Author Archives: Marion

The 2018 Annual Post-Christmas Art Stroll

Posted on December 29, 2018 by Marion

Most of this year’s walking around Santa Rosa’s art-colony neighborhood South A Street was done by Lillian and me. Kathleen joined us for our usual brunch at the Spinster Sisters, but needed to leave after that. We missed her! While … Continue reading →

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The Books We Got For Christmas; 2018

Posted on December 25, 2018 by Marion

Except for a couple of restaurant gift cards, Spouse and I got each other books for Christmas. That works great for me and if it doesn’t work for him, he isn’t saying. Here is the “master shot” of the books … Continue reading →

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Light in Winter: The Gifts of the Kings

Posted on December 21, 2018 by Marion

“Dark is the hour, long the night.” –Walter de la Mare, Christmas Eve In the northern hemisphere, Winter solstice is the longest night of the year. In northern and middle Europe, it is a time of dark and cold. “Solstice” … Continue reading →

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Around Town; Shuttle 24

Posted on December 18, 2018 by Marion

Sebastopol is a great town for walking and cycling. The Joe Rodota Trail comes in from the east, stopping just southeast of the post office, and picks up again north of town on High School Road. A dedicated walker/cyclist can … Continue reading →

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The Way the Landscape Changes

Posted on December 10, 2018 by Marion

A Finnish man used to come into the store, about once a week, usually Tuesdays. His English was so faintly accented that I didn’t know he’d been born in Finland until he told me. He was a burly giant, somewhere … Continue reading →

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What Makes a Classic: Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

Posted on December 4, 2018 by Marion

For me, one test of a classic is whether  a reading of it through any lens will reward with insights. By that measure Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park is a classic. You can view it as a study in socioeconomic class; … Continue reading →

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2018: 13 Things I’m Thankful For (Now with 2 bonus things!)

Posted on November 22, 2018 by Marion

I’m thankful for doctors. Much of this year has been devoted to improving my health. There wasn’t anything seriously wrong except my blood pressure. I was not taking care of it on my own. It is much better now and … Continue reading →

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Rhys Bowen; The Her Royal Spyness series

Posted on November 18, 2018 by Marion

Rhys Bowen has at least two series going; the Molly Murphy series, mysteries set at the turn of the 20th century in New York, and Her Royal Spyness, set in Britain in the 1930s. I’ve now read two from Her … Continue reading →

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Talking Politics; Thoughts for a City Council Candidate

Posted on November 8, 2018 by Marion

There were three open seats on my home town’s city council and four candidates. Three were incumbents and one was twenty-two years old. (Of the other three, two are in their sixties and one in their fifties, I believe.) The … Continue reading →

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Medusa Dismantled

Posted on November 4, 2018 by Marion

It started with a mistake; mine. I was looking for Day of the Dead things to do this weekend and I thought I found an event and a procession from the Petaluma Art Center to the fairgrounds. I invited Linda, … Continue reading →

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