Caywood Days

Aye, Aye Skipper

2011-12-31T15:32:00.000-08:00

caywood point-- Took a year-ending ramble to the shores of Seneca Lake and spent the afternoon skipping stones across the silvery ribbons of water. Here is a situation where plumbing the depths is easily achievable with a clumsy kerplunk but to skim the surface is sparkling transcendence.

Reader's Poll, Country Style

2011-07-06T21:24:00.000-07:00

caywood--

Raise your hand if you ever driven past your retired-guy neighbor's house and happened to glance over at precisely the moment the retired guy has approached his entirely glass front door, his white undershirt tucked into his white jockey shorts.

My hand is up.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

2011-05-14T06:17:00.001-07:00

caywood station --Spring has finally and truly arrived. I love nothing better than standing in the back yard admiring the flowers, the garden, the blossoming orchard, and the sheer greenness of it all.

Winter Morning

2011-04-06T18:37:00.001-07:00

caywood station --
The view from the balcony on a cold winter morning.

This One's For You, Jasper

2011-02-21T18:17:00.000-08:00

unnamed heavy equipment parking area--

What's Sauce for the Goose is Sauce for the Gander Dept.

2011-02-08T05:02:00.002-08:00

latimes.com-- Aurora the resident Wonder Chicken was reading her RSS feed this morning and passed along this choice morsel:

Item: Calif. man killed by armed bird at cockfight, was stabbed by rooster with attached knife.

Now, while Aurora is appalled, appalled I say, at this tragic loss of human life, she does feel the need to point out the glaringly obvious way that this tragedy could have been averted.

Don't do cockfights.

Picture This

2011-02-06T13:36:00.000-08:00

rt. 96, southbound--

A tiny roundup of recent Rascal's reader board messages.

Last week:
Turkey
Raised on Radio

... is that organic radio?

This week:
Meatloaf

... the meal and the man?

Snow Day!

2011-02-02T12:31:00.000-08:00

caywood snow fort-- There's a little storm rolling over* The Nation's Midsection** and Northeast. Perhaps you've heard of it?

People all around us have been talking and speculating about it, swapping advice about which stores are most important to lay in if you want to survive.

Yesterday, we woke up to find... a few inches. But definitely the most snow at one time we've had so far this winter. AND, our road wasn't yet plowed. Feeling hopeful, we scoured the Internet for school closures.*** Watkins? CLOSED! Elmira? CLOSED! Chemung? CLOSED! But what's this? Ithaca: OPEN!

Why why why why why?

Well, probably 'cause it's really not that much snow. Still. Hopes had been raised then dashed.

We made it off our road with a running leap and jumped onto the state highway. Snowy, not treacherous. Trumansburg's streets were downright clear. And then there was Ithaca. A traffic jam on West Hill, really? Superslushy uncleared intersections and side streets, really? The one of us prone to ranting about what constitutes a true snow "storm"**** was heard to huff, "WTF, Ithaca? Haven't you had since 1789 or whenever you decimated the indigenous population to figure out how to deal with snow?"

Fast forward through the day: "This is only the beginning!" warned every weathercaster in the Western world. "Tomorrow expect droves of snow, wintery mixing, patchy freezing rain, and harp seals and polar bear cubs falling from the sky!" Chicago's schools are set to close for the first time in twelve years!***** More speculating around the water cooler. Will the office be closed tomorrow? Should we leave early? Will we ever see each other again?

Back home, 8pm: Ithaca isn't waiting. They've already called it: schools closed tomorrow!

Yeah, baby! That's what we're talkin' about! Rejoicing and tears. We are so happy and cozy, ready for a night of fun stuff and staying up late.

This morning: Yay! It's already a snow day! We don't even have to check. Which is good because it is hard to discern if any snow has fallen since last night when we got home. Our road is plowed and completely unobstructed. Is that blue sky I see?

Satellite images of this storm are awe-inspiring and downright frightening. Except for that tiny patch of non-storm right over Central New York. Weird. But we don't care!

It's been a great day!

_________________________

* Or, if you are into inflaming the masses, "hammering," "slamming," "gripping," or "torturing."

**What newscasters call the Midwest when suddenly "Midwest" isn't descriptive enough or when they are obsessing about body image.

*** Because one of us works in an office that closes with Ithaca School District closes, and the other of us is encouraged to work at home during bad weather.

**** Certainly not less than a foot of snow at once.

***** Proving once and for all who the toughest people in the nation are and who the real winter bad-ass in this relationship is. Who walked to school in -18 degree weather at age 11? Not this kid!

All the News that's Fit to Print

2011-01-25T19:25:00.000-08:00

from the Desk of the Caywood Tattler--

Weather Corner
* - 15 degrees F
* Guerilla insulation tactics
* Chickens now indoors
* Round the clock vigil for frozen pipes
* Success! No frozen pipes!

Eating Local, Then and Now
First winter here: Winter CSA membership, exclusive contract for the consumption of root vegetables, no greens after Nov. 15, pork becomes a substitute for chocolate.
Fourth winter here: Still making the effort, if you call eating avocados and mangos "making the effort."

Winter Wildlife Watch
* 83 days since K & A's last deer strike!
* Wildlife camera installed in yard, then relocated to house in conjunction with...
* ... winter vermin infestation kick-off party!
* Your petless protagonists are counting down the days until Bella comes home!

Overheard
Rumor has it that an area realtor has called our neighborhood "trashy." First of all, since when does a neighborhood situated between two vineyards and with lake views qualify as "trashy"? Second of all, everyone knows that a real real estate word for "trashy" is "quirky." Mr./Ms. "Real Estate Agent" are you even licensed in the State of New York?

Adult Education Offering Helps Area Residents Expand Horizons
Looking for something to do now that the 6-class Tai Chi series at the Eagle Hotel has ended? Bust a move (or, as we say in Tai Chi, "Strum the Pei Pa") on over to the Interlaken Central School on Thursday nights for Hula Hooping for Health. Perhaps "Hula Hooping" has hithertofore been filed in your mental pigeonhole somehwere between "Whimsical" and "Outdated" and "Seriously, People." You'll need to reshuffle your categories. May we suggest you now file it somewhere between "Stealth Danger" and "What the Hell!"?

New Year, Dark and Light

2011-01-09T18:53:00.000-08:00

caywood-- In recent years, it has been our custom to take a few days between Christmas and New Year's Day for ourselves. Liminality: We love it. Bring it on!

Then you've crossed the threshold, and there it is: your new year.

One day you are watching embers from your backyard bonfire float starward amid your new, resolved hopes, or toasting with a painless flute of prosecco over chocolate fondue with friends, while the next you are staring down the barrel of your workaday world and digging out of the rut you thought you left in 2010.

Kar-BOOM! Don't blow your hand off!

And that is why it is good to have friends.

Today, we were so pleased-- overjoyed, really-- to have a visit from Caywood Alumni Jay, Amy, Lucy, and Jasper.

Taco Bar!
Little House Gingerbread!
Cracking hyper-local walnuts!
Jack Frost nipping at our noses!
Rousing games of "Kids in a Coop," "Horses in a Stall," "Can You See Me?" and "I Just Woke Up!"!

And so, nine days into the new year, we already have another highlight! Thanks, guys.

The Name Says It All

2010-12-29T06:40:00.000-08:00

gate f8 philadelphia international airport-- Are airports like Disneyland, full of secret clubs and backstage doors for those in the know? Methinks yes. Readying for my on-time connection to Ithaca from Philly last night, I glanced up from my usual preflight routine of jamming one... more... item into my bulging carry-on and spied the door to an important office:

Piedmont Airlines, Inc.
Chief Pilot's Office
Doug Jett

Gate F8? F8. Fate. Doug was destined for the skies.

Howdy, Neighbor!

2010-12-24T00:17:00.001-08:00

trumansburg-- The other day, we were loitering near the counter of the Kinney Drug, shopping for something "holiday"-- Chapstick?-- and overheard the person in front of us chatting with the checker about how she baked 61 dozen cookies this year.

"61 DOZEN?!" we exclaimed.

"Yes," was the answer, "because I'm from Lodi, where all the crazy people live."

Back to the Drawing Board

2010-12-18T10:23:00.000-08:00

nearby-- One of us occasionally daydreams about how great it would be to open a breakfast place in our village and name it after our superstar chicken. In fact, this one of us was just revisiting the dream this morning. The other of us, having worked in the restaurant industry, nods patiently and moves on. Today, we discovered this daydream can be put to rest.

