"Mmmmm," sighed The Resident Carpenter-Blacksmith in happy satisfaction, "That's the sound of mushrooms growing." The blessed rain was finally FINALLY coming down, spattering windows and clearing the obnoxious, lung-clogging firesmoke that's turned Oregon breathing into a cautionary tale. And it has an added benefit: Rain grows mushrooms. "Bring on the RAIN!" I gleefully agreed. On my first [...]
Nathan and Grizz are inseparable, or at least Grizz thinks so... If Nathan does anything, from putting on clothes to sitting in a lawn chair on the back porch, Grizz wants to do it, too. "Can you believe it?" I chortled to the Resident Carpenter-Blacksmith, "They said to get a SECOND dog, it would calm Grizz down! TWO [...]
I broke a cardinal rule; I discussed politics at work. There are excellent reasons why we don't discuss politics--or any polarizing issue--in the workplace. Coworkers have a right to their opinions. We never EXclude team members, we INclude them. Work must be a neutral zone, where we focus on getting the job done, excellently, effectively, and on time. I know [...]
Sonkers need to be served with great vanilla ice cream A tiny smidgen of silver to line the COVID-19 cloud: The "homely arts" are reappearing as a treasured part of daily life. Not saying I like what's going on--I don't, not at all--or that I wouldn't really like to have my old life back, right about now, but [...]
Using these rolls as they were meant: Hamburgers I've been baking bread and inventing bread recipes since I was about 9 years old; it's one of my favorite kitchen chores, although I rarely have time for it. COVID-19, however, is making me a lot more conscious of wasting less and making more, instead of just heading for the [...]
I made 14 of these little gems yesterday with pantry leftovers. They're going fast. Produce aisles turn me into a health nut. The sight of all those vitamin-bursting fruits and veggies, piled high in glowing harlequin pyramids, sends me straight into irrationality. "Lessee...Monday we'll steam the broccoli rabe and fix a fresh strawberry mousse with raspberry puree for [...]
Grizz, bored Wanna look like a hero while actually tasting a bit of freedom in these pandemicious* times? Run errands for your neighbors. Remember all those times we've moaned and groaned about how little time we have to CREATE, what with work and chores and bill-paying and sundry obligations? And how, if we could just stay HOME, nowhere [...]
Fresh out of the second (sinter) firing, this Gold Bronze Ultimate Premium clay acquired a really gorgeous patina. Too bad it had to be polished off... Ros Bailey of Aussie Metal Clay asked me to test their newest base metal clays, Gold Bronze Ultimate Premium and Gold Bronze Origami. She sent a package of each all the way [...]
Grizz, as usual, captivated the trainer. So did Nathan. As for me, well, CAPTIVATE is not exactly the word I'd use...sigh. We learned many things in Grizz' first puppy class: Grizz is an incredibly smart puppy, aeons ahead of puppies twice his age, and any seemingly naughty bits are simply Grizz being a puppy Biting me is unacceptable. [...]
Grizz has gone from a cute, floppy-eared puppychunk to an obvious German Shepherd with a werewolf face. My friend Jenn said, "Puppies are what you survive to get a dog." I grok this statement completely. Cats are SOOOOOOO much easier. Cats do not turn you into a fangcushion, i.e., a pincushion, but for teeth. Grizz reached his 3-month [...]
