The sun is beginning to set on this quiet, reflective day. I discovered an iTunes radio station that has quieted my mind and body, a rare feat these days. The station is under "ambient" and is named "Healing Music Radio." That it is. Even Chloe, normally racing from one end of the apartment to the other and back, has been quietly laying near me as I read. All paths have been guiding me back to... Continue reading

“I loved them (the muses) in the way that one loves at any age, if it’s real at all. Obsessively, painfully, with wild exaltation, with guilt, with conflict. I wrote poems to and about them. I put them into novels, disguised, of course. I brooded upon why they were as they were, so often maddening. I wrote them ridiculous letters. I lived with their faces. I knew their every gesture by heart. I stalked them... Continue reading

It's Friday and it's hot-hot-hot. I made the mistake of going out to J. Pace, not even 50 paces from the door of my building and nearly died in the shade. Ack! I'm living on iced coffee made with honey and coconut milk. What is getting you through the heat? Chloe is beating the heat with lots of naps. Her favorite place right now is the produce basket on the kitchen counter. Kittykins has been... Continue reading

Stone seats carved to look like fish, bronze lobster statues green with age, and the delicate smell of grass and brightly colored flowers. Such are the environs in one of the green spaces in Boston’s Seaport. As I lounged on one of the stone fishes reading and musing a few days ago, the smell of rich soil reminded me of my garden back in Maine with raspberries, blueberries, peppers, tomatoes, and lettuces came to mind.... Continue reading

This is the video we shot to send to her grandparents. :) And this is why... ... this is necessary. I'm so glad I finally got one! It's made knitting life soooooooo much easier! Speaking of which, the tilting tables Gabe's folks, Chloe's grandparents, gave us for a home warming gifts last summer are perfect for holding patterns and tea. Now, it's time to turn my attention back to The L Word! We're towards the... Continue reading

Every knitter needs two things: a basket of wool and a cat. It's so true it's a cliche. Enter into evidence this postcard from 1911 (the earliest image I could find in a 2-minute Google image search) of a kitty: Gabe and I have big news: We are pregnant with a kitten! Little Chloe, a 2 months old black short-hair with a white diamond on her chest, is living with her Uncle Paul until we... Continue reading

Ahhhh. Friday. It's finally here. I kicked the Friday morning off with one of the hardest trianing sessions I've had so far, and I hit it hard and stayed strong. So proud! I'm in the homestretch of my three-month contract with my personal trainer. I'm so proud of the accomplishments I've made in the last 10-12 weeks: I've lost inches all over, about 8 pounds, and I'm back into my size 10 jeans solidly, for... Continue reading

So, it's time for a little more honesty and to lay some things out on the table. Blogging has been slowed of late, as briefly mentioned last post, because I've been struggling with my depression and related symptoms the last 4-6 weeks. Here's the rest of the story. As some of my long-time readers may or may not know, I've been in and out of psychotherapy since childhood for sexual and physical abuse and through... Continue reading

reversible cable and lace scarf in frog tree alpaca The knitting basket has finally won out as a priority in my evening hours. I pulled out the reversible cable and lace scarf and put some inches on it. I'm nearly done the second of three skeins and it is a little over four feet long and about ten inches wide; I haven't actually measured the width yet, I'm guessing on this. Settling back into knitting... Continue reading

Apparently I snore. I’m not really surprised at this, though. I come from a long line of snorers that have the reputation of shaking walls. Poor Gabe. When he came to bed last night, I was already conked out and dead to the world. Here is Gabe’s story: Well after Jen tucks into bed, I am usually scurrying about the apartment with little household upkeep matters and my post-braces tooth-care regimen. I light a small... Continue reading

Has it really been over a month since the last post? Sheesh. Guess I've been busy. :) In the last month, I've been working at a local English language school, knitting, reading, working hard with the trainer, and watching Gabe take a greater role in the kitchen. He made us guacamole just a few minutes ago. And it's fantastic. Now, I should say, though, that it was the first guacamole I've ever had, so I... Continue reading

Today is Lilac Sunday at Arnold Arboretum. Hello, friends and readers! It's been a bit since last post, but I have quite a bit to share now. =) It's amazing how taking a step back can reinvigorate the creative process and interest in long established habits, like blogging. I started teaching at the English Language Center in Boston again two weeks ago and love being back in the classroom! I have the opportunity to meet... Continue reading

Luckily, that's what warm showers and tea are for! As my trainer asked, I got two runs in today along the same beautiful coastline in the cold windy rain. The first run I was smart and wore my jacket. The second run I wasn't so smart, as I got warm on the earlier run, and left it home. {source} It's so nice to be back to a regular training schedule. Pushing myself hard and beyond... Continue reading

The point sticking out to the far right was hollowed out during WWII and used to house nuclear missiles! Now it's a park. I love having good friends with kitties in Marblehead. When they travel, I come over and stay with the kitties and enjoy the ocean view from the living room. Thanks, Alison! One of the other wonderful things about the opportunity to kitty-sit is the chance to go on scenic ocean-side runs. Yes,... Continue reading

First henna tattoo makes me crave a real one. Continue reading

Learning to cook Indian Cuisine: Spicy Almonds, an appetizer or snack, on deck to start. Continue reading