2021: A Look Back

Some years are extremely memorable. 2021 will be such a year. The January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol after a Trump rally is etched into our political consciousness. The attack was an attempt to overturn the fair election of Joe Biden. Trump then and now claimed (without a bit of evidence) that Biden stole the election. His MAGA followers, Oath Keepers, Proud Boys and a parade of crazy right wingers planned, encouraged and participated in an unprecedented attack on American Democracy. A year later a House Committee is still investigating. Although there have be hundreds of arrests of rioters, the leadership, including Trump, have not yet been held accountable. And gearing up for future elections, Republican legislatures in many states have passed legislation designed to restrict voting echoing Trumps claims about fraud and a stolen 2020 election.

Election commissions and courts, Democratic and Republican have upheld that Joe Biden was elected, no fraud, no steal, no question. And although the House and Senate are Democratic, it’s by slim margins. Biden passed a Covid stimulus bill and a major Infrastructure bill but his Build Better America bill has been held hostage by WV senator Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema from AZ. Very few Republicans support any Biden initiatives. Not good political times. What did Dickens say?

Political polarization is extreme. The Republican party is firmly in the control of Donald Trump and wanna-be acolytes. Republicans that don’t agree with him are attacked. Liz Chaney isthe most outspoken. Trump seems to claim that he will run again in 2024. His followers parrot his election conspiracy nonsense and continue to resist the reality of covid. No mask mandates; vaccines not needed. When Trump announced during an interview that he had a booster, supporters booed. It doesn’t seem to matter that the unvaccinated are hospitalized and die more frequently from covid or that their numbers are greater in Trump counties. Fox personalities and other Right wing media outlets feed the conspiracy theories and lies. Some mainstream media has a strong liberal bias. I watch CNN almost daily and read various articles online. The best news summary for me are the ”letters” from Heather Cox Richardson, a Boston College history professor from Maine. She explains current news through a historical lens. The best; the worse of times.

On a personal level we were shocked when in the Spring our grandson, Eli, had a return of neuroblastoma. Years of clear tests were wiped away as he returned to CHOP for treatment. On a positive note, his most recent scans and tests show major progress.. He has several more months of chemo. An amazingly strong young man, a freshman in high school, sportsman and musician. The best.
Eli’s sister Viv has developed multiple talents, from her Etsy business selling her personally designed and cut stickers, winning a room makeover in a movie making contest, performing in the Nutcracker, knitting, baking, decorating Christmas cookies, on and on. The bEst part of the year. As the summer progressed we were able to join them for house visits and outside dining. In August we spent our traditional two weeks on Ayer’s pond in Orleans, Cape Cod (the summer of 2020, Diane and I cancelled our Cape Cod trip.) I’ve written about the Cape trip.

Another tragic shock hit us in the Spring. One of my closest friends, Tom Corley, suddenly died. I met Tom teaching at Holy Ghost Prep. With Bill Gallagher we organized the HGP Explorer’s Post. We took members camping in the White Mountains, along the Blue Ridge, on canoe trips in the Jersey Pines and on the Delaware River. Our families tent and cabin camped in several Pennsylvania State Parks. Bill left HGP for law school; Tom left to work at ETS in Princeton. But we all remained close having several annual get togethers. In January Tom retired but in early Spring he called me due to the return of his anxiety and depression. Several weeks later I called and his wife Kathy told me he was hospitalized. He died within weeks. For many years Tom was caretaker at Middletown Quaker Meeting, the family lived on the property. In August there was a memorial service at Middletown Meeting. Unfortunately we were on the Cape and couldn’t attend. The shock of Tom’s death hasn’t left. I reread a book he recommended to me years ago, Richard Feynman’s ”The Pleasure of Finding Things Out.” I heard Tom throughout this memoir of a physicist with a child’s curiosity.

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Most 2021 days were pretty quiet. I try to walk several times a week. Usually mornings on the canal. Diane takes Nala on a long afternoon walk/explores. But as the year progressed I went with them less frequently. I am annoyed at this because I like the company, like walking in different places, and we do a lot of our farm market shopping on those trip. Can I do better?

The garden is another project. Bought bags of compost at Shadybrook in Februray, filling up the raised beds. I immediately had spinach, kale and lettuce from seeding the previous Fall. I planted a little later this year and have been trying to be more selective in my plantings. I rotate spring greens, followed by tomato, pepper and eggplants. Ground level in front and back I plant beans, squash-zucchini, and cucumbers. Another planting of greens happens late summer, early fall. This fall I also planted two four foot rows of garlic. There is some spinach and kale that I should pick very soon. Lots of tomatoes and peppers in the freezer for the winter.

