August

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August — Rome
August is Family Month. After all the excitement of the high-summer month of July, the PEACH Community begins to rest in the lazy days of summer. Nature continues to breathe deep, but now with ripening fruits and the first harvest. August 1st is Family Day, a day for a lovely picnic or making ready for the vacation to come. The First Weekend sees the transformation from Greece to the Greco-Roman Theatre. Followed by the Assumption of the Virgin, a very peaceful gathering. Finally, it is met with a lovely family celebration of Ferragosto, the enjoyment and fun of the Roman Circus, the creation of a God, Italian music, food and fireworks. The PEACH then grows quiet from the middle of August through Labor Day. Residents, Members and Workers take the time to spend with their families. In August, parts of the Community are closed for the entire month. Most have limited hours or are open for emergencies only. Officially, all PEACH business is dormant from the 15th on. See the schedule below.

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la Famiglia
The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Families offer consistency, dependability, a solid structure, Domas, and safety. This comes about through the formation of a union between a man and woman to grow, share, love, and build a loyal and trusted lifelong relationship. If blessed by the gods, children spring forth. When nurtured, they naturally develop attachments to their parents and siblings, learn limits and discipline, and acquire purpose and skills for work and tools for socializing with others later in life. Through the family, we keep, share, and pass on our culture and heritage to our children and others within our community.

We begin the month of August with Family Day, August 1st. This day is in commemoration of the Family. Families are essential to us. We honor them, for, without them, we would not exist. There are no particular plans for the day, though some begin their vacation early. Many have a BBQ, pool or water parties, a hike in the woods, putt around in the garden or do a little fishing by the pond. Everything else at The PEACH is closed, save the Co-op and Farm Operations. However, there is always sports equipment at the ready, and the lobby is open until 9PM, if you are up for playing the piano. Families are welcome to use the grounds to picnic, walk in the woods, play softball or have a family game of tennis. There is also a telephone available at the co-op and in the lobby for emergencies.

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Greco-Roman Theatre Workshop —
During the 4th Weekend of July, which tends to spill into the first weekend of August, we have two visitors from the Greek Theatre in Athens who will be staying with us as our guests for the week. Musicologist and historian Dr. Spyros Poieo and his wife, theatre director Sophia Papas.

Both the Theatre, Music, and Dance Clubs will come together and perform a traditional Greco-Roman play in the Theatre In The Wood. This will take place for two nights. Two short plays will be performed, one Comedy and the other a Tragedy. These plays begin at twilight under a torch on Saturday and again in the afternoon on Sunday. One hour before the plays, there is a short lecture about the history of The Greek Theatre. There is also a small talk about the play in the Tearoom after the performance. If the crowd is large, we will use the lecture hall if available.

The classes begin on Wednesday at 2 PM, until 9 PM. Thursday from 9 AM until 5 PM. Friday 9 AM until 3 PM and there is a lecture on Friday at 7 PM. There is also a rehearsal on Saturday at 10 AM, with a short break. Bring lunch. The rehearsals end at 2PM. Rest up the performance is at 7 PM. The Sunday Performance is at 2PM.

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Cultural & Historical Foundations – Rome
Ancient Rome: Rise, Glory, and Legacy

Founding & Kingdom Era (c. 753–509 BC)

Legendary Founding. Romulus and Remus. Raised by a she-wolf on the Tiber (753 BC).
Seven Kings — Romulus, Pompilius, Hostilius, Marcius, Priscus, Tullius, Superbus.
Etruscan influences architecture, engineering, governance.
Overthrow of Tarquin the Proud after the tragedy of Lucretia.
Etruscan influence ends, 509 BC.
Birth of the Republic (SPQR)

Republic Era (509–44 BC)

World’s first Republic — Rule of law, civic virtue.
Cincinnatus (458 BC) — Cincinnatus relinquishes power after victory. Legendary dictator who saved Rome and returned to his farm, symbolizing civic virtue, a model for Machiavelli’s ideal leader.
Punic Wars defeated (264–146 BC) — Expansion through Punic Wars Rome’s victory over Carthage, establishing Mediterranean dominance.
Hannibal Barca – Born in Carthage ,247 BC. Died 181 BC (suicide)
Conquest of Greece (197 BC) — Rome Takes Greece, end of the Hellenistic era. Rome carries its torch. Begins Greek and -Roman cultural fusion. Greco-Roman Era Begins.
Battle of Corinth in 146 BC.
Triumvirates I (60–53 BC) — First Triumvirate (Caesar, Pompey, Crassus, 60–53 BC).
Julius Caesar (44 BC) — Republic’s end. Empire’s rise. Assassination (44 BC).

Empire Era (43 BC–180 AD)

Triumvirates II — Octavian Augustus, Marcus Antonius, Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, (43–33 BC) marked power struggles, leading to the Republic’s end.
Battle of Actium, (31 BC).
Augustus (Octavian), the first emperor (27 BC).
Pax Romana — (27 BC) peace, prosperity, and the golden age of literature and engineering.
The Praetorian Guard (27 BC).
Innovations: Aqueducts, roads (Via Appia), Colosseum, realistic sculpture; literature — Virgil’s Aeneid.
Publius Aelius Hadrianus, (76 BC – 138 AD). Emperor (117 – 138). War with Picts, Wall built. Destruction of the 2nd Temple.
Titus Flavius Vespasianus (39 – 13 AD). Emperor (79 to 81). Awarded triumph; Arch of Titus. Completes Colosseum (80 AD).
Marcus Aurelius (121-180 AD) — Meditations. Roman emperor from (161-180).

Late Empire (180-476)

Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus — (161–192 AD). Emperor (180 – 192).
Constantine’s Edict of Milan (313 AD) —legalizes Christianity.
Christianity 313AD — History (33AD – 313AD).
Constantine (306 AD) — The rise of Constantine’s (306 AD).
Edict of Milan (313 AD) — Legalizing Christianity.
Fall of Western Roman Empire (476 AD) — Odoacer deposes Romulus Augustulus, marking the medieval transition.\

Roma – Culture & Family

Engineering & Arts — Aqueducts, Pantheon. Realistic sculptures.
Theatre (comoedia and tragoedia).
Stoic Philosophy.
Ferragosto — Roots: Ancient harvest festivals evolved under Augustus (revered) → modern family rest and celebration.
Neoplatonism (Plotinus, 3rd century) — The One, Intellect, Soul.
Roman Influence — the Renaissance and Christian thought.
Enduring Virtues — Duty, family (la familia), honor. This is all mirrored in the harvest gatherings, the quiet time in nature alone, or with family.
Death — How was natural death and punishment approached in Rome?

History — Rome, from a small city on seven hills to the “Mare Nostrum” empire — Rome’s story of ambition, adaptation, and legacy and history lives and comes together in the Ferragosto feasts, lectures, and family bonds.

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Day of Craftmanship
August 8th is our official Day of Craftsmanship. All approved community work submitted accepted in June will be on display in the Gallery until it is sold or the year concludes.

Purchases
Most displayed pieces are up for sale and can be purchased directly in the Library.

Submission Rules
To display your work in the Gallery, you must be an active member of the PEACH Community, and your pieces must be approved by our established Elder Art Judges.

Deadlines
Pieces remain in the Gallery until February. All entries for the upcoming season must be submitted by the end of June. You may also resubmit.

