Art by Hart

The striped-bass costume allowed Wilberforce to observe pond life undetected

Danielle loved her Sunday mornings on the water

Nick and Jefferson had a terrific collection of jokes

Pingry had never lost sight of his third-grade sweetie

Carlsrud wished he’d spent the extra money for a quieter hat

Art and photos by Jane Hart

In and Around Kendal

The Day Begins: a Rockwood Morning

Carolyn Reiss and her pup, Allie, take early morning strolls in Rockwood Park. The park never fails to intrigue, inspire, and entrance.

The early morning sun breaking through the mist

Six-to-eight-feet away from a human and a small white dog, but this park denizen seems more curious than frightened

The Kendal Refresh Garden in Full Color

Photo by Carolyn Reiss

Denizens of Rockwood Park

Roadside Dining, by Edward Kasinec

Our summer visitors—the goats—enjoying a well-deserved rest, by Edward Kasinec

Becoming as natural to see as his (her?) neighbors, the goats, by Mimi Abramovitz

Designed by Nature

Photo by Mimi Abramovitz

Alert to Outside Strollers

Beware: poison Ivy growing on the path in front of Mary Powell, by Carolyn Reiss

They’re b-a-a-a-c-k-k! The poison ivy you’ll want to avoid. But, by all means, step on the newly hatched spotted lanternflys!

Photo by Martin Smolin

A Beautiful End of a Day at Kendal

Sunset seen from a Kendal balcony, by Barbara Wallach

To State the Obvious . . .

Still trying to get my head around the fact that “Take Out” can mean food, dating, or murder.

The older I get, the more I understand why roosters scream to start their day.

You know you’re over 50 when you have “upstairs ibuprofen” and “downstairs ibuprofen.”

If only vegetables smelled as good as bacon.

I woke up this morning determined to drink less, eat right, and exercise. But that was four hours ago when I was younger and full of hope.

Anyone who says their wedding was the best day of their life has clearly never had two candy bars fall down at once from a vending machine.

To Be Continued . . .

Contributed by Barbara Wallach

I Never Knew That

A Great Dane Named Juliana Was Awarded Not One But Two Medals During WWII

Animals have played pivotal roles on the front lines of many battles throughout history. Horses, elephants, and even dolphins have been employed for their strength, intelligence, and adaptability. During World War II, one brave animal stood out as a hero for using an unlikely defense tactic against the enemy: her urine.

Juliana was the name of a Great Dane who had even greater instincts. In April 1941, amid the ongoing German bombing campaign known as the Blitz, explosives rained down across the U.K. When a bomb fell through the roof of the house where Juliana lived with her owner, the fast-acting pooch made her way over to the incendiary device and extinguished its flame by urinating on it. Juliana’s bravery earned her a medal from the Blue Cross, a UK. When a bomb fell through the roof of the house where Juliana lived with her owner, the fast-acting pooch made her way over to the incendiary device and extinguished its flame by urinating on it. Juliana's bravery earned her a medal from the Blue Cross, a UK animal welfare charity.

Juliana’s story came to light years later when a portrait of the plucky pup was found at a property belonging to a relative of Juliana’s owner—a plaque affixed to the painting told her unlikely tale. Elsewhere in the house, a Blue Cross Medal with the dog’s name was also discovered, and in an even more surprising turn, this one happened to be for a second heroic achievement. In 1944, three years after defusing a bomb, Juliana saved her owner’s life once again, when she managed to alert him to the fire that was tearing through his shoe shop. In 2013, the mementos were sold at auction for £1,100, or about $1,900 today.

Source: historyfacts.com

Contributed by Jane Hart

Art by Hart

Bernice was the one who introduced pizza juggling to the Olympics

Marjorie Sue was never quite herself without her baby broccolini

Kate found her sock puppet endlessly amusing

It was nice of Forster to drop the kids off every morning

Palmyra didn’t brag about her son, but she did carry his picture

Art and photos by Jane Hart

In and Around Kendal

Birthdays Abound!

Our June birthdays

And a very important celebration for 10 Kendalites!

Photos by Harry Bloomfeld

A Rockwood Rabbit Revealed

View from Afar, by Edward Kasinec

Up close and personal, by Jane Hart

A Garden Party Postponed

The June 10 Healing Garden garden party was suddenly postponed last week and rescheduled for June 17. Here’s why:

Daytime Deluge, by Jane Hart

Alida Garden Blossom

Photo by Edward Kasinec

I Never Knew That

Ben Franklin Wrote Essays as a Widow Named “Silence Dogood.”

Among all the Founding Fathers, Benjamin Franklin had the most interesting extra-curricular activities. Before he studied electricity or invented bifocals, America’s first postmaster general had a habit of writing essays for his brother’s Boston newspaper under the pseudonym “Silence Dogood.”

The 16-year-old posed as a widow because the writing he submitted under his own name was rejected by the New-England Courant which his older brother James published. Silence had much to say about a variety of subjects, with her commentary touching on such subjects as religion and politics, and she was an instant hit with the weekly paper’s readers—she even received marriage proposals.

Fourteen of these essays were published beginning in 1722, but all good things must come to an end. After slipping Silence’s correspondence under the Courant’s door for several months, Franklin eventually revealed his true identity. His brother was none too pleased with this deception, having warned the younger Franklin against growing too vain in the wake of the essays’ warm reception, and the fallout played a part in Franklin’s departure for Philadelphia—the city where he lived for the rest of his life. 

Source: historyfacts.com

Contributed by Jane Hart

In and Around Kendal

A Spring Stroll through Rockwood Park

Once the second largest mansion in the US, now “The Remains of a Fortune,” by Edward Kasinec

Photo by Carolyn Reiss

Photo by Carolyn Reiss

Nature’s Abstract, by Carolyn Reiss

A park denizen on alert

Photo by Mimi Abramovitz

Others—not denizens—but runners in the annual Rockwood Ramble 10K. You never know what you’ll see in the park.

Photo by Aruna Raghavan

The Art of Summer: Part 1

Yes, this is a 2-parter. Why? Because talented photographers among us took wonderful pictures of a special Kendal art show: Refresh Time Art (aka The Summer Show). Which meant planning and organizing in a tighter place. And it worked. If you missed the opening, don’t miss the art. Yes, these pictures show both artist and art, but it’s just a little taste. Come visit Robert Fulton, Floor 1, for The Real Thing. Meanwhile . . .

Photos by Harry Bloomfeld and Carolyn Reiss. To be continued, June 16, 2025 . . .

© Kendal on Hudson Residents Association 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 all rights reserved.  Please do not reproduce without permission.

Photographs of life at Kendal on Hudson are by residents.