November, 2003
Well, the weather has really changed. Most of the leaves are off the trees, only the Red Oaks in my yard are hanging on.
I remember somewhere reading a legend about how the oak trees are the last to lose their leaves. I’ll have to try and find that story. It might make a nice book. (This is ONE of the ways I “get my ideas.” I guess you could also call it inspiration.)
One of the reasons I love living in upper New England is that we do have four seasons. “Locals” joke that we only have two seasons - summer and a darn long winter!
Some people find late fall-early winter bleak, but I love the muted colors in the landscape. A good friend of mine, Jack Schanhaar, who I shared a house with in Vermont in the middle-late ‘50s, called them “ICON colors,” after the muted tones of Russian Icons.
Then comes the snow, filling up the spaces, such as, the meadow my house sits on and I can then really see the shape of the bare landscape.
Even though Thanksgiving isn’t one of my favorite holidays (I don’t like turkey!), I do have very fond memories of the Thanksgiving Day dinners we had for years at Nana and Tom’s, my Irish grandparents.
Nana was a magician with turkey. Hers always had crispy skin and was moist and juicy inside. Her stuffing still makes my mouth water when I think of it. I’d fill my plate with stuffing, mashed turnips - yes - I loved them! - candied sweet potatoes and one slice of turkey.
I saved room for Nana’s FANTASTIC mincemeat pie. She told me her secret. (I make mine at Christmas.) But NO! I won’t give you the secret! I promised to keep it, so there!
Long nights, short days, the smell of people’s fireplaces burning, filling the crisp air, all add up to looking inside - not only my spaces - house and studio - but inside myself as well - a time for reflection.
Of course, December is on it way and that always fills me with so much joy.
Enough for now.