Judith Claire Mitchell
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judithclaire.bsky.social
Judith Claire Mitchell
@judithclaire.bsky.social
920 followers 640 following 690 posts
I do writerly things like novels (A Reunion of Ghosts, The Last Day of the War), essays (NER, Sewanee Review, The Sun, etc), and naps. UWisc-Madison Prof Emerit. judithclairemitchell.com

Also helping out at www.miriamgershow.com/100smallpress
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judithclaire.bsky.social
I'm planning on spending this warm rainy evening curled up with Caper the dog and Closer the book by @miriamgershow.bsky.social. Perfection.
Caper, my white gray, and brown mini-poodle, stretches out on a blue quilted bedrspread and looks directly into the camera with her big brown eyes while "holding" the novel Closer by Miriam Gershow in one of her paws. The novel cover, in bright red, pine green and black, is a drawing of a sun porch looking out over a distant city.
June 3, 2025 at 9:52 PM
judithclaire.bsky.social
Madison, WI--just a sliver of the crowd.
A throng of protestors (backs to camera) with Madison, WI city buildings in background and gray clouds overhead. Three legible signs: Freedom, Recall R. Johnson and I Bet Canada Feels Like They Live in an Apartment Over a Meth Lab.
April 5, 2025 at 8:34 PM
judithclaire.bsky.social
Writing; reading; huddling with partner, friends, and dog; calling reps; donations to good people and causes...but also a lot of this.
Black Manhattan cocktailin pretty glass with silver stirrer.
March 12, 2025 at 3:21 AM
judithclaire.bsky.social
The final cocktail of my trip to Chicago. A perfect Black Manhattan. Heading back home tomorrow.
A Black Manhattan cocktail, straight up, in a pretty glass with a silver metal stirrer.
March 12, 2025 at 1:45 AM
judithclaire.bsky.social
Second cocktail of the Alone in Chicago trip. A Mole Old Fashioned at a Mexican place. Here’s to our autonomous, independent North American neighbors.
March 10, 2025 at 11:54 PM
judithclaire.bsky.social
First thing I did on my solo trip to Chicago was walk over to the Art Institute to see the Art and Culture of Panafrica show. One of the works that seemed extremely relevant on this day was this painting called Dreams of the Detainee.P
Painting entitled "Dreams of the Detainee" depicting a brown-skinned woman in profile sitting on what might be a floor or window sill. She is almost spilling out of the painting, but she is also holding on to one of the iron bars of a cell (her reality?) and she also appears to be leaning against an open window or door (her dream?).
March 10, 2025 at 10:29 PM
judithclaire.bsky.social
First cocktail of my Girl (singular) Trip to Chicago. Delicious manhattan (with bourbon of course). I feel compelled to acknowledge I’m fiddling while Rome burns but I’m still calling my reps while here. My m.o. is tipsy and pissed off.
March 9, 2025 at 11:53 PM
judithclaire.bsky.social
Was able to book the house/pet sitter for a few days so I'm driving my own lone self to Chicago for a few days of museums, ambling, and good food. Happy International Women's Day to me. (Happy spending time with her favorite person who bought her everything in this photo to the dog.)
White poodle with gray markings looks into camera surrounded by lamb stuffie, dark blue blanket, and paler blue blanket.
March 8, 2025 at 8:46 PM
judithclaire.bsky.social
The smallest generous impulses make me want to cry these days. Tonight, I was stopped behind this car tonight & wanted to get out, rap on the driver's side & say thank you. Instead I did the far creepier thing: I photographed the car.
Close-up of the back of a red Jeep stopped at a Wisconsin intersection. Sticker in rear window says "I hope something good happens to you today."
February 9, 2025 at 3:39 AM
judithclaire.bsky.social
Trying to explain the polar vortex to a poodle who neither likes it nor understands why she must experience it. Welcome to my life, puppy.
Worried looking poodle puppy wrapped in a comforter on a bed.
January 21, 2025 at 8:06 PM
judithclaire.bsky.social
The next few days require meditation, good acts, and cocktails so I'm working on my Black Manhattan game. Tonight's first try: good bourbon plus the close-but-not-quite-correct ingredients I have at home: Trader Joe's amaro, orange bitters, and orange peel in lieu of a cherry. Not bad! Cheers!
A Black Manhattan cocktail in a clear glass on a black concrete counter with a vase and a sliver of my house (front hall, stairs) behind it.
January 19, 2025 at 1:26 AM
judithclaire.bsky.social
Have begun my #100smallpress reviewing with my first literary love, the short story. Combined, American Animism by @jameygallagher.bsky.social (Cornerstone), Lynne Tillman's Thrilled to Death (Soft Skull) & John Rolfe Gardiner's North of Ordinary (Bellevue) are a master class in the form.
