Under a Tree

During the past weekend it was likely you sat under a tree in your backyard or at the public park to relax or enjoy a picnic. We take for granted how trees protect and shelter, provide cleaner air and shade from the opressive heat of summer.
You might think the present administration is too busy in the middle east, they are reported to be preparing to dismantle acts that prevent the deforestation of America's unpaved and tree filled spaces. That would be wrong. The Sierra Club Sierra Club.comhas posted the information and is asking that we inform our representatives to stop the rampant destruction of acres of trees in the Tognass(alaska) and other remaining undeveloped areas of this country. Please speak out against those who are intent to rape and exploit the land for profit. Memorial Day reminds us more than ever that the rights of all Americans come with responsibility to protect and defend that which is most important to all.

Where everybody knows his name...

After helping a friend move some things into their new apartment we went to dinner at Billy's Oak Grove in Egg Harbor, NJ. You'd easily drive by this pub/restataunt if you were motoring toward Atlantic City down Route 30. If you go you must try the homemade desserts. Just imagine Chocolate Peanut Butter pie, two inches tall. So tempting I wanted to eat desssert first!
Everyone that goes there goes to see their friend Billy. He smiles radiantly, as if you are his long lost friend, which in my case is true. Friends in high school we just lost touch with each other. He greets everyone by name...some classmates still stop in from time to time. None of them are recognizable to me however. Billy's is comfy quaint little setting with antiques, newspapered walls, and good food.
There were six or seven beers on tap. Every seat filled with patrons trying to enjoy an extra happy hour. The old oak bar had icicle lights tastefully hanging above with some seasonal floral display. Against the old oak walls the lights/flowers are like twinkling stars in the night sky. The dining room menu is limited, mostly well made sandwiches, salads and appetizers. The highlight was the homemade Peanut Butter Chocolate Pie. You must try it next time you're in the neighborhood. I first went to see an old friend, but I'll keep going for good food and GREAT desserts!

Hot Javier

I just read that my favorite spanish actor(Javier Bardem), is talking with Milos Forman to star in a film bio-pic about the 18th century painter Francisco de Goya. Natalie Portman may be the leading lady. Move over Antonio fans! See Variety or Google news. His latest movie Mondays in the Sun received less than stellar reviews on mlive. com. If you haven't seen The Sea Inside what are you waiting for? It is the story of...nah, see for yourself! Where are the pic's you ask? Well, I'm still working on that......

HERE COMES THE SUN

I awoke to the sound of birds singing. Yeah, Yeah, yeah. It appears that the bright blue sky has returned to sounth jersey's largest city. Let me suggest that you take a walk at the park, play ball with the kids, or get out there and do some gardening. Whatever make you happy. It's not too late to plant a tree, if we hurry. Did you know that one acre of trees will provide enought oxygen for eighteen people every day?

Home Sweet Home

A moving company, my nephew and a few friends have finally gotten my Mom from her too small two bedroom house into a one bedroom apartment. Every step along the way was a battle as I tried to pursuade her to rid herself of fourty years of excess stuff. Do you really need three vcr's and a dvd? Love my Mom but...why when you redecorate do you keep the old style stuff? Why would you think that someone else would want it if you didn't? I never thought that she would actually sell her home and move to an apartment, no less. Forty years we lived in EHC all I remember is her saying that she did not like the town,or the house chosen by my Dad. That it was too small for a family of five, yada, yada, yada...I think of myself as a reasonable adult and decide that all these boxes are at her new home, not mine. If she is happy so am I. When I left you could barely get the bathroom door shut or walk down the hall. But when I noticed we were carring the same boxes back and forth I nearly lost it. Irony abounds there were about three hundred pieces of plastic storage ware and three sets of cookware for a woman who only cooks apple pies and specialty dog foods. (that's another story). My dear Mom has become like my paternal Grandmom who was never her favorite person. For forty years all I heard was that Gran was a packrat. She believed in saving everything for recycling and reuse but come on when you cannot walk down the halls, hang a cost in the closet, enough already. I guess the stress was overwhelming for Mum, now 70 plus years of age.
Remarkably she transformed that energy into something positive. I hope that she'll be happy in the new place without all the maintenance and garden chores. As a parting gesture I sat with a friend on the covered patio that my Dad built so many years ago. I will miss the old house and the fenced in garden. I know my Dad would not approve of me venting this way. I can almost hear him now saying "kid what goes on in this house, stays in this house." Too bad that didn't apply to stuff! s

A greener world.

Junk mail is a bi-product of modern life and most fothe time you probably just throw it away or shred it. Last week I received something with RFK, Jr. in the corner and I admit I was curious. RFK is the attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council. His letter had some interesting things to say about pending legislation and actions that may bring DESTRUCTION to our envioronment. Did you receive this and just discard it? I implore you to visit the NRDC web site:www.nrdc.org for more information on issues of air quality, deforestation, mercury poisoning, pollution of our waterways, oil and gas drilling in places like Yellowstone and redrock canyon. Heard enough the reports are that they are trying to excuse major corporations from the Clean Air Act. The NRDC is asking for petitioners to speak out against dismantling safeguards that took thirty years to get where we are today. They are asking for quick responses and action of the American people to let our senators and the President know that this is vitally important to us all!
As a gardener I feel responsible to protect the environment that is beyond my backyard. When I wrote the first draft this morning I heard birdsong and saw beautiful skies full of billowy clouds. Do you want to live in a world where there are no birds to greet the morning, no amber sunsets due to polluted skies. Do we want a world that is unsafe for ourselves and our children? Please support the NRDC, Sierra Club and others who advocate for a greener world.
"www.nrdc.org"

Zelda Parker