Mermaid on a Powder Horn
Before the internet, Jim collected thousands of things, out of curiosity and a love of history. Passion + scholarship. A good eye + infinite patience. I don’t have the eye. … Continue reading Mermaid on a Powder Horn
Recent Posts
Treasure or Bric-a-brac?
It’s a question asked by every retiree looking to downsize and every child cleaning out the old homestead. Keeper or tosser? Garage sale “fill” or family heirloom — or fabulously … Continue reading Treasure or Bric-a-brac?
2021 Opening Thoughts
Moving from a salaried career to living the art life meant structuring myself with an evolving set of manifestos, schematics, and principles–all very entertaining to look back on. Now, from … Continue reading 2021 Opening Thoughts
Recording My Voice
Yes, I know, everyone is busting barriers by recording their fabulous podcasts or YouTube channels on their smart phones. But when I decided to record a bit of my writing … Continue reading Recording My Voice
Buddies
I’ve never been a poet. All effort at poetry in school simply got eye rolls from my teachers. But apparently the sport of scubadiving inspired me one evening along about … Continue reading Buddies
The Writing Streak
I’m not very good at sustaining a streak. Exercise, dieting, spiritual practices… here today, gone tomorrow. But the covid winter turned into the summer of writing magically. Every Friday* since … Continue reading The Writing Streak
The Writing Life, Cont’d
2020 has been full of devastating sadness. My dear mother died. Then we retreated into our hermitage as I protected my old lion of a husband from the plague sweeping … Continue reading The Writing Life, Cont’d
Kitty Flanagan and the writing life
I am four chapters into writing the historical novel about my ancestral Flanagan family, trying to get them out of their worker’s paradise in Leclaire, Illinois, and back to coal-blackened … Continue reading Kitty Flanagan and the writing life
Kitty Flanagan: the saga begins
I never get tired of poking into the history of my grandmother’s family, the Flanagans. It is a sprawling saga of heartbreak and scandal, redeemed by the strength and resilience … Continue reading Kitty Flanagan: the saga begins
Making Masks, Round 2
I found a new mask pattern that looked faster and easier to make than the last one: the DIY Overhead Facemask by Mimi, on Bluprint. But for me nothing is … Continue reading Making Masks, Round 2
Full of sound and fury
Marking the days, trying to strike a balance between engaging in the worldwide distress and owning our own moment in our own space.
