Weathervane Series #1 - Goose and Arrow

I think I will begin a series on weathervanes and the cupolas upon which they sit. What is a cupola? Well, cupolas are ornamental structures usually placed at the top of a larger roof or dome. They often appear as small buildings perched on top of a building, propping up an amusing weathervane. The weathervane is usually an expression of the owners personality.
I was amazed at the number of homes, barns and businesses in the area that actually sport weathervanes.
This particular weathervane sits atop Patti Bros. Lighting in Sudbury.

Survival of the Fittest

Along the ski trail is a farm. On that farm is a chicken coop. In that chicken coop is one less chicken. I apologize to those faint of heart, but this is an example of natural selection and survival of the fittest the way it's been since the beginning of time and the way it will be until the end of time. So when you next marvel at the beauty of hawks and eagles as you see them soaring above, remember that this is how they stay alive. Unlike those silly hens who will always need protection since they just weren't given the skills to compete with the big boys.
I have several friends in Sudbury and Lincoln who supply me with fresh eggs and one of their greatest struggles is keeping their brood safe from predators.

Tutu

Whenever I pass this tree on my skis, I'm reminded of a ballerina dancing on a wintery stage in her tutu. Perhaps a sugar plum fairy.

You've Got Mail

Winter Respects

It's not easy to leave flowers by a graveside in winter, instead, someone left their heart.

Utopia, Ltd.

No, these are not some inhabitants of a Polynesian Island, just a slice of Sudbury life. They are members of the Sudbury Savoyards, a community theater which has been producing Gilbert and Sullivan musicals here since 1961. The troupe was having an open dress rehearsal of sorts at the Goodnow Library to entice the public to come see Utopia, Ltd.,their next production. It is a farce whose theme is the cultural and political contrast between Victorian England and a South Pacific island wherein the King of the Island persuades his people that the Brits are the real “Utopia”."

New Era

As the headline suggests, it will be a new era in our home tomorrow when, for a variety of reasons, we stop the home delivery of the Boston Globe. As long as I can remember, there has always been a newspaper delivered to my home, whether it was the evening edition which arrived after supper by the local boy on his bike when I was a child, or the early edition today, delivered by someone in the dark whose noisy engine acts as my alarm clock.

I will truly miss scanning the headlines, catching up on the high school sports teams, cutting out the occasional coupon and especially seeing if I can finish the crossword and sudoku before leaving for work. I'm sure my children won't miss those self-help articles I would clip out for them to read just as my mother had done for me. I'll be reading the news on the internet now which is not as convenient. It'll be harder to find those articles that you caught out of the corner of your eye. Even worse, there is the chance of spilling coffee on the computer. I can, however, e-mail those self-help articles to my children.

Maybe we'll keep the Sunday edition coming, but that crossword puzzle is way too hard.

Where do you get your news?

Skating Pond

The setting for this pond is Goodnow Farm. The Goodnows were one of the first families of Sudbury, arriving in 1638 from England to avoid religious persecution. Although not built by the original Goodnow, parts of this farm date back to the 18th century. Today the farm is privately owned.

Red Light District

Concord's very own "red light district" and upon reflection, it seems to be right across from a church. She has that certain come hither glance, doesn't she? She was last seen in front of the Concord Lamp and Shade on Walden Street.

Deadheads

Sunflowers on their very last legs.

Dusk

The sun sets over a Lincoln backyard as two dogs frolic in the snow.

Minuteman

Today in his eloquent inaugural address, President Obama mentioned that "For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn." This statue of the Minuteman, the "embattled farmer", stands in the Minuteman National Historical Park in Concord paying tribute to those who fought and died.

Building Thoreau's Cabin

If you were a student at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School (LSRHS) in 1997, you would have had the unique opportunity of taking a class called Building Thoreau's Cabin. Not only did they study Thoreau, they also built a replica of his cabin by Walden Pond. A plaque on the door shows that today it is "a place for peer mediation, for discussion and for quiet reflection." Along side the cabin is a "Healing Garden" which is a gift from the Class of 2008, a place to take care of yourself and one another.

