Author Archives: marigold

Gardens and Collections

Posted on June 8, 2026 by marigold

The huge DuPont family is descended from Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours, (1739–1817), a minor French aristocrat. The family has been staggeringly wealthy since the mid-19th century when they founded their fortune in gunpowder. Among the pleasures of the … Continue reading →

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Coming Home

Posted on April 30, 2026 by marigold

After six weeks in Mexico City, it was time for me and my cat, Sake, to come home. To make the trip less burdensome, I decided to ship one bag via DHL. When I arrived at the office bag in … Continue reading →

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Discalceled

Posted on April 7, 2026 by marigold

  I thought I had a reasonably large vocabulary but this stumped me.  It means “unshod” or “barefoot,” referring to Catholic religious orders whose members  wear sandals instead of shoes as a sign of poverty, penance, and reform. You could … Continue reading →

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Learning Spanish — -Un poco

Posted on March 18, 2026 by marigold

After getting settled into my apartment in Mexico City, Spanish lessons began. I thought I’d made it clear to the program I’d selected that my knowledge was minimal at best yet ended up with a delightful group of thirty-somethings, all … Continue reading →

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Jane

Posted on January 7, 2026 by marigold

Pre-pandemic, a friend and I took a day trip from London to Chawton, Jane Austen’s house. We traveled by train from London to Winchester and then boarded a bus but failed to hop off at the correct stop. Instead, we … Continue reading →

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Whan that Aprill with his shoures soote…

Posted on December 4, 2025 by marigold

These are the first lines of the prologue of Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales which I learned in high school. It’s interesting (though not surprising) that I remember them clearly although often can’t remember where I put my phone. I’m taking … Continue reading →

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All Creatures

Posted on October 6, 2025 by marigold

The annual Feast of St. Francis at St. John the Divine that includes the Blessing of the Animals  gets better and better. This year’s event included, in addition to the regular Sunday service with readings and hymns, dancing, (some with … Continue reading →

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Lively Lyon: Eight Food and Museum-Filled Days

Posted on September 26, 2025 by marigold

In early September I went to Lyon, France with a friend. After meeting in Paris we took the TGV (high speed train) to Lyon, a roughly two-hour trip. We collected the key and located our rented apartment, a modest, comfortable … Continue reading →

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Peacock Football Field

Posted on August 20, 2025 by marigold

The original Waldorf- Astoria hotel at Fifth Avenue and 33rd Street was built in 1893 and torn down in 1929 to make room to build the Empire State Building. That  Waldorf Hotel was on the site where millionaire developer William … Continue reading →

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By the shores of Gitche Gumee…

Posted on July 31, 2025 by marigold

If ever again I plan to travel over the July 4th weekend please lock me up. Too many people have the same idea. That said, the five days I spent in Portland, Maine July 3-7 were interesting and for the … Continue reading →

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