Author: Becky

Button Sunday


When I was at Lynne’s house last spring, I found the above photo in one of her albums–probably the first birthday gift I ever gave her. We were in eighth grade.

Happy birthday today, Lynne!


I failed to get anyone to take a picture of the two of us together when we celebrated your birthday earlier this month. Next birthday… Also, we should add a ride in a dune buggy to our mythical bucket list. Nowhere near the Grand Canyon, though.1 Or the French Riviera,2 for that matter. 😨

1Still have never seen Thelma and Louise.
2I wrote that.

Happy Thanksgiving 2022

Here’s our traditional Thanksgiving greeting to you all. I reminded myself to TURN THE HEN TO THE SIDE so you wouldn’t be looking into its cavity.

I then promptly took a table photo, and….


…left you staring right into the hen’s butt. Sorry!

Another perspective of the table allows you to see what was damn near perfect cornbread dressing–the best I’ve made in years. Plus Debby being funny and putting the entire bowl of mashed potatoes on her plate.


I forgot to take a photo of the pecan pie and sweet potato pie Debby baked before we cut into them. It was a good day, and I paced myself so I wasn’t too exhausted to eat when we finally sat at the table.

Here’s the full menu: baked hen, cornbread dressing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, black-eyed peas, macaroni and cheese (Tom requested and Debby made), squash casserole, and yeast rolls. I don’t think I left anything out. We all drank water, and Tom had some coffee with his pie.

It was great to be with Tom, Tim, and Debby at the table telling stories, sharing memories, talking current events and state of the country without any disagreements or drama. I’m so thankful for our home, our family, chosen family and friends, and our dogs. Another lovely holiday to remember.

random or not

Today was a gorgeous day here after some rainy/rainy-cold ones. It allowed me to do physical work outside–a much needed antidote to too much horrible news and too many reprehensible behaviors displayed for the world to see via news and social media.

Today’s outside work means I have a nice collection of kindling for when we use the chiminea to sit on the patio and talk when it’s both clear and chilly.

1. I know that “influencers” carefully cultivate an image much like entertainment figures do. 2. I rarely stick with reading or following “oversharers.” 3. I share selectively. I only ever got on social media in the first place because anyone with something to sell (e.g., art, books, music) was told it was the best way to find an audience. I don’t have anything to sell (these days). I don’t feel compelled to influence anyone. I still like interacting with people here, but this has become mostly a way to keep up with my days–what I do, who I’ve seen, what I’m thinking about or remembering.

I’m sort of working on something that I’m adding to the blog–but I’m “time traveling” to do it, so it won’t show up on the first page. It’s something I want to keep up with for reasons of my own, and I don’t imagine it would mean anything to anyone else.

If you’re in the States and observe the holiday tomorrow, I hope it’s what you want it to be, whether restful, busy, social, or quiet. I’m thankful for the people and animals who fill my life with laughter, love, and thoughtfulness.

Tiny Tuesday!

Minute flanked by Anime and Eva. Anime and Minute are absolute besties.

Back in early October, tiny Minute stayed with us at Houndstooth Hall for a few days when Lynne and family went to Disney World on vacation. We love having her because it livens the pack dynamic and she enjoys it. Now that she’s sixteen, she plays less, but when she rejoins the BatPack, a little of the puppy comes out in her.

Delta and Minute–and toward the back fence, you can see Pixie, too.
Minute with Pollock in the background.
Minute with Jack and Eva.

Minute also gets along well with Debby’s Stewie, another senior dog, and Tim’s Pollock and Pixie are very respectful of her.

Another tiny thing: Lynne brought me this Disney pin celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the Disney World theme park. The park first opened on October 1, 1971, so Disney began celebrating on October 1, 2021, and will continue until March 31, 2023. I’ve only been to Disney World once–in 1986, I think? Other than Space Mountain–not a fan of roller coasters in general, and certainly not when that one was in the dark–I loved the park, and it cracked me up that even though I was nine hours from home, when I was standing in line for It’s A Small World, I heard a student calling, “Ms. Cochrane! Ms. Cochrane!” They always found me wherever I was.

A final coincidental note about this pin: It features Goofy and Pluto, and both are mentioned in a scene I’ve written in the Neverending Saga. Lynne didn’t know that when she got it–and still hasn’t read that scene since she’s not reading Book Six until the first section of it is finished. =)

Always there

I’m not sure these have been out since sometime before 2017. Thank you to everyone who’s colored angels with or for me over the last thirty years.

They’re all still around even when we don’t see them.

My thoughts are with those killed and injured, and their families and friends, in yet another episode of gun violence, this time in Colorado, late Saturday night.