A New Writer Moves to the Hudson River Valley

 

I have had writers visit and most have loved the area but I now have one that moved up to the Hudson River Valley and loves it. I traveled with Robin Cherry through some of the best that France has to offer, and she made the trip even better. Robin bought a house across the river in Rhinebeck, NY, a fantastic town. Better yet she loves it.

Tomorrow night Robin is crossing over and coming for a visit, the first of many I hope. I like nothing better than having writers at the farm table with a fireplace going. I also now have a reason for crossing east over the River, besides some great restaurants. Welcome to the area Robin.

Reading Chronogram Magazine, Enjoying Home and Facing Fears

It is early and a rainy Saturday morning in Cottekill and I am cuddled up next to the cats and reading Chronogram magazine. It is one of my favorites and covers the culture, arts and spirit of the Hudson River Valley. After a spring of traveling through Lapland, Kenya and the French Alps it also reminds me of why I love living here. While reading it I am also reminded that life goes on here even when I am many miles away. Restaurants open and close, galleries change their shows and events are announced.

I am not really into horoscopes but I tend to check out Chronograms regularly, the May Leo scope seemed to be written for me. It started with, “fair to say that over the last six months you have faced your worse fears”. Immediately I touched the scars on my face due to skin cancer surgery this January. I also thought about delayed flights, mixed up itineraries and twice getting ill on the road. Racked with fever recently in France I was convinced that I contacted malaria from my trip to Kenya two weeks before. “Large fears are made up of small ones,” was a part of Leo’s message.

“There seems to be a fearful thought that pops up and threatens your peace of mind”, stated the horoscope further down. How very true that has been lately, just not sure which fear they may be referring to. Still the horoscope ended with promises that great things are coming down the pike. I put down the magazine and picked up my itinerary for Germany this coming week, back to the world office again this Thursday, of course that is if my flight leaves on schedule.

The Iceman Cometh to the Hudson River Valley

"The Iceman cometh," said Eugene O'Neill in his play of the same name. The Iceman certainly hit the Hudson River Valley, it was enough to make a man look for a stool at Harry Hope's saloon for a whiskey with barman Rocky. I could listen to Willie tell about his days at Harvard Law or cosy up with Rocky's tarts, Margie and Pearl. I would stay away from Cora because of her pimp Chuck and Joe with his dreams about his gambling days. For more about the Iceman I would go to Sparknotes where I just got all the names and above insights,I just might buy a copy and read the whole story in Sweden.

Its the Hudson Valley Corn's Fault

I always feel energized after chatting with Max on the phone. We go over some of GoNOMAD plans and get a few giggles in between. I was ready to get back to the keyboard when a flurry of hummingbird activity directly in front of me captured me. Then a required drive down the street to the farm stand for some world class Hudson Valley sweet corn and watermelon took center stage. Of course now that the tomatoes are turning red and the cukes green some picking in the garden is my new current event. I used to wonder why I get less done in the summer, it is now very evident.

Ah, a summer weekend! Summer used to be my least favorite season but it has jumped up a few notches. Last night I joined the buds for nine holes at the Rondout Country Club, we vow to do so every Friday night available this summer. Today Lil and I went to the farmers market in Kingston and stocked up on fresh produce and wrangled some lobsters for dinner on the deck.Tomorrow we see the final run of Thoroughly Modern Millie at the Quimby Theater and end the day at the cast party. Parting with days like this will be sweet sorrow.