Garlic and Berries

I could wait no longer - - and dug up some garlic from the garden. Perhaps I dug these heads up just a bit too soon...they are formed but a tad small. The garlic I dug up today was larger and they have all been delicious. Also, I went foraging for berries today. I picked a quart and used half of them for a custard pie I made with a golden oreo crust. It was quite tasty. Here you see the other half, some of which will go into the rumtopf.

Rumtopf!!!!

Hey gang! After hearing friends recount the story of Lynne Rossetto Kasper's intriguing description of a rumtopf, I have researched the magical rumtopf and have decided to make one. Here's a photo. I just added some gooseberries which caused the splashes on the side of the jar. I hope I'm doing it right, because as Dad said, "[it] will either turn out to be incredible, or you will poison yourself." I'm paraphrasing. Essentially the rumtopf is seasonal fruits juiced in sugar for an hour or so and then put in the pot and covered with rum. This continues through the year and then sits some time before wintertime consumption (again, Dad commented, "Does your fantasy of this thing include fairies?") So far, "meine Rumtopf hat" strawberries, cherries, and gooseberries.

Potato Flowers

The potato plants are flowering - see?

Phone Photo Updates

Hey Gang. Here are some photos from my phone. While visiting Huntington with my sister and her kids, Hudson and I dug up lots of worms and then raced them.

Escape

I should add that the most incredible thing to happen on this trip came from the radio. The Piña Colada song came on the radio and I mentioned how it always reminds me of my friend Heather, as she is one of the few people of my generation who knows that the artist is Rupert Holmes. And then - WOWIE - I drove into a town called Rupert. I called Heather to tell her and she pointed out that I was seeing Rupert homes while hearing Rupert Holmes. Now THAT is incredible.

And somehow, I think the whole time I was Near Kermit...

more photos

Here you see some more of New Vrindaban and then the New River Gorge Bridge and the Gristmill at Babcock State Park. This was my first time driving down into the Gorge to Fayette Station. I now have a better appreciation of the convenience of the new bridge. I haven't been to the mill since my sister and I went there in the early Aughts. Speaking of, I hope she is enjoying my more-detailed elaborations of these photographs. I certainly enjoy hers.

More Palace Photos

New Vrindaban

For a long time now I've wanted to visit the Pradhapada's Palace (aka the Golden Palace) in New Vrindaban, WV. Since I was telling stories at Oglebay this past weekend I made the trek to the Palace - wow, is it ever worth it. The palace has some 30 or so different types of marble, there is incredible moulding and gold leaf, and you can hear the meowing of peacocks from down near the temple. Photography is prohibited inside the temple, which is where the really astonishing beauty is, so look online for photos inside. There is also an award-winning rose garden, a lake, many statues, and a learning center (an Indian woman who spoke maybe ten English words was able to convince use to come back inside to watch a life story video of the Krishna). There wasn't enough time to visit the restaurant or the lodge, but I would have liked to eat there. This was truly one of the most spectacular places I've been to in my life.

Recent Storytelling Travels

Hey Folks - Well, I've been on the road quite a bit recently and here are some photo updates. In this set you see me at the Vandalia Gathering Old Time for Young 'Uns playing the banjo. Also here are photos of the beautiful Camp Caesar where I told stories for the WV Conservation Camp. Everyone there was very friendly and welcoming.