Do these flowers look blue to you? Well, I don’t think so. It’s purple to me. My guidebook calls it “blue.” But then, my guidebook also calls violets “blue.” Um, hello? “Violet” is a color as well as a plant name, and it’s not a synonym for any other color except purple. Here they are in the … read more Blue to you
Author: Lisa
I’m not who I thought I was
For many years, I’ve been proud to claim my German ancestry. The good qualities that Germans are known for – hard work, frugality, efficiency and organization – are ones that I like to see in myself. I’ve always bragged that I was German, on both sides, all the way back – unusual for an American whose ancestors immigrated in the 1830s … read more I’m not who I thought I was
Sex in the forest
The forest fairly screams with sex these days. Flowers are sticking their parts out, begging to be fertilized. Hey there, bee, you wanna give it a go? And yes it is sex – it’s a reproductive act and there are male and female parts involved. Today it was the skullcap, seducing with its purple hood: Whorled milkweed, … read more Sex in the forest
Restoration work
My mother bought this bracelet 40 or 50 years ago, at a flea market or something. It’s sterling silver, from Mexico, and the stone is an amethyst. I always loved it. The stone had a fissure in it, which I thought was intriguing. Then Dad took some jewelry-making classes and replaced the amethyst with turquoise. It was … read more Restoration work
Massage ex Machina
Brandon was like a massage Ninja. Smooth moves, silent, but he left an indelible impression. I hadn’t had a massage in a long time. I only had this one because I wanted Tom to get one. I’m too cheap with myself. Oooooh it was great. Oil with lavender. No pounding, but my muscles melted. Limp rag … read more Massage ex Machina
Poison and prettiness
As I left on my neighborhood walk the other day, I was jazzed about looking for the newest flowers of spring. The first thing I saw was a dead squirrel. This time of year there are many of them. The young’uns don’t know about cars yet, and they dash out into the road, directly under the wheels. … read more Poison and prettiness
Chickens on a truck
There was a hard rain falling, and I was driving to Atlanta. Got behind a truck. A big semi. In the rain, it wasn’t clear at first what the cargo was. Then I saw it was chickens. Live chickens. They were stuck in there every which way. Didn’t look like they had room to stand up … read more Chickens on a truck
The beautiful black rat snake
I stood at the door of the cabin and said to myself, “Huh, look at that branch sticking up out of the ground. It looks just like a snake’s head.” The branch moved. It was a black snake, sticking his head out of his hole. The snake seemed to hold absolutely concrete-still. Made my neck hurt … read more The beautiful black rat snake
A diet that actually works
Today when I was dressing for water aerobics class, several ladies asked if I had lost weight. “Yes, I have!” I said. “Fifteen pounds in about two months.” “Wow!” they said. “You look great. How’d you do it?” So I told them. And now, for free and with no obligation, I will tell you. There … read more A diet that actually works
Three miles
Today was just not working out. I slept very well, and it was a lovely day, but I was so groggy and thick-headed that I couldn’t begin to function until 9. I had planned to start the week right by doing art first thing, but when I looked at the glass I didn’t have any idea … read more Three miles