Tales from the Raven

The Burfy!  These loveable creatures are magical pets that double as training tools and sometimes spies in 13 Demon Days.  They are formed from pure magic–or erelectra, as I call it–and tend to soak up and mimic whateve their owner does or says.  Kind of like a parrot crossed with a puppy in the form of a fluffy [...]

I spotted this bunch of perfumed sunshine while hiking along a trail near our house. They were nodding in time to a rockin’ frog song.  I came home curious who the singers were, and think I found a match in the Cope’s Gray Tree Frog, but if I’m right–and that’s a big if–he’s early.  Not supposed to sing until [...]

The blog’s been neglected, the Christmas is still stacked ramble-bamble in a corner of the kitchen and I’ve turned ‘what’s for dinner’ over to the almost fourteen-year-old. Scary?  Naw.  I couldn’t be happier.  In fact, I wax so effusive that my family, being the darling dears they are, has thrust this blog in front of me and suggested [...]

I have something to share which shames me to admit.  My fear is that this will not only reflect poorly on my childhood aptitude and my sterling reputation for discernment as an adult, it may also offend my new friends.  Specifically, those from New York. Perhaps I can make it up to them when I blog [...]

I kept hoping that the super post would be accompanied by some really super-spectacular, save-the-world kind of news…but nothing earth-shattering came up.  On the other hand, no one has attempted to sabotage me with kryptonite of any color, either.  And, hey, absence of kryptonite is a good thing. We are having a super long break, which has [...]

Nobody does snow and ice like the south.  All those northern and midwestern and even western states spend months every year practicing–shoveling snow, de-icing cars, driving calmly through blizzards–but they just don’t get it.  The way to do snow properly is to stop in your tracks and stare. Cancel school. Build a snowman. And give thanks every day while the [...]

I am thankful for a husband who still thinks I’m the wife for him, even while he makes me soup and edits my chapters. I am thankful for kids who believe me when I say the house must be cleaned (without my help) or no more Wii for the whole break.  I am thankful when [...]

This is the kind of post that should come with a warning.  If you are my neighbor, have been my neighbor, or will someday be my neighbor, this post is not directed at you.  We’re cool, okay?  No hard feelings? Good. See, the trouble is, I have a new neighbor, and they stole my land.  [...]

I decided my pirate costume was missing a sidekick, but there were no parrots, monkeys or snakes to be found.  So, I carved myself a very jolly pirate pumpkin. I’m afraid he may have gotten a bit carried away with his role… We had to hide the kitchen knives, and our son (who’s pumpkin you [...]

On Saturday we marched in the handmade parade–or rather, fluttered and flew, as we were represented by butterflies and birds.  The musicians kept us in time and got the crowd clapping when we came by, but the gorgeous puppets gave the biggest thrills.  Our own puppet was quite circumspect, but some of our fellow parade [...]