Category Archives: Uncategorized

Double Zipper – New Year

Posted on December 22, 2013 by

A few brief years ago, I finally reached what I consider a small plateau of maturity –  determined not to freeze through yet another Very Cold Winter, I purchased an insulated down-like coat that was long enough to cover my … Continue reading →

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Rejoice the Winter Solstice

Posted on December 21, 2013 by

Rejoice!  The Winter Solstice. The day began with a cup of chai.  Then lunch at a little French bistro with  family I haven’t seen in months.  Warm holiday feelings. Chocolate.  Baking.  My Mother’s Boots. There are some fruit flies pinging … Continue reading →

Posted in Holidays, Uncategorized, Winter | Tagged , | 3 Comments

What Do You Do All Day?

Posted on November 20, 2013 by

Since I have been officially out of the workforce, people who are working full-time or who I have not seen in a while will inevitably turn to me and say “So…….now that you are not working, what do you do … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Are you kidding me?, Bucket List, Perspective, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Writhing With Guilt

Posted on September 23, 2013 by

Today I realize my shoe-a-holism has gotten a bit out of control.  I sit here and writhe with guilt. As posted previously in this blog, I have a lot of shoes.  Shoes of many colors. Not “designer” shoes,  just comfortable, … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion, Perspective, Regrets, Shoes, Shopping, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Disposable World

Posted on September 9, 2013 by

There’s really no reason to get rid of my Sears Kenmore CounterCraft Food Processor if it’s still working, right?  All it needs is a replacement part. It gets taken out of its box a few times a year for some … Continue reading →

Posted in Are you kidding me?, Humor, Rant, Shopping, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Hiding Behind a Tree

Posted on September 4, 2013 by

As if my heart could not get any fuller, my first-born grandchild started his very first day of pre-school this morning.  Wasn’t it but yesterday when I had to leave my first child in daycare?  There was no choice…I had … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, kids, Perspective, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

A Two Boy Wedding

Posted on September 3, 2013 by

It is a few days past the wedding, and I am still awash in an almost dream-state; every once in a while welling up with emotion which brings me onto the edge of tears. It is an honor to be … Continue reading →

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Spidey

Posted on August 28, 2013 by

We have had ants this summer, the large black variety.   Not too many, but occasionally one will be spotted making its was across the kitchen floor or even the counter.  There have been so few compared to other years, that … Continue reading →

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Left Out

Posted on August 25, 2013 by

There are always challenges in the reshuffling of families, friendships and loyalties when it comes to a divorce.  Over the many years since mine occurred, there have been waves of   problems laced with intense hostility interspersed with moments of peacefulness … Continue reading →

Posted in Coping, Divorce, Friends, Perspective, Regrets, Uncategorized, Vent | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Elusive, Delicate Rainbows

Posted on August 24, 2013 by

A small thing for the Bucket List, but one never-the-less.  I have always wanted to visit a butterfly sanctuary, and it finally happened. Walking into that sheltered world of warm breezes, tropical flowers and rainbow-hued butterflies elicited pure joy.  They … Continue reading →

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Our Lady of the Perpetual Kitchen

Posted on August 23, 2013 by

My grandmother was Catholic, my mother was raised Catholic, and so she tried to raise us as Catholics too.  I consider myself a “Collapsed Catholic” and will usually check “none” on any form asking my religion.  I never was able … Continue reading →

Posted in Perspective, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Salmiak is Salmiak

Posted on August 21, 2013 by

Licorice is one of those things that people usually like a lot or totally abhor. You are pretty much into it or you’re not, there is not much waffling on the fence concerning licorice. I am in the licorice camp. … Continue reading →

Posted in Travel, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Slowly I Turned……

Posted on August 20, 2013 by

“Slowly I turned, step by step, inch by inch….” I realize I am dating myself here, because about half the people I have said this to know what I am talking about and the other half don’t. The line is … Continue reading →

Posted in Bucket List, Friends, Hearing Impaired, Humor, Travel, Uncategorized, Wow! | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Octopie

Posted on August 19, 2013 by

I just could not resist the creativity of it.  OK, I know I have been running on about berries the last few posts. This is the very last thing I am going to post about pies, or blueberries, or probably … Continue reading →

Posted in kids, Uncategorized, Wow! | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Tradition

Posted on August 7, 2013 by

The tradition continued into the next generation when I took my three-year-old grandson blueberry picking for the first time.  With his little pail and my big one, we ventured off into the field and down the row of bushes together.  … Continue reading →

Posted in kids, Photography, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Pie

Posted on July 25, 2013 by

I made a blueberry pie from all those blueberries I picked. Then I ate it for breakfast two days in a row. Just because.

