In and Around

Kendal A-bloom

Photo by Philip Monteleoni

Rockwood A-Bloom

Photo by Carolyn Reiss

Photo by Mimi Abramovitz

Even the fungi flourish under the trees! Photo by Edward Kasinec

Kendal A-Bunny

A shy Alida neighbor, by Jane Hart

Rockwood Up Close

A-peeling bark, by Carolyn Reiss

Fungi Feast, by Edward Kasinec

A Very Old Fellow, by Carolyn Reiss

Kendal A-birding?

Photo by Hubert Herring

Recently, a Carolina wren set up housekeeping in a flower pot on the Herrings’ deck. Six babies resulted. They have now flown off to seek their fortunes. (No thank-you notes were left.)

More News from the Land o’ Goats

Photo by Carolyn Reiss

For those of you longing for goat-contact without the burden of trail-walking, there’s good news: the goats have been moved to the nearest point to Kendal. Seek and ye shall find!

However, someone else might just be interested, as well. Coyote noticed (and photographed) by Rich Shields.

A Peaceful Kendal July 4th Night—Sans Fireworks

Photo by Carolyn Reiss

And By Day

Photo by Stan Amburg

To State the Obvious . . .

There’s a fine line between a numerator and a denominator. Only a fraction of people will find this funny.

Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are.

I have many hidden talents. I just wish I could remember where I hid them.

My idea of a Super Bowl is a toilet that cleans itself.

Exercise helps you with decision-making. It’s true.  I went for a run this morning and decided I’m never going again!

Four out of three adults have trouble with math.

Contributed by Barbara Wallach

I Never Knew That

Stressed Plants Cry Out for Help

For those of us not blessed with a green thumb, it’d certainly be helpful if our plant friends could tell us when they need attention. Well, it turns out they do—we just can’t hear them.

In early 2023, scientists from Tel Aviv University revealed the results of an investigation into whether plants make sounds in ultrasonic frequencies. Previous studies had established that plants can hear sounds, despite not having ears, so it seemed possible that they could create sounds without mouths. After isolating plants in a soundproofed acoustic chamber and a greenhouse and then recording them, the researchers were able to train a machine learning algorithm to differentiate sounds among three disparate plant states: unstressed, cut, or dehydrated.

Unstressed plants made little noise and continued along in their usual happy routine of photosynthesizing, but cut and dehydrated plants let out frequent small pops and clicks in a range too high for humans to hear. Stressed plants produced up to 40 of these clicks per hour, while dehydrated plants increased clicks as they got more and more parched. Although tomato and tobacco plants were originally tested, other crops were found to produce similar noises.

It’s possible some animals that can hear in frequencies beyond human capabilities could respond to these noises. If a moth were trying to find a suitable plant to lay its eggs, for example, it might skip one that’s popping in distress.

Big mysteries remain: For one thing, scientists don’t know how plants are making these sounds in the first place. All we know for sure is that the quiet lives of plants are not nearly as quiet as they seem.

 Source: Interestingfacts.com

Contributed by Jane Hart

For Your Funny Bone

Contributed by Norman Sissman

Contributed by Norman Sissman

Contributed by Barbara Bruno

Contributed by Barbara Wallach

Art by Hart

Effie’s dentist offered a cuddly support heron

Ruffin was still obsessing over the bad call that ended his little league career

Unsure if it was Friday or Saturday, Franklin took a vote

Gleason turned white as a sheet when AI told him what his puppy was really saying

Wentworth loved finding inchworms on Aunt Sadie

Afternoon of a Fawn

Boy, is Bambi’s mom gonna be ticked. Edward Kasinec noticed him (her?) and siblings, all adorable in their spots and spindly legs, in Rockwood Hall, under the watchful eye of mom (she demurred from being photographed).

Photo by Edward Kasinec

Later that day, Jane Hart just happened to be at Phelps, when who should appear but . . .

Photos by Jane Hart

No indication of whether there’s a ring leader or this was a group decision. Just don’t tell their mom.

