Mulberry leaves and all

They emerged while we were in Kansas for the last week of March. I liked seeing early spring there with the green haze on the treetops and some tulips here and there. The KS temps were whipsawing and we saw 90 and then 58 for highs. The river was low and there were a lot of herons hunting below the dam. The birdsong in the back of our rental was restorative. Our first morning we drank coffee and listened to crows conversing. We also got to see a big heavy tree limb whump to the ground about 30 yards away one afternoon. Trees in the midwest, the mixed blessing. 

Herbs

The rosemary bush at home bloomed before the mulberry leaves came out. Something for the bees. The thyme in the back bed has finally all died. The oregano is going strong and the mint in the pot is hanging in. I'd like to add back some thyme and parsley. I don't think I can keep basil going. I have cut cilantro from the grocery store in a glass of water on the counter right now. It's also too tender for outside. The yarrow is fine of course. I don't know how to use it though I've heard it's good for healing scratches. After some reading, Achillea millefolium, I find that it has a history of being made into tea and bitters. But I think I'll just appreciate that it comes back in the rock garden every year with no fuss.

  

Interpersonals

Youngest needs to scrap this semester and come home. She is still recovering from surgery and more significantly has a malaise. I hope she can weather this and shake her degree out of the tree.    

The exciting friends are well but we had some trouble there. Ran one model into the ground and we won't try that again. Drummer commented that we had gotten to deepen our relationship. True but I can think of more fun things to do. There was one particular Tiger Hotel morning that gets top marks. Nod was successful in seeing a bunch of folks. He didn't have one migraine while we were there. Several headaches since we got back. Elevation? Job stress? (why not both).  

I was glad to get home and see the Danish who is the best listener. I hope her east coast work trip is as no stress as possible. Despite the terrible news, our travel was easy in both directions.  

Music

Room Full of Teeth was wonderful but I also have nits to pick. I wish I could have heard them with no mics in that room. But that's unrealistic as their art is done with the mics and I would be curious to know what the significant dollar value of all that audio equipment was. Maybe I was too far forward and would have enjoyed the loud bits more if I was 2/3 back. The Rough Magic piece was my favorite. I loved hearing the lines I recognized from The Tempest (thank you, Laurie Anderson) and kept grinning throughout at the unexpected musical developments. Oh Caroline Shaw, I love you. Her cello and piano setting of Shenandoah (composed for Yo Yo Ma) was in the last Chatter performance I went to. So beautiful.     

Artsy Movement

Paul Manship is the sculptor of the Prometheus in front of 30 Rock in Manhattan, the beautiful golden man who floats over the ice rink in winter. Here Diana transforms hunter Actaeon who is just sprouting horns and being harried by his own hounds. We saw the (lifesize-ish) green ones at the National Portrait Gallery in November 2025. The mirrored thighs, the yin/yang of movement and the distribution of dogs is beautiful. 

I love how only Actaeon touches the ground - with one toe - Diana and the hounds are free of the earth. 

I'm learning to play "In Spite of Ourselves" by John Prine. I have trouble with the syncopated rhythm but repetition is helping. Nod wants to learn to sing it together.  

I just did pushups for the second time this week. My left hand is twinging and does not appreciate my efforts. I've gotten out for walking or more four evenings in a row. Yesterday I was feeling the sore muscles over my ribs from planks. Glad I can get this movement/work in motion. We may join the Y finally. Tomorrow is the last day of their January fee waiver. 

One of my cardio sessions was roller skating at Skate-O-Mania. I'm so happy to have gotten there finally. I emailed and they confirmed that it's a wooden floor. The rental skates were pretty poor. I'll rent a couple more times and then I will feel justified in buying a pair.  

K felt over her concussion finally in mid-January. It took me most of the month to get over the humdinger of a cold I started while our KS friends were here. K is currently visiting New Orleans, two of her school friends live there. It's not exactly warm but an improvement over single digits in Chicago.