In the Spring we were still food shopping from Shadybrook, ordered online and delivered to our car. During the summer we returned to McCaffrey’s for basics, Nonsuch and Organnons, Altemonte’s Italian grocer-deli and Heller’s Seafood (Buckingham Seafood burned down), Manoff’s and Solebury for fruit. In the fall we added Blue Moon Acres for vegetables since we were’t getting enough from the garden. We made a few trips to outdoor farmer’s market and the Stockton Market. I stopped ordering wine from Washington Crossing Vinyard and joined Diane ordering from Martha Stewart Wines. I even ordered spirits from Philadelphia and Mermaid Distillery, friends David and Edna Ramirez). This December was my first trip to a PA State store since the start of the pandemic. Wanted some Dad’s Hat, grappa and other after dinner drinks.

Cooking. Nothing too special. Salads, soups, breads. I frequently make breakfast. Scrambled eggs with cheese and peppers. Pancakes with flax and almond flour. I make buttermilk biscuits regularly. We had a lot of smoked fish; Taylors travel to a place in Port Jervis or South Philadelphia to buy. There is a new place The Borscht Belt in the Stockton Market (expensive). I pickled green tomatoes. Pumpkin pie and pumpkin soup in the fall. Pints of apple butter that should last all year. We ate out about once a week. Usually lunch. Starting in the Spring, only outside. Later in the summer we ventured inside. Jules on Market with the Klines in early December will probably be our last inside for a while. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were takeouts. I wrote about our restaurant outings in a blog. Check it out. vprofy.wordpress.com/2021/12/23/Eating Out During Covid

I read about 45 books. A mix or rereads from my library, a few new purchases and this year I signed up for Bucks County library books online. I even did one audio book, Stanley Tucci’s ”Taste: my life through food.” It was also a Christmas gift so I’ll read the hard copy. Most books were nonfiction but I did dip into fiction, Cape Cod set novels and several Harry Potter (I think i’m up to number five). Another was ”The Lincoln Highway” by Amor Towles. There were quite a few food related memoirs or biographies, James Beard, M.K.Fisher, Julia Child, Jacque Pepin and Marcus Samuelson. I also got on a Hemingway kick, books about him and books he wrote. See my wordpress, “Hemingway”and “Paris: Hemingway 2.”

I read ”Caste: the origins of our discontents” by Isabel Wilkerson (2020) and “A Different Mirror: a history of multicultural America” by Ronald Takai (1993). Both deal with history, racism and implications for teaching (what some have labeled critical race theory). I’ll be writing about this soon. Books on N.C. Wyeth (following a lecture); Robert Beck (following a Mitchener exhibit) and ”High on the Hog” (following a TV series). The most interesting book for the year may have been, ”Black, White and The Grey: the story of an unexpected friendship and a beloved restaurant.” Set in Savannah the restaurant ”The Grey” brought together an Italian American New Yorker who wanted to open a restaurant in an old Greyhound terminal and an African American woman chef who worked for Gabrielle Hamilton at Prune in the Village. Quite a story.

I watch most movies on my i-pad after going to bed. Most were films I’d seen before. “It’s a Wonderful Life” in January and December. ”Chocolate,” ”Barefoot in the Park,” “Pagnol’s ”My Mother’s Castle” was a treat. Some followed my reading, thematic living I call it. Stanley Tucci ” Searching for Italy,” Ken Burns ”Hemingway,” Harry Potter, American Masters on Pepin and Beard, Samuelson’s ”No Passport Required.” On Cape Cod I watched ”Jaws” and ”The Bounty” with Anthony Hopkins and Mel Gibson. Others included ”My Fair Lady,”” Robin Hood,” ” Lee Daniels, ”The Butler,” ”Howard’s End,” and ” A River Runs Through It.” Most recently I’ve been enjoying “Atlantic Crossing” and ”Call the Midwife” on PBS.

We finally got several house projects completed. Oak floors refinished. Deck refurbished. Rotting siding replaced. Flagstone repointed. Trees around the house and on the river bank trimmed, and the flat roof coated. All contractors; not a lot I can or want to do myself.

Despite Covid, I feel it’s been a full year. Many things I haven’t done. Not enough music in my life. CD player still not set up. No progress on the slides transfer project. Recently tried to look at the big flat screen TV and couldn’t get it to work correctly. Storage of photographs on devices still confuses me. No decision about a new camera. Almost all my photographs this year were with i-phone. I need a tech consultant.

Tonight as usual I will enjoy the warmth of the wood stove and telephone calls to friends and relatives. Happy New Year.

