• Blog
    • Librarytour Blog Archive
  • Welcome!
  • About

Phoebe Sinclair Writes

Phoebe Sinclair Writes

Category Archives: Green Life

Muddy River Beauty

12 Thursday May 2016

Posted by Phoebe (she / hers) in Green Life

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

olmsted, spring, trees

It’s not just that spring has arrived in Boston . . .

P5110001

It’s that it’s arrived for my favorite tree along the Muddy River Path.

P5110002

P5110003

P5110004

Robins pull worms, Canada Geese graze their fuzzy goslings in the young grass, but my eyes are for this sparsely flowered specimen of spindly grace.

P5110005

P5110011

P5110016

A Song, A Poem, A Post

03 Thursday Dec 2015

Posted by Phoebe (she / hers) in Green Life, Writing Life

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

arnold-arboretum, jamaica-plain, trees, writing

Eight straight years of intensive writing instruction in high school and college make me shy of writing exercises. I’ve been there, wrote that.

PB260680

However, on the occasion a member of my writer’s group suggests an exercise, I put on my big girl pants and I make good.

Below is a dot of fiction, based on a song (Deb Talan’s “The Gladdest Things“), which follows a poem (Edna St. Vincent Millay’s “Afternoon on a Hill“). Fast on the heels, and interspersed, I’ve included photos of the location I had in mind while working on the exercise. Turns out, this a piece I quite like, so thank you Megan.

For a Song, for a Poem
He touched my hand. It wasn’t to make a statement. The touch felt light, as though he was attempting to tell me, without disrupting the moment with the sound of his voice: hey, this is where we’ve been.

On the hill we biked up, we sat not on the boulders placed for lounging, sharp edges that jabbed into your hip. Instead on the grass, trodden and pokey with sticks and branches torn down by the same late summer winds that kept the trees on the hill growing only-so-tall.

PB260671

In the far distance, our city. In the near distance, hazy and harder to make out, our neighborhood. Houses that fit well in either city or town; where we grew up being some sweet in-between.

In less than two weeks, the two of us would leave. No longer come to this spot where tussling dogs forced their owners to interact. The crab apples dropping, and rotting, without us. Each chipmunk feeling that much safer with two fewer humans.

PB260608

PB260616

I to my West Coast college, and my friend to the Navy. We laughed about his new white suit. How hot he was going to be when he came to shore on the occasion like a sea-mammal up for air. The girls passing by who would turn their heads without realizing they’d looked. Some boys, too.

We used up our laughs, and smiles. Just tears left that neither of us felt brave enough to spend, so we stood, dusted our butts, and started down.

PB260612

The Pines, Arnold Arboretum

19 Thursday Nov 2015

Posted by Phoebe (she / hers) in Boston Moments, Green Life

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

jamaica-plain, trees

I’ve long loved trees.

PA110469

When I was a kid, I can remember trying to decide which I preferred: deciduous or conifer.

PA110462

Well, deciduous are great because they sprout tiny leaves that grow into bigger leaves, change from green to gold or red or brown, and then fall to regrow in just a few (not that short) months.

But conifer. Conifer remain. Sun. Rain. Sleet. Wind. They are Always. Smell so good against a bright, clean expanse of snow. And pinecones! Who doesn’t love pinecones?

PA110367

PA110457

Aside from some weird seemingly in-betweens (looking at you, juniper; what ARE you, yew?) for which I couldn’t always identify the correct team (scientists could tell you, I bet, should you distract ’em long enough from the argument about camels), I decided deciduous and conifer had a pretty good competition going on. Satisfying in that winless way.

PA110371

PA110420

All these years later, I haven’t truly picked a side. Though I have favorites, like a pin oak at the edge of a church parking lot near where I live, and the Arboretum pines.

PA110465

They take twenty minutes to a half hour to reach, walking, but worth it! The pines, and firs, and weird in-betweens can be found just over Bussey Hill. A collection of big, stout, expansive, narrow, prickly, soft, smooth and otherwise not-yet-discovered (by me). When I have the spare hour, I wander to see what’s new, to smell sap and tar and soil. To discover what I’d forgotten since my previous visit.

