We got our first carton of strawberries in our CSA box this week and then my husband had the audacity to eat ALL OF THEM BY HIMSELF while I was napping on Friday. I'm clearly still sad about this, lol.
- I somehow did not realize it’s peak strawberry season! How long does that last? I quickly, and sort of absentmindedly, chose peaches instead the last time I went grocery shopping, but I’ll definitely go for strawberries next (and hope I haven’t missed them at their best). I love summer and all its fresh fruit, but I apparently have a knowledge gap when it comes to the intricate, individual seasons. Is there such a thing as a produce calendar? I could use one.
- Cliche or not - misused or not (had no idea it’s now a meme!) - I also adore that Mary Oliver poem with a reverence.
- You know there is a song from Carousel, “June is Bustin’ Out All Over.” Maybe you and Rodgers & Hammerstein are on to something.
Also, circling back to our previous conversation:
- There’s a 7-minute time lapse video on YouTube from the flower clock in the Bern Botanical Garden. The first few whole-season lapses almost made me motion-sick, but the final ones that only cover a 24-hour period (the same day each month from May - September, 2022) slow down enough to really capture the detail of how these flowers actually, physically move throughout a day. It’s as fascinating as we thought it would be! I don’t want to post a link here, in case Substack doesn’t like those, but if you search “bern garden flower clock” on YouTube, it should be your first result.
- And it occurred to me that I never exactly said this outright, but I very much hope your water heater situation is back to normal, too!
It is! The first few weeks of June are traditionally Strawberry season in the Mid-Atlantic where I am, but you do see them from greenhouse growers (or regular growers, as hot as it's been!) in May. Hopefully we get a few more weeks here! Further north there should be weeks more yet. A bit ago I came across this handy chart MD's puts out; I bet there's one like it for your area! (Not as pretty to look at as the flower clocks, to be sure.) https://marylandsbest.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/Maryland-Fruit-and-Vegetable-Seasonality-Charts.pdf
- Oh, I forgot about that song! My grandmother had all the R&H musicals on VHS when I was a kid and I was obsessed (still am to be honest!) with The Sound of Music. I liked Carousel mostly but for some reason I found the dream ballet number scary (I was really small) and haven't revisited! I really should give it another try after all these years. :)
- Thank you for sharing the Bern flower clock! I think I found the video I think you're mentioning and you're right, the intricate detail of how different flowers move in a day is so beautiful: the ones that track the sun, the ones that sort of cower. So fun!
- And yes, I have hot water now, thank you! It literally took five weeks, dozens of phone calls, and filing for rent escrow. I'm so happy it's fixed now but that was exhausting!
Okay, you’ve got me jazzed here. Prepare for some enthusiastic geeking out:
I bet you’re thinking of the ballet in Oklahoma. There’s one in Carousel, too, but it serves as a montage that spans several years (hey, re: your recent discussions on time - passage by ballet is one way to get it done in a musical!), whereas the Oklahoma ballet does represent an actual dream that turns into more of a nightmare. (Essentially, a guy non-consensually has his way with a girl, so it IS scary. I’ve never seen the classic movie version, but even its presentation in the pro-shot of the stage show is scary enough.)
The song I mentioned has this cheery, shiny Disney-ish sound while the lyrics are all about how the animals (and people) are suddenly frisky and going at it “just because it’s June, June, Juuuunnneee!” And the more I think about it (here’s where the geeking out REALLY kicks in!), Carousel fits perfectly with the theme of your post and the books you’ve read lately. It’s considered controversial now for its portrayal of frustrating relationship dynamics (and the icky messaging that could be potentially derived from that), but I don’t think it’s meant to be an ENDORSEMENT of those dynamics or even an example of healthy behavior. Rather, I see it as an exploration of the same topics/questions you were discussing (if I understood your post as you intended): What are you willing to reach for? What are you willing to sacrifice / endure / settle for? And how do those questions become more complicated in the context of a relationship, particularly for women? (With the point being, in my opinion, that a woman’s agency often shrinks once love is involved…Carrie’s relationship needs to be scrutinized just as critically as Julie’s before any hard and fast judgements are cast on either Julie, Billy, or Rodgers & Hammerstein is all I’m saying. I could get on a soapbox about this.) Then it follows the characters’ answers to these questions a generation down, showing the impact of their choices on the future. (See??? I was mostly just kidding before, but maybe there REALLY is something about June! Enough, at least, that I doubt a June-themed - and semi-secretly lusty - song in this show is merely a time-filler…which is actually what I used to think. It’s never been one of my favorite numbers, but you’ve made me look at it in an entirely different way!)
A pro-shot of the 2013 is available on Prime Video (and maybe also BroadwayHD?), if you subscribe to that. I’ve watched it a handful of times over the years (long, some slow spots - but moving, complex story…features a couple opera stars, which is not my favorite sound, but it pretty much works here and it’s still a great cast!), and now I’ve talked myself into wanting to see it again. I think I’ll have to make some time for it before the weekend’s up. (And if you don’t have Prime Video, I noticed there’s a bootleg of the ‘94 revival on YouTube, but I haven’t watched it.)
