25 Acre Woods Digest (2021-10-13): It's Peak Season

Hello faithful readers, and a big welcome to our latest reader, Michael Khodarkhovsky. 

It’s peak season here at the 25 Acres. Yep, we're now past snake seasonPeak season is when all the tourists come up from Massachusetts. The intrusion apparently frightens the leaves so much that they first turn all kinds of colors and then dash for the ground. The folks from Massachusetts find this so amusing they come back every year.

We’ve been busy at the 25 Acres. Let’s jump in.

 

 

 

As the leaves change colors, it was a week of firsts here at the 25 Acres.

 

 

To kick it off, here’s Professor Khodarkhovsky delivering the inaugural Piazza Rock Lecture (sponsored by Mainers United for Sustainable Heating).

Michael lived across the street in Hyde Park. He came to visit, go for some hikes, and explore Maine with us. 

Michael, our first out-of-town visitor, has a side gig as a professor of Russian history. That fills the time when he’s not advancing his career in comparative hiking around the world. 

 

 

The 25 Acres Editorial Team recommends Professor Khodarkovsky’s most recent book, now in its second printing.

This work makes the past century  of Russian history approachable by telling one story a year for the past hundred years.

Know a good candidate to give the next Piazza Rock Lecture? Nominate them here. Each speaker earns a free evening at Ambition Brewery.

 

 

But wait, there’s more! We got Nora-bombed!

Nora hopped in one of Clan Cleary’s many Subarus to join us at 25 Acres for the weekend. You know, we’re just 7 hours or so down the road.

We were touched to have the family’s leading epidemiologist join us. Along the way, she also offered advice we’re taking on the veggie garden and our emerging trail network.

Great to see you Nora!

 

 

Your humble correspondent’s view hiking with Nora and Michael. 

See those small dots way far up the hill? That would be them.

Is the picture a little foggy from someone panting all over the lens? That would be me.

 

 

While Nora was here, she split her first log to add to the woodpile.

Unfortunately, that was all that was added. 

But we are still barely burning anything. So, the mystery remains: which will endure longer: the woodpile or the winter?

 

 

As our faithful readers know, the 25 Acres strives to be a green organization.

In that vein, we announce that we are officially green with envy.

Of yet another Hyde Park neighbor. 

Yes, Orlie Weitzman, the adorable girl next door. Well, one of the gaggle of adorable girls next door.

See how her newsletter has gone big. 

Meanwhile, we at the 25 Acres pride ourselves on the tight knit community we enjoy. And are so very thankful for the ongoing support of Our Sponsor.

And, well, if this digest thing doesn’t pan out, it’s not as if there aren’t options, eh?

Found in downtown Portland, Maine. 

As always, stay tuned for the next edition...

 

The 25 Acre Woods Digest is supported by
Our Sponsor and MUSH