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Sunday in Ithaca
Monday, 27 August 2007 11:08 amSunday was... hilly. I didn't get enough sleep, by a long shot- I was too excited to sleep until exhaustion hit me over the head after 1; I was up at 7:30 as usual.
In the morning, we checked out of the B&B, which was preparing for a 3-day visit from Time Magazine, who are doing a spread on EcoVillage. My parents drove into town for Unitarian services. I drove the other way up the hill to Quaker Meeting, in the hundred-year-old Quaker Meeting House out in the country. It's a wonderful old building, conducive to a very deep quiet Meeting. The windows have a wonderful wavy texture, and the trees outside are usually the loudest sound you can hear, aside from the occasional bench creaking and a car on the road. The building smells like well-oiled antique wood. And I think it will always feel like a home to me.
At the rise of Meeting I explained why I was visiting this weekend- and asked that people keep us in their thoughts as my parents try to make the best decision, and as I try to not be impatient or influence their decision toward what I'd like them to do. Afterward, I spoke with a number of retired people who wanted to say how happy they were to end up in Ithaca- including two who are tree-farmers like my dad. I wish he could've met them on this visit.
Lunch was with my parents at a friend's house in EcoVillage- Graham has a neat straw-bale house, which is somewhat similar in design to what my parents were aiming for when they built their house 25 years ago. But Graham had the benefit of an entire community of crafts-people to help build it. We talked about co-housing and its plusses and minuses, and marvelled at her garden. She's got a single cherry-tomato bush that was easily the size of 5 regular tomato bushes. They pick two quarts of cherry tomatoes a day. It's apparently all in the compost.
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lee_ellen came by, and we all sat and talked. Eventually my parents left, I stayed for another bit and reluctantly got on the road. A few parts of the drive were fun. I listened to four hours of podcasts, and I made great time once I was finished with Hamilton. Also, I had a good visit behind me, which sustained my spirits. But the border and the hour on either side were just a drag. I was so glad to get home, see melted_snowball and roverthedog, and wake up in my own bed.
In the morning, we checked out of the B&B, which was preparing for a 3-day visit from Time Magazine, who are doing a spread on EcoVillage. My parents drove into town for Unitarian services. I drove the other way up the hill to Quaker Meeting, in the hundred-year-old Quaker Meeting House out in the country. It's a wonderful old building, conducive to a very deep quiet Meeting. The windows have a wonderful wavy texture, and the trees outside are usually the loudest sound you can hear, aside from the occasional bench creaking and a car on the road. The building smells like well-oiled antique wood. And I think it will always feel like a home to me.
At the rise of Meeting I explained why I was visiting this weekend- and asked that people keep us in their thoughts as my parents try to make the best decision, and as I try to not be impatient or influence their decision toward what I'd like them to do. Afterward, I spoke with a number of retired people who wanted to say how happy they were to end up in Ithaca- including two who are tree-farmers like my dad. I wish he could've met them on this visit.
Lunch was with my parents at a friend's house in EcoVillage- Graham has a neat straw-bale house, which is somewhat similar in design to what my parents were aiming for when they built their house 25 years ago. But Graham had the benefit of an entire community of crafts-people to help build it. We talked about co-housing and its plusses and minuses, and marvelled at her garden. She's got a single cherry-tomato bush that was easily the size of 5 regular tomato bushes. They pick two quarts of cherry tomatoes a day. It's apparently all in the compost.
lee_ellen came by, and we all sat and talked. Eventually my parents left, I stayed for another bit and reluctantly got on the road. A few parts of the drive were fun. I listened to four hours of podcasts, and I made great time once I was finished with Hamilton. Also, I had a good visit behind me, which sustained my spirits. But the border and the hour on either side were just a drag. I was so glad to get home, see melted_snowball and roverthedog, and wake up in my own bed.