Mom & Pop's Secret Recipe (name changed to protect our lives) has relocated from a village to the east to a village to the north. We made a visit after stopping at the one-room library for books and making it through the holiday rush (1 person ahead of us) at the local post office.

Counter with fun stools for twirling: Check.
Local art: Check.
Local color: Check.
Colorful locals: Check.

Five framed pastel drawings lined the wall behind the counter, gallery-style. A curatorial sort might say they were fine examples of "outsider," "primitive," or "American folk art." Me, I'll just say: thumbs up for the owls. The depiction of the Seneca white deer was a little spooky, but that just comes with the territory for an inbred species living on a genetic island. Another person might not have chosen to hang a pastel drawing of a fox clutching a dead hawk by its broken neck, but hey, it's Mom and Pop's place-- not yours or mine.

One of us read about the war in Afghanistan while the other of us edified herself by leafing through a back copy of "Real Simple" magazine (yes) borrowed from the library. One's sandwich was egg salad, the other's a perfectly grilled cheese with tomato.

Seen the documentary "My Brother's Keeper"? It's a creepy, crumbly true story of backwoods bachelor brothers from another era. A doppelganger to one of the brothers shambled in just as the chocolate milk arrived. A cold gust of wind from the open door blew his beard over his shoulder.

Upon bill paying, one of us had this exchange with Pop:
One of us: "We just found out you opened here after you closed in your old spot! Nice to see you've reopened!"
Pop: "Yep."
One of us: "Thanks for a great lunch, we really enjoyed it."
Pop: "Bye."

Yessir, we want to be your customers. We'd love to give you money. Thanks for chatting with us! Thanks, too, for crossing this daydream off the To Do list.

A Wee Highland Coe!

2010-10-17T06:55:00.000-07:00

Drive-by Philosophy

2010-08-25T07:57:00.000-07:00

in and around ithaca--

Run out of thoughts to ponder? Ithaca's bumpers are here to help.

The mind blowing:
Reality: It's Not What You Think

No, really, you're BLOWING my mind!
Don't Believe What You Think

Concerned about the right things:
Keep Tahoe Blue (this wasn't even us!)

Winner of the Caywood "Killing 'Em with Kindness/You Can't Get Drag Me Down/Can't Beat 'Em, Join 'Em" Award:
I Heart Haters

Sew Exciting

2010-08-23T08:39:00.001-07:00

caywood- My parents, in their infinite thoughtfulness and with characteristic encouragement of my hobbies and interests, gave me a sewing machine for my birthday! Yay for turning 40!

Allegra, beloved friend, sewing expert, and recent Caywood visitor, provided the project management expertise and oversight needed to help me complete my first project on my cute, pink-and-white machine: curtains for the cabinets in the kitchen.

Allegra did all the hard stuff-- measuring, matching the patterns to each other, ironing, pinning, figuring out how the automatic needle threader works, advising the novice sewer...

... while I pretty much just focused on pushing down the foot pedal and not running over my fingers. I'd post more pictures here, but am experiencing Shutterfly download/upload fatigue.

Mom and Dad, I hereby dedicate these curtains to you!

Aurora vs. Luna

2010-08-19T12:11:00.000-07:00

I went out to gather the eggs in the morning as usual.

Aurora, awesome as ever.

But what happened here? It doesn't even tip the scale. Someone's shirking coop duties. That, or impersonating a quail.

In an Aurora vs. Luna smackdown, it's Aurora, every time.

Good Luck to a New Favorite

2010-08-17T06:30:00.000-07:00

rochester--

www.restaurantgoodluck.com/

We loved this place, our cocktails, the balsamic roasted figs and fennel sausage, housemade fettuccine, blueberry star anise ice cream... but mostly we want to move in, since the aesthetic is exactly what we dream about for Caywood Station.

Fellow Upstaters, when you find yourself in the place known as the Flower City--and alternately known as Flour City, Rachacha, and Rochiggity, according to a source>-- don't miss Good Luck!

Stick It To Me!

2010-08-12T11:27:00.000-07:00

caywood --
And now we bring you A Day Inside the Mind of Seneca:

Wake.
Pee.
Eat.
Stick.
Stick.
Stick.
stickstickstickstickstickstick
stickstickstickstickstickstick
stickstickstickstickstickstick
stickstickstickstickstickstick
stickstickstickstickstickstick
stickstickstickstickstickstick
stickstickstickstickstickstick
stickstickstickstickstickstick
stickstickstickstickstickstick
Eat.
Pee.
Sleep.

How Bella Got Her Groove Back

2010-08-07T11:36:00.000-07:00

caywood-- As you may remember, boredom and ennui marked Bella's days since her return from resort living at the Inn and Spa at Pennsylvania Furnace. She pretty much thought good times were a thing of the past and that she was condemned to live out the remainder of her days in A/C-less, baconless discomfort. But life holds many twists and turns! One day you're waiting til sundown so you can scratch another tally mark on the wall of your prison cell, and the next-- kaboom!-- you're suddenly reconnecting with life's meaning. One never knows when a strapping young gentleman might enter the picture and liven things up for an elderly lady. Say, an ambitious border collie with a sweet eyes and a fetching aspect. Say, Seneca.

When Seneca's on the scene, Bella is one peppy puppy. No, she herself doesn't fetch sticks or chase a ball. But, she does enjoy sitting and watching Seneca do that. When Seneca's around, Bella remembers, "Hey, roll-arounds are fun. I think I'll have a roll-around." She smiles, and rolls around, scratching her back on the grass and sneezing happily. She also comes on all walks involving Seneca. Even very long walks. Even walks all the way to the lake and back. Seneca is the secret ingredient that magically turns a death march into a pleasurable stroll.

No matter what we are doing, Bella is more engaged and interested if Seneca is nearby. She has a spring in her step and a sparkle in her big brown eyes. We are not talking about a May-December romance, so please get your minds out of the gutter. Seneca is not Bella's beau. Theirs is a relationship that almost defies classification. They don't cavort around together, nor do they share many of the same interests, which makes it hard to call them "friends" or even "colleagues". As Karen has observed-- in a nod to her days GRE test-prep tutor-- "Garbage is the Bella as stick is to Seneca." Seneca is deferential and seems to understand Bella's approach to life is much more sedate than his own. Karen has also noted, "Bella acts around Seneca how I do around Jasper. It's almost like she can't stop saying 'That kid is just so dang cute!'"

So, you see, it's really more of a foster grandmother relationship Bella has with Seneca. She loves Seneca's cute exuberance and his playful approach to life. He helps her get in touch with all the things there are to enjoy about the here and now. And, she knows she can eventually give him back.

Not that Karen is a foster grandmother to Jasper. That's more of funny-friend-lady-and-co-aficionado-of-tractors-who-used-to-live-next-door-and-wishes-she-still-did-live-next-door-and-is-a-great-playmate kind of relationship. Also hard to classify.

Welcome, Allegra!

2010-07-28T18:36:00.001-07:00

caywood-- We are filled with excitement and joy because our friend, Allegra, is visiting! Background: Allegra and Anisa met during their salad days in college, when their dorm rooms were within shouting distance across the hallway. These were the days when dorm phone calls were made in phone booths (where irritating people with no respect for the environment would leave on the phone booth's light after leaving the booth. Why? Can you tell me that? Do they only think of theselves?), Wifi was but a glimmer in your father's eye, and meals were had in the regular ol' campus dining hall.

How things have changed.

But what hasn't changed is Allegra's complete and total kick-ass awesomeness as a friend. We love Aleegra and are so excited she is here. O Allegra, you complete us.

Also visiting: A new friend! Seneca, the friendly and supersmart border collie from down the road. Seneca is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in thermodynamics, and in his spare time constructs challenging puzzles for keeping the human mind sharp. Cuddling and loveable, Seneca also shows amazing emotional intelligence. He shows respect for his elders (Bella) and for those of other species (Ruby). Yay, Seneca!

Notice to all other friends: Come visit Caywood before our special guests leave! You are most welcome to join the fun.

Wisteria & Friends

2010-07-26T08:59:00.001-07:00

caywood-- Walked out the front door this morning and-- surprise!-- the wisteria was blooming! Thanks, Jay, for planting it! It is delightful!

Other new bloomers in the garden include:
-- Sweet peas. At last! I thought you guys were supposed to be partial to a our cool English springtime, not our hot steamy summer? Guess I'm wrong!
-- Foxglove. Ditto the above.
-- Gladiola. First one. Yay!