2018: a review

Every year in late December or early January I like to review the year.  Below is a review of 2018 that I never completed or published.  It’s interesting that many things remain the same but then there are also changes, differences.  2018 was pre- Covid but two years into the Trump years.  Today as we end 2021, Covid is with us but Trump is gone, hopefully for ever.  For the record I thought I’d publish my 2018 review as incomplete as it is. 

“Last New Year Eve we went to Hamilton’s Grill with Jerry and Susan Taylor. Drinks in Boathouse. Then a nice relaxing dinner.   I had lamb, on its way to becoming a favorite meat.  January 1 we had the traditional pork and homemade sauerkraut at Taylor’s.  Other guests were Bill Farcus and Jeff Warner.  A nice start to 2018, and hopes that it would be better than 2017.

January was cold with some snow.  Our new pup, Nala fulfilled one purpose.  She had to be walked.  Although primarily Diane’s responsibility I joined in some days.  This became a pattern throughout the year.  Rather than walking locally, most days Diane preferred a drive to a park or trail.  She discovered a great dog park at Rosedale, outside Pennington..  There are quite a few other places in New Jersey from the Overlook over Lambertville, Baldplate Mountain, Fiddler Creek trails, Washington Crossing Park in NJ and PA, including the Thompson Neely area, the Rariton canal in Lambertville and Stockton, Bulls Island and in PA, Tyler and Core Creek parks.  One interesting find was the dog park in Horseshoe Bend above Stockton.  Its a drive but huge, 1/2 mile around the perimeter.  We can thank Nala for a lot of exercise this year.

After some walks we food shop.  Sometimes Nala stays in the car or we drop her at home.  A major stop is Nonsuch Farm outside Doylestown.  We buy most of our meats there.  Most of the ground beef, roasts, and filets are from their grass fed cows. The chicken and pork are very good.  This year we discovered sliced beef for steak sandwiches and calves liver (doctor recommended).  They have a great selection of fruits and vegetables; dates and frequently fresh figs. We might stop at Solebury Orchards, apples, cidar, apple sauce. Always buy a selection of apples to make apple butter.  Down the road is Manoff’s, especially known for their peaches.  If we walk at Peace Valley, Lake Galena we will stop at Tabora Farm. Their bakery is fantastic.  And we might get a deli sandwich to eat at the lake, outside or inside the car if it’s cold.  A recent find in Doylestown is Altomonte’s Italian market.  We’ve only stopped once but we will return.

Closer to home is Shadybrook Farm and Milk House Farm markets.  Recently we’ve  been going to Colonial Farms in Washington Crossing — the bakery is excellent.  Organnons, a health food market, on 413 has become a regular stop.   They have beet juice and other items we don’t find in a traditional supermarket. Owowcow Creamery is next door, rich, rich ice cream.  I’ve also begun to stop at Bagel Train and Pretty Bird Coffee Roasters (fantastic scones and biscotti), on Main Street, Yardley.  We did not get to Ely’s (Upper Makefield)  for pork or Fairview Farm (Pineville) for lamb chops this year.

In New Jersey we may stop at the Stockton market, a variety of vendors or Blue Moon Acres (Pennington), Brick Farm (Hopewell), Gravity Hill/Roots to River  Farm (Titusville).  We make it to Griggstown Farm once or twice a year but their pot pies and sausage are available at several other places we stop.  Cugino’s, a small Italian market outside Pennington was a good find.  Uncle Ed’s Creamery next door has good ice cream and chocolate.  Good deli, breads, cannoli.  A new, surprise find this year was the Highland Gourmet Market outside of Stockton.  Lots of speciality items, local stuff, their own Highland cow ground beef, and wine.

We try to have lunch out about once a week.  This year we committed to trying new places.  In Philadelphia we ate several times at Amada, discovered Cafe Du Maude and Suraya, rated as the best new restaurant, both in Fishtown.  We rediscovered the Washington Crossing Inn on Valentine’s Day; an old favorite, Bowman’s Tavern; and a redone Rocco’s at the Brick Hotel in Newtown; and rebuilt Earl’s in Lahaska. Under the Moon was an interesting find in Lambertville; Vecchia Osteria in Newtown; Bowman’s North in Reiglesville; Cafe 72 in Ewing; and the Salt House in New Hope.  Mediterra emerged as our favorite Princeton restaurant; Estia in Philadelphia (both after shows).  We returned to Terrain Cafe, the Golden Pheasant, Hamilton’s Grill, and the Pineville Tavern; our favorite meal was at the Carversvill Inn.  Mica in Chestnut Hill was an evening out.  And we ate at Itri’s and Cafe Bombay in Bristol.

