Susan Crossett

 

Musings from the Hill

Susan writes "Musings from the Hill" for the Dunkirk Observer. Enjoy her current and past columns here
Look for past columns:

My Little Towhee

February 17, 2012 -- No matter our personal tendencies, the holidays (for most) are pretty much wrapped up (unless you are even a bigger procrastinator than I). As well as trees, lights and tinsel, the Magis’ gifts have also been packed away: no more gold, frankincense and myrrh until the end of the year. And haven’t we just celebrated its beginning? This is not completely true, however, for my yard remains filled with gold. » Read Full Story

My Funny Valentine

February 10, 2012 -- When I wrote two columns on spiders last summer, I principally  relied on John Crompton’s “The Life of the Spider” which I probably bought close to its 1950 publication date (and promptly set aside, taking credit for good intentions). » Read Full Story

Song of the Chickadee

February 3, 2012 -- The sound startles me. Familiar of course as if I had enjoyed it right along – and yet a call to make me ask just how long it had been. How many months have I accepted the silence, blaming it (if I did at all, if I was even aware of it) on winter? The radio, always playing the local station’s choice of classics, the howling winds as snow still falls, all the house sounds so familiarly accepted. But this? » Read Full Story

Planning Menus

January 27, 2012 -- I get teased a lot for some of what others might call my eccentricities.
That is not to say I consider myself eccentric. Anything but. Still, by a certain age, one’s personality traits have pretty much had time to gel and, OK, I do confess to being somewhat set in my ways. If nothing else, I have discovered what works for me and tend to stick to that. » Read Full Story

Gold and Then Some

January 20, 2012 -- No matter our personal tendencies, the holidays (for most) are pretty much wrapped up (unless you are even a bigger procrastinator than I). As well as trees, lights and tinsel, the Magis’ gifts have also been packed away: no more gold, frankincense and myrrh until the end of the year. And haven’t we just celebrated its beginning? This is not completely true, however, for my yard remains filled with gold. » Read Full Story

Mother's in a Playful Mood

January 13, 2012 -- Mother Nature has even more moods than I. (And I pause to wait for that inevitable sigh of agreement.)  She smiles on those lovely spring days when just the slightest breeze wafts through the blossom-laden air. She turns sultry as the temperatures rise but then relents to provide us with a cooling shower. I don’t need to remind you of her bluster right now. » Read Full Story

And a Puppy in a Pear Tree

January 6, 2012 -- The Advent Calendar is used by many to count down the days until Christmas.“The Twelve Days of Christmas,” on the other hand, marks the time from then until the Feast of Epiphany. Ending with “and a partridge in a pear tree,” one has twelve days’ worth of that line by the time the sixth (and the Wise Men) finally arrive. It’s been a very long time since I’ve seen a partridge anywhere but can share a story of a puppy who got as close to that tree as he could. » Read Full Story

   
   
  Web Design by VIP Solutions