LOVE ACTUALLY

I know, I know, some of us love that movie and some hate it. I'm not going to write about the film. The 20-year anniversary documentary is playing, but either way, you are safe to read on. Truth, fact, history. Lies, fiction, invention. Racism. Yes, I went down a rabbit hole of investigation and research. …

DISTANCE

Sometimes I lie to myself. For example, I promised myself a short run yesterday morning. I held out a single-mile run like a carrot. When I began running north, I was running straight into a 40mph wind and it was cold. The tide was going out and I repeated, "Just one mile." I didn't need …

THE MEAL

My baking began on Monday with four loaves of cranberry bread and a chevré cheesecake (that last only because the goat cheese needed to be used and I wanted to strain Greek yogurt for whey to use in pie crusts. On Tuesday, I roasted Delicata squash for Gary's "pumpkin" pie. (I have made pies with …

ON THE FENCE

An internet friend announced on her blog that she has decided not to send holiday cards this year. Her habit was to send nearly 100 cards. Receiving about 20 in return last year has forced her to confront what seems a lack of interest. I am wondering about the same thing. Oden and Onika, brother …

WHAT I SAW

Thanksgiving, holiday memories, oystercatchers, Pilgrims, and my Thankful story about a small child. Sea lions, and giving thanks. Among my earliest memories are holiday visits to my grandparents' home on the western edge of Portland, Oregon. The house where my mother grew up was a huge Dutch colonial fronted by a quarter (half?) acre of …

GENTLY USED

The tiny closet of our condo is already stuffed with clothing I rarely wear. I need to purge. This is the story of our times. We focus on gathering until we run out of room and have to wonder: Why do I need this? This raven came closer to me than any corvid (I originally …