A Change of Seasons

Summer has transitioned into Autumn in a most quiet way.

Maybe it wasn't so noticeable because this Summer was so downright pleasant. We barely had a heatwave and the uncomfortable humidity of the hot New York Summers was practically non-existent. I think there were a couple of hot and humid days in August and about a week in mid-September which is odd as September is one of the most pleasant weather months. Our crisp cool mornings and evenings are here and it is the best sleeping weather. The garden is dying back, the Montauk Daisies are making their entrance as the rubdeckias and coneflowers fade away.

The Morning Glories which usually last way into October are drying up fast due to our mini drought but some still manage to find their way into obscure little places,

the trees are slowly starting to turn,

and the pumpkin patches are taking over.

What a beautiful sight they are.

Time to start cooking stewy dishes.

 Scallops in Stewed Chickpeas and Tomatoes adapted from Saveur

Braised Beef Stew with Garlic Cream adapted from Saveur

We have new neighbors moving in next door, that's the second new family on the block this year and the house at the corner is for sale...a change of seasons alright. And the world goes round.

And then some things never change.

Guns and Ammo

I rarely get political or too personal in this forum, it's an escape for me bringing levity, a little bit of whimsy from the day to day problems and dealings. I'm sure most of those who read my blog, and those who I've interacted with beyond it, would deduce that I am a Liberal. Not a bad word as the first George Bush made it out to be, not at all, I am quite proud to be a Liberal because to me it means tolerance and open mindedness which is a pretty good way to be as far as I'm concerned.

But enough of that. Here is the reason for this post. Yet again we have had a mass shooting in the US of A, not far off from the one 2 months ago and 2 months before that and 2 months before that and so on and so on and so on. The routine of our country. People going on about their ordinary lives of going to the movies, a restaurant, a walk...school...not feeling secure that some madman with a gun ...or seven...who is clearly not well in the head, because how could anyone do this if they are not crazy, comes by and starts randomly picking people off. Nice. The guy in Oregon was crazy as a loon, he had learning disabilities and behavioral issues all his life yet HE WAS STILL ABLE TO BUY SEVEN, NOT ONE, NOT TWO, BUT SEVEN GUNS. How hard is this to get? The second amendment of our constitution does NOT say we can all own guns, it talks about a citizens' militia to defend the country against invasion, written at a time when we had just won a war of independence.

We are a very long way from that time and place. Yet the politicians kowtow to the NRA because they back their campaigns and elections, anything for money...except maybe one day it will be their granddaughter. Too late.

I never thought the NRA could be beaten, they are that powerful but then I read this post from our friend Jane which, unfortunately, has come at a very opportune moment.

I thought change would surely come after the Newtown massacre. How can the murder of twenty six year olds not be a wake up call? How many more have we had since then because nothing changed?

I am more afraid of the nutcase with a gun in my country than any terrorist.

Please sign the petition because this madness needs to stop:

http://act.credoaction.com/sign/NRA_Congress?sp_ref=152259117.4.16166.e.0.4&referring_akid=.9404045.mG6y1l&source=mailto_sp


As President Obama once very eloquently said:


Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.

And yes, by all means...pray.