Greetings! I hope those of you who got away during vacation week are enjoying warmth and sunshine somewhere! You can never plan on a certain kind of weather this time of year. I can recall vacations with temperatures in the 70s, or mostly rainy, or snowy.
It takes me back to April vacation 2010, when four of us had a trip to Ireland planned for the week. Of all the things that could cancel our trip, it was a volcano in Iceland! There was so much ash in the air it was affecting flight visibility. That was extremely disappointing. However, we did take the trip in August that year, and had absolutely perfect weather and a fabulous time.
Both times I’ve visited Ireland, I was very fortunate to be traveling with someone licensed to drive in Ireland. There’s no way I’d have attempted it. It worked out very well, and we were able to take ourselves to numerous places at our own pace. We landed in Shannon, so we stayed in that area for the week. We toured the Ring of Kerry, the Cliffs of Moher, saw the Book of Kells at Trinity College in Dublin, and of course, had to go to a castle for a medieval dinner. Blarney Castle was another spot we visited and I recall how incredible the gardens and grounds were.
I have been down with a cold for a week and a half now. I am starting to have more energy, but this has been ridiculous. Stuffy nose and coughing/blowing. A few others around me have also been afflicted with this bug. It makes me so grateful that I don’t have to be anywhere, or call out sick for work. That was something I rarely did—take a sick day.
I finally have some daffodils in bloom! They have to be tough to survive in these up and down temps. Last fall I planted some more tête-à-têtes. Several of them are up and blooming. I’ve also spotted lupines and hollyhocks, and my heather is starting to blossom.
The highlight of the weekend was watching my great-niece, Madison LaForce, perform her senior recital at UNH. Because I had been under the weather, I watched it online from home. What a talent this girl is! She had a varied program, with several different genres. Of course, there was a jazz set, and her dad, Marc LaForce, stepped in to play sax in one number, and her Uncle Brian Hathaway played bass in the combo. It’s hard to believe she’s graduating from college this year.
Upcoming:
This coming Saturday, April 25, from 9-11 a.m. the West Parish Congregational Church in Bethel is hosting its annual Smile Fund Sale. Stop in to find just what you didn’t know you needed! All proceeds go toward dentures for adults who need them in the SAD 44 area.
Services for the First Universalist Church of West Paris this coming Sunday, April 26: The Good Shepherd and whose voice deserves our allegiance. Here’s an excerpt: “Beloved, we hear a thousand voices calling for us to follow every day. Advertisers hawk their ware, image vendors would make us over in to their desired likeness, culture tells us what success looks like, and politicians offer the promised land; beware of all their claims. Make room in your quiet times to listen for the voice of the Good Shepherd—the One to whom you are a sacred trust, the One who will lead you to places that will sustain you the One who will protect you in the face of danger, and the One whose heart is tender and merciful. This is the voice to listen for. Let all others fall on deaf ears.” The church is located at 208 Main Street, West Paris.
The Mahoosuc Community Band will perform its Spring Concert on Sunday, May 10 (Mother’s Day), at 4 p.m. at Gould’s Bingham Auditorium in Bethel. Ed Ryan is conducting the band consisting of adults and Gould students. The concert program is full of familiar favorites. Donations are welcome at the door to help defray the cost of music.
The Woodstock Conservation Commission is sponsoring a Green-Up Woodstock Day on Saturday, May 2, from 9 to noon. This is in collaboration with the conservation commissions in Greenwood and Bethel and the Town of Newry. Meet at the Bryant Pond ballfields at 9 AM and bring work gloves and wear colorful clothing. All are invited to Davis Park in Bethel for a lunch at 11:30 a.m. FMI contact Jane Chandler at jane.h.chandler@gmail.com.
This is ongoing, but this Friday, which is the last Friday of the month, is Blood Donation Day through the Red Cross at the Ripley Building of Stephens Hospital in Norway. Anyone can make an appointment by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767). This takes place on the last Friday of every month.
Coming up on Saturday, May 9, at 1 p.m. at the Deering Community Center, South Paris, is a presentation by Rivera Sun, author of the Ari Ari Series. This is being hosted by the Paris Public Library and the Whitman Memorial Library. There is no cost to come, and there will be refreshments.
Please send me your news/events: Note a change in email— lalalindastowell@gmail.com
Thanks! Have a great week!