David Abrams

"In the Night Kitchen" by Maurice Sendak, featuring the Oliver Hardy Triplets. . . . . . . #amreading #books #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #booklover #booknerd #MauriceSendak #InTheNightKitchen #childrensbooks #kidsbooks #kidslit #booked #instabooks #booklife #readinglife #classicbooks https://www.instagram.com/p/CYIPmLVFQjt/?utm_medium=tumblr

Ash is hard at work, editing the latest manuscript to come his way through @grubwriters. Ash is grateful I provided a lap for his workspace. If you'd like to hire him/Me for manuscript consultation at Grub Street, here's the link: https://bit.ly/3ohFThI (We apologize in advance for any books which may come back smelling like salmon.) . . . . #amediting #manuscripts #manuscriptconsultation #amwriting #creativewriting #writersofig #thewritinglife #writersofinstagram #writer #writers #editor #editing #EditingServices (at Helena, Montana) https://www.instagram.com/p/CO0sETEBv9M/?igshid=19bncgnohssji

Portrait of Ember, 2021. . . . . . . #catsofinstagram #cats_of_instagram #catstagram #cats #cat #kitten #kitty #pets #kittycat #mycat #greycat #insidecat #pets #petportrait #meow #purr #feline #felinefriends #blackandwhitephotography #blackandwhitephoto https://www.instagram.com/p/CON028mhPKK/?igshid=geofa3plj2hm

Neighborhood Watch. . . . . . . #catstagram #cats #catsofinstagram #cats_of_instagram #kitten #kitty #pets #kittycat #mycat #greycat #insidecat #pets #petportrait #meow #purr #feline #felinefriends (at Helena, Montana) https://www.instagram.com/p/CM2RQB_Bpns/?igshid=d2dvffozbuuc

We'll be leaving this place a month from now (in case you didn't pick up on my earlier, somewhat cryptic & coy announcement). [BTW, Cryptic and Coy is a great name for a law firm, isn't it?]. I have loved our year in the historic Blackstone building in #HelenaMT, but it's time to move on. Things I'll miss: the sunrise views that backlight the Cathedral up Lawrence Street, the apartment building's creaky old Otis elevator which often felt like our own private dumbwaiter, the fact that EVERYTHING on #LastChanceGulch is within easy walking distance, and all the lessons about Living Small this 950-square-foot space has taught us. What I won't miss: the basement laundry room with its sketchy washer and dryer, the backed-up plumbing that left us standing ankle-deep in water when we showered, and the electric stove that burned 70 percent of our meals. We're terribly excited to be moving into our own home on 8th Avenue here in Helena which we bought sight unseen (yep, we're nucking futz!) because we were still in quarantine. I mean, really--can you blame us? https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1036-8th-Ave-Helena-MT-59601/78169501_zpid/ . . . #apartment #ApartmentLiving #HistoricBuilding #Helena #Montana #montanagram #livinginthe406 #architecture (at Helena, Montana) https://www.instagram.com/p/CIdg9KPh-lC/?igshid=1k9z3p1siac5s

Dinner tonight was assembled from ingredients purchased at @bellaromamarket in #HelenaMT. My taste, previously robbed by that horrible thief COVID, has now returned, hopefully to stay. Tonight, the #PotatoGnocchi (with #onions, #garlic, #broccoli and #friedegg) lay silky-smooth on the tongue. The only thing missing, as suggested by my daughter, was a splash of white wine. Perhaps I'll use pinot grigio. And then I can call the dish "Pin-gnocchi-o!" . . . #ameating #dinner #dinnertonight #yum #nomnom #delish #plated #food #foodie #foodporn #homecook #homecooking https://www.instagram.com/p/CIZe9qpBZHy/?igshid=14sv38g047wbv

