It’s a gorgeous day, and I’ve already been out sniffing around with my camera. I’m sharing some mid-day photos because they are unique and should be seen in honor of Spring, which is finally here. You’ll recognize the African Violets and the white roses. Otherwise, you’re on your … | Continue reading
Sarah’s choice for Tuesday’s Food Pantry Request is Pampers Aqua Pure Sensitive Baby Wipes, 99 % Flip=Top Packs (336 Wipes Total), $17.07. Some goods are a choice, but if you are a mother or father down on their luck, baby wipes are not an option. There has to be some, even if it … | Continue reading
Bud has been hovering over a newly discovered mouse hold all morning. Some mouse is about to have a bad experience; perhaps it’s the last. I can’t say I have evolved to feel bad for the mice; they can be a plague on and in a farmhouse. Still, they are cute and mean no harm. […] | Continue reading
I’m discovering the beauty of succulent plants. I’m just beginning to realize the photo possibilities in the dozens of succulent plants Maria has placed around the windowsills. I took this photo this morning; it is beautiful in a new way, a new step in my photography. Zip found … | Continue reading
The Interstellar Fusion Runway Evolves by Paul Gilster | Apr 9, 2024 | Advanced Rocketry | 29 comments Let’s talk about how to get a spacecraft moving without onboard propellant. As noted last week, this is apropos of the design shown in the Netflix streaming video take on Liu Ci … | Continue reading
I blew off the eclipse until I saw a chunk of it. Wow. It is a mind-blower to see Americans by the millions gather together and remember that we are all human, not labeled in conspiracy rants or on social media. Men..what can I say? I got up early to catch the sun for my […] | Continue reading
This image may be familiar to anyone who has lived with a Lab. I won’t spoil anyone’s dinner by saying what she was chewing on, but it was in a manure-filled pasture. Enuf said Maria caught this charming picture of a happy Labrador. She tried to lick me when I got home, but I pas … | Continue reading
I had a doctor’s appointment at the same time as the eclipse, so I was shocked on the drive to Saratoga to see almost no cars on the busy road there. Our busy world emptied out to look at the sun. I was listening to the radio and hearing the excitement. When I pulled up […] | Continue reading
I’ve always seen my flower photos as spiritual in ways that I don’t always understand. Reading about St. Terese, whose idea of small acts of great kindness inspired the Army of Good, I see that the connection between flowers and spirituality is old and deep. Roses were Therese’s … | Continue reading
Sarah’s choice for today is Cranberry Juice, one of the healthiest drinks for children and their families. I vaguely remember my grandmother telling me it is one of the most nutritious juices, so I went to Web Md to look it up. She was right. It is also inexpensive. They said, “ … | Continue reading
I understand that I’ve always been a bit odd and not in sync with most people, but I feel that today. I am a sun worshipper; the sun is essential to my idea of photography. The eclipse is fascinating, as things are once in a lifetime, and seeing so many people looking up together … | Continue reading
Today, I’m much more interested in seeing the sun on the ground than in space. I’m always happy to be out of sync with almost everyone; it’s my natural default position. I’ll look forward to seeing the National Geographic photos. Maria will be out in the pasture, watching the ani … | Continue reading
I’m reimagining flowers, looking for different ways to capture their beauty and meaning. I’m learning something new every day and am happy to share it with the people who wish to see it. Today’s flower art photos so far. There are no captions, titles, correct or incorrect spellin … | Continue reading
Millions of people are heading to different places to see the mystical eclipse; I wish them well. When the eclipse comes, I’ll be in a doctor’s office in Saratoga Springs getting a routine check-up. I admit I have no real interest in the eclipse; I’ve read about it on National G … | Continue reading
It’s finally a beautiful day here. I hope this is true for you all. If you feel low or itchy about helping someone else, there are two ideas for you today. One Wish List item is Sarah’s choice, and one is mine. (Above, Sarah Harrington, 24 E. Main Street, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816. … | Continue reading