PA110472

PA110459

PA110326

Whole Heart World’s End

28 Wednesday Oct 2015

Posted by Phoebe (she / hers) in Green Life, Travelin'

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

film-camera, food-n-cookin, hikes, the-trustees, trees

Whole heart world’s end. (I just wanted to say that.)

Looking through wooden slats

A few years back, we learned of a park called World’s End located in Hingham, south of Boston. Of course we had to go.

Bridge to World's End

Bench to nowhere

Of course I had to bring my camera. The good one. Film.

Dark branch, light tree

Twigs before beach

Driftwood

Seaweed fuzzy on rock

David on rock, World's End

Of course we couldn’t resist the tiny shells. Or the ‘lil kids, who also weren’t resisting tiny shells.

David holds up shell

Kids at World's End

And, headed home after an afternoon of exploring, of course we wouldn’t resist fried seafood, despite our thirty-year-old digestion. Who would?

Fish shack fried clams

That Craggy Apple Tree: A Study

02 Wednesday Jul 2014

Posted by Phoebe (she / hers) in Green Life

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

spring, trees

IMG_0244

Remember my friend the apple tree along the Olmstead Path and Jamaicaway in JP/Brookline? We had a spring visit. IMG_0255

It was just looking so handsome that day, I had to stop by and study bark and branch and flower.

IMG_0254

IMG_0257

IMG_0250

IMG_0252

And then I snapped a sweet extra . . .

IMG_0246

Bicyclist passes the apple treet

Whole Heart Portland, Part 2

21 Wednesday May 2014

Posted by Phoebe (she / hers) in Green Life, Travelin'

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

travel

joanna and david at the river, portland

When travelling, in addition to enjoying the company of friends (i.e. staying in their homes for free and demanding that they cook for me) and scoping out libraries, I seek what I refer to as “health food stores.” Gimme a long aisle of bulk foods bins, and I practically melt. Granola combos I haven’t yet experienced? Yum. Kombucha on tap? Yes!

new seasons market at rosa parks station

New Seasons Market has me hoping this charming new Portland-based chain will successfully make the leap to my home-coast, similar to its now ubiquitous (and occasionally maligned) predecessor.

I also like a good wander . . .

end petlessness bulletin board

rosa parks station

leaves in clover

outside powells books, portland

. . . particularly pared with a purposeful dash to get somewhere I’ve never been, on time, and with beer/treats in tow!

the sprocket podcast

David and I joined the hosts of The Sprocket Podcast, a show I’ve been listening to for a few years that covers ideas, activities, and efforts related to “simplifying the good life.” It was a delight to meet Brock and Aaron in person, and appreciate a bit of the good life ourselves. (Tune in to episode E157 to hear David and me offer very helpful, non-solicited advice on how to cook plaintain and what happens when you attempt to carry a laptop in your bike panniers.)

Brock

aaron

david checks out the camera

“So, there are a few different types of plantain . . .”

Share It!

30 Wednesday Apr 2014

Posted by Phoebe (she / hers) in Community, Green Life

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

giving, swaps, this-moment

IMG_1428

After a huge weekend swap that attracted over thirty women (and a few babies), I’m upping my claim. I’d wager that approximately 70% of my clothing is the spoils of swaps. The bests and favorites of my wardrobe definitely had homes before mine, and it’s not just that funny mini-cape or those like-new Keen sandals, friends:

My camera? “Permanent loan.”

My KitchenAid stand mixer (with ice cream attachment!) was a surprise gift from a friend who had received a new one.

The cat? Yeah. Him, too.

Despite what the media/advertisements/press/etc. may attempt to convince you, sharing is integral to living. Humans from way-back-when knew it. We know it now: honey tastes twice as sweet when your friend owns the hive (hint, hint bee-keeping pals!)