Geeking out over. Switching subjects: I couldn’t find anything quite as concise and handy-dandy as your calendar specific to East Tennessee (where I live), but I saved a couple comparable resources and discovered info for a relatively nearby farmer’s market. Thanks for inspiring me! And, most importantly, yay for working water heaters (and rising above challenges)!
Also, I would say we did find the same flower clock video, but because I’m ultra-thorough and super-curious, I’m going to post a link to it in a separate comment, just to see what happens. When I was on WordPress, it was unpredictably and weirdly persnickety about sharing links in comments, and I didn’t want to risk Substack being the same way and marking my last one as spam. But now I must know - LOL.
Ah, thank you so much for that! First, I absolutely must've been thinking of Oklahoma! (Same box set!) I could never remember which one was which and must've written them both off long ago (unfairly!). Now that I know Carousel was kind enough to fit in so neatly with my newsletter theming I'll have to revisit it (perhaps both the classic movie and the Kelli O'Hara version, since I think you probably cannot go wrong with her!). I think you understood my post exactly as I intended (thank you for reading so thoughtfully). Desire and ambition as something innately noble, sure, but also something that may demand payment, or sacrifice, and in a world that's unfair to women will of course deal unfairly with women's desire and ambition. Now that you have me thinking about those these in movie musicals I'm reminded of 'The Red Shoes,' as well... Thank you so much for helping put together those connections!
The movie is a bit censored and chopped up (as is almost always the case with these classic big screen adaptions), and it employs a framing device that spoils any sense of suspense. However, if I remember correctly (I’ve only seen it once), it was shot on location in Maine, and of course, it’s got that grand cinematic feel, so they’re both worthwhile experiences.
I did watch the stage version this weekend. Incidentally, the ballet more so covers a specific event rather than spans several years (I misremembered - it’s been a while), but the musical itself does play with time in other fun and funky ways. Freshly rewatched, I still say it fits with the overall theme of your post. AND I found the movie on YouTube! I haven’t watched it again yet, but I look forward to comparing the two sometime soon. Thanks for bringing both versions of Carousel back to the forefront of my mind. Let me know if you get to give either one a try! (Also, I know of The Red Shoes, but never seen it. I’ll have to seek it out.)
PS - The version of Carousel on Prime Video is the 2013 Lincoln Center revival, starring Kelli O’Hara, to be clear. (I got excited and left out some words there.)
We got our first carton of strawberries in our CSA box this week and then my husband had the audacity to eat ALL OF THEM BY HIMSELF while I was napping on Friday. I'm clearly still sad about this, lol.
OMG. That is a whole new layer of horror I hadn't even anticipated!! (He owes you BIG imo!!)
- I somehow did not realize it’s peak strawberry season! How long does that last? I quickly, and sort of absentmindedly, chose peaches instead the last time I went grocery shopping, but I’ll definitely go for strawberries next (and hope I haven’t missed them at their best). I love summer and all its fresh fruit, but I apparently have a knowledge gap when it comes to the intricate, individual seasons. Is there such a thing as a produce calendar? I could use one.
- Cliche or not - misused or not (had no idea it’s now a meme!) - I also adore that Mary Oliver poem with a reverence.
- You know there is a song from Carousel, “June is Bustin’ Out All Over.” Maybe you and Rodgers & Hammerstein are on to something.
Also, circling back to our previous conversation:
- There’s a 7-minute time lapse video on YouTube from the flower clock in the Bern Botanical Garden. The first few whole-season lapses almost made me motion-sick, but the final ones that only cover a 24-hour period (the same day each month from May - September, 2022) slow down enough to really capture the detail of how these flowers actually, physically move throughout a day. It’s as fascinating as we thought it would be! I don’t want to post a link here, in case Substack doesn’t like those, but if you search “bern garden flower clock” on YouTube, it should be your first result.
- And it occurred to me that I never exactly said this outright, but I very much hope your water heater situation is back to normal, too!
Happy strawberry season to you!
It is! The first few weeks of June are traditionally Strawberry season in the Mid-Atlantic where I am, but you do see them from greenhouse growers (or regular growers, as hot as it's been!) in May. Hopefully we get a few more weeks here! Further north there should be weeks more yet. A bit ago I came across this handy chart MD's puts out; I bet there's one like it for your area! (Not as pretty to look at as the flower clocks, to be sure.) https://marylandsbest.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/Maryland-Fruit-and-Vegetable-Seasonality-Charts.pdf
- Oh, I forgot about that song! My grandmother had all the R&H musicals on VHS when I was a kid and I was obsessed (still am to be honest!) with The Sound of Music. I liked Carousel mostly but for some reason I found the dream ballet number scary (I was really small) and haven't revisited! I really should give it another try after all these years. :)
- Thank you for sharing the Bern flower clock! I think I found the video I think you're mentioning and you're right, the intricate detail of how different flowers move in a day is so beautiful: the ones that track the sun, the ones that sort of cower. So fun!
- And yes, I have hot water now, thank you! It literally took five weeks, dozens of phone calls, and filing for rent escrow. I'm so happy it's fixed now but that was exhausting!
