Opossum Adventures

Posted by on Jun 29, 2010 in Beagles, Wildlife | Comments Off

The other night the beagles treed a possum (well, “fenced” it would be more accurate, as it was teetering along the top of the back fence as all the possums and squirrels seem to love to do) and it hissed at them just like a cat. I wish I could have taken a picture but it was dark and I was already juggling a flashlight and the doggie-treat bucket. (Shaking the treat bucket is what we call “the nuclear option” in coaxing the dogs to come inside.)

The scary and sad thing is that so many of the wild critters we have around here (possums, raccoons, polecats, squirrels and even sometimes armadillos) carry rabies. I was terrified that the possum was going to fall off the fence into the dogs’ slavering jaws and get in a few good bites before it went to possum heaven. Much to the my relief (and the dogs’ disappointment) it escaped safely. The treat bucket provided consolation prizes.

Good Advice

Posted by on Jun 23, 2010 in Life, Writing | Comments Off

My friend Jan O’Hara just pointed me to this post on Writer Unboxed:

“A Few Things the Salty Ones Taught Me,” by Barbara Samuel.

Go read it. It’s brilliant.

A Writer’s Code

Posted by on Jun 18, 2010 in Life, Lists, Writing | 5 comments

Ran across this great blog post from Karen E. Olson, the author of the lighthearted, Las-Vegas-based Tattoo Shop mysteries. It made me think about how I would articulate a Writer’s Code of my own. Here it is:

1. Write every day. (Momentum is everything.)
2. Work alone. (Editor and agent are exceptions.)
3. Read widely.
4. Never lose your sense of gratitude and wonder.
5. In fact, just get over yourself in general.
6. Be discreet.
7. Be generous.
8. Mind your manners.
9. Have fun.

What is your writer’s code? If you’re not a writer, what is your personal code?

More Lily Adventures

Posted by on Jun 17, 2010 in Flowers, Gardening | Comments Off

Last year we were amazed when a red Hurricane Lily popped up out of nowhere in our front garden. “Come back next year and bring some friends,” we cried. Well, ask and you shall receive. Yesterday afternoon we discovered an incredibly gorgeous orange double lily (still researching to find an actual name for it) right next to the spot where the Hurricane Lily appeared last year. We’re delighted but a little spooked—where are all these beautiful and exotic lilies coming from? And what do they mean? See the Photo Page for pictures.

Reality (Food) Bites

Posted by on Jun 16, 2010 in Food Glorious Food | Comments Off

A new Top Chef season starts tonight. Yay! I don’t care for “reality” television in general but I do love Top Chef and its more pedestrian (in a culinary sense, at least) cousin The Next Food Network Star, which also just started a new season a couple of weeks ago. Haven’t picked favorites yet, but stay tuned.

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