January through March I was in hibernation.  Rain, overcast, damp and cold many days. A few nice snowfalls.  I spent a lot of time in front of the wood stove.   I only read about 30 books for the year, not one a week.  I began to reread books from my film collection (from when I taught a film course).  There was “Vanity Fair,” a collection of essays, “American History and Contemporary Hollywood,” “From Reverance to Rape: treatment of women in the movies;” and  “Operation Hollywood: how the Pentagon shapes and censors movies.”  All too technical not easy reading.

I did reread a few good memoirs.  “The Hungry Sea: a swordboat captain’s journey by Linda Greenlaw,”  “On Mexican Time by Tony Cohen,” “Once Upon a Town by Bob Greene, (the great story of the people of Platte, Nebraska who reached out to servicemen on trains throughout the war years.

One of the most most significant changes in 2018 was the change in doctors.  For decades I went to Andrew Sullivan at Penn Bucks County.  OK at best; frequently poor.  In 2017 when I had C-diff, hospitalized at St. Mary’s I started the search for a new doctor.  I was looking for an Internist.  I found Val Koganski, an Internet and a functionalist.  I’d say wholistic.  He did extensive blood work and other tests during the year and had me looking at diet and taking supplements.  I think it had an effect.  By the summer I had more energy and not just because of season change.  In addition I signed up for his concierge service so he is available daily by email and responds quickly.  He had supported my exercise program and suggested meditation.  Diane is becoming a patient of his this year.”

And so were my incomplete reflections on 2018.

Eating Out During Covid

Black Bass

Veccio Osteria in Newtown

Rieglesville Inn

Zoubi in New Hope

We’ve all heard or read about the difficulty the restaurant industry has been having during Covid. There have been closures, Gabrielle Hamilton’s Prune in Greenwich Village was a big surprise. We ate there several years ago. She wrote a New York Times piece (“My restaurant was my life for 20 years. Does the world need it any more”) explaining the why and how. Hopefully Prune will reopen. And there are stories about new restaurants opening and flourishing. Many survived with outside dining (tents, bubbles, heaters) and take-out. Since the onset of Covid, eating out, takeout, has been a lifesaver. Museums, concerts, family and friends visits were curtailed or stopped. As the months passed, outside lunches, then inside, and take out became important milestones. I think over 50 in the almost 2 years

Melissa Hamilton closes Prune

In early 2020 before lockdowns, we ate at Carversville Inn (a favorite, it would close a few months later, new owner, renovations), the Washington Crossing Inn (with Jen), Sergeantsville Inn for Valentine’s Day and Bowman’s Tavern. By March we were into lockdown.

Rieglesville Inn

Rieglesville Inn

We may have done some take-out but nothing else. In early Spring 2020, after a dog walk in Horseshoe Bend State Park between Stockton and Frenchtown Cafe we broke new ground. Instead of a takeout or shared sandwich from the Bridge Cafe we drove across the bridge and stopped at Kasey’s near Erwinna. We sat outside under a tent. I remember the rush that we were eating out; not what we ate. Our next adventure was in June. We had a gift card to Zoubi in New Hope. Was it even open; I called. Reservations. We were amazed, most seating was in an outside courtyard off a bar area. Initially we occupied the only table. How delightful. Later in the month Ted and Vicky Dehne joined us at the Black Bass (outside deck). Seafood was big at all these restaurants.

Golden Pheasant

Greystone in Newtown

In August 2020 we rediscovered Greystone, outside Newtown. In the 1970s it was Lavender Hall, famous for the tree that grew through the main dining area. John and Barbara Paglione were married in a garden in the rear. That area was now fantastic outside patio dining. We would return with Kwaits for an afternoon lunch, separate tables, being Covid together. We also had lunches at Lovin Oven in Frenchtown and a Sunday brunch at Barley Sheaf (excellent, want to get back soon). Our anniversary dinner( August) with Kwaits was at the Golden Pheasant. Outside, canal seating. Delicious meal. Another dinner with Kwaits, after watching Eli play baseball, was Basta Pasta in Skippack.

In early November 2020 after a Gladwyne visit we made 5 o’clock outside reservations at Earl’s in Lahaska. I forgot it would be dark and get colder. They had tables in the front courtyard. We joined several other occupied tables, kept on our winter coats and enjoyed a mainly seafood dinner. Frequently I will order several appetizers — calamari, clams or oysters, lobster something, scallops, maybe mussels.

