Fostering a new renaissance through creativity, authenticity, spirituality, and art
Polly Castor 
My Dad Died Today Alzheimer’s steals so slowly increment by devastating increment an excruciating smidgen here a morsel of memory there like acid rain erosion that chisels away a momentous mountain instigating an avalanche that lands in a jagged jumble heaped heavy on the heart with none of the dots connecting anymore So searing is … Read more
The Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford has a surprisingly good collection, including four Picasso’s, and paintings by Salvador Dali, Georgia O’Keefe, Helen Frankenthaler, Jackson Pollack, Winslow Homer, Childe Hassam, John Singer Sargent, Maxwell Parish, and many others. The lovely, classic building built in 1845 has halls and foyer painted with modern art which I found oddly … Read more
We went to the exhibit of Monet’s Water Lilies at the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford. What struck me in seeing them this time was how casual he was in his suggestion of forms; nothing was overworked. There were spots of canvas left blank and many lilies were just dabs or scribbles. And this was true … Read more
These salsa verde enchiladas are unbelievably delicious! Salsa Verde Tilapia Enchiladas 3 cups poached tilapia crumbled in bits 1/2 cup black beans, rinsed and drained 1 jar (16 oz) mild salsa verde (I use Trader Joe’s) 3 green onions, thinly sliced fresh juice from one large lime 1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves 8 (6 … Read more
We saw this awesome exhibit of Chihuly glass at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. We snuck in late in the day… the last 45 minutes are free. So wonderful! Try to get to see this if you can!
Today, after a delicious lunch at the Cheesecake Factory, we enjoyed Annual Meeting. It is such a nice time to see folks in this wonderful community! We were encouraged to “Love one another, as I have love you” – to practice love the way Jesus loved, with that “agape” kind of love. We rejoiced in … Read more
So nice to be back in The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts! We are here for Annual Meeting tomorrow, our oldest daughter came for the Church Alive Summit, and our two younger children came for the Discovery Bound Program – so all five of us are here, staying in … Read more
Here are some of my favorite stained glass in The Mother Church and its extension in Boston, Massachusetts…
I loved this book and give it five stars. It is about an elementary aged child and her mother immigrating from China to Brooklyn where they work in a sweat shop. It encapsulates their hard won progress out of dire poverty into a new culture. It is about the humble triumph of the human spirit. … Read more
Laura’s glad to be home to her own food. Here’s what she likes: a stuffed portobello mushroom: layered with dried cranberries, then a can of tuna (with a touch of mayonnaise), topped with diced pickled beets, sprinkled with chopped mint and chives from the garden. With sides of golden mango, red grapes and whole grain … Read more
So glad to be home! The flowers in the yard have just exploded! Here is what greeted me as I got home…
Above is Lynn Easton, the potter whose lovely mosaic Bible stories in clay grace the church we visited in Bristol, Virginia, where she is a Sunday School teacher. See them below. Aren’t they marvelous?
The day started with activities in the expo arena, followed by ferocious, last ditch pin trading. Then we went white water rafting down type 4 rapids on the Pidgin River in the Smoky Mountains, which was a particular treat! We came back to go to the closing ceremonies, during which they only announced the top … Read more
The day began with our middle school team doing well on their Instant Challenge. We then watched the elementary team’s adorable performance, before the older team took on the optional 3M Explore the Uncharted challenge. While they were building their chassis, I took in the artwork in the Knoxville Convention Center. After that we went … Read more
Our middle school team performed today the challenge above, but I have no (good) photos of it because flash photography was not allowed and it is all a blur. It was the first time I saw my daughter’s life-sized animated book in operation and I thoroughly enjoyed it! (Afterwards I had delicious Parmesan crusted scallops, … Read more
During the day today teams from all over the world unpacked and fixed props. Each team, country or state had their own shirt and hat to identify them. Connecticut’s purple shirt said State Champions on the back, and our hat, as well as pin and t-shirt graphic were dinosaurs (“Creative to the Bone”) due to … Read more