Alternative Venues
If you prefer, you can also place smaller works for sale at the Co-Op, Fensalir Thrift Shoppe, Daughters of Asclepius Apothecary, or The PEACH Farmer’s Market by coordinating directly with those proprietors.

Notes — if you missed the deadline, fear not, we will do this all again in February for — The Winter Review: Day of Craftsmanship & The Book Conference.

On this beautiful day, if your work is on display in the Gallery, please come visit to celebrate all the fine work submitted by your fellow artists. Don’t forget to pick up your golden ticket, join your fellow colleagues to a free lunch at the Café!

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The Assumption
On Friday morning there will be a procession for the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. This is held in the Chapel at 10:30AM. Both Rev. Christosfero Nikas of the Greek Byzantium Orthodox Church, and Father Tim Meadows will attend. Father Tim will recount her life story, and Rev. Nikas will speak about her earthly and spiritual transformation. Songs will be sung in her honor. There is a beautiful marble sculpture in the chapel. This was donated by one of our member families. The statue will be carried to the garden and placed on the harvest altar. The priests will then bless all of our gardens.

In celebration of our first harvest, fruits will be gathered in baskets while singing praises to the divine mother and nature. The baskets will be placed at the altar. Once this harvest is complete, the statue will be carried in silence to the grotto, and placed in the alcove. Each person in the procession will light a candle and set them down in the alcove. A rosary will be said as she ascends into heaven. The statue will remain in the grotto until the first frost. After this event, those in the procession will retire to the cafeteria kitchen, and they will prepare a bountiful lunch using the gifts from the garden. This meal will be eaten in complete silence. When the meal is finished, the priests will bless them all, bidding them to go in peace.

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Palio dell’Assunta
On the morning of August 15th, Ferragosto, we celebrate Palio dell’Assunta. This Italian festival is in honor of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. This day is celebrated with a horse race. However, we are not set up, nor do we have the horses for such an event, but we recognize the festival, and rather than dress ourselves up for the occasion, we dress our visiting horse in silk, chains of flowers, and bells that jingle.

The stable down the road is kind enough to spoil us with a horse and rider. They both arrive mid-morning, settling on the field. The people run over to the field to see the horse and decorate the animal with flowers, silk streams and bells. Once they have finished, the rider tells of the tales and adventures of bravery this fine animal’s ancestors have achieved and their experiences.

Children and adults are stunned by the size and strength of this creature, by how sweet and soft its coat and nose are, and by the size of its great big teeth. “Keep your hand flat,” they are warned. Everyone learns, especially the children, how to feed the animal. They come equipped with apples, carrots and a bale of hay.

Once the animal is well-fed and the story is told, the rider mounts the horse and rides around the grounds. Flowers bouncing, silk streamers, and bells jingling. Once around the property, stopping occasionally, the horse is taken over to the track and the horseman ride the creature around in a trot, then a gallop, and then as fast as the animal can run. This is done three times. Finally, the rider and horse gallop back to the ranch. What a delight to see such a marvelous animal in motion.

The Palio – Dedication to the Virgin Mary
In Italy, the celebration is very different, very elaborate. It is a festival of rivalry and competition. However, the night before, there is a huge communal dinner, “We are the champions!: type songs are sung as well as songs about their town, past races, rivalries, wars and competitions. It is a lively evening for all; cin, cin, salute!

Throughout the festivals there are neighborhood competitions, from drumming, to flag twirling, games of tug-of-war, sword fighting, and anything else people did for fun more than 1000 years ago.

The plaza is packed with bleachers, the road is covered in dirt, and the center lawn is packed with onlookers. Everyone in the pageant is dressed for the occasion. Even the church bells play an important role in the festivities.

The Military
In the morning, the Military arrives in full garb riding on horseback. The Calvaries fall into formation as they walk their horses around the track in a grand position. The second time around, they gallop with full attention. By the third time they fly into full attack, swords outstretched as they approach the enemy at the castle gates. The crowd cheers, as they ride off to defend the city!

The Houses
The church bell rings. Dressed in full medieval clothing, the pageant begins. The bell will continue to ring every 30 seconds as the Houses walk around the track. Each House has its own flag. The royal members followed them in full Medieval dress. Some dance, while others stately walk. Each House has something special to bring: drummers, a cart pulled by oxen with musicians from the Middle Ages, playing Medieval trumpets and horns. There are a variety of different presentations as they walk through the grounds. Each House stops at certain points and performs flag demonstrations. Twirling, flying, jumping, flipping, all manner of tricks, and skills. The church bell then tells them to move on until they all have passed. The Houses used to represent near by villages, but over time the festival developed into the local neighborhoods.

The Race
First, the Rules. There are no rules. The riders wear their House colors and ride bareback. The horses line up behind two ropes, riders jockey for the best position. Once the horses are mostly in line, and both ropes are up, the rope drops. The horses take off. They ride around the plaza three times. Some of the riders fall off, for the turns are narrow, but the horse keeps running. After the third time, the villagers immediately surrounded the winner and carry him on their shoulders. They are handed the Palio and parade it through the streets of the town to the steps of the church. They enter in solemnity, all are blessed by the priest. At night, their flag now flies on the castle wall, and will remain until next year.

It is our dream to one day have such a festival.

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Ferragosto
The Celebration of Emperor Gaius Octavius Augustus Caesar — Revered. His ascension into heaven and becoming a God. The month of August is named after him, as the month before was named after his predecessor and uncle and adopted father, Gaius Julius Caesar — Mare Nostrum
Buon Ferragosto!

Feriae Augusti is the festival of Augustus, Emperor of Rome.

The Emperor, Caesar Gaius Octavius Augustus Caesar, comes down from the Elysian Fields, the heavenly paradise reserved for heroes, demigods, and the exceptionally virtuous to introduce the holiday himself, which was first held on the 15th of August, 18BC. This celebration was done to commemorate his victory over Mark Antony at the Battle of Actium, 31 BC. However, there was another ancient festival on this day, Vinalia Rustica (grain) and Consualia (wine). This was an Ancient Roman harvest festival. It was also a time to rest after weeks of hard and intense work on the farms. We, too, at The PEACH, celebrate both, for it is right after our first harvest.

During the Renaissance, the Pope made this celebration a law. However, he moved the date in honor of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, August 14th. At The PEACH, we keep the festival proclaimed by Augustus Caesar, August 15th, and on the 14th we honor the holy day of the Assumption, the Divine Sophia.

Summer vacation begins for many on August 1st. At The PEACH, we honor August 1st as a day of family, and on the 15th, we officially start our summer vacation through Labor Day.

We celebrate on the 14th with the Assumption Procession in the morning. The next day, on the 15th, we celebrate Palio dell’Assunta. Though we do not host the traditional race, however, one of the horse groomers, a rider from a local stable, gallops over with a beautiful horse that we help to drape in flowers and silk while brass horns announce their arrival. It’s a wonderful time to see this magnificent beast up close and hear the ancient stories full of heroic drama and cheers. Moreover, there are also picnics, games, singing, and the Roman Circus throughout the day.

At 6 PM, there is a brief lecture on the life of Caesar Augustus by the God-Emperor himself. Followed by a night of wine, cheese, grapes and apples. It’s a peasant’s dinner, with beautiful Italian music in the air, while circus performers dazzle us with their skills and antics, bringing it all to an end with gold and silver fireworks.

Finally, if interested, there are three lectures leading up to the Celebration of Ferragosto given through the History Club; check their schedule..

