Paula Weston
LightNews LightNews
banner
paulacweston.bsky.social
Paula Weston
@paulacweston.bsky.social
2.1K followers 880 following 740 posts
I teach, I write, I occasionally abuse a ukulele. Recently referred to as "radical left faculty." I post about gardening and sports culture and my tragic love of the Buffalo Bills. Detroit Red Wings fan. There will be cat photos. She/Her. Opinions my own.
Posts Replies Media Videos
paulacweston.bsky.social
You know, it is still *our* country. As we celebrate #IndependenceDay today -- celebrate independence from the tyranny of a king -- let us remember these words from the document that launched a nation.

10/
An excerpt from the Declaration of Independence. It reads, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,"
July 4, 2025 at 4:18 PM
paulacweston.bsky.social
Captain Thomas Wolverton (5th great-grandfather). I haven’t dug into his service, but I did find this cool letter from the Northern Illinois University Digital Library.

6/
The text of a letter to Captain Thomas Wolverton, my 5th great-grandfather, from John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress and signer of the Declaration of Independence. The letter, dated March 1, 1776, requests that Wolverton take his company to New York. The letter also summarizes the way the company will be compensated.
July 4, 2025 at 4:16 PM
paulacweston.bsky.social
Private Samuel Stevens (5th great-grandfather). Served Aug. 1775 until May 1776. I don’t know if being wounded accounts for the length of his service. He lived until 1823.

5/
A summary of the service in the Continental Army of Samuel Stevens, my 5th great-grandfather. He served from August 1, 1775 until May 20, 1776.
July 4, 2025 at 4:13 PM
paulacweston.bsky.social
Private William Davis (4th great-grandfather). I have difficulty pinning down when and where he mustered. He collected a pension from 1833 until his death in 1836.

4/
A hand-written record of the pension of William Davis, my 4th great-grandfather. The record indicates that he was paid from March 1833 until his death in November 29, 1836.
July 4, 2025 at 4:11 PM
paulacweston.bsky.social
Private Zachariah Weston (3rd great-grandfather). Served Mar. 4, 1776 until Aug. 9, 1780. It's wild to me that he is just my 3rd great-grandfather -- generationally speaking, not that long ago.

2/
The cemetery record of Zachariah Weston, my 3rd great-grandfather, who served in the Continental Army from 1776 until 1780. He died March 19, 1836, and is buried in Frost Hill Cemetery, Norway, Maine, USA.
July 4, 2025 at 4:09 PM
paulacweston.bsky.social
Okay, I'm crowdsourcing here. We have an outdoor spigot we're trying to repair. I have had no luck finding info that we need. We replaced the bottom washer, which fixed that leak. It leaks from the top still, and we can't get the handle off. Ideas? Original to house, 1958.
July 2, 2025 at 8:04 PM
paulacweston.bsky.social
This is the post that got me thrown in Twitter jail today for "violent speech."

No regrets.
A tweet directed at VP Vance that reads, "You are a depraved individual, and I hope the hell of your personal belief system is waiting for you upon your death."
July 2, 2025 at 12:23 AM
paulacweston.bsky.social
There as still so much work to do out here after last year's Summer of Cancer Stupidity, but yesterday I pressure-washed the outdoor rugs (which were disgusting) and RJ put up the shades. It's lovely in our messy garden space. I am grateful.
View of a backyard from a patio. There are big trees, a green lawn, some potted flowers, some patio furniture, sun shades, and outdoor rugs.
June 17, 2025 at 8:40 PM
paulacweston.bsky.social
The 6-week semester ends June 24, and I'm holding on until then. Too much AI use, but otherwise kind, hard-working students.

Pics from the yard yesterday.
Chipmunk sitting on the wheel of a red wheelbarrow, which is leaning up against a brick wall among weeds and wildflowers. Apricot-rose colored calibrachoa flowers in a hanging basket with green leaves and stems, backlit by the sun against a pale blue sky. Two orange pansies with purple violas and white sweet alyssum in the background. There are green leaves and stems in the background. Pale blue pansies with darker purple in the middle with green leaves and stems. The rim of a terracotta planter can be seen at the bottom of the photo, with a pale gray patio in the background.
June 15, 2025 at 4:36 PM
paulacweston.bsky.social
June 3, 2025 at 2:12 AM
paulacweston.bsky.social
Shamefully long lawn.

