-
Recent Posts
Archives
- March 2026
- February 2026
- January 2026
- December 2025
- November 2025
- October 2025
- September 2025
- August 2025
- July 2025
- June 2025
- May 2025
- April 2025
- March 2025
- February 2025
- January 2025
- December 2024
- November 2024
- October 2024
- September 2024
- August 2024
- July 2024
- June 2024
- May 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- April 2022
- June 2021
- March 2021
- October 2020
- July 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- December 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- September 2017
- August 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- January 2017
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- August 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- August 2014
- June 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- February 2013
- December 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
-
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Stitches
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
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged cleaning out, embroidery, love, Memories, mom, Mothers, stitches
7 Comments
Nettle Peace
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
Major Artistic Deficit Disorder
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 Am I an Artist?, art as a living, artist life, artistic friends, artists, creativity, lack of focus, talent
14 Comments
The Season of White Jordan Almonds
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 cravings, Jordan Almonds, Memories, Spring Blossoms, weddings, white Jordan Almonds
5 Comments
The Up Seat
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 habits, mess, messy habits. co-habitating, messy partners, pet peeve, Pig Pen, toilet seat up, unmade beds, war of the sexes
9 Comments
A Golden Squirrel
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 Christmas, christmas ornaments, Christmas tree, Family, Memories, Memorium, Sisters, Suster
2 Comments
Certain Unalienable Rights
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
No Thanks, I’ll Pack Myself
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 annoyances, grocery baggers, grocery shopping, heavy shopping bags, shopping
8 Comments
The Holiday Visitors
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
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged big dog little dog, dachshund cross, dogs, Family, holiday guests, kitchen companions, new age, pets, rescue dogs
1 Comment
Hacked
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
That Snooty Woman With All the Fancy Instruments
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 aloofness, Drumming, group dynamics, perspective, possessions, unfriendliness
4 Comments
Adventure and Distraction in the Autumn Garden On a Saturday Morning
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 autumn garden, distraction, fall clean-up
6 Comments
Zucchaloupe
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
Whole Earth
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 best of intentions, compost, composting, Whole Earth Catalog
14 Comments
Taking the Birthday Week
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
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged a present to myself, birthday, birthday week, cancer, celebrations, Kindness, self celebration
12 Comments
The Light Has Changed
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 Autumn, autumn light, cherry tomatoes, end of summer, Fall, Harvest, kale, raw kale recipe, Recipes, urban garden
13 Comments
A Brief Tour of This Saturday’s Market
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 Autumn, beauty, Color, end of summer, Farmer's Market, Flowers, fruit, Harvest, Saturday, vegetables
8 Comments
Hudah Moths
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 grain moths, Indian Meal Moth, infestation, kitchen moths, pantry moths
5 Comments
I Was Just Singing…..
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
Discombobulation
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 black and brown shoes, getting dressed in the dark, mismatched shoes, stress
10 Comments
Displacement
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 business as usual, disoriented, Fire, office fire, smoke damage
4 Comments
New Love
There is a static rush of energy when a new being comes into the world. The air is charged, the room glows, molecules seem to rearrange themselves to make a place for the arrival. Everyone laughs. Everyone cries. Everyone’s heart … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized, Wow!
Tagged angel, Angels, birth, childbirth, grandmother, grandparent, New baby, newborn, witnessing a birth
10 Comments
The Teal Gown
My oldest daughter, the Conventional Daughter, planned a Conventional Wedding. It was not an outrageously extravagant wedding by some wedding standards, but it did included a wedding gown from a bridal salon, bridesmaids in matching sateen dresses, a caterer, candles … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Humor, Uncategorized
Tagged be true to yourself, Coney Island, costume, Mermaid Parade, Mother of the Bride dress, Wedding
11 Comments
Imposed Stillness
This morning I drove a little over an hour to get to the closest Major Medical Center in order to have an MRI done. I arrived about a half hour before my scheduled appointment as instructed in order to fill … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
6 Comments
Bozo
The three things that struck me right away about Williamsburg, Brooklyn: 1) almost everyone on the street seems to be in their twenties to early forties 2) there is an incredibly high proportion of pet dogs of every size and … Continue reading
A Triangle of Lights in the Sky
The same way I am beginning to forget a lot of things these days, this one totally exited my memory…… until last night, and now I can’t shake it. During the 1980’s and early 90’s we lived in an area … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized, Wow!
Tagged Close Encounters, Hudson Valley UFO, lights in the sky, Triangle in the sky, UFO, Unidentified Object
15 Comments
Botanical Bliss
The mission of the day was to find a Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum), a woodland dwelling shade plant; evasive, magical and reminiscent of childhood. Thus I set forth on this mission in the company of another garden addict – a very … Continue reading
Posted in Gardening, Spring, Uncategorized
Tagged nurseries, plant addiction, shade garden, Trillium, woodland plants
11 Comments
The Portal to Hell
Green Man adorns our fireplace mantel. I was reluctant to move to this house, not because it needed work, and not because it isn’t a lovely house – it is. Of the Victorian era style, it has high ceilings and … Continue reading
Posted in Spring, Uncategorized
Tagged Beltane, Cinco de Mayo, Green Man, Victorian fireplace, Victorian house
4 Comments
Synchronicity
This morning when I walked into the kitchen, I found an orange peel lying on the counter. It had been deftly peeled off in one entire piece and was lying there in the shape of the letter “S”. Clearly it … Continue reading
Posted in Are you kidding me?, Humor, Uncategorized, Wow!