“Acta est fabula, plaudite”

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The Roman Circus
The Roman Circus at The PEACH is not the grand spectacle of the ancient world — no chariots, no gladiators, no roaring crowds of fifty thousand. It is something altogether more intimate, more human, and in its own quiet way, more wonderful.

On the evening of Ferragosto, as the sun begins to lower and the air softens, people drift out onto the grounds with their blankets and their bottles of wine. Below the open stage, the concert band is already warming up — concertina, violin, a few voices tuning for the old Italian songs. The mood is unhurried. August has made everyone a little drowsy, a little generous, a little willing to be delighted.

And then the Circus begins.

Our Roman Circus grows out of the Bothmer Gymnastics program — a form of movement rooted in spatial awareness, grace, and the full engagement of body and will. What this means in practice is: handstands and flips, unicycles and juggling, doubling up and tumbling, the kind of physical playfulness that takes years of quiet dedication to make look effortless. If we are lucky, there is a fire-breather. If we are very lucky, a trapeze. There are always harmless pranks, a little theatre, a few animal tricks, and more than enough silliness to go around.

The smallest members of the community dress as fairies — tiny, serious fairies — and move through the audience throwing confetti, scattering flowers, dispensing candy with great ceremony. As the band plays they attempt their very best tricks. The crowd receives them as heroes.

And then, from somewhere beyond the grounds, a sound.

It begins quietly — a distant rhythmic striking, iron on stone, growing steadily closer. Those who know go still. Those who don’t look up and begin to wonder. For two thousand years across the entire Mediterranean world, that sound meant one thing: Rome had arrived. The caligae — the hobnailed sandals of the Roman legions, engineered to march twenty miles a day, open to the air, iron-studded for grip on any terrain — announced the Empire before a single face was seen. Provincial towns fell quiet when they heard it coming up the road. Emperors were preceded by it into the forum. It was the sound of power, of order, of a civilization that intended to stay.

The sound grows closer. The audience falls quiet.

Caesar Augustus mounts the stage. He takes his Emperor’s chair and surveys his people with quiet satisfaction. Before he settles in to watch the festivities, he pauses. He looks down at his feet. And he tells them — about the shoes. What they were made of, how they were made, what they meant to the men who wore them, what the locals felt when they heard that sound approaching. He reminds them that our own Cordwainers still know how to make them — that a few fortunate souls have made a pair for themselves and one for the theatre, keeping a two-thousand-year-old craft alive in these very grounds.

Then he sits, and the Circus resumes.

He claps. He embraces the little ones. He pats heads. The fairies dance around him in a circle. He is, after all, a god, and gods appreciate being remembered.

Before he departs, Caesar rises. As a pagan god of the harvest and the family, he offers words of wisdom — perhaps a song or two — and bestows his blessing on all assembled. He thanks everyone for remembering who he is and what he gave to the world. Then he goes, as gods do, quietly and without fuss.

The band plays on. The fireworks go up — modest, cheerful, with sparklers handed to the children. The café has Italian ice, a pasta dish, and roast beef sandwiches. The wine is good. The music is beautiful. Nobody gets hurt, nobody dies, and everyone goes home with a song in their heart.

The Roman Circus is a collaboration between the Sports, Theatre, and Music departments. Its scope and ambition grow naturally with the community’s Bothmer programme — the more people who train, the more there is to celebrate. Caesar’s caligae are made by our own Cordwainers — if you would like to make a pair, speak with River Segel at St. Crispin’s Shoe Shop. If you teach Bothmer gymnastics or have circus skills to share, we would love to hear from you..

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Puppets
Like the Modern Roman Circus, our Puppets were developed during Medieval times. It is presented with both an ancient and modern twist.

History Opera dei Pupi —
The Opera dei Pupi is a traditional Sicilian puppet theater often featuring armed marionettes that emerged in Sicily during the early 19th century. The tradition grew directly from ancient storytelling roots. In Italy, the Cantastori—wandering street singers. They would sing their way to the public square, where their songs now became the narrative. As you can imagine, the crowds were captivated.

The singer would lead the people to the stage and the story would begin. Many of these epic tales centered on medieval chivalry. While every story maintained a firm beginning, middle, and end, the puppeteers and singers improvised the dialogue completely as they went along. Because of this spontaneous artistry, no two shows were ever identical. These particular performances were deeply loved by the working class, serving as both entertainment and a shared cultural foundation.

The Performance
As time went on, the theaters themselves were intimately designed, built, and painted by family members or the performance troupes, who also meticulously carved the puppets. Most individuals working in these theaters were true craftsmen. Everything was made by hand.

Historically, the size of the marionettes varied depending on the traveling troupe, ranging anywhere from six inches to three feet tall. In contrast, a puppet troupe in the United States called Heart of the Beast features puppets that average 10 feet tall and can even grow up to 25 feet. We hope they will one day fly over to visit us.

Repertoire
The core stories were drawn from Renaissance poems and medieval French literature, notably the Carolingian cycle, the adventures of Charlemagne’s paladins, and the Twelve Peers. These grand tales share a strong kinship with the Arthurian legends and the Knights of the Round Table.

Many narratives weave together themes of chivalry, lives of the saints, notorious local bandits, and the supernatural. Clashes between Christian knights and the Saracens were frequent, acting as vibrant allegories for justice, unyielding loyalty, and fierce resistance against oppression.

Final Notes
Bringing the art of Opera dei Pupi making and performance to The PEACH is a cherished milestone we hope to realize. We already have the visiting troupe secured and the physical space ready for hands-on workshops and live performances. Currently, we are seeking a dedicated budget to establish this tradition as a permanent fixture. For now, enjoy their magnificent work whenever it pops up.
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Roman Book Club
The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, by Edward Gibbon. 12 Volumes.

The Roman Book Club is one of the most serious and rewarding intellectual commitments The PEACH Community offers. This is not summer reading — it is a 12 to 24-month journey through one of the greatest works of historical literature ever written. Gibbon’s twelve volumes charts the full arc of Rome’s rise, glory, corruption and fall — and in doing so illuminate everything that came after, including the world we live in today.

The Club launches each year on August XV at V:IX PM in the Salon Rambouillet. Members gather to receive their materials, meet their fellow travelers, and share a light dinner together before making their way out to the Ferragosto festivities. It is one of the finest evenings of The PEACH year.

The Club meets twice a month in the Lecture Hall for two hours. Four additional three-hour sessions are scheduled in the Salon Rambouillet throughout the year. Not everyone will make every meeting — life happens — but the commitment to the full arc of the work is what matters. Rome rewards patience.

All members are welcome regardless of club affiliation. The Salon welcomes the smith and the philosopher equally. The Junto Club and Skilled Workers are especially encouraged to attend — Franklin himself would have found much to argue and reflect on in these pages.

This is open to the public based on recommendation. Those who find themselves committed to Rome for 12 to 24 months will likely find themselves committed to The PEACH as well.

The books are available for use at no charge. There are modest fees for the upkeep of the Salon Sessions.

See schedule for dates and details.