These signs of life are most welcome after a period of neglect (high weeds), followed by a period of guilt-driven and overzealous weeding (yanking everything). We're still learning!

Notice: You have been pre-approved as the lucky recipient of some yellow squash. If we discover you are traveling within a 50-mile radius of Caywood, we are locking you in to the contract, er, prize package.

Rural Cocktail Report

2010-07-22T12:46:00.000-07:00

between here and there—Faithful friends know we keep vigil over the reader board at Rascal’s, a local watering hole, because the weekly special and the weekend entertainment listings often combine to read as a one item from a gruesome menu. Such felicitous pairings have teamed to create “Stroganoff Cats” and “Pork Chops Phizz.”

After three years of knowing Rascal’s only as a nodding acquaintance at 55 (okay, 65) mph, we were given occasion to understand our neighbor better: Our pal Nhu orchestrated a rural (dive) bar crawl, and put Rascal’s at the top of her list. Here’s the short report on last weekend’s fun.

Rascal’s: What’s not to love in a place that has a bar carpeted with a carpet whose shag is at least 2 inches long, and whose color is sort of Hawaiian-Punch-meets-fiberglass-insulation-and-is-left-to-fade-in-the-sun-for a-few-weeks?

Rascal’s also had the following going for it
--The bar maid was super nice (“Thanks for stopping in, now,” as we left)
--The French fries (two kinds! a packaged chip alternative a bit like a potato-y Cheeto without the cheese dust, and the “authentic” hot, fried, potato kind) were delicious
--The metal music was loud
--White table cloths in the music/restaurant/lounge area
--Summer salad bar!

Not going for it
--Bunker-like atmosphere of the entry way pervades the establishment
--Hostile stares from the regulars
--Someone not happy about “their” stool being occupied by one of us, probably me

All in all, Nhu and I agreed we’d definitely go to Rascal’s again, which caused Kit and Karen to cringe in confusion and horror. Perhaps differing opinions of the place resulted from the fact that Nhu and I were sitting at the corner of the bar and were thus shielded from some of the stare-downs that K and K had to endure. Or, maybe it’s just because we love French fries and salad bars THAT much.

Next stop was the new (opened during our tenure at Caywood, and thus is nothing but an upstart) miniature golf place in Tburg. Now no one was less enthused about this place than me when it first opened-- shameful greenfield development! Light pollution! Sprawl!—but now I’m a total convert! I loved the landscaping choices, was challenged by the difficulty of the course, and loved the nets they provided for fishing one’s errant golf ball from the ponds and fountains. The soundtrack was somehow bearable for its appropriateness to the setting--Casey Kasem's Top 100 Countdown of the Best Songs of All Time-- and our enjoyment of it was enhanced by Kit's sharing of this gem. Liz and Pete had joined us here on bicycle and a merry putting party we made, delaying many a putter behind us. Can we help it if we arrived at precisely the right time, when there was but one other party on the green? We also finished just in the nick of time, as lightning was forking from the sky and the heavens opened. No alcohol served here so we pushed on to Barangus.

I’ve been admiring Barangus ever since we moved here. If not for the bull on the roof then for the lovely job they did painting the place a while back—cobalt blue with orange pinstripes. We steeled ourselves for once again being viewed as outcasts and burst on in.

Going for it
--Horseshoe bar
--Handsome varnished wood tables and stools
--Many a mixed metaphor dart game
--All-Star Family Band (not a permanent fixture)
--Friendly drunk person (possibly a permanent fixture)
--Tab: $18 for 6 people including one mixed drink—WHAT?!

Not going for it
--No shag carpet along the bar
--Only liquid nourishment

All agreed that Barangus definitely rates a return visit. However, I will not let my guard down. While we could always be assured of a hostile reception (except for the super nice bar maid) at Rascal’s, Barangus could be lulling us into a feeling of welcome that is conditional... contingent on the All-Star Family Band being there, or the drunk lady at the bar. I like to know what I’m getting into. Racal’s is a known quantity, while Barangus keeps a person guessing.

Best not to sit with your back to the door.

Biscuit v. Bacon

2010-07-20T11:27:00.000-07:00

caywood-- Bella saw me fumbling around with a chicken carcass in the kitchen the other day, and came over to be ready in case I dropped it on the floor.

Given that a) the carcass was a key component of this week's meal plan, b) I wasn't being successful extracting any leftover meat from the bone, and c) chicken bones are BAD for dogs, there was no chicken-flavored treat in the stars for Bella. A doggy biscuit was offered in consolation. She took it politely, then set it on the floor and laid down about 6 feet away from it. You don't have to be an animal communicator to know she was thinking, "If I were at Grandma and Pap Pap's house, I'd be chewing on a piece of bacon right now."

The biscuit stayed there the rest of the afternoon.

Old Dog Learns New Trick

2010-07-14T14:29:00.000-07:00

Caywood-- Bella has just returned from an extended vacation with her grandparents in Pennsylvania where, in addition to non-stop love, attention, and positive reinforcement, she was treated to A/C, numerous opportunities to pursue her third favorite hobby (following the riding mower), visits from all her friends and extended family, and bedtime stories every night.

Is it any wonder she’s been laying around on the plank floor (cooler there) sighing heavily since her return?

No, because grandparents are a hard act to follow.

In an effort to lift the spirits of our bored brown-eyed friend-- and provide a measure of entertainment for both of us-- I invited Bella along on the short jaunt over to Wagner Vineyards to fetch a bottle of Reserve Red for dinner. Soon we were meandering down the tree-lined lane, admiring the shade the mature leaves and vines of summer provide. Or, one of us admired. One of us was just hot, thank you very much. Bella’s pace is always sedate, but we were not even at the farmer’s house before she lagged 25 yards behind. My cheerful chattering elicited not a single wag. Stumbling upon a staff meeting of the Caywood Area Rabbit Retinue’s Organizing Team (CARR-OT) did nothing to perk Bella up-- bunnies previously converged in the middle of the lane scattered right and left without a notice from our hangdog hound. Only then did I remember that Bella had taken a mile-long walk this morning with Karen. How many miles does your average 12 year old dog usually walk each day?

I vowed that if the farmer was in his field when we got there, I would ask if Bella could stay with him while I ran my errand. However, the farm machines were still when we got there and no one was about. Onward Bella trudged.

We reached the halfway mark as we turned onto the dirt road leading to Wagner’s. Here, Bella started her patented serpentine maneuver (usually reserved for climbing the steep Amish stairway) on the extremely gentle slope through the vineyard, and I knew I needed to take action. There was one spot of shade ahead, near the ditch and but a few hundred yards from the winery. I tied her to a tree, encouraged her to rest in the cool grass, and reassured her several times before I trotted off to make my purchase.

Ten minutes later, I was bounding back down the road. But wait, isn’t this the spot I tied Bella? Bella! Be-lllllllllllllllllllllla! BELLA? Where was she? Had she headed toward the cool water in the ditch and hung herself? My poor old puppy! Why had I taken her on this death march? I crashed through the brush following the line… and came up empty-handed.

She’d managed to sever the supposedly-reinforced nylon of the leash.

After more calling and more exploration of the poison-ivy filled reaches of the ditch, after heading home because I decided she’d go that way but then doubting myself and doubling back, I saw a dot growing on the rise of the road. Make that two dots. Someone walking a dog? Is it? Could it be? I could make out a taaaaaan looking dog. Yes, definitely tan. On a short leash. And are those white mittens? Yes, the dog’s paws were definitely white. Yes! That was her!

Phil, Bella’s rescuer, handed her off at me saying she had been found wandering around at the (wait for it) Ginny Lee restaurant. Undoubtedly pursuing her first-and second-favorite hobbies: scavenging for food and garbage.

Who knows how she managed to escape her not-at-all-worn-out superstrong leash so quickly? Bella alone knows the answer to that. Yeah, baby. She's still got a trick or two tucked in those mittens of hers. Now who you callin' old?

California Knows How to Party

2010-07-14T10:56:00.001-07:00

Silverlake-- That's right.

Overheard, Silverlake, Sunday, 8am

2010-06-01T00:21:00.000-07:00

from our l.a. vacation file-- male voice, coming from front yard porch: but the thing is, when one person is a carnivore and one person is a vegetarian, it's like, total bullshit...