Yardley Inn

Pineville Tavern

Pineville Tavern

For Christmas I’ve purchased gift cards Pineville Tavern and the Yardley Inn(20 or 25% discount). Last year I also ordered discounted cards from Villa Rosa. Very good pizza and other typical Italian dishes. We go there more than De Lorenzo’s (I think two covid takeouts). We did a fair amount of take-out with gift cards. Pineville Tavern put up a nice tent and later a greenhouse with a lot of plants. We ate outside there several times, weather permitting. Once with the Pelcs, our Peace Corps friends. We also joined them at Firepoint in Newtown Square where they live. Very modern, good food.

In February 2021 we had lunch at Cornerstone in Wayne with the Dehnes. Ocassionally we ate inside if tables were distanced and it wasn’t crowded. We almost always had lunch, weekdays. Some meals stand out. I had a delicious pork shank inside at the Yardley Inn (inside, their tent wasn’t appealing). In the summer we were back at the BlacK Bass (outside deck), The Brick Farm Tavern in Hopewell, and three times we ate at the Rieglesville Inn, once along the canal, another on a outside deck and once in the bar.

Griswold Inn Essez CN

Bar at Griswold

Marshside

Wellfleets from Mac’s

In August we were on Cape Cod. On the way to and coming home we spent the night at the Griswald Inn in Essex, CN. A great stop. We ate three dinners at the Inn. Each in a historic room. Twice I ordered a scallop app and the tastiest gazpacho (with white bean I think) I have ever had. I also ordered a Mint Julep one night and a Grand Marnier. Have been enjoying cocktails and after dinner drinks more frequently. And of course craft beer and cider. This year during our two weeks on the Cape we ate out more frequently. Diane and I went to Mac’s Shack in Wellfleet. Had to have local oysters and little necks, followed by a sushi entry. Wow. We also got hard to get reservations at Pisces (lobster dishes, garlic clams, key lime — always a favorite). With Kwaits we tried LaBella Vita in Orleans. Just OK. Our Anniversary dinner with Kwaits was Marshside, lots of seafood. I really like their setting, drinks on the porch overlooking marsh. We went there for my birthday several years ago.

Back home in Yardley, September 2021, we invited Kathy Corley to Rocco’s at The Brick Hotel. They have nice outdoor seating, fire pits. Lots of seafood on the menu. As we passed into Fall 2021, we finally ventured out to the Mitchener Art Museum. Totally enjoyed the New Hope artist, Robert Beck’s exhibition. Our first post covid museum trip. With Diane’s cousin we ate in a small cafe in Doylestown, Heirloom. Back to the Black Bass with Paglione’s. We had to park on the NJ side and walk across the bridge due to River Road closures due to flooding. In October we decided to go to Anton at the Swan in Lambertville. Back in the 70s, it was ”the” expensive restaurant. Although we occasionally ate in the Swan bar we had only eaten in the formal restaurant once. As suspected the atmosphere was great; food unexciting. Another outing with the Kwaits was Coyote Crossing, a Mexican in Conshohocken. What a great outdoor space. Mid-November we went to Veccio Osteria in Newtown (our second visit); classic Italian, you would never know it was in a shopping center.

In early December, we joined Jerry and Sharon Kline at Jules at Market in Bristol. This was a cancelled get together from the onset of Covid. We did take out once but had never eaten in the restaurant. Very expensive but excellent seafood. This will probably be the end of indoor dining out for some time with a new wave and strain of covid. Back to take out. Christmas Eve we pick up a seven fish dinner from the Canal House Station in Medford, NJ. It’s probably our fourth take out four course dinner from them, Christopher Hirsheimer and Melissa Hamilton (Gabrielle’s sister). For years our favorite restaurant was Hamilton’s Grill in Lambertville until their father Jim died several years ago and the restaurant was sold. Now a price fixe which is disappointing. For Christmas Day we will pick up dinner from Caleb’s in Lahaska. Another four or more time take-out, including last Christmas. And most recently a Hanukkah dinner. Always delicious.

In the coming months we hope to return to many of the restaurants mentioned and try some new ones. Their are several Italian in Ewing, NJ. We hope the Carversville Inn reopens soon. Its been closed since the beginning of Covid. Their escargot and fireplace were always worth the trip. Maybe we’ll venture into Philadelphia. Bon Appetit.

