Gary's Farm

There are 2 farm stands near my home. They are right across the street from each other and both sell similar things. A few years ago, one of the stands went upscale. The owners built a beautiful post and beam store with a green roof. This new addition to the town left the other farm stand looking a little shabby.

It took a couple of years for Gary's to respond. They took their time, and used their own lumber from their land to make their posts and beams. And this spring, Gary's opened their store - with a nice, red roof.

My Kingdom for a Stick

Last weekend, I took my son camping along with several other dads and sons.

I have decided that there is no need to buy an expensive toy for an- 8-12 year old boy. You only need a stick. Over the evening and morning, the boys discovered the following uses for sticks:

Tool for roasting a hot dog
Tool for roasting a marshmallow
Tool for incinerating a marshmallow
Tool for roasting a pinecone
Tool for roasting leaves
Smoke generating machine
Fire poker
Pistol
Rifle
Staff
Laser Gun
Machine Gun
Sword
Machete
Light Sabre
Walking stick
And finally, fuel for the fire.

Memorial Day

I live in a small New England town outside of Boston. It was established in 1715 and has lots of hidden, historical gems. Most of the time, I don't stop to notice, but Memorial Day and a new blog provided the inspiration to look.

Near the center of town is the Old Burying Ground. At the entrance, there is a plaque dedicated to Revolutionary War Veterans. Men in the town joined the Minutemen in 1775 and also served throughout the Revolutionary War. I read the names and decided to try and find one of their graves.

I walked down one side of the grounds and didn't find anything. Then, I came across a well preserved headstone. It was marking the grave of one of those veterans. His name was Dr. Enoch Dole, and he was 33 when he was killed.

The inscription on his headstone captures the feeling of that time: disdain towards the British, praise for the ambition to fight for freedom, and the sadness of losing a loved one to war.


The inscription reads:

Here lies ye body of Dr. Enoch
Dole of Lancaster AE 33 Years 5
months & 3 days, he unfortunately
fell with 3 others ye 9th of March
1776, by a Cannon Ball from our
cruel & unnatural Foes, Ye British
Troops while on his Duty on Dorch
ester Point.

No warning giv'n! Unceremonious fate!
A sudden rush from Lifes meredian joys!
A wrench from all we are from all we love!
What a change
From yesterday! *Thy darling hope so near
Long labourd prize! O how ambition flushed
Thy glowing cheek! ambition truly great,
Of virtuous praise.
And Oh! ye last last; what can word express
Thought reach? ye last last, silence of a friend.

*Meaning his entrance into Boston which so soon
took Place & on which his heart was much.

Spicy Shrimp Linguine

With the chives growing vigorously in the yard, I needed another use for them. So, I decided to make an easy pasta dish.

Boil 1 lb linguine in salted water.

Sauce/Marinade:

Juice from 1 lime
3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce
1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried basil

Combine and set aside.

Peel 1 lb medium shrimp (raw) and add to marinade.

Dice a yellow and a red pepper. Cut several cherry tomatoes in half. Cut a handful of chives into 1/2 inch lengths.

Combine shrimp, vegetables and marinade and cook over medium heat in a large frying pan until shrimp is pink.

Toss with the pasta.

This dish is even better chilled the next day.

Hostas

Hostas are a great plant for New England. They do well in shade, which many of us have in abundance. And they are easy to divide in the spring or fall.

You can fill a surprisingly large space by dividing these plants year after year.

In my yard, I have daffodils and hostas mixed in the same bed (see the photo above). That way I can get the color of the daffodils and then hide the leaves as the flowers die away.

And to Think I Saw it on Newbury Street

The city of Boston is a wonderful combination of the old and the new. To get the best of both worlds, I go to Newbury Street. Brownstones and gas lanterns, boutiques and cafes - and lots of people. Whether its shopping, people watching, or enjoying a meal, I've never been disappointed by Newbury Street.


Focus on the tops of the buildings and you are in Boston a hundred years ago. Let your glance drift to street level, and you are surrounded by the latest in food and fashion.

And tucked away on the street are plenty of places to rest your feet and listen to the Europeans enjoying the current Euro/Dollar exchange rate.

Three Moms, Three Graduates

Boston is a college town. The springtime brings more than flowers, it brings graduation ceremonies. Throughout the city, students don long gowns while their families prepare to celebrate their loved ones' achievements.

There are all kinds of graduates here. Some are starting out on the road of adult life. They are full of hope for the future. But, there are also those who have passed further down that path.

