Wednesday Wanderers
I was invited into the group before I got sick. Once it was clear I couldn’t gad about on my own, the invitations came with more, not less, emphasis. I was unable to join them. So their leader came to me. He set mason jars of fresh flowers from his garden at my side door, knowing we’d see them on our way back from daily … Continue reading Wednesday Wanderers
Sticky post
Oh, Teacup, How do you Vote?
Blow it off? Wait until you’re not so busy? Too confusing? It’s all rigged anyway? Whoa, kiddo. No! You need to vote! Incredibly lucky to be a citizen of a democratic republic, you cannot take time off from being an American. Popular claims that the ‘American Dream’ is about owning a home or rising in your job is rubbish. The American Dream is, at its … Continue reading Oh, Teacup, How do you Vote?
Shrinking my Footprint
The LHBB (Little House Big Build) is all about shrinking my footprint. Both my conscience and life stage have led me to understand it’s time to reduce my material presence. What does that mean? My ethics are rooted in conservation of available resources; they underpin my passion for saving and restoring old, historic properties. But old homes inevitably require more energy and product to properly … Continue reading Shrinking my Footprint
Oh, Teacup, You are Grown
Oh, Teacup, Yes, it can be hard being an adult. And, no, I cannot do it for you. But I can offer some ‘sage’ guidance. First, accept you are a grown up despite your tender years and reticence. There are literally millions of people exactly your age. In some cultures, and in prior times, you’d be considered nearly ancient. Until you are an old, old … Continue reading Oh, Teacup, You are Grown
Neighbors
An over-riding condition of my move from big to smaller house has been my personal mandate that I remain in my neighborhood. I have the great good fortune to live among friendly, helpful and interesting people. Most are within 15 years of my age. We share appreciation of our greater community, gardening, and get-togethers, and hold similar base values. It is so cool. End of … Continue reading Neighbors
Nuts & Bolts: Assembling Your ‘Build’ Team
I’ve been lucky to work with a great team, but it has been no accident of fate. After reading everything from Consumer Reports (my ‘go-to’ for all material things) to Fine Homebuilding, Angie’s List, Houzz and personal blogs for recommendations on how to go about building my own home, I added the “me” factor to create a reliable and responsive team for my project. I … Continue reading Nuts & Bolts: Assembling Your ‘Build’ Team
The People v. Pets
I host three pets: my former step-daughter’s dog, my youngest daughter’s ‘kitten’, and a Ranch kitty that adopted us. All made the 1000+ mile trip from Northern California to our PT digs. The wonderful Annie dog went with John. It’s my nature to love ‘my’ pets, but each poses ‘issues’. The dog, Chibi, is aging (who isn’t?), itchy (apparently allergic to the little bit of … Continue reading The People v. Pets
Ha! I’m 60!
Ha! I’m 60. Here’s what I’ve learned and YOU probably don’t know, if you’re not: That heartache for ‘the one who got away’ will stop stinging someday and become sweet, forgiving love. He or she will visit your dreams, still young, until you understand why the fates did not put/keep you together. You will somehow manage to dig out from the financial mess you made … Continue reading Ha! I’m 60!
Book Shelf
I am blessed to be always surrounded by books. I inherited my mother’s edited literary research collection and my father’s exhaustive library. Both were added to my own. My mother let most of her things go when she moved into a ‘senior living’ apartment, keeping only one bookcase full of ‘must have’ tomes. My father continued to add books of every subject that took his … Continue reading Book Shelf
Oh, Teacup, Mashed Potatoes?
No, the instant won’t cut it. Make them from scratch. I use Russet potatoes, one and a half medium size potatoes per person. The large, uniform Russets you see set out individually are best for baked, double-stuffed or wedges. They typically cost more per pound than bagged ‘taters. Buy bagged for Mashed. You’ll need heavy cream or 1/2 & 1/2, unsalted butter, and Knorr chicken base. … Continue reading Oh, Teacup, Mashed Potatoes?
The InConstant Muse 