End of the Semester at Penn State
I can hardly believe the semester is over! I taught every day in-person, in a mask, and with great joy.
Little Delights from the Lord: A Story of Pear Jam
Something wonderful happened. I was talking to dear friend, and I learned of her love of pear jam. But not just any pear jam—a pear jam with no cinnamon or extra spices. This particular jam is apparently really hard to find. I had been thinking about my friend and all the ways she was trusting […]
These Were Delicious: Crispy Cauliflower Tacos
Last night for dinner, I tried a new recipe: Cauliflower Tacos from this website: https://www.acouplecooks.com/crispy-cauliflower-tacos/. Delicious! I love roasting cauliflower, but sometimes you don’t get the crispiness you’re hoping for. These crisp up; the cornmeal is the secret! Enjoy this recipe if you’re looking for a light, delicious meal. The whole family loved these tacos. […]
The Hardening Off
When I first began gardening, a graduate student at Penn State taught me all about “hardening off” my seedlings. She told me to take the plants I had grown indoors and gradually expose them—for just a few hours each day—to the sunlight, wind, and changing temperatures of the outdoors. This would “harden” them to make […]
A Fellow Expert in Asking Great Questions
My friend, Bob Tiede, is giving away some of his excellent resources about asking good questions. And he quotes me in his book, which I found so fun! I am always on the lookout for great leadership resources I can share with my friends and colleagues, and this is a quick read. Four of my […]
Being a Neighbor Who Notices
This morning, it touched my heart when an older neighbor reached out to ask if I was OK. He wrote, “I have not seen you on your walking route lately.” Indeed, I had shifted my walking times with my daughter to early morning and later afternoon (mostly to observe all the bunnies and the occasional […]
In Preparation for May: Notes from the Garden
Today I started preparing the garden for planting. I won’t transfer my indoor plants to the garden for another few weeks, but I wanted to take advantage of the beautiful weather. If you’re thinking about starting a fruit or vegetable garden, it’s the perfect time to begin your preparations. First, I weeded my vegetable garden […]
My Plan Worked! It Worked!
Remember how I told you I put out a selection of nest making materials to attract birds to build nests? Well, a little house sparrow accepted my offer of twine and twigs. I just saw her darting in and out of my winterberry bush. I peered in to find her weaving a piece of my […]
Yummy Little Lunch
I’m so inspired by my students and all their healthy eating. Many of my students are plant-based and super creative with their meals. When someone recently mention falafel, I couldn’t wait to make some. I love Trader Joe’s Falafel, but it’s easy to make your own. You can keep some in the fridge and crumble […]
Boast, Rejoice, Seek
I’m loving meditating on Psalm 105:3-34. We read this: Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. You’ll also find these words in 1 Chronicles 16:8-22 as David’s instructions on how to worship the Lord before the ark of the covenant. To […]