Celebrating the Fourth, Kendal-style

Our traditional Fourth-of-July Emcee and producer of grand galas, Muriel Fox.

Frank Neuwirth read the Declaration of Independence

The Kendal Singers presented The Bill of Rights and two traditional American anthems: We Shall Overcome and America the Beautiful

Philip Monteleoni presented a new “E Pluribus Unum,” creating an American flag that stresses pride in America’s identity as a nation of immigrants.

Philip Monteleoni’s flag, excerpted from his Fourth of July remarks:

I wanted to show that we are a nation of immigrants, and it should be seen as a positive thing.

This nation was founded by people who came from elsewhere. Even the Native Americans, who were here when Europeans arrived, had come from Asia. They were the first people into this historically empty continent.

I am an immigrant, as were my father and mother. [In his new flag] our flag, Italy, is the red, white and green one sort of in the center. There are 77 national flags, out of many more, arranged alphabetically, starting with Afghanistan on the upper left and ending with Vietnam at the bottom right. They speak to the amazing and rich potpourri, or melting pot, that fuels the energy and creativity of our beloved nation.

At this moment of persecution and hounding of our latest immigrants–don’t forget, we are all immigrants–I would like to read the poem that Emma Lazarus, in 1883, composed to raise money to build the masonry base for the gigantic copper statue that France had sent over as a gift to celebrate the first centennial of our democracy, and our abolition of slavery during the Civil War.

She entitled her poem, THE NEW COLOSSUS. Yes, the last six lines have been overused and are too familiar, but I wish to read the whole 14 lines, which are in standard sonnet form.

The flag for a nation of people who came from someplace else (and the nations from which they came outline below it):

Contributed by Philip Monteleoni

The Goldenaires present a new, revised, 2025 version of “I’m Gonna Wash That Man . . .”

The Statue of Liberty was busy that night, so Ginny Bender stood in for her. Oh, yes, and Ginny also provided the piano accompaniment.

Bobbi Roggemann discussed the odd friendship/competition between two of our greatest founders: Thomas Jefferson and John Adams

In our annual Fourth of July “Debate” the topic was “Does the US Supreme Court Need Fixing and What Would Be the Best Way to Do It?”

Carol Monteleoni presented the argument for increasing the size of the Court.

Stan Amberg presented the argument for maintaining the status quo.

Anne White presented the argument for term limits.

Gerry Mahoney added up the votes and . . .

Term limits took the day (or night).

Photos by Carolyn Reiss

To State the Obvious . . .

If Adam and Eve were Cajuns, they would have eaten the snake instead of the apple and saved us all a lot of trouble.

We celebrated last night with a couple of adult beverages: Metamucil and Ensure.

Weight loss goal: To be able to clip my toenails and breathe at the same time.

After watching how some people wore their COVID masks, I understand why contraception fails.

Some of my friends exercise every day. Meanwhile I am watching a show I don’t like because the remote fell on the floor.

For those of you who don’t want Alexa or Siri listening in on your conversation, they are making a male version. It doesn’t listen to anything.

The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The realist adjusts his sails.

To be continued . . .

Contributed by Barbara Wallach

Goat Exposé: Update

In the ongoing shocking goat-sex exposé, we have received news that The Billy has arrived. Investigative photographer Carolyn Reiss has been able to capture photos of him in silhouette and, later, closer up. As you can see, he is short, dark, and handsome-ish (well, for a goat). We await the next step.

All alone on a hilltop

Up closer and personal

Photos by Carolyn Reiss

All Sewn Up

Many of us know of and are amazed by Marilyn Bottjer’s skills in the fiber arts. If you don’t know her work, visit the mermaid rug hanging on the C-level wall in the hall leading to the hair salon. Or check out her contributions to the Summer Art Show. What those in the know—and those not in the know—might never expect would be that Marilyn herself would be pictured in a rug.

But she is now!

