Gratia Léger
@gratialeger.bsky.social
Reader. Writer. Dog lover. Historian. Tea lover. Walker. Knitter. Vegetable whisperer. Lifelong Pittsburgh Pirates fan.
MARY
My flesh in terror and fire
Rejoices that the Word
Who utters the world out of nothing,
As a pledge of His word to love her
Against her will, and to turn
Her desperate longing to love,
Should ask to wear me,
From now to their wedding day,
For an engagement ring.
My flesh in terror and fire
Rejoices that the Word
Who utters the world out of nothing,
As a pledge of His word to love her
Against her will, and to turn
Her desperate longing to love,
Should ask to wear me,
From now to their wedding day,
For an engagement ring.
December 2, 2025 at 7:28 PM
MARY
My flesh in terror and fire
Rejoices that the Word
Who utters the world out of nothing,
As a pledge of His word to love her
Against her will, and to turn
Her desperate longing to love,
Should ask to wear me,
From now to their wedding day,
For an engagement ring.
My flesh in terror and fire
Rejoices that the Word
Who utters the world out of nothing,
As a pledge of His word to love her
Against her will, and to turn
Her desperate longing to love,
Should ask to wear me,
From now to their wedding day,
For an engagement ring.
Reposted by Gratia Léger
If I recall correctly, the scholarship on this points to like 24% of the American Colonial population being foreign born on the eve of the Revolutionary War.
One in six people being foreign born means we are at is 17%.
Don't force a racist to do history or math.
One in six people being foreign born means we are at is 17%.
Don't force a racist to do history or math.
Rep. Kat Cammarck: "Today, one in six people in the US is foreign born. That quite frankly is not sustainable to maintain a culture that we are known for here in the United States."
December 2, 2025 at 5:44 PM
If I recall correctly, the scholarship on this points to like 24% of the American Colonial population being foreign born on the eve of the Revolutionary War.
One in six people being foreign born means we are at is 17%.
Don't force a racist to do history or math.
One in six people being foreign born means we are at is 17%.
Don't force a racist to do history or math.
Reposted by Gratia Léger
While "peace" negotiations continue, remember that Russia could simply stop the war at any time.
December 2, 2025 at 2:04 PM
While "peace" negotiations continue, remember that Russia could simply stop the war at any time.
I hate how Giving Tuesday has become Spam Tuesday.
Deleting all the emails is draining, and takes time away from things that matter—including the very support all these emails & posts crave.
Surely it’s the embodiment of the futility of capitalism.
Deleting all the emails is draining, and takes time away from things that matter—including the very support all these emails & posts crave.
Surely it’s the embodiment of the futility of capitalism.
December 2, 2025 at 1:10 PM
I hate how Giving Tuesday has become Spam Tuesday.
Deleting all the emails is draining, and takes time away from things that matter—including the very support all these emails & posts crave.
Surely it’s the embodiment of the futility of capitalism.
Deleting all the emails is draining, and takes time away from things that matter—including the very support all these emails & posts crave.
Surely it’s the embodiment of the futility of capitalism.
I read the digital ARC, and it was really good. The physical book sounds even better, because of its beauty, plus the ease of moving around in the book.
Englewood Review of Books does an Advent book calendar every year. Happy that "A Beautiful Year" appeared when I opened the FIRST window!
englewoodreview.org/dec-1-diana-...
englewoodreview.org/dec-1-diana-...
Dec. 1 - Diana Butler Bass - A Beautiful Year [Advent Calendar 2025]
Our Best Books of 2025 Advent Calendar - December 1 - A Beautiful Year by Diana Butler Bass (Hardback: St Martins, 2025)
englewoodreview.org
December 2, 2025 at 12:05 AM
I read the digital ARC, and it was really good. The physical book sounds even better, because of its beauty, plus the ease of moving around in the book.
It's World AIDS Day.
I'm lucky: no one close to me has (as far as I know) had AIDS. But almost everyone I know HAS lost someone they loved deeply to this terrible pandemic. And in 2024 there were more than 40 million people in the world living with the disease.
I'm lucky: no one close to me has (as far as I know) had AIDS. But almost everyone I know HAS lost someone they loved deeply to this terrible pandemic. And in 2024 there were more than 40 million people in the world living with the disease.
December 1, 2025 at 7:11 PM
It's World AIDS Day.