Dave and his family have opened a beautiful and colossal flower, plant, and greenhouse operation just down the road from the farm. It opened a few years ago but has mushroomed into a beautiful flower and garden center. Last week, he invited me to come into the greenhouse as often … | Continue reading
Finally, the sun came out without hesitation or thick clouds to break through. We all went outside at Bedlam Farm to commune with our animals, soak up the sun, and liberate our gardens from winter. My raised bed was liberated, I found a new and nearby source for some of my flower … | Continue reading
Maria has offered five good books in wonderful condition for sale as part of the continuing Bedlam Farm Book Sale. Maria is handling this program, she does the work and gets the money: maria@fullmoonfiberart.com. If you want to purchase a book, please e-mail her, and if the book … | Continue reading
I’m heading for the Farmers Market. The sun is stirring to break through the clouds. I’ve got a fish-eye lens to test for 30 days. It’s old and scarred, but so far, so good. It’s another trade, but an inexpensive one. I like it; it has a whole different feel and look. | Continue reading
There will be no chatter, names, captions, labels, or spelling, just flowers and their spiritual power. I look forward to seeing you on Sunday. People tend to forget what flowers are really about. Stay warm and dry. I give thanks for every day I live. | Continue reading
(Standing in the Cambridge Food Pantry and going over the wish list with Sarah Harrington this morning, I couldn’t help but think the food of the day needed to be almost everything on the entire list: hot and hearty dinners like Campbell’s Chunky Soap, Steak, and Potato and Mary … | Continue reading
The longest storm is ending; the sun is peeking through. I thought I’d celebrate with a morning flower. | Continue reading
Bud and Zip have never come nose to nose with one another; Bud isn’t allowed to run freely outside, as he likes to chase and kill things, including chickens. Fate is grumpy around cats; she doesn’t hurt them but likes to try to herd them, which doesn’t work out. Yesterday morning … | Continue reading
I was in the kitchen when I felt the ground rumble and heard a strange growing sound. You all know about the earthquake, but there was no damage here; a lot of surprise. I did look out the window and saw the donkeys look around, rattled, but it was gone in a second. I was […] | Continue reading
Sarah’s choice for the day’s food needs is the cheapest yet: Kraft Tuscan House Italian Salad Dressing, 16.0z, $2.58. The second item on the list (it needs no explanation) is Art and Hammer Ultra Max Fresh Scent Persperant Spray Deodorant, 26 ox., pack of six. $19.89 You can see … | Continue reading
Interstellar Propulsion in ‘3 Body Problem’ by Paul Gilster | Apr 5, 2024 | Advanced Rocketry | 21 comments You never know when a new interstellar propulsion concept is going to pop up. Some of us have been kicking around fusion runway ideas, motivated by Netflix’s streaming pres … | Continue reading
Deep Space Trajectories: Exiting the Heliosphere by Paul Gilster | Apr 3, 2024 | Missions | 1 comment Eugene Parker, after whom the Parker Solar Probe was named, seems to have been the first to have accurately predicted the stream of particles emitted by the Sun that forms the ‘s … | Continue reading
A Week Inside Centauri Dreams by Paul Gilster | Mar 25, 2024 | Administrative | 2 comments No posts this week, as I am wrapping up an overhaul of some of the site’s internals. When I say ‘I,’ I really mean my brilliant web guru, whose team has worked tirelessly to fix a major pro … | Continue reading
Finding Life Signs around Icy Moons by Paul Gilster | Mar 23, 2024 | Exoplanetary Science | 8 comments Europa Clipper is scheduled to launch on October 10, with arrival at Jupiter in 2030. That will keep subsurface oceans on our minds as we tangle with the problems of analyzing w … | Continue reading
Good morning. I’m off to start my volunteer work at the Cambridge Food Pantry. The food needed for today is Mint Toothpaste from Colgate, 6.3 ounces, pack of four, $15.84. The pantry ran out of toothpaste earlier this week. Thanks. If you are interested in or can buy additional f … | Continue reading
I want to be honest. The people behind the Carra hysteria were not human; they were dybbuks, dislocated Yiddish souls of the dead, coming for me just as my grandmother said they would. Some angels came to save me; they called themselves Yay Jon’s, an old Hebrew name for good warr … | Continue reading
