random thoughts – Day 2,380 (Sunday) – tori day

Tori at Saima Park.

The quest of visiting fall events continues. It’s the crazy time of year when everything is happening at once before the season turns to winter and bad weather can sweep in and really mess up the best planned events. Attending the Lowell Kinetic Sculpture Race on Saturday meant missing the Johnny Appleseeed Festival in Leominster. After I was home from Lowell, I learned there was also an Indie Book Festival in nearby Winchendon, but it was too late to get to it before it ended. Maybe next year.

Today was the Tori (Finnish Market) at Saima Park from 10-2. For a few years I had dance class on Sunday mornings until noon and by the time I left class, the car would just autopilot home and I would be just far enough away when I remembered the tori that it felt too late to turn back.

This morning, I got my arse into gear and dressed for the chilly damp weather. It was drizzling with rain predicted for later, which I thought would keep the attendance low, but at around 10:30, the place seemed crowded. An attendant directed cars to the few open spots on the lawn near the pavilion, but I found a spot outside the gate and grabbed it. My hair was still damp from the shower and a walk in the drizzle wasn’t going to make it any worse. My friend who was working at the event thought maybe more people had come early to avoid the heavier rain predicted for the afternoon.

Tori haul.

Vendor tables lined the perimeter under the pavilion with another island of tables set in the center. My first target was The Kitchen Garden’s table for coffee bread and rusk, which is hard toasted thin slices of coffee bread, and probably the Finnish equivalent of biscotti in texture, which usually sells out early. This bakery is one or two towns away from home and I can get these items almost any time I want, but it’s more fun to get it at the tori while looking at a bunch of other stuff. The cinnamon rolls and other sweets were successfully resisted.

There was local honey and beeswax candles; handknit hats and scarves; decorative items; handcrafted tonttu (Finnish gnome); dishware made in Finland (Arabia) and candle holders (iitala); photography; and decor. One vendor had mugs, placemats, dish towels, tee shirts, woven straw decorations, plastic license plate holders declaring "Proud to be Finnish" and "Finn Driver", and tons of other things, and I bought some coasters and a painted tile.

At another table I bought Karjalanpiirakka (Karelian pasty of rice porridge baked in a rye crust). We made these in the Finnish language class I used to take. I know how to make them, but for one person it’s just enough work and enough of a yield to be too much. Buying four already made pasties was much more reasonable. As soon as I got home, they were heated for brunch. Maybe I’ll make some for Thanksgiving or Christmas when a lot of us gather and I won't be dealing with storing and eating dozens of them.

Baked mac and cheese.

The dreary weather inspired cooking and a macaroni and cheese dish was baked using all sorts of random cheese bits in the freezer for exactly this reason. Provolone, America, feta, and sharp cheddar all went into the mix with parmesan and paprika on top. I meant to add cottage cheese but I forgot to take it out of the fridge and in my world, it’s often out of sight, out of mind, as the saying goes. 

In any event, it was gooey, warm comfort food for supper on a yucky day. Tomorrow, most of it will be packaged for the freezer for future fast meals and cruddy days. 

random thoughts – Day 2,379 (Saturday) – goats, kinetic sculptures, kitties

Goats ready for head rubs.

After a couple years of missing it due to scheduling conflicts including dance troupe performance commitments, today my friends and I went to the Lowell Kinetic Sculpture Race. It was a beautiful day to be outside watching people powered machines race on cobblestones, in a mud pit, and in the Merrimack River. 

On the way to Lowell, we passed an arts and crafts fair on the common in Townsend and stopped to check out the booths and especially the goats, because, well, goats! The goats were eager to receive head rubs and kind words and we were happy to deliver. As we got back into the car we noticed there was also a pen with pigs and sheep.

Godzilla exits the mud course.

In the race area, we caught part of the procession down "Boneshaker Alley" on the rough and rugged cobblestones. Then, as we walked from the cobblestone area to the mud pit zone, we encountered some of the machines that ran into various troubles with snapped chains that hindered their progress on the paved asphalt streets of Lowell. 

Individuals and teams with racers of all ages (usually in costumes) pedaled the rigs on land and mud and added oars and rudders in the water segment. Some of the teams were STEM programs from regional schools and the kinetic race feels like the best group project ever.

The mud pit had several sections of bleachers on each side of the mud section, added since our last time attending. It's fun seeing the event grow.

Sculptures included a fire truck, Laika the Russian Space Dog (1957), a lobster, a snail, a big black dog, Godzilla, Bender the robot from Futurama, and other things I can’t recall. Spectators cheered and enthusiastically encouraged each rig.

Big Dog powers through the water.

