Growing Plants in January 2010, Vancouver

Since we neither ski nor skate, we couldn't care less that Vancouver will be hosting the winter Olympics in several weeks, and unlike the events' organizers, we are pleased that the weather has been unseasonably warm. It is apparently just about cold enough at the high altitudes to keep the artificial snow from melting, though they may need to add chemicals to it. But normal mortals at sea level are marveling at how early the various signs of spring have been this year, for this is apparently the warmest January on record. Here are a few shots of what is growing in Janice's garden on January 27th. I hear I missed the primrose, parsley, mint, pansies, etc.

Yellow witch hazel

crocuses in the garden

hellebores

crocuses

crocuses in the back lawn

100 garlic, all looking great

green onions in the new garden beds

(left) everlasting chard and 2 rows of mâche (corn salad); Stuckey heritage lettuce and other lettuces growing (or not) under plastic

sprouting broccoli

miscellaneous greens

Russian kale

Yellow crocuses in garden

rhododenderon

chives

yellow jasmine

more over-wintering greens, possibly turnip greens

two leaks (wish we had 98 more)

sprouting broccoli (closeup)

Springfield, Ohio

I found some photos on my hard drive that were shot by Paul and Kay in 2005 when they hosted us at their home in Springfield, Ohio. I think the cherries indicate that it took place in June or thereabouts. We all had such a great time. This occurred before the We Five Brothers blog existed. I enjoyed looking at them so much that I thought I would share them on our blog. Nice shooting Paul and Kay!

Paul knows the sweetest fruit is near the top of the tree where they get the most sun.

Bruce's pot holder experiment goes horribly awry!

We Five Brothers

The best way to cool the feet.

The Steakmasters. They sure know how to grill a steak or twelve!

Three fifths of our better halves.

We brothers, seemingly giddy about going on a car ride. That's just what happens when we all get together.

Michelle's Dad

I just learned on Facebook that Michelle's Dad was diagnosed with cancer about two weeks ago. He's had surgery and since returned home. Let's keep Michelle and Mike's family in our thoughts and prayers.

mike21_0007@yahoo.com

Mike and Michelle are on Facebook where their Uncle Mark stays in touch and gets to see occasional pics of the kids having fun.

Dad's Cornet Music

I really appreciated Paul's previous two blogs. When I heard the performance, I immediately sensed the appropriateness of the music to our journey these past months.

While driving home from golf this noon, I heard the end of Haydn's famous trumpet concerto, and immediately remembered Dad playing the main theme on his cornet in Wadsworth. I don't know if he ever got to perform the final movement with the high school band or whether he picked the melody up by ear or from books of famous themes, but I was impressed.

My mind then flashed back to Dad playing the cornet one evening in Wadsworth. In my memory, Grandpa and Grandma Kreider had come over (they lived next door) and we stood around our dining room table as Dad played "The Holy City" by memory, unaccompanied, perfectly and so musically. Goodness only knows when he had last put a mouthpiece against his lips or seen the score. I remember that he was pleased that the high notes worked so well at the climax, and his mother just beamed . . . she loved music.

By comparison, I played cornet in the Wadsworth middle school music ensemble and it was a disaster. In the course of the year, I got braces on my teeth, and since I could only get higher notes by pressing the horn harder against my teeth, my career in brass instruments was quite short. I knew I could never compete with Dad.

Ashokan Farwell -- Youtube Link Commentary from Paul

I started working on the Ashokan Farwell the week that Grandpa (Dad) fell in late October and had to be taken to the hospital for many stitches by Mark and Evan who had just arrived for a visit. The occasion for my learning the piece was a private recital of mostly middle school and high school students held in our home that same week--right before Kay and I headed to Goshen to join Mark, Evan, Janice and Frank to have an early celebration dinner for Dad's upcoming 90th birthday that weekend. Kay and I agreed to host the recital of students and teachers playing cello, violin, and piano and, in turn, I was asked to participate.

The Ashokan Farwell was used in the Ken Burns American Civil War Documentary series seen on PBS some years ago. I had become more familiar with it last summer when some friends in Tennessee indicated they loved the piece and wanted me to see if I could play it. When the recital came up I realized the piece should be within my ability to play and selected it, having found a piano part from which I could derive the melody. The motivation to play it was personal and kept private at the time. I had come to realize Dad's increasing frailty and felt the end was getting much closer, particularly with the last fall. I also felt sorrow at not being closer to him to offer more comfort in his final months. I remembered how hard it had been for him to let go of me when we hugged to say good-bye on the previous visit. Practicing the Farwell allowed me an outlet for that sorrow. It was my way to start to say good-bye in my thoughts and to come to terms with losing Dad. About a month later, Dad passed away.

I was not aware that Kay had recorded my rendition until much later, after the funeral. That's fortunate because I would have been more nervous and likely made more mistakes had I known the camera was running. I am thankful Kay did record it because I've rarely had a chance to hear what my instrument sounds like, standing back from it. I am also grateful that Katie could accompany me at short notice and that Bill was able to take the recorded file last weekend and make it available for Windows MediaPlayer, and that Mark was then able to figure out how to upload a link to it here.

This is for you, Dad.................. --Paul

Paul Plays the Ashokan Farewell

New Year's Day and Making Cinnamon Rolls

We arrived back home on Friday, New Year's Day, 1am, from a quick trip to Goshen, IN and Flanagan, IL to see both grandmothers. When we awakened later that morning it was not long after morning coffee before Alyssa and Bill were ready to begin the process to make the cinnamon rolls that are part of our family tradition both in our home here and recalled from my childhood and select times with the brothers, e.g., Cutchogue some years back when Evan and Jan made wonderful rolls while the rest of us played in the Peconic Bay. This time Alyssa and Bill did the entire process themselves. From the excellent results I'm sure they feel comfortable that they, too, now own the tradition. Kara, Kay and I were supportive of their efforts, taking photos and helping dispatch the first couple of trays. Yes, they do taste equally good the next day. Kara used the time to relax in front of the gas stove to catch up on her grading and lesson plans for school.