Passing Note: One of Nine

     We interrupt our regular sequence of columns for a brief personal note.  Yesterday marked the passing of Scottie Lampe, a black cat who served as Alpha in his household for seventeen and a half years, teaching bipeds when cats need to be fed (often), when cats need to be brushed (whenever they feel likeContinue reading “Passing Note: One of Nine”

Volume of Memories II

     I have mentioned before that I own a number of books I have no intention of reading, but preserve because they remind me of the person who passed them to me.  Among the most readable is Anita Brookner’s Hotel du Lac, which was thrust into my hands by an irritated acquaintance, who said…..     Continue reading “Volume of Memories II”

Free Advice Worth Every Penny

     I have been getting a lot of advice lately.  Fortunately, almost all of it is in the form of old postcards, so there is no need for me to make a personal decision on whether it’s good or not.      Some genius whose name I have forgotten once wrote that all advice is bothContinue reading “Free Advice Worth Every Penny”

Ranunculus to You, Yarrow to Zucchini, plus Secret Code

YARROW   “War”*             No, this is not a joke about bows and yarrows.  This plant is also known as Achillea, or Achillea millefolia, or, from that, Common Milfoil.  The millefolia is a reference to a plant with many leaves.  The other part of the name refers to the hero Achilles, who apparently always carried anContinue reading “Ranunculus to You, Yarrow to Zucchini, plus Secret Code”

More Kids With Lids

     In our last thrilling installment, we were discussing how boys, on postcards but also outside in the world, would pretend to be grown-ups by donning a grown-up hat, most usually a silk topper.  Well, girls were liable to the same strategy.      Little girls tended to wear bonnets, like the girl at the topContinue reading “More Kids With Lids”