Author Archives: Marjorie

by | April 30, 2018 · 5:41 pm

Make Your Own Story–Rain, Rain, Go Away!

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We were prepared for rain! (Photo, Carol Dandrade)

The threatening clouds kept blowing by, allowing for sunshine to sneak through, but we were mostly prepared. Our “Looking for Spring,” Make your own storybook hike at Riverbend farm was on, regardless of the weather. My partner for this event, Kathryn Parent, was well-prepared. “Here are some umbrellas and ponchos,” she said, laying the items on the table in the visitor center classroom. She admitted, “The umbrellas are from our ‘Lost and Found’ box.” As it turned out, they weren’t needed, but we were prepared! Continue reading →

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by | April 27, 2018 · 1:59 pm

Video–Looking Ahead to Another “Make Your Own Storybook” walk

Here’s a video my friend Liz Harkins created in her work with Milford TV, the community cable channel in Milford, MA. Liz not only paired me up with the folks from the Milford Youth Center, she facilitated the taping, along the banks of the Upper Charles River in Milford, of this 13 minute video about the upcoming “Make Your Own Storybook” walk, planned for May with the Milford Youth Center participants.  https://youtu.be/BdTcRaahlqc

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by | April 26, 2018 · 3:41 pm

History of the Blackstone Gorge

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The Blackstone River rushes through the Gorge after heavy rains

The spring group walk promised to provide some history about the Blackstone Gorge. While I have often visited the gorge over the past thirty years I’ve been aware of it, I have never been well-versed in its past. For indeed, the gorge has a past, not just geologic, but a man-made past as well. Continue reading →

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by | April 24, 2018 · 2:44 pm

Making Friends Along the Trail

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Liz Harkins with Mike Spurling, her crack camera crew, stop for just a moment so I could get their picture

I met Liz last year when we were publicizing the Massachusetts Walking Tour, which came through Milford on its tour of the Blackstone Valley and nearby towns. She works for the Milford Cable TV station and conducted an interview with the folks of the Walking Tour, and with me as well.

She got really excited when she learned about the Easy Walks in Massachusetts trail books I author. We kept talking about doing some kind of video taping along the trail to help publicize my books and to help viewers understand what a gift we have right in our own backyards in this area. Continue reading →

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by | April 23, 2018 · 11:43 am

Bats boxes at Riverbend Farm

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Getting bat boxes ready at Riverbend Farm

It was an afternoon program during school vacation, and several families showed up to Riverbend Farm to learn about bats.  We saw no live bats (it was a daytime program, plus a little early for the bats to start coming out) but in fact, we were learning about bats, not getting up close and personal with the critters.

Amanda Melinchuk, Bat Research Monitor with Massachusetts Division of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) brought a slideshow of Myths and Facts, to help educate us about bats in general, and local bats in particular, and also to increase understanding about the challenges bats face. Continue reading →

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by | April 20, 2018 · 11:49 am

Joys of Volunteering Part 2

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Heritage Corridor volunteers getting a private historical tour of the grounds near the Kelly house in Lincoln, RI

As though our recent adventure out to Northampton with the Blackstone Heritage Corridor was not enough, Corridor volunteers were treated to a spring Thank you picnic (during Volunteer week–the timing was perfect!) at the Kelly House in Lincoln, RI, along the Blackstone Bikeway. Somehow we ended up with one of the very few bright and sunny days in a week of near monsoon-like weather, which allowed for a trip along the bike trail for the Bike Ambassadors, a personally guided tour of the area surrounding the Kelly house by Ranger Kevin Klyberg, and a delicious outdoor picnic dinner as well. Continue reading →

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by | April 18, 2018 · 12:33 pm

Echoes Through the Generations

Caleb same pose as Grampie

Caleb Rae (with cousin Em Turner Chitty) 2017, Coalmont, TN


GH Kuhl portrait

Glen Kuhl, early 1900s, Wisconsin

The first time I saw the photo, my first thought was, “That’s my son.” But in fact, I was assured that the young man in the photo, who was standing in the dirt road, was actually my grandfather Glen, who had died before I was born. I’d never met him, and yet, I knew that stance. It was so familiar because my son often stood in this same pose, looking thoughtful, listening intently, or simply pondering his surroundings. Continue reading →

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by | April 17, 2018 · 4:28 pm

The Unexpected–Checking Up On the Neighborhood

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Mute swan swimming alone at Silver Lake

Mute swans nest at Silver Lake almost every spring, and we have been lucky enough to watch these large birds shepherd their little ones all summer and into the fall, when they are finally ready to learn to fly. But as I approached the spot I’d seen the swan perched on when I’d visited the lake a while ago, something did not look right. Continue reading →

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by | April 13, 2018 · 2:55 pm

The Joys of Volunteering!

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Getting practice helping a person into an adaptive bicycle

I come from a long line of volunteers. My parents often volunteered their time, volunteered their home, made meals for those in need, and simply modeled that when you have the resources to share, it’s a nice feeling to offer a hand when the need is apparent.

Volunteering also has benefits. Sometimes it’s simply creating the opportunity to get to know other like-minded folks who also enjoy spending time helping others. Other times you see that your meager efforts have made a difference. Sometimes you have a chance to get behind the scenes, or understand better what it takes to host an event. I like the chance to do a task that keeps my hands busy while sharing a job, be it painting, cleaning, or making pies or salads with others who have raised their hands to pitch in. Continue reading →

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by | April 10, 2018 · 11:01 am

Spring before spring–Rocky Narrows, Sherborn

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Looking for spring along the banks of the Upper Charles River in Sherborn

There is a time when the calendar says spring is here, and yet, and yet, in New England, the landscape still has a bleak look. Buds are swelling, grass has started poking out, in the marshes green shoots reach skyward, and migrating birds have begun heading north. But the trees remain bare. Ferns remain hidden under the soil. Bushes hint of color to come. and broken branches from the multiple March snowstorms this year litter both yards and trails. Continue reading →

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