Borrowing my daughter's mug and a few select books from my shelf to illustrate today's update: For those of you who didn't already see on Facebook, my wife tested positive for #COVID two days ago. It's baffling and maddening because we've all been SO careful since March--we stay self-contained in our apartment with just the four of us (my wife, my daughter, my 8-month-old grandson, and I). On the rare occasions we go out, briefly, to run errands or get groceries, we're always masked and are careful to wash our hands upon returning home. This damn virus is sneaky and wears black and hugs the shadows and tip-toes with its menacing knife. This is a warning to the rest of you to treat this virus with the utmost respect, if you aren't already. My wife started feeling lousy last week--extreme exhaustion, congestion, a sudden and mysterious rash, and a scratchy throat. At first, we assumed it was the "typical" symptoms of her thyroid condition (yes, she's one of the immunocompromised population who are at greatest risk of getting #coronavirus, so I've been her shield and protector all through this pandemic). But when she lost her sense of taste and smell last weekend, we feared the worst. Now my dear dear wife, my best friend in the whole wide world, is bedridden, throwing up, and weak with exhaustion. I am wrenched with worry, but I'm trying to cling to hopeful stories of survival from those who have already gone through this. Yesterday, my daughter, my grandson and I got tested. We're on pins & needles waiting for the results. The two of them have also been feeling sick with headaches and body aches (Ludo, my grandson, has been abnormally fussy and clingy). I myself have felt lethargic, but have no other symptoms so far. Our world, already tiny since March, has now shrunk to this 950-square-foot apartment and we wear masks whenever we come out of the individual rooms where we've tucked ourselves away. My goal, as the mug says, is to keep all my favorite humans (not just the tiny ones) alive. I'm sure we'll get through this, but it's pretty scary not knowing how the movie ends. Be safe, stay masked, and wash your hands like you were Lady Macbeth on cocaine. https://www.instagram.com/p/CHv1ZSyhNla/?igshid=doibdnkfwo8d

"I think I could turn and live awhile with the animals.... they are so placid and self-contained, I stand and look at them sometimes half the day long." --Walt Whitman . . . . #amreading #WaltWhitman #poetry #poet #poem #AmericanWriters #AmericanPoet #catstagram #cats #catsofinstagram #cats_of_instagram #sleepingcat #peaceful #catnap #catnapping #meow #RussianBlue #writerswithcats #felinefriends #feline #greycat #insidecat #pets #petportrait https://www.instagram.com/p/CHu7TJ0BJ4a/?igshid=1eccbl99crk1h

When you love your cats, and they love you back, you'll never have a cold lap. https://www.instagram.com/p/CHp_xwxhJxf/?igshid=wzdyjr6m975f

Good morning from #HelenaMT, city of spectacular sunrises. I never get tired of this cityscape. And if I do, if I ever complain of the view from my dining room window, please promise you'll come and stab my eyeballs with rusty forks. . . . #Helena #Montana #montanagram #livinginthe406 #MontanaScenery #Cathedral #sunrise #dawn #ViewFromMyWindow (at Helena, Montana) https://www.instagram.com/p/CHp9Awph_oB/?igshid=zua5pmcfoneg

These new #socks from @mtbookco are a reminder that I'm still "Reading With My Octopus Hands." See this early blog post for the background: http://bit.ly/1K3ZpBg In addition to @1000bookstoreadbeforeyoudie, in which I discover one fresh book per day, I'm also reading: HALF A LIFE by @darin_writer THE BOOK OF DELIGHTS by Ross Gay WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A BIRD by @sibleyguides AMERICAN POETRY: THE 19TH CENTURY, VOL. 1 THE TIME TRAVELER'S ALMANAC by @jeff_vandermeer123 & @annvander18 THE COMPLETE SHORT STORIES OF ERNEST HEMINGWAY (The Finca Vigia edition) and, on hold at the @lewisandclarklibrary ready for pickup, CASTE by @isabelwilkerson Quite a varied list, and yes, I can pronounce "eclectic" without stuttering. What are YOU reading these days? . . . . #amreading #books #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #booklover #booknerd #bibliophile #ilovebooks #ilovereading #readthis #booksbooksbooks #reader #classicbooks #instabook #bookpic #mybooks #bookworm #igreads #booked #instabooks #booklife #readinglife #bookaddict #StillLifeWithBooks #readthis #fiction #booksbooksbooks #reader #classicbooks #reading #readingtime #pages https://www.instagram.com/p/CHfzPLPhlGd/?igshid=v414gkwxsdg1

