The air has chilled, and my neighbor’s woodsmoke signals the beginnings of fall. My favorite season since I was a child, autumn brings all the joyful memories of school starting, trick or treating, and cozy camping …
IT HAS BEEN ZERO DAYS SINCE OUR LAST ACCIDENT
When tragedy befalls a person, like losing a beloved kitty, it can be hard to pick oneself up. But what is lesser-known, is what to do when a period of successive tragedies hit you one after …
Marie Et Moi
Like my father before me, I have had a love affair for French aesthetics, particularly the whimsical designs and patterns associated with Marie Antoinette. Her love of pastels, hair ornaments, and pastoral leisure, set against the …
The Sea Dweller
Editor’s Note: I shared this short story with you a few years back, but my full vision for the project had not yet been realized. With this book cover design, you get to see how I’ve …
The Hundred-Year-Old Azaleas
Some things get better with age. And it turns out, to my surprise, that flowers do too. Our family home is over 100-years-old, an early 20th century Tudor built on a foundation of hand-cut granite stones. …
Goodbye My Old Friend
I thought of fifty different ways to start this blog post: a silly quip about my cat’s sinister knack for catching chipmunks; a deep, philosophical mention on the passage of time; a quote from Hamlet on …
A Magnolia In Quarantine
One of the advantages of being in quarantine is stillness. Time seems to slow, movement becomes more intentional, and our keen sense of observation is suddenly heightened. At least that has been my experience watching for …
How I Hang My Hats
Like me, I’m guessing you’re stuck inside with a spring cleaning list, roughly the length of your arm. I have an office closet that is awaiting shelves, a basement that needs more than a few prayers, …
The Last Ones At The Orchid Show
Last week on Wednesday, I spent a wonderful day wandering the New York Botanical Garden’s yearly Orchid Show with my mother and sister. The show, exhibiting the brilliance of renowned floral designer Jeff Leatham, is a …
A Pair of Hearty Lenses
There’s something about the smell of old things — used things — that can be addictive. Perhaps it’s a person’s residual presence, the way their hand held that item for years, or the scent of their …