Everyone who sees Wormy seems to love the guy. . . his cute little pink body, his happy demeanor. . . everyone save one. . . the bird.
Who are we to argue with the natural order of things? Okay, yes- birds DO love worms, but in a different way. Wormy is discovering that life isn’t always a pleasant wiggle through the garden. You have to watch out for adversaries and be a little lucky. Fortunately, Tuesday is recycling day at the Green House and the bin was in a handy location. Wormy was lucky today. . . but he also was quick thinking and prepared.
Denzel Washington said about luck, “I say luck is when an opportunity comes along and you’re prepared for it.” And there’s another side to that, the more prepared you are, the more open you are to taking chances. Personal Development guru, Brian Tracy says, “I’ve found that luck is quite predictable. If you want more luck, take more chances. Be more active. Show up more often.“
We always talk about the early bird getting the worm. . . but where does that leave the early worms? I’ve felt like an early worm many times during my life. . . putting myself out there, going for the experience and sadly falling prey to those more prepared to take advantage of my “green-ness.” But I’ve always learned from those experiences and told myself that I was never going to be an early bird and prey upon those less experienced. . . I would instead be the most “lucky” early worm they ever ran into. How do you feel about luck? What was your luckiest moment and how do you think that luck found you? Share your thoughts here, or on our Facebook Page, where there’s always great conversation.
http://atthegreenhouse.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/GH_032415.jpg266719adminhttp://atthegreenhouse.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ATG_LogowWormy-Web-300x210.pngadmin2017-06-30 08:52:552025-03-13 16:00:30Reason #17 for keeping a recycling bin handy. . .
This strip was based on reality. . . and an old Lawn Boy two stroke machine that was handed down to me by my wife’s grandfather.
“Best lawnmower in the world,” he said. . . “just make sure you get the oil-to-gas mixture right.”
“No problem!, ” said I, then I went out to my local lawn mower repair shop to ask what the heck Grandpa Lewis was talking about. Until that day, I thought all lawn mowers had a place to put gas and a place to put oil, but to my surprise, there are some machines that run on a mix, just like string trimmers and chain saws. I was careful about the mixture, but that lawnmower still smoked. . . and smoked. . and eventually got traded in for a regular gas Snapper push mower. I had that Snapper for about 20 years and now I have a variety of grass care equipment . . . from a battery operated reel mower, that just doesn’t have enough power to cut any grass over 2 inches. . . to a swap shack Craftsman plug-in electric machine with a broken handle that keeps folding while I use it. . . to a regular push reel mower and a regular gas mower my sister gave me when when she moved into a condo. I have too many mowers and very little grass, except for a small field that I mow about 4 times a year.
(That’s not me. . . but the collection is close to mine. . .)
So, what’s the big deal? Well, in a perfect green world, I’d just have one battery-operated electric mower and an electric string trimmer. . . but I can’t seem to justify spending $400 on the type of mower I’d like to have, when I have all this equipment that works (in some capacity. . . like me). I spend a couple hours each year checking out the new equipment that’s available and ultimately decide that there are things I need more than the new super green mower. . . and I resolve just to mow with whichever machine is calling to me that day. I know how much gas mowers pollute, but I don’t use it very often and only for a short time, unless I’m doing the field, which is about 8 hours total over the summer. Does that call for spending $400? Probably, but I’m not ready to make that big green leap yet. I need to top dress the grass, plant new seed, fertilize and make the lawn look good. . . not “Scott’s ” perfect- I do it all with green company materials, compost, Garden’s Alive Grass seed and Jonathon Green’s fertilizer and I don’t mind “weeds.” Clover, crab grass, whatever as long as it’s green. And if I get that all done, I’ll have to mow again. . . and rethink that $400 purchase. . . wait. . . what about a goat?
http://atthegreenhouse.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/GH_052915.jpg282720adminhttp://atthegreenhouse.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ATG_LogowWormy-Web-300x210.pngadmin2017-06-28 01:01:222025-03-13 16:00:12Here We Mow Again. . .
