Shiela Benedis Discusses Her Art

The mission of non-profit Textile Study Group of New York is to educate and promote a wider appreciation of fiber art among the larger art community and the public in general and to inspire and support artists who share a mutual commitment to fiber as a medium for artistic expression. On January 21, at 6 pm, Sheila Benedis will be speaking about her art in the Group’s Zoom premeeting.

Sheila generates her art by thinking, starting with an idea, which grows and changes until the form emerges. She began her work with sculptural baskets, which then evolved into installations and artist books. Now in her collages, the ritual of drawing with scissors gives meaning to her life. This repetitive action allows her to connect with the organic shapes of nature and express her feelings. She cuts shapes out of handmade paper to create energetic movement. Some of the collage materials produce weavings.  Collage and weaving connect her to the world.

If you would like the link to hear Sheila’s remarks on January 21, send her an email (sbenedis@gmail.com) or give her a call (x1517).

Quotes for Our Age

“I have reached an age when, if someone tells me to wear socks, I don’t have to.” Albert Einstein

“You know you are getting old when everything hurts, and what doesn’t hurt doesn’t work.” Hy Gardner

“When your friends begin to flatter you on how young you look, it’s a sure sign you’re getting old.” Mark Twain

“You know you are getting old when everything either dries up or leaks.” Joel Plaskett

“There’s one advantage to being 102, there’s no peer pressure.” Dennis Wolfberg

“The idea is to die young as late as possible.”Ashley Montagu

Contributed by Steve Price and Jane Hart

I Never Knew That

The World’s Longest-Burning Light Bulb Has Been On Since 1901

Technology such as LED lighting has made light bulbs last longer than ever, but no modern bulb even comes close to the incandescent Centennial Light, which has been glowing inside a fire station in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1901. The light shines for 24 hours a day, though it has taken a few breaks here and there for power outages, renovations, and venue changes. It was first installed in a cart house—so named when fire hoses traveled on carts, not trucks—but moved to a large firehouse nearby soon after. In 1903, it moved again to a newly built station. It stayed there until 1976, when it moved to its present home in Livermore, California. At that point the bulb had been operational for 75 years and had become a sensation; it even got a police and fire truck escort for the journey, which was slightly less than 2 miles.  

Unsurprisingly, the bulb’s survival probably boils down to good craftsmanship. The thick glass was hand-blown, and the bulb has a thick, durable carbon filament, unlike the thin tungsten filaments that became standard later. That was all mounted by hand on a sturdy brass base. Additionally, it’s filled with nitrogen gas, which is gentler than the argon and krypton gas used in later incandescents. The second-longest-burning light bulb, located in Fort Worth, Texas, was made by the same company, Shelby Electric. The Centennial Bulb was hooked up to its own power source in 1976, and has lost power only once since then, for a little under 10 hours. Leaving it on 24/7 may have actually contributed to its longevity, since turning a bulb on and off frequently can damage the filament. The bulb also now burns at a steady 4 watts, much lower than its original 60 watts. 

Source: historyfacts.com, by Sarah Anne Lloyd

Contributed by Jane Hart

Art by Hart

No matter how hard Foley tried to throw his boomerang away, it always came right back

Ceci felt out of place at Professor Fungal’s soirées

Danielle had gotten outrageously glamorous over winter break

Who could have guessed that Lance and Kitty’s blind date would lead to 70 years of marriage?

Dr, Lusk’s patients were not happy to learn that he had done his internship and residency at the Piscatawny Doll Hospital

Art and photos by Jane Hart

Quotes for Our Age

“It’s paradoxical that the idea of living a long life appeals to everyone, but the idea of getting old doesn’t appeal to anyone.” Andy Rooney

“The older I get, the better I used to be.” Lee Trevino

“I was thinking about how people seem to read the bible a lot more as they get older, and then it dawned on me: they’re cramming for their final exam.” George Carlin

“I don’t do alcohol anymore—I get the same effect just standing up fast.” Anonymous

“By the time you’re 80 years old you’ve learned everything. You only have to remember it.” George Burns

“Getting older. I used to be able to run a 4-minute mile, bench press 380 pounds, and tell the truth.” Conan O’Brien

Contributed by Steve Price and Jane Hart

I Never Knew That

Ducks Quack in Regional Accents

You probably know the old saying, “If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it just may be a duck.” But there’s a slight wrinkle in that logic, because not all ducks quack the same. 

