Walk Life: Here to Gladys Taber’s Stillmeadow (& Ivoryton)
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Dreams into reality, a Morgan filly.
Ivoryton elephants. On each walk, if possible, a visit inside the town/city/village library as well as local businesses. Wonders await, connections to the world. Artist Diane Blasius; Adrienne Samuelson (2010).
Onward into a new year after celebrating the heart of the season.
Editor’s note: The portion about the Osaki House has been expanded and moved here.
Walk.
Ride much.
Read incessantly. The cozy time of the year is now. Wood stacked and ready, barn full and the scent of pine shavings cushion the floor. Comforters aired and quilts soft and warm, yes, each has repairs but the butter-soft fabric is cherished. After work, filling the wood box and feeding all, the delight of getting under the covers.
Reading lamp overhead has a remote control to operate (Glocusent multi-purpose clip on light, highly recommended). Yes, a small perfect remote to turn off the light from your comfortable sleeping place. At first thought it silly, then tried it from under the covers, drowsy with words and stories in my head. Bliss.)
Walks fuel a life. Rides feed the soul. Books ignite stories and more curiosity, calm the spirit. Love this time of year, it’s for burrowing under the covers and delighting in reading, dreaming. Rest and renewal, as nature does.
One dog in this image, another behind.
See this house?
In the 1690 farmhouse is a kitchen where a beloved author Gladys Taber not only stirred up satisfying meals for body and soul, she also dreamed, lived, faced power outages, food shortages in World War II, change and crisis. And she wrote, distilling life into words that still speak.
Her books fill shelves and run the gamut from fiction (not as well known), to those about her home, beloved dogs and cats, Cape Cod, recipes, friends, gardens. When she wrote about finding an old farmhouse in the country (in a snowstorm) with her friend, “Jill” – and the ensuing trials, tribulations and happiness – first in a column “Diary of Domesticity” (Ladies’ Home Journal), then “Butternut Wisdom” (Family Circle), then books – readers responded. Decades later, devoted fans share their passion for her work on social media. On Pinterest alone there are pages and pages of images that feature aspects of her life and work. Taber’s family and friends and neighbors are remembered; their stories woven into her writing.
Three books about dogs also authored by Gladys Taber.
Red barn, country road. Thinking of the late Gladys Taber while out exploring and later, reading from her many books.
“As for the children – once when I was making doughnuts, I was greatly flattered because Don and Cicely stood beside me and engaged me in charming conversation. After a time, I noticed that no matter how many plump doughnuts were laid on the brown paper to drain, the number never increased. The children were eating them as fast as they were fried and keeping up remarkably well.” – Stillmeadow Kitchen by Gladys Taber.
Now for a roundup of sorts, more trails to follow, thinking on the intertwined bits of life that mysteriously turn up. Turned on the viewing screen aka TV) and there was the Griswold Inn in Essex, Monday nights sea chanteys (shanteys?) via Yankee’s reporting on PBS. Chance? I think not. Thank you, Ian Basilone.
“Wonder. Go on and wonder.” –William Faulkner
Oooh. The finding and learning more that can happen.
Deep River, CT.
#aviation #WWII
Gliders
The central section of this factory was completed by Pratt, Read & Co. Inc. in September 1942, for the assembly of CG-4A military gliders.
The company's Gould Aeronautical Division was one of 16 prime contractors…
(*Complete sign text -> ALT.)
— Moo Dog Press (@moodogpress.com) December 1, 2024 at 6:11 PM
Note: Yes, this story has been updated.