Some observations from the shorter side of lifeMy father was almost six feet tall; my mother a mere 5 ft. 2 inches. Everyone watched and wondered. How tall would Rosalie grow? When I was 12 or 13, I screeched to a halt, just shy of 5 ft. 1 inch. Surely this was not the end. … Read more
Buy a bouquet of red/pink carnations this week, divide into small vases, add a penny to each and see if they last until Valentines Day.Cook large pots of red food (Chili? Spaghetti?) and invite people over for dinnerFrost something edible with a deep layer of pink icing, and eat it…Sing love songs at the top … Read more
I dash into the grocery store to snatch up what is probably the last bunch of rhubarb in the entire state. It’s always the same. Midsummer days bring with them the memory of my mother-in-law’s sweet, tangy rhubarb custard pie with the lattice crust. But I always forget that rhubarb season comes in late spring. … Read more
I’ve been away from this house for too long. Tasks rise in my mind like boulders.I despise the process but love the results.Where to start?One thing at a time.There – the kitchen cabinets and counter and then the stove.Now the sink, the refrigerator, the floor.That’s better.Slowly, slowly, order reigns. Now for the fun part.Coaxing the yogurt into … Read more
We are waiting at our gate, booked on a flight to Seattle to attend my uncle’s funeral.The gate area is full of people of all ages, shapes and sizes. It’s a full flight. The time comes for boarding and no announcement is made. We notice that the departure time is moved up 30 minutes. Soon … Read more
I am a random gardener, a rebel.I resist garden books, garden clubs, garden knowledge.It’s a gamble. This northern jungle thrives in its own way.I observe and bend to its wishes. Summer mellows into autumn.“Oh, why not?” I wonder as I collect the dried centersOf those few flowers that dare to bloom in the shade. Hesparus, gathered from wild … Read more
I married a mechanic, saints be praised. This was probably the second best decision of my life. He has saved us some significant change over the years. He learned from his mechanic father, who could fix just about anything. A real renaissance man, in spite of being forced to quit school in 6th. Grade to … Read more
You might be able to identify with this. I was gathering our breakfast together, savoring the aroma of brewing coffee, checking on the eggs as they chirped along in the pan, carving off a bit of cheese to accompany the veggies. Suddenly my block of cheese vanished. Just literally disappeared. Goodness, where could it have … Read more
I must confess that unlike many of my favorite friends, I am no more than a random gardener. I am stunned and often perplexed by their rambling rose bushes, their flowering dogwoods, their hardy and exultant perennials. Part of my marginal attempts is due to pure laziness, as I know that gardening is an art … Read more
She’s quite clever, and shows up in a variety of forms. Just when I gather myself to perform some daunting task, like cleaning windows or paying bills, she pops up in front of me with an alluring or pseudo urgent distraction, and off I go in another direction. The distraction could be as simple as … Read more