Category Archives: biking

Dogs in the road: encountering fear.

Posted on September 7, 2014 by cheapskateintellectual

Last Sunday I was finishing up a 2-day, 40-mile bike ride to celebrate my 40th birthday, and it took me past a house where I knew there were dogs.  They’d barked at me before but never left the yard; I … Continue reading →

Posted in animals, biking, resilience, women | 4 Comments

Afoot in the world.

Posted on April 22, 2012 by cheapskateintellectual

Back on the bike for a big day of riding today, the first in too long a time, under a sky so blue it hurt to look at it.  This was the kind of sunny, windy April day that has … Continue reading →

Posted in attention, biking, body, community, culture, Driftless region, politics, self-reliance | 1 Comment

Seven little gifts of November.

Posted on November 23, 2011 by cheapskateintellectual

1) Seven Meyer lemons from my own little tree, now two years old.  (The seventh one is still a little green at the tip, so I’m leaving it on there till the last minute.  I think I’m going to use … Continue reading →

Posted in attention, biking, gratitude | 2 Comments

Buon giorno, Signor Bianchi:, or, enchanting the world.

Posted on November 19, 2011 by cheapskateintellectual

“If I had influence with the good fairy who is supposed to preside over the christening of all children I should ask that her gift to each child in the world be a sense of wonder so indestructible that it … Continue reading →

Posted in animals, art, attention, biking, mystery, spirit, writing | 2 Comments

Early fall, in fragrance and light.

Posted on September 5, 2011 by cheapskateintellectual

Last night it became impossible to ignore.  Clipping a stem from my backdoor rosemary pot and stripping its leaves into a pork, tomato, onion, and garlic stuffing for peppers (thank you, dear Nigel Slater), I smelled the green cedary tang … Continue reading →

Posted in attention, biking, Driftless region, food, gardening, gratitude, seasons | 2 Comments

A dozen lessons from a bike.

Posted on July 13, 2011 by cheapskateintellectual

Inspired by today’s ride through a perfect Northeast Iowa summer evening, things I learn and relearn from my simple old machine: 1) If I just get started, it will get easier from there.  This applies to everything. 2) From a … Continue reading →

Posted in attention, biking, body, community, Driftless region, gratitude, seasons, self-reliance | 4 Comments