Blogworthy But Bereft

2010-03-17T09:40:00.000-07:00

out & about-- Faithful readers may have noticed a digital darkness between Feb. 24 and today. Lots of things have been catching our eye lately as meriting entry on Caywood Days. However, our camera is having identity issues (can't remember what its life's purpose is, feeling lackluster and sapped of energy, can't muster up a low light flash) which means we have no visual record of our travels and travails. Sure, other bloggers are creative enough to draw you in with nothing but words, but that ain't never been us, yo.

That said, we are buoyed by today's sunny brilliance. Okay! Yes! We ARE going to try something new. Or rather, old. Olde. Nothin' but typeface comin' at ya...

NOW DELI.V.ERING at Rascal's:
Corned Beef Silverado
(See? You really need that reader board for this to be meaningful.)

Recently, in the Pennysaver:
"Community Voice" has been DEMOTED to a tiny box! What?! Rumor has it things are about to get worse: Pennysaver is discontinuing it the feature due to "lack of participation." Excuse us, Pennysaver-- have you read your own column? Nothing gets more play that that! The Owego Volunteer Fire Department alone could fill volumes. We suspect a vast socialist big-government homosexual agenda item aimed at silencing our Voices. The Town Board of Owego is probably behind it all-- everyone knows they are drunk with power. Community Voice is a special part of my day that I look forward to and now everything SUCKS.

Yesterday, overhead:
Snow geese! Flying over! Lots of "V"s in the sky! The are gorgeous. Neighbor says: "You know, you're allowed to shoot up to 15 a day." File under Thanks for the 411.

Yesterday, underfoot:
First snow drops blooming! My heart filled with joy.

Glad you couldn't see me...
..chasing after the chickens in Freda's yard yesterday. The two smart ones (Aurora and her protegee) let me catch them. Now, normally, I don't like to disparage the intelligence of our fowlish friends. However, here I must: I am going to call them super stupid. And yet, they managed to outfox me. I'd run after them and two would fade left while the other reversed. They are very good at getting away from their human protector. Too bad they are not so good at getting away from lurking predators. Come on! Work with me, peeps!

Have you been following Constance on Facebook?
She is so sweet, mature, with-it, and together I could CRY! She's a real grown-up. Why won't they let her go to prom with her girlfriend? Answer: They are haters. I could say more, much, much more, but Constance has urged us to be respectful and I fear I have already failed. I'm incapable of getting this link to work, so you must now cut-and-paste. Like I said: Olde.
http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2010/03/16/constance-mcmillen-is-back-in-fulton-mississippi-is-super-grateful-for-your-support-and-wants-you-to-be-nice

Okay, we are tired of being your eyes for you. Laura never complained about being Mary's eyes, but I think I gotta lay down on the couch now.

Sunday

2010-02-22T05:05:00.000-08:00

caywood station --
Phoebe enjoys a sliver of winter sunshine.

In the Dictionary Under "Badass"

2010-02-17T09:32:00.000-08:00

death valley-- ...you'll find this picture, of course.

That's right y'all, Nhu and K-Dog made that marathon scared they are so bad!

Next up on the List of Badassedness: The Cayuga Lake Triathlon.

A Bummer of a Newsflash

2010-02-15T06:37:00.000-08:00

the caywood newsdesk-- Bluebird, why hath thou forsaken us?

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, New York ranks 51st on a state-by-state list of happiness. Does this mean our unhappiness goes to 11? Possibly. But it also means D.C. was included on the list, which they should be happy about, since the researchers evidently decided that taxation merits representation.

We're almost as unhappy to report that California ranks 46th on the list. I guess Empire and Golden-ness can't buy happiness after all. No, for that, you need a pelican.

To see where your favorite state lands, go here.

Community Voice: Battlestar Galactica

2010-02-15T05:56:00.000-08:00

caywood--

From the Feb. 13, 2010 edition.

***

"A couple of us would like to know where we can learn how to line dance. We don't mean contra dancing like at Tioga Trails, we want line dancing."

Contra dancing is for sissies.

"I wonder who the person was that made the stupid comments about the battlestar galactica figurines and star wars trading cards. You mister are not funny at all. If you can't say anything constructive, then shut up!"

I knew Luke Skywalker. You, sir, are no Luke Skywalker.

"I want to comment on the suggestion by a pennysaver reader that the numbers be placed on top. I like where the numbers are right now because every time it says continue on page 9 or 10, you just look on the corner and it's right there. It makes it easy to find. Please keep the numbers the way they are."

The Pennysaver's pagination is a special part of my day that I look forward to! Don't move my cheese!

Exhibit B

2010-01-24T09:17:00.000-08:00

caywood crime scene-- Let the record show that Exhibit B, a bag of salt-water taffy, was found torn open on the bed of one Bella T. Beagle, resident of Caywood Station. Said bag of taffy was last seen in tact on a high kitchen counter. Ms. Beagle's advanced age, timid manner, and arthritic condition provide her an easy alibi. Though she has been placed in the vicinity of the crime by eye witnesses, she is physically and tempermentally unable to climb upon the counter herself.

The prosecution contends that Ms. Beagle's well-known and voracious appetite for comestibles of even the most questionable origin motivated her to seek an accomplice in one Ms. Phoebe M. Feline, also of Caywood Station, a semi-professional provocateur often seen preening on said counter.

Exhibit A

2010-01-18T21:13:00.000-08:00

caywood-- And isn't it true, Ms. Feline-- may we call you Phoebe?-- that you occasionally take time out from your busy schedule of hissing and clawing to chillax with your canine acquaintances?

Red Letter Days

2010-01-18T06:03:00.000-08:00

caywood fire ring-- Four days of winter sun in one week? Meterologists project that the next year the Finger Lakes can expect a similar occurance is 2039*. Clearly, we needed to mark the occasion. A bonfire at sunset seemed the most appropriate celebration. It might please the sun gods. No photos available to post here. Sometimes you can't capture history. You just have to live it.

*not really

Fashion Week in Lodi

2010-01-07T13:06:00.000-08:00

caywood station --

Community Voice: A Special Part of My Day That I Look Forward To

2009-12-13T07:40:00.000-08:00

caywood--

Those of you who have spent much time around Caywood know that the Pennysaver is the only major newspaper offering home delivery to our hamlet. At first--and okay, still-- we bemoaned the absence of the New York Times (this being New York for god's sake), but for local news and entertainment, the Pennysaver has no equal. I'm not sure how intentional the "entertainment" is, but once you've spent a few days or weeks during which your biggest outing is a visit is to the compost pile,

you look forward to reading the weekly menu at The Golden Buck, clipping out the Dairy Princess's recipe for Cheddar Cheese Sour Cream Smoothies, and bearing witness to your community's cycle of life (Births, Obituaries) in between perusing the classifieds for a qualified deer butcher.

We've mentioned "Community Voice" before in this space but perhaps our citified readership would benefit from a bit more detail. The Community Voice feature invites the reader to "have your voice heard" by emailing comments to the Pennysaver, which then compiles them into a column. The Pennysaver reserves the right to revise or reject any comment, but it's evident that it never does. Part Opinions page, part telephone party line, part never ending bitch session, there is no issue too small to find its soapbox in Community Voice:

I have noticed that ever since the economic times have gotten tougher, that area stores are becoming stingier with the icing they are putting on baked goods. For me, I buy bakery items because they are delicious and the icing is my favorite part. It is not the only thing I eat, but rather it is a special part of my day that I look forward to. Please return to full portions of icing on baked goods, even if you have to charge a little more. (Dec. 5, 2008)

So if you are wondering why the holiday treats you receive from us are a bit top heavy with frosting, now you know. We have an irate neighbor to appease.

New Favorite

2009-11-15T07:58:00.000-08:00

caywood--

Parlour Game

2009-11-15T05:41:00.000-08:00

caywood--

It's fun, when you're lolling around already feeling silly, to think up a Spice Girl name for the people and pets you may know.

Bella: "Timid Spice", "Garbage Spice"

Ruby: "Skittish Spice"

Phoebe: "Bossy Spice"

Let us know if you need a Spice Girl name of your own.

P.S. For reference (or can you name them yourself?). the original Spice Girls were Scary. Posh, Sporty, Ginger, and Baby Spice

Furthermore, Wikipedia says they are the most successful gal band of all time and the biggest cultural icons of the 1990's, according to a poll by Trivial Pursuit.

I have to sign off to mull this over. Just call me Life Review Spice.

You Know What's Nice?

2009-11-12T11:16:00.000-08:00

dewitt cafe--

When a person reading the New York Times in a public place leaves it behind for someone like you.

