Probably the first time a fan brought a sign to a game saying "Here for the Ump Show!" (and wasn't being sarcastic). Here's my story of Jen Pawol's debut as a major league umpire. sabr.org/gamesproj/ga...

Remembering my great-uncles the Carlson brothers. Served with the Canadian forces in WWI. Survived gas and shrapnel. Lived long enough that I remember meeting Uncle Van when I was 8 or so. Even in the nursing home he would play practical jokes on the nurses. Never lost his sense of humor.

Yes, so many salt-free seasoning blends (for those of us who want those). Took a Smithsonian Associates class on world spices. The instructor recommended Penzey's cinnamon blend as her first choice. High praise. They also have recipes on their website if you need ideas to go with your discounts.

And this is why boxes don't get recycled around here. (That's Clancy by the window and Lucy closer to me).

I don't only write about the Nationals. Here's an unusual game: 11-6 in extra innings is an odd score, and the Padres ran out of players. sabr.org/gamesproj/ga...

Lucy managed to get cozy and turn into a tripping hazard.

I accidentally doubled the amount of cheddar cheese in this recipe. Do I regret it? No. Would I do it again? Absolutely.

Planted 46 radish seeds today (Cherry Belle and Easter Egg). Radish seeds are tiny and not very interesting, so here's some of last year's Easter Egg radish crop. Put some coffee grounds in the soil this year for the first time.

Did I buy a baby ninja potato?

A bit of good news: my hyacinths appear to have survived spending 2 weeks under the Arlington Virginia snowcrete. Also good--enough ice melted that I could go out on the terrace to check on them without slipping on said snowcrete.

Groundhog? Crocus? Nope. “Pitchers and Catchers Report” Is my sign of Spring!

Please wish Clancy a happy 12th birthday. As you can see, he's celebrating by digging in the catnip bowl (notice he's licking his chops) so I'm thinking a very happy birthday is underway!

The original Knickerbocker rules of baseball. Because that's the only way I'll be able to get my hands on it! (But The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is probably more practical).

Good news to finish the year--12-year-old Clancy got a "stable" evaluation from his kitty cardiologist! (despite having spit up this morning's medication along with a hairball). "Stable" refers to his heart, not necessarily his mental state!

I watched Volpone at the Barns at Wolf Trap sitting next to Ruth Bader Ginsburg. A polite hello was all we exchanged, but I noticed she laughed at all the lawyer jokes.

Reynard enjoyed Boxing Day in true cat style.

My annual contribution to the festivities!

Dear Internet: I have purchased all my holiday gifts and food and made my year-end donations. I get along with my family* just fine. So you can stop with the last-minute gifts, donations, and tips on how to get along with your family. *at least the ones I am likely to see in the next two weeks.

Well, that was frigging amazing! I applied online to renew my passport and passport card on Dec 5 and the card arrived in my mailbox today Dec 15. I am not buying any lottery tickets this month as I have used up all my luck. PS TSA lists passport card as acceptable ID (just not for int'l travel).

#Nationals Kiebert Ruiz is iffy: Health and play not good. So Tobani made a trade, As fans thought he should. He sent Ferrer to the M's, Got Ford back in return. Who'll be the starting catcher? In West Palm we will learn.

Yeah, I know the snow will kill the celosia, but it looks so pretty in the meantime.

Welcome to Whoopsie Wednesday, when you realize what Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, and Giving Tuesday have done to your finances.

Put up the tree today.

To all the charities that have been nagging me about Giving Tuesday since Thanksgiving: (1)I am capable of finding Tuesday without help and (2) you’re off my donation list.

My friend has a guide dog. Clancy loves it when they visit--Clancy runs up and rubs his face on the dog, who is generally glad to have a cat friend to play with.

No matter your baseball team loyalty, the story of Vin Scully's farewell broadcast is worth the read. sabr.org/gamesproj/ga...

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! (Don’t worry—there are two other types of cranberry sauce so everyone has their favorite). I am just pleased I got it out of the can!

This year’s North Georgia Candy Roaster squash is a little smaller, but here’s a previous year’s squash before and “ready to roast.”As you can see, one squash serves the whole table (and don’t forget to roast the seeds).

#caturday a four-pack of Lucy. Emphasis on "pack."

Here's to the memory of my great-uncles, Don and Van Carlson, who served with the Canadian troops in France in WWI. They both returned, although Van had a lap full of shrapnel. Van lived long enough for me to get to know him. He was a prankster and kids' party magician. #veteransday

Frost coming—tome to harvest some of my crayon radishes ! Time to make braised radishes with their greens.

Yes, #caturday was yesterday, but today is “look, they’re both playing with the ball tower” day. Clancy on the left and Lucy on the right.

Lucy says” You woke me up just to take my picture for Caturday ?”

Six years ago today, Howie Kendrick hit this ball off the foul pole in Houston (yes, there is still a yellow mark on it from the paint). Six months later, I'm in West Palm to celebrate--and boo the Astros (except Dusty, of course!).

Went out to water this morning. Found an eastern honeybee sleeping on a late zinnia flower. I know he was sleeping because he was still there when I came back with the phone.

Not what I was expecting on my green tea, but I’ll take it!

My Virginia wildflower mix is still blooming.

My flowers are liking this weather. See alt text for names.

FYI, if anyone is trying to make a COVID shot appointment on the Kaiser Permanente website, it may give you a "you are not eligible" message in error, as they just updated the website this morning. Just call the appointment line and sign up.

I picked tomatoes yesterday. This is this morning’s harvest (with two lemon cucumbers). Looks like time to make roasted tomato salsa!

Variegated Fritillary Butterfly on my celosia this morning (pineapple lily in the foreground).

A peaceful scene for #caturday : Clancy (left) and Lucy sharing the couch.

Lucy on the desk. Want to guess how much of this hit the floor when she got down?

Now here's something that doesn't happen too often in baseball--a catcher hits an inside-the-park grand slam! Just published from the SABR Game Stories: sabr.org/gamesproj/ga...

I didn't write this SABR Game Story, but I'm glad someone did! Here's some serious baseball shenanigans! sabr.org/gamesproj/ga...

A fledgling starling parked under my tomato plant for a couple of hours today.

Apparently it’s International Cat Day. Lucy and Clancy think everyday is International Cat Day.

First cucumbers! (Heirloom lemon cucumbers—taste just like the green ones).

I knew the finches were pulling the petals off the zinnias and eating the seeds, but tonight is the first time this year I've caught one in the act! I don't mind the birds eating the seeds and flowers--there are plenty to go around, and the cats love watching them (safely from inside, of course).