Only a few weeks ago, I thought this flower was a fail. But it turned out to be a gardening win. And while it lasts, for me it is more than a zinnia. It is my writing cheerleader. In the summer, I like to work from my screened-in back porch. It is a small, cozy… Continue reading Why this colorful flower is my favorite writing cheerleader
“Sir, it’s always beets.” (Portlandia, Season 4, Episode 3.) Dwight Schrute devoted his farm to beets. Portlandia’s writers came up with a skit featuring beets. And this year, we decided to grow beets. This was our first time planting the root vegetable packed with vitamins and minerals. It isn’t just the root that is good… Continue reading How to know when to harvest beets
I like working in the garden. I like thinking about working in the garden. And it may come as no surprise that I even like grading my gardening efforts. I analyze both the triumphs and the opportunities for improvement. As the spring transitions into summer, here are a few of my gardening yeas and nays.… Continue reading The good. The bad. The struggling. My urban gardening adventures.
What do zombie tomatoes, a little bit of love, a touch of neglect, and ultimately letting go -- without giving up -- have to do with success? Well, I’m going to tell you. In March of 2017, my husband and I decided to grow tomato plants from seeds. We planted them in our basement under… Continue reading Surprising results from zombie tomatoes
The nine muses were Greek goddesses presiding over literature, science, and the arts. Even now, writers, poets, painters, musicians and yes, even scientists, ask their muses for help when it comes to solving problems, tapping inner creativity, or just finding a bit of inspiration. But the muse – or at least mine -- is elusive.… Continue reading How do you connect with your muse?
The first thing I noticed was the long, creepy tail. This morning, I was surveying my backyard through the kitchen window while waiting for the coffee to brew. An overnight storm brought rain and hail. As the sun rose, I was trying to figure out if my cucumbers and tomatoes had survived the night.
