Category Archives: Uncategorized

I know, I look a little peculiar: Leggings, sweatshirt, baseball cap-             (That’s the acceptable part) Headlamp, fanny pack, walking stick             (that’s the peculiar part) I’m not in the woods, after all, I am finishing my morning walk in suburbia. But I started out before the sun was up and so: Headlamp to see. Fanny packContinue reading “Morning Walk. On Turning 64.”

I.  Redeemed Yesterday we returned to the Rocky Knob Trail to try, try again. Just 35 feet from where we turned left, last week-       the left that led us down the hill and into the        Mountain Laurel Wilderness…          a wilderness of self -doubt, dark forests and skinned knees… Just 35 feet further fromContinue reading “a triptych in Rs.”

Last month when I was doing a few days on the AT, I reflected that while one always hopes for an “incident free” and “safe” hike, the best stories come from mishaps and mistakes encountered along the way.  In fact, “trail names” are often derived from when something goes wrong.  Earlier this spring I met a thru-hikerContinue reading “Not the Rocky Knob Trail”

There is a saying in the hiking community: “You pack your fears.” I fear that I will not have enough water when I hike. I fear that the springs will run dry. I fear that my 5-inch water filter will jam up and not work. This filter that stops 99.9999% of bacteria- salmonella, cholera, E.Continue reading “gift”

five days on the Appalachian Trail August 2022 Note: the title of this blog and some references in its body have been changed since its first release on Aug. 19th. A friend wrote to enlighten me about the term “gypsy” (The original title of the blog post was “psalms, gypsies and rain,” ) and inContinue reading “psalms, rogues and rain”

I. old love You came through the door from a walk in the woods, right hand cupped in front of you,  your eyes trained on its freight. Gently, you spilled out five ruby red berries onto the counter where I was working. “For you,” you said, and walked away. II. childhood summer Flashlight in oneContinue reading “two poems in process”

nearing the six month mark of living a vegan life and why I sleep outside I sat down yesterday with a stack of my “weekly sheets” to review the menus from almost six months of vegan living. Every week (when I am home and not traveling) I make up a menu on Monday morning, headContinue reading “catching up”

There is a sweet 3.75 mile loop around our neighborhood that I like to walk in the early mornings. It is not my only route, but it is a good length and on pleasant roads with some pretty views. This morning I walked it for the last time for a while. Back Story When IContinue reading “close call”

Hubby, in the car on the way home from the Easter Vigil: “So, what are we having for Easter dinner tomorrow?” Me: Mujadara (lentils and rice with crispy onions). Hubby: Yum! Me: Also: pita bread, hummus, fattoush with mint dressing. Hubby: Sounds great! mic drop

The Day my Face fell. It was March 2, 2022.  If you know me and have been watching, you might give this event an earlier date, but I first noticed that my face fell on the same day as the big hunks of ice on the side of the driveway slid down its ample incline, finally giving wayContinue reading “The Day my Face Fell and the Buddha broke- but not in that order.”