Air Plants, Troll Dolls, and a Bit of Childhood Memory

I’ve been adding several new tillandsia species to my collection lately, and once they were all settled in, I realized I didn’t have a good way to display them. Air plants are unique because they don’t need soil, and that freedom makes them perfect for creative displays. For the other air plants in my collection, I had previously taken wire and twisted it into little hangers so they could dangle neatly in my orchid cabinets. It worked well enough, but these new ones had shapes that were different. They were mostly smaller and their leaves flare out in a way that looks almost like hair. Once I noticed that, the idea arrived all at once... Troll dolls, the plants could be their hair! It made me laugh, and once the idea settled, I knew what I had to do.

The Ara Pacis and the Accidental Shift of Volume II

When it comes to the next part of my orchid research, I told myself that I wouldn’t pick up Volume II until 2027. 

Now that my research was finally out there in the world, after pouring myself into the project for so long, I had decided that I needed a much-deserved break. I also know myself well enough to recognize that when I get interested in something, I tend to dive in with a kind of hyperfocus that doesn’t let go until I’ve learned everything I can. It’s a byproduct of having an ADHD brain—and while it’s a gift in research, it can also be exhausting.

Curley Cross Tavern: Finally Sharing My Orchid Display with the SCA Community

I had meant to finish and publish this post weeks ago, but like many things I start with good intentions, it ended up sitting half written until I finally remembered to come back to it. The day itself was meaningful enough that I did not want to leave the writing unfinished, so I returned to it and decided it was time to give the story the attention it deserved.

I packed the car the way I usually do for events, with a mix of intention and the kind of mild disorder that seems to follow me no matter how early I start. The orchid research boards went in first, then the Lego orchids, then the plants I planned to bring for the swap. My day basket followed, full of snacks, a notebook, business cards, and a few things I probably didn’t need but tossed in anyway. I added my folding chair and a cooler with ice, fruit, and drinks, since the forecast promised heat and I knew I’d be talking for a good part of the day. I felt that familiar combination of nerves and readiness that shows up whenever I’m about to share something new.