The Quiet Blog
Just a note to say I’m not much of a blogger, but on occasion I have something to say that seems something that someone somewhere might eventually find interesting. Or maybe it will just be Future Jodi. That’s fine too.
We have WALLS, folks!
After a dozen years and three false starts, the LIBRARY IS RISING OUT OF THE GROUND! Perhaps another library project might not have gotten delayed a full four months by striking water in the ground and then getting hit by an epic FLOOD. Perhaps another library project might might actually poured the foundation during the … Read more…
Five Reasons Not to Build a Public Library in a Small Town…During a Pandemic
Half the town thinks it’s a great idea. Half the town reads mainly hunting magazines and doesn’t see why anyone would ever go to a library. Half the town wants to help pay for it but has only dollar bills to share. Half the town doesn’t think it’s worth even a nickel. Less than 1% … Read more…
Grand Delusions
4:00 AM, December 23. As has happened at this precise hour for the past twenty-two years, we tumble out of bed and into the pre-packed car for the annual 15-hour pilgrimage to the Star Wars House—my husband’s childhood home in suburban Michigan, an hour north of Detroit. This year we’re driving a rented minivan my … Read more…
Chill Pill
I’m a pretty chill person in general. I’ve had to be…to raise three kids on a farm, build our own house, start various small businesses, and navigate leadership roles on a series of public boards. The more crises I see, the more I take each one in stride. Most times, whatever it is…I’ve seen it … Read more…
We’re Getting Our Library Folks!
Does it look easy from here?? Well . . . Here’s the actual story: 2001 Lisa Sammet, the new Library Director, vowed to bring the Jeudevine into the 21st century. She said right away that we needed more space. The historic 1895 library is an architectural gem, but also a dollhouse. It holds a total … Read more…
I Won’t Go Down as a Chicken
So, OK, there’s no Olympic ski racing in my future, but I started learning to downhill ski at the age of 50 and by now, at nearly 54, I’m finally getting it. And, most of all, it’s pretty much the most fun I’ve had in my whole grown-up life. And no broken bones so far. … Read more…
A Pushcart Nomination!
Wow! My story “Tia Rosalita’s Botanical Garden” was nominated for a Pushcart Prize by The Wax Paper magazine. I’m so tickled . . .
All the Ways to Love My Book Club
The Hardwick Women’s Book Club is like a sleepy warm puppy in your lap on a blustery cold night. At least that’s how I feel about it. We live in a VERY cold place, where winters are long and summers are wildly short. For this reason we don’t even TRY to hold meetings in the … Read more…
The Snowiest Winter in Years
This is the view of the sky from my desk. A. Wall. Of. Snow. And this is pretty much the story of this winter in Vermont. One massive snow storm after another. Which has a lot of people complaining and I can’t blame anyone one bit. Truth is . . . though I don’t say … Read more…