The thank-you notes have been written and mailed. The Christmas decorations have been stowed away for another eleven months. The house has not yet re-cluttered and feels a bit bare. The trees are mostly leafless, and the sky is dull and overcast. It’s damp and drizzly, but little snow. This might be the perfect time … Continue reading In the bleak mid-winter
With the lifting of many of the COVID-necessitated travel restrictions in 2022, I’ve been fortunate to resume some of the travel experiences that I’d put on hold. I had quite a concentration of them in the spring, some of which I wrote about earlier. March–over the spring equinox–was a grand time to visit Belgium. My … Continue reading Janus–looking back
For years, my favorite part of Christmas has been Christmas night after the extended families had departed for home; our daughters had headed out with their friends; and my husband had fallen asleep in his recliner. Peace reigned in the house, and I would begin reading a new book, a recent release that I held … Continue reading Christmas books
So, we’re sitting in the waiting area at the Jefferson SEPTA* station with half an hour to wade through before our train home. Despite the upgrades, it’s still kind of depressing; I think it’s because of the lighting. There’s always some form of people-watching entertainment, but that pales fairly quickly. Waiting for the train to … Continue reading Transit Surpise
At last. On our ninth trip to Iceland and my third attendance at Iceland Noir (2013 and 2016 were the earlier ones), we saw the Aurora Borealis just as we walked out the door. My husband and our daughter had strolled over to the Frikirkjan to meet me at the end of the Friday night … Continue reading Traveling for books
Sometimes I lose track of time. Sometimes I fail to pay attention to the calendar. Sometimes I'm looking at the wrong month on a calendar. Sometimes I plan too many things to take place in too little time. And sometimes, I just get distracted. So I hope that you'll stop back next week when I'll … Continue reading Losing track of time
I’m a fool for magazines. I subscribe to both print and digital versions of The New Yorker, The Economist, Vanity Fair, and The Atlantic. I pick up knitting magazines in the locally owned yarn stores where I shop. I’ve got multiple issues of Pompom (out of the UK), Vogue Knitting, and Interweave Knits hanging around … Continue reading Paper and String
When fall comes to New England Some years ago, a friend gave me The Cook’s Illustrated Baking Book. This massive tome offers a massive amount of information, advice, recommendations, and, of course, recipes for almost any baked good an American baker could desire. Recipes for baked goods as varied as challah, naan, pizza, scones, and … Continue reading Cookies and autumn leaves
Cornwall–Land of Giants. Birthplace of King Arthur. Poldark. The Birds. Rebecca. tin mines. smugglers. The novels of Daphne du Maurier and the television adaptations of Poldark draw the viewer into the landscape and mysteries of Cornwall at the far southwest corner of England as it pokes out into the Atlantic on the north of the … Continue reading Land of Giants and The Birds
Fall is rapidly approaching in the Northeast with sunset arriving more quickly everyday. Although we’re a few weeks away from peak leaf-peeping season, I find myself planning a variety of knitting projects and what kinds of wool I want to use. As I line up my knitting projects, I’m also lining up my audio-book listening … Continue reading Yarn tourism–small batch and local
Booked for Travel 