Hibernating Bear
Yes, I know my posting has been sparse. This winter, I’ve been a hibernating bear, slowing down and gathering my forces for the next season. I’m still working on my memoir, Sacred Threads. I’ve finished a rough draft of the entire book and am now polishing, pruning, making sure all the parts fit together. It [...]
A Virtual Haircut
Virtual identity crisis: perhaps every blogger reaches this point.
My twitter and facebook universes have expanded to include neighbors, family, people I don’t know, some I may know too well. So I find myself more consciously thinking about what I want these various audiences to know (…)
Blog Your Way to Success With Hairy Legs
I’ve been blogging for about a year now and am finally discovering the secret to building an audience: hairy legs, lots and lots of hairy legs….
Celebrate the Solstice with Laughter
I began blogging a year ago by reflecting on the challenges of Balancing Work and Play. I still haven’t figured that out, but I know what helps with that and with surviving this dark season: humor….
New Website for Poem Drafts
I’ve started a new website for my poetry drafts – www.poems.elizabethenslin.org. That’s where I’ve posted my response to “Get Your Poem On #105.”
Chameleon Blogging: Changes to “Species of the Week”
Yeah, I know. This is a Carolina anole, not a chameleon. When I was a kid, I lusted after chameleons. But anoles change color too, and they were cheaper and easier to find in local pet stores, so that’s what I got….
Species, Satellites, and Old Houses
Living off-grid in a yurt is mostly wonderful, at least this time of year. I know that spending time in such a beautiful place is a luxury not everyone can afford. So please understand, I’m not complaining….
WordPress Upgrade Problems
Just discovered that the content from my permanent pages (e.g., about, species of the week, humor) has disappeared from the public eye. It’s odd because I still see it in the editor, so hopefully it hasn’t gone too far. But iff you click the tabs above, you will get a blank page. It suspect it’s [...]
The Clade
This week I began cross-posting my “Species of the Week” series at The Clade. Since Rachel Shaw is already writing a wonderful column of the same name, I changed the name of my column there to “Biodiversions” (thanks again to Rachel for suggesing the new name). According to one of the founders, Chris Clarke: The [...]
Recent Blog Carnivals
Here’s a round-up of recent blog carnivals I’m participating in: Carnival of the Arid at Coyote Crossing includes Horned Toad: Species of the Week. Circus of the Spineless at Birder’s Lounge includes Ladybug: Species of the Week. Berry-Go-Round at Quiche Moraine includes Ocotillo: Species of the Week. Outdoorsy Carnival at A Keeper’s Jackpot includes Packing, [...]
Introducing “Species of the Week”
I grew up an introverted, only child. With my cat or rabbit stretched out beside me, I spent many evenings curled up in some cozy corner, thumbing through animal books…
Mastering the Art of a Tweet
Bored with coughing and sniffling last week, I began surfing the web to sample various social networks. I’ve spent the last few months learning how to use WordPress and its various plugins. Hours of back and neck pain have helped me sympathize with those who verb the noun widget. But Facebook? Delicious? Linked In? I [...]
Being Here
I came across a haunting essay, “Am I Still Here?” by Anthony Doerr in the January/February issue of Orion. It begins like this: I HARBOR A DARK TWIN INSIDE. He’s a sun-starved, ropy bastard and he lives somewhere north of my heart. Every day he gets a little stronger. He’s a weed, he’s a creeper; he’s [...]
Balancing Work and Play
It’s snowing here in Portland, Oregon, and I’m wondering whether or not to start a blog. Django – my eighty-two pound, chocolate, standard poodle- doesn’t care. He’s been hinting at other activities all day with barks, yawns, groans, hopeful looks, nudges, playbows. I’ve been ignoring him to work on this fledgling website, respond to a literary journal interested in one of my essays, send another essay on its first submissions round, eat lunch, answer phone calls, wash dishes, read some blogs to see if I really want to become one of millions sharing the minutiae of everyday life….
