Coming Home to Myself

When Friends Show Up

I’m thinking of a phone call that came on a day I was feeling particularly glum. I like that word, meaning “gloomily sullen or silent,” from the Low German meaning “turbid, muddy”. That fits. To me, glumness holds vibes of living in a colorless world. This particular caller was also grieving losses, the first timeContinue reading “When Friends Show Up”

Blue

In her journals, Anne Morrow Lindbergh wrote about her grief in losing her first born child —the famous Lindbergh baby kidnapping. She spoke of focusing on high-reaching objects (I don’t remember specifically what) but I picture trees or mountains. And in fact, I’ve done a lot of looking up this past year, but recently IContinue reading “Blue”

Pantsing or Outlining?

So. I’ve been writing a science fiction trilogy plus companion tale (It didn’t start out that way, but that’s how it’s ended up) for the last 50 years. I didn’t know where the story would take me, and it was only by self-publishing the beginnings that I could free myself to bring the whole shebangContinue reading “Pantsing or Outlining?”

Retrieving what was lost

Lost Patterns. I never returned to my pre-Covid early morning walks to a coffee shop, that contemplative time for examining the writing day’s direction. Nowadays, there’s a dog to feed. Other routines have erased thoughts of getting out on those predawn streets, like: eat breakfast now; page through the newspaper and do the NYT crossword,Continue reading “Retrieving what was lost”

Seeds of Thought

The phrase “Grassroots Resistance” started me chewing over the idea of seeds. Seeds grow slowly. The vegetable and flower seeds I planted indoors may not all have sprouted yet, but all species now have representation, even the coleus that definitely prefers warmth and the reluctant (I don’t know why) eggplants. When the first seed ofContinue reading “Seeds of Thought”

Rearranging a Life

Today the sunshine is glorious. Yesterday gloomed in both my inner and outer worlds. But both days, I caught glimpses of the Cooper’s Hawk at the park setting up his/her nest (I’m unsure of hawk responsibilities). The night was cold so this morning I walked in my warmest blue coat, gold hat and red scarf,Continue reading “Rearranging a Life”

Forward

Seeds are getting motivated. Indoors, marigolds are an inch high, and basil and thyme have begun producing little specks of green. Outside, both bachelor buttons and spinach are sprouting—though there is also a chance of weeds. For the third week in a row, Sophie and I have enjoyed a Sunday stroll, where she rides andContinue reading “Forward”

Seeds and Sophie.

These two topics have nothing in common except their alliteration. Seeds were duly planted on the first of February: spinach and bachelors buttons in the earth box. I do hope the seeds are compatible. I also potted indoors: thyme, basil, snapdragons, tomatoes, marigolds, and coleus. The following day I bought and added eggplant seeds. Wow!Continue reading “Seeds and Sophie. “

Spring is on its way

Those stubborn geraniums on the front porch finally gave up in the face of the January chilly nights I complained about in my last blog. But now, our days are warming and lengthening. I covered my Earth box with a protective garden cover. It should at least deter marauding birds and squirrels. I don’t knowContinue reading “Spring is on its way”

Delays, Deliberations, Derivations

Delays: A cold blast has delayed my hopes of planting seeds. December’s warmth was a fooler. A friend told me this cold is necessary. I’m sure she’s absolutely right, but I can’t say it’s comfortable. I’m waiting for February to think gardens Deliberations: Speaking with my older sister about my progress on the final pagesContinue reading “Delays, Deliberations, Derivations”