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Frances

[Old] Puppy love

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Dear Kristin, I’m writing this on the couch in the front room, Travis snuggled by my side, his hind feet resting against my leg. This has been our habit for nearly sixteen years, me writing, Travis napping, the two of us always attached. Travis is an old guy now and it shows. He’s still eager…

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September

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Dear Kristin, I’ve never been a foodie, but sometimes I taste something that makes me so happy I want to change my life. Take the Caesar dressing I just made. It was the simplest recipe in the world, from The Weekday Vegetarians by Jenny Rosenstrach, made with mayo instead of eggs, and perfectly balanced in…

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5 Things We’re Loving Right Now: Summer Edition 

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Dear Kristin, It’s time for a list of our favorite things–or at least five of them! I looked back at my Five Favorite Things list from late March and saw that my number one thing was central heating. Here we are in mid-August, and my Number One Favorite Thing is electricity, having just spent the…

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Yarnstorm!

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Dear Kristin,I was overjoyed last week when you shared the good news that Jane Brocket of Yarnstorm fame is back! These days she’s on Substack, but I first met her in the heyday of the domestic blog, circa 2005. In the early days of the early aughts, Jane’s focus was knitting (hence the blog’s name), but…

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Summer Break!

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Hi, everyone! We’re taking a break from blogging this week. You’ll be happy to hear that Kristin is much, much better, and is currently helping her kids move from here to there and there to here. Meanwhile, I’ve spent this week leading a creative writing workshop for a delightful group of third graders. It’s been…

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A Little Break in the Action

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Dear Kristin, I took this photo fifteen years ago. I recognize those tee shirts as though I’d hung them out on the line yesterday. Much to my shame, I haven’t hung out any laundry this year. Why not? Because it hasn’t even occurred to me! Fifteen years ago, I was in love with homemade living–hanging…

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Summer Pasta

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Dear Kristin, How’s life in the Covid House? I have my fingers and toes crossed that the terrible bug will pass you by! Still, I know that it’s no fun trying to take care of  a sick husband and son while at the same time doing your best to avoid the virus.  Since you don’t…

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Getting Ready to Go

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Dear Kristin, So the tables have turned and you’re the one who’s hopped on a plane to travel far from home. As I write this, you’re on your way to Sweden to enjoy those long, long days and a little bit of business. (Do you think if I ever got a real job, they’d send…

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Book List: Five Favorites/Five years

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Dear Kristin, Last week we asked readers for topics, and Patty suggested “Best Book Ever Read.” A great idea, but way too hard! I mean, if I had to say the best book I ever read, I’d have to say A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, right? Or I could make an argument for Charlotte’s Web.…

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The Difference Between Me & You

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Dear Kristin, As I write this, you’re attending a trade show in Massachusetts. It’s always a little strange when you’re on my side of the country. First of all our daily Vox routine gets disrupted. Early bird that you are, you’re up at least an hour before I am, jet lag be damned, and that…

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