I'm lucky: no one close to me has (as far as I know) had AIDS. But almost everyone I know HAS lost someone they loved deeply to this terrible pandemic. And in 2024 there were more than 40 million people in the world living with the disease.
I'm lucky: no one close to me has (as far as I know) had AIDS. But almost everyone I know HAS lost someone they loved deeply to this terrible pandemic. And in 2024 there were more than 40 million people in the world living with the disease.
Reposted by Gratia Léger
I was diagnosed with #HIV in 1998, when I was 30.
Many of my friends had died of AIDS. I did not expect to live to 50.
I’m 58 now.
HIV treatment works.
Treatment also makes it impossible for me to pass HIV on during sex.
Ensure HIV treatment for all.
End HIV stigma.
#WorldAIDSDay
Many of my friends had died of AIDS. I did not expect to live to 50.
I’m 58 now.
HIV treatment works.
Treatment also makes it impossible for me to pass HIV on during sex.
Ensure HIV treatment for all.
End HIV stigma.
#WorldAIDSDay
December 1, 2025 at 8:46 AM
I was diagnosed with #HIV in 1998, when I was 30.
Many of my friends had died of AIDS. I did not expect to live to 50.
I’m 58 now.
HIV treatment works.
Treatment also makes it impossible for me to pass HIV on during sex.
Ensure HIV treatment for all.
End HIV stigma.
#WorldAIDSDay
Many of my friends had died of AIDS. I did not expect to live to 50.
I’m 58 now.
HIV treatment works.
Treatment also makes it impossible for me to pass HIV on during sex.
Ensure HIV treatment for all.
End HIV stigma.
#WorldAIDSDay
The Coming
And God held in his hand
A small globe. Look he said.
The son looked. Far off,
As through water, he saw
A scorched land of fierce
Colour. The light burned
There; crusted buildings
Cast their shadows: a bright
Serpent, a river
Uncoiled itself, radiant
With slime.
And God held in his hand
A small globe. Look he said.
The son looked. Far off,
As through water, he saw
A scorched land of fierce
Colour. The light burned
There; crusted buildings
Cast their shadows: a bright
Serpent, a river
Uncoiled itself, radiant
With slime.
December 1, 2025 at 1:26 AM
The Coming
And God held in his hand
A small globe. Look he said.
The son looked. Far off,
As through water, he saw
A scorched land of fierce
Colour. The light burned
There; crusted buildings
Cast their shadows: a bright
Serpent, a river
Uncoiled itself, radiant
With slime.
And God held in his hand
A small globe. Look he said.
The son looked. Far off,
As through water, he saw
A scorched land of fierce
Colour. The light burned
There; crusted buildings
Cast their shadows: a bright
Serpent, a river
Uncoiled itself, radiant
With slime.
Happy New (liturgical) Year to all who celebrate!
November 30, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Happy New (liturgical) Year to all who celebrate!
Winter joy:
2 red tail hawks circling overhead. Their breasts & underwings are so pale they are like flashing beacons on every pass, reflecting low morning sunbeams onto those who stop to watch.
2 red tail hawks circling overhead. Their breasts & underwings are so pale they are like flashing beacons on every pass, reflecting low morning sunbeams onto those who stop to watch.
November 29, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Winter joy:
2 red tail hawks circling overhead. Their breasts & underwings are so pale they are like flashing beacons on every pass, reflecting low morning sunbeams onto those who stop to watch.
2 red tail hawks circling overhead. Their breasts & underwings are so pale they are like flashing beacons on every pass, reflecting low morning sunbeams onto those who stop to watch.
Whose interests indeed.
Time to ask: In whose interests is American foreign policy being conducted?
"By dangling multibillion-dollar rare-earth and energy deals, Moscow could reshape the economic map of Europe—while driving a wedge between America and its traditional allies"
Read this excellent @wsj.com account of the business deals behind the "peace"negotiations
www.wsj.com/world/russia...
Read this excellent @wsj.com account of the business deals behind the "peace"negotiations
www.wsj.com/world/russia...
November 29, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Whose interests indeed.
