Author Archives: daeja's view

Mélange

What a month it’s been! Beautiful days, some lazy indulgences, some quirky sights to be seen. Due to the outrageously fine weather, I’ve spent some significant (and perhaps a bit wasteful) lengths of time just hanging out on The Urban … Continue reading

Posted in Aging, Birds, Cooking, Daeja's Garden, Food, Friends, Gardening, nature, Photography, Seasons, senior musings, Spring, The Urban Porch ™, Uncategorized, Views From he Urban Porch ™ | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Moving Right Along

Time seems to be whipping by at a pretty good clip. It feels as though we are all in some sped up animation. During a conversation with a friend years ago, we expounded on the theory that time goes faster … Continue reading

Posted in Aging, Birds, Daeja's Garden, nature, Perspective, Photography, Seasons, senior musings, Spring, The Urban Porch ™, treasures, Uncategorized, Views From he Urban Porch ™, Weather | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Tankini Hellscape

Admittedly being a lousy swimmer, it stands to reason that I’m not much of a fan when it comes to being in the water, or even on the water. I would say I’m more of the type who likes to … Continue reading

Posted in Aging, Are you kidding me?, Coping, Deafness, Fashion, Hearing Impaired, Rant, senior musings, Shopping, Spring, summer, Uncategorized, Vent, Weight | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Early May on The Urban Porch ™

It’s kind of nice to roll out of bed and sit out on the porch in the early morning, cup of coffee in hand, watching the neighborhood come awake. You would think with all the rain, sun and early blooming … Continue reading

Posted in Animal Stories, Daeja's Garden, Gardening, nature, Perspective, Spring, The Urban Porch ™, Uncategorized, Views From he Urban Porch ™, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Uncivilized

Because it has been so weather-glorious, I’ve waffled back and forth about whether to do the happy thing and share a bit more about blue skies, nature discoveries and snippets from The Urban Porch ™ ……or instead launch into a … Continue reading

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On a Stretch of Rainy Days

Shortly before a recent stretch of rain drove the focus on projects and diversions inside the house, I managed to get out with a friend for a bit of meandering through the woods and fields. There was a portion of … Continue reading

Posted in Animal Stories, baking, Birds, Cooking, Food, nature, Spring, The Urban Porch ™, treasures, treasures, Uncategorized, Weather, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Radar Love

The ever-revolving selection of earworm songs continues. Following a recent visit to the Southwest which resulted in weeks of the relentless repetition of a particular Grateful Dead song in my brain – the name of which I don’t even want … Continue reading

Posted in Flashback, kids, Perspective, senior musings, Uncategorized, Weird | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Oddballs and Mishaps Around “The Urban Porch ™”

So what’s happening on and around The Urban Porch ™ this week? Some lovely rain, prompting the grass to suddenly get so crazy high that I actually mowed for a second time. That might be an April mowing record. Inspired by … Continue reading

Posted in Daeja's Garden, Gardening, nature, Regrets, Spring, The Urban Porch, The Urban Porch ™, Weird | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Weight of April

There are certain days of the year where for some reason (or no reason), a traumatic or dramatic event has historically and repeatedly happened to either me or someone in my family – both terrible and wonderful. Although I’m not … Continue reading

Posted in Coping, grief, Holidays, nature, Perspective, Spring, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Unspooling

I can’t believe I’m back again posting so soon, but it seems the season is suddenly unspooling so quickly that I can’t keep up with it and feel the urge to share my somewhat nerdy excitement about the flora/fauna explosion. … Continue reading

Posted in Birds, Daeja's Garden, Gardening, nature, Perspective, Spring, The Urban Porch, Uncategorized, Vent, Weather | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Where I Stand

There are a variety of flags displayed on the front of homes in this area. A few blocks away there is even a street unofficially nicknamed “The Street of Flags,” where just about every house has (or used to have) … Continue reading

Posted in Aging, Perspective, The Urban Porch, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Boom!

Boom! It’s only mid-April and already the grass on this little patch of front yard suddenly got so dense that I realized I better mow it now, before it gets too difficult to push through. Has Spring come on with … Continue reading

Posted in Daeja's Garden, Gardening, Photography, Spring, The Urban Porch, treasures, Uncategorized, Weather, Wow! | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

He’s a Potato

Yesterday my four-year-old granddaughter got into a little argument/debate with her mother concerning Humpty Dumpty. She insisted that Humpty Dumpty is not an egg, he’s a potato. She would not be moved on that opinion. Haven’t we all assumed Humpty … Continue reading

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Departures and Arrivals

The population in the vicinity of The Urban Porch is experiencing many changes. My wonderful neighbor who has been renting the upstairs of the house directly next door for the last two years just moved out last weekend, on to … Continue reading

Posted in Are you kidding me?, Birds, Daeja's Garden, Gardening, nature, Perspective, Spring, The Urban Porch, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Out of Focus

