Gallery Photo |
Tom Howlett This photo was taken in Children's Room at Hubbardston Public Library. A mural was painted and stars sold to all who wished to aid in keeping the library open. It's a lot classier than scribblings on an outhouse wall. The Hubbardston Public Library was not funded this year. Zero. Hubbardston defunded the library and Senior's person along with cutting back office help and reducing numbers of police, firemen, and highway workers. Overrides failed twice. Not at all a pretty picture. [Ed. Note: I don't know how long Hubbardston has had a town library, but The History of Hubbardston says that "in 1875, the town library was moved from Mechanic Hall to a handsome brick building constructed by (Jonas. G.)Clark for that purpose." It saddens me to learn that the place that played such an important part in my life is now giving way to MySpace and Youtube. I hope the good people of Hubbardston will find a way to maintain a library, even under reduced conditions. NAM] |
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Valerie Davidson Oct. 24: Yesterday we were at Trader Joe's in Menlo Park, CA, and a woman who noticed my large container of plain yogurt struck up a conversation (she had one, too), and in the course of noticing some other similar purchases, we were talking about vegetables, when I mentioned Trader Joe's great beets, which come peeled and ready to eat. She said that her husband would like that, and I commented that people from the northeastern United States seemed most appreciative of beets. She smiled and said that they were both from Massachusetts, and I smiled and said that was where I learned the beet appreciation. Where?, she said. Heard of Hubbardston? Why, yes, I used to live there. Zounds! She is the first person I have ever met from Mass who knows Hubbardston (I once found someone who knew Gardner). This woman and her husband lived there briefly in the late 80s. Did Teddie and Viki have their deli then? - because she said she liked to eat there. It was too funny! V. |
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Margery Aukstikalnis Guess who was hiding when we were ready to leave? Emily’s favorite game: hide and don’t find. On September 5, 1:30 PM engine running, No Emily. Jack lured her into the house about 9:30 PM, and in the morning with the help of a pet carrier we were off. Emily, and Buttons and Bows, were all angels the rest of the trip. We met Sally and Ernie in Flagstaff after a visit to massive copper and gold pits, an overnight in Springerville, AZ and a grueling trip through severely winding, mountainous highway that challenged us in the 37-foot Vacationer RV, towing the Ford Escort behind. There was nearly 100 miles of road with signs “No trucks over 40 feet”. We questioned some engineers on the side of the road at the turnaround point, and were advised to take it real easy, and we should make it. We did, but would prefer not to challenge that particular part of the highway again. We were also slowed by a wind and dust storm that reduced out visibility to near nothing. Jack’s white knuckles, headache and general tension were relieved by a cheerful visit over dinner with the Bacons at a local Sizzler’s. In the Flagstaff area we all visited Meteor Crater, a huge hole in the ground, 4000 feet in diameter and 700 feet deep which was created 50,000 years ago by a meteorite that struck ground. It was estimated to be 150 feet in diameter, weighing several hundred thousand pounds. We learned a lot about the geology of the land and the physics of speeding meteorites. We also enjoyed a brief tour of the Arboretum at Flagstaff, not at its peak this time of year, but attractive, nonetheless. Our campground was just across the highway from Sally and Ernie’s hotel, which made carpooling easy, so after a dinner in the RV we decided to extend the day and visit the observatory. It has a Planetary Research Center with sophisticated equipment where much of what we know about today’s solar system is studied/ The visitors center and grounds were well suited to self-guided tours, and when the cloud cover lifted we were able to view the Moon and Jupiter through the 16” telescope. The visit rekindled my desire to pursue my hobby in studying astronomy. The gift shop provided several books for my liking and toys for Jack’s! Walnut Canyon lured us out the next day where we saw cliff dwellings, occupied by the Sinagua people as early as 600 AD and later the Hopi culture in the 15th century. The canyon, so deep between the cliffs, served as water supply and hunting, while the canyon rims were used for gardening and hunting. Either trek, on probably daily basis, must have been grueling. Water conservation, even 1400 years ago, required community and individual cooperation. The afternoon brought us to the delightful Riordan mansion, now a State Historic Park, where two lumbermen brothers and their wives (who were sisters) lived in a duplex-type home which amazed us in its’ modernity for the time. Built in 1904, it was designed with indoor plumbing and electricity! Outside, Jack and I were amused to find Sally and Ernie, not hugging a tree, but they seemed to be kissing it! Actually they were smelling the butterscotch/vanilla aroma of the pine pitch. It smelled good enough to eat! Not like the bitter pine pitch we used to chew as kids. Our very educational and enjoyable visit was capped off with dinner at Black Bart’s Steak House and Saloon. Music students from the University of Northern Arizona worked as wait staff and entertained us with piano and song throughout the meal. They were so good, Jack left an extra large tip! We parted ways on Wednesday, and Jack and I headed for Mesa Verde National Park in the mountains of Colorado, just east of Cortez. On the way, at my request, we stopped to view the Four Corners monument, where AZ, UT, CO and NM all meet. Ok, I saw it. Now move on. Mesa Verde is awesome. Points of interest lay between 6000 and 8000 feet above sea level, and some literally stole my breath. So, maybe the altitude, the hiking, and my age had something to do with the breathlessness, but it was all truly beautiful. The Park was created to preserve the archeological heritage of the Ancestral Puebloans, including cliff dwellings, and artifacts. It offers guided tours and plots self-guided tours, where we could actually go into the skirts of the cliff dwellings and see the construction close up. I was most interested in the pit houses, circa 600, and the kivas, which are ceremonial areas, much like having a chapel as one room of the house. Bedrooms were encased in stone walls, each room barely big enough for one or two people to lie down in. We stayed an extra day to see more, and will definitely return if we have the opportunity. State Parks served as campgrounds on the way home, where we enjoyed more hiking, sightseeing and swimming. Staying on our weightwatchers plan, during the twelve days of our vacation I LOST two pounds and Jack lost FOUR! (He did more hiking than I.) Next year New England, but we hope to do many more trips like this now that our house is getting done. Love to all! Margery and Jack PS: Sally is my niece, Dotty's second daughter. She is about 5 years younger than I and we practically grew up together. She lives in New York, now, and flew down to the southwest for a vacation. |
