Microblog

Dwight has been wheeling plants to one end of our home for easy access to the watering system while we travel. Here, he’s created a room: on the left, the green wall has filled out well; to the right, plants mainly grown from cuttings, are thriving in maximum natural light. My role has been to… Continue reading Plant Gathering Place

As you walk through our home today, you walk from great cooking smells to the intense smell of rubbing alcohol. I’ve been preparing dinners through Wednesday, Dwight’s been spraying plants that have attracted bugs. Tonight, mushroom risotto; tomorrow beans (with a Spanish-style sofrito base) and rice; Tuesday, risotto patties; Wednesday, beans and polenta. “Food is… Continue reading Sunday Afternoon

On my cycle ride through the Minneapolis North Loop, took in new construction that integrates with two historic structures, thus retaining some sense of place. I’ve always liked the 1884 Commutator building on the corner, but it was falling into disrepair. The white structure (propped up) was wheeled round the corner while a huge hole… Continue reading Old Meets New

Researched places for lunch for each day of our upcoming multi-day hike from Oxford to the source of the River Thames and plotted them on our trail map. Remarkably there’s a place for each day, and they’re all pubs. Of course there’s a Red Lion, a White Hart, and a Ye Olde Swan. (Numbered pins… Continue reading No, Really, It’s Not a Pub Crawl

It was a morning of acronyms preparing non-native English speakers for CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) certification, and assisting with ELL (English Language Learning).

Climbed up from Stillwater this morning on the Brown’s Creek Trail to join the Gateway Trail towards St. Paul. Both these leafy trails, repurposed from former railroads, offered a smooth ride with plenty of shade.

Cycled excellent trails from home to the St. Croix River (28 miles), where we checked into our new favorite Stillwater hotel, Lora. This 1886 brewery-turned-boutique hotel features stone walls, caves, and contemporary style. We dined at Dock Cafe, a nostalgic spot filled with decades of memories, before enjoying a stroll across the now-pedestrianized lift bridge.

Our building’s fancy new bike repair station got a workout from me today. I tried to pump up my tires, but managed to bend the delicate screw in a Presta valve. When I tried to straighten it, it broke. Across the river at Erik’s in Dinkytown, a technician swiftly replaced the valve without needing to… Continue reading How Not to Pump Up a Tire

Dwight spent a good part of the day tending to houseplants. He prefers to water manually, but that is not an option when we travel. Some tasks fell on me, including creating a new watering zone for these plants, most of which have been nurtured from cuttings. The system has several power supplies, and one… Continue reading Plant Parenthood

As I cycled through the Seward neighborhood of Minneapolis, I couldn’t help noticing the lawn signs. In two cases, I ended up chatting with the homeowners. Near the neighborhood’s edge, in an industrial building, I found Twin City Maker, a 24/7 non-profit offering wood and metal shops, a laser cutter, 3D printers, an electronics workshop,… Continue reading In This Together

The clinical trial I’m participating in alternates between two treatments, 8 weeks at a time. Seville oranges are discouraged during one of the treatments, one of two ingredients in my go-to marmalade. For the next 8 weeks I can enjoy marmalade and I won’t have to make potentially misunderstood inquiries about the formulation of the… Continue reading 8 Weeks On, 8 Weeks Off

I love how UK Ordnance Survey Maps carry so much detail without looking cluttered. For example, you can tell if a church has a tower or spire, or if a railroad is below or above grade. Today I prepared maps for an upcoming multi-day hike with friends from Oxford, England to the source of the… Continue reading In Praise of Ordnance Survey Maps

Today was the day for my annual bike ride to the State Fair. Walked around, visited the poultry barn, and climbed above the crowds to the top of a forest fire watch tower where it was relatively quiet. As usual, after an hour, I was ready to get back on my bike.

There was ample evidence of last night’s storm, which had wind gusts exceeding 60 mph, as I cycled to meet friends for coffee. Downed tree branches littered the trail, and flashing red traffic lights indicated power outages. The neighborhood coffee shop was new to us, but the coffee was fresh, the pastries delicious, and the… Continue reading A Calm Place

They weren’t kidding about the Excessive Heat Warning. Even my shortened bike ride felt like a furnace. I stopped at a tortillería to pick up fresh-off-the-griddle corn tortillas for lunch (and to freeze) and a co-op for broccoli for dinner.

Last night we watched the first three acts of Kenneth Branagh’s Hamlet (1996), tonight the final acts. It’s quite a marathon (4 hours) and uses the full original text, which makes it tough going at times, but the performances and settings (and subtitles) hold our attention sufficiently.