Everything feels out of focus this week. Making order of the thoughts in my head has been almost impossible – an inability to hone in and complete most things without becoming distracted. Events occurring in the news are probably a … Continue reading

Posted in Birds, Cooking, Deafness, Food, Hearing Impaired, nature, Perspective, Spring, The Urban Porch, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Arising

People are coming out of their houses, shoots are pointing up like green arrows from beneath the melted snow. The crocuses and daffodils are lending pops of happy brightness. Birds are returning, winter jackets are coming off, rain is soaking … Continue reading

Posted in Birds, Cooking, nature, Spring, The Urban Porch, Uncategorized, Weather, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Mountain Power

If you asked my children or siblings, they might tell you that I have a song for just about everything. Words on a street sign, an incident, a phrase, a photo, and suddenly a song pops into my head. Sometimes … Continue reading

Posted in Birds, nature, Perspective, Photography, Travel, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Separate Rooms

Lately I have been stumbling upon a number of articles relating to couples who have decided to sleep in separate beds and separate rooms. This morning I even read one about couples who keep separate houses – his, hers and … Continue reading

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Suspended Animation

The happenings surrounding the Urban Porch over the last week have been laced with a series of incidents that have been both mildly and somewhat greatly dramatic. A few days ago I was out with the dog for his final … Continue reading

Posted in Are you kidding me?, Coping, Dogs, Rant, Uncategorized, Vent | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What Tears Are These?

Tears, idle tears, I know not what they mean,Tears from the depth of some divine despairRise in the heart, and gather to the eyes – Alfred Lord Tennyson When is the last time you cried? And why? Recently – with … Continue reading

Posted in Aging, Animal Stories, Dogs, grief, Perspective | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Winter Prints

It’s been a little freaky having northeast February days hovering around fifty degrees, but I admit it has been nice to get outside in it, even though this weather is most likely global warming right smack in our faces. I … Continue reading

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Clouds

At the beginning of this past weekend, the temperatures plummeted into the “I’m not going anywhere unless I really have to” zone, with wind chills of minus forty degrees fahrenheit (-40F). While this time could have been spent baking or … Continue reading

Posted in nature, Perspective, Photography, treasures, Uncategorized, Weather, Winter, Wow! | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

My Children Don’t Read My Blog

My children don’t read my blog. Once upon a time, perhaps about a decade ago, one of them would occasionally weigh in with a funny comment, but overall it is apparent they have little interest. I’m pretty sure they rarely, … Continue reading

Posted in Aging, kids, Perspective, Regrets, Uncategorized, Winter | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Socks of the Day

“Socks of the Day” was inadvertently born during the early days of the pandemic – that time of fear and uncertainty, when the roads and neighborhoods were suddenly empty of traffic and life, people scurrying to opposite sides of the … Continue reading

Posted in Are you kidding me?, Fashion, Humor, Photography, Uncategorized, Weird, Wow! | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Emerging From Eeyore

Well, I’ve been down in the abyss for the past week. I find it consistently amazing that when you (and I guess it means “me”, unless it’s also you) don’t feel physically well, it colors just about every single thing. … Continue reading

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So Far So Good

While wishing a happy new year to a friend on the phone, she commented that the brand new new year of 2023 was “So far so good”. Being only about half a day into January 1st, I had to laugh, … Continue reading

Posted in Aging, Are you kidding me?, Diet, Food, Rant, Winter | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Summing Up Twenty-two

Yup, it certainly was another weird year. Thinking about it, it appears after almost every year we finish out, we probably look back and say things like “That was really hard “, or “Whew, made it through that one!” Of … Continue reading

Posted in Holidays, Perspective, treasures, Uncategorized, Winter | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Little Thrills

A few readers have shared with me that they have been unable to comment on some of my blog posts, that WordPress won’t allow them to register their responses without jumping through a few website hoops. In general I don’t … Continue reading

Posted in Cooking, Coping, Dogs, Food, Holidays, Perspective, Photography, treasures, treasures, Weather, Winter | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Low-key Flurry

There is a low-key flurrying happening both inside and outside the house. The outside part is a steady, light, gentle, almost-mist of snow occurring right now, just enough to get you a little bit wet. It’s the first real one … Continue reading

Posted in Holidays, House plants, Travel, Uncategorized, Winter | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Planticide

It appears the cycle is beginning again. It was about eleven years ago when I first posted about the sudden neglect of a few houseplants, here – Black Thumb. The particular incidences of “planticide” that occurred with some of the … Continue reading

Posted in Autumn, Daeja's Garden, House plants, nature, Uncategorized, Weird | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ms. Almanac

The riotous outdoor color show is over. A lacework of sepia and gray branches framing the sky is pretty much what’s left behind, although the grass is still green, for now. I have removed the dead hanging plants from the … Continue reading

