21 Comments

Surely the "ruthless furnace of this world" of which Jack Gilbert refers includes public elementary schools where teachers are blasting small ear drums with microphones (I am horrified)? Thanks for sharing all these delights. I'm with Jef in loving the lonely trees. And also shadows in rain puddles and sidewalks. Delight in the shadows, yes (and also the pies and desserts with saltines). <3

Expand full comment

Thank you for indulging my need to seek beauty in the midst of the ruthless furnace, Keith. Baking you a saltine pie next after our next rainy walk together! (a girl can dream) 💞 🌧️ 💞

Expand full comment

I love that dream, thanks friend. I would love it no matter the state of things, but especially so because we're in a prolonged drought here, with active wildfires in progress (yes, in Massachusetts!). Wishing you lots of love-baked goods and gentle rains there.

Expand full comment

Oh mannn I am so sorry to hear this. I *hate* wild fires. (Not that anyone likes them) 🌧️❤️‍🩹

Expand full comment

Friend, I am sorry this took me so long to read! My chaotic weekends of parenting. Just came to tell you that you never need to decide which weird tree I will like. I like them all.

Expand full comment

Gahhhhh this comment is worth all the waits (and don’t worry, I didn’t register a delay). Thank you for reading and inspiring me!🌲🤸‍♀️🌲

Expand full comment

BRB just gonna go buy myself a nautipuffer at Costco… (not even really joking?)

I loved the little voice clips, what a joy to share in your inside joke with your family! And to get to hear your partner’s kind voice :)

Ah I LIVE for the little details ❤️

Fwaps for President

Expand full comment

I had to cut the part about different women trying on coats and pretending we were in normal dressing rooms, not in a formless cement ocean of goods politely looking away from other people's public dressing lol. What I'm saying is that it's all worth it (Tim couldn't believe I didn't quote one of my favorite Shen Wang lines - you don't wanna mess with the lady who buys her pants at Costco - laugh cry emoji). THANK YOU for enjoying the voice clips! And playing. And hearing the kindness in his voice :) Fwaps and details for President! xoxo

Expand full comment

😂😂😂oh goodness the Costco dressing “room” experience is REAL

Expand full comment

So glad you didn't let the stranglehold deprive you of your oxygen. You ARE golden, but I know you already know this. I LOVE Tim's last line and the poem. It probably won't surprise you that the lines you selected are the same ones that stood out for me :) xoxo

Expand full comment

<3 <3 <3 So happy to hear. All of this is especially meaningful to me coming from you! Thank you for chiming in. xoxo

Expand full comment

with such remarkable agility and knowing empathy you skirt the abyss here thank you Kara Norman

Expand full comment

Loved the Minnesotan version of naughty puffer. Really happy that you find enjoyment in cooking rather than inheriting the aversion to the whole process.

Expand full comment

It’s been a journey! lol. I’m channeling all the grandparents and their various tricks 💞 🥄

Expand full comment

thank *you* appleton king! really appreciate this

Expand full comment

The second recording has an Irish lilt to it! We did just watch Sing Street though--highly recommend! (Takes place in Dublin). Point being, I'm glad you showed up here to tell us your stories and show us that amazing owl sculpture, et.al. Do not double recipe!! Lol. xoxx

Expand full comment

I know, it came out Irish , haha. Thank you for showing up here, too!

DO NOT DOUBLE RECIPE xoxo

Expand full comment

PS, have you noticed that Substack has been cutting off a lot of our replies lately? Blargh!

Expand full comment

I haven't!! But I did notice that my emails about comments are filtering to junk mail, which is a bummer because they are the best part of my day. but it's probably an email issue not a Substack issue?

Expand full comment

I don’t know if it’s a matter of updating my app or something, but yes pretty much every comment I’ve gotten recently gets cut off in the last sentence, and it only comes back if/when I reply to the comment? So in the act of commenting “hey, have you noticed our comments are getting cut off?” the original comment comes back in its entirety, making my comment about the comments getting cut off look totally dumb. Anyway 🤷‍♀️

Expand full comment

lol

Expand full comment