The Ball-&-Chain

Barton Springs Early Morning Swim Report 8/25/2025

The pool is haunted by vegetation these days. I’m used to it clinging to me, running its fronds along my limbs, even bobbing along in my wake (if I have a wake) and tapping me insistently on the shin. It impersonates raccoons and ectoplasm. Somedays I swat it away like it’s a video game.

Today, for the first time, a mass of plantlife attached itself to my face. I had a goatee. I was the Green Man.

The above Green Man is by Edward Carey, my Limey Ball-&-Chain, who is doing a folklore-inspired drawing a day in advance of the publication of his new novel Edith Holler, on Halloween.

Watching somebody do a drawing every day is quite amazing, especially when one has no skills that results in something palpable and distinct every day. He is posting the drawings on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/edwardcareyauthor/

And here are some of the drawings from Edith Holler.

https://lithub.com/edward-carey-gives-us-a-preview-of-the-illustrations-in-his-next-novel-edith-holler/

It goes without saying that you should preorder.

https://bookshop.org/p/books/edith-holler-edward-carey/19723050?ean=9780593188903

& here is the starred PW review:

https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780593188903

Meanwhile, the only thing I do every day, or most days, is my morning swim, which nobody but the herons and other swimmers witness, and even then, take no notice of , which is why I am forced to show off here.