Photo by the Author I dumped a shovel of dirt over the body. The corpse in question, a dead rat, stared at me with a glazed eye before I covered it with a quart of potting soil. Miracle Grow, guaranteed for beautiful blooms. I hope nothing sprouts from this planting. The rat expired less than … Continue reading A Lovely Home with a Wonderful View
Dealing with Triffids and Other Creeping Horrors
The Devil's Ivy at home on the hearth - Photo by the author I learned the other day that Pothos is also called Devil’s Ivy. The poisonous nature of its leaves inspires that name, surely undeserved. Pothos are very hard to kill. I can testify to their hardiness. During the lock down days of Covid, … Continue reading Dealing with Triffids and Other Creeping Horrors
A Mischief of Rats
Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on Unsplash The bunnies were cute until they began dining on my asparagus. Squirrels raided the bird feeders but they were cute and their antics fun to watch so we forgave them. A creek borders our back yard, making us a way station for all sorts of wild life. We've … Continue reading A Mischief of Rats
Communion with Cornmeal
I come from generations of gardeners. When we moved into our house last year, it was too late in the summer for planting. I vowed an early start in the next season. This year, however, brought mostly failed experiments with container gardening. My tomatoes grew weary in the dry heat, dropping leaves and blossoming worth … Continue reading Communion with Cornmeal
New Year New Goals
Unlike my friend here, I don't have an excuse for not writing more. The past year has been a series of "if only" - If only I didn't have to work full time, if only I had more time, if only I had a dedicated writing space, and on and on and on. It's the … Continue reading New Year New Goals
Thankful for Small Steps
I turned 60 this year, and for the first time in my life I've realized I have far fewer days ahead of me than behind. It's a startling revelation, one that leads me to portion out my days like a miser hoarding gold. A very small stack of gold. One that I should have appreciated … Continue reading Thankful for Small Steps
Leave the Right Trace
Whispering Pines Nature Trail at Tyler State Park - Photo by the author I've been wondering, lately, what I'll leave behind. What mark will I make on the world? Not that I'm planning to kick off anytime soon, but recent events have certainly brought that to mind. When you have to gear up for a … Continue reading Leave the Right Trace
Finding Fossils in Ladonia, Texas
Ladonia Fossil Park - Photo by the author On a sunny Sunday afternoon Andrew and I drove to Ladonia, Texas to look for fossils. They’d been waiting for discovery some eighty million years, so we were in no particular hurry to arrive. Small towns with quaint names peppered the map along the path we traveled … Continue reading Finding Fossils in Ladonia, Texas
Here We Go A-Wandering
Photo by the author - Ammonite fossil on the hiking trail at Cleburne State Park, Texas There are times when you just have to go somewhere. I imagine every unmasked stranger carries not just Covid-19, but some alien spore that will launch from their chest like a special effect in a John Carpenter movie. We … Continue reading Here We Go A-Wandering
Did I Say That Out Loud?
Photo by the author My husband Andrew and I have both been working from home the past few weeks. There have been some adjustments related to space. We’ve agreed all pooping is to take place in the bathroom farthest from where our desks are set up. It’s funny the things you notice when you spend … Continue reading Did I Say That Out Loud?
Let's Get Out of Here 