People frequently asked Ken for advice. With all his experience he could quickly asses the situation, and easily see a solution. The real problem for Ken was stating the solution in a way it could be heard – either the solution was complex or the solution was painful for the questioner. The best example was when a young farmer asked Ken why his pigs were not doing well. Ken said, ” Well, pigs like to …
Reading the accusations against Placido Domingo last night was sad. As a victim of harassment and date rape, my bias is to believe the accuser. Courageous victims who speak out have so little to gain and so much to lose. Most victims say they come forward so it stops and another person is not harassed. Reading their stories brought up that familiar pattern: a person in power offers “help” and the help isn’t; in reality …
It’s the fiftieth anniversary of Woodstock. No, at 13 I was not there. But I do have a story from the time. My father, a Boston Commuter, picked up a young man hitchhiking with a sign for Woodstock. My savvy dad not only had two teenagers at home, he had in – laws who lived in the quiet, toney town of Woodstock, Vermont. So, Joe Gravel convinced the youth that no, he did NOT want …
Last night I watched a video of The Wife. The depiction of the relationship moved me deeply. I thought of the relationship of couples – and my own. No, I did not make the pots, and no, I did not grow the vegetables. When the actress Glenn Close, says, ” I can fix it. Do you want me to fix it?” I was struck with my role in Ken’s life. I was a willing catalyst. …
Meet Chainsaw Betty. She is not too excited about learning her craft, and therefore is none too polite. This morning as she headed out the front door with her Stihl, a small expensive car came up the drive – past the closed sign. A passenger window slid down and a woman called out., “Are you closed?” Betty replied, “Can you read?” Then Judith resurfaced and said, “Look, my husband died and I am no longer …
I never ran a chainsaw. I could not start the gas powered ones Ken had. And once he started them, he would head off with them to cut. So I did lots of research last fall and bought a larger battery pack saw A friend came by and got me started. We charged up the battery Then we headed out. I asked him to test drive the saw; he would know if it strained, etc …
So often one sees before and after photos. Most of my life falls between those two in the “during.” Sometimes I label this progress; it’s rare that I arrive at after or done. This was how the west part of the drive looked after Friday’s storm. A younger friend came Tuesday and helped set me up with my new smaller chainsaw. He also cut with his larger gas powered saw. We got the Massey set …
Last night a storm came through the area. I had checked the forecast and radar map, and I really thought it was going north of me. But then a siren went off and the news listed the county three miles east as a tornado warning Rain started pouring in the French doors on the south side of the house. I decided it was time to batten down the hatches. So, once that was done, the …
Since the potter’s death, Keppers Pottery and Produce is closed – permanently. Remaining pottery is at Dancing Bird in Cumberland. For produce, please support a local farmer.
After watching a couple episodes of Pride and Prejudice on Public television, I decided to request more Colin Firth videos through inter library loan. Tonight as I watched Bridget Jones’ Diary, I realized Ken was my Darcy – awkward socially, beyond reproach in integrity, and kind in deed. And I remembered a Ken story. After contra dancing one night we met for dinner. I guess it was our first date. At one point Ken seemed …
