Well, it's not quite like this yet, but it will be soon. The squirrels are hoarding food, mice are building nests (but why in my air cleaner?), and the Christmas decorations are going up. BUT - the first of the seed catalogs are arriving, so Spring can't be too far away.

Northwest Connecticut, August -
How many people realize that EVERY THIRD bite of food you eat has been affected in some way by a bee? Our bees are dying and while there are several theories as to why, there is no clear answer. Many varieties of plants depend on the pollination the bees provide, and without the bees, there would be no apples, avocados, peaches, pears, etc. Think very carefully about the sprays used in your gardens, on your lawns, on your flowers. Use natural alternatives whenever possible, or use nothing. Is a perfect lawn or planting border worth the loss of these hard working girls? (The guys stay home and keep house-hive).
Burts Bees and Haagen-Dazs are both very involved in funding research into colony collapse disorder, the most current threat to our bees. Support them, buy their products, have an apple, make some guacamole and - thank a bee.

Requiem

July 9, 2008 - The Gong Bell Water Tower has been taken down. I wonder how many people will even notice that it is gone? When you see something every day, it becomes a part of the landscape of the town; a symbol of the manufacturing history that once was. Hopefully the town will do something appropriate with the property after it has been cleaned up - a small park perhaps?

At 1:30 today they held a "ribbon-cutting" to begin the demolition of the Gong Bell water tower. The Gong Bell Co. made toys with bells in them during the early and middle part of the 20th century, many of which are very collectible now. East Hampton was (and is) known as "Belltown, USA", due to the number of companies producing bells here beginning in the mid-1800's. The Bevin Bros. Mfg. Co. is the only one left in East Hampton (and the the US) now, still producing fine bells after over 150 years.
I know that the tower is old and unsafe, I understand the liabilities involved - BUT - I would like to think that the ceremony is a send-off for the landmark, rather than a "good riddance" to something that once stood as a monument to manufacturing in East Hampton, and the US in general. Having grown up here and seeing the tower every day, I will miss it, for it is one more thing from East Hampton's past that has gone the way of the bulldozer. The tower has looked over our town for almost 80 years and has seen a great deal of history come and go - the last train through in 1964, the fire in 1973 that burned down the Gong Bell factory and the commercial expansion and residential development that changes forever the small towns these sentinels protected. Rest in peace.

Just Around the Corner ...

Can't you just smell the hot grease - disks of dough dusted with sugar - I can feel my cholesterol climbing right now.

Hampton Beach, New Hampshire in the off season.