Art by Hart

The polar bear kids wished on the full moon for an early winter

Barbara insisted that the intimate photo with Curtis was a fake, generated by artificial intelligence

Fitch's effort to rehab lantern flies instead of stepping on them, was kind but misguided

The Brewers were known as the mountaintop Fred and Ginger

Gilbert didn't care what he watched, as long as he could sit in the comfy chair

Art and photos by Jane Hart

Special Observances, September 11 – 17, 2023

SEPTEMBER 11: I’M ON TOP OF IT DAY

It’s time for a post-summer resetting of calendars while we at Kendal figure out in-house and out-of-house commitments, along with travel plans, and all. (So much for the lazy retirement life.) So, this day is the day for all that, plus identifying identify what organizational needs are required to make it to 2024. Next step: focus on getting on top of one of the things that challenges them.

Cozi, a family organizer and communications company, created I'm on Top of it Day in 2005 “to celebrate and reward busy families of all sizes for being on top of at least one organizational chore that gives them forehead wrinkles.” Families are constantly juggling responsibilities associated with home, work, school, children, grandchildren (and some great grandchildren), meals, and community (near and broad) engagements — and it's hard to stay on top of everything all the time.

That’s all. No more. Get to it! Time’s a-wastin’!

SEPTEMBER 12: NATIONAL CHOCOLATE MILKSHAKE DAY

National Chocolate Milkshake Day brings chocolate and ice cream lovers together. Forget the calories for just this one day and enjoy a tall, thick and delicious, chocolate milkshake! Simple, sweet, and delectable, chocolate milkshakes aren’t just one of the best treats ever, they’re also a reminder of our once-upon-a time innocence, when the streets of our neighborhoods drew the boundaries of our worlds. A time when a milkshake and fries was the perfect date and drive-in movies were all the rage. A quarter in the jukebox set the stage and good friends populated our lives. (Sort of like Kendal, but without the creaking of joints.)

The history of milkshakes began with the development of two milestones: the development of the electric blender and the creation of malted milk drinks. But before all that could happen, there had to be the spark of inspiration. And for that, we look back to medieval Britain and the eggnog: not the cool, frothy treat of today, but a hot, milky ale-like drink. It was a time when milk and eggs — the building blocks of eggnog — were foods of the wealthy. Eggnog was often consumed in indulgent celebration.

In 1885, somebody had the idea of mixing whiskey, milk, and eggs for an eggnog-ish drink and milkshakes made their welcome — if less innocent — appearance, available in pharmacies as both a tonic and a treat to customers. By 1900, the booze was replaced with chocolate, strawberry, or vanilla syrup and the tonic aspect switched to fun. Early in the 1900s, a scoop of ice cream was added. And in 1911, Hamilton Beach introduced the Cyclone Drink Mixer drink mixers which began to be used in soda fountains, followed 11 years later with the invention of the electric blender (Steven Poplawshi, take a bow), which gave the milk shake the frothy drink we know today. The next breakthrough: malted milk powder, made from malted barley, wheat flour, and dehydrated whole milk, with the taste of toasted caramel. The malted milk shakes moved in beside alongside milkshakes at soda fountains around the 1920s.

And that, boys and girls, is the why and how we arrived today ready, willing, and able to indulge in the magic of the chocolate milkshake.

SEPTEMBER 13: INTERNATIONAL CHOCOLATE DAY

From National Chocolate Milkshake day we make the natural progression to International Chocolate Day, an unofficial — but highly welcome — holiday dedicated to the sweetest, tastiest addiction in the world: chocolate. Why This September 13? Simple. That’s the birthday of Milton S. Hershey, the American confectioner and founder of The Hershey Chocolate Company (which has nothing to do with the ice cream we indulge in here at Kendal. Just sayin’.)

Chocolate comes from the Theobroma cacao bean. The Spanish get credit for the word “chocolate,” derived from the Aztec word xocolatl, meaning “bitter water.” The Aztecs — hardy souls that they were — pounded the cacao beans and drank them without adding sugar. They thought the beans came from the gods. (Who among us would disagree?) Theobroma means “food of the gods.” Cocoa beans consist of pretty much half “cocoa butter” and half “chocolate liquor.” In 1527, Hernando Cortés brought cocoa beans back to Spain. Some brilliant soul created a chocolate drink that included sugar, which became immediately popular. And its fame spread. The word “chocolate” first appeared in print, in England, in 1604.

In the 18th century, all of Europe was enjoying a fashionable chocolate drink. By 1765, chocolate was being manufactured in what would become the US, but it was still only served as a drink. Candy made of chocolate had to wait until early in the 19th century. It was the Cadbury Company of England, in 1842, that first began to sell, on a large scale, hardened chocolate candy bars. Americans started indulging in the 1860s, first with “chocolate creams,” candies with sugar-cream centers.

