Beware the Pure Spirit, Let the Flesh Instruct the Mind

Heirloom tomatoes

My newest and most favorite acquisition

Grotesquely beautiful: Carrion flower

This plant thrives on neglect and yet offers up some beauty

WCYB (a local TV station) posed a Facebook question this morning " Should same sex couples be allowed to marry in Virginia. Why or why not ." I knew this question was coming. It was ignored on the six o'clock news last night, but it was reported on at eleven. I'm sure they were being careful just in case children might be watching the evening news. No sense in exposing children to something that would have to be discussed. Hide it away until they go to bed. Ughhhh!  Think of the childrens!!! The comments submitted by local viewers troubles me. I'm not so shocked by what I have read, it just confirms what I already know and experience here in this area. The atmosphere here is intolerant, hateful, homophobic, and generally against anything that doesn't line up to white, religious conservative ideology (FOX news anyone?). Don't tell me to "love it or leave it." Fuck you. This is my home too. I am more than tolerant in how you live your life. You wo...

Learning that Robin Williams died by his own hand was a surprise to me. Knowing that he had been battling deep depression gave me pause to reflect. I’ve noticed many people discussing  the topic of depression and even sharing from their own struggles on various social media platforms. This is encouraging. It really is. There remains such secrecy and stigma surrounding mental health issues. Some of you have “come out” and identified with depressive episodes. May I add to this conversation as well? My family and close friends have known this is something I have struggled with on and off all of my life. I don’t know what Robin Williams was struggling with, however I can still empathize and identify with his struggle. I certainly don’t know how he was feeling, but my heart is heavy to think that he pursued that particular path to ending his pain and suffering. At the worst and lowest points in my own episodes, all I could process was that this pain I experienced would never subside. I...

Tragedy! This is what happens when there are temporary tattoos around where alcohol is also served.

Baby gourds snaking their way in the garden. I've never grown these but happily someone else's green thumb is making this happen.

"Someone left the cake out in the rain."