Why I will not be compelled to speak publicly about [insert atrocity here]

Denny: If history demonstrates that Israel committed genocide in 2024 how will you feel about your silence, your role as an enabler? That’s my question to you if you’re silent on the subject of the current events in Gaza. And if your silence does not enable wrong policy and action, explain to me why it does not. … I would suggest that tax-paying citizens of the United States do need to take a public position as a matter of basic human accountability and decency in regards to basic human rights.

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I’ve taken a notion to post occasional videos. Hikes, gardening, woodworking projects, poetry—whatever. I wanted to use micro.blog’s video capability but the max limit is about one minute. I may create a YouTube account and use their unlisted option, unless anyone knows of an easy non-google way.

I was delighted to be reminded of Malcolm Guite this morning when I came across his YouTube channel. Here he is reading an essay on pipe smoking.

Sometimes the world is terrible—but sometimes I just need a nap.

Around here, Candlemas means crêpes by candlelight (even if it is the middle of the day).

We (mostly Rachel!) made a decent dent in this weekend’s project. It’ll take at least one more round to dig out the … oh I don’t know … ten remaining tons of rock and landscape fabric.

How it looked last summer versus current state:

So one of our projects is to rip out (almost) all of the landscaping on the south side of the house and replace it with flowers and food. I was planning to start helping Rachel this afternoon (I was job working this morning) but then came out and she already had a great deal of it done! She said “buy a girl a pair of coveralls and there’s no telling what she’ll do.” ❤️ But don’t worry, there’s still plenty of work left for me to share in. 😄

Video of Bronson Cave, Spring Mill State Park

Prayer after Eating
Wendell Berry

I have taken in the light
that quickened eye and leaf.
May my brain be bright with praise
of what I eat, in the brief blaze
of motion and of thought.
May I be worthy of my meat.

[published in The Country of Marriage]

I love this Imbolc essay from Rhyd Wildermuth.