The Swiss, however, were the first to consider milk chocolate. In 1875, Daniel Peter added chocolate to Henry Nestlé’s newly-developed sweetened condensed milk. Chocolate milk’s popularity quickly spread to and throughout Europe. Milton S. Hershey, who started the candy business at 14, had been quite successful. When he was introduced to milk chocolate production at the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago he was sold on the idea, and introduced the first Hershey milk chocolate bar in 1900. Next came the Hershey's kiss in 1907; its trademarked foil wrapper was added in 1924. During WWII, Hershey provided troops with a “Ration D bar,” and later the better-tasting Tropical Chocolate Bar. These latter chocolate bars were resistant to temperatures higher than 90 degrees Fahrenheit, which fit war circumstances better. Chocolate these days is the most popular flavor for different types of desserts, like chocolate chip cookies, chocolate milk and chocolate ice cream.

Though it originated in South American, the largest producer of chocolate is Côte d'Ivoire in Africa. However, the best chocolate is produced in Switzerland, Belgium, France, Spain, the US, Austria, and Germany. The highest consumers of chocolate? While the US ranks among the top-ten chocolate-consuming country (per capita)—with a consumption rate of 10 pounds per person each year, it’s a picker compared to #1, Switzerland, where the average person consumes 19 pounds each year. Clearly, we must work (and chew) harder!

SEPTEMBER 14: NATIONAL COLORING DAY

National Coloring Day is dedicated to, well, coloring, whether your medium is crayons, colored pencils, markers, or some other method. There’s a benefit to coloring that serves adults as well as children. And especially for those who are going through — or have gone through — trauma and/or great stress, coloring is a , and those trying to decompress.

Here’s what we know about National Coloring Day: is a holiday, it’s been around for a few years. And that’s about all we know. Who created it and exactly when? Not really sure. It came about around the same time as National Coloring Book Day — a separate August holiday that was observed in August that created around about 2015. But today is National Coloring Day, instead, and we’re sticking to it!

The history of coloring better documented. Humans have used natural materials such as clay, charcoal, and ochre to create drawings and paintings of the things that they encountered during the day, especially images of the animals they hunted. As the years progressed, coloring materials became more sophisticated. The ancient Egyptians used ground minerals and plant extracts; in ancient Greece, lead and copper were used to create frescoes and mosaics. It was in the 16th century, that the first crayons were invented, using a combination of oil and charcoal.

The McLoughlin Brothers company is said to have invented the first coloring book, The Little Folks' Painting Book, in the 1880s. But, hang on, no crayons, in those days, paint was used in coloring books. Modern crayons didn’t come around the 20th century that modern crayons would be invented. And It wasn’t until the 1930s that crayons became the color-er of choice. Binney and Smith began producing crayons made from a combination of wax and pigment. This company became Crayola. Today, crayons and coloring books a child thing and an adults thing. In fact, adult coloring has continued to rise in popularity among people who recognize its benefits.

Color however you wish—crayons, paints of all natures, pastels! Today’s the day!

SEPTEMBER 15: INTERNATIONAL DOT DAY

Celebrated by both children and adults, International Dot Day is a day to connect, collaborate, and create. It’s a great day to foster self-expression. Participate by writing, drawing, painting, taking photos, videography, dancing, and making music.

It was all started 20 years ago when, on September 15, children books’ author and illustrator, Peter H. Reynolds, released his book “The Dot.” In the story, a little girl, Vashti, feels like she can’t draw. As encouragement, her art teacher says, “Just make a mark, and see where it takes you.” Vashi places a small dot on her paper. The next day, she is shocked to find her “drawing” in a prized position on the classroom wall. So proud of her work, she starts creating drawings with different kinds of dots. Eventually, having built her confidence, she realizes she can be creative artist. Eventually, Vashti passes the lesson she learned from her teacher onto someone else. A dot may be small, but it’s a powerful way to show your unique individuality and creativity. And you can build on it — stronger and stronger. That’s the story that inspired International Dot Day. “The Dot” has inspired millions of children and adults.

Terry Shay, teacher in Iowa, introduced the book to his entire classroom on September 15, 2009. Hence International Dot Day was born on September 15. Today, it is celebrated by more than 19 million teachers and students in 192 countries.

And dots all, folks!

SEPTEMBER 16: INTERNATIONAL EAT AN APPLE DAY

Well, we’ve covered days this week designed to celebrate chocolate milkshakes and chocolate. Now, it’s only right to honor the healthy apple. On International Eat an Apple Day, the 3rd Saturday of September, folks are encouraged to eat a juicy apple. Then, have another! Have as many as you want.

