-
I Have Time to Play. Now What?
Do you play in your daily life? What says “playtime” to you? When I was a kid, back in the 1900’s, before there were cellphones or laptops, before microwaves and VCR’s, before even cassette tapes, back when there were three tv channels that we watched at regularly scheduled hours in black and white, back then Continue reading
-
Ruins—Irish and Homegrown
How old does something have to be to qualify as a ruin? I’m wondering because on a recent trip to Ireland I saw buildings in various states of ruination. When I came home, I realized that Maywood has its own collection of things that could be considered ruins. What makes something a ruin, as opposed Continue reading
-
Irish Inspiration to Tame My Jungle
Irish third cousins are on my mind as I grab my little hedge-trimmer and venture out into the yard. Newly retired and fresh from a trip to County Donegal, I face the neglect of my little version of Wild America. It is daunting. Saplings push their way where they do not belong—popping up in flower Continue reading
-
See-ums and No-see-ums
What you don’t see will bite you. What you do see bites you in a different way. I wore white slacks and a three-quarter sleeve blouse to a bridal shower. I wanted to hide my polka-dotted age spots on my legs and the bug bites that appear after every ever-so-brief foray outside. Yes, I have Continue reading
-
Real Men Vacuum
The mud room is loaded with bees. There are clusters on the door and window. A few bees buzz around the room. A few more linger on the honey boxes in the center of the floor. Even though Beekeeper Man put a bee escape on the hives to minimize the number of bees clinging to Continue reading
-
Another Tale of Wild Food
There is a reason why humans began to cultivate food. Cultivated food is within human reach. It comes at predictable times. And you know exactly where it will be—right where you planted it. Foraging for food requires eyes constantly alert because you can never be sure when or where you will find an edible treasure. Continue reading
-
The Lure of the Porch
How am I supposed to get anything done today if it is going to be such a glorious sit-on-the-porch rainy day? I can count on one hand the number of days before I report back for the new school year. I have a to-do list of to-do lists and I have been dutifully checking my Continue reading
-
It’s Not Chokecherry
There is a tree overhanging the parking area of our driveway at an awkward, ugly angle, and it really looks like it should be cut down. Except… Every once in a random year it blesses us with enough fruit to make a most scrumptious jam. For years I have called it chokecherry jam because my Continue reading
-
Sloth Week
It’s the end of July and–right on schedule–I have hit Sloth Week. Sloth Week is when I do absolutely nothing but lie around and read books. It usually coincides with hot, humid weather that, all by itself, induces lethargy. I believe it is part of my circadian rhythm. Brood X cicadas emerge every seventeen years, Continue reading
-
Violet Unicorn Jelly
The best way to pick wild violets is sitting in the grass with a granddaughter on a sunny Sunday morning. The best reason to pick wild violets is to make violet jelly. And the best thing to do with violet jelly is to have a fairy tea party with lady finger sandwiches. So far, I Continue reading
Slightly Off the Grid 