• Bluebelle,  Daily Life,  I Never Thought I'd Be In This Situation,  Jinx,  Mrs. Orr,  Photographs,  Prayers,  Reflections

    In The Carolean Era

    We went Thursday evening to the orthopedic urgent care clinic I mentioned in my last post, and it was a surprisingly good experience. I was dreading any encounter with the post-coof medical/pharmaceutical behemoth, but this was an example of being in the right place at the right time. It was clear as soon as we entered the clinic that we were the only people in the place. The receptionist was kind and affable, and got me checked in quickly. An x-ray tech who looked like Lisa Loeb’s twin sister appeared with a most-welcome wheelchair and took me back for pictures of my knee. She, too, was very kind and personable,…

    Comments Off on In The Carolean Era
  • Daily Life,  I Never Thought I'd Be In This Situation,  Jinx,  Photographs,  Prayers,  Reflections

    As The Winds Cool The Earth

    That’s another picture of Jinx’s likely sister, taken from the shelter’s Facebook page, which I was able to access even without having an account there. The resemblance is remarkable. Same slightly worried facial expression. Due to their very limited hours, the first day we’ll be able to visit the shelter to see her will be Saturday at one pm. We’ll see how it goes. I asked Dixee how she’d like to have a little big sister. She said, “Knee grow, please,” and walked away to watch Mrs. Orr cook supper. Supper was homemade chili and cheddar & garlic biscuits. Perfect fare for a chilly night like this. *** I saw…

    Comments Off on As The Winds Cool The Earth
  • Daily Life,  Jinx,  Photographs,  Quotations,  Reflections

    Leaves Change, Dogs Lie

    As I write these words, Jinx is sleeping in the recliner on the back porch. I came out here to do a bit of writing and he came out with me. As is his custom, the spotted menace hopped up in my lap to snuggle, and so scribbling with my pencil in my notebook became nigh impossible. We rocked and watched the rain and the birds and the chipmunks, and we rested. I needed to go inside at one point so I could put clothes into the dryer, and when I stood up, Jinx got back into the chair and made himself comfortable. When I returned, he was asleep, but…

  • Daily Life,  I Never Thought I'd Be In This Situation,  Jinx,  Music,  Photographs,  Prayers,  Quotations,  Reflections,  Saints

    Squinting Towards Armageddon

    “I can, with one eye squinted, take it all as a blessing.” ~ Flannery O’Connor Before I set down the day’s thoughts, I want to express my humble gratitude for the many warm and supportive comments I received on my most recent post (the most comments I’ve ever received, in fact!). When I say “humble gratitude,” I mean exactly that. I am grateful for the kindness, but I am also humbled by the display from you, my readers who mean more to me than you can know. I also wanted to say that I’m somewhat chagrined after re-reading the post, which I had composed at the end of a weary…

    Comments Off on Squinting Towards Armageddon
  • Daily Life,  Jinx,  Photographs,  Reflections

    The Tenth of August

    Today marks the thirteenth anniversary of the day Bonnie came to live with us. Such a noble and big-hearted dog she was, and I miss her every day. This morning, Jinx and I walked up to her grave in the woods, and the place seemed to me to be in a holy hush, decked with dew and spider’s strands, with the quiet morning noises of the woods whispering all around us. A screech owl let loose her ghostly call, and Jinx was startled by the noise. We stood a moment at the grave, and then returned to the house, the spotted dog walking beside me with dignity and what seemed…

  • Photographs

    No Corner

    Reader, pen-friend, and encourager par excellence Stef sent me a couple of photos from the Sangre de Cristos mountain range, and I thought I’d share them here, with gratitude to Stef.   Also thanks to Stef’s Bjori-dog, who initiated the jaunt that led to the pictures. Truly, I don’t have a corner on the market when it comes to beautiful places to live. These are magnificent shots, revealing a stark, arid beauty. ~ S.K. Orr