Crystal Visions

February weather is all about whiplash. I know a lot of people hate it, but I really like February. When it comes to mind, I always think of woodcocks and spring peepers, swelling red maple buds and daffodils coming up. I'm not usually such an optimist, but knowing something about the massive changes nature effects in February definitely shortens the winter for a naturalist.



It helps to live

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Robins in February

We're drowning in Ohio. The Ohio River is predicted to crest at 38.3' (down from 39.5' (ohhhh noooo) on Sunday afternoon. Watching the predictions, which mean the world to those affected, has been nervewracking. They keep revising them upward, and the latest jump (9 pm Saturday) was a durn foot!! Up here on the ridgetop, it's a minor inconvenience not to be able to get into town by

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

My Funky Valentine

I heard a little voice this morning. It said, "Get out and hike before it rains."

I listened. Good things happen when I listen to the little voice.

Sure enough, when I looked at the radar, there was a sludge of green coming up out of the southwest that was going to make things, already saturated, even wetter. Hurry.



I threw on a raincoat, bitchin' waxed cowboy hat, ear warmers, and I

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

What I Got

This winter, man. This winter. The challenge has been to focus on what I have, not what's missing.



Bought myself a peppermint-striped rose to offset the greenhouse blahs. You can't ask for flowers, but you can go out and get 'em yourself. If I can keep it going until spring it'll be a real feat. Candy striped, and candy for spider mites, too.









The yard has been full of blue jays all

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

News from the Hill

Two festivals back-to-back--one in Tennessee, and one in Florida, have just about laid me flat. I breathed something in on the germ tube to Tennessee, and it hit me the Saturday of that festival, and by gum it's still here, 12 days later. Sick as a dog in Florida, but managed to muster enough voice to give a talk and sing a two-hour gig with the Rain Crows. One thing I'll say, being that sick

reade more... Résuméabuiyad