Tagged coincidence, forever children, orange peel
7 Comments
I Kissed Rick Danko
I didn’t plan on attending Levon Helm’s wake today. Yes, I had been a fan of The Band for many years, but I dislike crowds and am seriously averse to fan/fame worship. And yet, on some level I was still … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Friends, Perspective, Regrets, Uncategorized
Tagged fame, fans, idol worship, Levon Helm, Rick Danko, The Band, Wakes, Woodstock
9 Comments
Alba, In the Shade of the Japanese Maple
Where can we go to find God if we cannot see Him in our own hearts and in every living being – Swami Vivekananda
The Aliens Are Landing
The idea was to get a few perennials to fill in a few spaces in my garden. Gardeners know what a tremendous high it is to spend part of a beautiful afternoon at a garden center. It is almost impossible … Continue reading
Posted in Gardening, House plants, Photography, Uncategorized, Wow!
Tagged African Daisy, Alien plant, garden center, Osteospermum, outer space plant
14 Comments
Mehndi
Before the advent of rainbow colored hair dye – and when I was much younger – I used to run henna or indigo through my hair to give it a red or blue tint, for fun. I recall my mother-in-law … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Berber, body art, celebration, henna, henna conference, henna gathering, mehndi, Morocco, Saluki, wedding henna
8 Comments
Quality Control
This week a used book I had ordered arrived via a big name internet bookseller – one advertised as in “Very Good” condition. To my mild disgust, the cover of the book has some sort of tacky substance on both the … Continue reading
From The Witch’s Garden
OK, I just love Hellebore. I love that it blooms so early. I love how the five petals (or “sepals”, actually) hold on for so long. I love the seed pods they make later on in the summer. I love … Continue reading
Posted in Gardening, Uncategorized
Tagged Christmas Rose, Flowers, hellebore, invisibility powder, Lenten Rose, poisonous flowers, witch's garden
4 Comments
“Like A Sweet Magnolia Tree…..”
Came upon this Magnolia tree yesterday. These prehistoric beauties – fossils have been found dating back 20 million years (how cool is that!!?) – are opening their gorgeous petals right now. Supposedly back in those primitive times, before the bees, … Continue reading
Posted in Gardening, Photography, Spring, Uncategorized
Tagged blossom, earworm, Magnolia, pink beauty, prehistoric flowers, Stevie Wonder
5 Comments
Excuses, Excuses…It’s Just Too Nice To Stay Inside….
OK, I admit I have been terrible regarding my blog lately. I became distracted and wrapped up in other events and lost my discipline…..very bad for writing, because in order to write you need to Write. But this early Spring … Continue reading
Posted in Gardening, Photography, Spring, Uncategorized, Weather
Tagged bad habits, chives, crocus, hellebore, planting peas, primrose, scilla, sedum, spring garden
4 Comments
Sail Away
I came across this magical photo and decided to share it in my Sunday post. It is called “Narcissism” by Cynthia Decker. The crow is gazing at his own reflection. The dreamlike composition evokes all sorts of desires. It is … Continue reading
Posted in Travel, Uncategorized, Wow!
Tagged boat, Faeries, fairies, fairy tale, magic boat, magical, owl and the pussycat, photography
5 Comments
A Matter of Interpretation
As someone who writes essays and blog posts, you would think that there would be a corresponding adeptness to creating written correspondence that would clearly translate my thoughts to the recipient. It is not as if I am writing in … Continue reading
Posted in Coping, Deafness, Friends, Perspective, Regrets, Uncategorized
Tagged hearts, hurt, hurt feelings, insults, miscommunication, misinterpretation, misunderstandings, translation, Valentine card
6 Comments
The P.I.A.
I could get into the details, but the short version is that a shoulder that has been sore for months suddenly exploded into nauseating pain radiating from my shoulder to my elbow. Anything that is “radiating” on the body doesn’t … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Uncategorized, Vent
Tagged calcium deposits, hospital survival, hospitals, House, question authority, shoulder pain
6 Comments
The January Bitch
Whew….. that was the crankiest of months, very glad that one is over. My rough January seemed to be set off surrounding the rescue of a spider….sort of. While having a conversation with my boss in the hallway, we simultaneously … Continue reading
Posted in Are you kidding me?, Coping, Humor, Rant, Uncategorized, Vent, Wildlife, Winter
Tagged cable TV, car delivery, Cataract Surgery, Cranky, Eye Surgery, last straw, satellite dish, Spiders
2 Comments
Pink Skid Marks
The current exposé of the Susan G. Komen Foundation following their defunding of Planned Parenthood has created a feeling of helplessness and enragement that I have not experienced in decades. While formulating in my head how to address this in … Continue reading
Posted in Are you kidding me?, Rant, Uncategorized, Vent
Tagged breast cancer, pink-washing, political madness, Seeing Pink, Susan G. Komen
7 Comments
Appliance Decor
We have a stacker washing machine in the bathroom upstairs, one of those top-loaders with the dryer that is actually attached to it and hangs over the top. It fits in a narrow area that used to be a closet. … Continue reading
Posted in Are you kidding me?, Coping, Humor, Uncategorized, Winter
Tagged Appliances, broken dryer, broken washer, frustration, home delivery, laundry, snowstorm, stacking washer, Victorian house, washing machines
3 Comments
Day at the Museum
Today I just feel like sharing a photo I took in the exhibit on Islamic Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The exhibit as described – “Fifteen galleries grouped by geographic region trace the course of Islamic civilization from … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged adventures, art, Childhood, Islamic Art, magic of museums, Metropolitan Museum of Art, museum, NYC
4 Comments
daeja's view 