Throughout the world, apples come in 7,500 different varieties. In the US, alone, we grow 2,500 varieties: Macintosh, Granny Smith, Gala, Fuji, Honeycrisp, and Pink Lady, to mention but a few. Pick your favorite (or favorites), but don’t forget to try the relatively new Cosmic Crisp!

The apple originated in central Asia, in the Tien Shan mountain range of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. This older wild apple featured prominently in the region’s food and culture. Kazakhstan’s city of Alma-Ata — now called Almaty — loosely means “Father of Apples.” Merchants using the Silk Road discovered the wild apples and spread the fruit spread to western Europe. From there, European colonists took the apple to America. Over the years, these wild apples were cultivated and cross-pollinated to become the species we find in markets today.

Apples feature prominently throughout history, appearing in poems by Robert Frost and Emily Dickinson, and in paintings by Caravaggio and Magritte. Apples have also appeared in folklore and stories. The Arabian Nights featured a magic apple that cures all human diseases. Even the biblical genesis story includes one, though the designation of the apple started in 12th century Europe. In Latin, “malus” means both “apple” and “evil,” which may be why it was chosen. Apples also had special meaning in Greek and Norse mythology, too.

If you aren’t into the simple apple, there are plenty of yummy foods made from this amazing fruit. On International Eat an Apple Day, drink some apple juice or apple cider (and don’t forget the fermented version). Eat an apple turnover for breakfast. Have a warm slice of apple pie or a caramel apple for dessert. Enjoy some applesauce for a snack. And there are oodles of popular apple foods around the world — including German apple cake, braised red cabbage with apples, and Polish apple pancakes.

Apples’ health benefit are legion — and legend: An apple a day keeps the doctor away. So eat one. Or two. Go ahead and splurge! It’s not like it’s chocolate . . .

SEPTEMBER 17: NATIONAL MONTE CRISTO DAY

A deep-fried egg-dipped ham and cheese sandwich, it’s a variation of the croque-monsieur sandwich first served in a cafe in Paris in the 1910s. Though usually made with Swiss cheese and ham. Other types of cheese can be used, and sliced turkey or chicken are sometimes added as well. It has other names, as well: French Sandwich, Toasted Ham Sandwich, French Toasted Cheese Sandwich. They’re all Monte Cristo.

The sandwich is said to have exploded onto the American food scene from its humble beginning in California when restaurants in and around Disneyland started serving it to customers of the park. It appeared in many American cookbooks from the 1930s through the 1960s (and particularly in the 1950s).

Bennigan’s restaurant started National Monte Cristo Day in June of 2015 to celebrate the delicious sandwich — in all its manifestations — known and loved all across the US.

In and Around Kendal

A Photographer’s Medley

The pool with afternoon sun

For those who love baseball, especially those Yankee devotees

A bug on a leaf

Photos by Art Brady

Hibiscus and Other Flowers on the Patio

Photo by Carolyn Reiss

Carolyn’s Great Adventure in Rockwood Park

I scratched her head and she didn’t back off. (I know . . . against the rules, but I couldn’t resist)

This young buck wanted to meet my dog Allie, who ignored him. He was 3 feet from me and coming closer (gingerly) until a dog on the path started barking.

Photos by Carolyn Reiss

Friends of the Park

Generous friends of the park clearing invasive vines. 

Photos by Carolyn Reiss

What I Did on My Summer Vacation

Last week, we asked you to send in 1 picture (or more) and a brief explanation for that old grammar-school saw: “What I Did on My Summer Vacation.” And several people did! We hope to keep this series running through September, so get busy! Doesn’t have to be jaw-dropping or mind-boggling. The every- day and whimsical are more than welcome. Enough said, here’s the Blast Off:

From Hubert Herring and Lynda Mahoney Herring

We had a delightful week on Caspian Lake, in northeastern Vermont, with our daughter, her boyfriend, our son, and his dog. The swimming was excellent — much cooler than the hot tub that is the Kendal pool. We played bridge, went to see “Barbie,” had a couple of nice hikes. 

Jeff O’Donnell & Dorothy Muller

Having a wonderful time in the Berkshires volunteering at Tanglewood and on the local Climate Action Committee. I’ve ushered (or will usher) at 30 concerts/events from “Wait! Wait! Don’t Tell Me!” in late June to John Legend on Labor Day weekend. In between: amazing concerts by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops, and the Tanglewood Music Institute Orchestra (great young musicians). Not to mention the “unknown” local artists like James Taylor and Yo Yo Ma — and when Yo Yo Ma tested positive for COVID, Renee Fleming filling in singing Richard Strauss. Loving the serenity of being back in nature, not to mention fun ROMEO (Retired Old Men Eating Out) lunches. Try it next summer!