Growing up in Avon, CT, my (step) Dad was an upholsterer. . . he knew everything about tufting, sewing leather, tying springs & stuffing cushions. . . and he learned the trade from his father. He was a whiz at bringing old chairs back to life. . . but he hacked his way through everything else around the house. When something needed to be done, Dad tried. . .then Mom would send us to get Frank, Rene’ or Roy. If something electrical needed fixing, we called Frank next door. Problems with the car?. . . go get Rene’ (also next door on the south side). . . and for EVERYTHING else, we yelled for Roy.
Roy was the gentleman farmer three doors down who seemed to know a little about everything. . . plumbing, farming, woodworking, paint, roofing, fences, trees, tile, town government. . . He was Mr. Yankee-ingenuity. I’m not taking anything away from Frank or Rene’. . . both wonderful, talented, hardworking and generous men, but Roy had an air of mystique about him. Quiet, gentle and good-natured, he had the barn, the tractor and a smart wife, Edna. Roy was the guy Frank and Rene’ called when they needed something.
I was so fortunate to be in a neighborhood with three wonderful neighbors who were always there for us. . . and I’ve always held their images to be what I’d like to be as an adult. We often need help, advice, an extra hand or just the smile of a neighbor. . . good people who will be there for you. We created Roy as Todd & Pam’s neighbor to fill those big workboot style shoes. . . and also give him a sagely sense of humor. He’ll always be there for them. . . and us. . . although, in our new version of The Green House (debuting later this summer), we may be changing his name from Roy to . . .
Sorry, that’s our little teaser- and another good story for another day!
Who was your “Roy?” Convince us we need to consider your former (or current) neighbor as a next-door-guru for the Greens! Comment here or on our Facebook page where the conversation’s always happening.
http://atthegreenhouse.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/GH052715.jpg274720adminhttp://atthegreenhouse.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ATG_LogowWormy-Web-300x210.pngadmin2017-06-26 01:01:442025-03-13 15:59:52Let’s Hear It For The Roys! . . .
Sometimes real life writes the strips . . . in those situations, it isn’t always funny. Fortunately, I don’t mind bringing home a plastic bag every once in a while. I find uses for them around the house, or I fill a plastic bag with plastic bags (anybody else have a special place for that plastic bag full of plastic bags?), and bring them back to the store for recycling every couple of months or so. I also find uses for paper bags at home, so those work too. . . but why can’t I just remember to grab the cloth shopping bags whenever I go into a store?
It’s not just the grocery store. . . I bought a new pair of jeans last night and got to the checkout line, and thought, “Why didn’t you bring in a shopping bag?” I carried the jeans au-naturel. It’s probably just my scatter-brained nature. I’ve tried putting them in the front seat so I won’t forget them. . . I’ve tried putting the shopping list in a bag . . . that one works if I can remember to do it- at least I don’t end up in the shopping line without the bags. . . and now some markets have signs on the door or in the parking lot reminding us to grab our reusable bags. . . but you have to be conscious to notice them.
I’m sure I’ll get it someday, but in the meantime, I’ll always think of this strip when I’m walking back to the truck for my bags. If only they could talk?. . . . Ah ha! Sensors in the shopping bag connected by Bluetooth to an app on your phone that set off an alarm if you get more than 10 feet away from them! Or, I could just make sure I only go shopping with my wife, she always remembers.
It’s probably just a “cartoonist thing.” What are your secrets for remembering your shopping bags? Any good bag related stories? We’d love to hear them and share them with other “cartoonist minded” folks! Please leave your story in the comments below or as always, we have the best conversations on our FB page!
Looking at a carton of free range eggs one morning, I started to think about Pam & Todd making breakfast together. . . and this came to mind. It’s simple- it’s a small moment in a morning that sets the tone for the whole day, and it’s honest. What more could I ask for? Honesty is one of the things I strive for most in my writing and one of the greatest gifts I can receive when it emerges. It’s the thing I look for in and treasure in other writers and story tellers. . . it’s what I loved about some of my favorite TV shows growing up. . . The Andy Griffith Show, Little House On The Prairie and The Waltons- probably the show that inspired me the most. I loved how the show was told through John Boy’s writing. . . looking back, telling the stories and bringing that amazing family to life for us all.
