• Vegetable gardening

    Hoping for the best, preparing for the worst

    May 14, 2026 / No Comments

    As I begin to plant my garden, I’m focusing on three key areas:

    1) Plants for the pollinators

    2) Flowers for me, particularly night blooming ones

    3) Fruit, veg and herbs

    This last category is of particular importance in 2026 as the U.S. war on Iran continues, food and gas prices soar, tariffs affect access to affordable goods/services and supply chains break down. Throw in a lack of security in my field — complete with the possibility of layoffs on the horizon — and it just makes sense to prepare for the future by growing some of our own food.

    Much of my garden will be started from seed, as that is the most affordable way to plant in bulk. But, I do hope to make at least one trip to the local nursery for items that require extra time and warmer weather in order to bear edibles. Needs must when you live in New England. Although the weather forecasters say temperatures will reach the upper 80s next week, this week we’re dealing with rain storms and nightly freeze warnings.

    So what crops do I plan to grow? I’m focusing on foods that we like to eat: blueberries, carrots, celery, garlic, lettuce, onions, peppers, potatoes, raspberries, shallots, spinach, strawberries and tomatoes. For herbs, I’m aiming to grow apple mint, basil, cat mint, chocolate mint, cilantro (for M), ginger, lavender, oregano, parsley, peppermint, rosemary, sage and a couple of different varieties of thyme. If I can find the right space, and a little bit of courage, I might plant a sincere pumpkin patch. And for the girls, lots and lots of catnip.

    If you’re interested in learning more about how to plant survival crops, I highly recommend checking out GrowVeg on YouTube.

  • Street musician, playing the guitar on subway station of Manhattan, USA — Photo by Sopotniccy

    Music to my ears

    March 14, 2026 / No Comments

    One of the things I miss about living in New York City is walking through the subway and hearing music.

    I could be in a terrible mood, or hot and sweaty from the scorching summer temps, and that music would ensorcel me.

    Upon hearing those tantilizing notes, I’d walk straight for the busker and just stand there until the song ended. Sometimes I would be alone, listening intently while the crowds hustled down to their trains or up to the city streets. Other times, I’d be joined by fellow music lovers, who silently agreed that stopping to appreciate someone’s talent was worth a few extra minutes of time.

    To show my gratitude, I would smile and applaud the performer at the end of the song. Whenever possible, I’d also leave a little coin. Then, I’d head toward my destination, carrying their music in my heart.

  • Old cassette tape with headphones and walkman

    The world is turning upside down

    January 18, 2026 / No Comments

    Like millions of other people, M and I are in the middle of watching the final season of “Stranger Things.” We’re halfway through, and so far, it’s freakin’ fantastic. In addition to the likeable characters and the action-packed story, we’re also enjoying all of the callbacks to other cultural touchstones (“Back to the Future,” “The Great Escape,” “The Talisman,” etc.).

    It probably helps that we grew up with these stories, so the Easter eggs — whether blatant or subtle — were instantly recognizable.

    Anyway, I shall not spoil this wonderful show for anyone who hasn’t had the pleasure of seeing it yet. If this is you, definitely start at the beginning. Also know that I’m a bit envious; there’s nothing like savoring a story for the first time.

    For those of you who’ve been watching all along, I offer my Top 5 saving songs:

    1. “Mad About You” by Sting

    2. “In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel

    3. “Comptine d’un autre été, l’après-midi” by Yann Tiersen

    4. “Classical Gas” by Eric Clapton

    5. “Joy in Repetition” by Prince

    What are your songs?

  • fancy earrings

    My immune system thinks it’s posh

    January 1, 2026 / No Comments

    I’ve always worn costume jewelry. It was easy to find and affordable. Plus, if I lost an earring or a necklace broke, it wasn’t the end of the world. In fact, the only “real” jewelry I own is my wedding ring, my engagement ring and my Outlander ring, all of which are made out of sterling silver.

    Then, perimenopause arrived and suddenly my skin began to reject cheap adornments.

    If I wore a stud or hoop made from base metals, my earlobe would redden. The skin would start to itch and I’d have to remove the earrings for fear of infection. My hands were no different. If I wore my real jewelry, all was fine. But if I donned a ring containing non-precious materials, the skin around my finger would swell and peel, like it was experiencing an allergic reaction.

    And apparently, it was. After doing some research, I learned that the fluctuating estrogen levels sparked by perimenopause can increase the skin’s sensitivity to common allergens, like the nickel used in costume jewelry, and cause dermatitis. Which means from now on, I must wear sterling silver, platinum, surgical stainless steel or titanium jewelry — or nothing at all.

    I expected gray hair, wrinkles and wisdom to come with old age, but who knew my skin would demand the finer things in life?