All Purls. No Swine.
I wrote a post, five years ago, about my husband, who died five years ago, on July 3, 2020. His family story exemplified the American Dream: Grandparents on both sides who immigrated legally from Eastern Europe in the early 20th century, and who worked like hell at whatever work they could find, to survive, and… Continue reading Happy 249th Birthday, United States of America!
Is it possible to defend Western Civilization without defending, and standing for, Christianity and the West? I happen not to think so. Sadly, some of the more disheveled among my own generation appear to disagree with me. Every time I see some half-wit, lack-wit, want-wit, fuck-wit, or any other sort of missing-wit propounding the notion… Continue reading For the (Remaining) Men of the West
Good grief. Have you bought any eggs lately? Apparently, the average U.S. price of a dozen individual servings of the perfect protein source (AKA œufs ordinaire) is fast approaching five dollars. A few days ago, I saw a box of twelve at the local Giant Eagle (lovely brown ones, surely from happy hens, not battery-raised)… Continue reading Grateful For My Chicken$
Squeaking in under the deadline which--I suppose--will occur in two days, and after which--I suppose--it won't be National Apple Month anymore. My favorite apple at the moment (things can change) is the Crimson Crisp. It's absolutely delicious for eating, and it apparently grows well here in Southwestern Pennsylvania, where it's a star at my local apple… Continue reading It’s National Apple Month!
I can't tell you how much I feel this. I really tried. I read all of them: The Mayor of Casterbridge Far From the Madding Crowd Tess of the d'Urbervilles Jude the Obscure Et Cetera But, when it came down to it, electronically, virtually, or boookishly, I just couldn't. And yet. Here's Hardy the poet… Continue reading Oh, Thomas Hardy. Such a dreadful novelist. Such a sublime poet
Ah, the bad old days, when the redoubtable and toxically masculine men of the new United States of America would bundle their wimmens, children, and livestock into, in front of, and behind, a Conestoga wagon along with a few possessions and necessities and--heedless of the danger--head off into "Indian Territory," also known as "The West."… Continue reading Batwoman vs Sarah Sturdyskirt
A reprise, in large part, of a previous post, updated with more recent concerns, the most immediate of which has been this weekend, or even just this morning. One of my favorite childhood stories was that of The Town Mouse and The Country Mouse. There's never been any doubt in my mind which side of… Continue reading The Gift That Keeps On Giving–In Praise of Dowsers
I don't write headlines, or epitaphs, for a living. Too short. (They, not I.) Still, were I to attempt one of either (or perhaps both) over the ghastly matter of South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem's shooting of the fourteen-month old Cricket two decades ago, that would be it. For those not in the know, Noem… Continue reading Irresponsible, Out-of-Control Woman Shoots Dog She’d Set Up To Fail
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Three years ago tomorrow, I wrote a post about the "three snowmen," the last cold-weather intervals of Spring before it's safe to begin serious planting and garden work outside. April 21, 2021 heralded the arrival of the last one for the year. Fast forward three… Continue reading The Snowman Cometh
Let us be thankful, Lord, for little things - The song of birds, the rapture of the rose; Cloud-dappled skies, the laugh of limpid springs, Drowned sunbeams and the perfume April blows; Bronze wheat a-shimmer, purple shade of trees - Let us be thankful, Lord of Life, for these! Let us be praiseful, Sire, for… Continue reading Quote of the Day: A Little (April) Prayer