This morning, bringing Darby and Mae for a walk we crossed the lawn. As we did, Mae lunged for something. It was a red squirrel and it was moving slowly enough that she almost got it. Then on the way back, same red squirrel, same almost capture of it in dog jaw. WTF? Get outta here, Red Squirrel? Can’t you see this is not … Read More

Stoic Toru spends most of his time during the two years after his best friends suicide in a fog, as an observer, never, it seems, breaking out of his monotone. And in his voice we read this tale of love, lost and gained, which makes up Haruki Murakami’s fascinating novel, Norwegian Wood. While Toru admires such books as The Great Gatsby, reading them over … Read More

Mae, whose eyes are not really glowing orbs.

I mean, really. She’s too cute. Even when she’s getting her hair all over the hooked rug my mother-in-law made for us.

Unfortunately, when Allen’s sister,her husband, and their four kids come to get Mae back next Saturday, Darby and I are going to have to say, “No.” Sure. The kids will cry but nowhere near as much as Darby and I will. Look here. He’s even given his spot up on my couch for her.

Recent sightings:

A week and a half ago, I saw a turtle walking across the lawn. I thought it was a box turtle, as they are meant to be nesting now. When I first saw it I called to Allen, “Quick! Quick! Come see this!” He thought it was hilarious that I had told him to come quickly to see a turtle, but I swear the … Read More Recent sightings:

Love this! After Uncle Fred Nearly Dies, We Send the Tape to America’s Funniest Home Videosby Stephanie Lenox

My Three Gardensby Myfanwy Collins Garden #1 I was nineteen, maybe twenty, and setting up house with my boyfriend as I worked my way through school, bartending at night, studying and going to class during the day. We lived in an old farmhouse on a corner. When we looked to the south, we saw the mountains, to the west a pine forest, to the … Read More

This is Darby with his new friend, Mae. We’re watching her for two weeks. Their favorite toy is this plush snake. I don’t know how we’ll ever let Mae go back home. We love her: An action shot (lots of faux growling and barking is taking place as well): Mae, up close and personal: And my lovely Darby with the ever-present snake:

The multi-talented Robin Slick has a wonderful piece live right now at Slow Trains–1980: A Memoir About a Loss and a Win.

Great stuff–Small Spiral Notebook‘s Felicia Sullivan chats with Roxana Robinson: The way that I write stories is quite different from the way I write novels. When I start a story, it’s because of a certain moment that I find particularly powerful. It can be one that I’ve witnessed, or heard of, or experienced myself, but for some reason it takes on a particular potency. … Read More

New at Ink Pot

Poetry by Priscilla Atkins–And Now, A Word from the Ghost of Eva Perón