tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57949542012-02-03T10:55:16.951-05:00BEBERE 2.0"Ha ha. I made you blog again." - PabloBehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.comBlogger29821100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-8604541445519795242012-01-15T17:54:00.003-05:002012-01-16T09:05:30.505-05:00Compote de Poires.
Was very pleased to see the little seckel pears at market again with the new year.
The last of last week's batch before hitting la casserole.
Every year at about this time, these little beauties are packed into plastic bags and sold at ridiculous prices*. Last week, they were going for two kg for four euro (that's roughly a dollar a pound). I bought four kg with the Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-51644828425104036432012-01-10T17:07:00.000-05:002012-01-10T17:07:04.437-05:00(Sorry, but had to be said.)
Auchon (kind of like a Walmart): with selections from our butcher for less than an euro.
IT'S PEOPLE!Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-19780410515797124952012-01-09T17:04:00.001-05:002012-01-09T17:05:56.872-05:00Star-Crossed.
It's interesting to see how much space in the French women's magazines is devoted to horoscopes, this being the land of Enlightenment and all. To be fair, in some (but certainly not the majority) of the American ones I've looked through, you'll have a little blurb on your sign from month to month. This is nothing compared to the French editors' fascination with the stars and Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-91745086837008605102012-01-08T15:33:00.003-05:002012-01-08T15:56:58.648-05:00Did I mention previously how much I learn not only culture-wise, but vocabulary-wise from these magazines? They're a treasure-trove of pop imagery, current argot, etc.
Case in point: the other day, I brought home a favorite weekly (which I get mainly for the recipes; they're really good. I should just get their magazine devoted to cooking; can't resist the more general one, though.) called Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-51959399169589931622012-01-08T15:31:00.000-05:002012-01-08T15:31:24.927-05:00La Presse Feminine.
Will admit to a guilty pleasure here: women's magazines. Though I don't subscribe to any, I do like to pick a little something up at the press kiosk from time to time to see how underachieving/unfashionable/unhealthy I am according these publications. I also like to keep up with what I guess is Popular Feminism around the world*.
What's interesting about a lot of the Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-15152967030189598652012-01-07T17:11:00.000-05:002012-01-07T17:11:23.728-05:00 Epiphany.
Though yesterday was technically the Feast of the Magi, weak stomachs kept us from digging in to the traditional Epiphany Cake or 'galette des rois.' Instead, saved them for today's breakfast.
There's a lot to be said for delayed gratification.
Traditionally, these are either just straight puff pastry or pastry filled with apples or almond paste. Nowadays, you'll find filled Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-13758042802174215702012-01-05T14:57:00.000-05:002012-01-05T14:57:41.508-05:00The weather's been very odd lately. Temperatures have been averaging about 12-15 degrees celsius (that'd be about 55-60ish f). The winds, though not as rough around the Channel, are still a bit wild. Black, black, really black storm clouds are quickly rolling in and out, bringing with them rainbows, cloudbursts and sometimes even hail.
We were treated to a double rainbow the other day Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-7744539665756616452012-01-04T04:21:00.002-05:002012-01-04T04:25:07.624-05:00Resolutions and Resolve.
I just don't see the point of New Year's resolutions. Why the arbitrary first of January for making all sorts of drastic changes? Doesn't do much except crowd others out of the local pool or gym until the end of the month when impetus and interest peter out. If I want to try something new that requires a bit of discipline, am more likely to have this new interest takeBehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-81796948009358401442012-01-02T15:51:00.000-05:002012-01-02T15:51:54.101-05:00I'm willing to bet that this would hold its own quite nicely against a 10€ offering in most of the places featured in the Figaroscope.
Just a bit of really good fromage blanc* that I drizzled with Mistral's home-harvested honey, then sprinkled with ginger and fresh-grated nutmeg. It looked kind of naked, so added the fig for a bit of a flourish.
***
* Our favorite is from the experimental Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-12796319878441478342012-01-01T16:25:00.002-05:002012-01-01T16:35:26.332-05:00First Day.
It dawned warm, damp and gray; not too bad, though, if you're accustomed to frigid Januaries. Enjoyed a bit more truffles and eggs, then decided to take a wander about the neighborhood. Wanted to see the old sights with new eyes for the New Year.
A view of the American Cemetery from La Terrasse. The trees in the foreground are planes, historic staples in French landscape Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-31787159223869939332011-12-31T17:41:00.001-05:002012-01-01T14:19:18.094-05:00Quiet Night In.
Just us with some mollusks & feet from the stomachs, a big crustacean, a bottle of Loire Valley bubbly and some Strauss on the radio.
Time for bed now, though it isn't quite midnight; have had enough of 2011. Hopefully your New Year's a happy and safe one. Best wishes for 2012.Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-90391070040249418942011-12-29T23:20:00.001-05:002011-12-29T17:21:59.684-05:00Three Easy Pieces II: Felt.
