Calling all e-book readers!
I was tempted to put this update at the end, but here it is first thing: my essay about a bad vacation and learning to read tarot came out as a chapbook a few years ago, but was re-released this month with a new cover and e-reader option.
And less than $7! Check it out here.
I last wrote about AWP, and it remains a big deal that I visited that writers conference. Learning about e-book creation and the world of Kindle readership stretched me, that’s for sure.
In other news …
SPRING HAS ARRIVED!
Free Rita’s on the first day of spring:
A round-up of blooms:
I vowed to clean out my pantry and chest freezer of all leftovers from the last growing season, before the one began. It was a fun challenge!
I finally cooked MY PINK BEANS! (Taylor Bush Beans according to my seed catalog.)
I harvested these in July and dehydrated them on my birthday. It does feel special to keep my garden alive in the kitchen throughout the year.
And now, the farmers market is open and my CSA is back! It’s an ecstatic experience to me, every time winter ends and fresh food returns:
I Stopped Counting Steps
I’m walking and being outside as much as I can. But after six years on the different step-counter apps, I have decided to let them go. And have my phone on me less. And not worry over if I got the right amount of walking in every day.
I hide my phone whenever possible to give my brain a chance to rest. It’s led me to bring back paper To Do and Shopping lists.
A Walk to Philly
On a fair day where I was feeling impatient for spring and also movement, I took advantage of the walking path of the Ben Franklin Bridge. I walked to Philly and back.
How magical to end up in Old City!
Playing Barista
Still having fun experimenting with my espresso bar at home … but also the occasional drink out as well.
Experiments in Baking
The second edition of my favorite cookbook arrived so I am still baking something lowfat and vegan every week!
And, this was bound to happen: I had one baking SNAFU. And then another! First, a malt-flour pear cake simply never set, but I found I had a delicious pear sauce for pancakes.
Then, my first attempt to make a lowfat Easter lamb cake was a disaster and made something … disturbing.
I let my partner fiddle with a recipe and his was successful, and delicious!!
I understand that comparison is the theif of joy, but let me assure you, this delights me. MY CAKE:
AHHHHHH!
The cake we actually had:
Much better!
Also for Easter, I took the pecan sticky bun dough and turned it into a kale-pesto-garlic-knot. This was a hit!
Speaking of Easter
Both sets of grandparents were traveling for this holiday, so we hosted an incredibly low-key, but still-festive, Easter.
Of course the toddler got a basket. But we had the most fun assembling adult baskets this year!
And daycare sent home toys and stickers, so that got silly, too.
That Easter break also included a daytrip to Ocean City, NJ
Senior Citizen Gift Bags
When I tell you my life was CONSUMED by a lovely senior citizen health fair at work, and the 200 gift bags I guided volunteers to assemble.
But they had to be stored somewhere! And somewhere was my desk.
And they had to travel to their destination somehow! And that somehow was my car.
Crochet Service
Early in my career, I was a youth robotics educator and often taught kids to knit or crochet at a makerspace. I used to host a mean craft party, as well!
I always loved teaching knit or crochet with the goal of helping newbies make squares for Warm Up America.
It was unexpected that this kind of service project came back into my life this semester, but it was a blast to be a part of this again!
All this crafty energy got me to dig deep into my closet, and FINALLY sanitize and mail completed HeartScarves.
Check out these amazing orgs!
Pollinator Patch Returns!
Freshened up my decorations:
I find the alfalfa (that returns on its own every year, and I do not ever remember planting it in the first place) to bloom in the most mesmerizing shades of purple. I also find it hard to photograph! Not sure why. Still, I spend as much time trying to name these hues as I can: Lavender. Indigo. Lilac. Violet.
Daytrip to Pitman, NJ
I could walk in this pretty, historic town every day.
I try to take in as much art as I can! Caught the campus production of the Little Women musical, as well as campy queer slasher flick Hag.
I believe in spending every possible free moment READING! BOOKS! IN THE SUN!
For a smile, here are some dashboard Pokemon staring at ducks crossing the street:
I’ll end with a Camden rooster:
And a dinnertime photo that made me laugh:
