CCL Weekly Update – 4/9/2021
Here we are, “dreaming of ferns and flowers and new leaves unfolding …”
This first full week of National Poetry Month, we borrow a moment from the writings of Mary Oliver, often quoted and much loved for her intuitive, honest offerings. Some of what Mary wrote came from life experience, not always good. This one particularly speaks to this season, these times, and many personal things we all may be experiencing.
Skunk Cabbage by Mary Oliver
And now as the iron rinds over
the ponds start dissolving,
you come, dreaming of ferns and flowers
and new leaves unfolding,
upon the brash
turnip-hearted skunk cabbage
slinging its bunches leaves up
through the chilling mud.
You kneel beside it. The smell
is lurid and flows out in the most
unabashed way, attracting
into itself a continual spattering
of protein. Appalling its rough
green caves, and the thought
of the thick root nested below, stubborn
and powerful as instinct!
But these are the woods you love,
where the secret name
of every death is life again – a miracle
wrought surely not of mere turning
but of dense and scalding reenactment. Not
tenderness, not longing, but daring and brawn
pull down the frozen waterfall, the past.
Ferns, leaves, flowers, the last subtle
refinements, elegant and easeful, wait
to rise and flourish.
What blazes the trail is not necessarily pretty.
We read this, envisioning the spring thaw, remembering our losses and stressors through the long winter. We can let ourselves feel the power of daring to keep moving, patiently ahead through what was not pretty, into what can flourish and rise up from the trail we have blazed along the way.
This past Easter sunrise was a terrific example of patiently waiting for a beautiful outcome. The cold, dark morning eased into glorious color, flourishing and warming the day. But we had to wait for it.
So, let’s wait for it. There will be beauty and peace and good days ahead.
News and Notes:
Vaccination update.
If you haven’t yet, go to vaccines.nh.gov and register. You may also call 211. You will be sent a link and instructions to schedule your appointment. If your originally scheduled appointment doesn’t work for you, the new VINI scheduling system allows you to change to one that’s more convenient, without having to cancel your current appointment.
Margaret Caudill-Slosberg (“EOC Lyme” on the Listserv) continues to keep us informed as the systems and conditions evolve. Watch for her emails. Call 603-795-0603 or email help@cclyme.org if you have questions or need any help getting – or getting to – your appointment.
“The Beauty of Birds” – Celebrating the Artists
This Wednesday evening, April 7, we had our Virtual Award Ceremony, celebrating all the artists, their artworks, birds and their ecosystems. Matt Brown, owner of Matt Brown Fine Art, and Emily Girdwood, Lyme School Art Teacher, were major contributors in making this event and this whole project run smoothly. It couldn’t have happened without their collaboration – so a HUGE thank you!
We were hugely honored to have three local and noteworthy Honorary Hosts for the event. Blake Allison of the Lyme Conservation Commission and NH Audubon Mascoma Chapter, Dan Lambert of Northern Woodlands, and Jeff Valence, Lyme School Principal, each helped present the awards and shared their enthusiasm and some fun insights about birds.
Congratulations to our Award Winning Artists
Longest Legs: Steve Sirch
Most Outrageous and Colorfully Feathered: Vivian, Lyme School 1st Grade
Most Ancient & Dinosaur Like: Shea, Lyme School 4th Grade
Most Talkative: Jennifer Brown
Most Graceful: Catharine Randall
Most Elusive: Hannah, Lyme School 5th Grade
You can view the Award Ceremony presentation, which includes images of the Award Winning art at cclyme.org/birds. The cheesy bird jokes shared throughout the evening came from www.beano.com/posts/bird-jokes, if you’d like to enjoy more in celebration of National Humor Month.
The virtual exhibit is live through April on Matt Brown Fine Art’s website: a Beauty of Birds page with submissions from across the community, and a page over 80 works by Lyme School students. If you have not yet viewed the incredible works of art, please do so, as we join in congratulating all of the artists who submitted to these exhibits. Amazing job done by all!
“Our Hour” by Zoom
The next Our Hour gathering will be Tuesday, April 13 at 10:30am, and all are welcome. The theme will be “Light and Happy, Laughter and Fun”. So please bring your thoughts, stories, quotes, poems, hopes and jokes to share! Especially the jokes. So we can have some good laughs. Here is a taste:
“April hath put a spirit of youth in everything.” — William Shakespeare (Sonnet XCVIII)
What did the tree say to spring?
What a re-leaf.
Can February March?
No, but April May!
I look forward to seeing you and hearing from you! I hope you can make it. It will be fun. Please RSVP to debbie@cclyme.org, so I will know you are planning to come and I can send you the Zoom link.
Lyme Food Pantry – It’s been a YEAR!
