Jen Howard

@jenhoward

Writer, editor, journalist. Book and nature lover. Author, CLUTTER: AN UNTIDY HISTORY. Words in WaPo, TLS, NYT, LARB, CHE, EdSurge, etc. She/her. Newsletter:

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Jen Howard@jenhoward· 8d

Allie and Irene hope you are having a safe and pleasant Friday night.

Jen Howard@jenhoward· 10d

The robins and catbirds have been going crazy over the pokeweed berries. (We encourage pokeweed in our yard—but though great for birds it’s toxic for humans and dogs, so bear that in mind when deciding if/where to let it do its thing.) #wildlifegardening

A partially eaten cluster of dark purple berries on a bright pink stem hangs on a pokeweed bush with arrowhead-shaped green leaves.

Jen Howard@jenhoward· 12d

I’m ever-warier of performative reading but wanted to pop in and say how delightful I’m finding “The Enchanted April,” a 1922 novel by Elizabeth von Arnim. #BookSky

A paperback novel with a painting of a seaside Mediterranean town on the cover lies propped against a black dog curled up on a bed.

Jen Howard@jenhoward· Jul 23

No no no a thousand times no. Make it go away!

Jen Howard@jenhoward· Jul 20

Morning on the back deck: dog, pigeon, LRB.

A black lab/beagle mix is curled up on a chair, looking back at the camera, next to a table with a pigeon sitting on it by an open literary periodical.

Jen Howard@jenhoward· May 4

A little #bloomscrolling to kick off Monday: blooms on the catalpa tree (a native volunteer) in my Capitol Hill backyard. 🌸

White orchid-like flowers and large heart-shaped green leaves on a catalpa tree

Jen Howard@jenhoward· Apr 7

Here’s my grandcat Gatsby this morning.

Gatsby, a fluffy gray cat, stretches out on a patterned rug with a cream-colored background.

Jen Howard@jenhoward· Mar 29

A book titled BEAUTY DOESN’T REACH ME by Richard Byrne, featuring a black-and-white
photo of German dramatist Ernst Toller’s death mask on the cover, set against a shelf of books in the background.

Jen Howard@jenhoward· Feb 9

Pencil aficionados, talk to me about sharpeners. My old workhorse of an electric sharpener is dying and I need to replace it soon. I haven’t found manual sharpeners as satisfying as electric ones, FWTW. ✏️📚

An old beige electric pencil sharpener sits on a wooden desktop.

Jen Howard@jenhoward· Jan 30

The thaw will come.

A paperwhite with six white blossoms sits in a glass bulb-forcing vase on a windowsill against a backdrop of snow.

Jen Howard@jenhoward· Jan 27

Allie hopes that all are staying safe and warm this morning.

Allie, a senior black lab/beagle mix, curls up under a white blanket on top of a striped comforter.

Jen Howard@jenhoward· Jan 5

Gatsby the Gray wishes you a happy new year and hopes you have a pleasantly productive day.

A gray long-haired cat lounges on top of a striped comforter. He has one paw stretched out comfortably.

Jen Howard@jenhoward· Nov 1

The neighborhood had a good time last night.

A large white trash bag full of Halloween candy wrappers.

Jen Howard@jenhoward· Sep 12

Allie is, as always, my role model. 🐕

Allie, a black lab/beagle mix with a gray muzzle, asleep in a turquoise dog bed too small for her.

Jen Howard@jenhoward· Sep 3

From this morning's dog walk, along a different street:

Jen Howard@jenhoward· Sep 2

A neat (and moving) project worth following: RocketBear, an Instagram account that does sketches of the pets of fired Federal workers, along with a recap of what they do (or did) and why it matters. www.instagram.com/rocketbearpr...

Jen Howard@jenhoward· Aug 1

Jen Howard@jenhoward· Jul 15

Neighborhood watch on duty. #pigeonpatrol 🐦

Six gray pigeons sit lined up on a deck railing, with greenery in the background.

Jen Howard@jenhoward· Mar 11

Your morning Gatsby. 🐱

Gatsby, a long-haired cat with silver-gray fur, curls up on a lap.

Jen Howard@jenhoward· Feb 12

Gatsby the Gray checks out the 6.5 inches of snow that fell here in DC overnight.

Gatsby, a gray long-haired cat, crouches under a table on a deck, surrounded by snow.

Jen Howard@jenhoward· Feb 11

Hope springs eternal.

Small green shoots push up through a garden bed full of brown leaves.

Jen Howard@jenhoward· Feb 2

The only good thing about being sick enough to take to my bed the last few days has been the chance to hang out with this floof and his canine aunties.

Gatsby, a fluffy gray long-haired cat, sleeps belly-up on a blue comforter.

Jen Howard@jenhoward· Jan 21

RIP Jules Feiffer, whose work I adored early on because of his illustrations for THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH. (As you can see, my childhood copy has a few miles on the frame.)