Now You

2009-11-11T15:50:00.000-08:00

caywood library--

I don't know if you are like me and sometimes cast about for way too long looking for a good book. If you are experiencing this, look no further! We have some recommendations for you, especially if you don't need anything uplifting. Send us yours!

My Abandonment
Peter Rock
About a father and daughter living in Portland's Forest Park, until someone finds out, and then what happens. Beautifully written, poetic, heart-aching, and a different angle from which to consider homelessness. Loosely based on real events. Rock teaches at Reed College.

Castle
J. Robert Lennon
Mysterious, very precise, and pretty unfriendly guy returns to his hometown in Upstate NY. Why? It says a lot that I didn't even like the protagonist for the first 100 pages or so but kept reading. Read it so we can talk about it! Thanks, Amy for the recommendation. Lennon teaches at Cornell.

Last Breath: The Limits of Adventure
Peter Stark
Ever wonder what it would be like to die by drowning, heat stroke, mountain sickness, hypothermia and the like? Now you can (kind of) know! Stark intercuts these fictive tales with details about the physiological processes that accompany each event. Also, remind me not to go mountain climbing with 5 of my best friends.

Carnival Wolves
Peter Rock
A novel in short stories, with some overlapping characters and themes. Starts out right here in Ithaca, NY at Cornell's Johnson Museum. Who could resist? Warning: I found the first story especially upsetting. Come to think of it, so is the second. They all have that quality to them.

Do Not Deny Me
Jean Thompson
Thompson is said to be the American answer to Alice Munro. I read that on the flyleaf; I'd never heard of Thompson, but I love Alice, so the marketing worked. As you might have gathered from a previous post, I was really taken with the first story, about an aging academic treading through a familiar and riskless rut while surrounded by post-modern know-it-alls. Totally nailed the ridiculousness, irritations, and minor joys of academia. The other stories varied in their ability to make me believe, but not a bad way to spend a Saturday.

The Light of Falling Stars
J. Robert Lennon
Just started. Stay tuned.

Bonus:
Marcello and the Real World
Francisco X. Stork
Okay, this one is for "young adults" (that includes us, right?). I was captivated by the cover art, which I found absolutely beautiful and now I very young adultish-ly want a poster of it. It's about a boy with an unspecified condition on the Autism spectrum, and the summer he spends working at his hyper-successful father's law firm. I thought Stork got Marcello's voice just right. Very touching in many ways. I also like that the author works at an affordable housing nonprofit in real life.

Kindness

2009-11-09T16:06:00.000-08:00

caywood--

A gift of the Reading-Farmer Chapter of the Caywood Alumni Association. We miss our friends and love it they can find time for the overland journey, which is also why one of us was totally bummed out to have missed their long-anticipated visit.

Brussels Sprouts, Pork Belly, and Thee

2009-11-07T15:49:00.000-08:00

ithaca--

Carpentry 101 class today. Skills built? Not really, though I know more reasons and have more vivid images to accompany my fear of power tools. We slipped out at lunch to pick up provisions at the Farmer's Market.

We spent some time basking in the deliciousness of the day and planning future meals.

The trees now mostly look like this, which is an awesomely appropriate sillouette for framing the full moon and the whispering clouds on dark, standard-time nights.

But for today, nothing but blue skies...

... autumnal sunset, and minty flashbacks.

Looking for Something to Do Sat., Nov. 14?

2009-11-07T15:33:00.000-08:00

interlaken--

... well, why not join the Interlaken Sportsmen's Club for its Annual Fall Fun Shoot.

Question: Do I get to shoot anything I want?

Gun drawing tickets available. Just wondering: Does this mean the winner gets a gun without having to go through the irksome paperwork, background check, and waiting period? If so, sign me up! Perhaps I can regift it come Christmas.

The Cat's Meow

2009-11-07T05:37:00.000-08:00

caywood sleep disorders clinic--

Ruby is waging a one feline campaign to abolish human sleep. Scratching to get out, scratching to get back in, meowing constantly, meowing in a random, unfocused way-- she tries it all. And each is effective in its own way.

Internet research reveals that something may be wrong with Ruby. Really?! You're kidding! Cats do not like others to know when they are under the weather, so they may exhibit no other symptoms when ill... only meowing. Unfortunately, cats also meow when they are feeling fine, as we have confirmed with a visit to Tburg's Bippity Boppity Boo Veterinary Clinic (where fairy godmothers daylight).

If anyone out there in our vast reading audience knows how to stop the madness, operators are standing by!

Otherwise, we'll be tuned to the All Night Ruby Show until further notice.

Reader's Almanac

2009-11-04T11:32:00.000-08:00

trumansburg--

He wore a heavy, ugly wool sweater and fortified himself with thermoses of tea. He looked and felt ridiculous. Suffering had made him ineffectual. Outside the window the campus trees went from vivid color to rags of leaves to bare branches filled with ice. Students hurried along the sidewalks, intent on their own urgencies. The air in his lungs felt frosted. "This place will be the death of me," he said aloud, since there was no one there to hear him.

-- "Soldiers of Spiritos" in Do Not Deny Me by Jean Thompson

Trumansburg Dispatch

2009-11-04T10:40:00.001-08:00

trumansburg--

I don't have my camera with me today, which is just as well, since I am frustratingly unable to capture what I want to most of the time.

On a related note, I am trying to notice more. Here is a list of things noticed today on the roundtrip journey between library and pizza place:

-- Surprised looking pumpkin with squiggley mouth ... Well rendered!
-- Leaf impressions in newly laid sidewalk ...Thank you, guerilla beautifier!
-- (Potentially) enchanted tree
-- Pumpkin impaled on the short spire of one of the playhouses at the Colonial Laundromat's playground. Humorous reference to this legendary
occurance?
-- Italian news channel on at pizza place. Do they always have this on?
-- Is that a pile of snow behind the phone company? No, it is a pile of transparent garbage bags filled with mostly white garbage
-- No mailboxes ... which seems out of character for this normally convenient town
-- Black cat, not crossing my path
-- One of the other dogs who participated in the Tburg 5k

While staring out the window of the pizza place instead of reading, I was reminded of a job I used to have where I was required to knock on a set of designated doors in a designated neighborhood every twenty minutes until someone was finally home or opened up. Since people are often not home during the day, or don't want to talk to you if they are home, and it does not always take twenty minutes to circle a few blocks, I spent a lot time sitting in my truck reading the paper or looking out the window. This experience convinced me it might be pretty easy to be a detective, or at least to stalk someone. An amazing amount happens when nothing is happening. People walk to the corner and come back with whatever they got there (a meal, beer, a kid); they leave the front gate of their apartments ajar, they go to their cars-- so you know what they drive-- they walk their aging dogs. Also, they don't seem to wonder why you are sitting in your parked car. But maybe that's just cityfolk.

My New Best Friend

2009-11-01T17:35:00.001-08:00

caywood station--

Hickories! Get Your Hickories!

2009-11-01T08:13:00.000-08:00

caywood station--

So it's true what everyone says: Hickories are hard to crack open. Then, if the nut has shattered after you get the shell open (a common occurance), you'll spend a lot of time picking out the little bits of nut. But it's so worth it! They are delicious! I bet Almanzo and his family spent many a winter night shelling hickories. If you want to try one, let me know! I will send you one.

Supplies limited to stock on hand.

Community Voice

2009-10-31T16:29:00.000-07:00

caywood station --

News and notes from this week's Pennysaver:

"There are two families with the names that begin with the letter 'H' that should stay home from Bingo more often so someone else can win once in awhile."

You know who you are, H. Both of you.

"To the lady looking for a Gregg Shorthand book, would you please leave your number in this column again. I have several of them."

We don't often brag about it, but we're on the cutting edge of technology here in the Finger Lakes.

"If Owego is such a cool town, why are there so many complaints in the Readers' Column?"

Yeah!

"This is for Tioga ding-a-ling - the Obama care plans now number five plans and are working their way through the house and senate and changing daily. I suggest you take course in government. You need it. You are delusional. You don't have a clue!"

Take that, Tioga ding-a-ling. Tough to argue with that kind of logic.

"I see that there's two outside bathrooms, or port-a-johns, so to speak, at the end of the grandstands for the haunted house. Why don't we be proactive and leave those there all winter. They are halfway between the skateboard park and where the kids will do ice hockey. That way our fairgrounds won't turn into an outside commode. What do you think? Is this a good idea?"

No.

What Would Laura Do?