We share our huge gratitude to Kathy Sherrieb and a dedicated team of volunteers, plus generous donors of food, money, space, and other resources, that have made it possible for the Food Pantry to offer a wide range of options for those who could use a bit of help with food, for any reason at all. We have served more than 100 households in Lyme and other communities. There have never been questions about who’s eligible. Everyone is. You are. Thanks to all who have placed trust in neighbors and accepted a little love through food. It makes the entire Lyme Food Pantry team very happy.
Monday’s Menu
Click here to read this week’s recipe, “Banana Oatmeal Smoothie” submitted by Anna Pippin, MSHN. This looks like a quick and easy breakfast on the go option, so please shoot us an email to let us know you’ve given this recipe a try! We’d love to hear from you when you make this recipe.
Would you like to submit a recipe for Monday’s Menu? Please contact shelby@cclyme.org.
Wellness Wednesdays
Tips and resources to support and encourage wellness in all aspects of our lives. Click here for this week’s post “Glowing from the Inside Out”, by Daniel Bencze, owner of Glowen Day Spa. Congratulations to Jenny Voelker, who won last week’s special raffle prize Goshi Towel, offered by Lynore Bolton. See all the Wellness Wednesday posts at cclyme.org/wellness-wednesdays. If you have a wellness tip or resource you would like to share, please contact shelby@cclyme.org.
Happy Feet Clinic
Selected Thursdays, with new dates being added, at Lyme Congregational Church. Appointments are required. Home visits are also available. Susan Hanna Rose, RN, provides expert therapeutic foot care. Contact Debbie Whitaker (debbie@cclyme.org, 802-727-0284) for more information and to schedule an appointment.
We are here. Every day. 603-795-0603 or help@cclyme.org.
Reach out when you or someone you care about needs a hand. If you could use information, help, a listening ear or ways to make someone else feel really good, contact us at 603-795-0603 or help@CCLyme.org. You’ll reach a friendly voice, a little (or a lot of) help, and creative, safe ways to be involved.
We partner with organizations and generous volunteers to connect you with just the right resources and opportunities to get involved, in Lyme and in nearby communities: Vaccination support. Trusted “handy” helpers for small jobs (reasonable rates or at no cost). Volunteers for deliveries, errands, technology support, and more. Food. Jenks Fund help with special “little things” to ease your mind or lift the spirits. You name it. And you can join in, in so many ways.
Coming up:
You can find events and fun activities to enjoy virtually, outside, or following Covid-safe protocols. Check out the Lyme Events Calendar, the Valley News Calendar, or the Aging Resource Center for ideas. The calendars include lots of free and by-donation food and meals every week.
This week, don’t miss:
- Tuesday (4/13) at 10:30am: Our Hour: Light and Happy, Laughter and Fun. We meet each month for a time to share your thoughts, feelings and ideas. If you are interested in joining April’s gathering, please email debbie@cclyme.org and she’ll send you the Zoom link.
- Tuesday (4/13) at 1pm: Lyme Food Pantry Fresh Produce and Staples Pick-up or Delivery at Lyme Congregational Church. All who ask can receive a box of non-perishable items and fresh produce from Willing Hands, Pete & Gerry’s Eggs, and the USDA. Gift cards for other groceries and prepared meals are available. Boxes of food may be ordered ahead, and if we’re asked for something special we’ll do our best to make it available. There is plenty. Contact us at 795-0603 or help@cclyme.org.
Save the Date!
- Thursdays (4/22, 5/5/13, 5/20): Happy Feet Clinic, therapeutic foot care provided at Lyme Congregational Church. Appointments required. Email debbie@cclyme.org or call 603-795-0603.
- Saturday (5/1) Lyme’s Day of Service and Green-up Day. If you have an outdoor clean-up project you’d like some volunteers to help with, please email Day of Service organizing team member Sue Hanlon at suehanlon9966@gmail.com with details or contact shelby@cclyme.org. By mid-April, we’ll post sign-up forms for volunteers to complete projects and clean up roads. Lots more to come!
- Saturday (5/15) at 9am: Business portion of the annual Town Meeting on the Town Common, when all other articles will be considered and traditional observances held.
- Saturday (9/25): The Lyme Health & Wellness Fair. Planning is just underway!
Check out the Lyme Events Calendar for a full listing of upcoming events selected for Lyme and neighboring communities.
Calendar information is gathered from multiple sources, including:
Lyme and other local listservs
Lyme Library Calendar
Lyme Community and Church Newsletter
Lyme School Events Listing
Town of Lyme Website
Daybreak Upper Valley daily newsletter Click to subscribe
Valley News online calendar
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Aging Resource Center
Please share any additions or edits to calendar items, so that we can include them in the online calendar.
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