28 January 2026 There was a time, long ago, when I was in my teens and twenties, that I intentionally permitted myself to be misunderstood.  I’d like to say it was for the greater good, as I’ve watched this situation transpire with our heroic President; but it was for the sake of survival, which, one could say, is a greater good.   Once a person has submitted herself, and subjected herself, to that unkind treatment of her self, there’s not much that she can do to undo it.  I

28 January 2026 This morning, I put out the Spring Florals in my house, Larkhaven.  Dear Hubby came home from his post-sunrise constitutional with Jolene, and I informed him of my clean-sweep through the first floor of the house, complete with wet-rag and drying towel.   “I hope you didn’t dust too much,” he avowed.   “Oh, no.  I’m leaving the heavy stuff for you.”   Especially since you’ve found and purchased all kinds of gizmos to more efficiently perform the tasks that I’d

February 2026 Dream a Little Dream of Me Music by Fabian Andre and Wilbur Schwandt, with lyrics by Gus Kahn; French translation by Debra Milligan Stars shining bright above you   Night breezes seem to whisper, “I love you,”   Bird singing in the sycamore tree Dream a little dream of me.   Say “nightie night” and kiss me   Just hold me tight and tell me   You’ll miss me.   While I’m alone and blue as can be Dream a little dream of me.   Stars fading, but I linger on, dear,   S

23 January 2026 I can say with complete certainty that I would not have written these paragraphs that begin Chapter 62 of THE DAWN, had I not been living in the Peach House in Newcastle, and searching to find a way to move out of it — permanently — from 2008-2018.   The translation of these words from English into French is more cumbersome, and, too often, frustrating because the French language, and the French culture, do not have any terms that are equivalent for:   pioneer

22 January 2026 Among my New Year’s projects has been the reclaiming of my Mud Room/Laundry Room from Jolene, Jolene Du Pré, to be specific.   This room became the Pup Room when she entered my life (my world) in early September 2023, and she’s immensely enjoyed having full run of the space.  She doesn’t spend as much time in there, now that she has full run of the entire house and the acreage surrounding it.   I therefore thought that I could set up this interior real-estate

Late January 2026 Blue Bayou by Roy Orbison and Joe Melson I feel so bad, I got a worried mind   I’m so lonesome all the time   Since I left my baby behind   on Blue Bayou.   Saving nickels, saving dimes   Working till the sun don’t shine Looking forward to happier times   on Blue Bayou.   I’m going back   Someday,   Come what may   to Blue Bayou Where the folks are fine and the world is mine   on Blue Bayou   Where those fishing boats with their sails afloat   If I could onl

Mid-January 2026 June in January Music by Ralph Rainger, with lyrics by Leo Robin It's June in January Because I'm in love   It always is spring in my heart   With you in my arms.   The snow is just white blossoms   That fall from above   And here is the reason, my dear: Your magical charms.   The night is cold The trees are bare   But I can feel   the scent of roses in the air.   It's June in January,   But only because I'm in love with you. The night is cold The trees are b

January 2026 Mornings Music and Lyrics by Debra Tanis I have mornings, more than mornings I have dawnings now   Without you.   And if you can’t recall   How it was at all   Then why should I feel blue?   I get longings   But they’re warnings that I’m better off without you   And if you didn’t know How I loved you so Then why should I feel blue? For all the times I came, I knew I couldn’t stay   Yet all the nights we knew How could you go away?   There’s tomorrow I can’t borro

January 2026 This recipe comes from a childhood friend.  Clara was a grammar school classmate; she was gracious enough to share a family tradition with our Cooking Class in a public school in Northern Northern New Jersey.  She and her Cuban family had just fled the warm collectivism of Fidel Castro for those chilly waters of rugged individualism that, once-upon-a-time, proudly beckoned them to New York Harbor.   I’ve updated her recipe just a bit.  Olive oil is substituted fo

31 December 2025 It’s taken me the better part of two years, and it has been a better part, to be able to place Jolene du Près as a fully-fleshed hound in Pets, Real and Fictional .   The deficiency lay not in this sweet, loving, adorable beagle, but in myself.   She’s worked hard, very hard, to fit into my Pantheon of Pets since first she entered my real world in early September 2023.  She was in my dream-world before then, but the wise among us know how hard it can be to re

New Year’s Day 2026 Al di La Music by Carlo Donida with English lyrics by Ervin Drake La la la la   Al di la means   You're far above me   Very far   Al di la   As far as the lovely evening star   Where you walk, flowers bloom When you smile, all the gloom   Turns to sunshine   And my heart opens wide   When you're gone, It fades   And seems to have died.   Al di la,   I asked as I drifted Where you were   Al di la   And then the fog lifted   There you wеre   In the kiss that

New Year's Eve 2025 Queen of Denial by Pam Tillis, Bob DiPiero and Jan Buckingham; Changes by Debra Milligan Well,   I said he had a lot of potential.   He was just so misunderstood.   You know, he really didn’t mean to treat me so mean:   He wanted to be good.   And I swore,   One day I’d tame him, even though he loved to run hog wild. Just call me Cleopatra cause I’m the Queen of Denial.   I knew he didn’t have any money   That’s why he couldn’t buy me a ring.   Oh, and jus

28 December 2025 There’s no turning back for me now.   On the night of Boxing Day this year, I watched the always-delightful animated classic — 101 Dalmatians — by the Disney of Yore.  I thereafter decided to continue with my translation review of Chapter 59 of THE DAWN into L’AUBE.  The night was young — it was only 9:45!   For Debra, bed-time would be closing in on her sleepy eyes.  For her night-owl Muse, the nocturnal sack-time chimes at 2 a.m.  And then it’s at least an

End of December 2025 Bésame Mucho Music by   Consuelo Velázquez, with English lyrics by Sunny Skylar Bésame, bésame mucho   Each time I cling to your kiss, I hear music divine   Bésame, bésame mucho   Hold me, my darling, and say that you’ll always be mine   This joy is something new, my arms enfolding you   Never knew this thrill before   Whoever thought I'd be holding you close to me,   Whispering "It's you I adore" Dearest one, If you should leave me Each little dream woul

Boxing Day 2025 Around the World Music by Victor Young, with lyrics by Harold Adamson and Stella Unger; French translation by Debra Milligan Around the world I’ve searched for you I traveled on when hope was gone to keep a rendezvous.   I knew somewhere, sometime, somehow   You’d look at me and I would see the smile you’re smiling now.   It might have been in County Down, Or in New York, Or Gay Paree, Or even London Town. No more will I go all around the world For I have foun

23 December 2025 If a tree falls in the forest, does anyone hear it?   Jolene, the little beagle queen, did, the other night, at around 2 p.m.   She sat up in the master bed, looked warily around, and didn’t settle back down for a few minutes.   That morning, I came downstairs to the kitchen, looked out the window, and saw a massive pine tree blocking our road.   I called Dear Husband on his morning route, walking Jolene.   “Did you see that pine tree in the road?”  I queried

22 December 2025 To honor Mr. Balls, I decorated with Big Bells in my Guest Room.   I use bells in all of my decorating!   This American also uses bells to celebrate freedom.  Ringing them bells has been a concerted effort for me during the past decade, during all my life, but I’m persistent.  I possess secret bells within my heart, ones that I protect from the abusers of life, liberty, love and that self-indulgent pursuit of happiness (which may or may not be considered “lov

Happy Winter Solstice 2025 We’re on Day 3 of the December Deluge of 2025, the La Nina which shall end by . . . Boxing Day?   On Saturday, the RAINY COLD DARK WINTER SOLSTICE NEW MOON conditions took their toll on me.  I didn’t hit the wall; that wet wall hit me.   The weather continues to sabotage my Christmas meal planning, but, on Saturday morning, I decided to go all-out:  Cook a turkey, without stuffing, in honor of Our Elected Idiot Officials in California.  (In the summ

Merry Christmas 2025 Christmas 2024 whizzed by me.  I was adjusting to an America that had survived one of the worst assaults upon democracy in the recent history of our constitutional Republic.   Within the first six months of 2025, my more than decades-long haul of hunches, suspicions, infallible instincts, intuitive insights, and Scots second sights — were illuminated — informed by the damning details and the dogged light of truth:   Real news, actual facts, accurate figur

Christmas 2025 Peace on Earth Written by Bruce Monte, Sonny Burke, Peggy Lee   Silent Night Music by Franz Gruber, with lyrics by Father Joseph Mohr Silent as the snowflake in the night   Holy is the spirit of this night   All the world is calm and peaceful   All the world is bright and joyful   Spirit of love and child of peace Love unending that shall not cease Peace, my children of goodwill   Peace, my children, peace,   be still   Silent night   Holy Night   All is calm