Research has shown that ducks from different areas can develop regional “accents”—not unlike humans—that can be heard in their quacks. Professor Victoria de Rijke of London’s Middlesex University found that London ducks have a louder and rougher quack, described as sounding like a shout or a laugh, compared to the softer, more relaxed sounds of countryside quackers in Cornwall, England. Ducks are extremely adaptable creatures, and it's believed the city ducks made adjustments to compete with urban noise.

Hunters and call makers (people who craft animal calls for hunting) have also picked up on these regional differences, honing in on distinct styles to match local duck flocks. From the loud, high-pitched calls made by the ducks of Tennessee’s beloved Reelfoot Lake to the subtle, more infrequent quacks of Louisiana waterfowl, each style reflects years of close listening to ducks whose sounds have been shaped by their habitats.

Source: by Nicole Villeneuve, interestingfacts.com

Contributed by Jane Hart

 

Art by Hart

At the end of the day, Rueben found that being a supermoon wasn’t that much fun

Woodward was always pleading for one more chance

Mr. Carlton had eaten something very hot for lunch

Swanson was having a bad feather day

With an old washing machine, a screwdriver and some cables, Hobson found himself on a 1950s kids’ TV show

Art and Photos by Jane Hart

In and Around Kendal

Broken, Yet Beautiful

Photo by Linda Mahoney Herring

Shelley Robinson Brings Music to Kendal, Little by Little

Photo by Jane Hart

A Hero of The Refresh

Photo by Ed Lannert

The Wolf Moon of 2026

Photo by Amanda Slattery

The Wolf Moon of 2026 is the first full moon of the year, peaking on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at 5:03 a.m. EST. I’'s a supermoon, appearing larger and brighter, and could be seen rising in the northeast around sunset on January 3rd, near the bright stars Castor & Pollux and the planet Jupiter. 

Photo by Marilyn Bottjer

Winter’s Version of Footsteps in the Sand

Photo by Edward Kasinec

Welcoming in the New Year

Day 1: Preparation Begins

Some members of the Decorating Crew—does the hammer indicate who’s in charge?

Cooperation in action

Some members got a wee bit carried away

Photos by Ruth Dinowitz

Day 2: The Balloon Brigade

Helium is better than human huffing and puffing

Just stringing things along

Photos by Carolyn Reiss

Preping for the Show with a Nosh

Photo by Harry Bloomfeld

And Finally . . .

The Goldenaires—plus one in training—start the festivities

The bounty was amazing . . .

However, careful analysis and testing was required

Photos by Harry Bloomfeld

The Real Stars of the Event

Just gettin’ in the mood

Photos by Carolyn Reiss

Finally, the Recognition She Deserves: January 5 Is Officially National Ellen Day

Celebrate National Ellen Day

Few names in the world become so synonymous with a famous figure that the first thing people think of upon hearing them is that particular person. One of these examples is Ellen.

Ellen is an English girl’s name that means “torch” or “shining light.” Ellen has swung in and out of fashion for centuries, a medieval English form of Helen, often alternating with the parent name. Ellen was the more common name in medieval England until Helen overtook her after the Renaissance. In Edith Wharton’s novel The Age of Innocence, set at the end of the 19th century, one character wonders why another hasn’t changed her given name to something prettier, like Elaine. A statement few would make today. In popular culture, Ellen is the name of two First Ladies, Arthur and Wilson, and Scarlett O’Hara’s mother in Gone with the Wind.

Dame Ellen MacArthur, a solo long-distance yachtswoman, broke the world record for the fastest solo circumnavigation of the globe in February of 2005. Ellen was also the name of Constantine the Great’s mother, a devout Christian credited with discovering the True Cross. It was a popular name in the United Kingdom because of the legend, which has no historical basis that she was born there.

And, of course, there’s the most important Ellen: our own Ellen Ottstadt—she who makes all things run smoothly here at Kendal on the Hudson.

So, what exactly happens on National Ellen Day? Well, it’s all about expressing appreciation for your favorite Ellens, whether they are friends, family members, or even beloved fictional characters. So, today—or any old time this week (we, our own self, are taking control and declaring this Kendal Ellen Week)—why not wish our very own Ellen “Happy Ellen Day!”

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Photographs of life at Kendal on Hudson are by residents.