What a Change of Background Can Do
I realize today that I love experimenting with background. The word technically means the “scenery behind the main object of contemplation, especially when perceived as
August 14, 2011
Live With Flair
Enjoy the archive
It Doesn’t Look Like the Picture Says It’s Supposed To
My oldest wants to make a raspberry cheesecake. No problem! We have a cookbook for children that shows delightful pictures of perfect daughters pureeing raspberries
August 13, 2011
Where You Shouldn’t Go and What You Shouldn’t Do
A neighbor knocks on our door and begs us to come pick his peaches. “Take all you want!” They have so many peaches falling off
August 12, 2011
Lizzy Traband (the One-Handed Horse Rider) Teaches Me Her Method
I’m driving way out into the country to a farm. It’s a nice afternoon to see some horses, and in Central Pennsylvania, you don’t have
August 11, 2011
Living Room Before and After (My Attempt at Decorating)
It’s never a good time to paint your living room. But we decide to refresh the living room–give it a little lift (my neighbor’s words)–before
August 10, 2011
Mothers Who Get in the Way
I’m lounging by the neighborhood pool, and I notice a group of teenage boys wildly attacking one another, throwing one another into the water, and
August 9, 2011
A Dark, Sweet Pleasure
As Seamus Heaney wrote in his poem, “Blackberry Picking,” the red berries finally “inked up and that hunger / sent us out” to harvest. It’s
August 8, 2011
The Ugliest Mushroom
I’m back in the woods for the first time all summer. As the sun sets, the children gather burrs to make the roof of a
August 7, 2011
Doing What You Love
Today I remember a conversation I had with my husband years ago. We were talking about careers and our future. We asked this question: “What
August 6, 2011
Seaweed and My Back-to-School Plan
I’m learning that children eat anything if you wrap it in seaweed. I make a pot of rice and then mix in some rice vinegar.
August 5, 2011