A little over two years ago, my wife was in a conversation with a friend, a fellow mom, who was investigating a masters degree program. That program, for a Masters in Education, was designed for mid-career changers. It had the potential to fit the schedule of a busy mom. One conversation led to another, and soon my wife was also filling out an application. A third friend joined the group and together they started the program. Between them, they had over 43 years of mothering experience and 9 children.

They dedicated one full weekend a month for two years to finish the program. It wasn't easy juggling homework and housework, class schedules and children's schedules; but they did it.

This weekend, their work paid off. The three moms arrived at the graduation ceremony. They put on the robes, hoods, and caps, and prepared to receive their diplomas.

As they came into the main hall, they walked together.

They entered as moms; they left as graduates.

Azaleas

Whoever made up the saying "April showers bring May flowers" must have been from Boston. It takes forever to get some color here.

My azaleas are finally blooming. They are on schedule for Massachusetts, but it always seems late to me.

When I was younger, I lived in the Washington D.C. area. By April, the grass is green, the azaleas bloom, and the cherry blossoms come out.

If you get a chance to be in Washington in the spring, which is much better than the summer unless you love heat and humidity, visit the National Arboretum for the azaleas.

Herb Marinade

When summer comes, I head outdoors to grill. I like to grow several kinds of herbs to use in cooking. For my marinade, I wander around the yard and pick whatever looks good.

Grilled Chicken Kebab Marinade

• 1/2 cup Olive Oil
• 4 Cloves Garlic (I use a garlic press)
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1/3 cup Garden Herbs (I used chives, mint, oregano, and lemon balm)

Combine all the above and marinade chicken for several hours.

Grill over medium heat.

St. John's Church - Richmond VA

On a trip to Richmond, I took a small detour to visit a wonderful old church. I have always liked stained glass, and St. John's Church has several beautiful examples.

The church was built in the 1740s and is surrounded by quiet streets with gas lanterns.

In 1775, the 2nd Virginia Convention met in the church. Both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson came to the church and participated in the debate. But, it was Patrick Henry and his now famous speech which moved people to raise a militia.

Here is an excerpt of the speech:

"The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable--and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace-- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"

Peace Park - Hiroshima

The cherry blossoms were in bloom when I visited Peace Park.

I was in town for only 1 day and had meetings in the afternoon. After things wrapped up, I asked if anyone wanted to go see Peace Park. A couple of colleagues had never been to the museum and offered to take me.

The first part of the museum has interesting photos and items from Hiroshima at the turn of the century. These exhibits surround a scale model of the town before and after the explosion.

On one wall is an "after" photo of Hiroshima.


As you move on through the museum, it becomes more somber. People stop talking with one another and stare quietly at the photos of the survivors. It feels like a funeral or one of those times when people honor the dead with a minute of silence. We entered the building as tourists with some free time but were transformed into mourners.

It was difficult, but I'm glad I went.

Mother's Day

The past few years, I've been making crepes on Saturdays. So, it made sense to make them for my wife for Mother's Day.

I have tried making them with various pans, but nothing worked exactly the way I liked. Getting a nice round shape with the proper thickness was difficult.

Finally, my wife got me a Le Creuset crepe pan. The combination of that pan and the little wooden tool to spread the batter evenly made all the difference.

My preference is for a cheese crepe - gruyere with salt and pepper. But my wife is more of a Nutella fan. So, I made Nutella with strawberries for her. Happy Mother's Day!

Crepes
4 eggs
3 Cups Milk
2 Tablespoons Cooking Oil

Beat wet ingredients and add

1/2 Teaspoon Salt
2 Cups Flour

Masala Zone - London

It's not hard to find Indian Restaurants in London. But, with so many, it is hit or miss to find a good one.

I went to London in April for work and had time to do some exploring. On a previous trip, my wife and I found this great (and inexpensive) place in Soho called Masala Zone.

I decided to see if I could find it again while I was wandering around the West End. Wardour Street has some excellent places to eat, and just a few blocks away is Marshall Street.

Masala Zone is located at:

9 marshall street london w1f 7er

The thing to order at Masala Zone is a Thali.

Thali is a large silver platter with a variety of dishes. Mine came with a great combination of spicy and sweet options. Best of all, my Tikka Masala was creamy with just the right amount of heat.

If variety is the spice of life, then Tahli is the perfect combination of both.

Spring is Finally Here

It seems like spring takes forever to come to New England. This winter was particularly long and cold.

But, after many months of snow and ice, the flowers are coming back.