Heavens, did life get a bit hectic lately. Took a trip back to the Heimatstadt to visit my dad, came back to the launching pad, then flung myself across the Big Blue again. Somehow papers managed to get sorted somewhat and stuff got mailed that needed to be mailed right away. The knitting WIP pile is slowly shrinking, though not as quickly as I'd like. Other Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-52822176752573865542011-12-29T05:33:00.001-05:002011-12-30T06:46:30.887-05:00Heavens, I know you get what you pay for, but what a terrible new interface for Blogger. Every post I've written since they "improved" stuff has had to be re edited, re formatted, re taille four or five times as stuff's shifted between writing and publishing. This is even in the HTML editor area. Switched back to the old interface; hopefully it'll lessen the time I have to do stupid, repeat Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-80670133573116220642011-12-28T16:16:00.005-05:002011-12-29T05:28:35.221-05:00
The Frenchie dropped a couple strings of LEDs down a couple flights of stairs with an ethereal, almost eerie effect. It's kind of a Visual equivalent to that Kate Bush Christmas song I like so much.
Here's to hoping that everyone had a happy day - no matter what you celebrate. Though a little jet-laggy (yes, I'm back across the Grand Bleu), am doing pretty well. The Frenchie seems in pretty Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-15077045020947716442011-12-11T12:07:00.002-05:002011-12-30T06:44:30.997-05:00Three Easy Pieces - Warm as Wool, Cool as a Concombre.
Don't know how it was by you this Summer, but ours was characterized by damp, dark, unseasonably cold weather. Heck, to add insult to injury, both the Frenchie and I ended up with head colds.*
When we finally started sprouting mold**, I suggested to the Frenchie that maybe, if for nothing other than our sanity, we head in the general Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-7111728906835268912011-12-09T12:00:00.001-05:002011-12-30T06:45:52.590-05:00Don't know if I mentioned this before, but earlier this year I turned 40. Now, am not a big fan of birthdays*, and would have been perfectly happy to have let the year pass quietly by. The folks at my Health Care Provider, amazingly on the ball that they are, didn't forget.
Long Story Short: things started with a pep talk from my Primary Care Doctor,** saw me through not one, but several Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-2537579489385413672011-12-08T18:13:00.002-05:002011-12-30T06:47:04.401-05:00It's been a pretty eventful few weeks, and I'm still trying find my balance again. Am right now in the process of:
a.) healing.
b.) getting a few items currently hosted on the blog off.
c.) preparing to visit family I'd not seen in a while (fingers crossed on this)/preparing for Christmas/preparing to fly away across the ocean.
d.) hopefully making a little bit more money, which Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-86015160298891378952011-11-20T20:08:00.002-05:002011-12-30T06:47:28.642-05:00Waste Not, Want Not.
Remember this guy?
Well, he's undergone somewhat of a transformation.
Ended up with something like 25 jars of a total treat, along with a couple pots of soup. Am really pleased with myself.
Wasn't sure what I was going to do when I set out to peel and cut up this year's behemoth. Since jack-o-lantern pumpkins are generally for decoration and not so much eating, Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-82787952261182830452011-11-18T12:10:00.002-05:002011-12-30T06:49:05.136-05:00Reestablishing Equilibrium?
Honestly didn't intend to bring another animal into the home so soon after losing Trouble, but...
Poor Magnolia, after losing her friend and suddenly having to deal with Tony on her own just doesn't know *how* to deal with the new interloper. Little black girl is dealing like a dream with all this. She's surprisingly well-adjusted for a shelter cat. About the Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-74237908175710857232011-11-11T12:18:00.002-05:002011-12-30T06:50:10.366-05:00In Flanders Fields.
Not quite a hundred years ago a treaty was signed, signalling the end of hostilities on the Western Front of an awful, bloody war. Battles continued on other fronts, and other wars followed. In some cases, the messes we are in today are related, either directly or once removed from that "War to End All Wars." Such sobering thoughts for such a beautiful Fall day.
Up in Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-37027562161341266452011-11-01T20:38:00.004-04:002011-12-30T06:50:37.337-05:00Goodbye, Little Trouble.
He'd been sick for a few months, seemed to be getting better. Suddenly, over the weekend things took a turn for the worse. Last night, took him to the hospital. Today, the vet told us that both the heart and kidneys were having serious problems and, to fix one would put serious stress on the other. Plus, he needed a blood transfusion, which his heart probably Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-56636251168883821172011-11-01T00:10:00.004-04:002011-12-30T06:52:01.577-05:00Happy Halloween!
This year, the Frenchie really got into the spirit of things and carved the pumpkin. Note the beret basque.
As we don't normally get a lot of trick-or-treaters where I'm currently living, we were hoping for somebody, anybody. Happily, were visited by maybe half a dozen kids. Still have some treats to deal with (we're not really sweet eaters), but not as much as we were Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-33429363075838988922011-10-26T23:29:00.002-04:002011-12-30T06:53:00.938-05:00Happy Bright Lights this dark time of the year. Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-36101456807237843602011-10-23T21:54:00.001-04:002011-12-30T06:54:46.571-05:00Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
I’m kind of hooked on buying sweaters at thrift stores and unraveling them; currently, have three in the works and just finished two others a couple weeks back.