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“Go back inside yourself and look. If you do not yet see yourself as beautiful, participating in the idea of beauty, then do as the sculptor does with a statue he wants to make beautiful; he chisels away one part, and levels off another, makes one spot smooth and another clear, until he shows forth a beautiful face on the statue.” — Plotinus, Enneads I 6, 9

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Plotinus
Plotinus – inus – Ancient Greek — Πλωτῖνος, Plōtînos — c. 204/5 – 270 AD was a Greek Platonist philosopher, born and raised in Roman Egypt. Plotinus is regarded by modern scholarship as the founder of Neoplatonism. His teacher was the self-taught philosopher Ammonius Saccas, who belonged to the Platonic tradition.

Plotinus was a Platonist, it was historians of the 19th century who invented the term “Neoplatonism” and applied it to refer to Plotinus and his philosophy, which was vastly influential during late antiquity, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance.

Much of the biographical information about Plotinus comes from Porphyry’s preface to his edition of Plotinus’ most notable literary work, The Enneads. In his metaphysical writings, Plotinus described three fundamental principles: the One, the Intellect, and the Soul.

Neoplatonism
Neoplatonism is a school of philosophy that originated in the 3rd century AD, founded by Plotinus, which reinterpreted the ideas of the ancient Greek philosopher Plato. It posits a transcendent, ineffable One from which all reality emanates, and emphasizes mystical experience as a path to union with the divine. Neoplatonism significantly influenced Christian theology, Islamic philosophy, and Renaissance thought.

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Vacation!
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The father And Son Survival Camping Trip will take place the 2nd week of August. Mom and Tots Group will continue meeting daily through the 2nd week of August. To all our families, have a wonderful vacation!

Paper Bluegrass Fest — 3rd Saturday in August, held at the Printmaker’s House. Bring your tar, banjo base, fiddle & lint. Fee: one old cotton rag. Bring your own vittles, grill, blanket and lantern. Water sprinkler and tire swing for the kids. Horse shoes for the old folks. Cool pets welcomed. If it rains, head for the garage. One day we will be bigger, one day!
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The Grasshopper
The grasshopper was proud fella, and he had a grand temper. He was staring in the pond at his reflection. Dreaming that one day he would be immortalized by the world’s most beloved and greatest painter. The morning sun had scarcely lifted the dew from the clover before he had adjusted his stance upon the reed, ensuring his silhouette cast the longest possible shadow across the glass-like water of the pond. He played his music and all fell silent. The world grew quit, he smiled.

He began thinkin, to his mind, it was not a matter if the master’s brush would find him, but when; for surely, a creature of such magnificent green vestments, grand talent and haughty carriage could not be permitted to fade into the common dust of the meadow.

He tilted his head, admiring the sharp angle of his great jumping thigh in the reflection, then chided the nearby water-beetles for shifting too close and rippling his portrait.

“Too many creatures around,” he huffed. “I need a painter to immortalize me in a portrait. A painting that will last for centuries, so that all can admire my magnificence and see my prowess through its majesty.” He signed, “The world is missing so much from me. I dare say I am such a beloved and benevolent grasshopper that I would give up my soul so that the world could take joy in my being.”

As he slowly sat, like a king upon the throw, admiring himself, he grabbed a weed, stuck it between his jaw and his cheek and began to chew. When, out of nowhere, a scruffy man approached. He had horns, a goatee and his complexion was that of bronze and red. In the sun, the man’s skin would catch the light and shine like the scales of a snake.

The scruffy stranger did not step with the soft, cautious rustle of the field-mice, but rather with a dry, clicking precision that made the grasshopper’s antennae twitch with an unaccustomed chill. He smelled faintly of old iron and scorched summer earth, a slight vapor fell over the pond, a scent that did not belong to the cool morning dew of the pond.

He crouched low at the water’s edge, his shadow instantly swallowing the grasshopper’s delicate reflection. The creature’s eyes bulged as he watched those bronze scales shimmer in the glare, shifting colors with a hypnotic, oily grace that belonged more to a deep fissure in the rock than to the open light of day.

The grasshopper, determined not to lose his haughty composure before such a rustic vagabond, paused his rhythmic chewing and spat a dark drop of tobacco juice directly onto a floating leaf between them.

The man spoke to the Grasshopper. His voice was low, but sweet. He began a conversation about the weather. Grasshoppers like to speak about the weather. Especially this time of year. Not too wet. Not too dry. Could be perfect. Could be disastrous. It’s just that time of year.

The stranger leaned closer, his scruffy chin resting upon a hand that seemed entirely too heavy for his thin wrist. The sweetness of his voice was like honey left out in the sun, warm, slow, and thickening with a faint hint of decay.

“Aye,” the man murmured, his slit pupils narrowing as he looked from the sky down to the grasshopper’s elegant perch.

“A delicate balance, is it not? The clouds hang high and hollow today. A single breath of wind could bring rain to swell the clover, or a cruel sun could scorch the pasture to cinders before the moon is full. It is a season of great consequence for a musician who lives entirely upon the leaf.”

“The grasshopper puffed out his chest, the tobacco-juice burning bitter against his tongue, but his pride swelled at being recognized as a maker of music, this form of flattery was unprecedented..

He shifted his long, polished legs, letting the jointed armor click together in a brief, arrogant rhythm.

“We of the meadow do not fear the consequence,” the grasshopper replied, pitching his voice to match the stranger’s formal cadence.

“Let the sun bake or the rain drench; my tune shall remain the marvel of the valley. A perfect day is merely the stage I require.”

The stranger’s bronze-scaled skin rippled as he let out a quiet, whistling laugh. He then drew a small, black pipe from his rags, though he did not light it, using the stem instead to gently trace a circle in the water right beneath the grasshopper’s reed.

“A magnificent sentiment,” the stranger whispered. “But a stage without an audience is a lonely theater, my fine friend. Tell me… do you know what the ants are whispering in the shadows of the stone and mud wall this morning? They are saying your music is too proud, and your tobacco too bitter.”

The grasshopper began chewing faster, he was shaking, then he spit.

The man said, “Do not bother with jealous ants, focus on something worthwhile. You are, after all, a great artist. What are ants? Mere busybodies.”

“A great artist, that I am,” the grasshopper thought. Then he said out loud, “If only I could find a great painter to paint me in an honorable way.” Then lowering his voice, he said, “That would show them!”

The man said, “Well, isn’t that something? I know a great painter who could paint your portrait and make you great and remembered forever.”

The grasshopper’s expression changed from bitter and angry to naïve and innocent, “Really?” he said. “immortalized forever?”

“Yes, indeed.,” The man replied.

The grasshopper asked, “Is he a good painter?”

The man said, “The best painter to have ever lived.”

“What will it cost?” The grasshopper meekly asked.

The man said, “Not a penny or a leaf.”

The grasshopper’s eyes opened wide — “Not a thing?”

The man said, “I have it all taken care of, everything. I would just want a little something trivial from you.

“What would that be?” the grasshopper asked.

The man said with an air of indifference, “Just your soul.”

“My what?” The grasshopper said with an air if incredulity.

“See!” said the man, “You have never even heard of it. Most people don’t even believe it exists. Your soul, what is a soul? A soul is nothing, because it means nothing, you can’t taste it, see it, touch it, smell it. How something insignificant, made up, compare to the greatest painter painting your portrait? The most honorable grasshopper, who plays the most beautiful music, and chews the sweetest tobacco.”

The grasshopper smiled. He closed his eyes and puffed up his chest, he began chewing and playing his music once more.

The man winced and quickly said, “Save your talent, we need to get you to the painter quickly! Do we have a deal?”

The grasshopper said, “He is the greatest painter, yes?”