At the O’Donnells’

Tanglewood

Sharry & Art Lukach

Got a new hot water heater! Electricians and plumbers and guys to haul away the water and oil tanks, oh my!  Now, hot H2O on demand. Brave new world! Summer means our summer home in the East Hampton woods. We’re looking forward to visits when the “Hamptons” goes back to almost normal. 

FYI: New Law Goes Into Effect in Westchester, September 2, 2023

September 1, 2023, by Martin Wilbur

Request-Only Plastic Utensil Law Effective on Saturday in Westchester

A new law to limit the use of plastic utensils and other items associated with food establishments will go into effect this weekend in Westchester to reduce the county’s volume of waste.

Starting this Saturday, all food service establishments can only provide plastic forks, spoons and knives, cup sleeves, and beverage lids upon the customer’s request. When those items are provided, they must be dispensed individually rather than in packets, which lawmakers believe will discourage the public from taking them unnecessarily, thereby limiting the amount of trash generated.

Furthermore, plastic stirrers and splash sticks for beverages will no longer be available in food service businesses, but consumers will still be available to buy them at retail shops.

County Legislator Erika Pierce (D-Katonah), who introduced the bill with Board of Legislators Vice Chair Nancy Barr (D-Rye Brook) that was approved earlier this year, said the volume of plastic utensils and other items exploded during the height of the pandemic when the public was ordering take-out to help their favorite restaurants survive.

She said it will take a minor habit change in order to adjust to the new law.

“We know how to change our behavior as consumers, a small change really,” Pierce said. “We just learn to ask for what we need, our businesses save money and we can cut back what goes into our waste stream and we’re helping the environment.”

Barr added that each establishment must post a sign that will be provided by the county detailing the main points of the law to help increase public awareness. With the request-only provision of the law, it will almost certainly diminish the volume of the items, she said.

“I think most importantly it’s going to help people think about what they actually need, and I think that’s going to spill over to many other areas of consumerism,” Barr said.

The utensils, in particular, are small and narrow enough where they literally slip through spaces in the conveyor belts at the trash and recycling facilities, said Lou Vetrone, commissioner of the county Department of Environmental Facilities. Therefore, many of them never get recycled and end up in the waste stream, he said.

County Executive George Latimer last week called the new legislation “good public policy.” He said the plastic items are almost never reused and to provide them upon request only seems like common sense, particularly for business owners.

“As we start to implement it, we’ll see a benefit to not only the environment of Westchester County but also the businesses that don’t have to spend the additional money to buy a product that may not be needed by the consuming public,” Latimer said.

County officials said the law will apply to in-person and over-the-phone orders as well as purchases through apps and online. It also maintains existing protocols for utensil storage within establishments. Utensils available in self-service containers for consumers must be individually wrapped or placed face-down, with single- item dispensers recommended.

Department of Health and Department of Environmental Facilities inspectors will be making rounds to make sure there is compliance. Food establishments that violate the law will be subject to a $100 fine for the first offense, a $200 fine for the second offense and a $400 for a third violation.

Latimer said the idea is not to punishabusinesses but to help everyone contribute to a more sustainable society.

“The purpose of our work is to enforce the law, not to punish; it’s to enforce the law to get compliance,” Latimer said. “What we want is compliance. We don’t want those products out there.”

Contributed by Martin Smolin

Very Punny

I never thought orthopedic shoes would really work for me. But I stand corrected.

Once upon a time there was a king who was only 12 inches tall. He was a terrible king but he made a great ruler.

A Mexican magician says he will disappear on the count of 3. He says: "Uno, dos ..." Poof. He disappeared without a tres.

I wrote a book on how to fall down the stairs. It's a step by step guide.

My son was chewing on electric cords, so I had to ground him. It's OK, though. He's doing better and conducting himself properly.

My friend claims that he "accidentally" glued himself to his autobiography, but I don't believe him. But that's his story and he's sticking to it.

An armed man ran into a real estate agency and shouted: “Nobody move.”

I asked the surgeon if I could administer my own anesthetic. He said, “Sure. Knock yourself out!”

I got into a fight today with 1,3,5,7 and 9. The odds were really against me.

In Britain, it's called a lift but Americans call it an elevator. I guess we were just raised differently.

97% of people are stupid. Glad I'm in the other 5%.

The Almighty said to John, “Come forth and ye shall receive eternal life.” But John came fifth and got a toaster instead.

AND FINALLY,

I have 2 unwritten rules:

1.

2.

Contributed by Barbara Bruno

A Romantic Interlude

The Voice Actors behind Mickey and Minnie Mouse Got Married in Real Life.

From Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn to Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, the entertainment industry is rife with tales of co-stars who fell in love while performing together. Given the sweet feelings their famous characters consistently displayed to one another, it's not surprising that the same fate befell longtime Mickey and Minnie Mouse voice actors Wayne Allwine and Russi Taylor.

At the time Taylor beat out approximately 200 competitors to claim the voice role of Minnie in 1986, both she and Allwine (by then already established as Mickey for almost a decade) were married to other people. But their rapport as co-workers and friends soon blossomed into genuine affection, especially after each obtained a divorce, and they were married in Hawaii in 1991. The couple refused to talk publicly about their romance, preferring to keep the focus on the iconic characters they were tasked with portraying, although the cartoon hearts they radiated in one another’s presence were clear to all. According to one former colleague, Allwine would bring a ukulele to joint interviews with Taylor, and while he would launch into song as Mickey to serenade Minnie, “You knew it was Wayne talking to Russi.”

After Allwine died in 2009, Taylor naturally had a difficult time returning to work with Bret Iwan, the new Mickey. Yet she pulled it together to continue with Minnie's various big- and small-screen adventures, even earning her first Primetime Emmy nomination in 2018, before joining her beloved in the great soundbooth in the sky the following year.

Source: Interesting Facts

Contributed by Jane Hart

Special Observances, September 4 – 10

SEPTEMBER 4: NATIONAL EAT AN EXTRA DESSERT DAY

Eat an Extra Dessert Day encourages everyone to do something doctors probably wouldn’t recommend: eat a second dessert. And it can be at any meal: lunch, dinner—if you eat dessert at breakfast, go wild and have two. (And remind us to join you for breakfast.)

The word "dessert" comes from the French word “desservir,” which means “to clear the table.” Fruits and honey were probably the first sweeteners. The universe of desserts was bolstered by the expansion of the use of sugar. Sugar was used in India before 500 BCE. Over the next millennium or so, trade took it to places such as Macedonia and China. It didn’t hit Europe until the 12th century. During the Industrial Revolution desserts began being mass-produced. In addition, sweet delights could be processed and preserved in new ways, expanding their reach and increasing their popularity. Today, there are countless types of desserts available —home-made and store-bought — including cakes, pastries, cookies, pies, pudding (not sure Jello really counts as a dessert), and the ever-available wonderful ice cream.

The Who, Where, and Why of Eat an Extra Dessert Day are unknown. But it gives you the ultimate right — after a scoop of ice cream, a hunk of cheesecake, a slice of pie, or whatever your first choice is today — to choose a second dessert. (You might want to print this out and keep it with you, should the nutrition police stick their long noses in your business.)

SEPTEMBER 5: NATIONAL CHEESE PIZZA DAY

Okay, we know today is Tuesday, not Friday, but nevertheless today is officially National Cheese Pizza Day! True, February 9 is National Pizza Day: a day to celebrate one’s favorite pizza dish. But, National Cheese Pizza Day was born to give special appreciation to cheese pizza. Of course, every pizza deserves its own day for love — the Margherita, pepperoni, olive, mushroom, etc. — which is most likely the reason for National Cheese Pizza Day (although the exact creator and birth date are still a mystery).

The beginnings of pizza aren’t exactly known either, but most pizza scholars (yeah, that’s a thing) date it back to Ancient Greece when people covered bread with oils, herbs, and cheese. Pizza-ish, right? However, the kind of flatbread pizza that is well-known now started in Naples, Italy. There, the cheese used was buffalo mozzarella. Eventually, travel and discovery led to pizza making its way to the new world, which, by the time it got there, could better be described as the new-ish world. 1905 was the date; New York City’s Little Italy, the place. Los Angeles didn’t get this perfect food (protein, dairy, grain, vegetable) until 1939, thanks to the D’Amore family. Pizza’s popularity soared in the US following World War II. Veterans returning from the Italian Campaign led the rise in pizza consumption.

Cheese Pizza has also had an impact on pop culture, with the dish famously being Kevin Mccallister’s preferred choice in the “Home Alone” movies, lthough perhaps nobody loves pizza as much as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, who became a global phenomenon in the 1990s. Joey Tribianni, the iconic “Friends” character, also introduced the Joey Special in the 1990s, which consisted of two pizzas.

Pizza achieved iconic-dish status in North America during the second half of the 20th century: a popular dish at any party or gathering of friends. In the US, pizzas is beloved, especially cheese pizza. In 1997, it was estimated that the US produced more than 2 billion pounds of pizza cheese. Today the US pizza industry is worth over $40 billion per year.

