Category Archives: Blather

Experimenting. Trying to Improve.

Bill, who is a fantastic man, knows a thing or two about me. And so, for my most recent birthday, he got me “blogging related things.” Namely, a deck of writing prompts, and two interesting lenses.

The former he said he got me because it means the camera can easily slip into a purse or a backpack. I haven’t been brave enough to try it yet, but typing this post makes me think I might haul it to work.

The later? Well, he got me that one because it’s THE focal length everyone recommends, apparently, for food photos. And I love it. I’m not GOOD with it yet, but I love it.

I took it with me to a mezcal tasting this weekend. And… The photos are not fantastic yet.… Continue reading →

Some Photos From Last Week

So, I’ve been fairly quiet for a little over two weeks, not counting the post full of links I put up last. This is the result of two rather unrelated things. The first was having written a few posts that I asked others to look over, only to (correctly) hear back that they needed work. The other was that Bill had some surgery, and I’ve been looking after him and caffeinating and feeding him during his recovery.

I’ve been (and plan to continue) working toward having a buffer set up for just such occasions, but I’m not there yet. And, frankly, I don’t know if I would have had as much of a buffer as I would have needed just now. That’s life.

I’m nearly done with the posts that needed reworking, thankfully.… Continue reading →

Some Interesting Reading

One of the things that has been kind of perpetually on my mind is reading. How much I should be doing, what I should be reading, etc.

I never come to an answer. It makes me kinda batty, honestly. I feel like there’s GOT to be some sort of rough guidelines for how much one needs to take in to stay on top of things, and also just to be a better writer, but I’ve never figured that out.

I keep reading, though. Sometimes a lot. Sometimes a little. And much of it is interesting.

So, with that in mind, I decided I’d share a short reading list of links I’ve encountered recently that I think are interesting. While I’ve encountered them recently, they may not all be very recently written.… Continue reading →

Is It Garden Planning Time Yet?

The days have gotten a bit longer, and the snow deeper. I’ve helped my community garden write up a new application. I’ve consumed a lot of hot tea. I’ve moved Bill’s new bocce ball set (his Christmas gift from me) a couple of times.

I. Am. READY. For spring!

Alas, spring is not yet ready for me. Or anyone in the Chicago area. And, frankly, I suspect it won’t be ready for us until roughly May. Which is still a gazillion days away. Or three months, which feels like about the same right this second. Especially with all the snow that hit us melting, but only into icy treachery.

It doesn’t help that Erica over at Northwest Edible Life has this month’s to do list for northwestern gardners, and as a newbie Midwestern gardener, I only know that I bet all her stuff is too early for me, but I don’t know what to do to satisfy this spring fever.… Continue reading →

I bit off more than I can chew.

I just wasn’t prepared for dogs in Chicago winter. I really thought I was. And I was so wrong. And now I’m at my wits’ end, unsure if I’m doing the right thing for our furry friends.

I’m exhausted. Our alarm usually goes off at 7:00 am in the mornings. A little before 5:00 am, I woke up to the sounds of Kiki (quietly) in some distress, and no Bill in bed. At 4:55 am, Bill was back in bed, and I was telling him I was going to go take the dogs out, since clearly they needed it. And at 5:53 am, I was finally back inside, warming up.

In between, everything went sideways.

Starting at the beginning, I started prepping for going outside, with every intent to not let the dogs out of crates until I was totally ready to get booties on them and get out.… Continue reading →