Anyway, sometimes I’ll find something that, in its original state, I’d never wear and the Frenchie (who still doesn’t quite get the appeal of unraveling stuff when you can buy perfectly good, new yarn) tellsBehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-78524753982331114432011-10-20T17:47:00.001-04:002011-12-30T06:55:25.020-05:00Relatively Sweet Fruits of Failure.
After having tried to learn to use a drop spindle for some time, I’ve come to some conclusions:
-I’m not very good at it (really - I’ve been attempting for a couple years now; bought books, watched videos, even paid for private lessons. Practiced like crazy.).
-I don’t think I enjoy the process.
This is okay; we all can’t love everything we do, nor canBehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-21671212658308361832011-10-14T23:59:00.000-04:002011-10-15T00:08:18.153-04:00WIPS.
Don't know if it was due to the weather, hormones, or just general malaise, but just could *not* get anything right today. Since am feeling like I have a foot permanently stuffed in the mouth, will keep the words to a minimum and let the pictures do the talking.
(I think they're saying in warm and soothing tones, "Keep it simple. Persevere.")Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-76499292207711584332011-10-12T21:10:00.001-04:002011-10-12T21:11:20.610-04:00Recently, I've been getting into fermenting stuff - maybe because of my own recent episodes with antibiotics, maybe due to that biological clock thing. Who knows? All's I knows is that I'm feeling the need to nurture something that might possibly nurture me back someday. Anyway, here're some of the Somerville Test Kitchen's subjects of the moment:
Choucroute.
I guess that this is coming Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-8779559411974146392011-10-10T23:50:00.000-04:002011-10-11T00:41:25.976-04:00Columbus Day.
In honor of the day, headed out west to
visit "a special place designated by the Massachusetts Executive Office
of Environmental Affairs because it exemplifies the unique qualities of
the Commonwealth."
Drunk in a fair bit of vitamin D along with the view. Is it me, or does it seem that the leaves are changing awfully early this year?
Such a glorious day. Am hoping Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-81629726889228599872011-10-10T12:55:00.000-04:002011-10-12T21:12:13.640-04:00Breakfast of Champions.
Brunch at the Spring Hill Cafe. Today it's pretty calm. Sometimes it's like Sound Bites in Ball Square on a weekend morning during the school year.
One of the things I've been doing lately (and I'll get into that later) is try to eat differently (and, hopefully, better). This has led me to cutting out all grain products, as much sugar as Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-39873494020567427842011-10-08T23:46:00.001-04:002011-10-08T23:46:35.874-04:00
The Frenchie was telling me that there should be some sort of astral pyrotechnics - meteor showers? comets? - over Europe the next few nights. Nothing so spectacular here right now; the Perseids were the last big thing around these parts I think. Still, condensation trails reflecting the red of the setting sun isn't too shabby.After a fair period of wet, the weather's turned absolutely Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-16466784987775681912011-10-06T23:45:00.001-04:002011-10-06T23:47:16.631-04:00
View from the back balcony, 6:30 this morning. With a start like this, how else could a day go but well?
Yes, it's been a while. I know. A fair bit's gone on, too. Unfortunately, as can sometimes happen, so much stuff is happening that it begins to get too overwhelming to even live through, much less process and attempt to document.
Anyway, it's Fall and I'm feeling the urge to clean Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-70104026936942896532011-05-31T09:55:00.007-04:002011-12-14T10:54:59.127-05:00Les Mains Vertes, II
Though the weather's glorious out now, am brushing up on my Rain Dance: the cistern's almost empty and I've been flirting pretty seriously with a sunburn. Such a far cry from a couple weeks back when no sun would be seen for days, the garden plots were all soggy, and we were huddled in woolens, seriously contemplating turning the heat on again.
Aah, but what a growth Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-40626616942615498502011-05-31T08:06:00.005-04:002011-05-31T10:52:45.702-04:00Les Mains Vertes, IScabiosa - new to the garden this year. Am not too keen on the name, but it sure is a pretty flower. Hopefully these'll come back next year.Here's hoping that folks had a great Memorial Day - the unofficial start of Summer in these parts. Myself? Spent a good bit of the weekend in the garden, rather than doing the Barbecue Thing, as have been feeling the need for more quietBehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-33982725724622375102011-05-28T13:30:00.005-04:002011-05-28T14:30:51.304-04:00Heimweh.Just got a postcard that the Frenchie painted for me.The bridge spans the Seine. Home's in the green just below the fort at the crown of the hill. When I left, the apples and plums were in full bloom. Am told that, now, the hedgehogs (who we encourage) are out in full force. I really like hedgehogs; it's a pity they don't seem to be indigenous to this part of the world.Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-8416018677931306642011-05-28T13:29:00.001-04:002011-05-28T21:46:22.391-04:00Something that I really love but can't handle like I used to is milk. Could still manage yogurt and cheese, but in fairly limited quantities. Going out for an ice cream cone is done after a cost/benefit analysis on my part*. Last Fall, all hell seemed to break loose stomach-wise; became too frightened to eat. First thing folks worried about, of course, was appendicitis. That ruled out, Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-949569971372152252011-05-17T18:43:00.002-04:002011-05-17T18:47:57.132-04:00Three cheers to a friend who's putting his thrifting and writing talents to work! His first entry look like Prom Night in my current neck of the woods.Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-72696267416476447542011-05-13T18:30:00.003-04:002011-05-13T23:10:12.951-04:00This is a bit worrisome.Blogging's free on Blogger. Ann (to say the least) is a power user though, and as such (I'd assume), would be generating a fair bit of traffic (donc revenue) for them. Far more than my little site that had all its posts/drafts restored fairly quickly.What gives?***She's back; good. This is at least the second time that this sort of thing's happened. Might be time to Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-82965257370007418882011-05-13T12:45:00.003-04:002011-05-13T12:53:16.574-04:00Seems that Blogger had some serious GI problems the past day or so. Had about 3-4 posts that disappeared; am sure that they'll be back soon enough. It's just nice to be able to log in again.Onward!...to other works in progress.Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-4171831490615984322011-05-11T23:36:00.000-04:002011-05-13T16:21:54.831-04:00This may seem like not much, but for me, it was a whole lot. Took time out for three proper meals at the right times today. Though I love to cook, and I'm considered a pretty decent cook at that, I'm not always a particularly healthy eater. Am generally not hungry at all. Followed the MFK Fisher How to Cook a Wolf plan and did as such:-Breakfast: a cup of coffee and lots of buttered toast, Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-34035200432117806872011-05-10T19:23:00.002-04:002011-05-10T20:48:53.265-04:00Pattern Recognition.Weather's awful and we're all feeling down. A friend who's a bit in the doldrums started talking about his favorite R & B classics from the 1970s. Of course, I chimed in with one of my all-time all-timers:Ooh - same key, cadence, rhythm as this:Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-20545688651225340442011-05-09T23:18:00.002-04:002011-05-09T23:24:45.313-04:00I sort of have to keep the heart on auto-check, as there's no outside verification of my being okay right now. Stuff hurts badly, but probably not worse than than anywhere else.I measure every Grief I meetWith narrow, probing, eyes – I wonder if It weighs like Mine – Or has an Easier size.I wonder if They bore it long – Or did it just begin – I could not tell the Date of Mine – It feels so old aBehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-32670507452497032672011-05-08T15:36:00.007-04:002011-05-08T18:54:35.772-04:00Vol-Au-Vent.The Frenchie makes fun of me all the time for misplaced words. I take it in stride and even see it as a source of pride as, whatever the language, the error's usually a graceful one if I do say so myself.Last Summer, we visited a favorite town on his side of the Channel. After a bit of dune-wandering (kind of an adventure for me as I worry about old ordinance), we decided to take a Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-39012173708724871542011-05-06T22:13:00.003-04:002011-05-06T22:35:27.137-04:00Better Dead Than Red In the Head? (Hopefully Not.)After a scare back in the dust days (not willing to post pictures), I was totally converted to the "check yourself" for the skin. So far, so good, despite the wrinkles that eventually show up with age. Please, folks, take care of yourselves!Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-69454034239170836182011-05-05T22:56:00.003-04:002011-05-05T23:21:03.600-04:00Silly Cat.Took the Frenchie to the Harvard Natural History Museum a week or so ago when he last visited. We try to make a pilgrimage every Spring, as it's one of our favorite places in the neighborhood. Anyway, in the Geology section, I believe I was contemplating the cabinet of fool's gold (bright and shiny!) when he tapped me on the shoulder and asked me in his wonderful Yves Montand accent Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-48382603866085750432011-05-04T19:53:00.008-04:002011-12-08T18:39:10.546-05:00Hope is the thing with feathers.
As it's been warm enough lately to sleep with both the windows and the back porch door open, I've been getting woken up early (like 4:00 am ish) by the birds. Often it's cardinals working at establishing territory. Sometimes it's house finch chatter. Every now and again, it'll be a little white-throated sparrow singing a matin.*
Thank goodness for Spring! Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-1860267505088931762011-05-04T16:37:00.002-04:002011-05-04T17:19:18.378-04:00Well, it has been a while, now, hasn't it? It's been kind of rough going lately, and I was so tired, so decided to take a break from things. Though am not in top shape, do feel a bit better, less tired, maybe slightly more able to get the stuff taken care of that needs to be done. We'll see.Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-25543441367657611622011-04-01T23:11:00.003-04:002011-04-01T23:16:09.073-04:00Poetry Month.As I normally do every April, will be spending my time over at my other site. (Why not stop by?) As always, would love to hear from folks about their favorite arrangements of words.Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-82683102603892685772011-03-20T20:47:00.002-04:002011-03-20T20:51:23.520-04:00Blogworthy.My dad rocks. Is all I can say. I'm here grieving about all sorts of stuff, including the end of my school's hockey season. Mention that, well, if anything, at least the President's college basketball stats are good. His reply? "probably more important than the expansion of Obamacare to Libya."(Takes a deep breath, dives.)Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-25685980590311122842010-12-08T11:58:00.002-05:002010-12-08T12:01:39.605-05:00Christmas Pudding.I promised the Frenchie a pudding for Christmas, but can't seem to find my pudding mold. (Hope springs eternal - I've only gotten through five of the 10 boxes that contain what used to be my kitchen.) If, on the off chance, I can't find my pudding mold, what would be an acceptable substitute?Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-61520798368695906502010-12-07T14:06:00.005-05:002010-12-08T12:11:28.880-05:00Surprise!Had a rather unexpected visitor at the Awesome Yew Diner this afternoon:Apologies for the poor image quality. The kitchen window works well for Kitty TV, but it's an awful place for photography. Shot this through a dirty window and screen. This time of day, whatever I want to photograph is generally pretty badly backlit. Buddy didn't want to wait around for me to open the screen and Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-36760181401167600282010-12-05T19:19:00.002-05:002010-12-05T19:22:50.122-05:00A belated Happy Hannukah to my friends out there who celebrate.Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-18793781017461780222010-11-13T18:47:00.004-05:002010-11-13T19:00:09.066-05:00Musical Interlude.Funny, but I've been running around a lot lately. A friend who is a big karaoke fan got me to slow down, to take a breather, to reflect on nicer things.Shiver-Up-Spine trills. Amazing guitar. Paroles pour Le Pacha ici.Sexist? Paff. This lady's a pistol (or a chop-buster, depending on your point of view, I guess).Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-81813717854383058732010-11-09T14:17:00.005-05:002010-11-09T16:13:05.338-05:00Chocolate.The vast majority of my dreams are nightmares. Usually, I don't remember them; I just wake up feeling miserable and I can't quite put my finger on why. Sometimes, though, something indescribably horrible that's passed through my brain wakes me up and I lie there, shivering, wheezing, afraid to move.*Am thankful for the nights when the dreams aren't panic-inducing. In the sleep world,Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-71832150139206476222010-11-08T20:44:00.011-05:002010-11-09T09:50:50.374-05:00It was a weekend of trying to get stuff done while coping with migraines and the sadness that usually settles in from the bureaucratic shortening of the days. Put away a manifesto of sorts* and cast-off in frustration some gratuitously French academic writing** that annoyed the hell out of me in both the source and my native tongue.
Still, needed a bit of something to settle down with at Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-55322246876726673682010-11-05T18:35:00.003-04:002010-11-05T18:41:22.088-04:00Caldo Verde(or an ersatz version thereof:)chicken sausage instead of chorizopintos instead of white beansrice instead of potatoescollards instead of kaleStill, seems like it'll keep us warm enough tonight, which is the main goal.Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-90320876813794560352010-11-04T21:04:00.004-04:002010-11-05T18:41:50.507-04:00W(h)ine.Does anyone know of any good, not overpriced, *low* (meaning under 12%) alcohol wines aside from vinho verde? It used to be that good, (sometimes local) wine could be found meeting the above criteria.Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-40399298212133135322010-11-04T21:01:00.003-04:002010-11-05T00:37:23.558-04:00Cheese.Since I've had the knife-stabs in the stomach, I've been on a kind of restrictive diet. No dairy, no soy. Blood tests for wheat protein allergies, parasites, weird bacteria, etc, have shown up negative so far. Was a voluntary vegan for years in the past. Doing this stuff involuntarily isn't nearly as easy or fun as that all. (Actually, it kind of sucks.)Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-76304671931195453012010-11-03T12:00:00.003-04:002010-11-03T12:22:39.864-04:00Well, it looks like two of the three ballot questions we got to vote on were rejected.1.) Proposed getting rid of the 6.25% sales tax charged in addition to the excise tax we pay on alcoholic beverages. This just squeaked through.2.) Proposed abolishing a holdover from the days of rent control - that is, fast-tracking the permit process for housing developers who promised to include a Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-29931911390077583522010-11-03T11:34:00.004-04:002010-11-03T12:23:06.523-04:00Mass-Acre.I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't disappointed in last night's election results. While the rest of the country was cleaning house, we kept the horrible man who was one of the authors of the housing crisis, one of the more incompetent governors we've had in a long time (and the test run for the last presidential election), an attorney general whose major claim to fame is keeping a Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-34995655575099750312010-11-03T00:20:00.002-04:002010-11-03T00:21:55.995-04:00Elections are over. Thank Heavens!Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-79677557206602096022010-11-02T21:05:00.002-04:002010-11-02T21:17:46.026-04:00Election Day.(The 80s kid in me couldn't resist.)For what it's worth, I voted for all that's considered "bigoted, racist, homophobe, etc, etc" by the self-appointed "sanity crowd." I don't have many illusions about how stuff's going to turn out, but might be happily surprised. (Who knows?)Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-27019296244582437112010-11-02T20:50:00.005-04:002010-11-03T00:59:54.024-04:00All Souls' Day.First Duino ElegyWho, if I cried out, would hear me among the angels'hierarchies? and even if one of them pressed mesuddenly against his heart: I would be consumedin that overwhelming existence. For beauty is nothingbut the beginning of terror, which we still are just able toendure...My little brother and me in happier times. I really miss him. Miss a lot of people. What a Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-42409396497006774282010-11-02T20:45:00.003-04:002010-11-02T20:49:07.734-04:00All Saints' Day.The new tradition has been to visit the Frenchie's parents out in the neighborhood of Gien and to give them either chrysanthemums or heather. Am feeling kind of weird to not be there, but kind of had to follow The Market's Dictation.Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-76135020932263012952010-11-02T14:17:00.006-04:002010-11-02T20:41:40.369-04:00Halloween.Wasn't really in the mood for carving a jack o'lantern. This was just as well since Ampersand decided to pay a visit:We had eight kids come for treats: not as many as I've had in past homes, but more than expected given last year's dismal numbers (just two). We still had boxes of raisins left over from last year and Pavel wanted to give them away. I wasn't about to let that happen, Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-8163596887270517612010-10-30T12:37:00.002-04:002010-10-30T12:47:21.472-04:00Days like what we are experiencing right now are gifts. I'm off to take advantage while I can. Enjoy your Saturday!Fresh Pond, Cambridge looking surprisingly like a Hudson River School painting.Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-25036691818175070772010-10-28T20:09:00.002-04:002010-10-28T22:07:29.180-04:00The weather's been glorious lately, so I've been taking in as much sun as possible. Really does wonders for the mood, the muscles, the joints. Am looking forward to a weekend of being outside, if possible.Anyway, can try to catch up in one area of the life.Bird Log:Thursday, 21 October - Fresh Pond, Cambridge.3-4 coots+20 ring-necked ducksA Flotilla. I'd say that this was probably 1/2 mallardsBehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-30999218157193711322010-10-27T21:23:00.004-04:002010-10-27T21:31:46.235-04:00Apologies.Every day, something new happens. Not necessarily exciting, but *spark* providing. That isn't a bad thing.For various reasons though, have been kind of able to write. Will attempt to get the engine revved up again. Really like it here. Think that its feeling like a stressor and a weight on the back is a temporary thing. (Hope that, anyway.)Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-70806739734748147512010-10-21T18:25:00.003-04:002010-10-21T18:33:10.116-04:00Wanted to post some pictures from a recent Urban Expedition. Also wanted to talk about another added bit of fuel to my neurotic fire about returning to France in the near future. All this is getting put on the back burner, because Harry's back from Africa, safe and sound, and that trumps all. Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-46587605185375895362010-10-20T19:12:00.003-04:002010-10-20T19:29:51.101-04:00Mind Over Matter.I'm very happy to report that I've gotten past being Peed Off at knitting socks.Turkish toe-up socks! Aren't they pretty? The color of the yarn, a worsted-weight acrylic, kind of reminds me of beach glass. For that and my change in attitude, am thinking of calling them "sea change." With a bit of determination and a lot of help from some friends over at Ravelry, figured out Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-10879863405755728362010-10-20T19:08:00.003-04:002010-10-20T19:11:59.133-04:00I'm feeling a bit down today because, probably due to the strikes in France, a round trip flight is averaging something like three times what it would normally cost around this time. Spring break was messed up because of the volcano in Iceland. It's kind of a rough year, travel-wise.Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-47202116503547290592010-10-19T23:33:00.007-04:002010-10-20T12:04:20.708-04:00Pattern Recognition.Heavens, don't know why, but there's just got to be a relation between this:and this:Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-31117988996003597002010-10-19T21:47:00.003-04:002010-10-19T22:01:58.819-04:00Musical Interlude.Aww, Dad: I'm so sorry.(Lyrics are here.) ***Is funny to think that this song was conceived just between my and my little brother's conceptions.Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-83093425136313637092010-10-19T13:45:00.002-04:002010-10-19T14:08:23.788-04:00I'm not even sure where I could begin on the Anchoress's piece on the tension between those she calls the Credentialed Gentry and the "Unwashed." Speaks volumes to my experiences here where I'm currently resting. My Dad's a big fan of hers and he's a pretty sensible person. Don't know why I don't read her work more regularly.Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-20321937177212535842010-10-19T11:51:00.004-04:002010-12-07T13:21:40.355-05:00It might be the ingrained Rust Belt Frugality, might also be that I grew up during the period characterized by what is known as Stagflation*; don't know. In any event, I've always been fascinated by the reduced meat/produce/bakery offerings in the littler grocery stores around here. Anyway, the other day, while perusing the day old baked good bin**, I managed to find a reduced priced loaf of Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-21292123445042830552010-10-19T00:15:00.001-04:002010-10-19T00:17:06.160-04:00Speaking of books: we decided on Cabeza de Vaca's adventures, which are sort of turning out to be like the Keystone Kops or something (that's what it seems like right now at the beginning of things, anyway).Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-80449380089933468642010-10-18T23:50:00.001-04:002010-10-19T00:15:25.885-04:00We hit a couple library sales as well: one in Belmont, the other in Burlington. Both were bag sales, which usually occur at the end of the weekend. Most notable for me were the first three from the series of Rabbi Small mysteries, some armed services editions of James Thurber stories and a couple cookbooks. Pavel got some books on programming and mathematics, and favorite book by someone he'sBehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-39335635805512328202010-10-18T23:11:00.002-04:002010-10-19T00:01:06.279-04:00Great Meadows.This is becoming the default walk when we're slightly west of here and exercise time is limited. Like with the Mystic Preserve and the reservoir over near Alewife, it's always worth it to visit often, all year round. Now's the time for greater contrasts and longer shadows due to the obliqueness of the sun's rays. Local vegetation, already going out in a blaze of glory, seems Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-39776721585358062352010-10-17T12:45:00.003-04:002010-10-17T13:09:14.711-04:00Instead of turning on the TV and zoning out, the housemate and I like to either play a game of cribbage or scrabble, then read aloud to one another*. We've gotten through quite a few books this way - mainly adventure/travel literature. For whatever reasons, this genre lends itself well to Pavel's delivery.Anyway, last night, we finished a favorite story of mine: Joshua Slocum's Sailing Alone Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-47044159401996187042010-10-16T18:43:00.003-04:002010-10-16T19:09:30.454-04:00Unsustainable.I'm guessing that an awful lot of 'true believers' in the neighborhood who hired landscapers to put food gardens in their lawns just couldn't keep up with the actual work it takes to grow food, given the number of such dilapidated beds I see on my daily walks. What kills me is, not so much the wasted work, but the wasted produce. Would consider gleaning the knocked-down unripe Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-43446090018547532992010-10-15T13:43:00.003-04:002010-10-15T14:13:36.534-04:00While I was away, the kitchen and bathroom were slated to be renovated. For whatever reasons, those two jobs didn't happen. (Bathroom may start in a month or so; Kitchen's been put until next Spring.) Instead, some more work on the top floor of the house was done and a new roof was put on. Though this all was pretty painful to live through, the results are spectacular.This is the view to the Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-55745414843354910992010-10-15T12:45:00.005-04:002010-10-18T11:50:37.988-04:00Well, one part of the house chaos came to a close, anyway. I've been kind of living in a nightmare lately, as my room was a construction site for the past 3+ weeks. Wouldn't be surprised if I'd breathed in enough plaster dust for a case of brown lung. Also, as the construction crew was coming around early (sometimes before 8:00 am and often on weekends), had problems getting over jet lag. Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-35156296294646933892010-10-15T12:38:00.002-04:002010-10-15T12:44:45.121-04:00Yesterday evening, my internal barometer felt the front coming in like gangbusters. Sure as anything, we had an entire night of fairly heavy rain. Today, it's dark, windy, cool and damp. Am wondering if we'll be getting more rain? Though I did manage some good sleep last night, am still tired and the brain still feels a bit flippy (as though some connections are wet). Don't like this feelingBehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-76152666387329136002010-10-14T22:25:00.003-04:002010-10-14T22:28:54.072-04:0022 Years and Counting.It's amazing how long one can live in a place and still not feel at home.Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-90811713014070560862010-10-13T13:06:00.006-04:002010-10-13T13:36:51.065-04:00This has to be about the best English language explanation I've seen on what's going on in France right now. I can't claim to speak for All the French, but the few that I do know know that pensions, health care, education, etc need desperately to be reformed. Like here in the States, things are pretty complex and messy. I often wonder, too, if the French kind of got into the same mess that we Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-61916389975259875612010-10-12T22:12:00.009-04:002010-10-13T13:06:24.391-04:00You know, I just can't get worked up over this. I'm willing to believe that there are enough people in the community who celebrate this particular lunar holiday to justify it as a day off. Cambridge is pretty big and pretty diverse. A look at the school calendar shows that the other two of the Big Three are pretty well represented, so it doesn't seem like special treatment or anything.The only Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-39715505706260864042010-10-11T13:57:00.002-04:002010-10-11T14:00:27.500-04:00By the way, just noticed that if my blog were a child, it'd be in second grade now. Maybe, to celebrate, I'll take it to Topsfield today for a cider doughnut and a ride on the ferris wheel.Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-46942191925266229172010-10-11T13:35:00.004-04:002010-10-11T13:57:05.905-04:00O Fortuna.I don't think I (or anyone else, for that matter) could have foreseen any of the turns life took the past few years. Heck, when I started the blog, I was embarking on a new career, in what I thought to be the relationship of my life. Family seemed to be doing well, too.Now? Well, complicated. New loves. Illness, death, something awful and unexpected. The prospect of a long move, ofBehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-86739732396608729532010-10-10T15:14:00.003-04:002010-10-10T19:32:23.885-04:00Guess it's been a while since I've been 'round these parts. Have an excuse: was in France for a hair shy of three months and you can do things like that* there. Came back to Boston and attendant mayhem. Am still trying to get out from under the (literal) rubble; loose-end tying-off is proceeding very slowly. Also have some major decision-making to do. The decision-making part is not a Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-16988985452510552082010-07-07T00:26:00.003-04:002010-07-07T00:31:26.770-04:00Sesame Street, Math Help, Helpful Bugs.What more could one ask for this Summer? Words, maybe:One two threeFour five sixSeven eight nineTen eleven twelveLadybugsCame to the ladybugs' picnicOne two threeFour five sixSeven eight nineTen eleven twelveAnd they all played gamesAt the ladybugs' picnicThey had twelve sacks so they ran sack racesThey fell on their backs and they fell on their facesThe Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-20272943747238935812010-06-16T22:24:00.003-04:002010-06-16T22:31:00.916-04:00I apologize for the Radio Silence. Life hands stuff out to us all.Anyway, wanted to share something that not only means a lot to me from when I was a kid, but what is Reverberating as a Migraine lately:(Sigh, would that life had presented us with such stuff earlier and with better graphic resolution.)Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-62112895291849580462010-06-12T20:53:00.002-04:002010-06-12T20:55:33.283-04:00Some Dead Guy once said that, while America was always sliding into Fascism, Europe generally ended there.Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-15172822424095670122010-06-05T13:57:00.004-04:002010-06-05T14:21:19.307-04:00Hypnotic.Love how the internet can sometimes be like those Matryoshka dolls - you open one up to find another little treat within, &c, &c. Anyway, came upon this little video of some Arab IDF soldiers engaging in a traditional sort of poetry 'slam' and was really taken in by it:Found it via Solomon, who linked to this site, an interesting one in its own right - and not just for the "explicit Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-86003984399543313472010-05-31T21:00:00.002-04:002010-05-31T22:36:07.993-04:00Day is Done,gone the sun,From the lake, from the hills,From the sky.All is well, safely rest,God is nigh.***Happy Memorial Day from Spring Hill.Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-56667002912166196752010-05-31T14:17:00.003-04:002010-05-31T18:27:39.327-04:00Salade Russe.*Planned to use an already-written-out recipe for a ring-bearer's pillow for a friend, but scrapped after having started and frogged all knitted elements involved. Was just miserable, miserable stuff. Find myself sort of winging it now:For the edging, I'm using that old standby, Aunt Lydia's crochet cotton on this pattern. Have no idea as to what I'm going to do for a medallion - Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-10508514610214231202010-05-31T13:21:00.004-04:002010-05-31T14:15:50.775-04:00Il faut cultiver son jardin.Got out for a bit to tend to the gardens around the Somerville Estates. Though not as manic about this as I used to be on Winter Hill (partly because I don't have Raphaella around to guilt trip me anymore), am still managing to spruce things up a bit.Out back, rounded up and transplanted the nasturtiums in pots up front. Thinned out the chives, radishes and dill. Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-82695958946159949352010-05-31T11:35:00.004-04:002010-05-31T18:27:05.616-04:00Well, I'll be darned.Woke up this morning to a smoky, sweet scent that reminded me of burning incense. Now, I have been reading a lot about the Byzantine Empire but am not generally subject to olfactory hallucinations (crazier than a bedbug though I might be), so was a bit curious. Wandered around the house, then went outdoors to sniff around. Yes, the smell was everywhere.A short time later,Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-47289031698565149912010-05-30T23:53:00.000-04:002010-05-31T00:36:31.494-04:00Sunset on Spring HillThe view from the front porch isn't the prettiest but sometimes it can be surprising.Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-57459605335371347442010-05-30T19:52:00.002-04:002010-05-30T19:57:29.546-04:00Pavel tells me that the hamburglers are out again by the Mystic. He heard the high-pitched calling, approached a blueberry bush and scared a half dozen or so out. Hooray!Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-64246233445413456222010-05-29T15:40:00.003-04:002010-05-30T19:52:40.063-04:00"If you can fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds' worth of distance run,Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, and - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!"Dennis Hopper on Johnny Cash's show in 1970. There are other recordings of him reciting Kipling's poem during different stages of his life; all are interesting to watch. One can tell that he really took it to heart.Rest Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794954.post-70695975507406185942010-05-28T21:53:00.003-04:002010-05-28T21:59:56.744-04:00Afternoon Feeding. A male housefinch feeding a baby. It's a pity my camera doesn't have sound; the babies' squeaks are so incredibly high-pitched and loud that, really, only hearing is believing. Also, note the little one flapping just one wing: it knows full well how to feed itself, but if it can scam a free meal, it will.Behttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04593480051760923088noreply@blogger.com0