I'm having some sort of mid-life crisis when it comes to my house. Suddenly I want to change everything: rip shelves out, move the furniture, paint every room a different color. Last night I spent hours perusing paint web sites, trying hundreds of colors on the online walls. And today I bought paint samples, despite … Continue reading “The way things work:” reconstruction and Jorie Graham
“our century ends on pure speed:” the poetry of flight
By now, you've probably heard about Felix Baumgartner, who successfully completed a free fall from the edge of space on Sunday. (More details are here.) I'm relieved that the multiple things that could have gone wrong didn't, that he got to experience the sight of that enormous sphere, and feel as much as a human being … Continue reading “our century ends on pure speed:” the poetry of flight
The virtues of older houses
I spent much of this weekend trying to make our 1942 house - with its tiny closets, single bathroom, and many quirks - function better in our current lives. My youngest daughter is almost three and now largely trained in what not to do - pull books from bookshelves, dump contents of drawers - so … Continue reading The virtues of older houses
The Harvest
Yesterday we went apple-picking in the Virginia countryside, bringing home 16 pounds (!) of apples. Looking for recipes... I've been reading Little House in the Big Woods to my daughter, and l love the details of the family's preparation for the winter: stocking the cellar with home-grown root vegetables; hanging smoked, wild game meat from pegs … Continue reading The Harvest
Fall for the Book lineup: Danielle Cadena Deulen’s “Lovely Asunder”
This week, I'm talking about some of the poets who will be reading in next week's DC-area literary festival, Fall for the Book. (You can find the schedule here.) I've been reading Danielle Cadena Deulen's Lovely Asunder, which was the 2011 winner of the Miller Williams Arkansas Poetry Prize. Deulen's graceful lyric voice draws us into these … Continue reading Fall for the Book lineup: Danielle Cadena Deulen’s “Lovely Asunder”
Fall for the Book lineup: Brian Brodeur’s “edging through the fog”
Fall for the Book is an annual literary festival starting next week, with events throughout the DC area, sponsored by George Mason University. (The complete schedule is here.) There are some major poets there this year, including Pulitzer Prize winner and former National Poet Laureate, Rita Dove. I wanted to share the work of one poet, … Continue reading Fall for the Book lineup: Brian Brodeur’s “edging through the fog”
In the dark
After spending the last 30 hours without electricity due to the tornadoes that swept the area (after giving thanks that we had no damage to property or person), I've learned the following: Someone has to be last to have their power restored (we were among the last 200 households in Northern Virginia), and if you … Continue reading In the dark
Back to school – and back to basics
Today, my older daughter started first grade, and ended a summer that had deteriorated into hours of her watching tv, fighting with her younger sister, and repeating "I'm bored" many times a day. I worried that she would balk at getting ready to go this morning, but when I woke, she was already dressed with … Continue reading Back to school – and back to basics
At the Zoo
Today we spent most of the day at the National Zoo. I realized that my younger daughter (nearly three) had never been to the zoo, and hoped that having her see and hear the animals in person would correct some of her misperceptions (for example, whenever she sees a bird - any type - she … Continue reading At the Zoo
Sitting still
Yesterday I slipped while heading down the stairs and fell squarely on my ankle on a hardwood step. My ankle is swollen and throbbing today, and walking is difficult. I'm on the couch with an icepack and my laptop, trying not to move. In my daily life, I move almost constantly. When you're at home … Continue reading Sitting still
Between Gods 