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Musings from Maine

August 17, 2017August 17, 2017 JWF 2 Comments

GOOD TIMES WITH GRANDDAUGHTERS.

We were delighted to have our son and family with us for several days. With our lively granddaughters, 5 and not quite 1 ½, in residence, reading, writing, and other activities were shelved. E and I made blueberry pancakes (a tradition and each year she is more capable and engaged in the enterprise); we drew and colored with the markers I acquired (she’s good at art), and together (mostly her) we invented and played out innumerable scenarios with her growing collection of Calico Critters (her imagination goes into overdrive). F was somewhat engaged with our colorful oversized Lego-like blocks—could snap them together and smiled as she knocked down every tower—and also wandered about exploring and observing, always keeping one or both parents in view. These were just the inside activities.

Outside, the rocky coastline and flat pebbly sand were a draw for both girls. E focused on collecting sea glass, pretty shells and a variety of colored rocks and engaged with some neighbor kids. F discovered this new world by running her fingers through the sand, picking up and examining small bits, and even putting her face down into a wee tide pool. The other highlight of their visit (“the best day ever!” said E) was our trip to the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. We go every year and E was anticipating it before she arrived.

Their children’s garden is fabulous! The little playhouse with child-size table and chairs along with wooden appliances stocked with kitchen equipment and play food is always a hit as was the story barn. In the barn, E made a beeline for the puppet theater and F located a broom and swept the floor and swept again. Dad also read several stories from the well-chosen selection of garden-related pictture books while Grandpa and Grandma gazed on fondly! I think it’s fair to say, “a good time was had by all.”

COLOR AT THE FARMERS’ MARKET

I like making the rounds at the weekly farmers’ market. The vendors are arrayed in a big circle on the town green, and while mostly it’s produce and flowers, there are also a basket maker, cheese mongers, a coffee purveyor, several pastry and bread stands, seafood and sausage vendors, an Asian prepared food booth, and an artist who sells her notecards.

I’ve been noting how colorful some of the produce is and one vendor in particular who pays meticulous attention to how his vegetables are arranged. There’s artistry in the results. Here’s a sampling of some of these colors.

Suncoast Scene

May 4, 2017May 4, 2017 JWF Leave a comment

CHAGALL IN THE GARDEN

Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota is celebrating Marc Chagall’s art and his depiction of flowers in it. Several areas of the outdoor gardens are planted in the French style, the conservatory has stained glass screen reproductions as backdrops for orchids, and Payne Mansion has a handful of some original Chagall paintings. Selby is worth a visit any time of year, but these displays are especially lovely. This special exhibit will be up through July.

SERIOUS NONFICTION

No One Cares about Crazy People: The Chaos and Heartbreak of Mental Illness in America by Ron Powers. Mr. Powers put off writing this book for ten years, but, ultimately, felt compelled to tell his family’s story and to educate his readers about the history of the treatment and possible causes of mental illness. As one reviewer stated, it’s really two books in one. Both of his sons developed schizophrenia and one took his own life.

Powers does not stint in sharing his and his wife’s raw feelings nor how they, like most parents, often put the most positive interpretation on early warning signs and behavior. The second book, as it were, consists of the interspersed factual, well-researched chapters about how we as a society have treated, ignored and even abused sick individuals. An important book that deserves to be widely read.

SOUTH OF THE BORDER

Since we did not go to the Yucatan, we had a craving for some good Mexican food. After reading the online reviews, we decided on Habanero’s in Bradenton on Manatee Ave. With our always-up-for-adventure friends, Jane and Mark, we went for lunch. Among us, we sampled chicken enchiladas and beef tacos, the chile relleno, a specialty enchilada, and, of course, the wonderful chunky guacamole. Along with some beer and a margarita. Everything was tasty and delicious and we’ll definitely return. It’s an attractive space, not crowded at that time, and our server was friendly and helpful in the nicest way. Prices are moderate and a bit less on the lunch menu. A good addition to our ethnic restaurant repertoire!

Credits: All photos by JWFarrington (some rights reserved); poppies drawing also colored by this author from Color Me Fearless.