This comic pulled together Pam & Todd as a couple for me- like the tender moments I loved in the Waltons. And especially the moments that caught me off guard. . .like when late at night, John and Liv would be in bed talking about the troubles of the day and sorting it all out. . . and then they kinda got. . . frisky? Yeah, frisky. How did I think all those Walton kids got there anyway? And occasionally there would be a moment when Grandpa started getting frisky with Grandma. . . and she’d slap him playfully. You never know when those hormones will take over!
When I create characters and write for them, I have to believe in them and know them. . . know what they’d say, know what they’d do. . . know them like family. . . And laugh when they surprised me or maybe even got “frisky.” This strip made me laugh when it spilled out on to my pad. Channeling my inner Earl Hamner, Jr. maybe, and letting the “frisky” moments happen.
Thank you Earl for the inspiration and creating a show that was honest, enduring, loving and down-to-earth. It’s what I strive for in my work.
(Here’s a Youtube video from the Waltons Final Goodnight, with some of the most beautiful prose Earl Hamner Jr. ever wrote- and naturally it’s about the mountain, the sky, the wind, the earth, and the family. )
“Goodnight, Elizabeth.”
http://atthegreenhouse.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/GH_020415.jpg269720adminhttp://atthegreenhouse.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ATG_LogowWormy-Web-300x210.pngadmin2017-06-14 01:01:152025-03-13 15:56:41Writing, The Waltons and Free Range Women. . .
http://atthegreenhouse.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/GH062215.jpg274720adminhttp://atthegreenhouse.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ATG_LogowWormy-Web-300x210.pngadmin2017-06-12 01:01:572025-03-13 15:56:28“I’ll have the #2 Meal. . .”
What is this kwinoah stuff? OHH!. . . That’s the KEEN-WAH stuff you’ve been talking about? Funny way to spell it, Q-U-I-N-O-A. . . . Now, who is the authority on how to pronounce this new sweetener, STEEEEEVia? Anybody want to meet me at Cheee-poe-tlay for lunch? I’m not even going NEAR Ah-sigh-eeeee. . . .
Not only is learning to eat healthier good for your body, it’s wonderful for your vocabulary . . . although potentially hazardous to your ego. . . briefly. It seems like we are beginning to get more adventurous with our eating, and opening ourselves to trying new, exotic and foreign foods, but there awaits the ever-present and ominous choking hazard. . . choking on a mis-pronunciation. Even when you listen to an expert in the culinary field, you may switch to another channel and hear the same word pronounced a little differently. I did a google search on “How To Pronounce Chipotle” and here’s what I got. . .
But, wait. . .
At a party this weekend, I heard 3 different pronunciations of “chipotle.” Two of them were total wrecks: “chipoltay” and “chiploatlay.”
We’ve apparently had this problem as a nation for quite a while. ” Tom-ay-to, Tom-ah-to. . . Poh-tay-to, poh-tah-to,” let’s call the whole thing, fun.
I’m no expert on vegan cooking, but this strip came from watching an episode of “Christina Cooks,” with our friends, Christina Pirello and her musical accompanist, Jon Michaels. Jon commented that he was willing to try what Christina cooked, but he was still a “steak and potato guy,” mostly because he couldn’t remember the names of half the stuff she cooked.
At the Green House, Pam is a vegan and Todd is just an average guy who grew up on the “Great American diet” (of somewhat disasterous food). Pam respects Todd’s dietary choices, but is trying to bring him along slowly to a healthier way of organic, clean eating. Sure, we could just make Todd love all the stuff that Pam eats and advocate a healthy diet- but that’s not the reality for most of us. It’s a slow process, an interesting, exciting adventure. And it’s also funny! We like funny, we need funny. We need to keep it real, laugh at ourselves and be willing to make mistakes along the way. It will help that Pam is a Special Ed teacher. She’ll need a lot of patience with Todd.