2009-10-29T06:33:00.000-07:00

caywood--

What the f*? I plucked an apple from its storage area in the unheated office yesterday and found it was rotting! We have to make it through the whole winter with these things as our only fresh(ish) fruit!

So, let the apple-drying begin.

Still, this made K and I wonder what those pre-electric pioneer folk did. Yes, dry the fruit outside in the sun, that we know. But how did they keep the birds (and bugs) away from it? K says she read they covered it with muslin. But what if you live in a superhumid area, like say, the Finger Lakes? K conjectures you just ate a lot more mold and grime than we do now.

Day in the Life

2009-10-29T06:21:00.001-07:00

caywood--

Morning:

Afternoon:

Evening:

You know Fall has rounded the corner from summerside to winterside when you bust out the amber liquids.

Upstate Story

2009-10-29T06:12:00.000-07:00

romulus--

No jobs and cheap beer.

Then again, the beer doesn't seem that cheap, especially when you don't have a job.

Question: Does this mean Romulus' only ATM is looking for a new home?

Sunbeams

2009-10-19T15:31:00.001-07:00

caywood station--

Feelin' Fit!

2009-10-19T15:16:00.000-07:00

trumansburg--

... well, not really! That's why we signed up for the Chris Bond 5K in Tburg again this year.

Here's Karen, Jen, and Nhu, ready to run!

Meanwhile, somebody needed to hold the t-shirts and walk the dog...

The walking contingent was happy to be joined by Kit.

And nature provided the perfect conditions.

Phoebe with a Vengeance

2009-10-17T13:39:00.000-07:00

around the house--

Five pounds of constant menace, Phoebe, rules our home with an iron claw. When she isn't terrorizing Bella (braver every day, to her credit), she is driving the humans insane. Truth be told, she is mainly driving Karen insane, as Anisa has lived under Phoebe's regime for 15 years and has acquired a "learned helplessness" approach to survival.

Phoebe's Activity List
- Standing in the doorway or at the top of the stairs to scare Bella
- Perching on the highest point i.e. hip or shoulder of a sleeping person's body
- Not letting Ruby sit on any human lap or get any human attention
- Shedding
- Drinking out of our water glasses
- Eating Bella's kibble
- Walking in the wet bathtub
- Jumping on the table
- Jumping on the counter
- Standing in the sink
- Standing on the stove, licking leftover soup from the pot (today: 4:30)
- Imitating velcro (winter long activity)
- Resting her chin on Anisa's wrist while she types
- Waiting for humans to leave the computer, so she can sit on it
- Typing coded messages to those on the outside
- Just wanting to be loved but it's hard when you are so misunderstood

It's hard to believe that just a few months ago, Phoebe was practically at death's doorstep. Things didn't look good. In fact, they looked bad. She's no spring chicken after all. But she napped, clawed and purred her way back to health and has resumed her active lifestyle.

There's a lesson there.

Caywood Caption Contest

2009-10-17T13:21:00.000-07:00

the photo desk--

As you know from your vigilant reading of Caywood Days, Lisa (above, with friend and fellow Hubbard, Daffodil) took some kick ass pictures while she was here. Her output included some portraits of the Caywood denizens, which she snapped using her supersecret spycamera attachment like those WPA documentarians.

Submit your caption entries now. Prize: Fame. You have no idea how many readers flock to this blog.

New Hobby

2009-10-17T07:31:00.000-07:00

the surroundings--

There is a hickory tree in the yard; Jay and Amy had told us about gathering hickories from it, but we never had. Until now!

The green part is the outer husk, which must be removed.

It accounts for about 40% of the size of the hickory... they are actually pretty small, as nuts go.

They are currrently "curing" or "drying." We'll let you know how it goes.

Finally, just a nice picture of a Fall day, like one of those on which I gathered hickories from the lawn.

Lisa's Visit

2009-10-17T06:40:00.001-07:00

in and around Lodi--

Last week, Lisa came to visit from DC. What fun! (All the good pictures on this post I ripped off from Lisa's Flickr photostream.) We went apple picking (no pictures), junk picking (I don't care what you say, Hub, you're a junk store and there's no shame in that)...

... pumpkin picking at the place we've gone each from year since being here (Christina, Mom and Dad, does this look familiar?)...

... dog walking at the SPCA...

... hunting...

... dutch baby making...

... taking walks...

... watching hawks*...

* actually, this is a vulture

... and otherwise soaking it in!

Thanks for coming up, Lisa! Y'all come back soon, hear?

Password: Cheese & Crackers

2009-10-16T17:52:00.000-07:00

canandaigua--

You know Karen never brags...

... so I must do her bragging for her! That is the Lively Run Goatcheesecake that she made at the, ahem, Finger Lakes Culinary Bounty Local Foods Recipe Contest COOK OFF! Her recipe was selected and yes, she had to go make it for JUDGES!

As you can see, she was not even nervous.

She won second prize! Lisa, our friend visiting from DC said, "She was robbed!" And... it was true. Karen would never say this, since she's a good sport and all, not in it for the glory. But Lisa and I know the truth: ROBBED! If you want to hear the story, ask Karen. Use the password above.

Also, she was the prettiest one here.

October 16, 2009

2009-10-16T17:43:00.000-07:00

caywood station--

This morning.

This afternoon.

Masterfully Done, Anisa

2009-05-31T18:59:00.000-07:00

Morning Visitor

2009-05-31T18:52:00.001-07:00

caywood station --

Weather Report

2009-05-03T07:57:00.000-07:00

trumansburg, tompkins trust time & temperature--

Monday, 6pm: 91 degrees

Tuesday, 6pm: 51 degrees

In order to be comfortable on any given Spring day, we recommend:
Down vest
Tank top
T-shirt
Long sleeved shirt or turtle neck
Extra socks
Umbrella
Tote bag to hold your crap and wardrobe change

Fast Friends

2009-04-19T11:28:00.000-07:00

caywood station--

Birds of a feather!

OK, this one is more like a delicate detente, but I'm going to count it.

The Adventures of Aurora the Friendly Chicken

2009-04-19T09:59:00.000-07:00

caywood station--

Phoebe? I know you're in there!

I don't understand why you are ignoring me...

Herro! So this is where it all happens. Why don't they let me in here? I'm friendly!

Dutch Babies

2009-04-19T08:17:00.000-07:00

caywood kitchen--

Make Dutch Babies for a weekend breakfast like Karen has been lately! I guarantee you will not be disappointed!

NOW DELI.V.ERING

2009-03-27T09:28:00.000-07:00

rt 96 outside jacksonville--
Is this better than Fish Fry Above Ground?

Best Thing of All about Pittsburgh

2009-03-19T10:22:00.000-07:00

pittsburgh, con't--

My fun girlfriend!

She was the prettiest one there.

Iron City Awesomeness

2009-03-19T08:37:00.000-07:00

pittsburgh, baby, home of the world champion steelers--

Have you been to Pittsburgh yet? If no, YOU SHOULD GO!

People forget that P'burgh was once a center of wealth and power, meaning lots of beautiful buildings.

It's bounded by rivers, making for scenic vistas. It has accessible cultural institutions. It has loyal fans. It has fantastic food.

It has public transportation (ok, they might need to work on that).

It has surprises!

It has post-industrial scenery.

It is zen.

Pittsburgh: A City with a Past AND a Future!

Foiled Again!

2009-03-19T08:15:00.000-07:00

caywood blog station-- Every once in a while, your Caywood Bloggers attempt to mend their wayward ways and actually post something here. But what the hell is UP with Blogspot? It thwarts us at every turn! Today, it won't upload pictures.

Well guess what, Blogspot: If you won't cooperate, there's always Facebook!

Recently, at Rascal's

2009-03-19T08:14:00.000-07:00

route 96 south--

Desperado...

New Hobby

2009-03-19T08:10:00.000-07:00

caywood--

Cinnamon rolls!

What We Do

2009-02-06T09:12:00.000-08:00

Activities of our daily drive to Ithaca

Observing the sky
Humming along to NPR theme songs: Morning Edition and All Things Considered
News-related ranting (Anisa)
Continuing obsession with Crooked Corners-- has the house shifted? (Anisa)
Anticipating the changing of the Rascal's reader board
Scoffing at "MicroWorld" and "Earth and Sky": Public radio's worst info snippets
Chattering (Anisa)
Waiting for "The Reader's Almanac"
Livestock Watch!

