JOY JOURNAL BLOG

gardening, spiritual life

The sole source of joy

JOY journal

"You are not a human being in search of a spiritual experience. You are a spiritual being immersed in a human experience." Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, French philosopher, priest, scientist They will soon be here. A bit like a monarch, but think bigger stripes and black and white instead of black and orange. Zebra swallowtails… Continue reading The sole source of joy

recipes

Refrigerator Pickled Peppers

JOY journal

"It takes a sour woman to make a good pickle." Michael Chabon, "The Yiddish Policemen's Union" It was a case of pantry envy. I was writing a story about low-tech ways of coping with the impending doom many people feared would accompany the year 2000 because of possible computer meltdowns. We walked down to the… Continue reading Refrigerator Pickled Peppers

books, writing

Learning an author by heart

JOY journal

“I do not know everything; still many things I understand.” Madeleine L'Engle, "A Wrinkle in Time" These three Madeleine L'Engle books are among several that feature the Austin family. They were written over nearly 40 years, although the characters age only four years or so. The way L'Engle fit the same characters into the day… Continue reading Learning an author by heart

recipes

Cucumber and onion salad

JOY journal

“It's been a pretty tough day," he said. "No sense making it worse with a salad.” Susan Juby, "Home to Woefield" Honestly, some of my "recipes" are so simple they hardly qualify for that word and I am hesitant to publish them. Then I remember there was a time I had never thought of doing this… Continue reading Cucumber and onion salad