B e t r a y T h e A g e

It was a dreary rainy day with matted leaves and partially naked trees getting ready for a hibernation of sorts. Misty clouds and fog obscured the mountains around us, half hiding, as if they were playing a game of hide and seek. Many of the vegtables are in their final throws as the season changes and tells them to to relinquish their bounty. What to do? The photographer in me wants to post a picture, however, imagination is a powerful tool that pulls out smells and sights from years of stored up experiences, so I post none today. I picked the leeks this morning from what started as puny little sprouts now with massive dark green leaves and stocky snow white roots. I picked three for the potato leek soup we had been holding of on making until today. The recipe called for basil, chives and parsley, all picked from the same plot. A pot cooked this afternoon a released it deliciousness for the evening meal. We baked a meatloaf with carrots, and some of the onions so we would have it ...

Gorgeous, beautific day in autunmal Vermont today. Spent the day raking leaves with loved ones, loading the truck with wood and stacking a row on the front porch in preparation of blustery days ahead. What more could one want, really? Breathing, loading, raking, vibrance, laughing, it's what we do this time of year.

The Dalai Lama visited Middlebury College today on the leg of a short tour through the US. Tickets were sold out quickly, though it was possible to watch through closed circuit TV at a variety of locations at Middlebury, and it was streamed through the colleges website. I got to watch it at home, coffee in hand this Saturday morning. What can be written about this man in this limited space. He is the nearest thing we have to Ghandi. I talked to someone at a work who was pissed that the tickets were "sold out." I told him that he could stream it from home, and he said " I want to feel his presence." Ya, we all want to feel his presence. His themes are compassion and respect.......he bolded stated that he is a marxist in regards to the equal distribution of income, yet praised capitalism for the tremendous innovations that have resulted. The dude is unflinching in his ability to seek the truth, no barriers, no limits. His holiness emanates love. I believe that hi...

Carpooling has been a hit in France and may be coming to a town near you. Let's jump in! More...

Markey/Waxman Report

I was reading somewhere, that one of the challenges we face is that the consequences of a changing climate are not always felt locally. That the consequences of unleashing ancient hydrocarbons buried for millions of years do not necessarily hit the average person over the head in order to get more action on these issues. It is well documented that the naysayers, though unbacked by science and reason, hold a disproportionate control over the media who timidly have been unwilling to present climate change as the biggest challenge ever to face humanity. Here in Vermont, we have little in the way of energy resources and are dependent mostly on importing our energy. James Hanson, the NASA scientist who blew the whistle years ago is not sleeping very well these days as he wonders if we have reached the tipping point where nothing we do may mitigate the disaster that we are experiencing in the natural world and for what is in store for us. All things local make more sense when it comes t...

Mitt will take us to place that is difficult to comprehend..

Stepped out of human turmoil for awhile today, a purging of sorts. Hiked with old friend Lillian, Jean-Marie, and new friends visiting from Massachusetts. Three of the new friends were Biologists. I assumed that they suffered more than most in regards to understanding the degradation of the natural world. Quite to the contrary, they talked about the heroism all around us....I was told that they were also more aware of the great efforts to improve things, to bring about solutions.........We all need a good dose of that.. While hiking a trail traversing valley's and peaks in Lil s neck of the woods, we came upon a man alone on the trail viewing the vistas.....came to be he is a musician and plays Irish music with a number of different groups. We talked of a great many things both Irish and music. How striking to find a kindred soul who admires Kevin Crawford of Lunasa as much as I do. I leave with an invite to play trailing in the breeze....... Lastly, a young couple repelling ...

I am coming to face to face with homelessness daily. In Vermont there appears to be no Section 8 Vouchers available, and organizations that process Section 8 Grants are not even taking names for waiting lists. Meanwhile I hear about a family with 5 kids staying in a motel and tonight is going to be the last night. No one knows where they will be tomorrow. We could you a good dose of widespread outrage right about now.

Rutland Farmer's Food Center is a farmer's market like no other. It is probably the best Farmer's Market in Vermont and has grown to become a vibrant and important organization in this central western city. Take a moment to watch the video and you will most likely be inspired by the character that makes up many of the residents of Rutland. A movie "The Blood of This Town" most exemplifies this spirit based on the annual blood drive in Rutland and its off the charts success.