The Music Man

A surprise bloom here in the final weeks of summer and it is a real beauty: tall, seemingly delicate, yet they are staying vertical by some magical power, I'd say!  Google images seems to support that they may be amaryllis--which, of course, reminded me of Professor Harold Hill of Music Man fame and the little girl who played Marian, madame librarian's piano student: Amaryllis.

Meanwhile we are also experiencing a late summer surge in guests--though that in itself is not unusual. Our Sunday liturgies have been larger than usual for the past few weeks and I believe the "culprit" is family reunions. Happy, laughing multi-generational groups seem to be with us every week, many we certainly know, of course, and we look forward to seeing these out-of-towners every year.

One of the blessings many of our sisters give us when they pass onto eternal life is a continuing relationship with their family members. It keeps our memories of them warm and alive. We are indeed blessed.

Our beloved creek-pt 3

This isn't along the creek, I just put it in because the Black-eyed Susans are blooming all over our place right now and since that's how I got my name (according to Mom) I like the sight of them!

Here's the new bank and top of the bend in Seven-Mile Creek. If you look back a couple days you'll see these large rolls of material and here they are all laid out along the bank. They are held in place by small metal hooks that go right into the ground, placed about every 5 ft.along the perimeter.  It appears to be a sort of firm base for the grass, plants and trees that we are told will be planted all along here.

Here's the same area, but looking the opposite way, upstream. Notice, too, the large stones that have been laid along the incline. The whole area looks quite natural, yet engineered, if that makes any sense. How about this: the best of environmental engineering working in sync with nature!

Books

I came upon this school-is-almost-here reminder when I stopped by "my" branch of the Erie County library--it's in Lawrence Park (3 miles from us). I did speak to the girls and they responded by saying that they were at band camp (I presumed at the high school across the street) and had a 45 minute break, so they came over to the library for some quiet. (Notice how they are deeply engrossed in their books.)

They were cute and made me nostalgic for my 25 years of teaching high school. This nostalgia is always greatest at the beginning of a new school year and that is right now.

Secondly, I am reading a quirky book and I do love anything quirky! The title is The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett. It's a little book, in size and length, and is one continuous chapter about the Queen of England suddenly becoming addicted to books--and what effect that this constant reading has on her, her obligations and every other person in her life.

Here's part of Publisher's Weekly's review: "Briskly original and subversively funny, this novella sends Queen Elizabeth II into a mobile library van in pursuit of her runaway corgis and into the reflective, observant life of an avid reader. Guided by Norman, a former kitchen boy and enthusiast of gay authors, the queen gradually loses interest in her endless succession of official duties and learns the pleasure of such a common activity. Bennett has fun with the proper behavior and protocol at the palace, and the few instances of mild coarseness seem almost scandalous. It's a fun little book."

Our beloved creek-pt. 2

The environmental engineers are hard at work on our creek, making it healthier, to put it in a nutshell.

Here are this week's efforts--primarily shoring up the bank, especially at a near 90 degree bend.

Our annual LLL days

Our annual Learning, Leisure and Legislation summer community days are this week and they already are off to a very good start. Great conversations and sharings Wednesday on issues on our past, present and future that engage and energize all of us. Tuesday night LLL opened with a lovely Evening Prayer followed by a dinner and celebration of our six jubilarians this year: three 70-year celebrants, two 60-year celebrants and one Golden jubilarian.

Leisure time gives us a chance to "be around" in a different way than ordinary days. Here are two sites that caught my eye already:

Our inner courtyard Blessed Mother is surrounded by clematis and hydrangea these days and they are truly stunning.

Out on East Lake Rd, down by the entrance to Glinodo you'll find this old, weather-worn, utilitarian fire hydrant. Never noticed, never needed (hopefully). But, at this time of year the roadside chicory circles it with a kind of beauty it certainly isn't used to!

Shuffling off

Throughout the summer, in every Sunday newspaper, we've seen large PR inserts for tourist attractions in the summertime in Buffalo, NY. Now this is the Buffalo that ended only 2" behind us in the winter snowglobe snow accumulation contest for winter 2016-17!

We have a friend that is a Buffalo native and we accompanied her to Canalside, the summer events in downtown Buffalo and I have to say, "They are wonderful." Additionally, a large part of them are free, parking is also free or reasonable (depending on what you find) and there were people galore enjoying the water activities, the gorgeous gardens, the tours, music and food. I highly recommend it if you live in the area and would like a one-day getaway.

Here's the view from our lunch table, kayaks and a bike pedaling pontoon for one! They added a floating Tiki bar this year, too.

Both a large plastic checkers and chess set can be played on the boardwalk.

The gardens are beautiful and they line 1/2 mile or so of riverside walkways.

Military monuments and older ships are in permanent dock along the river, too. They are so big!

Though many of Buffalo's factories of the 20th century are abandoned, General Mills is still there. They produce Gold Medal flour, Lucky Charms and Cherrios. The smell was evidence of their production.

Our beloved creek

Seven-Mile Creek is getting a long-awaited assistance this week as the work to improve the creek's flow, clean up the creek generally and strengthen the sides and counter the effects of erosion have begun.

Thanks to an environmental grant that will cover the great majority of the work, our beloved creek (and a favorite among fishing folk, hikers and guests) will be given a much-needed environmentally sound new look.

Here's a photo from over 3 years ago of the "island" of shale that was accumulating in the middle of it.

And here's how it looks today---along with other work-in-progress photos.