For most of my life, whenever I remembered my childhood, especially my elementary school years, I remembered myself as behaving according to the rules. But now that I’m well into the last decades of my life, long-forgotten incidents are emerging from my memory that contradict my early self-image. A few…

One final half-zendala for the last day of ICAD and World Watercolor Month. Patterns used: Brayd, Cat-Kin, MI2, Golven, Laced, Gem. This year I made a total of 38 cards, far less than the goal of 61; last year I completed 52. I comfort myself with the thought that if…

Writers use a lot of devices. (I’m not talking about electronics, I’m talking about words.) These devices include rhetorical devices, poetic devices, and literary devices. What are the differences among them? Well, rhetorical devices are used to convince the reader. Poetic devices are used in poetry, and literary devices are…

What makes for a good blog? The author’s voice, for one thing. If a post engages me, it’s often because I feel like I’m connecting with a friend, someone who shares my interests and is willing to discuss them with me. …

I don’t know about you, but my life has become very complicated. Since Covid, my life revolves around taking care of my semi-disabled husband. I don’t go anywhere, except his doctor and physical therapy appointments, and quick trips to the grocery or hardware store. I blame technology. Or it may…

Way back in 2018 I posted a list of my 12 favorite quilting sites. I still stand by my choices. Some have not been active lately, but you can still find lots of awesome articles and quilt photos on them. But, four years later, I’ve come across at least eight…

In May, a friend of mine posted several wonderful photos of hummingbirds (I don’t know if you’ll be able to see it if you’re not his friend) on Facebook that he had taken at the Hummingbird Habitat in Desert Breeze Park. I’ve been dying to go out there and try…

Joy Harjo is the current Poet Laureate of the United States. She started this project before she took on the office. (She has since edited a second such anthology.) She was ably assisted by associate editors, contributing editors, and regional advisors. It is a huge undertaking, gathering together the work…