Often I am having dreams about what I would serve in my dream cafe (dark bread, almond cream apple tarts, oatcakes), but really, Patti Smith already created my dream cafe in M Train.

"No music no menus. Just silence black coffee olive oil fresh mint brown bread."

All through my twenties, I purposely did not take photos and I did not learn video, because it was writing that I loved. Yet here I am, a ridiculous age, and still the need to take photos is creeping up on me, even after learning how to write.

Here is a fox I once photographed.

I don't think for a second that if I start posting on Substack or wherever with some consistency that I will suddenly get a following and I will be able to help move the needle on my book, HOVEL.

There are so many people in the world, but I cannot reach them.

There is a scholar’s apartment at the Icelandic Folk and Outsider Art Museum that is available to artists, researchers and other guests. It’s available year round.

Do you have the flu? have you tried these cures?

Did a Substack before I contracted flu. Now help me understand Bluesky?

The naturalist and bear whisperer Charlie Russell said of animal tracks:

“Tracks are amazing. It’s so wonderful when there’s a fresh skiff of snow and you can see tracks. They show the animal’s history, his biography, at least for a few miles..."

I’ve written about him in my latest Substack post.

I’ve started a Substack about hermits and artists and adventurers.

It is about complex people who are sometimes railing against their loneliness, who are sometimes in love with their solitude.

It's called Holy Fools.

Maybe it could have a better name?

Defile the plots of envy
We're not worthless worms

I love these two lines, attributed to the Cynics of ancient Greece, and to Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo – a woman who’s lived in a mountain cave for twelve years.

In winter I miss lettuce; in summer I miss the stars.

On balance, it is lettuce I miss more.

Pickling dandelion buds is not so easy. They want to blossom into flowers so fast.

Yesterday the lake where I live unfroze

We are going out at dusk

I think I took these pictures about two weeks ago. This was a nice day.

#foxoftheday for @chrisgpackham.bsky.social

A fox for you @chrisgpackham.bsky.social

Three words

I read they've got scent glands on the backs of their knees