SEPTEMBER 6: GREAT EGG TOSS DAY

Great Egg Toss Day celebrates the sport of egg tossing. And, just to clarify, we’re talking raw eggs. Great Egg Toss Day takes place on September 6. Why? That was the day in 1981 when Risto Antikainen threw a fresh egg 317 feet, 10 inches, to Jyrki Korhonen. However, there is some debate over the record. Up until 2000, the Guinness World of Records listed the feat being set in 1978 with a throw of 323 feet, 2 inches, in a toss from Johnny Dell Foley to Keith Thomas. But in 2000 Guinness dropped egg tossing from their book altogether. (And that’s no yolk.)

How did all this start?! In medieval Britain, an egg throwing festival was held in churches at Easter. The priest would give out one hard-boiled egg which was tossed by choir boys around the nave of the church and the one who was holding the egg when the clock struck twelve would get to keep it.

The modern version has been around since the early 1900s as a way to get family, friends, and neighbors together for some laughs and competition. The idea is simple: toss an egg back and forth between two people, with each person trying to throw it farther than the other. The winner gets bragging rights. The pair (or pairs) stands about 3 feet apart, and a raw egg is tossed from one partner to the next. Those who catch the eggs without breaking them continue in the game, the others are out. After each successful catch, the players must take one step backward so that the tosses are longer and longer. However, different versions exist. In one, the idea is to toss an egg so it falls on the ground without breaking. This is possible on, for example, grassy meadows. In Germany, children invented a way to spin the egg during the toss so it lands on its tip still spinning. Dutch children play a game called “egg sales.” One child sells an egg to another. The new owner then throws the egg in the grass and if it does not break it must be returned to the seller.

Just one hint: You might want to hose down the area once the game is over. Raw egg on the grass will attract unwelcome animals. And besides, after a few days, well, you know how rotten eggs smell.

SEPTEMBER 7: GRANDMA MOSES DAY

Grandma Moses Day celebrates the talented primitive artist Anna Mary Robertson Moses, better known as Grandma Moses. The observance pays homage to an artist who remains an inspiration to people starting careers late in life. Despite her advanced age, she defied the odds and set out to become one of the most celebrated artists of her time.

Anna Mary Robertson became Anna Mary Robertson Moses in 1887 when she wed Thomas Moses. Self-taught, she painted images from her girlhood: peaceful scenes of farmsteads and rural life. She began painting in her 50s, but only kicked into gear in her 70s. Then, she began selling them at a local drugstore for about $10.

In 1938, art collector Louis Caldor, happened upon the drugstore and bought all her paintings. He was able to include her work in a folk art show at the Museum of Modern Art. And, with that, her career was launched. The following year, her paintings were displayed in New York and began selling across Europe and North America. Moses soon gained a large following across the globe. Her work spread to a larger audience when Grandma Moses paintings were adopted on Christmas cards in 1946. Sometime in the 1950s, her exhibitions shattered worldwide attendance records. She went on to feature on the front cover of LIFE magazine in 1960 when she clocked 100. She would go on to create thousands of paintings before her death in 1961 at the age of 101.

In 1960, when Granma Moses reached 100 years, Nelson Rockefeller — then New York Governor — declared September 7, her birthday, as the official Grandma Moses Day. Today we celebrate the life of an icon and how she has inspired generations to reach for the stars regardless of age.

SEPTEMBER 8: NATIONAL AMPERSAND DAY

National Ampersand Day is celebrated to honor “&.” The ampersand’s origins can be traced back to the Latin word “et,” which means “and.” The letters “E” and “T” in this word were occasionally put together to form a ligature, a character consisting of two or more joined letters. The writer saved time by using the character, with one letter flowing seamlessly into the next — a type of cursive or joined-up writing.

The ampersand has used since the 1st century AD. Most people don’t give much thought to the symbol, but it has a long and illustrious history. Though it is impossible to say when this symbol was initially written down, an early example has been discovered as graffiti on a wall in Pompeii, preserved by the Vesuvius eruption in 79 AD. Tracing the evolution of symbols across time might be a challenge, but with the ampersand, the job has already been done by Jan Tschichold, a typographer born in Leipzig in 1902. Tschichold dedicated an entire study to the evolution of the ampersand in his 1953 monograph The Ampersand: its genesis and development, in which he collected hundreds of examples of it throughout history, charting its evolution from ancient graffiti to the familiar “&” used today.

Into the 19th century, the ampersand was regularly included at the end of the alphabet, being viewed as the 27th letter. The name “ampersand” came from the recitation of the alphabet, which was ended by saying “and per se and.” “Per se” means by itself, so the end of recitation meant “X, Y, Z, and, by itself, ‘and.’” The “and per se and” eventually was slurred together to create the word ampersand.

One of the main ways the ampersand is used in formal writing today is in company names, e.g., Johnson & Johnson or Boys & Girls Club of America. It is sometimes also used in formulas and computer code. Ampersands can be written using many variations of typography.

