So much to do in the Hudson Valley, but where do you start? We have some answers and resources.
A Flower In Winter by Forever Endeavor
A flower withers,
As a gust of wind blows,
And its once ruby red petals,
Turn brown and gold,
And one by one,
Each petal falls,
Due to the treacherous sound,
Of winter’s call. Continue reading The Winter Flora Thrives in the Hudson Valley
As we wonder about the year ahead. Contemplating what great and dreadful events we may witness, taking a moment to celebrate the present is always good, to share a libation and not necessarily the alcoholic type.
You see a libation is a ritualistic pouring of liquid. It may be a toast, a long celebrated tradition, featuring rich glasses of beer, wine or spirits.
However, the roots of this practice, of libation or oblation, came from the pouring of liquids as offerings to the deities found in many religious ancient and contemporary. Very often this was wine, but also olive oil, in India I am told they used the refined butter called ghee, each poured from exotic vessels like a patera. Like this one from the Byzantine era. Spilled onto an altar or the earth.
I’ve read that in East Asia, the reverent seek to detach themselves from surrounding bad karmic energy by pouring an offering of rice into a running stream. How about a river?
That being said we do enjoy a proper toast, with libations of the alcoholic kind.
There is quite a long history to this practice, it is an ancient tradition reports Rebecca Rupp writing for National Geographic in an article “Cheers: Celebration Drinking Is an Ancient Tradition” where she says. “No one knows exactly when alcohol first entered the human diet—chances are it was a serendipitous prehistoric stumble on fermented fruit—but clearly we took to it like ducks to water.” Read More
We enjoy these “Toasts Proposed during the Revolutionary War” posted by Susan F. Craft after an event for the launch of her novel, The Chamomile. Which started with: “George Washington attended a Public Dinner at Frances Tavern on Pearl Street in New York where he would propose 13 Toasts with Hot Butter’d Rum.” and ended with
“Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man.” – Ben Franklin Read More
Our own toast is this:
May the Year Ahead Be Great
Flow Everlasting with Surprising and Foreseeable Events
May We Relish and Be Grateful for Every Moment
Share with Others our Bounty
Cheers!
Of course there are many ways to accompany this toast with a suitable drink. Check Them Out Here
I must apologize, for goofing off, not writing in weeks. The excuses are easy, the holidays, work demands, all that. But it is really this. As Earnest Hemingway once said “Writing, at its best, is a lonely life.” Not that I mind. Frankly I am a hermit by nature. Give me some good books, some wine, a comfortable chair, some things to eat, a view of the river and I am set for days. Ask my wife.
But , sometimes, the lonely life, leads to writer’s laziness, I won’t dare to say block because it is not nearly that severe. There has been no shortage of content, the last month has been filled with tons of activities, family, friends, holiday festivities. Lots of stories to tell.
Nevertheless, as a writer you can wonder, is anyone even reading? Does any one care? Why bother? Then something happens.
Yesterday, Neal Santelmann, Cold Spring resident, writer himself, with Hawkins International Public Relations, and member of the fabulous local band Laminated Menu, approached Diana in Foodtown yesterday. Saying “your her” from Hudson Valley Pleasures, “you changed the name to InTheHV.Com.” He paid us some very nice compliments and from a fellow writer that means a lot.
So off we go into a new year, inspired and writing again! Thanks Neal!
We both, Diana and I, found these eggs on Facebook as friends, mutual and distinct, raved about their delicious flavor and crafty presentation. Said they were the best!
I was skeptical, we have been enjoying a lot of good eggs this year all gently hatched at the wholesome farms about the valley. We’ve had white eggs, green and brown, but these present a wider rainbow of colors.
They are from Cat Rock Egg Farm in Garrison NY, and as the hand signed letter that comes with your first box of eggs describes, these are from “pet hens raised with love & attention at our free to muck about home “yolkette” says farmer Lydia. Continue reading Yes They Are the Best Eggs We’ve Ever Tasted
A toast and cheers to you, wishing you a very wonderful 2016.
It is hard to believe it has been almost a year, four wonderful seasons here in the Hudson Valley. We have met so many great people and had so many great times in all the wonderful places we have explored around our wonderful Hudson River Valley.
Looking forward to another great year and wish the same for you.
Peter and Diana
A beautiful Poem by Peter Duncan.
Oh, what a feeling in me
To be, on this wonderful day
I’m here on this beautiful morning
I’m alive in a beautiful way
I’m hearing these birds all around me
Just singing a love song for me
It’s a wonderful, beautiful morning
By this river that captivates me.
