Last Sunday a children’s story I wrote, adapting from a Greek myth, appeared in the paper under someone else’s byline with nary a mention of me. While it had been somewhat rewritten, it had the same title, illustrations and good chunks of my text. It also told the same story, that of iris and sleep. [...]

BAROOM! BAROOM! Summer storm at the end of July. Lots of thunder and lightning. Welcome to gardeners if not those behind the wheel. Exhilerating and cooling.
Often the corner feels like the prow of a boat, jutting out into the intersection but never more so than when the streets are awash, water swirling in the [...]

I grow fonder and fonder of Mark Buford’s, ‘Scary Gary,’ with his little green troll buddy, the head in the jar and the two gay Frankensteins next door.
In panel 1 we see a bat flying ‘neath a full moon. Panel 2 has the well-drawn bat hanging upside down on the satellite [...]

Someone keeps writing me here to say, ‘Yo Soy Deprimida,’ which in Spanish means, ‘I Am Depressed.’
I am glad to hear you.
Depression is sorrow. Sorrow is a thing I know something about. It is the source of all the happiness I have [...]

Like me, sunflowers are not good companion plants but they are do serve as a reminder not to suck up all the air and water around you and then complain when nobody listens.
Here they are sticking way out on the corner, practically begging the drunks that come by to pick them off. I’ve always idenified [...]

From an otherwise undistinguished prewar children’s anthology I found this picture with no story attached. In a cold European forest at night this poor but bright young man tells the story of his wanderings to whoever will listen. There is much diversity among his audience. He tells the old stories with his own twist. [...]

Turning the lights on during the day finally told me the Virginia Creeper and its two friend vines had completely covered my big side window. The vine has its own notions of what it wants. That doesn’t involve seeing out. Great for a privacy freak!
From outside you can no longer tell there’s a window [...]

“When old and lame, the wise woman knows best the grace of dancing,” is probably my favorite of the renkus out here. Haven’t found yet who said it but it is posted below against an ominous morning sky. “Red sky at night. Sailor’s delight. Red sky at morning. Sailor’s take warning.”
Looking [...]

This is my beloved vine, harboring mosquitos while lurking ominously overhead. Yes, there are some drawbacks but mostly worth it. (I never said it WASN’T buggy…)
Rain, heat, puddles equal what they used to call,’skeeters’ in the backwoods. Monday, though lathered with bug spray, I was bitten on the wrist, ankle, foot [...]

After a week of hot days and nights, the sky is leaking.
Cool wafts up under your dress, armpits, frizzs the ends of your hair. I choose the cream coloured from the dollar store hats. (No rose yet. Probably cream coloured with dark green leaves when I choose tomorrow).

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