A Different Christmas

I’ve been trying to enjoy these weeks before Christmas. There are so many traditions and memories. Shopping in Lahaska or Princeton, maybe New York City. Buying a live tree to plant in the yard or an exotic from Terrain. Midnight Mass growing up in Bristol. Visits to relatives. German made decorations from Snipes Nursery. The family pollyanna. Setting up the trains. Christmas music on Mill Street. Santa Claus. Trips to to the Flushing, NY Profys. Manhattans and Italian cookies at Grandpops. Watching favorite movies. Christmas Carol at McCarter Theatre. The Nutcracker. Working at ”the store” with father. Mom’s Christmas Eve smelts. Setting up the tree on Christmas Eve. Most years were filled with expectation, excitement, a bit of wonder, joy, peace and maybe a bit of snow. The only down Christmas was 2008 when in early December mother was killed by a hit and run driver on Radcliffe Street.

I’ve written about Christmas several times. This year (and last) are different. I am trying to preserve as much of my best Christmas pasts as possible. This year we bought a small, five foot tree at Seasons in Washington Crossing. We had heard the trees were limited and very expensive. I shopped totally on line. Gift cards, and some speciality foods. Biscotti from Bucks County; panettone from OLIVIERI 1882, shipped from Italy, John and Kira’s Philadelphia chocolate, sweets from Stonewall Kitchen. A new German ornament and art work from a woodworker friend and print from Maine photographer, Peter Ralston.

I finished writing Christmas/New Year cards. I’ve always enjoyed a personal note. But I ran out of cards. So I wrote an Email to some joking that there were fewer cards due to supply issues. And I was also worried about the Post Office that had delivery problems last year. I had thought about printing a letter this year with pictures but it didn’t happen. I’m almost out of ink, blame it on the supply chain chain or maybe, we just didn’t buy enough cards.

Last week I watcher ”The Man Who Invented Christmas (Charles Dickens and ”Christmas Carol”). Delightful. My sister recommended ”The Polar Express.” In waiting are our VHS copies of ”It’s A Wonderful Life (some controversy this year!), ” A Lion in Winter,” and Scrooge (Albert Finney). We watch them every year. Hope the tapes and VHS player holds. I have brought up some records, Christmas and classic. Started with The Nutcracker. Granddaughter Viv was in a Nutcracker production several weeks ago. Fantastic. I also pushed in Christmas classics on Pandora to listen to during morning ablutions. They take longer these days. I ordered one new book, “Christmas Stories: for young and old.” A selection of authors. I Listened to Sinatre Christmas on a Library app. We have set out a beautiful illustrated edition of ”A Christmas Carol,” (you know who) ”A Child’s Christmas in Wales,” (Dylan Thomas) and ”The Box of Delights” (John Masefield). Children’s books still in the closet.

We’re not sure about Christmas Eve or Christmas dinner yet. I have many memories of a full house Mother cooking dinner, with visits from relatives, young and old. Last year we had oyster stew on Christmas Eve. Outside visits from Hawley and Kwaits. Christmas dinner was seafood, clams and calamari, small lobsters. Our takeout at home alone. I think it was from Caleb’s in Lahaska. We may go to Kwaits on Christmas or Sunday. So do we do Christmas Eve or Day take out. Hamilton’s Canal House in Milford, N.J. has a great (expensive) four course; Caleb’s offering is a roast beef. We could also invite Diane’s brother and cousin. Must make a decision soon. I might go to the State store. Haven’t been there since they closed for Covid. Drank most of the hard spirits that were in the pantry in the past yeay plus and have ordered wine from Washington Crossing Vineyard and Martha Stewart. A bottles of Dad’s Hat, Limoncello (too late to make), and grappa would be nice.

There are many things we won’t do this year, due to Covid and my medical issues. No concert or theatre. We drove through the lights of Lahaska but didn’t get out to walk around. Might go to Frenchtown or Princeton but I know Fifth Avenue in NYC is a no go. We won’t get to The Washington Crossing Reenactment. I doubt we’ll get to Philadelphia. Probably no inside restaurant dining. If Lake Afton freezes, I won’t be skating (Eli and Viv will). No visits to family other than the Kwaits, maybe Diane’s brother and cousin. We should make New Year Day ”sauerkraut and pork) at Taylors.

Diane has been putting out the decorations, including a few outside lights, wreaths are on the doors, most gifts bought, cards sent, food, Christmas books, films, music. I’ve made a few phone calls to friends. What more could I ask for. Snow — don’t think so, can hope. A fire — I build one in the Defiant every day starting about 3 or 4 depending on my mood and weather. It will be a memorable Christmas.

Wyeth Connections

Several weeks ago we went to a presentation by Victoria Wyeth at the Main Line Night School. Victoria is the granddaughter of Andrew Wyeth. She speaks regularly about her family, great grandfather N.C, grandfather Andrew, grandmother Betsy, and Uncle Jamie Wyeth. Her regular speaking venue is the Brandywine River Museum where she gives monthly talks (check online). She is not a painter although was a serious photographer. I found it interesting that she went to the Maine Photographic Workshops in the 1990s. (I got serious about photography in the 70s after attending the Photographic Workshops).