The mood was festive at all three locations. At the river, food trucks selling Thai, sausages, sweet treats, and other foods were on site, but we opted to dash across the street to Heritage Ice Cream for sandwiches and fries and enjoyed the shade, A/C, and restrooms before settling in under the sun on the river wall for the water action.

After the race segments, we checked out LaLa Books on Market Street and then the Lazy Cat Lounge on Merrimack Street which has cat themed artworks and products, coffees and teas, and a room dedicated to interacting with cats. Two tuxedo cats napped in beds in a window.

Kitty plotting an escape?

A beautiful creamy white and tan cat was in the shop when we arrived, but was soon moved into the cat room when the shop got busy. The kitty wistfully peered through the window into the shop, looking like it was plotting an escape.

A group of young adults had a reservation for a birthday party in the cat room which features the Lounge’s “house cats” and cats available for adoption. It seemed like the best birthday party setting ever, and I wished there was such a place in Gardner. My friends said I should open one. Hmmmm.

random thoughts – Day 2,378 (Friday) – farmers' market

Westminster Farmers' Market.

I woke up this morning thinking it was Saturday. I was about to call Mom to see what she was up to, but then I remembered it’s Friday and she usually has plans on Friday. And then I forgot the day again. This went back and forth until mid-morning and I was finally fully caffeinated and had the day straight and was able to proceed.

Since May when I learned of it, I have intended (in general) to attend the Westminster Farmers’ Market. It’s held on Fridays from 3:00 to 6:00 and features a musical act along with the produce sellers and other vendors. Many weeks I forgot, and in some of those cases, when I remembered, it was too close to the closing time to bother. Some weeks I reconsidered because I didn’t like the weather. Some weeks I was just too lazy.

This afternoon, still cognizant it was Friday, at 3:15 I remembered about the Farmers’ Market. I sprang to action, meaning I put on shoes, grabbed the keys and phone, and left the house. It was a gorgeous day for an outdoor market – sunny and warm, but not too hot.

The market is on the town common which is large and sprawling. Tents shaded vendors selling local fruit wines and mead, art work, baked goods, local honey, granola, cut flowers, vegetables, knife sets, alpaca socks and gloves with alpacas for petting and feeding, and an ice cream truck. Regional band Chuck and Mud played on the gazebo. A cornhole game had some well behaved children tossing bean bags towards the boards painted with an ear of corn.

Across from the Farmers' Market.

Across the street from the common a stone wall ran along the edge of a yard, and between the giant pine trees sat a swing and a view of nearby Mount Wachusett. It was the perfect New England setting for a Hallmark Movie. If I lived in the fantasy of rom-coms, I might have expected to meet a handsome local as we both reached for the same ear of corn, pair of socks, or loaf of bread, but I don’t live there (most of the time) and that did not happen. Despite the absence of a movie worthy cute-meet, it was still a lovely event. It runs for another three weeks, so maybe next week.

random thoughts – Day 2,377 (Thursday) – surprises

September blossom!

During the morning exercise of standing at the bay window and looking up and down the street, then opening the front door to check the weather, there was a little surprise. Three months after blooming, one of the rhododendron bushes has a random new blossom! That was about the last thing I expected to see this time of year.

In the latest installment of the mostly unplanned recent art supply accumulation project, 4” x 4” block canvases were the acquisition target. I bought some from the massive Internet retailer a couple years ago and that was the first place I checked for more. A pack of nine canvases was listed at $21.

New art supplies!

To practice some due diligence and also because I love a bargain, I checked the chain store retailers, starting with Michael’s. It was my lucky day and they had the same item on 70% off clearance for $7.79 for the nine pack. Two packs were showing in stock in Leominster, the closest location. I exercised the buy online pick up in store feature and a couple hours later I was headed back home with twice as many canvases for less money. Score!

The afternoon featured a spontaneous visit with a couple friends and going through some belly dance costume parts. Now it is time to get busy making costumes. And creating on small canvases. And a dozen other things.

random thoughts – Day 2,376 (Wednesday) – day time

Even though I haven’t worked for more than a year now, I still kept the morning alarm set for 6:30 a.m. Many mornings, I hit snooze and sleep in ten-minute increments until I stop snoozing and hit stop instead. Then, when I finally wake-up wake up around 8:00 or 9:00, the first thing in my head is “oh-crap-the-morning-is-half-over.” But I keep doing it.

Sometimes I wake up early. Like, 4:00 this-is-too-frigging-early early. That is annoying, but I can usually fall back to sleep to an hour that feels more reasonable.

This morning, Kiki was meowing. She’s been very vocal lately, walking around meowing and only stops when I give her the Temptations Treats to which she seems to be addicted. I hoped she wasn’t demanding her morning treat early because that is just rude. I noticed a pinkish glow through the bedroom blinds and got up to check things out from the living room windows where the blinds lower from the top.

Morning light, 9-16-2026.