Winter
Wondering why the hell the plow hasn't been out yet (99%)
Complaining about getting stuck behind the plow (1%)
Monitoring whether the heartless folk at Bishop's Corners have their dog in the (cold) kennel

Non-winter
Appreciating the antics of the kids (baby goats) in Searsburg
Waiting for the chicken to cross the road

Before the Economic Crash
Making an algebraic equation inspired by the number of Ford Explorers plus sedans at the place at the bend in the road (i.e. 7x +2s = today at the corner)

Hello, Goodbye

2008-08-14T16:25:00.000-07:00

while bicycling, ile d' orleans-- Goodbye, little sunglasses from the drugstore in Montreal. Our plastic liaison was brief and regrettable.

Montreal

2008-08-14T16:04:00.000-07:00

montreal-- After checking in at our B & B "Le Houseboy" (that's right!), we headed over to the city's new hotspot, a tapas place called, appropriately, Pintxo. The Mexican chef/owner trained in the Basque Country, and seems to have spent at least a little time with the famed Arzak. Our favorite pintxo was clams with artichokes and jamon.

After waffles, crosaints, muffins and all sorts of other bread and cereal products the next morning, we headed to the Library and National Archives. Then, off to Quartier Vieux to see the Cathedral de Notre Dame.

Pretty gold stars on ceilings.

Anisa quickly became entranced by the candles, just like when she was little.

Karen was befriended by some kooky religio-tourism types, who advised her of all the other churches (some with light shows) that she should visit.

Bonjour, Neighbor to the North!

2008-08-08T19:54:00.000-07:00

caywood command central-- We are packing... rather lackadaisically, but still packing. We're heading to Quebec to help them celebrate their 400th Anniversary of cityhood or French colonialism or both. See you soon, nos amis!

Indian Dinner

2008-08-06T10:45:00.000-07:00

caywood kitchen-- Karen's had a recipe for naan posted on the fridge since it appeared in the NY Times magazine. This and a cooperative garden inspired an Indian dinner. We used eggplant and a green cayenne pepper (what the heck!) from our garden and cucumbers and mint from Jay's garden.

Roasted eggplant

Kitchen capers: We mixing up dry ingredients for scones in one bowl and dry ingredients for naan in another (similar looking) bowl so of course we got the bowls mixed up, but that didn't stop us from going ahead with the project! We call the resulting non-naan "sconaan".

Karen rolling out the naan

Into a hot pan to puff up

And it was good!

The Continuing Episodes of "What Should I Do With This Blueberry"

2008-08-06T07:44:00.000-07:00

caywood kitchen--

Well, you could make some compote, as above. Then you have three more blueberry episodes!

2. Blueberry compote over strawberry ice cream Karen made

3. ... over biscuits. That's some fresh mozzarella cheese peeking out. Weird? Or delicious? We thought delicious!

4. ... over biscuits and peaches

Spot the secret ingredient!

Making Hay While the Sun Shines

2008-08-04T18:29:00.000-07:00

around lodi-- Last summer, we were grasshoppers, goofing around, drinking beer, sitting on the deck. This year, we are ants, busily stocking our freezer!

We picked everything but the corn. Other ants did that.

What Should I Do With This Blueberry?

2008-08-04T18:27:00.000-07:00

caywood kitchen-- 1. Scones for breakfast

A Blueberry Achieved

2008-08-04T17:55:00.000-07:00

glen haven farm-- What happens to a blueberry deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? No... that's a grape deferred. Actually, it's neither and I shouldn't be tossing around Langston Hughes' poem so lightly.

Read the poem "A Dream Deferred" by Langston Hughes here:

http://www.cswnet.com/~menamc/langston.htm

Now, back to our story.

We didn't tell you this, after the beer-laden blueberry deferrment of a week or two ago, our neighbors showed us the way to Glen Haven Farms and its abundance of blueberries. We picked 16.5 pounds that day-- not bad! Tons of ripe blueberries made easy picking, yet for some reason, I was fascinated by what unripe berries look like and so only took pictures of them:

Working on the maxim that it's gonna take a lot of blueberries to cushion the blow of winter, we went back for more Sunday-- 17.5 pounds more to be exact, which brings our grand total to 34 pounds.

God, I hope it's enough.

Tell It!

2008-08-02T10:15:00.000-07:00

around ithaca-- We've been seeing a particular car around Ithaca and then yesterday-- boom! It was in the Sibley parking lot.

Couldn't get satisfaction from dealer who sold you the thing? Emails, letters, calls up the supply chain resulted in a stoney silence? Tell it to the world!

We will listen. We admire your gumption.

I Thought They Drove on the Left

2008-07-29T16:37:00.000-07:00

ithaca, ny--

Tour de Not France

2008-07-28T09:00:00.000-07:00

watkins glen, ny-- Sunday was the last day of the Tour de France; we celebrated accordingly.

I donned the Euskatel riding jersey that sleuthy Karen tracked down for my bday. [Not in the know? Euskatel is a Basque telecom company that sponsors a team]. We threw the bikes on the back of Jeepy (a simple 9-step process), and roared down the road to Watkins Glen.

About halfway there, we spotted a saw a sign for sour cherries at a local u-pick. What?! Sour cherries?! We thought those were done. We flipped a screeching u-turn, scoured all the cherries off the trees-- to the annoyance of some cranky tourists who pulled in after us-- then resumed our journey.

Once in Watkins, Karen dutifully checked out the Famous Brands werehouse sale for some work clothes, then we hopped on over to the hardware store in search of Swiss chard seeds. The clothes were all hideous and the hardware store was closed because no one does home improvement projects on the weekend.

But no matter! We were here to cycle. The village terrain is superflat and so not at all like the Pyranees, thank god.

Tour de France riders sip champagne as they glide into Paris on the final day. We sipped Fanta Orange. Revved up on high fructose corn syrup Karen zipped away through the streets of the town.

We found this inviting bike trail situated between a marina and wetlands.

But look! It's an area of multiple uses!

Hmm. Pedestrian walkway, bike trail, public hunting grounds. One of these things is not like the others. Who decided these were compatable uses? A planner, no doubt.

Some Canadian geese flying above the trail/hunting grounds. They'll be dead soon.

We survived without any bullet wounds, so I treated Karen (with her $) to some ice cream at Tobe's, the ice cream stand she visited some 20 years ago with Eric, back when she hung with real cyclists and spent her days circling the Finger Lakes.

Here's Tobe's menu.

I commented about how all high school girls go through the phase of adding curlicue serifs to all their letters. Karen looked at me quizically.

I love my new bike bag! Next time we are stuffing it with snax!

It's good to have a bike that knows me better than I know myself...

A Blueberry Deferred

2008-07-26T14:38:00.000-07:00

trumansburg, ny-- Karen and I agreed to meet in the village of Trumansburg (midway between Ithaca and Caywood Station) after work on Thursday and from there proceed to blueberry picking.

I spent some time in the Philomathic Library perusing the latest issue of Bon Appetit while waiting to meet up. It's really a great library for such a small community.

In case you didn't know what "philomathic" means.

While we were admiring the clematis climbing up the sign at the village offices, we felt two raindrops. These were interpreted as a sign that blueberries should be deferred in favor of beer drinking.

(Blurry? Picture snapped after drinking.)

Other nice things about Tburg-- sidewalk haiku near the stream's gorge...

Pretty railing perfectly matches wildflower...

Local sentiment about planning issues. However, this statement does not represent the view of Caywood Days. Not sure where Barney stands on the issue, either. His people couldn't be reached for comment.

You can put your old glasses here. Really.

... and that's a taste of Tburg. As our closest metropolitan center, you will surely be seeing more of it here on Caywood Days.

Through the Day Today

2008-07-26T06:25:00.000-07:00

weos 89.7 fm geneva/ithaca-- For this entry, I've tasked myself with trying to convey the amusement we experience while listening to the local weather reports. When we first moved here, we were bewildered by meteorologist Tom Churchill's tendency to say such things as: "Mostly cloudy today. From the clouds, rain will fall." Well, sure, we thought. Where else would it come from?

Soon, we found ourselves mimicking Tom's idiosyncratic nasaly singsong delivery. He starts every forecast with the words "Through the day today" so of course when we are talking about what's on our personal agendas, now we say, "Through the day to day..."

Karen finally figured out that much like the operator at POP*CORN, each bit of Tom's weather forecast is recorded separately so weather staff can just piece it together according to each day's need. That's why he always sounds weird and always sounds exactly the same.

