Life with cats, and other things…
0602/17th May 2026 Ever since arriving here in 2018, June has been a month of morning mist and spiderwebs, but so much is changing, who knows what next month will bring? For the past three years or so, June has also brought wildfire smoke, turning the Sun a baleful red. My first experience with this … Continue reading Benefits and drawbacks
A very wet field, 15th May 2026 There is a saying: "If life gives you lemons, make lemonade." Applying that logic, when the weather brings rain - celebrate wetness! In the same way that I am captivated by snow and ice, I am drawn to water drops. . How can you be expected to celebrate … Continue reading Grace
1853/28th April 2026 There is no cure for osteoporosis. Treatment is a matter of reducing your chances of injury. If my first experience is anything to go by, this amounts to making you feel so rotten, you take to your bed where it is assumed you can come to no harm. A slight exaggeration but … Continue reading Entertainment
18th April 2026'uyrw Finding but a single duck in the wetland, we continued our journey toward Lake Champlain. An unintentionally circuitous route brought us eventually to Fort Cassin Road where I recognised the very tree where the waxwings had flocked only a week before. Alas, not a one in sight. . The woods were flooded … Continue reading Bliss
0559/18th April 2026 On many of our recent meanders around the countryside, we have been looking for birds. Although most of the very specific searches were frustrated, we have never had a disappointing drive which was true this past Saturday. This time we were not looking for snow geese. Our next chance of seeing them … Continue reading Right or wrong
17th April 2026. The large building on the right is an abandoned chicken battery. Pothole repair was going on in the village the other day, so we came home a different way, ending up on the route we take to and from the vet. It is now gaining its summer appearance, which is entirely different … Continue reading The way of 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
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
Rockwell's Retreat, Arlington, VT. If you are proud of your nation and wish to fly the flag, you ought to do it respectfully. There are a number of rules about it which are readily available online, although most are common sense. Oh, right. We did away with that. People get all sorts of hysterical about … Continue reading The flag police
1851/11th March 2026 A rosy glow caused me to glance out my window on Wednesday night. That temperamental day had some final comments to deliver. . Which I was very happy to record! That day we'd gone shopping, or I should say Grant did. I only ever go along for the ride. I could count … Continue reading Worth