Found a battered 1962 edition of #FinnegansWake in a #LittleFreeLibrary on my #morningwalk today. I can't wait to not-read it! . . . #books #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #booklover #booknerd #bibliophile #ilovebooks #ilovereading #readthis #booksbooksbooks #reader #classicbooks #instabook #bookpic #mybooks #bookworm #igreads #booked #instabooks #booklife #readinglife #bookaddict #StillLifeWithBooks #bookstoread #wanttoread #fiction #JamesJoyce #classicbooks https://www.instagram.com/p/CGx4Z-HBiak/?igshid=1vdlcje5vdj3l

One of my favorite sights in #nature is the dramatic contrast between nearby light against the approach of dark storms. This was just a brief, spectacular wash of sunlight across the neighboring slope, as seen from the Waterline Trail at the edge of #HelenaMT city limits. My first time on this hike, but certainly not my last. . . . #awalkinthewoods #Montana #montanagram #livinginthe406 #MontanaScenery #MountHelena #LightAndDark #scenicphotography #scenery #scenicphoto #viewscape #woods #forest #getout #getoutside #hike (at Mount Helena) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGak8VpBRWr/?igshid=8s7ycl33rv40

"My #FridayReads tastes like feathers." Kindle the Kitten's criticism aside, I'm really enjoying David Allen Sibley's "What It's Like To Be a Bird," purchased from @mtbookco just before migration season. I have learned so much about beaks, wings and nests since I started reading. I've made it part of my daily reading--along with a poem-a-day, @1000bookstoreadbeforeyoudie, and "The Book of Delights" by Ross Gay (where today's delight, I shit you not, was "Bird Feeding"!!!!). Each morning, I read one (or two or three) poem(s), one 1,000-Books entry, and one bird (Sibley highlights one per two-page spread). I'm up to Cormorants at this point. Do you have a daily reading habit? I'd love to hear about your literary quirks and routines.... #amreading #books #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #booklover #booknerd #bibliophile #ilovebooks #ilovereading #readthis #booksbooksbooks #reader #instabook #bookpic #mybooks #bookworm #igreads #booked #instabooks #booklife #readinglife #bookaddict #StillLifeWithBooks #readthis #birdbook #booksandcats #catsandbooks #birds #avian https://www.instagram.com/p/CGZ0CPKBMRm/?igshid=wjob83w0llbd

I call larch trees the candles of the forest. At least, during autumn they are. This time of year is, of course, the Season of the Tree when our deciduous friends explode in fireworks of color. But not for long. This morning, I opened my phone to a weather alert: Winter will arrive in full force on our doorstep this week—we thought we had some time before he showed up, but I guess he caught an early flight. Autumn, we hardly knew ye…. Yesterday, I spent a long afternoon in the forest—for work, as the BLM's Missoula Field Office took county commissioners on a tour of key spots along the Blackfoot River. I was in the trees and I was happy. The larch—evergreen-looking trees, but which are really deciduous--flame to golden-yellow in the Fall. At moments yesterday, when the sun pierced through the overcast cover, the very ground around us turned brighter, illuminated by the play of light across the mustard-colored larch. Yellow “pine” trees in the prime of life (i.e., not dessicated husks) may seem odd, but they are a marvel to look at. (at Johnsrud Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGXhsDkBMod/?igshid=cin7895i1m3j

I did it, @injeanious83 did it, and Kindle *wishes* he could do it. Have you done it yet? Jean and I didn't have to go very far to do it; we did it right there at that white trailer (just above the sticker) you can see from our apartment window. And lemme tell you, we felt really good after we did it. (at Helena, Montana) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGS7XSwBhsW/?igshid=opad33744f6i

My hike is prettier than your hike. Today's outing was to the Scratchgravel Hills for a quick two-mile walk in the woods and up the slopes. Baby Ludo, as usual, slept through most of it. Good thing I'm documenting his infant hikes with photos so he can remember them later. (at Scratchgravel Hills) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGF3h-9hgXk/?igshid=d1jxewywwcj3