Life with cats, and other things…
7th April 2026 It is April and most sensible people are celebrating the departure of Winter, in particular the frozen precipitation that goes with it. But I am one of those lunatics who run outside to greet every first snowfall at year's end and find delight in Spring snow because it is special. I doubt … Continue reading Spring snow
1806/6th April 2026 The forecast was accurate for once and the world turned white again on Tuesday, prompting us to go in search of photographs because we didn't get enough of snow this past Winter! Some of them may be worth sharing, though I haven't examined them properly yet and in the meantime I have … Continue reading On the way to Greenwich
0709/4th April 2026 It feels frivolous to be writing a blog entry as we teeter on the edge of a humanitarian disaster. (I wrote this yesterday. Should we be comforted by a "2-week repressive?) In 1962 I was at boarding school in England during the Cuban missile crisis. I remember feeling quite anxious, but I … Continue reading Beyond
1818/3rd April 2026, The Sun appeared just in time to set. Back in the Fall, Grant collected a large bag of acorns on one of our drives and planted a few, hoping to get some to grow. A previous attempt produced two tiny oaks that are now struggling to survive out of the hill. This … Continue reading “More please?”
1828/30th March 2026 Saturday afternoon there was a break in the overcast and the temperature climbed to 65F/18C. Although I'd turned the heater off, sunlight warmed my room almost uncomfortably, the first real sign that Summer is coming. I also noticed that the hedge is sprouting new leaves and hyacinths are in bud. But Easter … Continue reading Making do
31st March 2026 The last day of March brought us a very special treat. A week or so ago, I posted pictures of the wild turkeys that visited one afternoon. I was thrilled to see them, but Grant was not here, so every afternoon we kept watch hoping for a repeat and five days later... … Continue reading A fan dance
30th March 2026 Today it is plain, flat and featureless, but grey skies often have character. And if not for grey skies, we would appreciate those fine days less. Slowly, the hills are turning green and already this morning I heard a familiar summer sound, one I am not fond of - leaf blowers. Three … Continue reading Old times
0652/30th March 2026 For the past few weeks, almost every night I have had peculiar dreams, convoluted to an extreme that makes them impossible to describe. Bits and pieces of distorted past experiences, people I once knew and long ago forgot, situations and places all mixed up. Dreaming is not at all unusual for me. … Continue reading A busy night
1504/30th march 2026 A few days ago, a letter came from the government. My heart always sinks at the sight of such communications because they never bring good news. In the old days, the income tax refund was a welcome item, but that is all done electronically now. So what glad tiding did this envelope … Continue reading Trust
0800/31st March 2026 Tuesday ushered in a prolonged, noisy thunderstorm that appeared to stall above the house with flashes of lightening that I began to think were seeking me out. "Oi! Come outside so we can get you!" Nothing doing. I do not challenge electrical storms. For once the birds would have to wait. Electricity … Continue reading Respect