New Simon’s Cat. This reminds me so much of Dora and Onyx when Dora was little.

As I write this, there is a chicken in the oven, flavored with the first herbs of the season – fresh rosemary and oregano from the garden. The small white and green wild onions are in a cup waiting to be added, and there is fresh parsley waiting to go into the salad. The smell [...]

I have been remiss in not posting more here. This is, after all, where I have decided I should be able to let my hair down and talk about whatever. Of course, what starts making me post today is that this year stinks so far, and I’d really like a do-over, please. From losing Dad [...]

I find myself these days considering the entire meaning of the word “work.” I think perhaps we have either too limited a definition, or too many meanings. When someone says, “I work from home,” the immediate answering question is, “Who for?”  and if the person being asked isn’t well-heeled, sometimes the assumption is that he’s [...]

If you read Stitching with a Shimmy, you will know that we lost Onyx a few months ago. This leaves us with two cats, one who has adopted each of us. You would think that this is a good thing, but, frankly, we’re all at odds. First, although Dora has adopted me, and the Queen [...]

There is an old article in the Onion that a friend sent me years ago about the downturn in girls aspiring to be Fairy Princesses — it’s funny. You should go read it. Now. I’ll wait. Back? My answer to Kate was, even at age 28 — “I’ll take the job!” Heck. I’d STILL take [...]

This blog has languished over the past year! Frankly, I’m not comfortable getting extremely personal online – my dance and stitching selves live at Stitching with a Shimmy, and I didn’t know what I wanted to do with this. I am, however, working in paint more – and it doesn’t seem to fit the stitching [...]

I know, it’s been a while since I posted. I tend to forget, ’cause I don’t really want to be writing a boring Christmas letter in blog form! So we’ll see how the next year pans out here at Toad Hall… I’m taking Kelly Kilmer’s “Life Made by Hand” art journaling class this year, and [...]

Wow, it’s been a busy month here at Toad Hall. Between everyone (including Dora the kitten if you count the end of August) being sick, releases at the day job, an upcoming newsletter/class launch at Stitching with a Shimmy, and designing away, I haven’t had time to breathe – not that I could have done [...]

I hate being sick.  I caught bronchitis last week, went in and got something for it, and then literally two day s later came down with this ear infection like nothing I’ve ever had before. The doctor was surprised, said it probably wasn’t related to the bronchitis, was EXTERNAL (praise be) … and gave me [...]