Okay, you’ve got me jazzed here. Prepare for some enthusiastic geeking out:
I bet you’re thinking of the ballet in Oklahoma. There’s one in Carousel, too, but it serves as a montage that spans several years (hey, re: your recent discussions on time - passage by ballet is one way to get it done in a musical!), whereas the Oklahoma ballet does represent an actual dream that turns into more of a nightmare. (Essentially, a guy non-consensually has his way with a girl, so it IS scary. I’ve never seen the classic movie version, but even its presentation in the pro-shot of the stage show is scary enough.)
The song I mentioned has this cheery, shiny Disney-ish sound while the lyrics are all about how the animals (and people) are suddenly frisky and going at it “just because it’s June, June, Juuuunnneee!” And the more I think about it (here’s where the geeking out REALLY kicks in!), Carousel fits perfectly with the theme of your post and the books you’ve read lately. It’s considered controversial now for its portrayal of frustrating relationship dynamics (and the icky messaging that could be potentially derived from that), but I don’t think it’s meant to be an ENDORSEMENT of those dynamics or even an example of healthy behavior. Rather, I see it as an exploration of the same topics/questions you were discussing (if I understood your post as you intended): What are you willing to reach for? What are you willing to sacrifice / endure / settle for? And how do those questions become more complicated in the context of a relationship, particularly for women? (With the point being, in my opinion, that a woman’s agency often shrinks once love is involved…Carrie’s relationship needs to be scrutinized just as critically as Julie’s before any hard and fast judgements are cast on either Julie, Billy, or Rodgers & Hammerstein is all I’m saying. I could get on a soapbox about this.) Then it follows the characters’ answers to these questions a generation down, showing the impact of their choices on the future. (See??? I was mostly just kidding before, but maybe there REALLY is something about June! Enough, at least, that I doubt a June-themed - and semi-secretly lusty - song in this show is merely a time-filler…which is actually what I used to think. It’s never been one of my favorite numbers, but you’ve made me look at it in an entirely different way!)
A pro-shot of the 2013 is available on Prime Video (and maybe also BroadwayHD?), if you subscribe to that. I’ve watched it a handful of times over the years (long, some slow spots - but moving, complex story…features a couple opera stars, which is not my favorite sound, but it pretty much works here and it’s still a great cast!), and now I’ve talked myself into wanting to see it again. I think I’ll have to make some time for it before the weekend’s up. (And if you don’t have Prime Video, I noticed there’s a bootleg of the ‘94 revival on YouTube, but I haven’t watched it.)
Geeking out over. Switching subjects: I couldn’t find anything quite as concise and handy-dandy as your calendar specific to East Tennessee (where I live), but I saved a couple comparable resources and discovered info for a relatively nearby farmer’s market. Thanks for inspiring me! And, most importantly, yay for working water heaters (and rising above challenges)!
Also, I would say we did find the same flower clock video, but because I’m ultra-thorough and super-curious, I’m going to post a link to it in a separate comment, just to see what happens. When I was on WordPress, it was unpredictably and weirdly persnickety about sharing links in comments, and I didn’t want to risk Substack being the same way and marking my last one as spam. But now I must know - LOL.
Ah, thank you so much for that! First, I absolutely must've been thinking of Oklahoma! (Same box set!) I could never remember which one was which and must've written them both off long ago (unfairly!). Now that I know Carousel was kind enough to fit in so neatly with my newsletter theming I'll have to revisit it (perhaps both the classic movie and the Kelli O'Hara version, since I think you probably cannot go wrong with her!). I think you understood my post exactly as I intended (thank you for reading so thoughtfully). Desire and ambition as something innately noble, sure, but also something that may demand payment, or sacrifice, and in a world that's unfair to women will of course deal unfairly with women's desire and ambition. Now that you have me thinking about those these in movie musicals I'm reminded of 'The Red Shoes,' as well... Thank you so much for helping put together those connections!
The movie is a bit censored and chopped up (as is almost always the case with these classic big screen adaptions), and it employs a framing device that spoils any sense of suspense. However, if I remember correctly (I’ve only seen it once), it was shot on location in Maine, and of course, it’s got that grand cinematic feel, so they’re both worthwhile experiences.
I did watch the stage version this weekend. Incidentally, the ballet more so covers a specific event rather than spans several years (I misremembered - it’s been a while), but the musical itself does play with time in other fun and funky ways. Freshly rewatched, I still say it fits with the overall theme of your post. AND I found the movie on YouTube! I haven’t watched it again yet, but I look forward to comparing the two sometime soon. Thanks for bringing both versions of Carousel back to the forefront of my mind. Let me know if you get to give either one a try! (Also, I know of The Red Shoes, but never seen it. I’ll have to seek it out.)
PS - The version of Carousel on Prime Video is the 2013 Lincoln Center revival, starring Kelli O’Hara, to be clear. (I got excited and left out some words there.)
Here’s the link to the flower clock video (let’s see what Substack does with it): https://youtu.be/ur_DZ8nnwiU?si=9__spvMlz25Qx7XX