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Teddie Doane September 23: In case you hadn't heard.............. Mike and Stef had a perfect, healthy boy yesterday at 5:17 p.m. 6 lb. 9 oz., 19" tall lots and lots of dark hair first word was "Grandma" (kidding) His "big" brother has met him and approves.........I don't think he quite grasps the concept that this little being is coming home to live with them. Max is 19 months old. I think he'll be good with the baby. Stef is healthy and happy and Mike is proud as a peacock! He sent a picture via cell phone to Mykaela in IL. She's happy to have a new little brother and can't wait until she comes home for Ben's wedding in December so she can meet Oliver! Love, Teddie a.k.a Grandma |
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Claudia Lindsay I thought I would let you know that Eunice passed away early this morning (Sept. 11th) after a two-year bout with cancer. She had just celebrated her 91st Birthday in June with a big party, with many family & friends there to help her celebrate. Fortunately Dennis, Martha, Isabeau, & I were able to make the party. She was looking good and in fine spirits and this is the last time we saw her. She was the next to the youngest child of Arthur Howlett. She leaves behind her older brother Brad (93) of Massachusetts and a younger sister Claire (89) of Florida. She also leaves behind nine children, many grandchildren, great grandchildren, great great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Feel free to edit this and include it in the next Muse. Take care, Love, Claudia [Ed. Note: In my mother's photo album is a nice picture of 16-year-old Eunice. She spent a few weeks at our house that summer, when I was about two years old. She took care of Andy and me and was a big help to my mother. Eunice was always nice to me. I always looked forward to seeing her at the annual Howlett family reunion in West Townsend. |
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Charles Frost Dear Nancy and Bob, Another great issue. You have a very active -- and articulate -- readership. Did my first distance learning class for our local community college this morning. Couldn't see faces, just forms. Have asked the counselor to get the kids closer to the camera, or vice versa. Love. Charlie |
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Mary Cosgrove Sept. 3: Fabulous issue! An excellent read! Article most enjoyed? All of them! Thanks to all of the great writers. My life is more balanced until the next issue. Speaking of veges, we visited a few farms/growers this week to collect a few more for our short term stockpile. I revisited the kitchen tools department and re-bought a couple of those stainless steel fold up steamer inserts. Bob is happy, also with the Pappy's seasoning. We are blessed with bowls and bowls of sungold and cherry tomatoes from our raised garden. Two kinds of chives, walla walla onions, and cilantro were added this year, making the garden salad a delight. The farmers are being challenged this year, taking hits from the weather and lack of pollination. We heartily welcomed the arrival of the bees on July 31st. Their absence had us worried. They love the "hot lips sage" bushes and the "sedum" ground cover blooms especially. We enjoyed having a back yard brunch for a very special couple that we recently met. I will try to keep practicing! The visit to New England was great. I've been blessed with very special sisters. My son, Matthew, and his family transferred to NC last month. I will miss the grandchildren a lot. My daughter, Andrea, is enjoying AZ and participating in beginners triathalon, along with continuing studies for her RN and working two jobs. Enjoy the fall, and each other! Love, Mary Cosgrove |
Museum |
Mary Cosgrove Nov. 1 - Bob and I finally visited the most interesting historical site in Salem (after Bob got his Shingles shot). The Mission Mill Museum is the home of the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill manufacturing site. The grounds also include an 1841 Methodist Parsonage, two Methodist missionary houses, and an 1858 Presbyterian Church. The woolen mill is huge and overwhelmingly impressive!! Several multi-floored buildings, part of a 20 mile long mill race that powered the machines and goes under one of the buildings and ends up in the Willamette River. It starts from the Santiam River, then Mill Creek. It was rushing like crazy when we were there. The city has to remove leaves often up the creek, and sometimes slows the flow for fish protection. It was very exciting. We did not have a guide (one was not available then) so our self-tour was limited to information signs posted for every processing step. We had two hours until closing. One could linger quite awhile. The machinery inventions and procedural steps necessary to accomplish the finished product (making blankets from the raw wool) is a real marvel. If a flaw was discovered in the product, a worker's pay was reduced. The kids downstream used to swim in this waterway and when someone spotted that the water was colored from the dye procedure, they'd holler out for everyone to get out so their skin wouldn't be dyed. My love for woolen blankets has been enriched even more. One can only imagine how valuable woolen blankets were for trading. It made OUR day! I only wished we knew before starting out that we were going to end up there. I would've brought the camera!! This destination warrants a trip to OR! hint hint (and another trip back for us) Enjoy your fall weather. I was surprised to hear of the snow in the east. Love, Mary and Bob |
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