Crocus in bloom- the brave soldiers of spring...Our house birthday corresponds with April Fool's Day. Thirty five years ago on this date, we closed on this handy man's special. The Twiss family had moved out that day; we checked constantly to make sure they were gone, and about 4:00 pm, we brought some blankets, clothes, baby crib, and our son Dan into our new c.1780-1800 house, lit a fire in the fireplace and declared we were home.
The neighbors on the hill almost called the fire company when they saw the smoke encircling the house, but thought better of it when they realized the plume was coming from the chimney.
Dan and Meg knew this as their home and playground until college claimed them. The fields were lush with grass, the meadows burgeoning with tall tansy, goldenrod, and sapling spruce trees. A hike through the forest to the big rock was a thrilling summer or fall afternoon. A ride down the toboggan slope in winter followed by hot chocolate kept us alive and joyful even in the bleak winter days. Summer gardens provided a plethora of fresh flowers and tomatoes. Tasty homemade pies came from the Northern Spy apple tree, the elderberry bushes, and the rhubarb patch. Red and black raspberries were consumed at picking when we were able to beat the birds to the snack.
We have enjoyed these years hosting dozens of family reunions at Christmas and the Fourth of July, neighbor parties, friends old and new. There were teachers who celebrated monumental moments of retirement or moving on to better jobs, and some who came to our screen house to plan educational revolution at Chatham High School.
And now we are warm in our house, content with where we have been. We continue our journey in life. Soon we will be the longest occupants of the house since the day it was built. Today we will plant the tomato seeds indoors. Tomorrow, we will till part of the garden and hope for some spring turnips, peas, and kale; and of course a few rhubarb pies.
We are April's fools.
The neighbors on the hill almost called the fire company when they saw the smoke encircling the house, but thought better of it when they realized the plume was coming from the chimney.
Dan and Meg knew this as their home and playground until college claimed them. The fields were lush with grass, the meadows burgeoning with tall tansy, goldenrod, and sapling spruce trees. A hike through the forest to the big rock was a thrilling summer or fall afternoon. A ride down the toboggan slope in winter followed by hot chocolate kept us alive and joyful even in the bleak winter days. Summer gardens provided a plethora of fresh flowers and tomatoes. Tasty homemade pies came from the Northern Spy apple tree, the elderberry bushes, and the rhubarb patch. Red and black raspberries were consumed at picking when we were able to beat the birds to the snack.
We have enjoyed these years hosting dozens of family reunions at Christmas and the Fourth of July, neighbor parties, friends old and new. There were teachers who celebrated monumental moments of retirement or moving on to better jobs, and some who came to our screen house to plan educational revolution at Chatham High School.
And now we are warm in our house, content with where we have been. We continue our journey in life. Soon we will be the longest occupants of the house since the day it was built. Today we will plant the tomato seeds indoors. Tomorrow, we will till part of the garden and hope for some spring turnips, peas, and kale; and of course a few rhubarb pies.
We are April's fools.
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