Since Monday I’ve been on the alert for a phone call. Monday is when the itching started. First my head, then an arm…and so on. It took me four days of scratching to think what is usually my first thought about any physical complaint: could this all be IN my head rather than on it? […] Read More

Four times a day forever, a friend of mine has to drink a tall glass of water with a vile pink powder stirred into it. It’s medication. Yesterday she called the manufacturer, their Customer Service Department, and asked if they would please develop a new flavor. The customer rep fumbled about and then sent her […] Read More

Since posting about star designer Philippe Starck, I learned that he gave one of those famous TED speeches, where you give the talk of your lifetime in 18 minutes: a great concept and a great series. So I went to listen to Starck’s TED talk. A little frustrating, a lot inspiring. This man looks at […] Read More

This year’s crop of irises at my house turned out to be a total of one. I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong, whether it’s the increasing shade, the fact that the rhizomes are buried in periwinkles or the wrong fertilizer, but my once lush iris patch has pretty much given up. (And I have […] Read More

The astonishing designer Philippe Starck told Fast Company magazine his formula for creativity: “Every morning, take royal jelly and omega-3 oil, eat oysters, and have a good sexual life. Don’t care about anything, and never listen to anybody. Be free.” Do you have a formula for creativity? Mine is show up and write. But I’ve […] Read More

The puppy-in-the-garden-with-Bob portrait is a tradition at my house. I’ve taken a picture of Bob holding each subsequent pup, but we waited too late to shoot this one. Aura at 5-ish months weighs about 75 pounds. She may look uncomfortable, but she was fine. Bob, on the other hand, says he’s not hoisting any more […] Read More

Simply because my new novel is called “Cobalt Blue” and I’m in a novel-aggrandizing mood… If you like this post, please bookmark it on del.icio.us, share it on StumbleUpon, vote for it on Digg. Thanks so much. Read More

It’s Friday, day of the planet Venus, the Roman goddess of love. It’s spring. The weather is gorgeous, at least here in Raleigh. So think of a good adventure to launch, large or small, to celebrate the day and the season. (The beauty bush at the edge of my woodland garden is celebrating.) If you […] Read More

I never heard the term before yesterday, but now I’m completely charmed by the idea. “Godwinks” (on Beliefnet.com) encourage courage. How could they not? If you like this post, please bookmark it on del.icio.us, share it on StumbleUpon, vote for it on Digg. Thanks so much. Read More

On Sunday afternoon, Ruth Sheehan, one of my intrepid sisters-in-law, engaged in a public dance competition at the N.C. State Fairgrounds on behalf of children with special needs and the honor of the newspaper industry. She and her dance partner won! That’s her in the pink sequins, as photographed on my phone by her nine […] Read More