The Portland Cushman household boasts two new residents, which Leah calls our grandkitties. Prospective names are Clementine, Mabel, Millie, Gus, Lupe, Penelope, Izzy, Betty, and Veronica. I like Spud, the Colonel, Snarls, Hydrangea, and Rutabaga. Any votes?
Observing Life
Anniversary!
Karen and Philip Cushman: 45 years and counting!
We went to the Zoo
In San Diego for a memorial for Frances Cushman, Philip, Leah, and I hung out with the other wild animals at the San Diego Zoo. If you ever get a chance to go, go!
It was very hot and most of the animals were asleep or finding shade, but here are some favorites. First up, koalas!
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Vashon Island Sheep Dog Trials
Vashon Sheepdog Trials, August 23, 2014. Now we have to wait until next year, sigh.
Expectation
The sheep are arriving for the Vashon Island Sheepdog Trials. Sun, beer, black and white dogs stalking sheep–a great time will be had by all.
Signs of spring
An early sign of spring here on Vashon Island is the number of hungry, pregnant deer. I love to see them, as long as they eat only our meadow weeds and nothing that blooms.
The raccoons are less welcome visitors because I worry about them menacing Otis, who is almost 18 and not as spry as he used to be. They sure are cute, though. From a distance.
My writing future
I was asked not long ago if I plan to write in other formats—plays, poetry, screenplays, or picture books. My short answer was good grief, no! but here’s more. I think I wrote all the plays, poetry, and screen plays that I had inside me before I was fifteen. I still have boxes of them: plays like “Jingle Bagels,” the story of Santa Claus going down the wrong chimney on Christmas Eve and finding himself in a Jewish home; a notebook called Plots for Elvis Movies; and of course poetry, poetry I wrote when I was happy, angry, frightened, in love, broken hearted—even a series of poems based on the life of Elvis (do you see a theme here?). No, I believe I’ll stick to middle-grade novels. They have gotten me this far.
Happy 2014!
Here is Otis, all excited and ready to greet the new year—or as excited as he gets these days. I wish you a wonderful 2014, filled with happiness and joy and great new books to read.
Another reason to celebrate
It’s Boxing Day in Great Britain and its former dominions. The origin of this term is unknown, but it was traditionally a day when the more fortunate gave a gift to the less fortunate. Tradespeople received gifts from their customers and servants were given the day off. The tradition goes back at least to the Middle Ages and may be older than that.