What was the last funny food moment you had, the last great foodie revelation, the last time you looked at the veggie isle in a health food store and asked yourself, “what the heck is a jicama or whatever new foreign food that caught your eye?” (It’s “Hee-com-ah”. . . I think. . . ;0) )
http://atthegreenhouse.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/GH_021715.jpg271720adminhttp://atthegreenhouse.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ATG_LogowWormy-Web-300x210.pngadmin2017-06-09 10:20:412025-03-13 15:56:18Be Conscious and Chew Your Words Slowly. . .
It’s another beautiful day here at the Green House! The weather has been odd. . . in a good way, mostly. July- like February. . . March-like April. . . June-like . . . hopefully JUNE? . . . As Mark Twain said about New England weather, “WTF?” That’s not really a verified Mark Twain quote but he must have asked, “what’s the forecast?” as least once or twice in his lifetime.
Things have changed rather abruptly for us in the Green House too as we began looking into the reality of our “business plan” going forward. . . just like the 80 degree days that popped up out of nowhere in April- the sun began to illuminate a path for us and our work.
Realizing that we have SOOOO much we want to do and just a few months until a new year is upon us, we have decided to do as Pam is doing in today’s comic. Put the “inside” out. . .
“Ohhhh, ahhhh. . . . (the little voices in my writer’s head are saying. . .) Brad– that’s such an mysterious statement. . . is it a metaphor for your life’s ambition?. . . Is it an astral projection?. . . Is the cat at the door with it’s legs crossed?” All of the above!
In the next few blogs, we’ll be revealing our new path and talk about the steps we’re taking. It’s kind of like we’ve been walking up to the forest and saying, “Yeah! Let’s walk through this thing!” And then finding the trail head. . . all the signs pointing to interesting stops we can make along the way. . . so we’re going to put what’s inside us – out to y’all and see what you think.
We’d love to get your feedback and comments about what interesting stops you’ve made along the trail. Did you see a Mantis? A worm? A young couple carrying a houseplant? There’s fun stuff to see and talk about “out there” and we’re glad you’re here to share it with us. . . I think you’ll enjoy our new focus.
We’ll be making a big announcement shortly. . . maybe something about a book? Maybe a new website or two. . . there’s a lot hinging on the month of June!
Now. . . the “inside part” & “hinging” and getting our houses in order . . here at the Gilchrist house- my hallway and the two doors that lead to vastly different destinations: the garage and the bathroom. . . ( I could try to find a common denominator or tie- in here. . . but, um. . . nope . . . :o) )
Part of our new focus is about the small steps in the big journey of life. . . how to do it greener, simpler, more consciously. Yes! BE CONSCIOUS Brad. . . stop ignoring that high-pitched squeek everytime you open a door. . . wow, so many metaphors here that I’ll have to pass, lest I keep you on this blog all day. . . Here’s my Red Green Tip Of The Day:
The squeeky wheel. . . in this case, hinges. . . got their due this morning. After (at least) 1,000 trips to the bathroom and garage, hearing those awful squeeks and ignoring them, I finally decided to play Home Handyman this morning. A few whacks of a hammer. . . the hardest part- getting that pin to pop up out of the paint, not put the screwdriver into the wall or door, and getting that little space to extract . . . pull the pin, steel wool it down a bit and apply a few drops of the miracle 3-in-One oil. . . Note to anyone else who I am inspiring this morning: LEAVE A GAP WHEN YOU REPLACE THE PIN- JUST ENOUGH FOR A SCREWDRIVER HEAD (IN ABOUT 20 YEARS). . . Two doors have been made silent and functional. Yay! As Red Green would say, “If the women don’t find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.”
See you in a few days, at the (suddenly more quiet) Green House.
http://atthegreenhouse.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/GH_052015.jpg271720adminhttp://atthegreenhouse.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ATG_LogowWormy-Web-300x210.pngadmin2017-06-07 01:28:452025-03-13 15:54:39Getting Our House In Order. . .
I could never be a politician. . . but I listen to the radio each day and want to try to find a way to inspire our “leaders” to look at the position they’re in and see if there isn’t SOME way they can REALLY try to solve our state’s and county’s problems. . . put together a coalition of good people with good ideas – a blend of races, parties and interests and say, “NO special interests here. . . what can we do to make things better?”