OK. It's funnier when you are a) here, b) when you hear it repeatedly, and c) when you are as dorky as we are. Here are some weather pictures:

Raining really hard with flashing lightning and booming thunder: Exciting!

The next day: Pretty!

Roadside Bouquet

2008-07-24T10:24:00.000-07:00

caywood road and cornell campus-- Wow, there are some pretty flowers to be seen around here.

Some are wild...

...some are cultivated.

You Are Welcome

2008-07-24T10:11:00.000-07:00

caywood station--Another summer has come to Caywood Station, and in case we haven't told you lately, you are always welcome for a visit*.

Seasonal Amenities:
-- Ruby's Cowgirl (or -boy, if you prefer)Suite: Year 'round
-- On-site Sulpher Spring Spa (ok, that's an inside joke. Don't expect a whirlpool): Year 'round
-- Delicious ice cream: Year 'round
-- BBQ's on the deck: Pretty much year 'round
-- Daffodils and forsythia: Spring
-- Ample reinforcement of resurrection motif: Spring
-- Hikes to all manner of incredible gorges and waterfalls: Late spring-fall
-- Strawberries: Early summer
-- Cherries: Summer
-- Blueberries: Summer
-- Peaches: Summer
-- Corn, tomatoes: Late summer
-- Vine covered deck: Summer, fall
-- Humidity: Summer, fall
-- Apples: Fall
-- Karen's Famous Apple Pie: Fall
-- Fall colors: When you think
-- Parsnips: Winter
-- Grey skies, denuded trees: Winter
-- Anisa's Famous Angst: Winter

Don't be a stranger**!

*Offer does not apply to weird Internet stalker types.
**Offer does not apply to weird Internet stalker types.

Thinking of Grandma

2008-07-24T10:00:00.000-07:00

caywood kitchen-- When I was a little girl, Grandma Jean always had Brazil Nut cookies in the cookie jar on the counter. Grandpa liked them and I think Dad sometimes ate them, too. Mom described them as kind of "an adult cookie"... I think meaning: "no chocolate." But I liked them, too. I don't remember Grandma making them as often after Grandpa died, but I still associate them with her, him, and their house.

Yesterday, I tried making them for the first time.

Field Trip

2008-07-24T09:49:00.001-07:00

at the south end of keuka lake-- Time to get out and explore the region! We went to the tiny town of Hammondsport on Sunday. It was described by our local informant as a down-to-earth version of Skaeneatlis. Haven't been there yet so can't compare, but we did find a cute village square with ice cream shop, antique stores, and doo-dad places. You can walk down to the boardwalk by the lakeshore and have a cherry-pit spitting contest.

But this picture was our favorite.

Wait Just a Cherry-Pickin' Minute!

2008-07-24T09:26:00.000-07:00

caywood-- Cherry season is just finishing up here. One day last week, Roscoe (the chocolate lab we are dogsitting) and I went picking. My one regret is that we didn't take a picture of the sour cherry pie Karen made. Being a westerner, I've never before sampled such fare. Imagine heaven. That was Karen's Sour Cherry Pie.

I had trouble conveying to Roscoe that I wanted him to sit facing me, so I could take his picture.

Roscoe is pointing to the sours.

Let's Review

2008-07-24T06:58:00.000-07:00

caywood station -- What's the speed of blogging? In our case, it's fits and starts.

Here's a review of the things that have been happening offline for the last few months.

Fun homework: Note the early spring surroundings in these photos and compare to upcoming pics of summer!

Gardening: One of our main activities-- breaking sod... just like the early settlers. Only our lives don't depend on it.

But a small sample of the rocks removed from the garden!

When you think you are done with the rocks, there's always the roots...

But then you plant a seed and it's all worth it.

Riding in the vineyard, accompanied by our friend and neighbor, Shady.

An early spring view from our deck. The garden directly opposite Karen is our neighbor, Jay's. To the right of the tall, A-frame-type structures (which are Jay's tomato trellises-- they work much better than tomato baskets!) can you make out the plot of land we cleared for our garden?

Ruby and Anisa enjoying a moment.

Here's Karen's family up for a visit to celebrate Karen's Birthday, Mother's Day, and the end of the semester.

If you live in LA and are ever clutched by the (crazy, ill-conceived) idea to make a Princess Cake, why not just head on over to the Farmer's Market on Fairfax and buy a slice instead? The vast amount of time you spend on the freeway will be but a small fraction of the time it would take to make one. But no, I'm not bitter.

However, if you do make one, make sure Emma is around to help you decorate it. She's a natural!

Baby Birds: Spring and birdsong go together. A robin built a nest over the porchlight downstairs, which proved a stressful site for her since she was always having to swoop down to ward off passersby. Karen, good neighbor that she is, was very interested in concerned about the family, so called on them daily.

Here's how the babies looked early on...

Everyday, on the way to work: We check out what the specials are.

When Jim, Karen's brother-in-law was here, we begged him to take us mushroom foraging. The grail: morels. Along the way, we saw these trillium flowers, one of Karen's woodland favorites.

Our harvest. As far as we could tell, it wasn't a morel.

Old barns: We like them. Also, this summer, Ithaca History Center is documenting a bunch from the region, before they all fall down.

Stairs! Spring brought new stairs and easy access to the backyard. One feels quite grand descending them. When Darren and I were young pups, we stopped in at a diner in the Angeles National Forest. Chatting with the waitress, she referred to the place's "friendly counter" so named because its circular shape allowed everyone sitting there to see and visit with each other. As you can see, the landing on these stairs is shared with our neighbors' unit next door. I think of it as the "friendly landing" because we often find ourselves gathering there for a visit.

Social Event of the Season: Definitely Customer Appreciation Days at Countryside Produce, the Amish farmstand about 10 miles away (and one of Karen's favorite food emporia EVER). There was plenty to eat, two greenhouses full of seedlings for your vegetable or flower garden, some rare birds in an enclosure (not sure how those fit in), and, best of all, this tiny calf! We were amazed at the number of cars parked all around when we got there-- you'd have thought it was free frisbee night at the Starlight Speedway! It's safe to say the proprietors made some serious bank.

That's our neighbor, Lucy, befriending the calf.

Oh, there are more springtime photos I could show you, but I think it's time to resume our regularly scheduled blog!

Thanks for reading!

7/25/08

Have I Mentioned Lilacs?

2008-06-18T19:10:00.000-07:00

caywood station --
How did May get by me without showing the glorious bounty of lilacs that surrounded us? I must have been too busy getting dizzy from their perfume whenever I stepped outside. I only wish these pictures were scratch and sniff!

Read The Coop

2008-05-25T14:56:00.000-07:00

caywood station--

First Harvest

2008-05-16T04:58:00.000-07:00

caywood station --Well, it may not see us through the winter, but it's food! From our garden! That we grew! Never was a radish crunched with more relish than today at Caywood Station. Thank you, garden!

Yellow

2008-05-07T17:13:00.001-07:00

all around a few weeks ago--

It's expansive! It's explosive! It's positively electrifying after a lot of months of grey! It's... forsythia!

The appearance of forsythia has so altered my outlook that the rest of this entry is dedicated to the various springtime manifestations of its color.

Beautiful tree... I love this tree!

Cheerful daffodils will personally greet any mail you send us...

Rumored future site of Lodi's first microbrew! (Much needed during the grey months)

The Finger Lake Times has yellow boxes, but for real news, you need the Seneca Shopper

Viola from Countryside Produce will soon find a new home on our deck...

Spotted Around Campus

2008-04-26T13:46:00.000-07:00

cornell campus--

Need a place to tarry in idyll? Cornell's got it!

Daffodil Deere makes a stop at Olin Library

Hey, forget about those daffodils! Look at us!

Is actually someone who doesn't have enough of these?

Librarian, stuck inside all day, maintains sanity by beautifying workspace...

Snapped as the chimes were playing "Jingle Bells" (preceeded by the theme from Star Wars, followed by "Hey Jude")

Hey, is that...? Yes! Hooray!

The Neighbors

2008-04-22T17:14:00.000-07:00

lodi town and vicinity-- Have you ever wondered what our neighborhood is like? Wonder no more!

Hello... Heathcliff? It's me, Cathy

But you should see the daffodils! Curb appeal!

Come set a spell

Santa Fe East

The red door really works

The lively center of Valois

... and finally, La Casa Verde... ahora, con amarillo!

NOW DELI.V.ERING

2008-04-22T10:25:00.000-07:00

rt 96 outside jacksonville--

This week's double bill at Rascal's.