Titled Marilyn Bottjer: Tokens of Friendship, the work is by Liz Alpert Fay whose show of 16 large-scale, multidimensional portraits honored extraordinary yet often overlooked women, celebrating their individuality and the artist’s evolution. Her work was featured recently at the Silvermine Art Center in New Canaan, CT. Fay created Mayilyn’s portrait in 2019. Wool on linen, hand-hooked, it measures 102” x 67”.

Sadly, the exhibit has now moved further west. Its creations honor what Fay says are the extraordinary achievements of women in the ordinary context of their lives.

If you would like to see other portraits in the show, you can do so by clicking below.  

I Never Knew That

The Shortest Reign of Any Monarch: 20 Minutes

King Louis XIX of France holds an unfortunate record: the shortest reign of any monarch in history. Born Louis Antoine in 1775, he was technically king of France for a mere 20 minutes—in 1830, following the abdication of his father, Charles X, during the July Revolution. The dauphin abdicated his right to the throne in the same document, which he signed 20 minutes after his father. (Legitimists—supporters of the Bourbon dynasty—didn’t accept this and considered him the rightful king for the rest of his life.)

On the other end of the world-record spectrum is Sobhuza II, whose 82 years and 253 days as both paramount chief and king of Swaziland make up the longest verified reign of any monarch in recorded history.

Some consider Louis XIX’s record to be a shared one, however. Luís Filipe, prince royal of Portugal, was fatally wounded in the same attack that killed his father, King Carlos I, on February 1, 1908, but survived 20 minutes longer. The 20-year-old was technically king for those few minutes, though he was never formally declared ruler. His younger brother Manuel II became the last king of Portugal on that fateful day instead. His reign wasn’t especially long, either: Portugal became a republic as a result of the October 5, 1910, revolution, and Manuel spent the remainder of his life exiled in England.

Source: historyfacts.com

Contributed by Jane Hart

In and Around Kendal

Like Rolling Off a Log

Take a bunch of goats, put them with a felled tree, and you quickly have a log-rolling contest. Or, anyway, it looked like that to Edward Kasinec, who sent in the above picture of goat athletes.

Photo by Edward Kasinec

The Opposite of Falling to Pieces

Clermont’s latest puzzle completed!

Photo by Peter Sibley

The Rockwood Blue Bird of Happiness, per Chance?

Photo by Carolyn Reiss

A Clearwater Art Show for All

A show of Priscilla Holmgren’s calligraphy is now on display in Clearwater. Here, the artist on opening day.

Photo by Harry Bloomfeld

The Shocking Exposé You’ve Been Waiting For

It was Carolyn Reiss who recently spotted the shocking plotting and planning underway in Rockwood Park. The lady goats there were happily (we assume) grazing one lovely spring morning when a mysterious van pulled into their meadow.

Slowly the area was narrowed by moving the wire fencing, and the gals wandered innocently toward the van.

Once the gals were inside, the van was closed as suspicious characters “checked” its inhabitants, slowly rejecting the older goats (just imagine their humiliation) and the youngest ones, too (well, thank heaven for that). The others were identified as “available” and released.

Res Web has learned from an anonymous source (okay, it was Carolyn), that the girls identified as “available” will soon be made so for a—hold on to your hat—Billy goat. Yes, we know. Shocking beyond belief. Sigh. Stay tuned for birth announcements.

To State the Obvious . . .

The biggest joke on mankind is that computers have begun asking humans to prove they aren’t a robot.

When a kid says “Daddy, I want mommy” that’s the kid version of “I’d like to speak to your supervisor.”

It’s weird being the same age as old people.

Just once, I want a username and password prompt to respond “CLOSE ENOUGH.”

Last night the internet stopped working so I spent a few hours with my family. They seem like good people.

To be continued . . .

Contributed by Barbara Wallach

© Kendal on Hudson Residents Association 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 all rights reserved.  Please do not reproduce without permission.

Photographs of life at Kendal on Hudson are by residents.