Living Multiple Lives
Have you ever stolen apples from an orchard or milk from a farm because you were hungry? I have. Have you ever watched your parents rummage through trash cans looking for their next meal? I have. Have you ever attended…
Amy Laundrie
Nothing Short of the Impossible
I spent the Wednesday before Thanksgiving with a passionate Frenchman. This artist, (see if you can guess his name), was born in 1840. “Every day I discover more and more beautiful things. It’s enough to drive one mad. I have…
These Muffins are for the Crows
The apple muffins I made tasted “off.” I’d spent long minutes hunting up muffin tins and paper baking cups. (I seldom bake.) I have had plenty of baking failures because I’ve only guessed at amounts, so this time I measured…
Thanksgiving Weirdness
I’ll get to see all six of my grandchildren this Thanksgiving. I think back to my feelings about my grandparents when I was their age and shudder. Grandparents moaned and groaned when they pushed themselves out of their chairs and…
The Orange Barrels of our Life
A few weeks ago, I was zipping along on the interstate in the early morning darkness, smiling to myself because I had everything in control. Lake Geneva’s book festival would allow me to sell my books and meet fellow authors…
A Lesson from Micky, the Old Hen
Holidays such as Thanksgiving often make us recall our childhoods. It was this time of year when, as a naïve young girl, I was forced to learn the harsh realities of life. But those experiences also awarded me with a…
Facts Forgotten; Feelings Remain
A few weeks ago, I travelled to Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island where my group’s tour guide and other educators shared many facts. After hearing a presentation by a poised young Mi’kmaq woman, I learned that archaeologists…
Living More than One Life
One reason I love to travel is to hear various people’s life stories, often very different from mine. It’s almost like being allowed to live multiple lives. My daughters and I traveled to Ireland over fourteen years ago, but I…
My Mum, by Josie the Cockapoo
Hi, it’s Josie the Cockapoo, hoping you see this column and send my mum a cheery emoji or note. She’s cleaning out the dog cupboard, finding my old toys and puppy stuff, and getting all emotional. She was making good…
Visionaries of the Earth
I recently concluded a week-long class at The Clearing, a folk art school in Door County’s Ellison Bay. The Clearing, named for the opportunity for students to “clear their mind,” is a place where people can learn a craft or…