Around and About

Yesterday at 7:40 pm

Christmas Beauty in February!

What do you know, here’s a remnant of Christmas—could not be more beautiful, more Christmasy—that just burst forth. Our dear friend Linda gave us a Christmas gift of a waxen round bulb, purely naked—“It’s from Trader Joe—just put it some…

28 Jan at 4:45 pm

Fast Easy Yummy Eggs Florentine Weeknight Supper

In the Kitchen, at the Table

Made this last night when I was exhausted. Less than half an hour fridge to table. All I did was 1) toast some bread, 2) sauté fresh spinach leaves to glossy silk, 3) heat slices of Black Forest ham, 4)…

15 Jan at 7:08 pm

Love the Old-Fashioned Ritual of Washing My Face!

Musings

This may sound silly to you–because I am not known for my habits of tidyness–but I have wanted to tell you, if you’ve forgotten (or never really knew) the pleasures of washing your face at night before going to bed.…

8 Jan at 12:30 am

In Praise of–and Gratitude for–Green Tea, 2026

Becoming My Own Best Self, In the Kitchen, at the Table

Hey there, Sports Fans, welcome to a brave new year. Although signs and portents thusfar are unsettling, let’s be optimistic…well, let’s be grateful we are alive and well and… Here’s something I’m moved to share with you in launching our…

31 Dec 2025

Contemplation for the End of a Year–Start of a New One

Musings

To close out this—for me and mine—momentous year, a light deft touch by the inimitable Billy Collins (formerly Poet Laureate of the United States). Blessings on Billy…this poem is a mind-bending-yea-saying note for a New Year… The Afterlife* While you…

29 Dec 2025

Aspects of Learning ~ 1

Becoming My Own Best Self

Tuesday, December 24th…Sitting with Bill in Dominican Hospital, Santa Cruz. We arose at 4:45 this morning because we had to report to the hospital at 6:15 a.m. Bill was scheduled to have a pacemaker installed…his ninety-five year-old heart was showing…

16 Dec 2025

Don’t Return That Vessel Empty!

Musings

Gene was writing witty advertising copy at an agency in San Francisco so we had moved to a rented house on Belvedere—a small enclave in San Francisco Bay. Our fourth child, Amanda, was brand new. David, our eldest, was five.…

7 Dec 2025

Approaching “A Further Shore”

Musings

You know, every so often life takes you by the scruff of the neck and gives you a good—a really good–shaking. Everything goes blotto. Numb. Still everything hurts. Up till then, things were going along swimmingly. Your family got fed.…

27 Nov 2025

Some Years of Brussels Sprouting

In the Kitchen, at the Table

I want to write a few lines about Brussels sprouts before the stroke of Thanksgiving… Hard for me. Doing my best. But here we go. Yes, I read online there has been some genetic pushing and pulling in the Brussels…

20 Nov 2025

Oh, David!

Doing My Best

I began writing this “sickabed-on-two-chairs…” Not really two chairs…our big bed…but I love that old-fashioned expression. I’ve been ill—wretched deep hacking cough of bronchitis—because my son—my firstborn—is in the hospital. Gravely ill. (Hate that adjective.) Whether or not he will…