cover quite a bit of ground. Once at home, we had a quick lunch and then spent the afternoon cataloguing, labeling, photographing, and sizing the various artworks which will be shown in Marthe's show. It was a very fruitful venture and will, hopefully, net Marthe a good following and some interest as her show gets underway.
In the late afternoon, I accompanied Marthe to the town of Essex to drop by some brochures at a friend's house, and then to Josh's house to bring him some blueberries we had picked and to wish him well, since he is still not fully recovered from a virus he has had now for a few days. He rents a lovely place overlooking an estuary, and, if he recovers before I leave, we may go kayaking with him in the future. Let's hope that happens.
Afterwards, we were in the mood to do a substantial walk, so went back to the house to pick up Sarah and baby Owen. We drove to Appleton Farms and Grass Rides, listed as being in Hamilton and Ipswich. Rolling grasslands, grazing livestock, stone walls, and historic farm buildings are part of this pastoral landscape--a rare glimpse into New England's architectural past. The place is a gift of Colonel Francis Appleton, Jr., and his wife Joan, and it is the oldest continuously operating farm in the country, established and maintained for centuries by one of America's founding families.
In 1636, Samuel Appleton established the farm, growing vegetables, corn, and hay. Later generations of Appletons expanded into timber, beef, and dairy production, using progressive farming methods beginning in the 1800s. By the late 19th c., the farm was also a summer country estate, complete with foxhunts and steeplechases, stone pinnacles from the Gore Hall Library at Harvard (alma mater to generations of the Appletons), and the Grass Rides--five miles of trails and tree-lined avenues called "rides", built for horseback and carriage driving. That is where we walked for about an hour.
Grasslands here harbor one of New England's largest populations of bobolinks and meadowlarks. Wetlands provide important spring feeding stops for migrating marsh birds and are home to frogs and salamanders, including the rare blue- and yellow-spotted salamander. Deer, fox, coyote, and mink are found in the fields. Fall brings migrating hawks, and pine stands shelter owls in winter.
It was lovely to stretch our legs for that hour, and I took quite a few photos that mellow afternoon. Afterwards, we drove back home, and stopped on the way for some Guinness beer. Back at home, Sarah made some scrumptious veggie burgers, a cucumber salad, and a zucchini stir-fry with curry seasoning. Cherries, nectarines, and dark chocolate were for dessert.
It has been a full day, but the humidity has zapped us all, and I for one am off to sleep. I hope all of you are doing well, and that I will hear from you. With best wishes, Sylvia
It is Monday night, August 8, and once again, I am reporting in from Hamilton, Massachusetts. Again, rain either fell in a slow cadence or threatened all day long, and humidity was, consequently, quite leaden. This morning, Marthe's daughter Sarah and her son, baby Owen, and I left the house armed with a whole list of things to undertake on behalf of Marthe's show. We had supplies to get at Staples and at a local hardware store, and we hit about 10 stores and restaurants, asking if we could post flyers for Marthe's show. None of them turned us down, so we were able to cover quite a bit of ground. Once at home, we had a quick lunch and then spent the afternoon cataloguing, labeling, photographing, and sizing the various artworks which will be shown in Marthe's show. It was a very fruitful venture and will, hopefully, net Marthe a good following and some interest as her show gets underway.
In the late afternoon, I accompanied Marthe to the town of Essex to drop by some brochures at a friend's house, and then to Josh's house to bring him some blueberries we had picked and to wish him well, since he is still not fully recovered from a virus he has had now for a few days. He rents a lovely place overlooking an estuary, and, if he recovers before I leave, we may go kayaking with him in the future. Let's hope that happens.
Afterwards, we were in the mood to do a substantial walk, so went back to the house to pick up Sarah and baby Owen. We drove to Appleton Farms and Grass Rides, listed as being in Hamilton and Ipswich. Rolling grasslands, grazing livestock, stone walls, and historic farm buildings are part of this pastoral landscape--a rare glimpse into New England's architectural past. The place is a gift of Colonel Francis Appleton, Jr., and his wife Joan, and it is the oldest continuously operating farm in the country, established and maintained for centuries by one of America's founding families.
In 1636, Samuel Appleton established the farm, growing vegetables, corn, and hay. Later generations of Appletons expanded into timber, beef, and dairy production, using progressive farming methods beginning in the 1800s. By the late 19th c., the farm was also a summer country estate, complete with foxhunts and steeplechases, stone pinnacles from the Gore Hall Library at Harvard (alma mater to generations of the Appletons), and the Grass Rides--five miles of trails and tree-lined avenues called "rides", built for horseback and carriage driving. That is where we walked for about an hour.
Grasslands here harbor one of New England's largest populations of bobolinks and meadowlarks. Wetlands provide important spring feeding stops for migrating marsh birds and are home to frogs and salamanders, including the rare blue- and yellow-spotted salamander. Deer, fox, coyote, and mink are found in the fields. Fall brings migrating hawks, and pine stands shelter owls in winter.
It was lovely to stretch our legs for that hour, and I took quite a few photos that mellow afternoon. Afterwards, we drove back home, and stopped on the way for some Guinness beer. Back at home, Sarah made some scrumptious veggie burgers, a cucumber salad, and a zucchini stir-fry with curry seasoning. Cherries, nectarines, and dark chocolate were for dessert.
It has been a full day, but the humidity has zapped us all, and I for one am off to sleep. I hope all of you are doing well, and that I will hear from you. With best wishes, Sylvia
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