The man said, “Yes, of course!” He whispered, “Do we have a deal?”

The grasshopper thought for a moment, he saw his reflection in the pond, then thought about the ants, and then decisively said, “Yes!”

The man said, “Good, let’s shake on it!”

The man then extended his index finger as the grasshopper stretched his thin little front leg forward. They shook.

Before he knew it, the grasshopper arrived just outside the town of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence at the monastery of Saint Paul de Mausole.

He landed on a large rock behind what appeared to be a frail sickly man seated outdoors in front of a blank canvas. His back was turned.

“Ah,” the Grasshopper thought, “that must be the painter…” He noticed the painter was wearing a straw hat and had a white wrap around his head.

Still, the painter sat quietly looking at the blank canvas. Every now and again, the painter would tilt ever so gently to the right, he looked at what appeared to be an old olive grove.

The grasshopper adjusted his legs upon the warm stone, his heart hammering with a frantic, triumphant rhythm. He was truly excited.

He thought, “This must be the great artist. The man kept his word.” Then he wondered, “What is this place?”

He looked around, there was a white building behind him — it looked like an official institution of some sort. There was no one else around. He turned back to look at the artist.

He thought, “Here is the solitary genius, the most beloved eye of the age, ready to translate this beloved meadow-musician into eternal color.”

A low breeze blew past him. It had the essence of wild rosemary, turpentine, and a heavy copper tang that came directly from the man’s head.

The grasshopper took a deep breath and said to himself, “Let the cowards crawl into the mud; a true king stays on his stage.”

As the painter stared at his empty canvas the grasshopper stared at the thick wrap of white layers around the painters head. These layers looked to be made of gauze, and there was a dark star-shaped crimson stain that had bloomed over the right ear, but still fresh enough to draw a lone fly.

Yet, the painter remained motionless, his brush poised like a spear against the blinding square of the canvas. His gaze was anchored upon the twisting, silver-green trunks of the olive grove just beyond the short wall. Every few moments, his torso would sway ever so slightly, mirroring the desperate, wind-bent rhythm of the trees.

The grasshopper puffed out his chest, striking his grandest pose, waiting for the painter to turn around and behold his magnificent vestments.

“Begin, master,” the grasshopper thought to himself, his voice silent but he was bursting with arrogance. “Why doesn’t he capture the one who silenced the valley!”

The tension was absolute. The canvas is blank, the olive trees are swaying, and the bleeding painter seems frozen.

The painter once again, leaned to his right, looking round the canvas, then moving back facing it once again. He then leaned to his left, tilting his head down. Then he sat back up. Staring once again at the blank canvas.

The grasshopper adjusted his stance, but as the minutes dragged on, he was becoming more and more perturbed. He started to wonder if the genius was being disrespectful or simply insane? “Does he not know I am here waiting for him to turn around and at least acknowledge my presence? What sort of master painter is this? Have I been tricked? Is this some sort of joke?” He began to think of the old man who brought him. He wasn’t wearing such fine vestments, nor was he clean-shaven, and he had the mild scent of sulfur which filled the air surrounding the pond. He began to recollect that the old man had a tear in his pants and that the pocket of his jacket was recently sewn. He mumbled, “I think this lunatic isn’t really worth my time. Where is that old man? Perhaps it is time to leave?”

As he was recounting the situation, the painter moved forward, his calloused hands picked up a steel knife. He grabbed his pallet and filled it using his knife. He began mixing thick mounds of chrome yellow, deep zinc green and titanium white. His wooden pallet and his knife began scraping the board and mixing the paints. The grasshopper astonished as this change set aside his contemplation of the scruffy old man. He immediately adjusted his stance, puffed out his chest, held his head up and struck his most distinguished pose. Once again, the minutes dragged on. The sun was rising high in the sky and his brow began to sweat. His haughty patience began to curdle into a hot, biting fury.

The morning sun kept climbing, and the painter kept mixing, while the grasshopper’s shadow was shrinking.

This supposed “master” had not turned even once to behold the magnificent green vestments or the noble carriage of the valley’s greatest musician.

Doubt flared through his pride like a spark on dry leaves —was this frail, bandaged lunatic truly the greatest artist to have ever lived? Or had that bronze-scaled vagabond made a fool of him?

Unable to endure the insult of being ignored for a moment longer, the grasshopper puffed out his chest to its absolute limits. He shook with rage, abandoned his regal posture, and yelled at the top of his lungs, his voice shrill and piercing, “Look upon me, you blind fool! I am the marvel of the valley! Capture the one who silenced the fields!”

The painter scraped the pallet and filled his knife with paint. He flung the mound onto the bottom of the canvas when all of a sudden there was a loud bang coming from the building behind.

At that exact moment, the painter’s torso flinched. In the distance was a loud thud. It was the sound of a thunderous bang, a heavy wooden door slammed shut closing somewhere within the monastery walls—it caught the painters’ fractured attention.

He began to slowly turn his head toward the sound, his hollow, exhausted eyes drifting away from the olive grove. He began to turn.

In great anticipation, the grasshopper thought for a moment, at last, their eyes would meet.

As the painter turned round, a huge gust of wind blew into the grove. Before his gaze could even find the rock, a sudden, violent mistral wind tore through the grove.

It howled against the stone wall, bending the silver olive branches while throwing a blinding cloud of dust and wild rosemary through the air.

This fierce wind caught the grasshopper mid-breath, ripping him clean off his feet on the rock and throwing his fragile body through the air, casting him directly against the mound of paint on the canvas.

The painter closed his eyes as debris, dust, and sand blew into his face.

He lifted his arm up to fight the wind, as he snapped his head back toward his work.

His hand lashed forward to save the paint he just applied from blowing off. The painter pressed it firmly with the knife so that it would hold fast to the canvas, thus covering the grasshopper almost entirely with mounds of paint.

The wind hastening the drying.

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Entr’acte
After the wind subsides, the artists left, and the scruffy stranger emerged. Using a pair of silver tweezers he extracted the grasshopper’s glowing emerald-green soul from its painted prison. He then pulled a leather coin purse from his coat pocket, he opened the clasp, it was filled with other captured, colorful souls all glowing with different intensity, some dull, some bright. The man deposited the vain creature’s spirit into the pouch. Securing the purse, the devil whispered, “Immortalized in color. After all, a deal is a deal”.

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Intermission

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August Schedule
August is Family Month. It is high-summer, nature is still gently breathing out, deep and full, the first harvest is ripening.

Ferragosto will bring the Greco-Roman Festival, Puppet Theatre and Circus to a close. The majority of the community will turn toward a well-needed rest. Almost everything at The Peach is on vacation from the 15th through Labor Day. As a reminder Residents, Members and Workers take this occasion to be with their extended families.

However, some areas of the community are still open for the entire month, but most have limited hours, are open only for special occasions, or available for emergencies only. See the schedule below.

Take note — outside emergencies, everything is closed Labor Day.

That said we hope you all come back then well rested.

What Is Open?
A few areas are open, but you will need permission for most.

The Lecture Series on Rome every M-W-F will continue, save Labor Day. Please let Dr. Burke know you will be attending.
The Art Studios are open for advanced member artists only.
The Co-Op, Tearoom, Café and Bicycle Shop will have regular summer hours, but they will be closed Labor Day.
Goethe’s Birthday Celebration — Cake and a Lecture for this years’ study.
Book Group — The Decline of Rome. Check Schdule.
Service will continue in the Chapel, as well as the Sun Walkers and all weddings.
Check with Captain Taylor if you want to use the sports field and equipment.
The animals are not concerned with vacation, if you are going to be around please, check in with the Farmer on how you can help during this time, in a pinch.

