Author: K.J. Ottinger

Tucked happily into the gorgeous hills and woods of Wisconsin, I write about life, faith, and the humor that both require.

Another round

The moles are working overtime these days. It is spring, the temporal realm of the mole, and they have--apparently--declared this the year to finally decimate the Ottinger Homestead once and for all. Sound Familiar? Well, sure it does... I went out yesterday, to stomp down the run that I shaved off the day before when... Continue Reading →

6

Even in the Dark

Snow shadows from the Hoffman Hills Tower yesterday March 24Even in the DarkTo be broken is no reasonto see all things as brokenSeldom seen, growing along the ocean floor, the white plumed anemone is a watery blossom. It is white lace opening under tons of black, opening as if bathed in the sun, while so... Continue Reading →

6

The bright side

The robins are singing again. I can't be sure that it's Julio I'm hearing out there, but whoever it is, they're greeting me through closed windows each morning, and I've missed them. As I've explored before--you know, a few times--I am slightly more dependent than the average bear on the changing seasons for my well-being.... Continue Reading →

4

A wee bit of performance anxiety

I spent an undisclosed amount of time in front of the mirror the other morning, blowing on my finger. Like a fool. You see, in the days prior, I was pushed to the edge in a minor candle fiasco, and--I have to believe--the involuntary training session in the mirror that morning was a direct result... Continue Reading →

9

What’s in a name?

I’ve been crashing through Gerald Durrell’s My Family and Other Animals. Crashing because it is good, and I'm loving it, and because I’m thrilled to have finally discovered Durrell’s voice as an adult, but also--possibly--because it is nine days overdue and I'm feeling like a felon. I wonder if I’m the only president of a... Continue Reading →

3

You leveled up

I woke up this morning with the drive to write a blog post. And with the time to do it. When does that ever happen? Answer? It happens only in conjunction with the sudden realization that I have nothing to say. It’s all blather. I don't want to recount the early departure of the youngest,... Continue Reading →

12

[Way Back Wednesday] I am misplaced

There it is. October 8th, 2016. A gem. Believe it or not, this post was the beginning of what would become a full feature-length memoir. What is still to become a full feature-length memoir. She's only a few pages away from a completed first draft, and only a few months away from a fully completed... Continue Reading →

2

Settling. Snow, smoke, and peace.

OK, OK... I've given in to the word of 2020. It’s not like it’s been honking horns and gonging gongs all around me and I’ve been resistant. It’s not like there aren’t other good candidates. I’m not even sure this is the best one. But it is the one that has been quietly persistent through... Continue Reading →

7

Wherein Pooh is Quoted

This is it for the cutout cookies. I have brought them with me to the keyboard in order to end the madness. I have eaten so many Christmas cookies in the past week that I, as is customary for late December, feel like I, too, may be made of nothing but dough and heat. What's... Continue Reading →

14

[Way Back Wednesday] A confession…

Get this... I've been at this blogging gig for over 5 years. According to my statistical underlings, I've posted 323 unique posts in that time. Many of which I don't even remember writing. 185,438 words. I gotta say... I'm shocked and slightly embarrassed at the sight of all those words. That's a couple of books... Continue Reading →

2

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