A couple of sunny days are most welcome, especially when accompanied by the warmth provided by the sun.
It’s still a mystery to me why our country’s movers and shakers don’t push for more use of solar energy. Probably too logical an idea, and besides, many of our leaders depend on the profits of the oil companies to assure their comfort.
Another mystery to me is why Windham doesn’t have a public farmers’ market. Perhaps if we ever get a public park developed, this could be an adjunct use. We seem to hear a lot about the “rural lifestyle” sought by newcomers, and yearnings by old-timers for the good old days.
Those good old days included gardens, lots of them, and many market gardens covering acres and acres with corn, beans and berries. Nowadays, housing developments don’t have yards big enough for much of a garden and the supermarkets’ produce sections are great, but not the same as getting fresh, local produce. A farmers’ market could provide a place for sale of all kinds of agricultural products including vegetables, fruits and all the affiliated items like jams, jellies, syrups, baked goods, etc. One central place with plenty of parking – I bet it could be a big success. What do you think?
I’ve been searching for a house to rent in Windham and I’ll tell you, the market is skimpy to say the least. There aren’t a lot of apartments either, and apparently the renting public is not supposed to have any pets, but several thousand dollars up-front. If we had that kind of ready cash, we’d be looking to buy a house. Yes, senior housing tempts but the waiting lists discourages when one has only a few weeks to find a place. It’s not as though I seek wall-to-wall carpeting and birch cabinets – I just want a place that doesn’t leak and has a working septic system. And where my dear felines will be comfortable, as well. I’d even be willing to have a wood stove as long as the chimney worked. Oh well, something will come along, I’m sure – there are always the two or three tents stored in my shed.
Dandelions cover the backyard and it reminds me of those long-ago days when the appearance of this “weed” prompted my mother and others in her generation to spend a few hours digging them up, cutting off the roots and washing those small green plants. They would then be put into a kettle of water along with a small chunk of salt pork (from that crock in the cellar) and boiled, drained and served with butter and a little vinegar. Delicious!! I never took to fiddleheads, another edible plant, but greens of any kind were a welcome part of many spring meals.
When I was a pupil at John Andrew School in South Windham, kids used to watch as women from the village, including Mrs. Pecoraro, took to the fields behind the school, digging up dandelions, piling them into a big basket.
In another week, hundreds of former Windham High School students will gather for the annual Alumni banquet at the Middle School cafeteria. This is one of the oldest traditions of the town, and in fact the Alumni Association is the oldest local organization still going strong after more than 85 years. The deadline for reservations is today, May 12 – and if you’re late, and want to attend, e-mail me at kso48@aol.com or call Tammy Haskell (listed in the phone book under Michael and Tammy) and get your name on the list. The cost is $10 per person for a home-cooked roast pork dinner.
See you next week!
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