It Snowed Today

I looked out the window this morning and my whole outlook on the day was brightened when I saw that we had had a beautiful snowfall overnight. I put on my cross country skis and decided to ski at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School (LSRHS). It was so peaceful and calm with large fluffy flakes of snow. This little cabin sits on the school property. Tomorrow, a closer look.

Walden Street

Where else would you find Thoreauly Antiques but on Walden Street. If you follow Walden Street out of town in the direction we are facing, it will eventually lead you to Walden Pond.

Thoreauly Antiques

Great liberty is taken with the names of the area's famous citizenry. This one at least is a great play on words. I hope to show you more uses for this name as well as Emerson, Longfellow and Alcott.

Early Morning

Sunrise on church steeple.

Vincenzo's

Birthday celebrations with friends at Vincenzo's, a restaurant in West Concord with an Italian take on the Dutch artist, Vincent van Gogh. Good food and good friends!

Peaceful Coexistence

Junco, sparrow, chickadee and cardinal. There were actually 5 male cardinals and 2 female cardinals. It was interesting watching their pecking order as never were there 2 cardinals at the feeder at the same time. They each waited their turn.

Reflections on an Orchid

I was strolling down Main Street in Concord when I saw these beautiful orchids in the window of Winston Flowers. I was delighted to find the reflection of other Concord shops and the First Parish Church in the photo as well.

Hidden Treasure

I came upon this bench, hidden by a fresh coating of snow and a tangle of overgrown wild roses and bittersweet.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

We were on the way to the airport this morning to put our son on a plane back to college, when we had to stop for this train passing through Lincoln, while we were in our automobile! When his plane lands, he will actually be taking a twenty minute train ride to his school and schlepping his luggage the last quarter mile to the dorm on foot.
This commuter rail, known as the "T", was on its morning run from Boston's North Station, passing through Lincoln and Concord, and on to its final stop in Fitchburg.

Codman House

The original house was built about 1735 and was enlarged in the 1790s to its present three-story Federal style by John Codman. The estate covers 250 acres and has been farmed almost continuously since 1735. The house is open to the public from June through October.

Let There Be Light

My son took this terrific shot of the sun breaking through the clouds over Drumlin Farm in Lincoln. It was around 3 p.m. yet it was so dark because the clouds were so heavy.

Winter Color

Sudbury Town Hall

Built in 1932, this grand building replaced the original town hall built in 1846 which was destroyed by fire. An amazing structure for a small farming community.

Back In the Swim of Things

After the holidays everyone is back in the pool. Gentle joints in the far left corner and a masters' stroke swim class on the right. The coach is definitely putting them through their paces. It's a lot easier barking orders from the sidelines!! I think someone should throw her in.

I'm sure they'll work up an appetite after that class. Chinese anyone?

Trip to the coast

Since the price of gas is so low and it was such a beautiful day, we decided to take a drive to the ocean. Hingham, Cohasset and Scituate are three beautiful seaside towns. Their characters are so very different from Sudbury, Lincoln and Concord. You won't find this type of fishing boat on the Sudbury River or Walden Pond.

New Year, New Beginnings

Come back in 6 to 8 weeks to see what this little sprout becomes!

Old North Bridge

The Concord Hymn
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1837)

By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
Their flag to April's breeze unfurled;
Here once the embattled farmers stood;
And fired the shot heard round the world.

Happy New Year from Walden Pond

The perfect way to start the New Year, cross country skiing around Walden Pond. It was only 12 degrees with an even colder wind chill. I had contemplated taking a plunge as some intrepid souls had done earlier in the day, but my fingers froze just taking this picture. Maybe next year.

As I was skiing, I wondered if Thoreau had made this same journey, so many New Years Days ago.