Sweet Suspense

Unlike Ben, I haven't been reading anything too brainy recently. Must I say he is reading The History of the English Speaking People in 4 Volumes? Typing that makes me feel a bit like a feather head.


Even if you have never read one of her books, this memoir is an interesting snapshot into days when there were Good Humor men, lower life expectancies and stewardesses had to be single and bilingual. Though sorrow shadows her family, Mary Higgins Clark laughs at herself and life remarkably often. It is a concise and enjoyable read. She is a spunky, hard-working Irish Catholic.

How does my garden grow?

Even in the monotonous and messy landscape of the coastal plains, there are moments of vibrancy and surprise. The roses are blooming and somehow that makes the world seem expectant and blithe.




I am not a particularly good gardener. My sweet husband use to buy me living plants, but they never survived under my care. Then Ben dug up a Herod's Crown cactus on his grandparent's ranch, and I kept that alive for a number of years. I guess my prickly disposition matched the cactus and so it felt camaraderie and even bloomed for me. But that was many years ago. Now, I find the maintenance of a garden in the south extremely exhausting. Things grow too fast here. I pull up a weed on Monday and on Wednesday there are two more in its place.



I prefer to cultivate my foursome. They are like jungle plants that shoot up with little nurturing. They are hearty and have the most exotic flowers (aka personalities). There are days I would swear they are like my old cactus, but, after all, they are a hybrid of me.





I've learned that gardening my kids is more rewarding than my actual garden. I think it is because my kids are ever resilient and forgiving of my shortcomings. They just seem to bloom and grow.

Making Hay when the Sun Shines

Welcome to the World

So pleased to announce the arrival of my newest niece, Elizabeth, a few days ago. She entered this world 7 lb 2 ounces. I drove up to the big city and got to see my sister and the birthday girl. Pretty dandy. I now have five nieces and a nephew.

Beckoning Books

The autobiography of a spirited man and brilliant mind, Walter Williams. Down-to-earth and a quick read.


The memoir of a 30 year old with a horrific past who changed her future. Her parents were drug addicts and her childhood exposures to the seedy side of life were heartbreaking. She is very perceptive and seems to have gained the majority of her education from bad examples. It is a book not easily forgotten.



A rare story from World War 1 that intrigues and tells of a handful of soldiers hidden in households in the occupied zone. I count myself blessed not to have such difficult choices to make, more than enough to eat, freedom of movement, freedom of assembly and freedom from arbitrary rules.