Hermione's immense workload finally seemed to be getting to her. Every night, without fail, Hermione was to be seen in a corner of the common room, several tables spread with books, Arithmancy charts, rune dictionaries, diagrams of Muggles lifting heavy objects, and file upon file of extensive notes; she barely spoke to anybody and snapped when … Continue reading Time Turner
White Noise
This is theatre week for us at ballet school; Thursday we have lengthy tech rehearsals, Friday dress rehearsals, and two curtains on Saturday. The academic year draws to a close, its labors bear fruit, the school's young dancers showcase what they have learned in the guise of ambitious new works created just for them. Predictably … Continue reading White Noise
Bleeding Hearts and Good Intentions
Dang, that sounds like a country song. It is time to fess up and explain what happened in the Secret Garden. The ugly truth is that I tried to have my first-ever vegetable garden and the stupid groundhog emerged victorious. The wind is officially knocked out of my sails. Groundhog 1, Deb zip. No beans, no … Continue reading Bleeding Hearts and Good Intentions
Princess Diaries
I rendered Handsome Chef Boyfriend speechless yesterday right before he launched for home. I love when that happens. On Saturday we had dinner at possibly the best burger joint ever, which happens to be very close to my house. (They also have a nice selection of craft beer on tap there.) We sat at the sunny bar … Continue reading Princess Diaries
Finding Elusive Beauty
Last week I observed to someone how easily I can descend into a bad place when I think of my life’s recent milestones in terms of loss: family, home, livelihood. This happened to me more or less all at once about two years ago. And then just on the heels of venturing a thousand miles … Continue reading Finding Elusive Beauty
Once More, with Wiggly Animals
Between episodes of attempting to catch a cheeky groundhog and putting in my first-ever vegetable garden, spring arrived here in Vermont in earnest. The lawn needs mowing and the house needs dusting. My Subi needs its snow tires off and oil changed. I need to wash the windows to welcome in the warm sunshine at … Continue reading Once More, with Wiggly Animals
Houston, we have a problem.
Last weekend Handsome Chef Boyfriend and I had our first springtime work session in the "secret" terraced gardens on the property I call home at the moment. During a cool, misty afternoon we raked and shoveled and pulled weeds and prepared a bed in anticipation of putting my started-from-seed-inside veggies in the ground. I don't … Continue reading Houston, we have a problem.
Secret Garden Part I
Handsome Chef Boyfriend and I squeezed much into our Saturday as we are wont to do; it is really our only day together every week, so to quote Eloise, You can imagine.... In the late afternoon we pushed up our sleeves and got to work clearing and preparing beds in the terraced gardens on the beautiful … Continue reading Secret Garden Part I
Rye Bread on Saturday: a Brief Photo Essay
People who bake beautiful bread are superheroes in my estimation. I've always wanted to do that--bake bread. I asked my Handsome Chef Boyfriend a long time ago to teach me. He said, bread baking requires the "p" word: patience. Too bad for me. I am one of the least patient people I know. It is … Continue reading Rye Bread on Saturday: a Brief Photo Essay
Gracie’s Tomatoes
My great-grandmother lived 'til I was into my thirties; notably, for all but the last couple of months of her life, she was pretty dang lucid, too. Had she survived another year she'd have met her great-great-grandson. But, to quote a friend, she still won. Gracie. She lived in a tiny, vernacular cottage perched at … Continue reading Gracie’s Tomatoes
Sycamore Stories 