There’s a stretch on the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail just south of the Binnewater Kilns parking lot in Rosendale that gives access to the crevices that lead to the ice caves deep inside Joppenbergh Mountain. Joppenbergh was mined in the late 19th century for use in the manufacture of natural cement. There was a huge … Read more
We’re not likely to be flying anywhere anytime soon so here’s the next best thing: A trip back in time – to 1919 and a 24 hour tour of Paris. Our guide is the poet Hope Mirrlees. In Paris she was the friend of Gertrude Stein, Natalie Barney, Andre Gide, Paul Valéry and companion/ lover … Read more
A short drive to the Catskills and a Saturday stroll along the Ashokan Reservoir Promenade. Wildflowers growing in the cracks of the dam. The reservoir provides 40% of New York City’s water. Access is prohibited. It’s a steep drop on the other side. We didn’t see any bald eagles but we did see a cormorant … Read more
November Show’s over, folks. And didn’t October do A bang-up job? Crisp breezes, full-throated cries Of migrating geese, low-floating coral moon. Nothing left but fool’s gold in the trees. Did I love it enough, the full-throttle foliage, While it lasted? Was I dazzled? The bees Have up and quit their last-ditch flights of forage And … Read more
This is not really a book review, although I did re-read, and enjoy The Lonely Londoners as part of the #1956club. It is rather an excuse to pull out some quotations, share some research and images, and post a quite remarkable documentary. Along the way my journey took me deep into the North Kensington of … Read more
As we know the tRump misadministration has – for reasons of its own – declared New York City to be a jurisdiction of anarchy, violence and property destruction. This is Part Two. Part One is here. The Justice Department declared New York City A place of Anarchy, violence and Property losses. Live from New York … Read more
The US Department of ‘Justice’ declared this week that New York City — along with Portland and Seattle — to be a “jurisdiction permitting violence and destruction property.” Allegedly our state and local government are permitting anarchy, violence, and destruction So of course I had to take a look. So far, this is what I … Read more
Six stops on the Hammersmith and City from Euston Square to Westbourne Park, up the stairs, along the bridge over the lines that run east to Paddington and west to Wales, Change at Didcot for Oxford, Change at Swindon for Gloucester and Cheltenham Spa. Turn right out of the yellow-brown station past the Extra! Extra! … Read more
I used to have a really huge garden with hundreds of feet of soaker hose and a TroyBuilt Pony rototiller to get it ploughed and turned over at the start and end of the growing season. I grew all kinds of vegetables and this time of year meant a steamy kitchen with vats of tomato … Read more
The frogs were in fine parliamentary form this morning. Nothing like a heavy downpour to cheer them right up. Rabbits curiously absent and hardly a bird in sight or sound save for two guinea fowl pecking on the side of the track. And that wraps up the wild-life report from the daily stroam. Here are … Read more
A friend is reading Steven Johnson’s The Ghost Map: The Story of London’s Most Terrifying Epidemic–and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World – and she’s been regaling me with stories of toshers, pure-finders, mudlarks and the sewers of Victorian London. Here’s how the book begins: It is August 1854, and London is … Read more
Doesn’t look like any of us are going to be traveling any time soon so I’m glad to have the vicarious opportunity via the tea towels. We have quite the drawer full – gifts over the years from Brit visitors and souvenirs bought on various trips to the UK and elsewhere. Each one has a … Read more
