robinmaderich

Life’s Little Surprises

Somehow, in the craziness of trying to accomplish all I’ve set myself this summer, I had forgotten my little pond out front. Not that I’d actually forgotten its existence. Fixing or removing the waterfall and making changes to the layout of this small body of water is on my to-do list. I’ve underlined that choreContinueContinue reading “Life’s Little Surprises”

Where was this when I was young?

Summer construction camp, for girls. Woohoo! I love doing this kind of work. I wish I’d learned the how-to of it all at a much younger age, though. Great idea!

Garden Restoration, Part I

I’ve decided to document the rebirth of the front garden (for starters—I may move on to brave the shed garden, the shade garden, the don’t-sit-under-the-apple-tree garden). It’s also a tale of my own rebirthing, from a rather nasty depression into the symbolically hopeful, soul-nurturing act of gardening.

Sleep Well…

Falling water, green shade—above, the bells will toll the hour in echo of younger days. Sleep well, dearest old friend. We will meet again, and remember.

Milkshakes & Memories

On the 2nd of June, I drove up to Secaucus, New Jersey, parked in the hot parking lot, and headed on over to the train station. I felt rather proud of my confidence as I purchased my round trip ticket to Penn Station, stood with the rest of the people waiting for the train, and boarded. WhenContinueContinue reading “Milkshakes & Memories”

Peonies… always

As anyone who has read prior entries in my blog will know, I’m crazy about peonies. They’re long gone as of the date of this entry, but I can’t help sharing how much their scent, their soft loveliness brings my spirits up and lets me know that spring has, indeed sprung. They don’t even seem to giveContinueContinue reading “Peonies… always”

Fenwick, Food and Family

Sunset at Fenwick Island the evening before I arrived–my brother Ron took this splendid photo Stepping out onto the screened porch very early this morning, I gasped as my lungs sucked in the cloying atmosphere. Nevertheless, I closed the door to the air-conditioned house behind me and continued toward a chair. The moist carpet stuckContinueContinue reading “Fenwick, Food and Family”

Saturday’s Adventure or, Apparently, All Roads Lead to Hell

Well, not hell, exactly. Unless hell is lush and green and sparsely populated… Hell, in this instance, was not a location, but the Twilight Zone experience of my ride this morning to the Lehighton area. My fault, it was pointed out, for trusting the GPS. But the purpose of a GPS is navigation and soContinueContinue reading “Saturday’s Adventure or, Apparently, All Roads Lead to Hell”

Visiting old friends

I grew up in Dover, Delaware, a town that has expanded to the point of confusion for someone like me, who no longer lives there and upon her return is easily confused by the spread of a once small community. Thank goodness I had Kim directing me. Today, Kim and I had lunch at Grotto’sContinueContinue reading “Visiting old friends”

Strange, wonderful Spring

Weather-wise, this has been a strange and wonderful spring. Warm when it should have been cold, cold when it should have been warm. A threat of frost on May 15th. Some of my plants appear to love the topsy-turvy weather. My peonies have been delayed in opening, which is just as well. I would haveContinueContinue reading “Strange, wonderful Spring”