Would I drive through a heavy snow shower for miles on icy roads to get to Covered Bridge Bread Co. and pick up the fresh focaccia bread I mistakenly left behind yesterday? Sure. Driving through country roads is always an adventure, especially in the winter. I got the bread, and … | Continue reading
One of Maria’s succulent plants is on the windowsill. | Continue reading
We first met Tory at the Cambridge Diner; she was one of the best waitresses we’ve encountered yet. Small restaurants in small towns need help; it’s a challenging enterprise. So many people come and go, and we meet people we like and lose them in a snap. In a small town, you alwa … | Continue reading
Another Conundrum: How Long Do White Dwarfs Live? by Paul Gilster | Mar 20, 2024 | Deep Sky Astronomy & Telescopes | 14 comments Don’t you love the way the cosmos keeps us from getting too comfortable with our ideas? The Hubble Constant (H0), which tells us about the rate of expa … | Continue reading
The food boxes keep coming, above yesterday’s second delivery. The food goes out as quickly as it comes in; thank you. The day’s food for the Cambridge Food Pantry is Chef Boyardee Beef Ravioli, 15 ) Oz, $4.28. Tomorrow’s Food For the Day will be toothpaste, which the pantry has … | Continue reading
I’m bouncing back from Calla Lilygate Tuesday. The day began with a message from a person named Josie, who wrote: “You continually misspell Calla Lily; I cannot get past that. Calla Lillies are my favorite flowers. They were my wedding flowers. And, sorry, but I cannot enjoy your … | Continue reading
I’ve been writing all week about the Calla Lily and taking photos of them that I have worked hard on and love. Unfortunately, my Dyslexia surfaced with a vengeance and locked onto my beautiful flower. Dyslexia does that. I keep seeing the spelling of the flower in different ways … | Continue reading
Maria just posted six new fiber paintings of her popular meditation tree on her Etsy Page. The meditation trees, which measure 11 by 7 inches, cost $40 each plus $5 shipping. | Continue reading
I took the Calla Lillies out to the front porch today and spent some time working with my macro lens. Come and see. I’m saying good night for tonight. Good night and stay warm and dry please. I love the softness of this work, which takes a lot of patience and motion. This is not … | Continue reading
Zip has been with us for nearly half a year, and I am still learning things about him. He is an explosive animal, landing like a bomb in the middle of a quiet and stable farm. I’m just figuring out his warm-weather schedule. In the morning, he sleeps somewhere in the barn. When I … | Continue reading
I was drawn to the shape and the feeling of these old wind chimes hanging on the back porch and swinging in the wind. It takes a lot of wind for them to make noise, but it’s a beautiful sound when it comes. | Continue reading
I saw this hate online a couple of weeks ago and couldn’t resist getting it, especially as Spring creeps up. It captures my general sense of what being old means, but I’m unsure what “cool old” means. It means being open to new things, learning how to change, working to be better … | Continue reading
When I think of the people who sent me and others what I call hate mail, I think of an older, unmarried person who lives alone, usually in a small apartment in a city. Two schools have researched trolls and hate mailers online and have invariably found that they have experienced … | Continue reading
It’s rare when Zip, our remarkable barn cat, doesn’t surprise me. Yesterday he really surprised me. We were out in the pasture, sitting with Suzy. I was astonished to turn around and see Zip lying on his back and letting the sheep sniff his paws. He lay like that the longest time … | Continue reading
Good morning. We’re trying to make a more focused request for food for the Cambridge Pantry. The boxes keep coming! A hundred thank yous from the customers at the food pantry, they can hardly believe the new foods available to them. Sara is choosing a food of the day reflecting a … | Continue reading
We knew this afternoon that Suzy was suffering. She struggled to stand up, had stopped eating, and rolled onto her side, trembling. She died a few hours later, shot in the head. She left a large hole in the farm’s life. She was an important animal in our life on the farm. We agr … | Continue reading
These Books Are Sold, Thanks We have four good books for sale again. For additional book information, you can check out Maria’s website, fullmoonfiberart.com, for links to book reviews. I’ve read two books, The Pawprints of History by the excellent dog psychologist Stanley Coren … | Continue reading