we are gathered here today to celebrate the life of effie, heavy and strong, who singlehandedly chased off the cooper’s hawk of 2013, who survived the fox attack of 2014, and spent a brave night roosting outdoors during the great storm of 2015. who served admirably as the big sister to glimmer, prim, clove, rue, and katniss, who did not take no shit from no one, and who knew just how to puff her chest, and fiercely flare her neck feathers when it was time to demonstrate to the dog just where his place was in the general pecking order. may she rest in peace under the cedar tree by the wood pile, and may she be called on to use her bravery and strength to protect the innocent, if there exists anything like a predator or a bully in heaven. amen.

unfurling fiddlehead fern fronds

saint paul, minnesota

hey guys, i am phoning this one in. we are finally celebrating the end of tax season with friends. and the way we celebrate in this house is by spending the day in the kitchen. so i stepped out my front door just long enough to snap this photo, and sat at my desk just long enough to type this message. i feel a little bit apologetic, because i like to offer at least a little thoughtfulness  with my daily post, but on the other hand, we just finished a dinner of handmade agnolotti, a stuffed and roasted chicken ballotine, a salad of bitter greens and garlic anchovy vinaigrette, and tiramisu for dessert, accompanied, in order, by bandol rosé, chateauneuf-du-pape red, and veuve clicquot champagne. so what i’m saying is, i’m feeling a little bit apologetic, but not a lot.

virginia creeper vine in spring

saint paul, minnesota

the dandelions are up. and unlike our imacculately green-lawned next door neighbor, the first emotion i feel these days when i see dandelions, is relief: “oh thank heavens the bees will have some nectar to sip. it’s been so long since they have had any flowers to visit.” i don’t think the same thought occurs to my neighbor, inside his noise cancelling headphones, as he manically leaf blows his driveway, and powers his tractor over a perfect, weed-free, bee-free lawn.

dandelion stems

saint paul, minnesota

i spent yesterday gathering and sorting spring branches by shade of green, because what i was supposed to be doing was gathering my thoughts about a talk i’m giving this morning, but thinking about my talk made me anxious, and so i didn’t think about it, but gathered greenery instead. so if you are in the mood to offer moral support, i will be giving a talk about STILL blog, and earning a place at the creative table, this morning, april 23, at an event called “the collective,” in minneapolis.  if you are reading this over your morning coffee, and you are local, come say hi. it’s a free event, and i’d love to meet the analog you, as much as i’ve come to appreciate your digital self. the details are here.

assorted spring bud-bursts

saint paul, minnesota

we lost a local giant today. the artist formerly known as “the artist formerly known as prince,” died in his minneapolis home too young and too early. the whole city is dancing in the streets as i write this, and the 35w bridge is lit up purple. these lavender raspberry canes are as close as STILL blog can reasonably come to a tribute.

raspberry canes with young leaves

saint paul, minnesota