“Come out to the coast. We’ll get together. Have a few laughs.” Umm. Maybe not so much today? Even the snow is feeling the cold this morning.

I see you has cheese. (Ahem) I also like cheese. #dogsofbsky #chocolatelab

This yarn is out of stock due to massive sales. But - it’s on our wish list. Eventually I’ll have my cap courtesy of my knitting expert wife! Can’t wait! To paraphrase Jake Blues, I hate nazis.

Recipe testing for book 3. Chocolate chip scones. Success! Bonus points: it will go well with the afternoon tea planned for tomorrow at the office. Chuffed! #baking #writerslife

With fam all across the globe, we do a Secret Santa well after the main event on 12-25. Today was the day. All the way from Minnesota, by way of New Zealand, I received an awesome cookbook! A perfect gift for a culinary writer (my hobby - I’m too slow to call it a side hustle) 📚💙

Recipe testing for book 3: Crock Pot Chocolate Cobbler. It’s a keeper! #writerslife #chocolate #dessert #slowcooker #writing #culinarymystery

Did a thing. It's my writing newsletter. And it's actually still January. It's a Christmas miracle, I tell you - with just a few days to spare. djlutz.com/blog/the-jan...

At the top of the TBR pile: Plot It Yourself, by Rex Stout. For a Feb book club. Odds are good I’ll finish in time, but history isn’t in my favor here. 💙⚡️📚

Refilled the feeder and look who showed up! #birdsofbsky

Mae Dibley wishes you all a happy Christmas. The cats, who declined the photo op, probably hoped we all received coal in our stockings.

Bonus photo for #artadventcalendar #photography Merry Christmas!

Last day of #artadventcalendar and it has been an amazing journey. “Met” numerous artists of many genres. Tried sketching and photography. Some good, others in the eye of the beholder. Best? Gained a habit to use Alt Text. I started with one lit Advent candle. Today, four.

Last bit of color in the yard this year. Pink Muhly Grass. #artadventcalendar #photography #nature

A good lesson on life. Notice it doesn’t say be vindictive or use name-calling. Should we send this to politicians?

Sunrise over the Shenandoah’s foothills. #artadventcalendar #photography

Christmas colors? Part of our multi-hue landscaping. #artadventcalendar

A swan photobombed my landscape shot yesterday. No filters. True colors. #fallcolors #trees #nature #photography #artadventcalendar

Something new (for me) - sketch then applying a negative effect. Here’s today’s doodle. An experiment in minimalism and open space. Altered sketch in comments soon. #artadventcalendar #sketching #drawing #coffee

A five minute doodle during a break at the day gig. Whiteboard markers on 5x7 art board. Nothing fancy today. But it was fun to draw. #artadventcalendar #drawing #owls #birfsofbsky

Some places are steeped in mysticism. This is one of them. On the border of Virginia and West Virginia. #artadventcalendar #photography #mountains

When visiting the NY Public Library, don’t forget to look up! #artadventcalendar #photography #architecture

Day 15 of #artadventcalendar. A cold winter can still produce this little wonder, found in the backyard (before temps dropped into the one-digit zone). #flowers #roses #photography

Today, it’s cold, it’s raining. Sleet and snow may be here soon. Yesterday, however, a goose posed quite nicely for me. #artadventcalendar #birdsofbsky #photography

It would be a crime against Christmas to leave mince pies out of the December #RecipeOfTheDay line-up, so here they are, my little Star-Topped Mince Pies, which have lightness and tang on their side, as well as that familiar, obligatory aromatic richness! www.nigella.com/recipes/star...

Photo of the entryway on the public beach at Cape Charles, Virginia. An art photo of art. #artadventcalendar #lovesigns #beach #capecharles #ccva

Done as a work activity, this is titled “Bert.” It’s my first attempt at Scribble Art. Next step: Neurographic art. Fun and mindfull relaxation! #artadventcalendar #mindfullness #art

I can smell the cool, clean fresh air in this photo. #ShenandoahMountains #artadventcalendar

Help us send 2,000 books to readers who are incarcerated this winter through our Books Not Bars program

In honor of temps rising above 50 degrees F., I bring you a study in green. I particularly like the natural symmetry. #artadventcalendar #plants

“Waiting” - two people hoping the doors will open soon at a popular NYC deli. Using an ultra wide lens setting at 13 mm and f2.2 in silverchrome. #artadventcalendar day 9. #photo

Benefits of taking train to & from NYC: no driving on I-95 and plenty of time to read. Finished this one with time to spare. Great story. Love the dated references, i.e., written in ‘68, the story mentions how we are approaching instant communications via our phone network.📚⚡️#booksky

With an arctic blast and a bit of snow inbound today, I thought my photo from our walking trail would remind me of when temps exceeded 50 degrees F. #artadventcalendar

So… Found this page in a used book I just bought for $2.00. If I send the coupon with a couple of bucks to Bantam, do you think they’ll miss the expiration date? Love the 1975 #book prices!

“Morning in Manhattan” 2025; b/w photograph, 24mm f1.78. #artadventcalendar #photography #diner

📚⚡️💙 At the Wolfe Pack Assembly and learned Rex Stout thought this was his best work. Ordered it online but with a modern cover. Sometimes I think these OG covers bring a little something extra to the flavor of the book.

Spent 2 hours wandering the NY Public Library this morning. Crowded inside, worse outside. Yet, even with all that makes The City what it is, a woodpecker ignored it all. #artadventcalendar #birdsofbsky

At work, I set (and often reset) time on my schedule for the pertinent tasks of the day. Interruptions are frequent. We just roll with it. Just read a great quote from Nero Wolfe that addresses this very situation. “A schedule broken at will becomes a mere procession of vagaries.” Yep!

substack.com/profile/5292... #poetry

Step 3. Midtown Manhattan!

Step 2.

Probably too busy with travels today to take any photos so here’s a bit of bright color, courtesy of our Japanese maple. The cascading leaves drew me to it. #artadventcalendar 2025

It’s hard to describe the adventure I am starting but stay tuned for photos and much #book geekiness from The Big Apple.

When we finally bought our “forever” home, my wife planted a few roses. Someone forgot to tell the plant it’s winter. #ArtAdventCalendar #roses

Tonight’s moon may be waxing gibbous but my attempt at night photography just before Halloween resulted in this shot of a full moon. Day 3 #ArtAdventCalendar 2025.

Mae the wonder dog and I see this area every day on our walk. I like the layers of color. #artadventcalendar Day 2.

Day 1 for #ArtAdventCalendar - most of mine are photos. My toying with light, shadow, color and perspective.

I have 20 or so photos ready for #artadventcalendar 2025! Hoping to get a few more next week when I Amtrak to Manhattan for a few days. In the meantime, must finish #teading the #bookclub #book.

Wrote the weekly Friday poem early this morning. Just back from a brisk walk with Mae the wonder dog. Wind chill at 28F. Thank goodness for wool fedoras. #writerslife #poetry #chocolatelab #hats