family life

Secrets from my children

“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.” Benjamin Franklin, "Poor Richard's Almanack" She almost caught me. Just when I was looking longingly at a newspaper circular for elastic-waisted pants -- the mom jeans to end all mom jeans -- my youngest daughter strolled through the kitchen. I flipped the paper over… Continue reading Secrets from my children

gardening, spiritual life

Enough to face the killing frost

"Listen! The wind is rising, and the air is wild with leaves, We have had our summer evenings, now for October eves!” Humbert Wolfe, British poet There's not much left in the garden. But, it's enough to sustain life through these last days, weeks of the season. A handful of cosmos, a butterfly bush, a bit… Continue reading Enough to face the killing frost

recipes

Spicy butternut squash soup

“Roses and violets from summer gardens, sun-drenched Sicilian lemons squeezed of their juice and mingled with juniper from the frozen north. Saffron threads and gold leaf from the Indies waited to be turned into something magical." Laura Madeleine, "The Confectioner's Tale For days, it has been hovering near 90, too hot to even sit properly… Continue reading Spicy butternut squash soup

spiritual life, writing

Life 101: 4 lessons from the news

“A good newspaper, I suppose, is a nation talking to itself.” Arthur Miller, American playwright Watching the news in the last few weeks has been sobering. No matter how you look at it, America and, indeed, the world are not in their finest hour. As writing news is what I do for a living, however,… Continue reading Life 101: 4 lessons from the news

community, spiritual life

Gut or tear down?

“Hearts rebuilt from hope resurrect dreams killed by hate.” Aberjhani, American poet, "The River of Winged Dreams" It has been fascinating to watch. An old Arts & Crafts style house in our neighborhood recently changed hands. It was the home for decades of a single family, a home the elderly son of whom must have… Continue reading Gut or tear down?