This is a Black Locust tree. Our property is full of them. And at this time of year, the most glorious scent wafts through the air. I do believe it may be my all-time most favorite smell. If only the web had a scratch-n-sniff feature… But come to find out, perfumeries have also discovered this heavenly scent and its used in many perfumes.
It’s also one of my all-time favorite wild edibles The flower clusters taste like the sweetest of … Read More
I woke up to this email from Cait, who is in her last semester of college. I don’t believe it requires any prelude or conclusion. It speaks for itself:
… Read MoreSubject: A Beautiful Thing I Just Saw
It’s nearly midnight on a Monday evening in the deep quiet zone of the library.
There is an older man, perhaps in his 50’s, working on a tablet propped up on a black backpack. He wears a beige baseball cap pulled too far down
This is so sad. My heart is breaking for the state of the world. Truly, we have lost our way…
By Kim Kavin, Washington Post, April 12, 2018
An effort that animal rescuers began more than a decade ago to buy dogs for $5 or $10 apiece from commercial breeders has become a nationwide shadow market that today sees some rescuers, fueled by Internet fundraising, paying breeders $5,000 … Read More
Over the weekend, Andrew wanted to make a stop at a local minimart to pick up a few things on the way back home. It was a cold, dark evening, and the parking lot of this little strip mall wasn’t very well lit.
Since I was not in need of anything, I stayed in the car while Andrew hopped out to go get his items. A moment later I watched a guy walk up, put his old beagle mix in … Read More
Several people have asked what it takes to be a successful writer. In order to address this question, it requires that I ask a question in return: What is your definition of success? Because there are many kinds of successes–and failures–one can experience in writing. The writing experience can run the full gamut from simply loving something you’ve written, to getting it published, to experiencing writer’s block, to not being able to get a foot in the publishing door.
As … Read More
Just pulled four dear ticks, the carriers of Lyme disease, off of Wink today — in March. Let the Lyme wars begin! :(
I’m too bummed to explain our Lyme protocol for you today, but I will give a refresher soon. Until then, you can review here where I have a photo of what a Lyme bulls-eye looks like, and here where I outline various options for tackling Lyme.… Read More
It’s not often that you get to introduce someone to a food they’ve never tasted before. The last time I had someone surprise me with a new taste was when my best friend, Ceres (very Greek and the queen of foods you’ve never tried before), gave me an Asian Pear. It looked like an apple, tasted like a cross between a melon and concord grapes, and had a sweet fragrance with a juicy crunch.
Last week, I had the fun … Read More
Several times a day, Graidy comes and sits on my lap, and then gently presses his forehead to my forehead, with his nose to my nose. He does this with deliberate precision, until we are staring eye-to-eye. Then he closes his eyes and breathes his warm breath on my face. I feel his body relax. We stay like this, merged, for several seconds.
I wonder, is he trying to read my mind? I’ve no doubt that if he could climb … Read More
