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Hurricane Irene
Hurricane Irene is bearing down on the East Coast in the most exciting hurricane event since the Great Atlantic Hurricane of ’44. The Jersey Shore has called for the evacuation of everyone east of Route 9. And Dear ol’ Dad is not here to track it. (Although this may be his latest responsibility since joining the celestial weather committee.) Oh… Continue reading
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Swimmin’ in the gene pool
No disrespect to my third cousins in Ireland, but I’m having a distressing week with my gene pool. And I’m pretty sure the Irish genes are to blame. It started with an email from my first cousin Denise who was going through old stuff and worked herself into such a depressive state after finding her 1972 passport… Continue reading
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Gouttières and Dutch boys’ suits
This is transition week. Next Monday teachers report back to work. This is the week I’m torn by what to do. Do I sit and relax? Do I frantically finish summer projects? Do I “set my face toward Jerusalem” and dig into school work? All of the above? None of the above? (None of the… Continue reading
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Future Bambi-burgers
Two fawns have been hanging around Maywood recently. They still have spots. They are cute. They are young and innocent. They make you say, “Awww…..” The GGPs (Great-grandparents) have seen them napping under an arborvitae in their yard next door. The fawns hang out in front of our house and traipse across the driveway. They are so… Continue reading
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Sycamore Tussock Moth Caterpillar
I was sitting at Café Maywood Tuesday morning, enjoying the quiet with my coffee and my journal. I noticed a caterpillar on a marigold leaf. So much for my quiet time… “Hey, Harper, come out here and see this caterpillar!” “Wow…it’s so cool…” We’ve never seen one of these before. Furry white and very soft. And it… Continue reading
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Heirlooms in the garden
Just because you plant a garden doesn’t mean that you know what’s going to come up. This is especially true if you get your garden plants from someone else’s garden! Many things in my garden had their beginnings next door in the original Maywood yard. Why buy hostas, periwinkle, daylilies, daffodils, lily of the valley, or… Continue reading
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Avoiding the closets
When the school year ended, my closets were in total dysfunction. Shoes were losing their partners in a heap that was taking over the floor. How do I even own this many shoes? I’m no Eileen Wilson. (She’s my lovely sister-in-law who owns lovely shoes. In fact, she owns a pair of really cute flip-flops that… Continue reading
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Peach Jammin’ 2011
I will not buy peaches in a grocery store. I don’t care if they do say “locally grown.” Shipping to a store still means a lag time from orchard to kitchen, and in order not to have gloppy bruised peaches, the fruit must be picked on the early side. Peaches picked too soon never ripen properly. So instead… Continue reading
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Troubling Bee-havior
We’re having a rough year with the bees. First off, we lost all four hives over the winter. Then, after ordering replacements, three of the queens did not take and John had to order three new queens. Things were off to a slow start this spring. Last week we went on vacation. Before we left,… Continue reading
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Seagulls
While most of the country sweltered in the heat, we spent the past week in Cape May keeping an eye out for flying beach umbrellas. The flap-flapping of a beach full of umbrellas is relaxing until one decides to take off à la Mary Poppins. A suddenly launching umbrella can be like a jousting pole when it is headed… Continue reading
Slightly Off the Grid 