A Little Coloring Book!

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Biden Our Time

  A tune I wrote after the election and before the inauguration...

The Counting Year

 The Counting Year

I've got the Big Eye again,
as my Mamaw would have said,
worries jerking back the covers
I count the minutes until
the alarm

I count a lot these days
Measuring my days in yards of fabric and thread
For awhile I couldn't buy thread
Or toilet paper or dish soap
or eggs
I measured my days in eggs.

We counted shoppers in stores
Guarding our safety in six foot circles
Reeking of sanitizer
As we stared down the bleak half-empty aisles
together/apart

This was the year we counted our lost wages
Hoping the furloughs were a passing phase
and not the way of things
from now on
making do, stretching out, well
at least we saved on gas for the car

Walks taken, dance halls dark
tomatoes planted,
(so many tomatoes!)
home-baked bread, recipes from lush times,
pans of comfort we'll probably regret later
as we count our steps

This was the year we inventoried babies in cages
borders closed, promises broken, pacts ignored,
countdown to elections
count up the votes
and   so   many   lies
so many lies, we finally stopped counting 

Nearly half a million
loved ones lost
We helplessly share our grief and rage
through flickering screens and a few lines
of insufficient sympathies

As we fight for salvation and healing
and rest (oh just a few moments more)
we count our blessings and
give thanks for the gifts of
resilience and laughter
friendship and courage
music and love.

                Sarah Gowan - November 19, 2020

The Two Ravens - A Crankie

The Clootie Wall - Processing a Pandemic

The Quarantines have brought us to this strange and lonely place where we feel simultaneously more isolated and yet more connected than ever. While I feel blessed to have virtual access to my friends and loved ones, I'm craving the physical connection with them more than ever. Constructing this space gave me a place to process the wild emotions stirred up by our surreal circumstances. Rooted in the traditions of my ancestral Scotland and Southern Appalachia, this piece is a longing, a meditation, a wish, a prayer. Welcome to my quirky backyard. 

 Look for more photos and videos as I continue to add to the wall through the month of May. If you would like me to add something for you, or you wish to add something yourself, we welcome visitors, both virtual and physical. Message or email me for more information. ssgowan@gmail.com 

 Wishing you a Happy May Day and dreaming of better times to come.

 

My Dearest Brother - April 12, 2020

My Dearest Brother-

I do apologize for being remiss in answering your charming and delightfully informative missives. I have read them aloud to my Best Beloved Husband as we enjoyed our suppers of mixed vegetables, hearty brown rice and a peculiar culinary invention all the way from China called "To-Fu". I was excited to sample this treat, given China's rich history and colorful culture and anticipated a delectable adventure. I must say that upon my first taste I was unimpressed and even a bit put off by its complete lack of flavor and bland texture. I then remembered the story of when our great-grandmother first encountered a grapefruit and, having been given no instruction on its preparation, tried eating it raw both with and without the peel (too bitter!), but declared it passably edible when fried in her cast iron skillet with plenty of bacon fat.

And thus it goes with the To-Fu, for we soon discovered it to be quite delicious when well-seasoned in garlic and herbs, dipped in a batter much like one would dredged poultry with, and deep-fried until crispy brown and crackling. Of course, one might argue, that anything could be made palatable with this method of preparation - even Nanny's grapefruit. And so begins our week of experimental meals where we endeavor to make the best of our dwindling stores with garlic, oil and excessive temperatures. As you are a gentleman vegetarian, I'm sure you, unlike some of our other male acquaintances, will refrain from offering an unsolicited disquisition regarding the culinary arts. (Here I conjoin words to emphasize my consternation at being lectured about a subject I have studied all my life. #cocksure_blatherskite )

I fear the Plague has made the days run together and I am just realizing that today is Easter! I invite you to cast your mind back to Easters past and reminisce with me with these images from our childhood.

Happy Easter, Welcome Spring
and all my love to You and the lovely Irish Wife,

Sarah and the BBH

_____________________________________

Lon Gowan is an actor/stuntman/writer and the most excellent brother a sister could ever want. His "My Dearest Sister" letters may be the best thing to happen to me during the COVID-19 Quarantines. 

Julie Dolan is an actress, musician and favorite Irish wife/Las Vegas Showgirl. We were thrilled the day she married my brother.

Susan Terry is a mediator, consultant, musician, and storyteller as well being our Esteemed Mother. She and her Yankee Husband and Gentleman Farmer, Stephen Parker live in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont at High Reach Farm

Bill Quern is my Beloved Husband and we're known collectively as Box and String.

#COVID19  #LonGowan  #MyDearestSister #Julie Dolan #Coronacation 

My Dearest Sister - April 10, 2020

My Dearest Sister,

I awoke from my sleep this night and was unable to return. I found my mind wandering full of thoughts that served no earthly purpose at this hour of day. I thought best to give into them and just rise, leaving your Sister-in-Law to her slumbers.