Posted in Photography, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

The Other Car

Posted on July 24, 2013 by

Once we had children, I became the driver of the newer and larger car, the “safer” car, as I was the one shuttling the precious cargo around. So by default, my Then Husband, who I will call “Howie” for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Are you kidding me?, Humor, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Crossing a Line

Posted on July 1, 2013 by

No stranger to comfortable shoes, one peek in my closet will reveal a significant selection of Birkenstocks, Danskos, Naots, Merrills and Clarks.  I have spent good money on good shoes because I can’t stand it if my feet hurt.  I … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Perspective, Shopping, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Saturday Market

Posted on June 24, 2013 by
Posted in Gardening, Photography, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Flamingos Spotted in the Northeast!

Posted on June 22, 2013 by
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Green

Posted on June 16, 2013 by

As a child, my father and I would occasionally enjoy a delicious glass of carrot juice together.  Many years later, he introduced me to the idea of doing some serious juicing myself when he gifted me his old Omega juice … Continue reading →

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Cicada Love

Posted on June 15, 2013 by

They have arrived in some areas here, the emergence/invasion of the cicadas….pockets of ringing, singing, screaming cicadas.  Then you turn the corner to meet a vacuum of silence where there are none. I stood among them watched them climbing the … Continue reading →

Posted in Are you kidding me?, Photography, Spring, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Revival

Posted on June 11, 2013 by

When I first moved to this latest house in a long line of homes, one of the more lovely aspects of the place was a gorgeous, well-established white peony that someone had planted by the front of the fence. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Daeja's Garden, Gardening, Photography, Spring, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Art of Napping

Posted on June 1, 2013 by

Why can’t I nap? Taking a nap is probably a very healthy thing to do.  There is actually a study out there stating that people who nap may have a lower incidence of coronary disease.  Sounds like a lovely way … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Deafness, Hearing Impaired, Uncategorized, Weather | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Change of Status

Posted on May 29, 2013 by

I am unemployed.  Or “retired”, as some people have congratulated me on, although that word doesn’t seem to quite fit.  I feel like I am actually a “retirement imposter” in a sense, because this “retirement” was mostly unplanned, not affordable, … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Hearing Impaired, Perspective, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Heads Up

Posted on May 28, 2013 by

The light fixture that hangs in the front porch over the door is old and has one of the glass panels missing.  There are three sockets, one of which is empty and the other two which hold energy-saving bulbs.  The … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Birds, Spring, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Accepting What You Do Not Want (or “When is a Brulee not a Brulee?”)

Posted on May 22, 2013 by

Yesterday I was accused by my daughter of becoming more cranky and less tolerant about certain things as I have gotten older.  This statement was made following the specific incident below, in which I actually was a bit cranky and … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Are you kidding me?, Humor, Perspective, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Stitches

Posted on May 17, 2013 by

Found in the bottom drawer – my mother’s pillow cases.  She loved those cotton slip cases that came lightly pre-stenciled with designs, which she would embroider over in bright colors.   Unlike her own mother, my Nona, embroidery was not mom’s … Continue reading →

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Nettle Peace

Posted on May 12, 2013 by

A few years ago I was drumming  with a number of women on the side of a mountain not far from where I live, at the home of a local herbalist.  Outside her front door she had a patch of … Continue reading →

Posted in Daeja's Garden, Gardening, Spring, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Stealth

Posted on May 2, 2013 by

When it came to a choice of animal companions, my family always fell into the “dog people” category. But there hasn’t been a dog in my life for a very long time.  There are a number of reasons for that, … Continue reading →

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Major Artistic Deficit Disorder

Posted on April 28, 2013 by

Having grown up the child of artists, it naturally followed that those we interacted with and bonded with would lean towards the creative.  And so, throughout this life, I have found myself  surrounded by an abundance of talented friends. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Friends, Perspective, Regrets, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

The Season of White Jordan Almonds

Posted on April 27, 2013 by

There is something about the blossoms of spring and those white Jordan Almonds. They are connected for me. Weddings and blue sky and white, white sweetness.  That little bundle in the mesh bag, a small handful like tiny birds eggs; … Continue reading →

Posted in Spring, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Up Seat

Posted on February 19, 2013 by

Not having posted anything in a while, I really hate to pick up the blog after a hiatus by opening with a pet peeve, but I suppose this annoyance is the impetus that has provided enough kick-start to sit down … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Rant, Uncategorized, Vent | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

A Golden Squirrel

Posted on December 23, 2012 by

My sister Charlotte always had squirrel-like attributes.  As a child, she tended to hoard her things. As an adult, even in the leanest of times, she managed to save, to “squirrel away a little something” for the future. Looking at … Continue reading →

