Just now a large skein of geese flew over my house, heading south. I should mention they were very loud geese—louder than usual. This clarion call not only got my attention, it reminded me of Gladys Taber and one of my favorite quotes of hers: In the village store someone says,”I heard the geese go […]

Autumn is around the corner. The leaves here in Connecticut have become a dull, faded green with slips of yellow and orange here and there trying to burst. It’s still too early, but fall is coming. The nights are cool. The Sharon of Roses bloomed early. And squirrels are whizzing around with nuts to hide for […]

On July 21st, someone traveling through Will Rogers Airport in Oklahoma City lost a sock. A hand knit sock. And one person—a knitter—found it. Now this may seem like a yawn of a story to non-knitters, but knowing the significance of hand knit socks, this traveller took it to security and then  to Lost and […]

Our spring here in Connecticut has been mud-luscious lately, not unlike e.e. cummings’ spring in his poem [in Just-]. My response to most things is to knit, and today was no different. With the sun out for the first time in days, I went stash diving in my yarn bins and found this… …then began […]

Spring has finally arrived in these parts. Though, living in New England all my life, I know to keep the shovel by the back door a little while longer. Just saying… Still, it’s nice to see the daffodil tips breaking through the ground, feel the sun on my face, and hear the birds as excited […]

With wind chills below zero, this is what brings me warmth and reminds me that Spring will be here soon…

I’ve been working on this sweater since I don’t know when. I began it long ago and let it hibernate. Then this year decided I want to wear this, this winter, so pushed on ahead and from the end of November until now worked on this a little every day. I finished it last night. [...]

I do this every year. In the summer, when it’s sweltering, I swear I’ll never complain about winter weather again; and in the winter, when it’s so cold I can’t feel my fingers, I swear I’ll never complain about summer’s heat. Today is one of those days. On this fine third day of the year [...]

Yes, I know it’s still August. But the blistering summer heat is gone, with warm days in its place, and downright cold nights here and there. The early maples are beginning to show orange and yellow among their green leaves. My burning bush is tinged with red. And with help (thank you, guys), I’ve harvested [...]

I’ve been watching this little grasshopper for the past few days, though he may have been there a while longer because he camouflages so well. Don’t you love how perfect nature’s color palette is?

I knew it was both too good to be true when it hit 50° the day before yesterday, and too good to last, but January is back to doing what January does. Snow. Luckily, winter is tempered by this… It really does make it all better…

We almost always get a January thaw here in Connecticut. But when my irises outside are pushing up in the second week of the new year, we’re beyond thaw status. Still, it feels nice. We had a good 4-6 inches of snow in the end of December that stayed for a while, with little remnants [...]

Lately, I’ve been into sunrises. It’s becoming a bit of an obsession, too. If I’m awake around 5am or 5:30 (and I usually am), I bundle up and go out on the deck, which luckily faces east. I check the horizon. And I wait. A quick trip back into the kitchen to put the coffee [...]

It snowed here yesterday, into the evening. How appropriate because Interweave Knits Winter 2012 is out. I’ve loved this knitting magazine for a long time and always look forward to my next issue, though not as eagerly as I do this winter one. Reason? Because I’m very proud to say I’m in it. Earlier this [...]

What is it about autumn that makes things feel good? Okay, maybe it’s me, but come the cool weather and I want to make pots of soup with big chunks of root vegetables; I want to pull out the heavy knitting—you know, sweaters; and I want to revive writing projects that wilted with the summer [...]

Yes, it’s still summer. The tomatoes are glorious as are the ears of sugar-sweet corn at the farm stand. Loads of yellow squash, too. But the other day I heard our winter forecast. I had to sit down. I enjoy winter. I enjoy cold weather. I like snow, and I even like to shovel. But. [...]

It’s been a sad week. I’ve eaten all my home-grown tomatoes. They are all gone. This is the only downside to early tomatoes. Both varieties were sweet, but the Sungold cherries were far better. Nothing like plucking them right off the sun-drenched plant and popping them in your mouth—they tasted like warmed honey. Whoo-boy. On [...]

In addition to my grandmother, and Annie, there was a third person who shaped the cook I would become—my father. My father was a kind, gentle, and very sweet man who loved life. (Okay, I’m a bit biased, but it’s still all true. Ask anyone who knew him.) And he loved food as much as I [...]

I grew up watching women cook. Two women to be specific–my grandmother, and Annie, who lived next door to me. Now I have to preface all this by saying food, cooking, and eating bring me great joy. If you want to please me don’t bring me diamonds, bring me asparagus. Odd, I know, but there [...]

They’re coming… Happy Summer…          

It’s the perfect kind of warm and sunny day–with a sheer veil of occasional clouds to keep it from being scorching, and no humidity. I have opted to not weed today. Call me silly, but I’m just not in the mood to battle with the poison ivy  right now that is where I need to [...]

My marigolds, lobelia, and geraniums are planted, plus I’ve added a few more succulents to the front rock garden; the porch vegetable and herb garden is holding its own;  and all the weeding around the house is finally done. Just in time, too, because it’s raining (again). So with student’s manuscripts edited, a cup of [...]

I know. I know I vowed I would never let my heart be broken again by wily raccoons. But I also know my passion for tomato sandwiches is endless. So despite all potential obstacles and raccoon-made-disasters, I put in two tomato plants. No guts, no glory, right? They’re in pots on the deck…   So [...]

How can you not love spring? I first heard my trees humming last week when the pink crabapple was overcome with bees. Today it’s been the white crabapple. Though the flowers are no longer at peak, it still attracts all things pollinating. Thought I’d share a few of my shrubs and plants…    

One thing I consistently see with new students is the notion they have to produce a perfect story for me, first time out—as in whole, from brain to page. No drafts. Just completed manuscript. Except, writing doesn’t work that way. Writing grows. Sometimes it starts with a seedling of an idea. Other times, like a [...]