New tricks

My not-so-old dog with a new trick; plus, therapeutic gardens, accordions, and some things I'm enjoying.

Hello readers,

How are you doing this week? Hit reply and let me know how – and what – you're doing. I always love hearing from you.

I've written before about my dog Boots, and his seemingly bottomless reserves of energy. He is a rascal of the first order, a dog of many breeds, and a beast who, as my kid once said, "gets into situations." Turn your back on him and the next thing you know he's perched in a bird bath trying to eat a dead plant. Let him run loose in the backyard and somehow he winds up full of some blue contractor's chalk that was tossed in the hedge. He has been trained to bring in the mail, which is cute, but sometimes he doesn't want to surrender it, which demonstrates just how seriously he takes his job. I probably could create a few more jobs for him, such is his zeal for helping and receiving a snack reward. But, you know, I haven't. So there's that.

At almost four years of age, Boots is, by no means, an old dog. In recent weeks he has picked up a new trick, either at doggie playcare, or by figuring it out on his own. That trick: staring at his kibble bowl and woofing at it when it's empty, which is about the puppiest form of abracadabra imaginable. He woofs one cute little woof at a time until he gets what he wants. It's never at a human (because his humans are not starving him), it's just the damned bowl, which is clearly problematic.

So that's my little story for you this week. I hope you all have a wonderful, peaceful weekend.

XO,

Paige

Writing prompt: What is the coolest trick you've learned and why?

Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained.

-- Marie Curie

Endnotes

Garden Therapy

I recently spoke with horticulturalist Joel Crippen about how he's transforming the grounds of a South Florida addiction and mental health facility into a lush sanctuary for wellness and recovery. What I loved about this conversation: Crippen also provided actionable tips for creating your own healing garden at home. The key is to keep it simple, starting with plants you love, and then going from there with elements that will delight all five of your senses. Think trickling fountains, butterfly-attracting flora, and aromatic herbs such as lavender and basil. Whatever it is, rest assured that you can plant your own little corner of Zen.

For the Love of Accordions

As I read this Axios story about Decatur, Ga.-based accordion repair workshop Accordionology, I was a. geeked, because accordions are not just fun to listen to, but structurally fascinating, and b. immediately reminded of one of my kid's elementary school English teachers. Said teacher taught that the way to make writing more engaging was to begin with a question such as "Can you ever imagine a world without..." (ed. note: Thomas Wheatley, author of the aforementioned accordion piece and all-around outstanding human, would never). Needless to say, I voiced some strong and contrary opinions about this begin-with-a-question approach. When I concluded by telling my kid "So, please don't do that", El Kiddo replied "Well, for this assignment we have to." That year, almost 40 kids began their presentations about an assigned U.S. state with the same damn question, and it took everything I had not to say "Well, of course I can imagine a world without Utah because I've never been there. Same with Idaho!" Fast forward to now. I've been to Utah, so I guess I can't imagine a world without it now. But you know what else I can't imagine? A world without accordions. And thank God for Accordionology, because for 25 years it has been making sure that nerds like me don't have to.

Things I'm Enjoying

Maggie Smith's new poetry collection A Suit or a Suitcase. "Self Portrait as an Incomplete List of Mysteries" might be my favorite poem in it, partly because of this relatable line: "I've lost track of my rodeos." Girl, same. I also finally read Dava Sobel's The Elements of Marie Curie, which had been sitting on my TBR pile for far too long. Sobel's biography read like she was having a marvelous time talking about Curie, who did so much for other female scientists. And? The new season of The Parisian Agency on Netflix is, as always, as delightful as can be. Sadly I've already watched all of it. If I had a euro for every time one of the Kretz family's real estate clients said "but I prefer Haussmannian architecture...", I could afford a pied-a-terre in the City of Light. Plus? The news that Tayari Jones just sold what will likely be another masterful bestseller to Knopf. The return of my local farmers market. Lenten roses in bloom.

If You Have a Minute...

...head to 5calls.org, type in your zip code, and let your Congressfolk know what you're thinking about...everything. The website provides focused scripts for those who might struggle with policy talk. Take a minute and make a few calls. It matters. Thank you.