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I. Festivals & Celebrations All participants check in with Club Leaders the day before each event at 4PM. Potluck Dinner at 6PM. Festival Committee is at rest from August 16th through Labor Day.

Family Day — August 1st. All day. Grounds. Potluck Lunch at Noon. Softball, Frisbee, sprinkler, sandbox, swings, croquet, bocce, badminton, horseshoes, kubb, woodland walk, blanket under the trees. All Residents, Members, and their families and friends are welcome. Co-Op and Farm open. Everything else is closed.

Greco-Roman Theatre — Last Weekend in July or First Weekend in August. Outdoor Theatre in the Round. Five days of lectures and performances organized with The Assumption Greek Orthodox Church. Introduction to Ancient Greek and Roman instruments. The Art of Ancient Greek Dancing. Lecture on the History and Structure of the Greco-Roman Theatre by Rev. Christosfero Nikas. Final Lecture: Last Friday in July or 1st Friday in August, 7PM. Performance of The Tragedy and The Comedy — Saturday 7PM, Sunday 4PM. Theatre In-the-Round.

Father and Sons Camping Trip — August 5th through 15th. North Woods.

The Assumption of the Virgin & Blessed First Harvest — August 14th, 10:30AM–2PM. Chapel, Garden, and Grotto. Procession, life of Mary, songs of praise, garden blessing, first harvest fruits gathered, statue carried in silence to the grotto, candles lit, rosary. Silent meal of garden fruits to follow. Rev. Christosfero Nikas of the Greek Byzantium Orthodox Church, and Father Tim Meadows. Open to all.

Palio dell’Assunta — August 15th, 11AM. Field. A horse and rider from the local stable. She will tell the children the story and exciting adventures of races and conflict, colors and honor of the Palio dell’Assunta. When the stories are over, she will take the horse for a ride around the track. From a walk to a trot, to a gallop and finally the race, she may bring a friend to join her in the race. When the horses have cooled down, gotten a drink and are rested. The children can then help and dress the horses up in streamers, silk, flowers, and bells. The horses will parade around the grounds and then visit the locals. Just to be around these magnificent creatures is a delight for all ages.

Ferragosto — August 15th, 7PM–9:30PM. Patio, Grounds, and Stage. Celebration of Emperor Gaius Octavius Augustus Caesar — his ascension and becoming a God. Lecture on the life of Caesar Augustus, 6PM, Lecture Hall. Picnic from 2PM. Concert of Italian music, Roman Circus, Caesar Augustus himself, fireworks. Bring a blanket, a cold dinner, and a bottle of vino. Leave with a song in your heart.

Paper Bluegrass Fest — 3rd Saturday in August. Printer’s House and Yard. Bring your tar, banjo, fiddle, and lint. Fee: one old cotton rag. Bring your own vittles, grill, blanket, and lantern. Water sprinkler and tire swing for the children. Horseshoes for the elders. Cool pets welcomed. If it rains, head for the garage.

Vacation! — August 15th through Labor Day. The PEACH grows quiet. Safe travels, everyone!

The Reading of Faust I & II — Goethe’s Birthday Week, August 24th through 28th. Salon Rambouillet.

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II. Clubs Clubs will not be in session during August unless stated otherwise. All Art Classes and Work Studios are open to Members through August 15th. Studio access requires permission after the 15th.

IIa. Fine Arts — Members participating in the Greco-Roman Theatre and Roman Circus continue rehearsals and performances through August 15th. Seasoned painters are welcomed to pain indoors as well as out doors.

Dance and Movement Club — Members participating in the Greek Theatre and Roman Circus continue. Otherwise, at rest for August.
Film & Photography Club — No formal meetings through August. If members are available, Film Friday and Saturday Matinée continue — Rome and summertime films in the Theatre. Check schedule.
Music Club — Rehearsals for Ferragosto continue through August 15th. Ancient Roman instruments. Roaming musicians throughout the grounds are welcomed t roam the entire month . At rest from August 15th through Labor Day.
Theatre Club — Time: M–F, 5PM–9PM. S, 9AM–4PM. Topic: Greco-Roman Plays and Roman Circus. Costumes in coordination with the Sewing Club. At rest from August 15th through Labor Day.

IIb. Folk Art — Nature collecting continues through August. Silk and wool washing. Papermaking. Field trips posted on bulletin board and online.

Bakers Club — At rest for August.
Book Binding — Regular Hours W–R–F 10AM–4PM. No Saturday Classes in August. Closed after August 15th through Labor Day.
Cordwaining — Regular Hours W–R–F 10AM–4PM. No Saturday Classes in August. Tuesday Farmer’s Market 10AM–4PM. Closed after August 15th through Labor Day.
Culinary Arts Club — Time: W, 10AM–Noon and 1PM–5PM. Topic: Class I — Breakfast Foods. Class II — Crêpes and Dinner. No Classes August 15th through Labor Day.
Folk Arts Clubs — Nature field trips and collecting. Making of plant pigments and natural dyes. Silk and Wool Washing. Papermaking first three Saturday mornings outside the Printer’s House. Check bulletin board and website for all topics and dates.
Sewing Club — Time: M–W 9AM–Noon and at will. Topic: Quilting continues. Costumes for Greco-Roman Theatre and Roman Circus. At rest from August 15th through Labor Day.
Stained Glass — At rest for August.

IIc. Skilled Art Smythe, Carpentry, and Glassblower shops closed for the entire month of August. Stonecutters continue through August. Ceramic studio open to Experienced Members for throwing and slab, greenware only.

Blacksmithing — Closed entire month of August.
PEACH Farm & Garden Club — Time: Sun up till sun down. August 1st Farm Meeting, 7PM. First Harvest August 14th — 8AM through 6PM, all hands welcome. Assumption Fest in Garden 11 AM through 1 PM. Gardens, landscaping, and animal care continue as essential responsibilities. Farmer’s Market every Tuesday through the last week of August. No Farmer’s Market last week of August.
Glassblowing — Other than Administration duties the factory is closed the entire month of August.
Masonry & Mosaic — Stonecutters continue working through August with Master Mason Kipling Scott — outdoor marble mosaic work continues. Contact Kip for scheduled dates.
Pottery & Ceramics — Open to Members for throwing and slab building only, no kiln. No formal classes in August.
Printshop & Printmaking — August 1st Meeting, 4PM. Papermaking and nature material collecting. Papermaking during Bluegrass Fest — see schedule. Farmer’s Market Tuesdays. Closed last week of August through Labor Day.
Woodworking — Closed entire month of August.

IId. Educational

Book Club — Roman Book Club — Launches August 15th at 5:09PM (V:IX) in the Salon Rambouillet. Edward Gibbon — The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, 12 volumes. 12 to 24-month commitment. Overview and schedule distributed at first meeting. Club meets twice monthly in Lecture Hall for 2 hours. Four three-hour Salon sessions scheduled throughout the year. There are several volumes free to use. Modest fees for Salon sessions. Contact Jason Aeson.
Faust I & II — Goethe’s Birthday Week. August 24th through 28th. Salon Rambouillet. Reading begins August 28th through Labor Day. Chapter A Day on radio — unless in the middle of a book, the best-of will be replayed. All other Book Clubs at rest for August.
Business Club — At rest for August.
Father & Sons Club — Animal husbandry continues for some members. Main Event: Camping Trip, August 5th through 15th.
Goethean Science — Clouds and Colors. M–R, 8AM–Noon. Dance Studio Classroom. Goethe’s Birthday Celebration Week, August 24th through 28th — reading of Faust I & II, birthday cake (Homemade German Chocolate).
Home Life Club — At rest for August.