Posted in Holidays, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Certain Unalienable Rights

Posted on December 21, 2012 by

Second section in Declaration of Independence, 1776 – “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Are you kidding me?, Perspective, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

No Thanks, I’ll Pack Myself

Posted on December 10, 2012 by

I assume the pay scale for checkers and baggers at big chain supermarkets is probably rather pathetic. Perhaps because of this, some positions are filled with less than stellar employees. But really, does anyone even train these people on how … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Rant, Shopping, Uncategorized, Vent | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

The Holiday Visitors

Posted on December 2, 2012 by

The Holidays are upon us and the visiting has begun.  This year, along with their significant others and the grandbabes, both of my children insisted upon bringing their dogs home for Thanksgiving . It was sort of chaotic, but they … Continue reading →

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The Memory Box

Posted on December 1, 2012 by

One of the drawers in my bedroom is filled with socks.  In the back of that drawer, buried behind those socks is a green and orange lacquered box which was carved and painted by my father many years ago.  It … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Perspective, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Hacked

Posted on October 11, 2012 by

My credit card bill came in the mail today.  Usually this particular card is only used for online purchases that use secure sites, and there were only a few purchases made this month, so the anomalies jumped out at me … Continue reading →

Posted in Are you kidding me?, Deafness, Hearing Impaired, Uncategorized, Vent | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

That Snooty Woman With All the Fancy Instruments

Posted on October 8, 2012 by

One of the things I like to do for leisure and sometimes passion is to play percussive instruments.  I like to drum, especially on drums played with the hands – a djembe, a doumbek, a frame drum or riqq.  I … Continue reading →

Posted in Deafness, Friends, Hearing Impaired, Perspective, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Adventure and Distraction in the Autumn Garden On a Saturday Morning

Posted on October 6, 2012 by

I decided to spend just a few hours this morning cleaning up.  Just a few, since we had plans in the afternoon.. a couple of hours, before that gardening backache sets in. Just enough to tidy up, because I have … Continue reading →

Posted in Daeja's Garden, Gardening, Humor, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Zucchaloupe

Posted on September 29, 2012 by

Speaking of compost, some strange things manifested in my garden this year.  I did not plant them, but a couple of random squash vines grew unbidden amongst the tomato plants.   All I can think is that they must have been … Continue reading →

Posted in Are you kidding me?, Gardening, Humor, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Whole Earth

Posted on September 28, 2012 by

There was a time when The Whole Earth Catalog, published by Stewart Brand, was my bible.  It was the portal to resources on how I wanted to live, how I wished I could live, how I intended to live – … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Humor, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

Taking the Birthday Week

Posted on September 24, 2012 by

It was the first birthday after a potentially life threatening and definitely life-altering illness, where the concept and approach to birthdays changed. I was never one for making a big deal about my birthday.  I think I was maybe eight … Continue reading →

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The Light Has Changed

Posted on September 20, 2012 by

The light has changed.  There is a perceptible glow that heralds the arrival of Autumn.  It is moody and wistful, filled with wishes, yearnings and memories.  The sky becomes an achingly beautiful blue, or a moody, layered steel, or glows.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Daeja's Garden, Gardening, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

A Brief Tour of This Saturday’s Market

Posted on August 26, 2012 by

This Saturday I met a friend for iced chai and a cheddar/chive muffin, and then took a stroll down the street to our local Farmer’s Market.  As always, the beauty of the harvest made my pulse quicken.  For those who … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Photography, Shopping, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Hudah Moths

Posted on August 23, 2012 by

There was a time we had a long-term house guest named Hudah (pronounced Hoo-da) – a nickname, but the only name I have ever called him by.  He was fastidious about his health, exercising regularly, consumed natural grains and vitamins.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

I Was Just Singing…..

Posted on August 21, 2012 by

I was driving north, singing with the car radio and wearing my new funky red & white printed giraffe pattern sunglasses. It had been a pretty good weekend, resulting in the Monday morning commute being a lot less somber than … Continue reading →

Posted in Are you kidding me?, Humor, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Discombobulation

Posted on August 15, 2012 by

OK, maybe the Feeling of Displacement has something to do with it and maybe it’s not that either.  I think most of us have done a couple of space-out things like getting dressed in the low light of morning and … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Humor, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Displacement

Posted on August 14, 2012 by

Our office building caught fire.  While we were in it. It seems events leading up to the moment of ignition had been occurring for a few hours, as there had been an electric-like odor in the copy room that morning.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Coping, Perspective, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments