The Spy asked Scott and Madeleine to stop by the Spy Studio yesterday to learn more.

This video is approximately six minutes in length.

Find out more about how you can get involved in this exciting public arts initiative at our brainstorming and information session, and help us make the Life Cube project engaging, exciting, and meaningful for our entire community.

RSVP to reserve your place, as seating may be limited: jlevy@talbotarts.org 

The bright, blue Packard convertible takes center stage in the “home movie” of my parent’s wedding day. It is March of 1951, after the reception and my parents, in their honeymoon clothes, are running through a shower of rice to the Packard. My parents lovingly reminisced about that car with its power windows and leather interior, it was their luxurious honeymoon/newlywed car.

The 1948 (previously owned) Willys Jeep Station Wagon was added to the garage when my sister was born. My Mom would comment that the Jeep drove like a tank, great for ice and snow covered roads in winter. The Jeep was replaced immediately after my older brother released the emergency brake and the car rolled into traffic while my Mom was picking up the dry cleaning. I was sleeping in the baby car bed in the back seat as my brother and sister played “car” in the driver’s seat during my Mom’s five minute absence. The Wild West days before seat belts and car seats, passenger safety standards weren’t passed until 1978.

My Dad was on a business trip when my Mom bought the cherry red Pontiac station wagon. It was a sporty car with power steering and automatic transmission. My brother’s little car seat, with a steering wheel and a red plastic horn for honking, hung over the middle spot of the front, bench seat. Finally one child was corralled in the car. That winter, after a day of skiing, the brakes of the Pontiac “went out” on one of the “hairpin” curves going down the mountain. My Dad managed to safely drive the brake-less car that afternoon without any of us knowing of that harrowing decline.

A silver Buick Sport station wagon was the car in our “home movies” the summer we took a camper trailer to Yellowstone Park. Our first night at the trailer park, a family of bears opened the Coleman cooler on the picnic table and ate all of the deviled eggs, ham sandwiches, and brownies that my Mom had packed. We kept that red cooler with the “bear dents” on the top and sides, for decades. My parents discovered quickly that camping would be a one-time experience for our family. The camper didn’t have heat or a bathroom and it got into the 30’s that first night. We froze walking to the campground bathroom in the middle of the night, and by morning, the inside walls of the trailer had frost on them. We spent the rest of our Yellowstone vacation in a little motel that had both a bathroom and heat. The motel was situated in the woods, inviting long walks. We found pockets full of Indian arrowheads while out exploring those woods.

The Buick Vista Cruiser was our first car with air conditioning and a third seat. It was the perfect car for long road trips. We drove to New Mexico to visit family one blistering summer, staying cool in our car. We were guests at every Holiday Inn on the trip, perfect family motels. Great kid food, big swimming pools, and connecting rooms. The “home movies” of the trip to New Mexico include our cannonballs and flips into the pools, running around historic Mesa Verde in Colorado, and eating enchiladas in Old Town Albuquerque.

In 1970, my parents bought the ugliest copper colored Mercury station wagon. It was comfortable for a growing family of six and two St. Bernard’s. Both my older brother and I were in accidents in that car, sliding down steep, icy hills in winter, trying to stop. My Mom made me take that station wagon to college my first year, it had survived two accidents so my Mom deemed it the safest car for a seventeen year old coed. I managed to drive that car at a comfortable ninety miles an hour all over Wyoming and Colorado. It was perfect for drive-in movies and fit a load of skis, poles, and passengers, no problem.

The Packard was replaced by a green 1958 Renault Dauphine, then an aqua colored Renault Caravelle convertible. My Dad would pop off the hard top of the Caravelle and hang it on brackets on the garage wall. This “home movie” is of a Sunday morning in spring, in the Caravelle, top down, kids and Dad driving down the driveway, heading to church. My Dad loved convertibles. With a growing family, he traded the Caravelle for the roomier Ford Galaxy, his first car with automatic transmission. The Ford had “bucket” seats and the gearshift was on the floor between the seats.