Her talks can be different. This one followed the family chronologically. I was familiar with some basic facts but Victoria adds a delightful, if quirky, personal touch. Many of her stories are from personal contact, even interviews. She also documented family members through her photography. In this talk, she started with great grandfather N.C. Wyeth, describing his relationship with his teacher-mentor Howard Pyle, his family and teaching, and his moves to Chadds Ford and Port Clyde Maine. Places stamped today as Wyeth country. N.C. was an illustrator. His illustrations for a Scribner edition of ”Treasure Island,” lead to early fame. He would go on to illustrate many other Scribner children’s books. We own several and I was always drawn to the paintings.

After the talk I read ”N. C. Wyeth: new perspectives,” a catalog of a show at the Brandywine we attended several years ago when I bought it. It’s been a coffee table book that I never read. Like Victoria, the authors describe N.C.’s ambition to be known as an artist-painter. Illustrators were not considered artists. This pushed N.C. to paint a lot of non illustrations. He is still probable most well known for his book illustrations. He also did some advertisements. N.C. traveled West and brought home ”things” to have in his studio, props and costumes to use in his western paintings. Dramatic and delightful. All tell a story.

Victoria next talked about grandfather Andy who at a young age studied under his father N.C. and became the most famous Wyeth painter. I guess I first discovered Andrew at a trip to the Brandywine in the early 70s. We would go annually for many years. Truth be told, in the beginning, I preferred the pirates, cowboys, Indians and soldiers in N. C.s work. But as I read more I came to really like Andrew’s local Chadds Ford and Maine work. Always personal, sometimes brooding, enigmatic, symbolic, life and death. On one trip to Chadds Ford we visited the Kuerner Farm (locals where Andrew hung out and painted), the Wyeth house and studio. More recently we visited the Olson Farm in Cushing Maine (the most famous Wyeth painting on the property is “Christina’s World.”) The day was foggy with rain, the house closed but we wandered the property including the family cemetery where Christina and Andrew are buried. Somehow it seemed so appropriate.

Victoria described Andy’s independence, didn’t give a dam about unfavorable art critic reviews. He painted for himself. Victoria responded to a question about Helga, a model Andy painted hundreds of times, in secret, some nudes. There is a book I’ve read, “Andrew Wyeth, a secret life,” about his relationship with Helga. Betsy, his wife, a strong, devoted caretaker of the Wyeth legend and property was kept in the dark. But Betsy controlled a lot, I was amazed that even today Victoria must get limited permission to use slides on Andrew’s work in her presentations. Grandmother Betsy wanted it that way. In contrast Uncle Jamie was a freer spirit. I find some of his paintings more enigmatic than Andrew’s.

We love Maine. Our friends David and Judy Sears live in Cushing, near Rockland, and have a home on Mantincus Island. Wyeths had connections to Cushing, Port Clyde, Monhegan and several smaller islands off Rockland. There are other artists associated with coastal Maine. Rockwell Kent, George Bellows, Edward Redfield (Bucks County impressionist), and Winslow Homer. Bo Bartlett, who had an exhibit at PAFA when Jenny was married, has a house on Mantinicus.

For the past year I’ve read a political news “ Letter” by Heather Cox Richardson, a Maine resident and historian at Boston College. Occasionally on Sunday rather than writing, she posts a photograph usually by Maine photographer Peter Ralston from Rockport (home of Maine Photographic Workshops and minutes from Rockland and Cushing). Not much of a surprise but Ralston was/is friends with the Wyeth clan. He’s taken many photographs of them. Check out his website: https://www.ralstongallery.com/

I couldn’t resist and ordered a print:

The story behind Clearing

“In 1980, Betsy Wyeth bought Allen Island, off Port Clyde, and asked me to help her figure out what to do with it. One of the first priorities was clearing the northern end of the island, knowing that once cleared, the challenge would be keeping the land open. There was one answer to that need, one with great historical precedent, and that was sheep.

We struck a deal to purchase sixteen sheep from the long established flock on an island nine miles away, and made arrangements with two Port Clyde fishermen to help us get the sheep to Allen Island. 

All went well until we got to the other island at which point the skipper resolutely declared, “There’s not a single one of those goddamn things getting on this boat today.” We had no choice but to borrow a dory into which we loaded the sheep.

