Cookbook

Circus Harmony is publishing a cookbook this week. Interactive. On line. With recipes for every discerning palate. And videos. And some music I wrote. Check it out! And here’s a teaser of some of the music I wrote:

Bruni

From Frank Bruni of the New York Times in his mid-week newsletter: As we mark the anniversary of the World Health Organization’s classification of Covid-19 as a pandemic, many of us are taking stock of what has changed in the country and in each of us. Just a few words about that: If we’re among

Gambling

Here’s a little story about memories triggered by finding some gambling chips in the midst of all the spring cleaning . . . .

#TBT: Francene

1983. My parents put a down-payment on an ancient Toyota Corolla. Burnt-orange in color. A car clearly of its early 70s origin. I paid the rest of the money for the car. This was the first car that wasn’t a family car. And it nickeled and dimed me for 18 months until I went to

From the Tao

From the Tao Te Ching: Giving birth and nourishing,having without possessing,acting with no expectations, leading and not trying to control:this is the supreme virtue. We join spokes together in a wheel,but it is the center holethat makes the wagon move. We shape clay into a pot,but it is the emptiness insidethat holds whatever we want.

Résumé virtues

Some weekend reading led me to this wonderful little read, posted in 2018 on Medium.com. As my time as Chair at Webster University wraps up, and as I think about my next act, and as I near 60, I’ve been taking a lot of stock of my life, and myself. In the midst of wishing

From the kitchen

I made a maiden attempt at Bakewell tarts, in full-on British mode. There’s a LOT of butter in there. Homemade creamed chicken on buttered noodles, with buttered peas. Not as much butter here, but enough. No butter here, but bacon and cheese and egg and a breakfast sandwich! On homemade peasant bread.

Wildlife

Scenes from my kitchen window in this late wintertime: Mourning doves are so lovely. I detest starlings. But the pair of Downy woodpeckers is a treat. And pestulant squirrels are still adorable.

Spring Break

Spring Break has commenced. Last year this week I was supposed to go to NYC, but my inner voice said ‘no,’ and I’m glad I stayed in Saint Louis. By the end of the week, Webster University had moved to a three-week on-line status (hardy har har!, given that we’ve been virtual for nearly a

Nelson

We’ve not had a Nelson post for a few weeks, so today is the day! The little guy weathered the cold snap, but is enjoying the outdoors with more temperature days this week. He goes in a week from now for a spa day.