personal takes on life, the universe, and everything
Join Thor and me as we gather beach pebbles from nearby Pacific Northwest beaches and enjoy the lively sea creatures. …of cabbages and kings — No, wait, wrong story. This one takes Thor, Bear dog, and me to a favorite nearby hike, from Rosario Beach, along Bowman Bay (top photo), and to Deception Pass. (NOTE: We …
A Rambling Writer Rerun: Of Pebbles and Porpoises… Read More »
This recipe was given to me by a coworker at my office. She brings these nuts to all office functions and potlucks, and takes care to bring xeroxes of the recipe with her, because the cry goes up forever: “How do I make these?” I made a quadruple batch and brought them to a BVC …
Here’s an eggnog recipe we have for the holidays, but only for a crowd. 1 fifth high-quality dark rum 1 fifth high-quality bourbon 1 dozen eggs, separated 1 to 2 quarts whipping cream 1 lb powdered sugar Ground nutmeg, cinnamon, star anise, and allspice to taste Beat the sugar into the egg yolks. Stir in …
Here’s one for a good laugh. Today my son pulled down from the garage rafters the ten or so leaf bags full of rock tour t-shirts Dale had stashed over the past forty or so years. The bags were crumbling into big plastic flakes, but the shirts inside were all in pretty good shape. Except …
Thor and I continue our housing journey with a lot of dithering over paint colors, and interior is now done. Phew! NOTE: People have been asking to follow our progress as Thor and I pursue our quest for our dream home with sunsets over the Salish Sea. So starting with my post of 5/21/22, we set …
The Rambling Writer’s Quest for Home, part 12: Painting Colors! Read More »
Spring. It’s just around the corner, right? Right? That’s what the little green pips of bulbs in my yard are trying to tell me. I’m still not sure whether or not to believe them. In the 19th century, it wasn’t just the early spring bulbs that could show a hint of green. Young ladies also …
Thor’s and my dream home looks like a real house now! NOTE: People have been asking to follow our progress as Thor and I pursue our quest for our dream home with sunsets over the Salish Sea. So starting with my post of 5/21/22, we set out. A lot has happened since my last progress report …
The Rambling Writer’s Quest for Home, part 11: Walls & Windows Read More »
This one-dish-meal recipe was given me orally by my neighbor Marianne, who learned to cook it during WWII when she was taken away from Poland by the Nazis to become a cook for a German family. She gave me to understand that it is a German dish. I think it’s weapons-grade. Marianne cooked for the …
Originally published February 2020 Today we brought home a new couch from Ikea. It’s one of those pert little foldout day bed types, ridiculously easy to set up and not too heavy for a couple of geezers to haul up the stairs. This blog is about a slippery slope, of the kind where one action …
I found something on FB the other day and reposted it for responses on my own wall – Couple of reasons why I tthrew that out. February is a cruel month. It begins with the anniversary of Deck’s death, on the first day of the month, and is followed by the anniversary of his birth, …
Follow my journey from Big 5 traditionally-published author to joining an author-owned cooperative publishing group, with travails and triumphs along the way. NOTE: This series started on Dec. 31. I’m honored to have my seriocomic novel of midlife reinvention PAUSE, published by Book View Cafe, selected by The International Pulpwood Queens Book Club as a December …
Originally published September, 2018 The local radio station in Seattle is playing in rotation a song called “Gold Rush”. While the band, Death Cab for Cutie, explains it’s about a romantic break-up, it’s clearly a eulogy for what is being lost in the current development tsunami sweeping over Seattle, and many other cities. digging for …
Originally published 7/16/2009 Hi, my name is Phyl and I am a diabetic. Hi, Phyl. No, Diabetes is not alcoholism. But some people treat diabetics with similar prejudices. “It’s your fault. You ate too much sugar as a child.” Sure I have a sweet tooth, but I rarely go overboard and always compensate with few …
