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After my second celery died I tried planting some chives. But, as the internet warned me, they didn’t get enough light. They were pale and anemic, so I tossed them. Then, when I was sprouting some mung beans, I tried planting some of those.

October 10, 2025

October 11, 2025

November 5, 2025

November 22, 2025

They did a lot better than I expected, but now with winter coming they’re dying. Not enough light, and even though our windows are double paned, it’s still cold on the sill. I may try again next spring and summer. We’ll see.

I thought this video was fun to watch.

About winter — Andy stayed down here again yesterday. We had a bit of snow again, and he didn’t want to take chances driving up to the mountains. Tomorrow should be fine.

How are things going with you?

November 24, 2025

November 23, 2025

Click on the picture to see the Instagram reel.

What a sweet pup!

November 22, 2025

It rained down here yesterday, and it was supposed to snow in the mountains, so Andy stayed down here just in case. It was a quiet, peaceful day.

Angus and his wife are back from their trip. Yesterday he wrote,

The weather on our trip has been ‘challenging’. The force 10 gales and snow followed us a thousand miles North and then followed us a thousand miles South. This morning, after two weeks of being bounced around like laundry in a spin drier we’re still swaying with the motion of the boat.

Here in Scotland the weather is bright and sunny but bitterly cold. The neighbours inform us the view of the Northern Lights was wonderful. We bite our tongues.

He also wrote about a final dinner ashore with the Arizonans, which touched my heart again. He also mentioned their boat had kennels for the dog passengers, as well as a kennel master who would bring the dogs to the gangplank at every stop so the owners could walk them. How sweet is that?

November 21, 2025

For better resolution, click on the picture.

Wizard of Id

November 20, 2025

A gentle, resolute kindness.

That was Agnus’s description of the Arizona group we talked about in yesterday’s post. I love his description, but I would add at least three more words,

Courage, openness to life, and community.

The group reminds me of Albert Camus’s:

In the midst of hate, I found there was,
within me, an invincible love.

In the midst of tears, I found there was,
within me, an invincible smile.

In the midst of chaos, I found there was,
within me, an invincible calm…

I realized, through it all, that…

In the midst of winter, I found there was,
within me, an invincible summer.

And that makes me happy. For it says that
no matter how hard the world pushes against me,
within me, there’s something stronger –
something better, pushing right back.

Instead of being beaten down by fear, the group is pushing back against cancer. And that takes courage and openness to life. The group also adds something more, community and sharing. A powerful combination.

November 20, 2025

Angus in Scotland and his wife have been taking a boat tour to Northern Norway, presumably to see the Northern Lights. November is one of the peak times to see them because of the long, dark nights, but apparently the weather gods have not been kind. Even so, yesterday’s post A gentle resolute kindness touched my heart. Among other things Angus wrote about a group of people from Sedona, Arizona, that he and his wife have had some meals with:

In the last 18 months all have been diagnosed with one or other form of the big ‘C’ and are adjusting to this new stage in their lives. They’ve formed a sort of self help collective in the belief a fear shared is a fear halved. They’re not wealthy but have decided to travel together while they can. The Northern Lights were the first item on their bucket list. They may not have seen the lights but they’ve stood on the deck in the dark in a Force 10 gale and laughed as the waves broke over the bow and soaked them to the skin. They talk in a completely unembarrassed way about their health and their fears. At dinner they order caviar and ask how they should eat it. They go to wine tastings. Sometimes they drink too much champagne in the afternoon and skip dinner. We learn about concierge doctors and the cost savings of driving to Tijuana for medication. Their health insurance costs have soared. They have a gentle resolute kindness to them.

A gentle, resolute kindness. If that isn’t something worth aiming for I don’t know what is.

November 19, 2025

who like to play with balls.

November 18, 2025

The Other Coast

November 17, 2025

Peanuts

Especially resting in the afternoon. 🙂

November 16, 2025