"Hope and Optimism in Spite of the Present Difficulties"

The title of this post is from a woodcut by John Muafangejo, a Namibian who was one of the great artists in this medium.  We are very fortunate to have an original print of another of his works in our home, a treasure from our years in southern Africa.  It would be well worth checking him out if you are unfamiliar with his work.

Here on the cusp of the New year, I shall resist passing somber judgments on the one that has passed or making predictions about the one that arrives tomorrow.  Instead, a few of the many things to which I'm looking forward, in no particular order:

• Cate Blanchett as Bob Dylan.  Delicious or dreadful, a must see.
• Burrowing into the pile of books that came my way this Christmas.  At the top of the stack: Sippewissett, or Life on a Salt Marsh by Tim Travers, followed by Tom Wessels' The Myth of Progress, Toward a Sustainable Future.  Reviews to follow.
• Saving Windrock.  This year, for the rest of the century.
• A week on Monhegan Island.  It's been far too long.
• The last years of my 4th decade (39 in April).
• Raising a glass to toast a decade of ≠Khoadi //Hôas Conservancy and our friends in Northwest Namibia who have made it such a success.  1997 was indeed the "year of action", and Viv and I are grateful to have been part of it.  Wish we could celebrate with you in person.  Maybe on the 15th.
• A Northeast US tour by Richard Thompson.  Preferably at the Iron Horse or the Egg.  Somewhere close enough for us to get a sitter.
• The many simple pleasures of the seasons.  Tapping our maple tree.  The first wild leeks.  A clambake on Buzzard's Bay.  Fresh pressed cider.  Splitting wood.  Autumn leaves.  Winterberry. 

My very best wishes to one and all in the New Year.

Comments

[Ben]

This is absolutely my favorite endorsement blog post by anyone, anywhere. You rock.

[GreenmanTim]

Thought that would be up your alley, Dan. I'll probably cross-post the review to Whorled Leaves when it's done.

[Dan Trabue]

Looking forward to a review of Myth of Progress. Less so Cate-as-Bob.

[GreenmanTim]

Gorgeous places to kayak. My parents bring theirs to the Island every year. No better way to see marine mammals in their element - although hard to maintain the required 500 ft. distance when a whale surfaces unexpectedly alongside!

Happy New Year, indeed!

[fuzzyturtle]

Monhegan Island should be lovely. My hub and I go anywhere between Boothbay and Deer Isle for kayaking at least once a year (depending on the lenght of the stay, we go further north).

Happy New Year!

[GreenmanTim]

You would be most welcome! Sweetcorn's ripe in August.

[Lars Smith]

Hey, I would love to drop by for that clam bake...