Subscribe
And you will receive an email for new articles by Amy Laundrie
A Night at the Cliff’s Edge
Years ago I was at Ellison Bay’s folk school, “The Clearing,” for a weeklong class called “Touch the Earth; Love the Earth” when the director mentioned that we could sign up to spend the night in the Cliffhouse. Back in 1935, the founder of The Clearing, Jens Jensen, used the Cliffhouse as his private hideaway […]
One of the Most Fascinating People I Ever Met
“When I was a freshman, one evening my date handed me the first violet of spring. I looked at it, told him its Latin name and then I ate it. It was our last date.” —Frances Hamerstrom, American ornithologist, Wild Food Cookbook, 1989 The year was 1990 at the Madison Book Fest. I was nervously awaiting […]
Cherishing the Old; Embracing the New
Traveling to Panama just weeks before New Year’s was a good reminder to cherish the old and embrace the new. Impressive pre-Columbian ruins are nestled between modern skyscrapers, some with amazing architectural designs. One soaring building was blueish and had a magnificent corkscrew twist. In Panama City, cars race in heavy traffic down narrow streets. […]
The Gift of Mandarins
Christmas is sights, especially the sights of Christmas reflected in the eyes of a child. William Sarayan, American novelist and playwright In planning for the holidays, I asked my daughter who lives in California if she’ll be bringing mandarins like she’s done in the past. She explained her trees weren’t producing. There’s an enormous difference […]
A Tribute to Cherished Chairs
My husband and I bought the matching brown velvety chairs the year after we married. They’ve been with us for forty-six years. The fabrics are worn, and the mechanisms, replaced twice, are grinding again, but, like dear friends, we can’t seem to part with them. I nursed both of our daughters while warm and cozy […]
How a Small Gratitude Journal Can Have a Big Impact
Thanksgiving is the perfect time to discuss the benefits of keeping a gratitude journal. I’ve done this since April. Although fancy journals are available, I didn’t invest in one. I simply use a small spiral notebook to jot down five things I’m grateful for. I do this daily. Since I keep the notebook near my […]
Raccoons Captivate Fanciful Imaginings
While hiking along the Wisconsin River, I see raccoon tracks. They’re distinctive because they’re shaped like human hands. I’m near the same ridge where, earlier in the spring, I heard the frantic cries of a baby raccoon in distress. I was sure it had been separated from its mother. I forced myself to keep walking, […]
Discovering the Unexpected at Dead Horse Point
I’m happily whipping about, my arms full of sheets, when I turn the tight corner into the laundry room. Crash! My mood plummets. I grumble as I dump the sheets in the washer, grab the waste basket, and drop down to my knees to pick up glass shards. The framed photo of Moab, Utah’s sunlit […]