Beauty, Farming, Rural Living

The Next Project–Because, Out Here, There Always is One

After sorting out the gates a few days ago, I moved on to the arch and the climbing rose.  Got that done yesterday and this morning. Next--tree planting! (I live in a lovely, shady, rural environment.  But over the almost 40 years I've been here, many of the existing--not necessarily all that great--trees have died… Continue reading The Next Project–Because, Out Here, There Always is One

Beauty, Life, Love, Music

Bringing the Light

Lucy: “An English name, Lucy means ‘of the light.'” So sue me, I spent a couple of hours yesterday afternoon watching the Coronation Concert, which was carried live on PBS.  Overall, it was considerably better than I expected, with a couple of bizarre and untuneful exceptions.  What has probably been the most controversial act —… Continue reading Bringing the Light

Ave Atque Vale, Beauty, Britishness, Culture, History, Literature, Loss

For the Beacons: A Lament

Dateline, the Daily Telegraph, April 16: “Brecon Beacons to be renamed over links to climate change: National Park says the symbol of a ‘carbon burning beacon’ is incompatible with its ‘push to net zero.'” I can’t even. For first (channeling Christopher Smart, because I am an unregenerate Boomer Bluestocking who still has a connection to her past… Continue reading For the Beacons: A Lament

Beauty, Family, USMC

2023 Update–Semper Fi! My Marine Corps Tulips. And Some Other Stuff As Well.

Full disclosure:  I'm 68 years old.  This upcoming September (2023), I'll be 69.  No point pretending otherwise.  No point writing posts either celebrating--or bemoaning--my "hotness" in a previous life about half-a-century ago (so I'll spare you the bikini-beach-babe pic, unless you're really determined to view it, in which case knock yourself out). Fings--these days--is wot… Continue reading 2023 Update–Semper Fi! My Marine Corps Tulips. And Some Other Stuff As Well.

Beauty, Culture, Family, Feminism, Life, Quote of the Day, Womanly Feminism

Quote of the Day: On Overcoming Girly Insults and Dealing With Compliments of Any Sort

'Fat' is usually the first insult a girl throws at another girl when she wants to hurt her. I mean, is ‘fat’ really the worst thing a human being can be? Is 'fat' worse than 'vindictive,' 'jealous,' 'shallow,' 'vain,' 'boring,' or 'cruel?' Not to me; but then, you might retort, what do I know about… Continue reading Quote of the Day: On Overcoming Girly Insults and Dealing With Compliments of Any Sort

Beauty, Humor

An Open Letter To My Spectacles–2023 Edition

Argh.  It's setting up to be one of those days, and it's barely even light outside.  Here's an oldie but goodie reflecting the situation this morning at Chateau Right: Dear Spectacles, I’m giving you fair warning here: I’ve had enough. Enough of your silly games. Enough of listening to you snicker as I stumble blindly… Continue reading An Open Letter To My Spectacles–2023 Edition

Beauty, Family, Plain Speaking, Womanly Feminism

Growing Up Ginger, 2023

January 12, 2023 is this year's "Kiss a Ginger Day!"  No sense letting Prince Harry have all the fun, so I think I'll throw my hat into the ring with a post originally published on the member feed on Ricochet, six years ago today, on January 12, 2017.  Tempus fugit, as they say....(If you're a… Continue reading Growing Up Ginger, 2023

Beauty, Culture, Quote of the Day

To Autumn, 2022

Today, September 22, 2022, is the first day of Autumn: Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,    Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun; Conspiring with him how to load and bless    With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run; To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees,    And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;       To swell the… Continue reading To Autumn, 2022

Animals, Beauty, Farming, Pets and Livestock, Rural Living

Changes: Down Here on the Farm

About a week ago, I made an executive decision:  Come this next Sunday, I’m sending almost all of my sheep to the auction. All that is, except: Dizzabel, the tiny lamb who entered my life last January when I discovered her, down the bottom of the field, in the snow, crying, at about 10PM when… Continue reading Changes: Down Here on the Farm