Category Archives: Uncategorized

June 13, 2015 The Cooper’s hawk perched facing west on my neighbor’s back chain link fence. It was the size of a crow and had a speckled breast of black and brown and a long fantail. I had just got … Continue reading →

May 25, 2015 My walk this morning took me to the peak of Stroke Hill on Stanka Lane, the sun behind me and fast-moving clouds overhead. Swirling shadows appeared on the road, like a mirror ball at a prom, the … Continue reading →

May 24, 2015 The last of the irises are shedding their purplical finery, and prairie wildflowers are just starting to show off. Wild daisies and purple and yellow Indian paintbrush are abloom along the river and coneflowers are poking up, … Continue reading →

May 22, 2015 Well, I was sixteen in 1943. I guess you could say I was a hell raiser. There was this bar out on Jerseyville Road—just a country lane back then—Bob and Mary’s bar was in Dow, up the … Continue reading →

May 20, 2015 The low clouds and cold befit my mood. There is a story in the local paper today, about a grandmother bludgeoning a cat and four kittens to death with a hammer. She did it she told the … Continue reading →

May 15, 2015 I awoke early this morning and, used to Scout the Cat standing on my chest and pawing me, I felt around for her: no cat. I got up—it was still darkish—and walked barefoot into the living room. … Continue reading →

May 7, 2015 Orville: You got enough asparagus? Gene: I got no asparagus. Orville: You coulda spoke up. I will pick you some tonight after the tomatoes are planted. Gene: Stir fry tomorrow. Orville: Plant on Mother’s Day, I was … Continue reading →

May 16, 2015 In 1955, I was seven-years-old, growing up in Bellville with my little sister and mother and father. We would live in Belleville for eight more, turbulent years then move to Alton. But the spring of ’55 was … Continue reading →

May 12, 2015 My human, Gen-ah, spends a lot of free time cutting greens from his garden, when he should be attending to me. This morning he cut and cut and brought in a big bowl stuffed with spinach and … Continue reading →

May 11, 2015 I was on the road today when I heard a piece on NPR about the sunset on Mars being blue, at 100 degrees below zero. The program host ended his segment by playing that old chestnut by … Continue reading →