National Ampersand Day was created in 2015 by Chaz DeSimone of AmperArt, who wanted to “acknowledge & applaud the ampersand.” He chose September 8 as the holiday’s date because he found that when using ampersands in various fonts he could spell out "September 8" using only ampersands.

SEPTEMBER 9: INTERNATIONAL SUDOKU DAY

International Sudoku Day takes place September 9 (9/9). Sudoku enthusiasts will immediately grasp the date’s importance: The goal of the Sudoku game is to fill a 9×9 grid so that each column, row, and 3×3 sub-grid contains all the digits from 1 to 9, making 9/9 is the natural choice. Very logical, which is also appropriate since hardcore logical thinking is Sudoku’s raison d’etre.

Sudoku is based on a number puzzle called “Latin Squares,” developed by an 18th-century Swiss mathematician and is similar to Sudoku in that each row and column had to contain all designated numbers. However, unlike Sudoku, it involved numerals higher than 9 and emphasized solvers’ mathematical skills rather than logic. In 1892, the French newspaper “La Siècle” printed the game and in ensuing years other French papers picked up on the trend with similar games. By the start of WWI, however, those games’ popularity had waned.

Then cometh 1979. Indiana architect Howard Garns published a puzzle of his own invention (at the time named “Number Place”) in Dell Pencil Puzzles and Word Games magazine. That game would become what we know as Sudoku. Garns, however, died before his brainchild became an international sensation. In the meantime, in 1984, Garn’s game had set Japan’s puzzle industry on fire. It took on the name Sudoku, which means “the digits are limited to one occurrence,” along with a fan base of millions of devoted Japanese players. Since the Japanese language doesn’t work well for crossword puzzles, number games are much more popular there. Japanese buy over 600,000 Sudoku magazines.

In 1997, Hong Kong judge Wayne Gould invented a computer program that could come up with unique Sudoku puzzles. He pitched the game as a daily puzzle feature to newspapers in the UK. In 2004, the Times of London and The Conway Daily Sun in New Hampshire began publishing Sudoku puzzles. Since then, Sudoku has become a global phenomenon. In 2013, The World Puzzle Federation made September 9 the official International Sudoku Day.

Today, the game is readily available on smartphone apps and widely printed in papers and magazines. It’s the subject of multiple documentaries and game shows, and even spawned an award-nominated original tune by songwriter Peter Levy. We think it’s safe to say Sudoku isn’t going anywhere any time soon.

SEPTEMBER 10: BLAME IT ON THE LARGE HADRON COLLIDER DAY

Blame It on the Large Hadron Collider Day was created in 2008 to shift blame for losing things from the people who actually lost them, to the Large Hadron Collider. “The Large Hadron Collider probably has your car keys, your missing socks, and your rent money, perhaps sucked into a black hole,” one source notes. The day takes place on the anniversary of the date that the Large Hadron Collider was first fired up in 2008.

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is the world's biggest and most powerful particle accelerator. Located just outside of Geneva, Switzerland, on the border with France, it was built by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). The idea for it was conceived in 1984, and the final go-ahead for its construction was given a decade later. It took $5 billion just to get it up and running. How does it work? Protons come from a tank of helium gas and are accelerated almost to the speed of light while being directed in two beams down a circular track. The track is nearly 18 miles long and is between 165 to 575 feet below ground. When the protons collide: POW! A huge amount of energy is released. One of the goals of the LHC is to test the Big Bang Theory, by creating the conditions of the beginning of the universe according to that theory. In 2012, the LHC was used to find the Higgs boson particle.

So why would the LHC be given blame? Perhaps it is because of its size—there is a lot of room for things to get lost in a machine that is 18 miles in circumference. Or perhaps blame is given because the LHC had issues just 9 days after its launch. Magnets overheated and melted and caused an explosion of helium gas. The LHC was fixed and upgraded but did not begin running again until 2009. Beginning in 2010, it had to run at half capacity to help prevent another accident from happening.

Spend September 10 (or, really, any day) blaming the Large Hadron Collider whenever something goes wrong, particularly if you can't find something. It's likely your item was sucked in by the LHC and is now inside of it — or a black hole created by it.

In and Around Kendal

Kendal’s Grilling Club Launches, August 20, 2023

It was a glorious Sunday — bright skies, cool breezes, and a hot grill. August 20 and the Grilling Club — afficionadas of all things barbecue — met for the first time. Arthur Vecchiotti and Pete Roggemann handled the hotdogs and hamburger orders, along with fare for the vegetarian set (cooked on a separate grill from the meat). Other members brought cheese and crackers and such, salads and side dishes, dessert, and other vital necessities. Each member brought a beverage of choice. Club members set it all up and took it all down. And meanwhile enjoyed each others’ company, lots of laughter and some very good food, under that Terrace tent at the first ever Grilling Club event!

