There is nothing more beautiful than an autumn day. I have recorded years of days just like this one. They center around family, beautiful weather, good food, things from the garden and animals. Grandpa let the carrots go. And they did. The longer he leaves them in the ground the …
Something was in the hammock swing but I couldn’t see what. I heard Olive squeal with delight but could not imagine what could be causing such excitement. “Stop” she whispered. “Stand back.” Whatever it was, it was half the size of the palm of her hand and before I could …
My mother loved costume jewelry. Nothing she had was worth much in dollars, but her earrings have become worth their weight in gold to my granddaughters. That is because they don’t have pierced ears and they love to dress-up. It has only been a week-or-so-ago that I got …
Right in the middle of an otherwise normal day are the magic moments. They are magic because they are unexpected. These moments are the essence of Mortality. This photograph of Maya and her Grandpa turned into one of our most treasured family watercolors. Maya’s mother hangs it in …
I have come to realize that any moment can be magic. Oli is a horse-lover. She has a wonderful collection already but I cannot pass by horses like these when I find them in the thrift store . . . especially a big Clydesdale in perfect condition for only $1. …
People either love pears or they don’t. There is no middle ground. Little babies shiver and spit them out and rub them in their eyes with their little fists. They know they have been tricked. My mother used to make a little salad to go above each knife when …
WHEW ! Oli has a pretty bedroom. Oli has a very, pretty bed. Oli, who is a pretty girl, wondered if Grandma would make a quilt for her bed. “Why, yes,” said Grandma. Grandma had never made a quilt big enough to cover a whole bed. She had always …
Grandpa lost some of his face to cancer. The part that has known the most sun. The doctor took some skin from one place and put it on another. Grandpa is resting. Little people want to see. Mostly they want to know if it hurts. He says . . . …
FATHER by Frances Frost My father’s face is brown with sun, his body tall and limber. His hands are gentle with beast or child and strong as hardwood timber. My father’s eyes are the colors of sky, clear blue or gray as rain: They change with the swinging change …
journal entry: Betty is a Baboon. It is very clear that she is not ordinary. She is life-sized and I thrifted her. I found her face down behind lots of other big animals and I clearly heard her ask me for help. She is so life-like that she actually startled …
