Country Living

I'm here in the heart of rural New England, and because of my location, I have the pleasure of enjoying certain country situations that city folk just don't experience.

Yesterday I had a table at an Old Home Day celebration held at a town hall that was erected in 1806. (Old Home Day is like a yearly reunion when current and former residents of a town gather to enjoy the day through a variety of events.) In terms of world history that's certainly not ancient, but it's long before I can remember, despite what some of my students might claim. Part of their annual event is the making of the bean hole beans, a process that begins the day before they're eaten. Navy and kidney beans are soaked and par boiled, combined with other ingredients usually including maple syrup, brown sugar, molasses, and spices, and put into large covered vats that rest in pits in the ground on beds of coals for about 24 hours. The Boy Scouts keep the coals going overnight, and they help to serve the tasty food for lunch during Old Home Day. Other events include races and games for the little ones, the raising of the flag, the group photograph on the steps of the town hall, an annual town meeting (which, oddly, includes the singing of hymns from some very old hymnals), horse and pony rides, and food and craft tables inside the town hall. I'd never attended this particular Old Home Day, and I found it pleasantly laid back, (especially compared with the next one I'll be attending for the 8th year in a row and that's been made inordinately complicated. More on that later.) and the people friendly and mellow. Homemade doughnuts, zucchini bread, and muffins, cucumbers, flowers, and zucchinis (yep, people are always trying to get rid of their surplus), framed pastels and unframed watercolors, unique water bottle carriers, aprons and potholders, ceramic dishes in the shapes of various leaves, peacock feathers donated by the local bird that was molting, notecards and jewelry were offered for sale. About a dozen former students and their significant others wandered through and said hello, and I met some other interesting and creative folks as well. I didn't sell a lot, but the day was relaxing and pleasant. I'll probably go back again next year if I'm invited.

Another but not so pleasant happening here in the boonies is the death of a mouse. I assume it's a mouse. I can't see it but I can surely smell it. We don't have a cat, so sometimes the little critters get into the house and they somehow meet their end, usually in a place that's out of human sight, often in a wall. The sour aroma is one that turns my stomach, and it lasts for a few days. Most of the time it's a fall/winter/spring occurrence when the house is shut up and the odor is strong and disgusting. This time the weather is mild enough that a few windows can be open a bit in the part of the house where the smell is the strongest which happens to be the den, my newly claimed space. I'm happy today to sit out on the porch of my shop to write this away from the nasty fragrance. I hope it clears out soon so I can get back to enjoying my comfy little room without having to spray air freshener every so often.

The dragonflies are out in force and busy this week. Is there a difference between the fat bellied ones and the little slim ones? I like sitting on the porch watching them do their dances, darting around the yard, and I'm careful to guide any that stumble into my shop back out through the open doors so they can continue to do their good deeds by consuming those nasty bugs.

BBQ tonight: marinated steak, fresh potato salad, cucumbers and tomatoes from our garden, and fresh raspberry pie. Mmm!