Author Archives: chick

Reading Report: Early June

Posted on 06/05/2021 by chick

I finished The Wizard’s Daughter by Barbara Michaels. I gave it an A- grade. The characters and plot were only so-so, but it was an easy, enjoyable read. In this story, an orphaned young woman named Marianne dreams of becoming … Continue reading →

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What the Kids Say

Posted on 06/01/2021 by chick

The kids call grilled cheese “grilled chez,” and they call maple seeds “attack helicopters.” I try not to listen to Livia’s after-school meets with her friends, but occasionally I overhear scraps of conversation. One day I thought I heard her … Continue reading →

Posted in Livia Says, Marshall Says | 1 Comment

Reading Report: End of May

Posted on 05/31/2021 by chick

The Wizard’s Daughter by Barbara Michaels, 109/325: I am enjoying this book about a young woman, left penniless upon the death of her father, who is unexpectedly swept up into a lifestyle of luxury and spiritualism. It’s far-fetched but in … Continue reading →

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Nature Report: Late May

Posted on 05/30/2021 by chick

Positives: The pyrola is coming along nicely. The flower stalks have gotten taller, as expected. The false Solomon’s seal is blooming. It’s one of my favorite woodland wildflowers, and I plan to feature it in a SITY post later this … Continue reading →

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Screen-Free Benefits

Posted on 05/30/2021 by chick

Screen-free evenings are creating new habits and patterns in our lives. Now, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, we can’t just settle in for another evening of mindless streaming, social media, or video games. We have to find other ways to amuse … Continue reading →

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Dodie Said It

Posted on 05/29/2021 by chick

Noble deeds and hot baths are the best cures for depression. Dodie Smith

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SITY: A Plant With Potential

Posted on 05/28/2021 by chick

This cute little plant is starflower. Though I’d seen it in the woods before and identified it, I’d never gotten around to writing about it. Then, earlier this month, I found it growing on my property, below one of our … Continue reading →

Posted in Local Flora and Fauna | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Tricky Tick

Posted on 05/26/2021 by chick

I recently found a dog tick crawling across the floor near the front door. It must have hitched a ride into the house on someone’s shoe. I’m so glad that I saw it and removed it before it had a … Continue reading →

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Reading Report: Three and Three

Posted on 05/25/2021 by chick

Smoke and Mirrors by Barbara Michaels, Grade: B+ In Smoke and Mirrors, young Erin Hartsock has moved to D.C. and needs a job. Her parents’ old friend, Rosemary White Marshall, is running for a Virginia Senate seat, and Erin asks … Continue reading →

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SITY: A Lovely Metaphor

Posted on 05/24/2021 by chick

Four-leaf clovers aren’t rare. Neither are five-leaf clovers. I find them all the time. Though they’re not rare, four-leaf clovers are something that you have to train yourself to see. First, you have to look at the ground. It is … Continue reading →

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