That was an expression often uttered by my Grandmother Cushman when faced with a certain state of affairs. Suffice it to say that, were she alive today, it would be ringing out daily and with particular vigor. As plots thicken politically, personal constitutions stretch and reputations crumble, diversionary tactics of epic proportions are employed by us all. Our mental and moral health depends on epic creative strategy. Here’s some of mine.
Hey, I’m walkin’ here!!
No longer solely the habitat of dog walkers and cyclists, pathways both urban and rural are getting more use than ever. Discovering a trail close to home and offering a unique perspective on our own backyards is both meditative and stimulating. Here’s some local favorites:
Quequechan River Rail Trail in Fall River, MA
Slocum’s River Reserve in Dartmouth, MA
Ellisville Harbor State Park in Plymouth, MA
Governor Oliver Ames Estate in Easton, MA
Acushnet Sawmill in Acushnet, MA
Pratt Farm Conservation and Recreation Area Trail in Middleboro, MA
Everybody’s going surfin’!
Tired of walking? Weather too crappy to venture out for a walk? My go-to internet wandering is now almost exclusively on Instagram (ok, and Atlas Obscura, but that’s a whole blog post in itself). IG offers deep rabbit holes leading to the beautiful, the social and the just plain wacky. Unlimited visual stimulation. Here’s just four of my multitude of Follows.
Just enjoying my coffee…
There is NOTHING I enjoy more than finding a new “coffee destination.” While traveling in the past, I perfected my skills at rooting out small, independent cafes and stalls from which to get my fix and hang with fellow caffeine addicts. Nowadays, restricted to a day drive, it has been surprising how many cool little venues are right down the road. Who knew? Here’s a few favs:
Restoration Coffee - East Bridgewater, MA
The Better Bean - Bridgewater, MA
Kiskadee Coffee - Plymouth, MA
Redeye Roasters - Hingham, MA
Sunrise Bakery - Dartmouth, MA
Cool Beans Cafe - Narragansett, RI
Gray’s Daily Grind - Westport, MA
X never, EVER marks the spot!
Searching for local historic, and prehistoric sites has always been part of my DNA. As a pre-teen, I spent many long days in the woods and swamps near my house, looking for cellar-holes, millstones, Native American artifacts and old dump sites. Antique bottles were a particular passion for awhile. Now, living in the heart of Wampanoag country, and with time to entertain myself, I’ve taken to the woods once again. Recently, I was rewarded (thanks to the drought) with a full, easily accessed view of a famous inscribed rock on the shores of Assawompsett Pond. This rock has a long history, and though not as known as the famous Dighton Rock, it is a fascinating relic of history, bearing chiseled and dated inscriptions from as far back as the 1700’s, as well as pecked out prehistoric marks, such as a hand and foot silhouette. In fact, Henry David Thoreau wrote about seeing them in his Journals in the late 1800’s. Quite a local landmark.
Calmer than you
Let’s face it, NOBODY is calm right now. All we can do is hold on for the ride with all our emotional, spritual and moral strength until it comes to a conclusion. The stuff and nonsense above are just a few tools that I think are worth sharing. I’d love to hear what’s in your utility belt! Pax vobiscum.