I will be shamefully smug when I finally get the chance to mow it.

#gardensky
May 23, 2025 at 5:27 AM
paulacweston.bsky.social
Naked face -- a birthday tradition.

61 today.
May 16, 2025 at 2:16 PM
paulacweston.bsky.social
I love these daffodils, which I planted December 30 last year in Zone 6a -- and I can't believe they bloomed. I planted that tulip border years ago. We also call it the deer buffet.

#GardenSky
#gardening
#daffodils
#tulips
Two yellow daffodils with orange centers, backlit by sunlight. A garden border with shrubs, tulips, and grape hyacinth.
May 5, 2025 at 3:41 AM
paulacweston.bsky.social
Lissa had important business in her fort today. (Sorry for the grainy photo.)
April 30, 2025 at 5:06 AM
paulacweston.bsky.social
The Baltimore oriole -- or, as RJ says, the Baltimore whoreo -- showed up, finally.

I graded a gazillion things today. Three days left in the semester that has felt like it was 17 years long.

But oriole!

#BirdSky
#birds
#oriole
#spring
#Michigan
April 30, 2025 at 5:04 AM
paulacweston.bsky.social
Some loveliness from the yard today -- like the tiniest daffs (muscari for scale 😉). The Merlin app and I picked up 47 different birds in or near the backyard, bringing the total since March 4 to 87 -- crazy!

#BirdSky
#birding
#GardenSky
#gardening
#gratitude
April 26, 2025 at 4:41 AM
paulacweston.bsky.social
Bonnie, her feet trapped by the sun.

#CatSky
#CatsOfBlueSky
April 24, 2025 at 3:35 PM
paulacweston.bsky.social
I potted pansies, violas, and sweet alyssum today and will need a bucket of Aleve tomorrow. Those 10 pots are in front of the brick. I put together the five pots in the fourth photo on Saturday. They live on the back patio near a chipmunk that likes to rearrange them.
Four pots of colorful flowers and a small buddha statue in front of a brick wall. Three pots of flowers, with one shaped like a small bird. They are on cement steps in front of a brick wall. Three pots of colorful spring flowers on concrete in front of a brick wall. Five pots of colorful spring flowers on a concrete patio near a lawn, with a solar lantern.
April 23, 2025 at 4:47 AM
paulacweston.bsky.social
Why, yes -- I *do* sometimes take a break from grading to do a little writing. Why do you ask?
A poem in the style of Emily Dickinson, written by Paula Weston, about grading English 101 essays with four weeks remaining in the semester.
April 2, 2025 at 1:43 AM
paulacweston.bsky.social
#Writers #Booksky #BookskyChallenge #Readers 💙📚
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. 20/20
Cover of the textbook "Contemporary American Poetry," second edition, edited by A. Poulin, Jr.
April 2, 2025 at 12:42 AM
paulacweston.bsky.social
#Writers #Booksky #BookskyChallenge #Readers 💙📚
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. 19/20
The cover of Stephen King's novel, "Mr. Mercedes."
March 30, 2025 at 1:25 AM
paulacweston.bsky.social
#Writers #Booksky #BookskyChallenge #Readers 💙📚
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. 18/20
The cover of Mary Doria Russell's novel, "The Sparrow."
March 28, 2025 at 6:03 PM
paulacweston.bsky.social
#Writers #Booksky #BookskyChallenge #Readers 💙📚
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. 17/20
Cover of Louise Erdrich's novel, "Future Home of the Living God."
March 28, 2025 at 2:12 AM
paulacweston.bsky.social
This challenge should have been done over 20 consecutive days, but my life intervened.

#Writers #Booksky #BookskyChallenge #Readers 💙📚
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. 16/20
The cover of the Charles Dickens novel, "Bleak House."
March 26, 2025 at 11:31 PM
paulacweston.bsky.social
#Writers #Booksky #BookskyChallenge #Readers 💙📚
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. 15/20
The cover of Carl Sagan's novel, "Contact."
March 21, 2025 at 4:44 AM