North Carolina Spring: The Triangle to the Piedmont

April 20, 2017April 21, 2017 JWF Leave a comment

GARDENS

The greens are different in North Carolina and spring is softer than Florida. We were in Chapel Hill and Greensboro over the Easter weekend visiting my two sisters and their families. Lots of laughter, plenty of good food, and a chance to wander in several gardens. All the trees had leafed out, but the shade was between the yellow green (lime) of early spring and the robust hunter green of high summer. The azaleas were in full flower, iris too, with only the late variety tulips still hanging on. On our way to Winston-Salem, we stopped in the small town of Kernersville and explored the Paul J. Ciener Botanical Gardens, a small public garden with lots of potential. The visitors’ center is closed on weekends (strange, we thought), but we’d been told there were still tulips in bloom. The first beds we came upon were disappointing, but then on another side of the property were beds and beds of tulips still upright and mostly intact. A pleasing array of color. In Winston-Salem, we wandered around the Reynolda Gardens, on the former estate of R. J. Reynolds. Aside from the trailing wisteria, there was more to see inside the conservatory than outside. I was particularly struck by the bold gerbera daisies.

EATING AND SHOPPING

It was a family tradition for many years that every Hancock Reunion (held in the summertime) included a ham dinner. That was roast ham served with scalloped potatoes, a vegetable such as green beans or corn, and, most likely, a green salad. For dinner with my sisters, their husbands and my niece and her husband one night, it was potluck style. Ham provided by the hosts was the centerpiece (Honey-baked), along with a salad of greens and herbs from one sister’s garden, and a porcini mushroom rice dish from my niece and nephew, followed by brownies and lemon squares for dessert. Times do evolve; the previous generation would not have related to those mushrooms!

In Kernersville after the Ciener garden, we had lunch at a small place called Bistro B. Their claim to fame seems to be specialty wine dinners with a set menu and also a nice selection of tapas. Our lunch was simpler fare, but very satisfying. I had their grilled chicken panini while others enjoyed a classic Reuben and a Cubano sandwich. All were enhanced with beer from their wide range of choices.

Pittsboro is a very small town south of Chapel Hill. Founded in 1787, it’s the county seat for Chatham County. Along with some attractive historic buildings, it boasts a street of arty shops and an old-timey soda shop. It was the S & T Soda Shoppe that drew us back for our third or fourth visit. Re-created to look old fashioned, it has a wooden counter and a series of booths and tables. Menu items are mostly sandwiches and burgers and a host of ice cream flavors. Their tuna melt on sunflower bread is consistently good as are the hot dog and the cheeseburger (my choice). We were there on Good Friday and followed our post working life rule of “always be early.” Arriving at 11:30 we had our choice of booths. Half an hour later, the place was packed with family groups waiting.

After lunch, we did the shops—that is, my sister and I. The men mostly sat on one of the several benches on main street. Several shops include artists’ note cards and other gift items along with painting and sculpture. French Connections is a treasure trove of French fabrics and table linens, statues and art work from Africa, lawn art, and baskets, while Circle City Books Music, ostensibly a used bookstore, had more new books than one would expect.

I’ve touted this other bookstore in the past, but it’s such a great store, I have to mention it again. It’s McIntyre Books in Fearrington Village (a bit south of Chapel Hill) and it’s a wonderfully well-stocked independent bookseller. We spent a good hour browsing and then, of course, buying! I picked up several paperback novels for myself, a children’s book for my granddaughter as well as several note cards. Simply heaven!

On our last evening in North Carolina, we were back in the Triangle area and enjoyed a lovely dinner at a small French restaurant, Rue Cler, in downtown Durham. We had the place mostly to ourselves and appreciated host Ryan’s warm welcome and friendly, efficient service. The black North Carolina sea bass entrée I had was superb! The fish was sautéed and served on a bed of spinach and capers with roasted potato cubes crusted with grainy mustard. Equally pleasing were the scallops of salmon with béarnaise sauce and the beef. To start, some of us had the house green salad, while others liked the frisee with French fries and the onion soup.

Colorful Maine

August 3, 2016August 7, 2016 JWF 2 Comments

BLOSSOMS

One of the attractions of this part of Maine is the simply glorious Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. Less than ten years old, these gardens are beautifully designed, incorporating native stones midst the plantings, and encompassing not only the expected flowers, trees and shrubs, but the unusual and the unexpected. No matter how many times we visit—and we visit often, this week with my younger sister and brother-in-law—we are always pleased and surprised at new discoveries.