Behind the Puddle

One ordinary moment, observed behind the puddle.

August 6, 2026

  • Ordinary Neighbors

     I think the birds know Brian’s schedule. This afternoon he filled every feeder, and before he had even settled back down, they were covered with sparrows and finches. It was almost as if someone had quietly announced, “The buffet is open.” Well…almost every feeder. The one hanging from the pine tree had a single little… Continue reading

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  • More Than a Neighborhood

    When people first hear me talk about “the puddle,” they often imagine a small pond tucked behind a few houses. They picture a pleasant view, a handful of ducks, maybe a walking path. They aren’t wrong. But they also aren’t seeing the whole story. The puddle is approximately 11.5 acres, nestled into a neighborhood in… Continue reading

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  • Borrowed Feathers

    Borrowed Feathers

    The geese have spent the last few evenings plucking their down feathers, and now the water is dotted with tiny white reminders of the season. Some have drifted to the shoreline, while others have floated into the yard, carried wherever the breeze decided they should go. Today those little feathers became treasures. I sat and… Continue reading

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  • When the Puddle Isn’t Home

    When the Puddle Isn’t Home

    Not every puddle is behind my house. Some days the puddle is sixty miles away, in an infusion center, where I spend an hour receiving something my body needs but cannot provide on its own. The drive is about an hour there, an hour for the infusion, another thirty minutes waiting to be sure there… Continue reading

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  • We Thought We Were Building a Patio

    There are moments in life that announce themselves as turning points. A graduation. A wedding. The birth of a child. The loss of someone we love. And then there are the quieter moments, the ones that don’t feel significant while they’re happening. A decision to buy a few patio pavers. A bird feeder. A comfortable… Continue reading

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  • My Wish for You Both

    My Wish for You Both

    My Dear Littles: Hollyn and Hadley, If there is one thing I hope you carry with you throughout your lives, it is this: I hope you always find your puddle. It may never look like mine. It may not have herons standing quietly at the water’s edge, squirrels chattering in the trees, or ducks paddling… Continue reading

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