If it’s March, then it must be the Edinburgh Yarn Festival (EYF). Last year after I learned about this European yarnfest I made up my mind to go. I convinced Larry to accompany me, then arm-twisted my friend Esther and she in turn, brought her husband Dave. To be honest, it didn’t take too much persuading. This is Scotland! Continue reading
Another Thanksgiving has come and gone. The leftovers have been doled out to company and casseroles washed and put away. The dogs got their annual treats and we gorged on an extra helping of stuffing and a second slice of pie. Our lives are marked by these cultural traditions. In America Thanksgiving is our premier holiday for families. It’s a time when children and in-laws get plane tickets and take time off from work to gather at the family home. We shop carefully for special items and construct a dinner meant for double the number of guests. Because you never know if an additional guest or two may need a seat at the table. Continue reading
Last Saturday I left the house to go to a hospital in suburban Philadelphia. Our cousin Richard was very ill and I had planned to spend the afternoon visiting with him. I completed my morning routine: fed the dogs, walked Barkley, took them outside again and left them with a peanut butter smeared Kong and some calming music before heading out. The day did not turn out the way I expected. A few miles from the hospital as I was traveling along a side road an SUV coming towards me drifted into my lane. I honked and tried to get out of the way, but there was no shoulder and no where to go. I did visit Richard, but before I got to his room I made amy own trip to the emergency room. Continue reading
I have been absent for a few weeks. I think about blogging every day, but never get to it. Where have I been? I haven’t been depressed or sick or even anti-social. It has been all about allergies at my house lately. First the dogs, one and then the other, and now I am suffering too. They toss and turn and so do I, itchy and uncomfortable. We are tired of having one foot in the world of the living. Continue reading
I was out walking Barkley yesterday with my friend Nancy when something happened. We were on a street around the corner from where I live when a big German Shepherd came running out from the yard into the street and approached me. I have to say, it scared the S*@T out of me. The situation ended with no injuries except emotional ones. The owner of the dog called his dog back and then verbally got stuck into me. We had an altercation. First I was shocked, then angry, then I got to thinking. What did it mean? Continue reading
There is an old adage that says absence makes the heart grow fonder. I was thinking about this recently because my husband is away for a while. When he travels he says that I don’t miss him, while he misses me. That isn’t exactly true. What happens is that I adjust to him being away, which in my book means that if I think too much about missing him I have a harder time during the separation. Continue reading
The temperatures hit 80 today in southeastern Pennsylvania. Barkley stood at the door this afternoon and barked and barked and barked. What’s going on? I went to the door and saw this bird sitting in the grass by the side of the pond. Is she nesting? Five minutes later she flew away. Continue reading
Sunset at the Grand Canyon, AZ
Well, I suppose mid-February is a good a time as any to post my holiday (yes, those holidays) guest blog post. After months of subtle reminders from Marla dropped over texts, calls, emails, cards, e-cards, in-person reminders, and carrier pigeons (well, almost)… here it goes! Commence guest blog now! Continue reading
Some of you may have noticed that the frequency of my posts has diminished lately. I was thinking about that yesterday and wondering why I wasn’t motivated to sit down and write. Then it hit me. I am smack dab in the middle of winter. Half is behind me, and half is ahead of me. Unfortunately, the better half has passed: the holidays, the New Year, two three-day weekends, and the anticipation of the first snow. The rest is just dreary, slushy, dirty, and monotonous waiting. I am in the midst of the winter doldrums. Continue reading
The blizzard hit the east coast on Friday, 22 January and didn’t end until Saturday. We were happy to be out of the DC area for this one, but we still got hit hard. Before the snow we treated ourselves to a pizza lunch at an Italian restaurant near our local ski lodge. Then it was home to wait. In the afternoon it began. Continue reading
Explorations In Place 