Towing the laden dory behind SUSAN L, we set a course for Tenants Harbor where two sheep were dropped off on Southern Island. In the course of that particular operation, I decided I would borrow Betsy’s Aquasport from which I could make photographs of SUSAN L towing the dory… a good idea, it turns out, on my part.

On the run to Allen Island, we ran into a fog bank off Mosquito Head and all of a sudden the light went silvery…magical. From the center console of the chase boat I quickly made several photographs as we were sliding into the cat’s paw of fog, Clearing being my hands-down favorite.

No sheep were lost that day, lasting friendships were made, the meadows of Allen Island were on their way, and I made a couple of photographs that would engage people around the world.”

I called my friend, former teacher, now painter, David Sears, who lives in Cushing. We talked: Wyeths, Victoria, N.C. Andrew, Betsy, Jamie, Chadds Ford, Cushing ME, the Olsons, Monhegan, Mantinicus, painters, photographer Peter Ralston, Maine Photographic Workshop. I always enjoy how one thing is connected to another.

President Biden

Several weeks ago i read, ”Joe Biden: the life, the run, and what matters now,” by Evan Osnos (Scribners, 2020). It’s a short book; not a lot of new stuff; but a good summary of Biden. I’m not a crazy cheerleader for Biden, but he is the best we have. I had hoped he’d run in 2016. I thought he had a better chance than Hillary of beating Trump. And I certainly supported him in 2020.

Like all Presidents, Biden makes mistakes. But I think he is sincere, acts on what he believes is best for the country (not what is in his own self-interest). I don’t put a lot of stock in the current criticism. He certainly is not a socialist or communist. That’s a ridiculous smear that has been used by Republicans to label their Democratic opponents for decades. He’s not senile but obviously a senior. Another groundless smear. I don’t think the mainstream (sometimes liberal) press gives him a free ride. Even CNN has been questioning and critical. I think most of his decline in the polls is predominately due to things outside of his control. Number one problem is the almost total opposition from the Trump/Republican party. This is a continuation and growth of Mitch McConnell’s obsession with blocking anything Obama. I appreciate the clarity of Heather Cox Richardson’s letters that trace this mutation of the Republican party since Reagan or even since World War 11. Remember FDR was a socialist!

Biden was given credit for addressing Covid. Now that the virus is mutating, continuing to spread, he is blamed, I guess for not doing enough. How ironic when it is Republicans and Conservative media that deny the seriousness of Covid, rail against vaccines, even try to blame Democrats for “inventing” Omicron to win elections (we can thank Texas Republican Congressman Ronny Jackson and Fox personalities for such absurdity). We read that according to Mark Meadows, his chief of staff, President Trump lied about when he tested positive for Covid, then went to several events unmasked, including a debate with Biden. So let’s blame Joe that Covid is still with us.

Biden’s Infrastructure bill (finally passed) and many of the social programs in his Build Back Better bill are supported by most Americans, but almost no Republicans supported either (remember they will oppose anything Democratic, anything Biden), and the Democratic majority in the Congress is slim. 0ne or two Democrat senators (you know who) can scuttle a bill. I don’t accept that this is Joe’s fault (he is willing to compromise). Presidents may be blamed for or given credit for economic conditions but much is out of their hands. I’ve read Biden blamed for our current inflation but it’s not that straightforward. Many factors are leading to inflation, he didn’t cause it all or can he stop it. When the stock market goes up or down it’s usually not solely because of Presidential policy. Economists are claiming our basic economy is good.

Did Biden make a mistake in the withdrawal from Afghanistan. Maybe. Was his timing off, intelligence lacking. Maybe. I have a difficult time judging many foreign policy decisions. I dont know enough about the situation. The news just provides snippets. I was against the war in Vietnam and though American leaders were making a big mistake but I came to that conclusion after a lot of reading and debates. I haven’t read in depth about current foreign policy issues. I know we need to be honest and tough with dictators and authoritarian governments. I know we need to work with other democracies fighting world issues, be it hunger, aggression, climate change, covid . . . There is no magic wand, only time will tell how well Biden does.

My biggest concern with Biden and the Democrats is their measured, slow reaction to Republican states passing legislation limiting voting rights. For me this is the paramount issue. Biden didn’t steal the election. There was no widespread fraud. However Republicans are using these lies in many state houses.

I hope a majority of Americans give Biden a chance. I hope ”normal” Republicans take back their party. I hope Democrats find some new leadership. If not I fear a misguided, anti-science, conspiracy prone, potentially violent, self-righteous minority will increasingly control our public discourse and government. We cannot let this happen. Stand up for the country, the Constitution, and policies supported by the majority of Americans.