Lecture Series — History of Western Culture — Topics: Rome — Rise, Glory, and Legacy. Locations: Lecture Hall I, & Salon Rambouillet.

History of Western Civilization — Time: 7PM, Monday and Wednesdays . Topic: History of The Romans: Romulus and Remus, The Etruscans, Lucretia, The Triumvirate I & II, Rome’s Caesars and the Decline. Location: Lecture Hall I. Speakers: Professor James Burke & Alexander Archiver.
Art History of Western Civilization — Time: 7PM, 1st and 2nd Mondays. Topic: History of Clay and Mosaic. Location: Lecture Hall I. Speakers: Professor Knestor Jackdaws & Alexander Archiver. At rest from August 15th through Labor Day.
Philosophy History of Western Civilization — Time: 7PM Fridays. Topic: Roma — Cincinnatus, Hannibal, SPQR, Seneca the Younger, Epicurus, Cicero, Stoics, Plotinus. Location: Lecture Hall I. Speakers: Alexander Archiver & Keith Woods.
Ferragosto Lecture Series — — Friday August 12th, 7PM — Augustus — Saturday August 13th, Sunday 14th, 7PM — Part I & II — Julius and Augustus Caesar, Emperors of the World: A Biography. Lecture Hall. — August 15th, 6PM — Ferragosto: Celebration and History. Lecture Hall.
The Divine Sophia — August 14th, 7PM. Chapel. Who is she?
Religion & Spirituality Series — Time: 7PM, 1st Sunday of the Month. Topic: TBA. Location: Chapel. Guest Speaker: Rev. Bergmann.
Mom & Tots — Time: M–W 9AM–Noon. Topic: Regular Schedule — Outside Water and Sandbox Play, Baking, Nature Walks, Storytime. At rest from August 15th through Labor Day.
Writer’s Club — Participation with Theatre Club. Summer essay — independent writing. Topic: Understanding your actors and the theatre. At rest from August 15th through Labor Day.

III. Sports & Movement At rest from August 15th through Labor Day unless participating in Roman Circus.

Dance Studio In The Woods — Open to performers at various times through August 15th. See Dance Club Schedule.
Father & Sons — Camping Trip, August 5th–15th.
Field Sports, At-Will — Tennis, badminton, softball, hiking, camping, fishing, biking. Summer equipment available M–D 8AM–6PM through August 15th.
Roman Circus Rehearsals — Saturday Afternoons 3PM–5PM, ages 12 and up, through August 15th. Gym.
Softball Teams — June through Labor Day. Tuesday 4PM ages 12–16. Thursday 4PM mixed ages and picnic. Thursday 7PM men’s softball. Field & Gym. Practice Games Only — August 15th through Labor Day.
Sun Walkers — Daily, 10 minutes before sunrise. Chapel Door. Open to the Public Without Distress.
Yoga — Dance Studio In The Woods. Independent Group. M–F 8AM–9AM. At rest from August 15th through Labor Day.

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IV. Spiritual Services — Sundays 7AM, 10AM, Noon. Holiday Services — check schedule. Note: Yearly Schedule via Admin: Nancy Dean. Adminstator — Ásatrúarfélagið Magnus Hjaltason — Asatru. Revered Thomas Graham — Lutheran. Father Timothy Meadows — Catholic. Revered Rosemary Bergman — Christian Community.

The Assumption of the Virgin & 1st Harvest — August 14th, 10:30AM. Chapel and Grotto. Open to all.

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V. Administrative Reduced hours through August 15th. All offices closed August 15th through Labor Day. Regular Business Hours through August 15th: 9AM–3PM. Meetings Thursdays 2PM, Conference Room.

Office of the President — Contact Nancy Dean for scheduling and appointments.
Community Events Committee — 1st and 2nd Weeks, Thursday 1PM, Library Room 1. No meeting from August 15th through Labor Day.
Elder’s Club & Guardians — 1st week of August, Thursday 4PM, Conference Room. Potluck dinner. No meeting from 2nd week of August through Labor Day.
Festival & Seasonal Events Calendar Committee — Members meet M–W–R, 9AM–Noon, Festival’s Office, Library Room 2. All participating leaders meet the night before each event at 7PM for updates and last-minute changes. Potluck Dinner at 6PM. No meeting from August 16th through Labor Day.
Guardians — First Thursday of the month, Noon–4PM. Lunch served in the Conference Room.
Maintenance — Emergency calls only through August.
Residents — Residents remaining on property during the holiday period are asked to keep a watchful eye for any problems or emergencies and report them to the police if necessary, but always notify maintenance immediately. If it causes you worry, it is not a burden — we want to know. Please use common sense, do not put yourself in harm’s way. Never speculate — report as many physical and factual details as possible, including numbers, times, and dates. We want everyone who lives, works, and visits our community to remain safe and always feel they can enjoy our community without Eris or Discordia.

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VI. Businesses Most Businesses closed after August 15th through Labor Day. All Businesses Closed Mondays — Some Closed Sundays. The PEACH is not automated, it is a People Oriented Community [POC]. Please keep that in mind and call first to see if the business is open or in attendant. NOTE: If we are here a person will answer.

Bicycle & Ski Co-Op — Summer Hours: T–W–R–S 10AM–6PM. F 10AM–10PM. D 10AM–4PM. No Studio Time in August. 24/7 Emergency Bicycle Repair Box. Closed Mondays.
Café Four Seasons — Summer Hours: T–W–R 11AM–8PM. F–S 10AM–9PM. Sunday Brunch 11AM–2PM. Saturday Morning Farmer’s Breakfast 8AM–11AM. Closed Labor Day Weekend. Italian August Menu — Lunch and Dinner: Smoked Trout Tagliatelle with Lemon Pangrattato. Andalusian Gazpacho Soup with garlic lemon toast. Small Antipasto Salad. Dessert: Cannoli. Refreshment: Cappuccino, Aperitivo, Iced Tea with mint and lemon. Buon Appetito!
Charlotte “Lotte” Gallery — Library Hours 9AM–5PM. S, 9AM–2PM. Closed August 15th through Labor Day.
Daughters of Asclepius Apothecary — August: Appointments and emergencies only.
Daughters of Asclepius Clinic — August: Appointments and emergencies only.
Four Winds Co-Op — Summer August Hours: T–W–R–F–S 9AM–7PM. D, 11AM–4PM. Closed Labor Day Weekend.
Four Winds Co-Op Bakery — T–W–R–F–S–D 7AM–Noon. Closed Labor Day Weekend.
Farmer’s Market — Tuesday 10AM–3PM, Circle Drive through last week of August. Gym if weather is harsh. No Farmer’s Market last week of August.
Fensalir Thrift Shoppe — Summer Hours: T–W–R–F 10AM–4PM. S & D, 10AM–3PM. Closed Mondays. Drop-offs by appointment. Closed August 15th through Labor Day.
Mason & Mosaic — Irregular Hours, CALL. Stonecutters continue through August. Closed all Holidays.
Musicians — Strolling musicians play old and familiar tunes throughout August. Grace them with a few sovereigns if you can. Available for birthdays, anniversaries, and just-because. Contact Nancy Dean Office.
Post Office — Regular Hours M–F 9AM–4PM. S 9AM–Noon. Closed Labor Day Weekend.
Print Shop — Monthly Newsletter. August 1st Meeting 4PM. Closed last week of August through Labor Day.
St. Crispin’s Cordwaining — Hours W–R–F 10AM–4PM. Tuesday Farmer’s Market 10AM–4PM. No Saturday Classes in August. Closed after August 15th through Labor Day.
Swan Glass Factory — Regular Hours M–F 9AM–4PM. Closed Lunch Noon–1PM. Closed August 15th through Labor Day.
Vidar & Seshat Book Binding — Hours W–R–F 10AM–4PM. Tuesday Farmer’s Market 10AM–4PM. No Saturday Classes in August. Closed after August 15th through Labor Day.

