She was in her nineties when she became a muse, the inspiration for a painting and poetry. There was something about her eyes. My mother-in-law, the painter,  first ever saw those eyes twelve years ago in a nursing home. The eyes told something, but the painter didn’t know what. She asked permission to take a … Continue reading →

Happy 5th Birthday Layne The day Layne was born was very special. We had just returned from a family reunion in Colorado; in every way a joy to spend time with family, but also more acutely aware that one of my aunts was very sick with cancer. Another aunt was losing her lifelong battle with … Continue reading →

Today I woke up singing “Yankee Doodle Dandy” to Frans. I don’t know why that’s the song that keeps making the rounds in my head…it should be “America the Beautiful” or “The Star Spangled Banner.” But no, Frans  was treated to a sleepy rendition of  “A real, live cousin of  my Uncle Sam, born on … Continue reading →