The sky over the trees and houses across the street was pinkish and getting pinker. I thanked Keeks for meowing me awake and watched the sky. The view was better from the front door, which meant I was on the front steps in my pajamas at 6:20 this morning, taking pictures of the sky, hoping no neighbors were up looking out their windows and glad that they were at least the nice matching pajamas. I knew better than to dress first because I would miss the entire morning spectacle. And sure enough, it was over in just a couple minutes.

After the sunrise the coffee was put on and I dressed for the day. By 10:00, I had eaten the current favorite scrambled egg, cheese, and veggie breakfast burrito and visited with Mom next door. There was a long-overdue appearance by the contractor who usually has many excuses and very little concrete, helpful information. He dropped off scaffolding to allegedly soon start the siding, just three months after the initial timeline.

The early start meant the day felt long and luxurious. A book was finished. A new one was started. There was a noontime walk and a 2:00 oil change. Trees and shrubs were trimmed. There was a second walk at 6:00 p.m. There is a lot to be said for being up early on a beautiful day. I need to start doing it regularly again.

random thoughts – Day 2,375 (Tuesday) – changes

Grass grows lush where
 it isn't wanted.

With the yard mowed on Monday, a bit of time today was spent pulling out the grass that grew back in the planting area under the tree out front. It wasn’t a perfect result, but it’s better than it was before. 

The whole time, I marveled at the ability of grass to grow back lush and healthy where it isn’t wanted and was previously pulled out, but not where it used to be, specifically the still partially bald rectangle where the dumpster sat for three months and was hauled away two months ago. Amazing.

Later in the day, it was a shift in schedule and tempo as Tuesday ballet was traded out for the return to Tuesday belly dance. The place in Hudson where we danced the past couple years was sold and we are in a new to us space in the neighboring town of Marlboro.

New dance space.

The new space is large and lacks columns throughout the room, and for that we are most grateful. Constantly being mindful of not crashing into a wood column is not something I will miss. The old space has a wood floor and the new is multicolored tile, which will be helpful for keeping lines straight and evenly spaced.

It was nice to be back in the coin belt and to see familiar faces and a couple new dance mates. We have a different instructor who has a long association with our regular teacher, so it is mostly familiar. Some things might be a bit different and that is okay and a good way to grow. We had a warmup and followed it with starting to learn an unfamiliar choreography. Suddenly, our time was up. It was short, but good.

random thoughts – Day 2,374 (Monday) – new old things

Worcester Center for Crafts.

It was a day to try new old things when I started in a three-week stained glass class at the Worcester Center for Crafts, where I studied darkroom photography once upon a time many moons ago. There was construction and the street was mostly closed, but the Center had sent an email with instructions about it last week. After navigating the police detail and the equipment, I accidentally parked in the wrong lot and was on the far side of the building and had to walk around to the main entrance. I was assured it would the accidental wrong parking would be okay for today.

While in Tennessee, I took a class and went on to make and sell glass a lot of pieces. When X2 and I split up and I moved from his house, the grinder, tools, spool of lead came, and inventory of glass sheets came with me. And then it all came to Massachusetts and lived in storage for three years while I looked for a job and a house, where it wasn’t touched again until nine years later when I moved from Lowell to Gardner.

And now, it’s time to get busy again, but first, I wanted a refresher in the tools and cutting technique, and while I was at it, figured I’d learn something new with the copper foil method. I tried it on my own once, and learned it requires a steady hand for all the lines of solder. It felt more productive to stick with the method I knew. But after the next few weeks, I’ll know both methods.

It was fun being in the glass studio. I chose a template and selected some bits in various textured from the clear glass scrap bin. I got an instant reminder about cutting textured glass. It’s trickier to cut a clean edge than smooth glass and I spent most of the class time at the grinder, working all the edges so they will fit snugly during assembly and soldering.

Grinding glass is kind of fun and meditative. I was in the zone, intent on smoothing edge after edge and rewetting the grinding head, checking the fit of the pieces, and only half hearing the conversations going on behind me. Before we all left the studio, there was a chat about Worcester restaurants including Korean, Indian, Thai, and Chinese. I was a little hungry and by the time I go to the car, food was all I could think about.

Supper.

The ride home was spent thinking about dinner and all the things in the pantry I didn’t feel like cooking. Chinese food was the winner of the debate, partly because the other food types don't exist in Gardner, but only after I got home and checked the pantry and fridge to make sure I hadn’t forgotten about something easy and delicious. There was definitely no scallion pancake, crab rangoons, or pad thai.

It must have been the sweet spot for ordering and delivery, because the food was at my door in next to no time. I was already done eating at 5:09 when the clock ticked with the early side of the delivery window. That left me plenty of time to mow the yard. And the best part is, there are leftovers.