Photos by Cynthia Ferguson

Sunset over the Hudson After the BBQ

Photo by Joe Bruno

In Honor of the Mighty Mushroom

Omelet Brunch by Edward Kasinec

Mushrooms Sprouting 1, by Carolyn Reiss

Mushrooms Sprouting 2, by Carolyn Reiss

Mushroom Sprouting 3, by Carolyn Reiss

The Flowers of Kendal Terrace, by Ginny Bender

Mr. Softee Visits Kendal, by Art Brady

Goat, Glorious Goat, by Edward Kasinec

And to All, a Good Night

Photo by Harry Bloomfeld

Out and About

The Plastic Pooches of Irvington

Art Brady has discovered a plethora of plastic pooches populating the principle passageway past Irvington proprietors. In other words, something’s a-foot (or a-paw) on Irvington’s Main Street. Art counted 12 and photographed 9. To learn more about the puzzle of pups, click the button below.

Meanwhile, below are pictures of the perfectly puzzling pooch perplexity.

Photos by Art Brady

A Great Event to Go Out and About For

Coming soon to Harriman Institute Atrium Gallery, Columbia University: September 7 — October 3, 2023. Curators include Edward Kasinec.

Come Watch a Bird — No Experience Necessary; Pro At Hand

BIRDWATCHING AT KENDAL

 With Anne Swaim

Saw Mill River Audubon Society

 Date:            Friday, Sept. 8, 2023

Time:           9 AM — 10 AM

Place:           Rockwood Hall (for those w/o walkers)

Limit:           10 participants

 OR

 Date:           Friday, Sept. 8, 2023

Time:           10:30 AM — 11 AM

Place:           Kendal Pergola (for those with walkers)

Limit:           20 observers

Suggested donation: $5/session (checks only payable to Saw Mill River Audubon Society)

Registration: Sign up in the Sept. section of Trips Book at Front Desk by Sept. 5, 2023

Is Your Computer Secure?

Last week, Computer Committee Chair Joe Bruno sent an interesting article on guarding your browser (you know, the thing you search the web with). This week, he’s come through again with an article on web trackers: those sometimes nefarious folks who suck in your data as you happily watch an old rerun of “I Love Lucy,” search Amazon for the doll your 8-year-old granddaughter wants for her birthday, or laugh at the cartoon your niece posted on Facebook—and there are scads of other trackers, too.

Joe noted, in particular, that the article is from Malwarebytes “which pushes their program.” He added that he likes Malwarebytes. Many of us use it and like it, as well. However, even if you don’t go the Malwarebytes route, there are plenty of good other suggestions there. Furthermore, the article is so informative, that you are definitely in the territory of “fore-warned is fore-armed.”

If you have further questions, either call Joe or staff member Anthony Bradford, both supreme experts on the wild and sometimes wonderful world of computers. Click below to read the article.

The Political Season Is Upon Us: Time to Laugh (or Nod Wisely)

As the year goes by, politics, politicians, and politicking non-politicians are more and more visible in the news and in our lives. Following are a few quips by a few wits from our own society — and abroad.

Politicians are people who, when they see light at the end of the tunnel, go out and buy some more tunnel. — John Quinton, American actor/writer

Politics is the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich, by promising to protect each from the other.

— Oscar Ameringer, "the Mark Twain of American Socialism."

Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even where there is no river.— Nikita Khrushchev

Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Government. But then I repeat myself. — Mark Twain

I don't make jokes. I just watch the Government and report the facts! — Will Rogers

I contend that for a nation to try and tax itself into prosperity, is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.

— Winston Churchill

A Government which robs Peter to pay Paul, can always depend on the support of Paul! — Will Rogers

The problem we face today is because the people that work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living. — George Bernard Shaw

Contributed by Jane Hart

WHERE HAVE ALL THE PILLOWS GONE?

A few years ago a resident who is an avid needlepointer came to me with a pile of finished needlepoint covers and asked what he could do with them since he had run out of family to give them to as gifts. He agreed with my suggestion to have pillows made from them which would be used to brighten up the décor on Main Street and the Residents’ Lounge. So 11 beautiful pillows were made and distributed among the chairs in that area much to the delight of residents.

NOW ONLY 7 ARE LEFT

This is an area much used by residents, staff, visitors, delivery people, etc. So, what is happening to those missing pillows? If you see any in another area of Kendal, please return them to Main Street. If you have “borrowed” one, please return it.

Marilyn Bottjer, Chair CAFA

© 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.