Sometimes when words shift meanings over time translation is needed to prevent confusion, and sometimes the space between old and new creates new meaning. The NRSV is not very old at all, but still Isaiah 65:2: “…a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, pursuing their own devices,” is suddenly so apt as to be almost laugh-out-loud funny.

Pink sky in the morning means wintry mix, like on the weather map, right?

Behind bare trees
A man and two dogs, taut
Against their leashes and the cold,
Go about their business.

Poem: “The Great Blue Heron” by Carolyn Kizer

This heron started as a study in wing anatomy: I’m working through how realistic I can or should make various elements in my carvings. The medium demands thinking like a folk artist but I still want to understand the original forms.

chip carving of a heron in flight with swirling flowers

I added purple sweet potato to my sourdough loaf. The flavor is good. The texture is good. And it looks like roast beef.

Loaf of bread, pink on the inside!

Merry Christmas &c.!

After his attempt at innovation goes badly awry, Santa vows to stick with reindeer from now on.

I wound up with a very large bag of dried mango that is so sticky it threatens to pull out my fillings, so I have been stewing it into cranberry sauce and eating it on oatmeal. Overnight steel-cut oatmeal, this compote, a few pecans and a drizzle of cream is a truly outstanding winter breakfast! A 12-ounce bag of cranberries, a goodly portion of dried mango cut up with kitchen shears, ¾ cup brown sugar, about 1-¾ cup water (maybe a little more if you’re heavy with the dried mango), and a cinnamon stick. Cool until saucy. Orange zest grated in off heat if available.

Just read a 681-word article on the dangers to human health of dry-cleaning chemicals, in which a single sentence mentions the potential harm to workers. The rest says not to worry about it unless you live above a dry-cleaner. Eat healthy. Drink less. It’s all about you, America!

If you’d like some historical perspective on the topic of political violence, I recommend the recent In Our Time episode on The Haymarket Affair. It’s a good listen. (If you’d like to escape to an entirely different time and place, try the episode on wormholes.)