Armadillo
American black bear
Black king snake
Broad winged hawk
Red drum
American black bear
Black king snake
Broad winged hawk
Red drum
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you’ve seen in the wild:
American Alligator
Coral snake
Eastern diamondback rattlesnake
Bighorn sheep
Elk
American Alligator
Coral snake
Eastern diamondback rattlesnake
Bighorn sheep
Elk
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you’ve seen in the wild:
Coyote
Raccoon
Moose
Bobcat
Pika
Coyote
Raccoon
Moose
Bobcat
Pika
November 29, 2025 at 12:12 AM
Armadillo
American black bear
Black king snake
Broad winged hawk
Red drum
American black bear
Black king snake
Broad winged hawk
Red drum
Important to remember. Authoritarians actually like terrorism, because it's useful. (Perhaps this is part of why T was so eager to redirect much of our national counter-terrorism apparatus into his purge of mostly law-abiding, tax-paying immigrants.)
"We can take it for granted that Trump and his advisors would greet a terrorist attack as an obvious chance to blame their chosen enemies, advance their project of authoritarian regime change, and distract from their own perilous follies. (1/2)
Some common sense to remember in a trying time.
Originally written in April 2025
snyder.substack.com/p/the-next-t...
Originally written in April 2025
snyder.substack.com/p/the-next-t...
November 28, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Important to remember. Authoritarians actually like terrorism, because it's useful. (Perhaps this is part of why T was so eager to redirect much of our national counter-terrorism apparatus into his purge of mostly law-abiding, tax-paying immigrants.)
From the morning walk. The sun picked out the red arc of a small Rubus phoenicolasius. Grew up calling these wild raspberry; locals nowadays mostly call them wineberry.
It was merely the brightest of the reds =/- 90 min after sunup.
#beautyinwinter
#beautyasresistance
#beautyisresistance.
It was merely the brightest of the reds =/- 90 min after sunup.
#beautyinwinter
#beautyasresistance
#beautyisresistance.
November 28, 2025 at 7:07 PM
From the morning walk. The sun picked out the red arc of a small Rubus phoenicolasius. Grew up calling these wild raspberry; locals nowadays mostly call them wineberry.
It was merely the brightest of the reds =/- 90 min after sunup.
#beautyinwinter
#beautyasresistance
#beautyisresistance.
It was merely the brightest of the reds =/- 90 min after sunup.
#beautyinwinter
#beautyasresistance
#beautyisresistance.
From the morning walk. Ornamental grasses don’t generally wow me, but overnight soaking rain made this planting shine.
#beautyinwinter
#beautyisresistance
#beautyasresistance
#beautyinwinter
#beautyisresistance
#beautyasresistance
November 26, 2025 at 10:37 PM
From the morning walk. Ornamental grasses don’t generally wow me, but overnight soaking rain made this planting shine.
#beautyinwinter
#beautyisresistance
#beautyasresistance
#beautyinwinter
#beautyisresistance
#beautyasresistance
This RS Thomas poem seems appropriate for tomorrow's holiday.
I love Thomas' poetry, though I understand barely half of it.
www.youtube.com/shorts/1Du4V...
I love Thomas' poetry, though I understand barely half of it.
www.youtube.com/shorts/1Du4V...
“The Bright Field” – R. S. Thomas read by Helena Bonham Carter #poetry #helenabonhamcarter
YouTube video by elijah woodworth
www.youtube.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:38 PM
This RS Thomas poem seems appropriate for tomorrow's holiday.
I love Thomas' poetry, though I understand barely half of it.
www.youtube.com/shorts/1Du4V...
I love Thomas' poetry, though I understand barely half of it.
www.youtube.com/shorts/1Du4V...
From the morning walk. Turn the sound up and listen to the birds. The Merlin app ID'd cedar waxwing along with the tufted titmouse, cardinal, and robin that I could pick out.
#beautyinwinter
#beautyasresistance
#beautyisresistance
#beautyinwinter
#beautyasresistance
#beautyisresistance
November 25, 2025 at 5:59 PM
From the morning walk. Turn the sound up and listen to the birds. The Merlin app ID'd cedar waxwing along with the tufted titmouse, cardinal, and robin that I could pick out.
#beautyinwinter
#beautyasresistance
#beautyisresistance
#beautyinwinter
#beautyasresistance
#beautyisresistance
November 23, 2025 at 10:12 PM
I love sweet potatoes. No surprise—I am 100% Southern on my dad’s side.
That said, Stokes Purple are the best potatoes I’ve ever had. Hints of homemade marshmallow, vibrant color, smooth consistency. They are even tastier the next morning, cold, with breakfast.
Argyll share my passion.
That said, Stokes Purple are the best potatoes I’ve ever had. Hints of homemade marshmallow, vibrant color, smooth consistency. They are even tastier the next morning, cold, with breakfast.
