Does the sight of this make any other pianists break out in a cold sweat, or is it just me? I am generally an abysmal performer. I say this with no false humility, as I also believe myself to be a decent musician. But the performing part—oh dear. My entire adult life I have suffered … Continue reading Performance
Author: ashleycundiff
Long Winter Intermezzo
There is a Laura Ingalls Wilder book called The Long Winter. This was probably my favorite of the Little House series, which my grandmother sent in a boxed sent, each book with the same distinctly pale yellow cover. I think many girls who grew up in the 80s and 90s probably had this set, also … Continue reading Long Winter Intermezzo
Just a Pumpkin
Not the TP pumpkin, though it bears a resemblance. There are people who like to decorate their homes with inspirational words, and then there are people who don’t. I fall into the latter category, and one November four years ago I found out that that my daughter does, too. We were at a preschool event … Continue reading Just a Pumpkin
Grocery Store
Neither of my twins, who are now three, has ever been to the grocery store. This is partly pandemic-related, but mostly because they are twins, as grocery stores are not designed for multiples. Look at the carts—one child seat. Except for the ones with the huge plastic extensions that look like little cars. I guess … Continue reading Grocery Store
Emergency Vet
Jack convalescing Late Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, I found myself sitting in the waiting room of an emergency veterinary office. Our sixteen-year-old cat Jack has developed a tendency over the past year or so to become so constipated as to be close to death, and the only thing to do about it when it … Continue reading Emergency Vet
Tulips
It’s been hard to find much optimism lately. I prefer writing about the micro, not the macro, so I’m not going to enumerate all the reasons here as if you don’t already know that the big picture is not looking awesome right now. The problem for me is, when I try to focus in on … Continue reading Tulips
Ballet Class, Revisited
I recently started taking ballet class again for the first time in eighteen years. By “taking ballet class” I mean I have taken the first thirty minutes of a ballet class, which consists of about half of the barre portion. This means that I had at least one hand on a steel support the entire … Continue reading Ballet Class, Revisited
The Extinction of the Snowperson
I have this fear that, by the time my children have children, the snowman will be extinct. And by snowman, I mean snowpersons and snow creatures of every type. I am realizing as I write this that there are some gender equality and inclusion issues around the term “snowman,” so just to clear it up, … Continue reading The Extinction of the Snowperson
My Epiphanies (Which Have Absolutely Nothing To Do With Wise Men)
I love the word epiphany. It is such a grand way to express new enlightenment. Also, it sounds like candy; it reminds of the old-fashioned divinity my mom used to make at Christmas, all fluffy and pastel and ethereal. I taste sugar when I say it. I have had in my life a few epiphanies … Continue reading My Epiphanies (Which Have Absolutely Nothing To Do With Wise Men)
January
I hate January. It’s not the winter part I have a problem with. The darkness doesn’t bother me much, nor the spareness of the landscape. I don’t like to be cold, but I have a thermostat and a teakettle and I use them. It’s really not the winter season. It’s just…the month. I mean, does … Continue reading January
The Domestic Wilds 