Tè Chay Tea Room & Confectionery — Summer Hours: T–W–R–F–S 2PM–10PM. D, 11AM–9PM. Closed Mondays. August Features: Baklava, Lemon Ice, small Cannolis, Custard with Fresh Fruit. Closed last week of August through Labor Day.

In The Closet: Chess Boards, Backgammon, Mancala, Hounds and Jackals, Hnefatafl, Scrabble, Cribbage, Go, Chinese Checkers, Tarot.

Bookshelf full of Poetry and Short Stories, available at all times.
Tuesday 6:30PM till close — Chess, 6 tables. Contact: General Chief.
Wednesday 8PM till close — Live Open Poetry, 6 tables. Contact: Emily Dickinson.
Thursday 6PM till close — Candlelight Conversations, 12 tables. Contact: Staff.
Saturday [TBA] — Conversation With The Author, 10 tables. Contact: Silvia Zelts.
Sunday 11AM–2PM — Musical Trios, Duets, Solo. Contact: Staff.
Sunday 2PM–4PM — Trivia, 10 tables. Contact: Greg Smith.
Sunday 4PM–6PM — The Stoics. (Staff dresses for the occasion).
Sunday 6PM–9PM — Epic Poetry Reading: Iliad and the Odyssey, Beowulf, Gilgamesh.

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VII. Community Events All Community Events in session during August unless weather forces them into the gym.

Contra Dancing & Potluck — Saturdays 7PM–10PM. Gym or Swan Factory Lunchroom. Members and Guests only.
Chapel — Sundays & Holidays. Services information: Newsletter, Chapel Reader Board, and The Front Office. Open to the Public Without Distress.
Eurythmy — Friday 10AM–Noon, Movement. 1PM–5PM Curative (appointments only). Dance Studio in the Woods through August 15th.
Farmer’s Market — Tuesday 10AM–3PM. Circle Drive or gym if weather is harsh. Open to the Public Without Distress. No Market last week of August.
Sun Walkers — Daily, 10 minutes before sunrise. Meet at Chapel Door. Open to the Public Without Distress.
Sunset Watchers — Daily, 1 hour before sunset. Meet at Track Stands. Open to the Public Without Distress.
Yoga — Monday 10AM–Noon. Dance Studio in the Woods. Closed August 15th through Labor Day.

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VIII. Resources & Classes All Educational and Some Resources are at rest from August 15th through Labor Day. Please check with Administrator over the Family Holiday – Members & Guests only, with exception.

Family Education — Family Day Picnic, August 1st. Family Gardening at will.
Goethean Science — Clouds and Colors. M–R 8AM–Noon. Dance Studio Classroom. Goethe Birthday Week August 24th–28th — Faust I & II. Birthday cake served.
History Lectures — History of Western Civilization: The Romans. 1st and 2nd Wednesdays 7PM. Lecture Hall I. Open to the Public Without Distress.
Languages — Study at will. Audio in Library and Tea Room. Independent meet-ups at the Tea Room. At rest from August 15th through Labor Day.
Library & Charlotte “Lotte” Gallery — Hours: M through R 9AM–5PM. F 6PM. S, 9AM–2PM. Closed August 15th through Labor Day.
Mosaics — Outdoor and indoor marble work continues through August with Master Mason Kipling Scott. Contact Kip or see schedule for dates.
Newsletter — Hours M–F 8AM–11AM. Monthly Newsletter released weekend of the 15th. At rest from August 15th through Labor Day.
News & Radio — Music and books based on season. Broadcast LIVE: Ferragosto Celebration. Best of PEACH Radio from August 16th through Labor Day. Open to the Public Without Distress.
Philosophy Lectures — History of Western Civilization: Roma — Roma — Cincinnatus, Hannibal, SPQR, Seneca the Younger, Epicurus, Cicero, Stoics, Plotinus. Fridays 7PM. Lecture Hall I. Open to the Public Without Distress. Closed August 15th through Labor Day.
Radio — Chapter A Day — August: Faust I & II — Goethe’s Birthday Week. Best-of replayed from August 16th through Labor Day. Open to the Public Without Distress.
Salon Rambouillet — Roman Book Club launches August 15th, V:IX PM. Goethe’s Faust reading August 24th–28th. Submit needs for the year by Labor Day — 1st come 1st served. Contact Nancy Dean.
Spiritual Wisdom — Assumption of the Virgin The Divine Sophia — August 14th, 7PM, Lecture Hall. — August 14th, 10:30AM, Chapel and Grotto. Pagan, Gnostic and Christian Groups. Check schedule. Open to the Public Without Distress.
Strolling Musicians — Throughout August, strolling musicians play old and familiar tunes. Grace them with a few sovereigns if you can. Available for birthdays, anniversaries, and just-because. Chapel, Swan Factory at Lunch, Dance Studio In the Woods, Art Lobby, Admin Lobby, Elder Building, Tea Room, Café, Kindergarten, Happily Walking the Grounds.
Studio — Open to all members based on skill level and attendant present through August 15th. Permission required after the 15th.

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IX. MISC — Announcements Outside & Inside Organizations News & Hosted Events

Paper Bluegrass Fest — 3rd Friday and Saturday in August. Printer’s Members & Guest Event. Community welcome by invitation. Contact Albert Kirchner.

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X. Addendum — What’s New, Proposals, Updates, Topics. What’s on the agenda? Get informed early.

Proposal – Prepper Store. “The Sutler” (zoetelaar) Update – Mission Statement. Updates – UP Expansion — Long-Term SEEDS Community Goal. Proposal – Basque Shepherd — Community Recruitment Goal. Ongoing – University Partnership & Academic Credit Goals. Update – Guardian Selection & Governance. Update – Time Banking. Update – Volunteer Guidelines. Topic – Our Foundation Relationship. Ongoing – Community Outreach & Partnership Goals. Updates – Theatre Development Goals.

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End Note August is our time to breath out — the long, warm, unhurried exhale after July’s fireworks. Rome was here, and it was glorious. The harvest is starting. The family is everything. Rest well, come back ready. There is, as always, never nothing to do at the PEACH — but in August, for a little while, we give ourselves permission to do nothing at all.

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Living Pan-European and American Cultural and Heritage Community Center

SEEDS Projects

SUBSCRIBE STAR

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EMAIL: peachcommunity yahoo.com

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