Argyll share my passion.
November 22, 2025 at 3:05 PM
I love sweet potatoes. No surprise—I am 100% Southern on my dad’s side.
That said, Stokes Purple are the best potatoes I’ve ever had. Hints of homemade marshmallow, vibrant color, smooth consistency. They are even tastier the next morning, cold, with breakfast.
Argyll share my passion.
That said, Stokes Purple are the best potatoes I’ve ever had. Hints of homemade marshmallow, vibrant color, smooth consistency. They are even tastier the next morning, cold, with breakfast.
Argyll share my passion.
Reposted by Gratia Léger
You want armed service members to disobey illegal orders.
They have an ethical, legal & moral obligation to refuse in order to protect the country.
The only reason this should anger Trump is if he plans to carry out illegal attacks.
Which makes him a tyrant, and tyrants must be stopped
They have an ethical, legal & moral obligation to refuse in order to protect the country.
The only reason this should anger Trump is if he plans to carry out illegal attacks.
Which makes him a tyrant, and tyrants must be stopped
November 21, 2025 at 3:26 AM
You want armed service members to disobey illegal orders.
They have an ethical, legal & moral obligation to refuse in order to protect the country.
The only reason this should anger Trump is if he plans to carry out illegal attacks.
Which makes him a tyrant, and tyrants must be stopped
They have an ethical, legal & moral obligation to refuse in order to protect the country.
The only reason this should anger Trump is if he plans to carry out illegal attacks.
Which makes him a tyrant, and tyrants must be stopped
A sky of sulky clouds: a giant prehistoric bird pecks an orca while a bluebird turns into a crocodile. On the lip of the horizon, a patch of dried
Betadyne.
Sunrise in 40 minutes
#beautyinwinter
#beautyasresistance
#beautyisresistance
Betadyne.
Sunrise in 40 minutes
#beautyinwinter
#beautyasresistance
#beautyisresistance
November 20, 2025 at 11:22 AM
A sky of sulky clouds: a giant prehistoric bird pecks an orca while a bluebird turns into a crocodile. On the lip of the horizon, a patch of dried
Betadyne.
Sunrise in 40 minutes
#beautyinwinter
#beautyasresistance
#beautyisresistance
Betadyne.
Sunrise in 40 minutes
#beautyinwinter
#beautyasresistance
#beautyisresistance
Don’t know if sleet IS colder than rain or if it just feels colder. In 45° it seems like it shouldn’t matter whether the rain falls as ice pellets that melt on contact with car or ground, or as water.
November 18, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Don’t know if sleet IS colder than rain or if it just feels colder. In 45° it seems like it shouldn’t matter whether the rain falls as ice pellets that melt on contact with car or ground, or as water.
Glowing embers lie shallow on horizon’s newly bared limbs. They emit no warmth, yet the copper moon floats above them, all but done and feather light.
#beautyinwinter
#beautyasresistance
#beautyisresistance
#beautyinwinter
#beautyasresistance
#beautyisresistance
November 18, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Glowing embers lie shallow on horizon’s newly bared limbs. They emit no warmth, yet the copper moon floats above them, all but done and feather light.
#beautyinwinter
#beautyasresistance
#beautyisresistance
#beautyinwinter
#beautyasresistance
#beautyisresistance
Winter colors have arrived.
From our walk last Wednesday afternoon. (I like walking in the early morning, but on cold & windy mornings I wait till it warms up a bit.)
#beautyinwinter
#beautyasresistance
#beautyisresistance
From our walk last Wednesday afternoon. (I like walking in the early morning, but on cold & windy mornings I wait till it warms up a bit.)
#beautyinwinter
#beautyasresistance
#beautyisresistance
November 18, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Winter colors have arrived.
From our walk last Wednesday afternoon. (I like walking in the early morning, but on cold & windy mornings I wait till it warms up a bit.)
#beautyinwinter
#beautyasresistance
#beautyisresistance
From our walk last Wednesday afternoon. (I like walking in the early morning, but on cold & windy mornings I wait till it warms up a bit.)
#beautyinwinter
#beautyasresistance
#beautyisresistance
I love it when the waking sun paints the undersides of the grumpy grey clouds. This morning it was tangerine and coral.
November 17, 2025 at 11:37 AM
I love it when the waking sun paints the undersides of the grumpy grey clouds. This morning it was tangerine and coral.