Monthly Archives: May 2021

Reading Report: End of May

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

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

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

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

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SITY: A Plant With Potential

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

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Tricky Tick

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

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

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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I Just Gotta Say…

The CDC announced shortly before I got my second dose of vaccine that vaccinated people no longer had to wear masks. I was a little cheered by the announcement. I mean, hooray for normalcy! And it’s great to know that … Continue reading

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Plant Tales

The biggest story in the yard these days is the massive reproductive efforts of our trees. There are remnants of fall acorns everywhere. There are seedlings and saplings all around, too, not just baby oaks, but also maples and birches, … Continue reading

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