Really, I do find myself day-dreaming about this kind of stuff. How can we lead others to a path of doing for the greater good, to consider alternative ways of solving problems beyond partisan politics and personal gain. You say something like that and people laugh at you. . . so I guess I’ve chosen to spend my time being laughed at. . . and making others laugh.
Back in the early ’80’s I found myself working for Jim Henson’s Muppets and King Features Syndicate on The Muppets Comic Strip. . . and I was 21. I really didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life yet ( and I’m still not exactly sure) but I’d accepted a challenge to try out to write a comic strip for the Muppets. . . and won the challenge- so there I was. . . along with my brother, Guy- creating a world-wide feature about my favorite entertainment group of the day, the Muppets. I actually was a member of the Muppets Fan Club at the time. It wasn’t a dream come true scenario, because I’d never dreamed that something like that was possible. . . and suddenly I’m writing a comic strip for 700 newspapers, meeting with Jim Henson and Frank Oz and hob-knobbing with all the greats of the comic strip community, Mort Walker, Dik Browne, Garry Trudeau and so many others. As suddenly as you’re dropped into a fantasy world like this- the fantasy becomes a reality and a business with deadlines, corporate opinions, pressure. . . wanting to please everyone and trying to learn how to take the criticism.
At some point during the first few years, things got really complicated and I was really doubting myself and my work. . . and then, out of the blue, we got a call from Jerry Juhl, head writer of the Muppets just to tell us we were doing a great job. We talked for a while and I confided my doubts and fears. He listened . . . and then explained that they all felt that way, still. To paraphrase, because my memories not good enough to remember his exact words, he said, ‘every time we write something, or create something, we put ourselves out there -and you’re going to hear from the critics. You’re going to piss somebody off. . . and they’re the one’s you’re going to hear from. . . NOT the millions of people who are enjoying what you do. They’re just happy you’re there for them everyday. Just believe in yourself, do the best you can and if something doesn’t work, move on and create something else. . . just do good things and good will come from it.’
So, from that point on- I grew to love and embrace that little space I was fortunate enough to occupy in 700 newspapers – and make it my task of creating something that would bring a smile to whomever was looking into our world that day. That’s a big responsibility, but somehow, it was mine (ours). . . As they say now, “haters gonna hate.” Just do good and everything else will take care of itself.
Now, the story doesn’t have a real happy ending, because the “business” of the comic business ended up causing the demise of the Muppets Comic Strip after 5 years of publication. But what an experience it was, and what amazing people to be mentored by. It’s been tough getting back to that place where I have such a huge following and level of success that I had at 21. . . but I’m still trying follow Jim & Frank’s example, and Jerry’s words, “move on and create something else. . . just do good things and good will come from it.”
http://atthegreenhouse.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/GH_061215.jpg264720adminhttp://atthegreenhouse.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ATG_LogowWormy-Web-300x210.pngadmin2017-06-05 01:01:522025-03-13 15:54:17Doing good and Alternative Solutions. . .
A few weeks ago, I got to see Melanie sing in Colllinsville, CT- which reminded me of this old Green House comic (make the Woodstock connection?) . . .
PLEASE don’t think we’re dissing Neil with this comic- we LOVE Neil Young. But, we’re cartoonists and look for any way to get a laugh.
As I look back on these “Hippy” strips- I try to justify why we thought they worked into our Green House concept. . . out of the blue, single panel glimpses into the ’60’s. . . yeah, that fits right in with a comic about environmental consciousness? . . . But it kinda does. The essence of the hippy movement was getting back to what’s real, what’s down to earth, what’s organic?
“We are stardust
We are golden
(Billion year old carbon)
And we’ve got to get ourselves
Back to the garden.”
~from “Woodstock” by Joni Mitchell
I read that Joni and Neil were friends up in Canada in the early days. A serendipitous meeting of stardust.
http://atthegreenhouse.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/GH_061715.jpg277720adminhttp://atthegreenhouse.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ATG_LogowWormy-Web-300x210.pngadmin2017-06-02 10:33:192025-03-13 15:53:58Little Known Facts in Hippy History #2. . .