Wednesday, October 27, 2004
The autumn remains exceptionally mild here in New England, particularly in the Boston area. The latest date for a killing frost is generally listed as the 20th of October but now, a week later than that, my tender annuals are thriving and the tomatoes are still ripening naturally in the garden. I’ve already put up several pints of stewed tomatoes. I make them with sautéed onions and garlic, simmering them with Provençal herbs, a lovely combination that includes fennel and lavender. It’s an extremely aromatic and very Mediterranean blend that works equally well in soups, stews, rubbed on chicken and meats before roasting, and in herb breads.
Up at Fritz’s, the new raspberries have been a big success, bearing heavily and tasting just wonderful. With luck the new fruit trees will begin bearing next summer. He always kids me about being a “city boy,” but I’ve been a devoted gardener since I was a kid, one of the many things that separated me from most of the other boys in school. I wasn’t particularly happy in school with my interest in the arts, reading history and lack of prowess or even interest in sports. I always wished I had siblings to fill up some of the loneliness and act as a buffer against the hurt and rejection but it wasn’t to be. As I matured and begin to find my way in the world I realized that I’m a very domestic type. Despite my adventurousness professionally and in travel, I’m a nest builder and a nurturer.
There’s a total lunar eclipse tonight over both Boston and St. Louis. The ancients believed that signs and symbols in the heavens heralded important events. Tonight, perhaps they’ll herald the breaking of an old and historic curse!
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11:40pm and my God--IT HAPPENED!
Up at Fritz’s, the new raspberries have been a big success, bearing heavily and tasting just wonderful. With luck the new fruit trees will begin bearing next summer. He always kids me about being a “city boy,” but I’ve been a devoted gardener since I was a kid, one of the many things that separated me from most of the other boys in school. I wasn’t particularly happy in school with my interest in the arts, reading history and lack of prowess or even interest in sports. I always wished I had siblings to fill up some of the loneliness and act as a buffer against the hurt and rejection but it wasn’t to be. As I matured and begin to find my way in the world I realized that I’m a very domestic type. Despite my adventurousness professionally and in travel, I’m a nest builder and a nurturer.
There’s a total lunar eclipse tonight over both Boston and St. Louis. The ancients believed that signs and symbols in the heavens heralded important events. Tonight, perhaps they’ll herald the breaking of an old and historic curse!
__________________________________________________________
11:40pm and my God--IT HAPPENED!