The resources below were sent me from a friend (see: sharing) and I’m passing them on to you. Have experience with one or two? Leave a comment below.

https://m.brightneighbor.com//index.html – rent, buy, trade or borrow country-wide

http://neighborsforneighbors.org/ – run by “professional neighbor” Joseph Porcelli and his team, this site is local to Jamaica Plain, MA and offers meet-up type affinity groups, a Snow Crew assistance program to help move that white stuff in winter, alerts, and more

streetbank.com – sharing across “the pond”

http://farmhack.net/home/ – open source community for the farm-types among us

http://freegan.me/ – meet “freegans” worldwide and learn what’s free where, and how to find it

https://www.freecycle.org/ -I bet you know this one. (So far I’ve received: a cell phone, a safety vest and reflective strips for biking, a VCR, a typewriter, a papercutter, hangers, and more items than I can remember. My favorite aspect, though, is giving things away. So satisfying.)

http://neighbor.ly/ – crowdsourcing for your community

http://www.citizinvestor.com/ – invest in public projects

http://www.cityofboston.gov/doit/apps/citizensconnect.asp – download this free app to help Boston improve it’s streets, sidewalks, and other infrastructure (i.e., pothole just swallow your bike? report it!)

https://yerdle.com/– free stuff countrywide! (a friend of mine helped start this one, definitely check it out)

 

Arboretum Winter Wander

03 Monday Feb 2014

Posted by Phoebe (she / hers) in Green Life

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

arnold-arboretum, hikes, winter

dried flower buds

several green leaves with buds

It is said that winter is a time for slowing down. For thinking, planning which seeds to sew. Silence and introspection.

looking up hemlock hill

It is the time of death . . . and waiting for life renewed.

twig on snow

snow encrusted ground

Also, winter presents opportunity. Texture. A time to wander and be . . . and simply observe.

tiny pinecones

tiny pinecone close up

Quiet.

Over the River, Through the Woods

30 Monday Dec 2013

Posted by Phoebe (she / hers) in Green Life, Learnin'

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

hikes, trees, water-ways

I’m the kind of person, a city bus pauses in front of me and snaps opens the door, I want to get on. Even if my course for the day is set, and especially if the bus is one I’ve never taken. Where’s that bus headed?

Shipyard Way sign

Around a corner, over the bend, I’m curious to follow the trails other animals (humans included) set. Marked and annotated, paved, tread-bare. Unfortunately, a fall season stuffed with work, personal, and social responsibilities and engagements offered few opportunities to engage in little explorations.

Trees by the Mystic River

This December, I fell sick enough to put a temporary halt to my ordinary dashing about. Days of sleeping and alternating between watching old TV favorites on Youtube and feeling monumentally bored finally gave way to something new.

Mystic River Route sign

We followed the paved Mystic River Route trail along a fast roadway in Medford, discovering, at dusk, an ornate green, metal bridge leading to an old New England-style shopping district, docks on the river, and a delicate amphitheater dedicated to human rights activist and writer Lydia Maria Child.

Over the green bridge

Mystic River at dusk

Over the river poem by Lydia Maria Child

I’d completely misremembered this poem. Thought it was “through the woods” and “grandmother’s house”!

Staycation

05 Monday Aug 2013

Posted by Phoebe (she / hers) in Green Life, With Friends

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

as-we-are-living-it, food-n-cookin, hikes

IMG_6893

I can’t say exactly how a “staycation” differs from a normal weekend, local-wander, or just hanging out. It’s got something to do with intention, I think.

Summer grass

With the rare fortune of getting to see friends for more than just a few hours. Sharing home-prepared meals and more than one occasion of frozen treats.

Tomato, mozzarella, basil

Friends enjoy ice cream

Sharing stories, dreams, challenges, and silly moments.

Caro and Jack = catbeard

What’s a catbeard you ask?

A staycation most definitely includes local treasures: in our case, a short drive to Broadmore Wildlife Sanctuary in Natick. Peaceful exploring and spying on turtles; less-peaceful attempts at dodging mosquitos.

Tree growing along the ground

Two turtles on a log

Looking over the map

There’s something about a continuation of effort, but without the burden of expectation.

Caro

Phoebe in the meadow

Appreciating what we have, in the moment that we have it.

Twigs and leaves in Lauren's hair

Can you spot the twigs and leaves in Lauren’s hair?

Gummy candy on the forest floor

Can you spot the gummy candy?

← Older posts

Copyright Phoebe Sinclair 2022

Website Built with WordPress.com.

  • Follow Following
    • Phoebe Sinclair Writes
    • Join 84 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Phoebe Sinclair Writes
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...