In 1968, my Dad bought a Pontiac Le Mans convertible in a metallic green, with an eight track tape player and power windows. The center console held some of my Dad’s music favorites, Tom Jones and Neil Diamond. This would be my Dad’s final convertible but I drove that car everywhere in high school. Three girlfriends and I drove the Le Mans from Casper to Laramie to a basketball tournament in March of 1973. We hit a spring blizzard heading home, snow was blowing so hard that the windshield wipers stopped working and we had to pull over in Rock River. There was a solitary bar/gas station sitting close to the highway. Every single bar patron turned on their stool as my three friends and I, covered in snow, “blew” into the dimly lit bar looking for a phone. After a quick phone call home, we sat at the bar drinking Cokes and eating French fries, waiting out the storm. A two and a half hour trip took six hours that day.

With some money that my grandmother left me, I bought a Pontiac station wagon while living in Coronado, California. My three older children’s car seats (with seat belts) fit perfectly in the back. The eight track tapes in this car were Kenny Rogers and Bread. That car was a part of “home movies” at every beach on Oahu and school carpools.

A 1975 Volkswagen bus named Buttercup was the bane of my children’s existence in the drop off line at school. Their classmates called it a “clown car” and “the Sweet Pickles” bus. If it weren’t for the tiny stalling and heating problems, I’d still have that bus today. We have memories of “Buttercup” stalling on the Bay Bridge and in Route 50 summer traffic. My teenage children would jump out, push, I’d pop the clutch, they’d jump back in, and off we’d go. In winter, the children would snuggle in sleeping bags while scraping frost off of the windows.

Our next van was a Mitsubishi box that felt like it was going to blow over in strong winds. My husband and youngest son spent an icy afternoon in February, on Route 50, doing unintentional “donuts” until they landed safely in the median. They watched as their fellow travelers made icy landings inches away. An unforgettable three hour drive from Easton to Cambridge.

We then bought a Dodge Caravan, boring but warm, reliable, heavy, and comfy. We drove that van all over the east coast. We enjoyed our Jeep Wrangler, it was perfect for top down beach adventures and dried out quickly after a summer rainstorm. My husband became a pick up truck owner and loved hauling things. Furniture, mulch, bikes, you name it. It is true that if you own a truck, everyone asks to borrow it.

A beautiful Volkswagen van features prominently in a video as part of Stage Fright 1964. The clip was posted on the instagram page of @perfectstormstagecraft last week, which inspired this “walk down memory lane” of my family’s cars. Cars are such a huge part of our history.

“Everything in life is somewhere else, and you get there in a car.” -E.B. White

Kate Emery General is a retired chef/restaurant owner that was born and raised in Casper, Wyoming. Kate loves her grandchildren, knitting and watercolor painting. Kate and her husband , Matt are longtime residents of Cambridge’s West End where they enjoy swimming and bicycling.

Not long after this wine and tap room restaurant opened in April, the Spy took a long look (June article) at the enterprise. As we enter the fall, a look by one of our spies seems in order and one slipped in recently on a quiet Monday afternoon. Monday is mentioned because one great advantage (at least for now) is that the Fool’s Lantern is open seven days a week.

One of the first thing one notices after strolling into this St. Michaels establishment is that you can utilize your personally issued plastic card to choose from among 12 different beers and 24 bottles of wine! However, a dining experience goes way beyond beer and wine. A full menu provides creative offerings of all sizes. Some can be shared and some are larger offerings for an individual diner.

Our spy reports that their own combination of shrimp, grilled chicken and Brussels Sprouts provided a welcomed and filling lunch. What proved too tempting was a dessert described as a cheese cake into which one dips graham crackers along with fruit. All were creative and delicious made all the more enjoyable with a glass or two of wine.

Whether you’ve been before or driven by and wondered just what was inside, a stop at the restaurant is well worth it; and, you will be honoring a bit of history at a time in our past when “The Town that Fooled the British” succeeded in thwarting a British invasion during the War of 1812 because St. Michaels’ residents brilliantly hung lanterns above town to misdirect gunfire, sending British cannon volley far above their intended targets.

October was originally the eighth month of the Roman calendar. It comes from the Latin word “octo” meaning eight. Later it became the tenth month when January and February were added to the calendar. The Anglo-Saxons called October Winterfylleth and in early Germanic, October was known as Weinmond, meaning wine month.