Perhaps it is the news that I shall not be returning to my place of employ until after the month of May, I do miss my compatriots so. Perhaps it was the news that my financial institution will be accepting applications for the grants and loans from the Government and that news was received at an hour at which I can not obtain the documents needed to apply. Or perhaps, it was homemade tacos. I suspect it was a veritable combo-platter of worries and rich salty foods. Así es la vida…

We did manage to visit with Julie’s sister over the flickerbox. We cooked together. It was quite fun. You and I should try, although the time difference would have one of us eating at an odd hour. Perhaps Brunch?

I also spent some time on the flicker box with my friend Tristan. He is a guest at work who visits us after performances on occasion with his Mother. He is a treat. He likes to give hugs and is incredibly strong. His Mother often tells him to be careful with me. I tell her to “mind your own business, Lady, this hug is between him and me”. Tristan is a fan of the Musical theater, as well as our show and often has a review of a recent performance. His favorite to date is “The Greatest Showman”. It was nice to visit with him, again.

It has been raining for three days. It is difficult to complain when I know the family farm has received snow, yet again.... in April. But still, it will be nice to see how the rain has helped the garden.

The days have been pleasant. Your Sister-in-Law and I enjoy each other’s company and find ways to assistance one another, even when assistance isn’t required. It feels nice to be of service. I believe it is important to tell you that it is my wife that allows me the privilege of being of “aid” to her. I know she is more than capable of completing any task and, more often than not, would prefer that I don’t “help”, but she understands the need of my ego. Here I insert a symbol with words smashed together that I know nothing about and I believe am applying incorrectly as it may not be germane to the topic at hand (Así es la vida) #supportstrongwomen

Julie and I took blood tests. I wasn’t sure what mine was, so I order tests from the mercantile and they arrived in the mornings mail. I am O+ and Julie is A+. I read that in Japanese cultural that is considered to be the best pairing. I’m not sure if there is science to that, but anecdotally, in our house, it works out that way.

I believe my mind has settled now and I will return to the comfort of my bed in hopes of gaining some sleep before I spend a day completing Government forms.

Our very best to you, Your Best Beloved Husband, your Handsome Boys and their Beautiful & Handsome families.

Yours,

Your Brother and Sister-in-Law

_____________________________________

Lon Gowan is an actor/stuntman/writer and the most excellent brother a sister could ever want. His "My Dearest Sister" letters may be the best thing to happen to me during the COVID-19 Quarantines. 

Julie Dolan is an actress, musician and favorite Irish wife/Las Vegas Showgirl. We were thrilled the day she married my brother.

Susan Terry is a mediator, consultant, musician, and storyteller as well being our Esteemed Mother. She and her Yankee Husband and Gentleman Farmer, Stephen Parker live in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont at High Reach Farm

Bill Quern is my Beloved Husband and we're known collectively as Box and String.

#COVID19  #LonGowan  #MyDearestSister #Julie Dolan #Coronacation 

My Dearest Sister - April 8, 2020

My Dearest Sister,

I fear my yesterday’s correspondence did not post. Suffice it to say, that is how it seems that things are going these troubled days.

The rains have returned and with it a chill in the air and a cloud of melancholy that falls upon me once more. I know this shall pass, but I find my mood does swings like the watch fob carnival show hypnotist, back and forth, back and forth… I am most fortunate to have your Sister-in-law her to keep me entertained and to snap me back to what is important when sorrow does overtake me.

I had read of Ms. Ross’s stages of grief but did not know I could feel them all within the same hour. I find them to be much like the weather in Vermont, unpredictable and ever changing. I draw a picture of a half-hearted smiling face so that you might believe I have come to the “acceptance” stage of the relevant topic. 😬

In our ongoing efforts to get your Sister-in-Law’s recording studio up to snuff I set about the task of running a wire through our cramped crawl space in the attic. No small deed I will tell you, and not one for the faint of heart or claustrophobic. I donned my protective coveralls, facemask, and gloves, and prepared a string of expletives that surely will be needed to complete the task at hand. If you do not know why expletives are needed for such a task, I believe your Best Beloved Husband would be more than happy to give you insight as to the necessity of course language applied to frustrating labors.

It would be an understatement to say that I was ill prepared for the infuriation that was required to run one thin wire a mere fifty feet across an attic floor. Many harsh words were yelled from the attic. Less you think this gave Julie worry, I remind you that she is of hearty Irish stock and no string of salty talk echoing from the rafters could bring blush to her beautiful cheeks.

At one point, while sliding my insulation covered body under the furnace for the sixth out eight times, when only two were required (again your BBH may be of assistance if you are not familiar with “home depot’s rule of home repair” in which multiple trips are made, when only one is truly needed), my back against the furnace, facemask in the insulation, the furnace kicked on… It was at that time that I realized why the Good Lord himself had put yoga in my life as I quickly chaturanga'd my ass out of there. I write you here to say that I am enjoying the thought of this in hindsight and that it brings laughter to my voice to think what a sight that must have been had anyone been there to bear witness.

