“What leaf, this time of year, is so pale?”  —Carl Phillips

The luna moths had their week earlier this May, and that was  about all the spring we got in the mad rush from winter.  Everything sprung at once — there were fawns and fox kits in the woods, baby minks and bobolinks in the marshes and meadows.  And the stage was set for summer.

In other news, Debbie Meier has a friend visiting during the first week of August with a toddler.  If anyone knows someone who wants to pick up a little babysitting income, please contact Debbie.  And Eva Thaddeus and family are back on the east coast, and we all look forward to their increased presence in the community.

Welcome back everyone.  See you in the pond!

We all love it.  It’s had highs and lows (but mostly highs since the outlet was dammed, although honestly I miss seeing all the tadpoles), but it’s beautiful all day long and the perfect antidote to a sweltering August day.

The pond has recently been stocked with friendly, voracious, vegetarian Grass Carp, in an attempt to control the filamentous algae that has been quickly taking over.  We’re all watching with bated breath to see what happens.  If the algae win, it’s gefilte fish for everyone, and back to square one.  If the fish do their jobs, we can expect a decade or so of weed-free swimming.

I’m adding a dedicated Pond Page to the website.  I’d love to include a history of its making, a schedule of changes, and notes on its various adaptations over the years, but I’ll need some help.  For starters, I’m putting up some basic facts — take a look and see if there’s anything you’d like to add.  If so you can send me a note, or if you want direct editorial access, let me know and I’ll make it so.

It was great to spend a few weekdays up here, enjoying the quiet roads and the woods noisy with birdsong.  Everything is popping out to enjoy the warm weather:  there are minks by the stream, a good assortment of warblers and thrushes in the woods — and the pond is hosting a growing mat of filamentous algae (which, it must be admitted, interferes with a good swim).  Susan is ordering some grass carp which we hope will partly address the problem, and Debbie suggests we acquire a new kayak and/or inflatable raft, so that some of the kids in the community can do some algae-gathering (it’s good for compost and mulch).  For further information, see the link above, and also here.

In other news, I have updated the website, and will be creating new login accounts for everyone.   You should receive an email within 24 hours of this post with your new login information, but if you have any questions, as always, don’t hesitate to contact me.

The new platform allows for more secure file-sharing and a bunch of other features (for starters you will notice that you can sign up for email alerts on site updates in the sidebar, bottom right).  I’m also planning a searchable photo gallery and a page on the pond, but as always, I’m open to suggestions, as well as feedback on the site design, and would welcome contributions (photos or text) by any community member.

The community’s own Martha Bone is being featured at the Ann Street Gallery in Newburgh, and you’re invited!

Opening reception for PRACTICE AND PROCESS

The Ann Street Gallery
104 Ann Street
Newburgh, NY
Saturday November 16th, 6:30- 8:30.

Exhibiting artists: Kathy Goodell, Martha Bone, Stephana McClure, Jill Baroff.

The show is on view from November 16, 2013  through January 11th, 2014, and if you miss the opening it makes a great stop on the road between Hillsdale and New York City — right across the river from the DIA Art Center in Beacon.  Here are links for the Ann Street Gallery, driving directions, and Marty’s website.