11-15-12: On kittens, cuteness and ringworm: what wins?

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The kittens have returned: they are bigger and heavier and the cage is getting cramped. They now prefer to sleep two to a bed. That doesn’t give any room for water, food and the litter pan.I feel like I am designing a New York studio apartment. We need a loft. They are in their cage lulled to sleep by Mahler. I am assuming they still have some ringworm (which can last for months) and I am being hypervigilant with sprays and gloves and chlorox spray and a huge bottle of Purell. The transition back to a new place and the … Continue reading →

New York City Photo Journal: The New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show: 1/2012

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In my transition from multiply.com, I noticed that many of my photo journals and albums are missing. I am reconstructing last year’s holiday show at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, New York. One hundred forty electrified buildings and streets have been constructed and modeled after the real thing to provide an historic view of how things are and how they were–in miniature. But the most special thing about the exhibit is that the buildings and the like, are made of plantmaterial; seeds, pods, twigs, bark, stems, acorns. It is remarkable. Bridges and landmarks are amazing. Unfortunately I  … Continue reading →

My orange tree is in bloom…in my living room. Fabulous fragrance.

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This flower is spectacular…and very tiny. I never thought it would make it. I bought it years ago to replace my beloved orange tree of thirty-five years that was in my home. The original tree was a mail order purchase: the plant came in a little box and was about as big as my thumb. It was a member of the family and its blooms were delightful and the room smelled heavenly.  After the original tree  I was left heartbroken. I saved some of the last little oranges and planted the seeds. I got another tree! BUT it is full … Continue reading →

Photo Journal: The Jedidiah Hawkins Inn, Jamesport, NY: overnight

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A one night stay: beautiful inn, beautiful room, beautiful food. We got a fantastic deal on Bloomspot: A tasting menu was included for the price of the room (breakfast included). There was enough food for four people! History: http://www.jedediahhawkinsinn.com/

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Thoughts before a storm

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NEITHER SNOW by Billy Collins When all of a sudden the city air filled with snow, the distinguishable flakes blowing sideways, looked like krill fleeing the maw of an advancing whale. At least they looked that way to me from the taxi window, and since I happened to be sitting that fading Sunday afternoon in the very center of the universe, who was in a better position to say what looked like what, which thing resembled some other? Yes, it was a run of white plankton borne down the Avenue of the Americas in the stream of the wind, phosphorescent … Continue reading →

The Fifth Kitten

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Baffled and sad… I just went through the first kitty album that I made on October 10. There was a 5th kitten, black and white. I never saw all five together so I assumed there were four. I didn’t see the little guy since the mother moved the babies to my neighbor’s shed. He wasn’t in any subsequent photos. I wonder if he is still alive. The kittens are at trapper Dave’s. One has ringworm and all need to be treated and watched, so that’s where they will be for a while. I had them for such a short time … Continue reading →

Part 19: “I have no insurance but, I have faith” -Leslie Helene Elder

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Here I sit on a beautiful afternoon. Shadows of trees cross my neighbor’s window. For some strange reason, birds sing like it’s spring in defiance of the calendar. But I am not happy. Let’s look back a couple of years. A high school classmate found me on classmates.com and then on facebook. Though we didn’t know each other well, the past and its mutual memories were the cement of friendship. Leslie had read about my book and wanted to buy it. Through my book that looks back we began to look forward. Together. You see, Leslie and I learned we … Continue reading →

The Great Kitten Rescue

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These feisty little things have been cavorting in my yard, my neighbor’s yard, living in her shed with their mom and visiting my feeding station at whim. They just go right through the fence! David managed to trap the first three babies at one time in a large trap. My neighbor and I watched in disbelief. This is stressful!He used a flea comb and found a few visitors so off to the bathroom they went for a flea bath in the sink. We bundled them up and dried them and deposited them in the large cage David so nicely lent … Continue reading →

566. The Save The Post Office Quest: Evan in Linn’s Stamp News

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The latest in my son’s quest to memorialize the U.S. Post Offices that are threatened or that have been closed. Click to enlarge; the article is in the blue box.   3 CommentsChronological   Reverse   Threaded   reply jadedruid wrote on Dec 7, ’11 I think it is very cool that he is getting so much press about this. It is an awesome idea. editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Dec 7, ’11 I saw this on your Facebook page. I’m saving everything! reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Dec 8, ’11 Very cool! xoxo    

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566. My Son Evan In TIME Magazine

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Never would I imagine that my son would be featured in The Washington Post (internet and hard copy), National Public Radio, NPR, the BBC, Australian Radio and TIME Magazine (on-line and now hard copy, below), but here we go. Click on the pages to enlarge.   11 CommentsChronological   Reverse   Threaded reply exukbritbrat wrote on Dec 9, ’11, edited on Dec 9, ’11 I’m going to Superpharm tomorrow in the hope that this edition has arrived.  Then instead of standing in the aisle reading it i shall buy it!  Never underestimate your child!  Look who he has a parent!  Like mother … Continue reading →

