Excellent. On Sunday, I’m off to the Farmer’s Market for fish, vegetables, and fresh veggie burgers, and I’m buying Maria a pink wool sock for the winter since she would never buy a $28 by herself.
I’ve switched almost entirely to reading British Mysteries. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book by an Irish writer that I didn’t like. I’ve discovered a small bookstore in Brooklyn – The Lofty Pigeon On Church Avenue – the people in it are lovely, and co-owner Dava has turned me onto The Cold Cold Ground by best-selling Adrian McKinty, set in Belfast during the awful “Troubles,” the first in the Sergeant Duffy series.
It’s the best mystery I’ve read in many years; I’m hooked. He’s a great character with great stories to tell.
My daughter Emma, who is also a mystery buff, turned me onto the store, and I owe her for this one. Dava and I bonded quickly; we spent a half hour on the phone talking books.
I also have a wonderful and surprising book about “Georgia O’Keeffe and the Calla Lily in American Art, 1860 to 1940.” The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in New Mexico is the publisher of the book. I had no idea my humble Calla Lily had such an essential place in American Art or that it is a critical part of O’Keeffe’s art and the art of other artists.
I am still determining which of these two books to finish first; having this problem makes me very happy. I love great mysteries and photographing my Callas, which are by far my favorite flower or plant to photograph. I’ve got four of them growing on the living room windowsills. I also love booksellers like Dava. Life is good.
Every morning, Zip, The Prince of Bedlam Farm, goes to the rock wall and looks out at his kingdom. He is faithful to this ritual and seems ever-happy with his kingdom and freedom.
Preparing for the bonfire, we light to celebrate the Winter Solstice (the darkest day) on Sat., December 21, 2024, at 4:19 A.M. Goodbye to my chair.
Fate speaks for herself.
People think of nature as beautiful and soothing, but we have learned something else in our time. Nature is also violent and ruthless. Every time we go into the woods, we discover bones of all kinds and all sizes. Maria, ever the artist, is making a sculpture of them.