Coffee!

THIS IS MY FAVORITE WAY TO MAKE COFFEE THESE DAYS. I FOUND THIS 10-CUP, STAINLESS STEEL ESPRESSO PERCOLATOR AT TJ MAXX FOR $20!

I DON'T ACTUALLY MAKE ESPRESSO WITH IT. I USE A MEDIUM ROAST, ORGANIC BEAN, AND I DON'T FILL THE LITTLE CUP ALL THE WAY WITH GOUND BEANS. IT TOOK A WHILE TO FIGURE OUT THE RIGHT PROPORTIONS OF WATER TO COFFEE, AND TO FIND ORGANIC BEANS THAT I REALLY LIKE (NANTUCKET BLEND FROM WHOLE FOODS). WITH THE ESPRESSO POT, I CAN MAKE A VERY STRONG, VERY SMOOTH CUP O' JOE. YUM.

Tibet . . . or Woodstock, New York?

THIS IS THE MAIN HALL AT KTD. NEXT TIME WE GO, I HOPE WE CAN GO INSIDE THE SHRINE ROOM!

A Magical Day

TODAY S. AND I DROVE UP TO KARMA TRIYANA DHARMACHAKRA (KTD) IN WOODSTOCK, NY. THE MONASTERY WAS CLOSED, SO WE TOOK A WALK DOWN THE "DHARMA PATH."

PAST A LITTLE PRACTICE SHELTER IN THE WOODS . . .

TO A BECKONING, MAGICAL POND AT THE END OF THE PATH. THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT THE DAY, THE WEATHER, THE PALPABLE PEACEFUL QUALITY OF THIS LITTLE POND . . .

A LONE BULLFROG SINGING, SO MANY CARP, A LITTLE TURTLE POKING HIS HEAD OUT OF THE WATER, FLYCATCHERS SWOOPING DOWN - SKITTERING ACROSS THE POND'S SURFACE TO CATCH INSECTS. THE CLOUDS THREATENED, BUT THE SUN SHONE THROUGH. . . AND THE BREEZE WAS SO INVITING. AH. AH. AH.

A Morning Encounter

DRIVING TO WORK THIS MORNING I SAW THIS SNAPPING TURTLE AT THE FOOT OF A NEIGHBOR'S DRIVEWAY, ACROSS FROM THE POND. WOW! THIS IS ONE BIG TURTLE! HER SHELL WAS AT LEAST 12 INCHES WIDE AND 16 INCHES LONG.

THAT FACE, THOSE CLAWS!!

SHE STOOD UP TALL WHEN I GOT CLOSE, TRYING TO LOOK THREATENING - TO GOOD EFFECT! ISN'T SHE AMAZING?

TURTLES ARE IN TROUBLE IN MASSACHUSETTS. CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THEM, AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP. IF YOU SEE A TURTLE CROSSING THE ROAD, PLEASE HELP HER ACROSS. IN MAY OR JUNE SHE IS PROBABLY GOING TO OR FROM HER NESTING SITE. DON'T CHANGE HER DIRECTION - SHE KNOWS WHERE SHE IS GOING. AND PLEASE, DON'T BRING WILD TURTLES HOME.
MORE HELPFUL INFO ON HOW TO HELP TURTLES AT THE LINK ABOVE.

Emmy Lou

A LOVELY 24 HOURS . . . SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!

Summer is Here!

IT WILL BE 95 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT THIS WEEKEND!
VISIT BABY BONHAM, COMING IN THE FALL. CONGRATULATIONS SARA & DAN!

I Love the Pond

A CALM, CLEAR EVENING.

Sunday Party

COOKING . . .

SETTING UP BADMINTON . . .

EMMY LOU'S PARTY ARRANGEMENT . . .

HAPPY PARTY GOERS . . .

AND UNCLE NATHAN, THE GRADUATE . . .
:-)
EMMY LOU'S ARRANGEMENT OF FOUND OBJECTS REMINS ME OF THE ORGANIZED COLLECTION POOL, STARTED BY CAMILLA ENGMAN.

Shopping for the Party

ON SATURDAY ANANDA, LISA AND I SHOPPED FOR A PARTY - TO CELEBRATE NATHAN'S GRADUATION FROM RISD!
. . . MORE TO COME TOMORROW FROM A DELIGHTFUL CELEBRATION.