Jacket for Jamey Gallagher's "American Animism: Stories." Red background with gold and black illustrations of a buck, a cawing crow, a slavering wolf, a house, the moom, bare trees, and at the top a quote from Andre Dubus III: "A triumph. Jamey Gallagher is a major talent." Jacket of Lynne Tillman's "Thrilled to Death." Drawing of a woman in glasses by a mirror separates the title, which is on a beige field and the author's name on a green field. Jacket of North of Ordinary by John Rolfe Gardiner. Dark, but sunlit clouds. The sky that is visible is blue.
January 16, 2025 at 8:48 PM
judithclaire.bsky.social
Hi, new followers. I assume you're here for the #100SmallPress project, which is a great reason to be here and I'm so happy you are and I hope more writers and editors and booklovers are coming. I'll try to make it worth everyone's while. Fair warning, though. There's also going to be a lot of this:
Caper, a small poodle-ish puppy, white with gray markings looks soulfully into the lens while sitting on a wood floor.
January 15, 2025 at 9:16 PM
judithclaire.bsky.social
LOL. This came up because we have a puppy. Here's where we keep the toilet paper now.
A white toilet against an off-white wall stands beneath a wood-framed window that looks out on a wintry crepuscular scene...with a roll of toilet paper jammed onto the window's metal crank.
January 15, 2025 at 2:58 AM
judithclaire.bsky.social
I prefer ebooks, but suddenly, I find myself in a book group and after our first meeting I had nothing to hold up for the obligatory group selfie (see evidence). So while I've already e-read our second book, I just bought the hardcover solely for the photo op.
Four smiling women in a coffee shop, three of the four holding copies of Kaveh Akbar's novel Martyr
January 13, 2025 at 9:49 PM
judithclaire.bsky.social
Scruffy Puppy v. Groomed Puppy. The one constant: eating something she shouldn't be. With apologies to @jesselkercheval.bsky.social.
Shaggy white and gray minipoodle puppy lies on a burgundy comforter and gnaws at the corner of the graphic novel French Girl by Jesse Lee Kercheval. Same dog, hair much shorter, gray markings more prominent, stands on wood floor under the corner of an old blue table and in front of an open wooden door with frosted glass insert, looking at camera with a gray sock in her mouth.
December 20, 2024 at 9:32 PM
judithclaire.bsky.social
Happy Monday to all who celebrate from Caper and her blanket.
White and gray minipoodle-ish dog looks soulfully into camera while lying on an orange sofa partially covered with a light blue, dog-patterned blanket.
December 16, 2024 at 3:49 PM
judithclaire.bsky.social
The birthday girl can't contain her joy over all the love she got here yesterday. Thanks, everyone.
White and gray mini-poodle-ish pyppy running on long grass, one ear flying, with a bright red toy in her mouth.
December 10, 2024 at 7:42 PM
judithclaire.bsky.social
Happy 1st birthday to the most joyful being I know. What a privilige and comfort it is to care for her.
Mini-poochon pup, mostly white with some gray and brown, stands in grass and smiles at camera.
December 9, 2024 at 3:04 PM
judithclaire.bsky.social
It's so hard losing these loving presences in our lives. I'm sorry you're feeling her absence today. We lost Josie earlier this year. Here she is with her snail.
White West Highland Terrier looks at the camera while holding a pink and yellow stuffed snail. The snail covers half her face.
December 6, 2024 at 7:25 AM
judithclaire.bsky.social
Yep. I like to write in bed. This is my writing partner. She deletes entire paragraphs with her chin.
White, gray, and brown mini-poodle lies across half of a laptop's keyboard, gazing up at camera. Computer and puppy are on a burgundy comforter.
December 2, 2024 at 10:10 PM
judithclaire.bsky.social
As you can clearly see, this monster strolled over and tried to knock down the door. They are everywhere.
White mini-poodle with gray head fluff and brown ears stands on hind legs at a glass door, front paw on glass. She is on a rain-soaked wooden deck with a purple plastic Adirondack chair on it (don't judge) and lawn in the far background.
December 2, 2024 at 4:32 PM
judithclaire.bsky.social
News in Photos:
TOP CUTE
December 2, 2024 at 2:17 AM
judithclaire.bsky.social
Your Thanksgiving Caper.
White mini-poodle-ish puppy with gray markings sits on a black ottoman half coved with a red blanket featuring dancing Snoopys. The puppy looks up with a big black nose and big black eyes. She is in a room with a slate tile floor. There's part of an orange couch in background. And, oh yes, she is wearing a yellow and orange hat shaped like a turkey with its wings unfurled.
November 28, 2024 at 8:03 PM
judithclaire.bsky.social
Your morning Caper meets @jesselkercheval.bsky.social's FRENCH GIRL. Jesse Lee & I will chat about the book the Wash. Post named one of the 10 best graphic novels of 2024 at @roomofonesownbooks.bsky.social a week from today, Dec. 4 at 6pm. Please join us!
Scruffy mini-poodle, white with brown floppy ears on a burgundy blanket with paws "holds" book entitled French Girl, its cover drawing depicting two short-haired blonde women, eyes blacked out with thick line, bodies blurred.
November 26, 2024 at 5:33 PM