“I dream with my eyes open.” –Jules Verne

Onward into a new year after celebrating the heart of the season.

Walk.

Ride much.

Read incessantly. The cozy time of the year is now. Wood stacked and ready, barn full and the scent of pine shavings cushion the floor. Comforters aired and quilts soft and warm, yes, each has repairs but the butter-soft fabric is cherished. After work, filling the wood box and feeding all, the delight of getting under the covers.

Reading lamp overhead has a remote control to operate (Glocusent multi-purpose clip on light, highly recommended). Yes, a small perfect remote to turn off the light from your comfortable sleeping place. At first thought it silly, then tried it from under the covers, drowsy with words and stories in my head. Bliss.)

Thinking of much. Yukitaka Osaki and his gardens. (Do any perennials yet live at his former home? Did he have a donkey and a mule? Pictures of him on what looks like a mule exist, most identify the equine as a donkey.)

“Yukitaka Osaki: William Gillette’s right-hand man, and a fascinating character in his own right. Osaki, who is believed to have been born in 1865 in the village of Matano, District of Tsukui, Province of Sagami, Japan, was one of three sons in a politically active Japanese family. In 1888, Yukitaka and his elder brother, Yukio, first arrived the United States. Yukio eventually travelled to Europe and then returned to Japan to enter a career in national politics. As Mayor of Tokyo, he facilitated giving the famous Japanese cherry trees to Washington, DC in 1912. He is widely revered in Japan and is considered the “Father of the Japanese Constitution”. Yukitaka stayed in the U.S. and became involved with the theater community in New York City. He attended Oberlin Academy, the preparatory school for Oberlin College in Ohio, from 1894-1895. Yukitaka studied philosophy and oratory but did not graduate.

“Around 1896 or 1897, William Gillette hired Osaki to work as a cabin boy on his houseboat, ‘The Holy Terror.' In 1898, Gillette commissioned a new boat, the ‘Aunt Polly,' reputably to honor Polly Caruthers, an elderly “mountain woman” he’d met while residing in Tryon, North Carolina. It was launched in 1900 and expanded in 1901. Gillette brought Osaki onboard to continue his work for Gillette on the new vessel. Osaki subsequently became Gillette's valet and stage dresser, an indispensable assistant on the future Gillette estate and a personal confidante to Gillette himself.” —Friends of Gillette Castle State Park.

Huh. This came to light while between trails at Gillette Castle State Park, a place much visited. Yet more to discover. Inside the visitor center, a rack of books and on that rack, Aunt Polly.

Old paths. New insight. Urban walks, wild hikes. With imagination and curiosity to propel the way, so much to see and do. From Saybrook and Indian Town (wondering what exists under the community here now, are there artifacts and shell middens?), to the Osaki House and a man on a donkey riding into Hadlyme. His brother, who gifted the nation with cherry trees for Washington, D.C. Hot cider and cheer by a bonfire at what is now a state park, so many questions. Essex Land Trust's spiral-bound book to find wonders–enormous trees, quirky paths to nowhere (a treat awaits walkers who find this trail and follow it to the end), stops at every town's library to browse and let magic happen. Chance encounters, recommendations. Pure joy.

Walks fuel a life. Rides feed the soul. Books ignite stories and more curiosity, calm the spirit. Love this time of year, it's for burrowing under the covers and delighting in reading, dreaming. Rest and renewal, as nature does.

See this house?
In the 1690 farmhouse is a kitchen where a beloved author Gladys Taber not only stirred up satisfying meals for body and soul, she also dreamed, lived, faced power outages, food shortages in World War II, change and crisis. And she wrote, distilling life into words that still speak.

Her books fill shelves and run the gamut from fiction (not as well known), to those about her home, beloved dogs and cats, Cape Cod, recipes, friends, gardens. When she wrote about finding an old farmhouse in the country (in a snowstorm) with her friend, “Jill” – and the ensuing trials, tribulations and happiness – first in a column “Diary of Domesticity” (Ladies' Home Journal), then “Butternut Wisdom” (Family Circle), then books – readers responded. Decades later, devoted fans share their passion for her work on social media. On Pinterest alone there are pages and pages of images that feature aspects of her life and work. Taber's family and friends and neighbors are remembered; their stories woven into her writing.

“As for the children – once when I was making doughnuts, I was greatly flattered because Don and Cicely stood beside me and engaged me in charming conversation. After a time, I noticed that no matter how many plump doughnuts were laid on the brown paper to drain, the number never increased. The children were eating them as fast as they were fried and keeping up remarkably well.” – Stillmeadow Kitchen by Gladys Taber.

Now for a roundup of sorts, more trails to follow, thinking on the intertwined bits of life that mysteriously turn up. Turned on the viewing screen aka TV) and there was the Griswold Inn in Essex, Monday nights sea chanteys (shanteys?) via Yankee's reporting on PBS. Chance? I think not. Thank you, Ian Basilone.

“Wonder. Go on and wonder.” –William Faulkner

Oooh. The finding and learning more that can happen.

Deep River, CT.

#aviation #WWII

Gliders

The central section of this factory was completed by Pratt, Read & Co. Inc. in September 1942, for the assembly of CG-4A military gliders.

The company's Gould Aeronautical Division was one of 16 prime contractors…

(*Complete sign text -> ALT.)

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— Moo Dog Press (@moodogpress.com) December 1, 2024 at 6:11 PM

Note: Yes, this story has been updated.