Glorious Spring!

You've come at last! 

Sunday Quote

Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go.

- E.L. Doctorow 

My Walden

A foggy evening following a chilly day of rain.

Thoreau had his Walden, I have what are called the twin lakes by my city's high school.

I've walked round it with a new babe, with children, husband, pals, but mostly alone, countless times. 

Said goodbye to scarred trees marked with a slash of orange by the city for tear down, celebrated new green life, 

marveled at the ice capturing the water in winter.  Inspiration for a dozen poems, a testament to finding beauty in our daily lives.

And a heartfelt thank you to Parks and Recreation who laid down the fresh mulch on the walking trails

And cares for the beautiful greenery.

Sunday Quote

"...I'd guess that you have some purpose to fulfill and that is why you were saved.  But don't get a swelled head over it.  A cabbage has a purpose when someone needs to make soup."

 - the Bard to Jack, The Islands of the Blessed by Nancy Farmer.

Be here now

Budding magnolia through my rain tapped car's roof window.

Across the pond

Not the global pond but the one here  by the high school, the little library a bright glow across the water.

Sunday quote a tad late

If an artist doesn't separate himself or herself from the mainstream no work will get done.

- Maxine Kumin

I could live inside a greenhouse

Love these frogs!

I could move into a greenhouse and bloom all winter

Dig those pouty lips, this green man image has more sulky than mythic mischief!

In love with this sliding barn style door

Ah, the restorative power of green

Gilbertie's Herb Farm in Westport, Ct is always a pleasure to visit but never more than early Spring when winter 's cold is hanging on and I feel the need for some serious green.

First steps

At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want.

       -  Lao Tzu

Perfect Quote

"Spring was moving in the air above and in the earth below and around him, penetrating even his dark and lowly little house with its spirit of divine discontent and longing."

   - thoughts of the Mole from The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

Sunday Quote

Go beyond what's comfortable.

- Stanley Tucci's college acting coach

March still a lion

The Night Ghost chapbook

My chapbook will be out in early summer (it is about to snow yet again making the words "early summer" so beautiful) with Finishing Line Press.  I am thrilled to say the least - and this postcard just arrived announcing that it is available for advance orders. 

The cover photo works well with the title, yes? While it may have a mysterious air about it, it was taken a year or so ago out the window of my little library on a winter day about as gray as this one.

You can order now (very supportive of me and thank you if you do!) at the Finishing Line Press site at: www.finishinglinepress.com

Just click on "preorder forthcoming titles" or "bookstore" and look for the title or under my name.

Sunday Quote

Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.

- Vincent van Gogh 

So know this - if you love your library, use your library.  Support libraries in your words and deeds.  If you are fortunate enough to be able to buy your own books, and you have your own computer with which to conduct research, and you're not in search of a story hour for your children, then don't forget about the members of your community who are like you but perhaps lack your resources - the ones who love to read, who long to learn, who need a place to go and sit and think.  Make sure that in your good fortune you remember to support their quest for a better life.  That's what a library promises us, after all: a better life.  And that's what libraries have delivered.

- Ann Patchett, in the afterward of the most terrific book, The Public Library by Robert Dawson. 

I could go on about Ann Patchett all day (if you haven't read her, do so, as in run out immediately and grab a book of hers.  By my bedside table is her collection This is the story of a Happy Marriage which I like to dip into.  Next to Nancy Willard and Mary Oliver and Anne Lamott offerings, but that is for another day.

The book containing her great afterward is extolling the many virtues of libraries (music to my librarian's ears and writer's heart) is a very well done and enjoyable book tracking the many across country treks Robert Dawson and also his son made to all different public libraries, exploring, taking photographs, talking to people, a real taking the pulse of the country book as well as a love poem to libraries.  Libraries are more than housing books but the heart of the community - I would not want to live in a town without a library because what would that say about the members of the community?  At any rate, while you are running out and getting anything Ann Patchett, make sure you get Dawson's book as well. 

You have a library card, right? (They are free!).

Sunday Quote

Melancholy were the sounds on a winter's night.

- Virginia Woolf, Jacob's Room

Just like Laura Ingalls

Note the dog picture thrown in as he looked so cute after being dried off after snow and has little to do with taffy.

On a family list to try - maple taffy like they made in the Little House on the Prairie. Snow required -thanks to the not as bad as predicted snowstorm, we have that (it's freezing out there!). Various websites said boil maple syrup until a candy thermometer says nuclear hot or whatever. We don't have one of those but neither did Laura. We tried their "forms. Ball in cold water" alternate, never seemed to get there but seemed to double in size. We decided it was taffy ready when we got tired of waiting. You then pour the super hot maple syrup into a cake tin that has packed down fresh snow....it does harden but the snow started to melt so fast that we grabbed a strainer and poured out the maple watery stuff. What is left is too sweet for

More than a taste unless you are the fellow historian cook teen with a sore throat. Bummed no vanilla ice cream in

The house (would have been a perfect combo) but the son

Had a good idea to throw in some walnuts as it hardened into a sticky lake of hard taffy. Note -many sticky spoons, pot, cake tin. We

Think the leftover will be great added to oatmeal -especially with walnuts. Thanks, Laura, and we didn't even have to look out for bears.

Although typing all this out on a phone is, indeed, a bear.

Stay safe and warm!

The snow already falling here, blizzard on its way. Stay cozy and safe, everyone!

Happy Burns Night!

The birthday of my wonderful mother who is missed every day - and she married a Scot - perfect. Hope you are all having a great Burns night.  Cheers! (Toasting with my orange herbal tea).

Match, Love ?