Archive for August, 2009

We are beginners. But keen to learn. This weekend, among a slew of interesting events, we distilled lavender in our house. Twice. On Saturday, David wrapped up a water skiing trip to Sauvie Island with a stop at the Sauvie Island Lavender Farm. He bought two bunches of “Gros Bleu” lavender, a month or so [...]

Right after I made a quiet pact with myself that I would be more attentive to correspondence (which encompasses not only my weird habit of written epistles, but also blogging and such tasks), I hit a patch in work and life of blackberry-vine-like density and sharpness. Anyone who grew up around here knows that you [...]

I’m jealous of Simon Winchester, which always leaves me in pouting mood when I read his books: He writes about the subjects I would write about, too, if I had my proverbial act together, with a multi-disciplinary elan reminiscent of wood-paneled studies, lairs of 19th century British men of leisure. I picture Winchester’s desk, as [...]