The Owl is not a fan of rain. Never has been, never will be. Except for one thing: the Sessão da Tarde, which translates more or less to the afternoon matinee, made for the rainy day. Or in its simplest definition: lying on a couch watching a goofy movie and ignoring everything else–the wrapping, the Christmas cards, the outstanding action
Read moreIt’s the time of year that reveals a surprising amount of personal information about people and their lives. No need to call Norton Security or the Weston Police, but you might want to think about your Christmas tree. I think about mine a lot. As days go by after Thanksgiving, my Facebook page fills with photos from friends of their
Read moreYesterday, a prospective Eagle Scout recruited other Boy Scouts and parents to help out clearing a trail and old foundation walls at the old Cherry Brook Farm– aka the Merriam Barn near the Brush Dump on Merriam Street. During four hours, the invasives –bittersweet vines choking young trees, buckthorn, and a thicket of who-knows-what–were dealt death blows by loppers, chainsaws,
Read moreAnd then suddenly, unavoidably, miraculously, they are fifteen. The ones who made me a mom, who make me laugh even when I don’t want to, and cry the same way, the ones who make me wish I really did have a 270-degree head turn capability. In Portuguese, there is a term “mãe coruja” or owl mom which describes a mom’s
Read moreAs any of you who know the Owl personally know, my favorite time of the day is trail time. Every morning that I am in Weston, I am on a trail. In some sense, it’s my job – my volunteer role for Weston Forest & Trail Association is all about stewardship of the trails–checking easements, trees down, trail issues. It’s
Read moreThis morning in Newburyport, this Owl completed her second half marathon. Ever. The last one was almost exactly a decade ago, in August 2011, in Rio de Janeiro. I do know how to pick them…running in the shadows of Sugarloaf and along Copacabana, and today in the gorgeous fall colors of the north shore. I’m not a huge fan of
Read moreAs happens many nights, I woke up around 2 am, unable to get back to sleep. The windows were open in our room, and the rain had just started, gently at first and then largely drowning out the sounds of the crickets’ autumn ruminations. If you’re not from around here, the best recording I have found of autumn night crickets
Read moreThere are trails to follow, Weston. My gratitude today to those who preserved them then, and those who care for them now. Join Weston Forest & Trail Association at 2 pm today. More information here.
Read moreYesterday, I went to a Dog Pool Party. I have always wanted to go to one, particularly when I had a labrador named Caju (“cashew” in Portuguese) because that one was a Dock Diver. Alas, Katie Puppy, K9 Ranger, is afraid of large dogs and has been known to knock people down while fleeing danger, so she had to stay
Read moreToday, my father Henry celebrates 82 years. He and my mom are elsewhere today, enjoying the freedom that comes with retirement and health, and a car tank full of gas. We Owls were lucky to have them visit us for three weeks recently–a gratitude that was particularly deep after pandemic separation. My dad doesn’t read this blog anymore. After the
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