Libra (September 23 – October 22) is the zodiac sign for October. Libra is an air sign represented by the scales (interestingly the only inanimate object of the zodiac), an association that reflects Libra’s fixation on balance and harmony. Libra is obsessed with symmetry and strives to create equilibrium in all areas of life. Libras can navigate virtually any social situation, effortlessly resolving conflicts by simply turning on the charm. Libras are cooperative, diplomatic, gracious, fair-minded and social. Libras are most compatible with Aries and Sagittarius.

Opal and pink tourmaline are the birthstones of October. The opal represents amplification, higher hope, deeper spirituality, and divine purity. With its high vibrations, spectrum of colors, and healing vibes, it invites the wearer to stay calm and balanced. Pink tourmaline has amazing healing powers, fueling your emotional body with positive energy. Each one of your chakras can benefit from the power of this lovely pink crystal. Pink tourmaline is said to bring out artistic creativity in the wearer. It is also believed to be a protective stone, helping to shield the wearer from negative energy.

The flower that has come to represent October is the calendula or marigold. When we see this bright yellow/orange flower we think of a fall sunset or the changing leaves. Marigolds represent comfort, healing, and protection. Marigold petals have been used for medicinal purposes since ancient times, including by the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. Marigold petals were often used to treat stomachaches and skin inflammation.

There’s a lot happening in the sky during the month of October. On October 14 there is a rare “ring of fire” solar eclipse. October 21 and 22 look overhead and toward the south between 2 and 4 AM for the Orionid Meteor Shower as it reaches its peak on these two mornings. October 28 is the Full Blood Moon and partial lunar eclipse. Look for Jupiter to the Moon’s lower left. And… there’s a Friday the 13th this month, making it the spookiest October yet.

Weather Lore becomes very prevalent in October, there are so many sayings about the weather in October affecting winter months. For example, “warm October, cold February” and “if October brings frost and wind, January and February will be mild.” “Gnats in October are a sign of long, fair weather “ and “when leaves fall early, winter will be mild…when leaves fall late, winter will be severe”.

National Book Fair Month is held each October. It was created in 2003 to honor the country’s best books and authors. This month long celebration focuses on the importance of reading, writing and literature. One of the best ways to participate is to start a new book and then share it.

October is National Pizza month, it began in October of 1984 and was created by the publisher of Pizza Today magazine. The least popular pizza topping is anchovies and the most popular is pepperoni, then extra cheese, mushrooms, and onions. Connecticut is the state that loves pizza the most and Hawaii is the state that dislikes pizza the most. More pizzas are ordered on Halloween with the Super Bowl coming in with a close second.

Pumpkins are the unofficial mascot of fall. The U.S. produces 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkins every year. Over 50% of the U.S. population buys a pumpkin in October. The pumpkin industry reported sales of over $700 million last year. Every state grows some pumpkins but most of our supply is grown in five states: California, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Texas.

During an Autumn exploration walk through Pickering Creek years ago I learned that the first Jack-o-lanterns were made from turnips. There is an Irish folk tale about “Stingy Jack” trying to trick the devil into paying for his bar tab. After Jack died, the devil wouldn’t let Jack cross over to the afterlife. Jack was forced to wander the Earth at night, his light a single lump of coal carried in a hollow turnip, earning the nickname, “Jack of the Lantern.” When Irish immigrants moved to America, they found pumpkins much more suitable for carving than turnips, and the modern Jack-o-Lantern was born.

Kate Emery General is a retired chef/restaurant owner that was born and raised in Casper, Wyoming. Kate loves her grandchildren, knitting and watercolor painting. Kate and her husband , Matt are longtime residents of Cambridge’s West End where they enjoy swimming and bicycling.

Queen Anne’s County Parks and Recreation is pleased to announce the Corsica River Fall Festival, scheduled to take place on October 7th from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The festival will be held at the Corsica River Sailing Club, located at 589 Conquest Road in Centreville.

The Corsica River Fall Festival is set to feature an engaging environmental zone. This zone stands as the festival’s hallmark, providing attendees with invaluable insights from environmental experts on how we can collectively act as stewards of our rivers, streams, and cherished natural areas.

In addition to the environmental zone, festival-goers will have the opportunity to enjoy an array of activities, including a petting zoo, face painting, pumpkin decorating, kayaking, pier fishing, pony rides, bounce house, and hayrides. The event will also be accompanied by lively music from noon till 2:00 PM, featuring a performance by Kiti Gartner & the Drifting Valentines.

