Category Archives: House

Bird Brains

Twice this week, I’ve seen people respond to online posts with suggestions of killing suburban backyard animals. What’s wrong with people? Yesterday, someone posted to ask for advice on removing squirrels from her attic. Some of us who have faced that challenge suggested that she spend the money to get professional help. You may beContinue reading “Bird Brains”

Heat Wave

I took this photo of my kitchen window this morning. Yes, it is December. While it is a bright, sunny day, the actual temperature is in the mid to low 50s. This is what happens when you install a thermometer in direct sunlight! Gotta find a new location for that thermometer….

Speaking for the Trees

I am totally not a gardener. But I did some gardening today, mostly under the direction of my gardening husband. (We call him “Farmer Bob”). Alexandria’s goal is to achieve a 40% tree canopy cover by 2035. To that end, the city holds a Fall Native Plant Sale each year, with reasonable prices on variousContinue reading “Speaking for the Trees”

Postcards From the World: Un Trullo

Today I want to show off a postcard I received yesterday from an Italian Postcrosser named Francesco. He lives in Bari, in the southern Italian region of Puglia (also called Apulia), on the Adriatic coast. The picture on the card shows a historic type of house called a trullo that is unique to the area.Continue reading “Postcards From the World: Un Trullo”

Mean People Suck

What has happened to civility? Airline passengers are punching out flight attendants. Shoppers are pulling guns on security guards who tell them to wear masks. The number of fights in our local schools has escalated. And many people interacting online no longer make any pretense of polite discourse. A few nights ago, a woman I’llContinue reading “Mean People Suck”

How Much Laundry Fits Into a Prius?

He’s here! I posted yesterday to say my son would be coming home today for fall break. So this morning we drove down and loaded up the car with his stuff and his roommate’s, almost all of it for both sophomores consisting of dirty laundry. Then we reshuffled and repacked until we could actually fitContinue reading “How Much Laundry Fits Into a Prius?”

A Musical Interlude

Two days ago, I learned from the father of my son’s college roommate that they had a concert planned for tonight! (They’re both violinists in the university’s Chamber Orchestra.) My son never mentioned it because he couldn’t imagine we would want to drive 2.5 hours just to attend an hour-long concert. Oh, he of littleContinue reading “A Musical Interlude”