We shall see what today brings us. I know I am blessed to have such tasks, a home to do them in, and a lovely Irish wife to share the time together that this wretched plague has brought. There are blessings to be counted and I am rich with them.

Amount our blessings is that you, your BBH, your boys and their loving families, and our adoring parents and friends are safe and as happy as these times allow.

Yours,
Your Brother and Sister-in-Law

_____________________________________
Lon Gowan is an actor/stuntman/writer and the most excellent brother a sister could ever want. His "My Dearest Sister" letters may be the best thing to happen to me during the COVID-19 Quarantines. 

Julie Dolan is an actress, musician and favorite Irish wife/Las Vegas Showgirl. We were thrilled the day she married my brother.

Susan Terry is a mediator, consultant, musician, and storyteller as well being our Esteemed Mother. She and her Yankee Husband and Gentleman Farmer, Stephen Parker live in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont at High Reach Farm

Bill Quern is my Beloved Husband and we're known collectively as Box and String.

#COVID19  #LonGowan  #MyDearestSister #Julie Dolan #Coronacation 

Pandemic Challenge Levels, Anyone?

OK, as if it's not weird enough being quarantined, the universe has decided I need extra pandemic challenge levels.

Challenge Level 1: The liquor stores in Pennsylvania are closed. OK, this is a really low-level challenge because I can get wine at the grocery store and I don't really need the alcohol anyway, but it's the principle of the thing. You want to see Pandemic Panic up close and personal, close the liquor stores. That's when the sh*t gets real, y'all.

Challenge Level 2: An injury in some forgotten past caused my toenail to spontaneously disconnect itself... but only halfway. IT'S DRIVING ME BONKERS! I could deal with no toenail, but this halfway thing is cruel. Do I trim it? Do I leave it? Solution: wrap it in duct tape until November.

Challenge Level 3: My cat developed an anal gland abscess which requires me to chase him around the house applying hot compresses, rescuing him from cone traps, convincing him the water dish is not trying to drown him, and smearing honey on his butt. (I am not making this up.) This is NOT how I envisioned my super creative and introspective quarantine going down.

Can I just say the universe has a really warped sense of humor?

My Dearest Sister - April 7, 2020

My Dearest Sister,

To be able to converse with you this day on Mr. Bell’s magnificent wire was just one of the highlights of many that made my birthday so special. Your Sister-in-Law went to great pains to make today replete with festivities and surprises. We even had a rousing game of “hot – cold” which culminated when I was greeted by a wrapped present of new cooking pans!... and you know how much I enjoy the culinary arts!

We shouted across our humble road as our friendly neighbors greeted and toasted my birthday from a far. I’m sure that ever-vigilant Mrs. Karen Mycroft from next door was peering pursed lipped through her curtains in displeasure at our raucous revelry. Mrs. Mycroft would soon find her backside toasted by the boot of my Irish wife if she dared to come out to spoil the festivities that had been so cunningly and carefully planned and executed.

Most of my day was filled with greetings of well-wishing delivered to our otherwise solitude from all types of communications. I would have not been surprised in the least if there had been smoke signals on our horizon. I insert a drawing of a face in a smiling expression to represent humor is intended so that you may know this is a joke lest we start a conversation that begins “when did you learn to read smoke signals?”😃

Julie’s in-home recording studio is coming along nicely. It will not be long before she is able to broadcast her voice clearly over great distance. This should bring great comfort to her. Her efforts will be well rewarded, of that I am sure.

I was also gifted some luxurious bedding from my wife and a gift card from the amazon marketplace from my Sister-in-Law. Surprises were a plenty on this day.

Of surprises, I awoke to rain this morning. As the day cleared the clouds, I inspected the garden and, low and behold, the squash seeds have broken through the soil and are on their way. It will not be long before we start to see flowers.

I believe tomorrow will be a day of thank you’s and gratitudes for all the birthday wishes and salutations.

We count you, BBH, your boys and their loving families as some of our many blessings.

Yours,

Your Brother and Sister-in-Law

_____________________________________

Lon Gowan is an actor/stuntman/writer and the most excellent brother a sister could ever want. His "My Dearest Sister" letters may be the best thing to happen to me during the COVID-19 Quarantines. 

Julie Dolan is an actress, musician and favorite Irish wife/Las Vegas Showgirl. We were thrilled the day she married my brother.

Susan Terry is a mediator, consultant, musician, and storyteller as well being our Esteemed Mother. She and her Yankee Husband and Gentleman Farmer, Stephen Parker live in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont at High Reach Farm

Bill Quern is my Beloved Husband and we're known collectively as Box and String.

#COVID19  #LonGowan  #MyDearestSister #Julie Dolan #Coronacation