Autumn Colors In the Winter

 We have reached the stage when most of us are tired of winter. The nandina shrubs in my neighborhood have now changed from Christmasy red and green to the faded slightly gold-tinted shades that remind me of autumn. Although the berries remain, most wildlife avoid them,  knowing that they can be toxic. As they shrivel and turn more of an orange-red they serve only as bright decorations till the spring bulbs begin to flower.

Valentine Chocolates

 You could say that prime Chocolate Season runs from Halloween through Easter. Halloween is just a warm-up, with basic snack sized candy bars. Christmas gets us into the better stuff, but it’s Valentine’s Day when chocolate really shines. This is a good excuse to indulge in rich, beautifully formed bonbons nestled in fluted papers. A heart shaped box makes them even more of a treat. Admire the artistry but go ahead and enjoy them!

One Year, George Maciunas

 George Maciunas became a part of the New York City avant garde movement known as Fluxus. He worked as an artist and graphic designer, among many other pursuits. Plagued by poor health for most of his life, something compelled him to save most of the packaging that came into his home during one year in the 1970s. Perhaps it was the graphic appeal of the sugar bags, milk cartons and plastic lids.  His longtime interest in compiling and organizing charts reveals itself the stacks of boxes and cans. Can the detritus of everyday life become art if we declare it to be so? Mr Maciunas believed this to be true. Go to the Museum of Modern Art and decide for yourself whether or not you agree.

No Bus Today

 Last Saturday night the snow started. On Sunday it changed to alternating freezing rain and sleet. For most of the day, that tiny, icy crystalline sound tapped at the windows. Now we have learned a new word for what was left behind: snowcrete. That’s what you get when a thick later of ice tops several inches of snow. Neighbors worked with tools as varied as flat coal shovels and pick axes to slowly dig out cars and walkways. When the plows finally began to scrape the streets, they shoved the snowcrete onto driveways and sidewalks. The bus stop is not accessible yet. It’s blocked by snowcrete boulders that remain sturdy in this subfreezing weather. At night, our side yard shimmers in the moonlight, ready for rabbits and foxes to skate on it while we sleep.