Round Museum

March Madness is a showcase for some awesome college talent, and tomorrow night the Kansas Jayhawks and North Carolina Tar Heels face off for the NCAA Championship. But for the rest of us average ballers the madness of the game is different. Although perfectly formed to fit inside a Round hoop, frequently a basketball refuses to fulfill its geometric obligation, clanging off the rim loudly, or rolling around and around tantalizingly close before dropping off in apparent defiance of gravity and physics. Just put the Round ball in the Round hole! It seems so easy. But not as it looks.

This end of Penelope is happy, wagging, wiggly, and all around round.

04.02.22

04.01.22

The Unidentified Round Object that's landed on your living room floor looks a bit threatening even though its no bigger than a grapefruit. There's no sound or lights emanating from it currently, but its strange knobby appearance is unsettling. Should you call the Defense Department? Homeland Security? Poke it and see what happens. Roll it around with your foot.

03.31.22

Hey. Is Mittens around? Anywhere close by? Just hanging out here in a hidey hole. Biding my time.

03.30.22

We’re in to Spring, and what's in the air? Another wintry storm, apparently! Where are the birds chirping? Goldfish swimming in the pond? Squirrels scampering about? If it were warm enough, up in the apple tree this paper globe might softly sway in the breeze. Strung around the branches, a whole series of these lights might give a festive aura for a backyard barbeque in the afternoon. If only it wasn't snowing.

03.29.22

These are the ends of the asparagus that you don't want to eat -- the parts they call woody, fibrous and unpleasant. The prep secret is that with every spear the undesirable section is a different length from the root end, but by bending the spear between your thumb and forefinger it will break at the appropriately tasty, fresh and juicy spot. So, get to work. And in to the compost with you, Woody F. Unpleasant.

03.28.22

When the goat milk ricotta garnished with dill pollen arrives to the table, of course your first question is: 'Dill pollen?' The spice is harvested from the dill flower, a bright yellow radial umbel which is clipped and dried to carefully sift the pollen from the stems. And a day without dill pollen is a day without sunshine.

03.27.22

The best way to keep track of your driftwood traps is to mark them with brightly colored buoys. Your own unique color markings will distinguish you from other beach combers, and will be easier to spot along the beach when you're out hauling in your catch.

03.26.22

It is hard to resist the power of tots. Napoleon Dynamite couldn't. You can't either. Shredded potato rolled into a spherical-cylindrical pellet, these taters sometimes get tricked out with chives or bacon bits or stuffed with cheese. It's like a compact shot of deliciousness for your soul. Or something.

03.25.22