"Always go by the book~ just always be the author."

Welcome to Herban Sprawl. Here you will find the rambling thoughts of a creative individual who is busier in retirement than she was when she was a full time public school teacher. There are rants about everything from bad manners and the intrusion of technology to politics. Sometimes what you will read is a treatise on martinis or some other food-related discovery. The perspective is that of someone born and raised in the Midwest, but who moved South after the Blizzard of '79 convinced her that there was something to that old tune, "My Window Faces the South."
The Old Sprawler is a gardener with bad knees and a back yard that goes straight up, culminating in a city-owned plot of weeds and weed trees. (It all started with three tarragon plants...) She is also a pretty decent (and fearless) cook, with a love of gadgets and cookbooks. You may also find her in her art studio, cranking out cards, altered books, pictures and whatever strikes her fancy. There are a couple of novels in the works and projects galore. And, she is a Diehard Cubs Fan who thinks Harry Carey couldn't hold a candle to Jack Brickhouse. Being an Italian princess, she also has a pretty fierce sensibility about the latest fashions.
Meandering through all this disorder are Big Kitty, the Sprawler's long-suffering spouse, and the cats (Charlie Byrd Sawtelle  -aka Charlie Rottens -  and his brother, Simon Kahn - aka the Crabby Tabby). Also populating this world are BGF (Best Guy Friend, and we won't discuss how long we've known each other but I've known ALL his wives and he grows the world's best maters.), Jake (Gardening Mentor, carissimo amico and soul brother.), The Uncles (Doc & Cookie), The Bubbas (Wayne, David, Bob, Chet, etc.) and a whole cast of nieces, nephews, adopted nieces and nephews, and friends. The door is always open, I'm always up for getting into trouble, and you just never know what will happen as a result.

If you are politically conservative, a gun nut, misogynistic, or hate cats, this is probably not going to be a blog you'll want to read. For one thing, if you leave me a tirade and expect me to approve it as a comment, you are sadly mistaken. And, for another thing, your kind tend to lack a sense of humor. In short, you are no fun and I don't have time for people who aren't fun.

Finally, this is the migrated blog that used to appear at herbansprawl.com/HerbanSprawl/ - if I can move old posts, I will, but until that happens, we're kind of starting fresh here.

Hope you will return, post comments and generally become a part of my fun-filled blog family.

Best wishes,
The Old Herban Sprawler