566. My son in the media, the media, the media!

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Here’s what’s going on:   1.    The revised on-line version of the Washington Post article was  republished and available in HARD COPY. A25     Chronicling the lives and deaths of U.S. post offices     2.   Article came out on-line today in TIME  magazine; will be published in the magazine:   How the U.S. Postal Service Fell Apart   The TIME magazine article was published in the December 19, 2011 edition and can be viewed here. http://sanssouciblogs.com/evan-kalish-in-time-magazine/     3.  NPR (National Public radio):  Evan will be interviewed by Robert  Siegel, senior host on Monday  November 21, 2011 for … Continue reading →

410. A bleary-eyed update: angels among us

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I have been home for less than a week and have some nice things to report; things are falling into place. I was able to set things in motion while in Florida with mom and from here at home. My phone has been glued to my head since Tuesday. Mom and me in front of our building in NYC photo by dad Mom was transferred to the assisted living facility on Friday. I truly believe that if she had to stay in the lousy rehab much longer she might have died; it was that depressing. The food was that awful … Continue reading →

409. My mother, my child; a Grundig radio and a Singer sewing machine

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I’m back…too tired to talk…got a lot done but it was endless running and I didn’t even have that much time to spend with my mother as so much had to be done and resolved. First as you know, before I even went down, mother’s money was stolen. The next day her clothes were missing (they were found after I screamed). The last straw was Sunday morning before 8 a.m. when the phone rang (I was just getting up after not having slept for 3 days and a nurse told me of a mishap: my mother’s partial dentures were tossed … Continue reading →

241. Home. Pooped. Mercury in Retrograde.

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Back home. Pooped! . We arrived home Monday night and all’s well. Almost. Graduation, which I’ll elaborate on another time, was an overwhelming 2 day experience. I’m just too tired to move…could it be that Mercury is in retrograde? Here’s a bit more on this phenomenon: “All of the planets move in the same direction around the Sun, each with a different rate of speed. Mercury’s orbit is 88 days long; therefore approximately 4 orbits of Mercury around the Sun equals 1 Earth year. — Periodically, Mercury appears to slow down, then stop, (stationary retrograde) and then move slowly backwards … Continue reading →

245. More Mercury Backlash; as the planets turn, communication fizzles

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When we last spoke, (click link to the left for the previous blog) I had returned to some strange events, many of which were communication related, and I asked, could it be the phenomenon of “Mercury in retrograde”? This is what has been going on. Three of us were taking turns plugging our computers directly into the Verizon (Internet Service Provider) Fiber-optic box. And then, one computer couldn’t get on line. All of a sudden. As my laptop continued to be able to do so, I called Verizon, spoke to a “technician” (notice the quotes) and he surmised that because … Continue reading →

397. “I don’t love you anymore. I’m not sure I ever did.” The end of suffering

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On Relationships New York Times article Though this piece was written about a spouse, I can relate to it in a more universal way …my take is below. Modern Love Those Aren’t Fighting Words, Dear By LAURA A. MUNSON Published: July 31, 2009     LET’S say you have what you believe to be a healthy marriage. You’re still friends and lovers after spending more than half of your lives together. The dreams you set out to achieve in your 20s — gazing into each other’s eyes in candlelit city bistros when you were single and skinny — have for … Continue reading →

372. Something to share: the editor’s critique of submitted manuscript

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I wanted to tell my friends who have been following me: My manuscript submission was reviewed by an editor, just a once over, and I was sent a critique. Suggestions were made that I can use or not. I will probably take heed. Most are about organization, and a few mechanical tweaks. But the main thing is the manuscript was favorably reviewed. Here are a few comments:       Comments: The author establishes a strong voice in these poems, so much so that it’s clear when a poem is in the voice of a character, like “Love: Lost and … Continue reading →

258. CreARTive Sunday: Dichroic Glass Jewelry Part 4

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This is the 4th post in the dichroic glass jewelery series. click to enlarge. The previous posts are here: Part 3 Part 2 Part 1 One of my first pendants. The pieces on this page are not made by Kroma.   In person the top piece presents as more of a lime green. The pendant has the typical smoothness.           The necklace works well with a pair of earrings a friend gave me as a gift. I believe the artist is in Alaska.     This is a special set; the Sunday before my mastectomy in … Continue reading →

255. CreARTive Sunday: 6/15/08: Dichroic Glass Jewelry Part 3

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This is part 3 of the dichroic glass series. Part 1 Part 2   Kroma “by-pass” ring       A modern take on an old idea: dichroic glass charm bracelet I took a vintage charm bracelet and attached a grouping of dichroic glass pendants from Kroma. Each pendant is bezel set and backed, encased in silver.                             14 CommentsChronological Reverse Threaded reply lunarechoes wrote on Jun 14, ’08 Lovely! I just sent you a note about having bought my first pair of dichroic glass earrings today, … Continue reading →