Posted in Autumn, baking, Dogs, Holidays, House plants, nature, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Few Last Hurrah’s and Into the Time of Stillness

Not to be fooled by a string of balmy autumn days more reminiscent of spring, the reality of November is finally upon us. Even after a few mornings of frost, I was surprised (and a little impressed) that the geranium … Continue reading

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The Wallet

It was more years ago than I can exactly recall when my mother asked me what I wanted for my birthday and I told her I wanted a good wallet. I was very specific about what kind of wallet I … Continue reading

Posted in Aging, Autumn, Coping, Flashback, grief, Perspective, Regrets, treasures, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Random Goings-on While the Leaves Were Turning

I vacillate between the excitement of the seasonal splendor and the worries or annoyances regarding larger and smaller events surrounding life these days. The blog postings here tend to go in erratic cycles. I might not post for months and … Continue reading

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Peaking

The color is peaking in style this year here in the northeast. Despite skepticism that it wouldn’t happen due to the drought, Autumn is delivering with a pupil-dilating, heart-opening array of almost trippy leaf psychedelia. We are pulsing with color … Continue reading

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Transitions

The coloring of Autumn is building to all its glory, and I walk around sighing with mouth agape. But I will share all of that at a later time. Right now the large and small creatures are in motion. The … Continue reading

Posted in Animal Stories, Autumn, Perspective, treasures, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Robe

At the moment I am trying to wade through some difficult feelings brought on by some recently revisited trauma. It’s been one of those situations where there is a strange, anxious, physical vibration in your very core. While this has … Continue reading

Posted in Coping, grief, Perspective, Regrets, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

True Colors

When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time. – Maya Angelou

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Ursa

With such a cool, breezy morning ahead, it seemed the perfect day to take a walk in the woods. I decided to hop in the car and drive to the mountain trail behind a friend’s house to herald in the … Continue reading

Posted in Animal Stories, Autumn, nature, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Readying

Life cycles into the next phase, as we push into early Autumn. The heat has broken and gifted us with cooler nights. Afternoon light is becoming more honeyed and the billowing cumulus of August have given way to the shifting … Continue reading

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Ahhhhh….

Finally, the rain has come; a steady, deep-soaking rain. The earth has been so parched. We have all been so thirsty. When the rain began, it felt as if there was an almost audible exhalation from the trees and fields. … Continue reading

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Summer Winds Down on the Urban Porch

The late summer view from the Urban Porch has been one of browned grass and parched hostas. This season of humid, yet rain-starved, scorching days has resulted in a drought. The herculean clouds of August have built up into billowing, … Continue reading

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Things That Land In Your Hair

For most of my life my very curly, somewhat long hair has been a catch-all for things that land, fly or fall into it. Mosquitos. Dragonflies. A wasp. A cicada. Moths and butterflies. Pieces of leaves, seeds, wisps of dandelion. … Continue reading

Posted in Animal Stories, Are you kidding me?, summer, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

More Views from the Urban Porch

I sit on the Urban Porch with iced refreshment and dog as the summer progresses. Some views remain the same and some continue to shift. The most spectacular event this month was a bit of dramatic weather. Those who know … Continue reading

Posted in summer, Uncategorized, Weather, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Quality Control…or The Golden Ticket

This is a rather absurd story about a doggedly ridiculous quest. Some people will totally relate and others will think “Oh my God, give it up girl!” If you get as weary reading it as I was doing it, feel … Continue reading

Posted in Are you kidding me?, Fashion, Humor, Shoes, Shopping, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

In Print

It wasn’t a milestone birthday and my expectations had been pretty much non-existent. Aside from wishing some things could finally be repaired or upgraded around the house (I keep wishing for that every year), this day marking another trip around … Continue reading

Posted in Friends, Holidays, Spring, treasures, Uncategorized, Wow! | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Wildlife On and About the Urban Porch

This is a small, urban neighborhood of old houses. We get some significant vehicle and pedestrian traffic during the day. The city is bordered by areas of woods, streams and trails. Because of this, we occasionally will find a deer … Continue reading

Posted in Animal Stories, Spring, summer, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Mantis

Last fall my three-year-old granddaughter became fascinated with a dead praying mantis she found in my driveway. That was the second one I had seen around the yard that week, after not seeing any. A few days later I discovered … Continue reading

Posted in Animal Stories, Gardening, Spring, Uncategorized, Wildlife, Wow! | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Crow Tree

There are a couple of very old, unhealthy, towering maples and oaks on the corner that probably aren’t going to last much longer. While walking beneath them with the dog, I noticed some rotten limbs had recently fallen and crashed … Continue reading

Posted in Animal Stories, Autumn, Birds, summer, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

All the Horses

I was up in the attic on a search for some of the many beautiful children’s picture books I had stored away after my daughters grew up, hoping someday they could be pulled out once again for future grandchildren. That … Continue reading

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