The Corsica River Fall Festival is open to the public and admission is free, inviting families and friends to come together and enjoy a day of fun on the Corsica River.

For more information about the event, please visit qac.org or contact the Parks and Recreation Department at (410) 758-0835

Strep throat was running rampant in my elementary school when I was in first grade which motivated my Mom to organize a weekly throat swabbing program. It became obvious that some children were “carriers” and were mostly asymptomatic except for swollen lymph nodes. That was my introduction to the importance of a healthy lymph system. Swollen lymph nodes in the neck definitely signaled some kind of infection. Thankfully, the strep epidemic was eradicated by the efforts of my Mom and her volunteer team.

Every two years or so, our beautiful, eighty year old, magnolia tree loves to put her roots into our drain pipe causing a restriction in flow, resulting in a plumber’s visit. It’s a little like our lymphatic system, blockages can occur as we age, by not drinking enough water and a decrease in physical activity. The lymphatic system is our body’s “sewage system”, it maintains fluid levels in our body tissues by removing all fluids that leak out of our blood vessels. The lymphatic system is important for the optimal functioning of our immune responses.

In fifth grade our class trained for the President’s Physical Fitness test, the allure of those uncompromising fitness standards loomed large in my ten year old mind. I was mediocre at rope climbing but I could run that mile in eight minutes and I was very flexible so the v-sit was super easy. I have my patch to this day, it is a barometer of my childhood health. Most of the activities that I participated in were exercise based. I swam, skied, skated, took Ballet, roller skated, and rode my bike or walked everywhere. I have continued to enjoy exercising not just for fun but for longevity and to maintain a healthy lymphatic system.

Trampolines were always a big part of gym class and YMCA summer camp. I took a diving class in college and we practiced the flips on a trampoline. Rebounders became popular when I was living in Hawaii, I would listen to records and jump on my mini trampoline. Little did I know that I was moving my lymphatic fluid and improving my immune system. Jumping, walking, stretching, yoga, Pilates, and other moderate exercises done on a daily basis will really improve the state of your lymph.

Any kind of exercise is good for lymphatic drainage. Most of the time, though, people don’t get adequate full body exercise that engages all the muscles. That’s why whole body vibration plate exercises can make a difference. A vibration plate increases lymphatic draining by improving circulation. The vibrations of the platform create small muscular contractions which cause lymph nodes to wake up and do the work they are meant to do, especially in the aging body where lymph health is even more vital to overall health.

Unlike the heart pumping blood, the lymphatic system has no pump and only circulates by movement. The muscle movement pumps lymph through lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes to collect harmful molecules such as viruses and toxins. Lymph nodes are small, bean shaped structures that are found throughout the body and are usually located in groups.

Start treating your lymphatic system better by avoiding toxins, chemicals, and processed foods. Adding water, cranberry, nuts and seeds (especially chia), garlic, ginger, turmeric, seaweed, and citrus will help remove foreign waste and dangerous microorganisms. Goldenseal, Echinacea, and Astragalus are three herbs that alleviate inflammation and congestion of the lymph nodes and vessels. Studies have shown that ashwagandha can improve your immune response, giving your body a stronger defense system. I switched to organic adaptogen coffee by Four Sigmatic about a year ago, I will never go back to regular coffee. This coffee has ashwagandha, chaga mushrooms and tulsi for an energy boost and focus, without the jitters.

In Ayurveda, dry brushing involves gently exfoliating dry skin with a soft or stiff bristle brush, working from the extremities in toward the core. Dry brushing can potentially stimulate the nerve endings in the skin, making you feel refreshed. Dry brushing gets your lymphatic system moving as it is located right below your skin.

A daily, manual lymphatic drainage massage is the quickest way to cleanse your lymphatic system. Using the index and middle fingers of each hand on either side of your neck, just below the earlobe, stretch the skin by gently sliding the fingers down toward the shoulders, then release. Place your hands on your collarbone and make half circles down your chest to your underarms. Continue by massaging your legs, paying special attention to the area behind your knees. Stroke upward and down through the ankles and feet.

A hot then cold shower is also beneficial to your health, as is infrared therapy. All of these lifestyle changes and habits support long term health.