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The Healing Power of Nature: Wind and Trees
Walk outside on a windy day. Wind and trees, an exhilarating partnership that is always rewarding. Trees bending to the wind affirms the power of nature. It gives me a sense of grounding, being completely engaged by my surroundings. At the end of winter, still bare tree limbs allow full-sunlight to the ground below, giving the wind center stage. So different from a windy, summer day that sends green leaves dancing and placing my focus on their beauty. If you are fortunate to walk among white pine or fir trees, you’ll be able to appreciate the soft, swishing sounds their needles make as wind passes through the branches. March Wind…
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Growing up: Home Economics and Shop Class
When I was growing up, I was fortunate to have experienced home economics and shop class. Both were a standard part of middle school curriculum. I loved both. Well, I loved the sewing part of home-ec, as we called it. Growing up we didn’t have money to spare for luxury items like the latest (and questionable) fashion fad of platform shoes with multi-colored stripes along the wedge heels. Being the eldest child didn’t help; there were no clothes to share or hand-me-downs. It’s awful when kids make fun of you if you don’t have the ‘latest’ when it is the latest. Home-ec would be the door to help change that…
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Birds and bird feeding
Some folks are rather indiscriminate about birds and bird feeding. They feed pigeons scraps of bread, bread crumbs in areas of high foot traffic. You can see the end result, right? Lots of poop and not all of it just on the ground. Pigeons are definitely not to be encouraged or confused with their gentle cousin the mourning dove, which is generally a more well-behaved bird, content to wait for seed to fall from a feeder. Feeding native birds Parks and backyards are far better places from which to feed native birds and enjoy their activities. Or antics, whichever the case may be. I really do love to watch goldfinches…
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Cornwall, U.K. Part 1
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Ireland Part 2
Ireland Day Three: It would be really hard to top the trip to Great Blasket. But that experience sits on its own; it was amazing that it all came together so perfectly: the time of year, choice of tour guide, our location and journey distance, weather and the participation of the marine life. Blarney Castle and Gardens We decided on a shorter journey. Blarney Castle and Gardens, Cork city and the English Market are less than a 40 minute car ride from Kinsale. We decided to visit Blarney first, in case the weather turned. If you go during the summer, it is probably best to buy your tickets in advance…
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Cornwall, U.K. Part 1
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Ireland
Part One My first visit to Ireland was a wonderful, chaotic bucket list event. Five days and all but one of them we spent criss-crossing east to west. And worth every sharp intake of breath (mine) as we edged a wee bit close to the greenery that hid stumps and stone walls along the sides of each narrow road. Before I get ahead of myself, let me share that it took months of planning for this incredible journey. At the center of it all was my longing to see the island home of the author of “An Old Woman’s Reflections”, Peig Sayers. This along with viewing marine mammals and sea…
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Fall Cleaning
Fall cleaning time is here. What’s that you say? Never heard of it? Fall cleaning is preparing your home for the coming season of winter. It is a deep clean of each room in the home; clearing away the dust and grime that has entered over the summer months when we open windows and patio doors to enjoy fresh air and natural breezes. Still not convinced? Take a quick look at a few windowsills around your home. Pretty dirty, huh? That is the dirt that makes its way inside. How about under the beds and behind furniture? Is it covered in dust tumbleweeds? This is the dust that is inside…
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Hanging Laundry in the Fresh Air
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Pesto
After you prepare pesto for the first time, you’ll see how easy it is to whip up a batch for dinner or a weekend lunch. Make a large batch: it freezes well. This long, hot summer provided basil the perfect conditions to thrive. Napoletan basil is incredibly flavorful. I could not wait to make this classic for a family dinner. With a single leaf as large as my hand, it is impressively aromatic. Here is my recipe for classic pesto. Classic Pesto Recipe 2 cups washed and dried fresh basil, thick stems removed 1/2 cup flat leaf parsley, washed, dried and de-stemmed 1 -2 large cloves garlic, peeled and coarsely…
