The Muses’ Refugia
A Blitz of Books
What’s your next great read? Here are two I highly recommend, and one, well, you be the judge! The reek of damp and emptiness “Love affairs, one-night stands, beartbreak, joy, betrayal”—that is the essence in Deborah Price’s one words of her breathtaking memoir The Peanut Factory from Guts Publishing. The book recounts her unabashed, untarnished…
Keep readingKarla’ Great British Travel Show
I returned safely on August 31 from fifteen days in the United Kingdom–managed to get there and back Covid-free. And I now feel freer than I have since the virus invaded the Earth. I hope you’ll join me in celebrating the joys on international travel–and maybe inspire to pack your bags and find your own…
Keep readingBack to School with Some Music to Keep on Learning
Whew, where did the summer go?! With days shortening perceptibly now. And, while the heat is on in too many parts of the world and in our own backyards in many parts of the U.S.—with wildfires and flooding—let’s chill out for a spell and enjoy some music. One way or t’other, let music ring. Hope…
Keep readingYou’ve Got a Friend in Music…aboard the Queen Mary 2!
I wouldn’t have been on this seven-night cruise aboard my beloved QM2 had it not been for music. As some of you know, I sailed the world’s only ocean liner in 2019 on a World Voyage that took me to ports in 22 countries in 108 days. Needless to say, the cruise of a lifetime.…
Keep readingSanté! Bon Appetit! The Finest Dining on the Queen Mary 2 !
Even if you’ve never been on a cruise ship, you probably know the tales of limitless buffets and great dining experiences from champagne brunch to Wagu beef entrees. Aboard the QM2, they take it to the absolute limit of the gastronomical stratosphere. So, for all you foodies out there, here’s the best of the best…
Keep readingNearly “Normal,” Whatever That Is
In this summer of the Omicron BA5 variant, I’m sure I’m not alone in wondering, “What happened to the ‘new normal?’” We’re getting there, but this dastardly virus isn’t done with us yet. Yes, the death rate isn’t as staggering as with the past viral variations. And, yes, hospitalizations are down significantly for the most…
Keep reading“Love Will Keep Us Alive”
It’s summertime, and the livin’ ain’t always easy. Take a break from the insanities of war, politics, Covid, and climate change. Listen to some tunes. Music heals. With thank to my playlist contributors: Bumble Bee; (@Bumble6671); Nicolas Eckerson; Dewi Hargreaves (@Dewiwrites); William Heyen; Taren Hillger; Julie Holmes, Mr. Kurt, and Numero Uno. And please feel…
Keep readingFrom the Never-Ending Stack of Books—Three Sizzlers
As I am by no means a trendsetter, I was about ten years late getting to the Shades of Gray series. Maybe it’s just that books come into our lives (like teachers) when the student is ready. Since I’ve been writing more erotica lately, it seemed time to tackle these. And I’m so glad I…
Keep readingAdvice from a Molecular Biologist
I am a fortunate woman. I’ve said it many times and I’ll probably keep saying it. Today, I’m celebrating the good fortune of having a friend, one Craig Hordlow, who’s not only a molecular biologist, but one who specialize in the aging process. What a gift from the Universe to this woman of a certain…
Keep readingStrolling Down Memory Lane with My Oldest Friend
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. And again. No doubt until I die: I am a fortunate woman. And this playlist post celebrates one of the reasons I have been so blessed in my life: friendship. This playlist celebrates my oldest continuing friendship, one that dates back to spring of 1965, when I…
Keep readingMy Pet Anolis sagrei
Now to the body of this blog post–listen up for the next seven minutes! And take care out there!
Keep readingTwo Friends, Two Fine Non-Fiction Finds
I first met Dan Giancola in August 2018, thanks to an introduction by his longtime friend and fellow poet William Heyen who’s one of my closest friends and a fellow neighbor in the Village of Brockport where I make my home. I became an instant fan of Dan’s poetry and a new friendship blossomed. Dan…
Keep readingShaking Hands
In my previous blog, “The Hands of a Poet, the Hand of a Poet,” I issued my readers a challenge: Write a 50-word piece in any genre—flash fiction, poetry (haiku, tanka, etc. welcome), memoir—that tells the story of the photograph. The most moving response came from my sister-in-law, Patti Bourne, who lives in Lyons, NY.…
Keep readingHands of a Poet, Hand of a Poet
Once upon a time there was a blog I created, Vagabond Poet, which after several years became for a short while Vagabond Poet Redux. Not too long after my husband Roger died in 2017, I discontinued the blog. But its still there at http://karlalinn.blogspot.com/, if you’re curious. Then, in deep Covid era in mid-2021, I…
Keep readingI Feel your Pain
“What’s wrong with her?” my father might have asked. “Nothing. She’s just very sad about the dead raccoon,” my mother might have answered on any number of occasions when our 1960 Ford station wagon sped by roadside carnage, and I curled up in the back seat, whimpering, disconsolate. Same reaction on the beach during summer…
Keep readingLoading…
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Be notified when Karla adds a new article! Sign up via the “Follow” link in the bottom right corner of your browser window.
CATEGORIES
- Aging
- Book Reviews
- Contemporary Poetry
- erotica
- Everglades National Park
- Fiction
- Fine Arts
- Florida
- Food/Dining/Recipes
- Guitars/Guitarists
- Guitars/Music
- health
- Interviews
- Music
- Nature
- Personal Essay/Memoir
- Personal History/Memoir
- Photography
- Shibari
- The Environment
- Travel
- Uncategorized
ARCHIVES
Karla Linn Merrifield 