It be five o clock in the morning
In the joy of this beautiful day
The kookaburra how he be laughing
In such a magnificent way
I think that he knows I am happy
This bird he is laughing for me
Oh, here in this countryside morning
I am filled with such sweet mystery.
The river gets into my being
As I sit here alone in the dawn
It’s wonderful, beautiful feeling
I feel like I’m being reborn
Oh what a sweet combination
All this morning, and nature, and me
I’m in love on this wonderful morning
Just me and this sweet mystery.
Copyright © 2015 Peter Duggan
We left full of joy after an evening of spirited live entertainment in the closing event of the Cabaret in the Country series at our own Philipstown Depot Theater.
The Sound of Their Music: Rodgers & Hammerstein artfully created and produced by Hudson Valley resident Phil Geoffrey Bond, was a fabulous tribute to the unsurpassed Broadway and Hollywood musical greats Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein II.
We smiled, chuckled and squeezed each others hand as each wonderful song excited oh so many pleasant memories.
The series included, and we wish we had the opportunity to see them all, performances by many of Broadway and New York Cabaret most applauded performers as they delivered great music for Simply Streisand, Aspects of Andrew: Lloyd Webber, Sondheim Unplugged, and of course this show.
We love a night on the town, but there is much pleasure to be had in the intimate surroundings of Philipstown Depot Theater.
Check out their programs here.
My friend Judy Becker read this moving poem after sitting in meditation together. I hope you enjoy it too.
Sit here for a bit. Place yourself outside the frenzied pace of life.
Slow down long enough to appreciate birds in flight, water drops like prisms in the grass and countless shades of green.
Step off the fast track and listen to the sound of breath and birdsong.
Take a moment to just be, and in the being, know the whole of this creation,
mystery and madness, passion and profanity, know it all as one, stunning
tapestry.
Sit still and the thin line between sacred and profane simply fades away. There is nothing then to reconcile. All the disparate threads are woven on the loom of life.
Sit here for a bit and your unique place in the pattern becomes clear. Take the still point with you when it’s time to walk away.
Make the choice to see affinity, to watch the picture taking shape as thread joins thread.
Dare to be the weaver and the loom, creator and creation, the sower and the sown.
In a moment of stillness, all that came before is seen as one.
by Danna Faulds
Go In and In: Poems From the Heart of Yoga
Near the crest of the Lost Pond Trail at Manitoga you will come upon a moving site, inspiring and quieting at the same moment. Named with the Algonquin word meaning “Place of the Great Spirit,” Manitoga is so filled with the spiritual essence of its creator, you can truly feel it.
We walked two of the longer paths here on a cloudy day and then one filled with sun.
This was the home of Russel Wright, the renowned forward thinking industrial designer. Created out of a desolate area that had been a quarry. The house can be toured by special arrangements but the paths in the 75 acre woodland garden can be walked whenever the property is open.
Beautiful on a cloudy or sunny day the paths ascend in a winding pattern ascending in stages as much 650 feet through the woods.
Entry is from Route 9D, there is a parking lot. Visitors first stop into the visitors center to sign in, get information and make a donation.
From here you will walk toward the paths, discrete signage leads the way.
At the foot of the three trails there is a map and guide.
We walked the longer White Pine Loop marked with red and Lost Pond Loop marked with white.
Through the woods.
They travel together foe awhile and then branch off. The paths are meant to be walked in one direction, each a loop, the markers with a block dot indicate you are heading the wrong way.
At points you will come to two bridges that go over the stream.
Each step of the way feels rich and fulfilling, I really felt the love and attention that went into creating this place. And all the enjoyment that people have had here. There are spots where you can catch glimpses of the house.
And the mighty Hudson River. At least now that the leaves have fallen.
At one observation point, marked ion yellow, there are very old boulders, and the house can be seen from another angle.
Back on the trail.
The no hunting posting signs are mounted backwards in places, looks nicer that way.
Someone created this nest for a very big bird.
Moss lines some of the paths.
I was expecting this boulder to speak to me.
Towards the top is the Lost Pond.
At a low point now, in the spring it is much larger, deeper.
All three paths end here at the area called Four Corners.
And then you begin your walk down.
Passing another house. Probably a caretaker’s home. I would not mind.
I loved these to Adirondack Chairs in the wood.
More very old boulders.
At the bottom is Mary’s Meadow. I told you there is always a meadow. Mary was Russel Wright’s wife and Mother of Annie Wright.
We had fun visiting Bad Seed Cider Company at Wilklow Orchards in Highlands, NY. Toured the fields, and enjoyed some great hard cider in their very popular tap room.
Read our story here: New York Cork Report
43 Baileys Gap RD
Highland NY
(845) 236-0956
