Picture this for a second: You’re lounging in some comfortable sweat pants and socks, maybe your favorite old T-shirt. You’re making coffee, tea or other hot drink on a rainy day, and you’re ready to savor the moment. It’s all about the little things during quarantine. But then, you see a pile of dirty dishes…
I recently was putting serious time into trying to come up with a new name for a project I was working on, when I came up with consequential happiness, as a possibility. I liked the ring to it; however, it would probably need some explaining, right? I’m actually amazed and disappointed, at the same time,…
“Jelly Cam” is now something I blurt out at random times during the week. This is to alert everyone that the Monterey Bay Aquarium Facebook has a live feed of jellyfish running. They also have Kelp Forest Cam, Shark Cam, Penguin Cam, Sea Otter Cam, Moon Jelly Cam, and videos of things like a huge…
It’s better out there now that quarantine has been going on for a while. Shelves are being restocked at a rapid pace, and getting household essentials is relatively easy again… But the truth of the matter is, that’s only half the battle. The reality is that many people are either unemployed, or working less hours,…
Kids of Lake Meadow Series, by Brandon McAlister Illustrated by Sydney McAlister Recommended especially for Young Readers ages 6 – 10 I’ve been to the cheeriest of places, and had the sunniest of fun, playing with the Kids of Lake Meadow. These lyrical books invite their readers to come along with them on every day…
My soon-to-be 11-year-old just informed me that he would be “zooming” with a friend if I needed him. People say “new normal” a lot, and we are certainly operating on a different set of rules, routines, and resources, but the new way we do things seems to get amended each week whether good or bad….
It’s no secret that most people have some sort of “mess” in their homes. Maybe the garage isn’t as organized as it could be, or maybe it’s your pantry that you’ve given up on over the years. It might even be your guest bedroom of shame, where you toss your clutter a few minutes before…
Defender of the Texas Frontier, by David R. Gross Looking for a fascinating read that brings the personalities of the people who made history spring to life? Enjoy a novel about the American frontier in the state of Texas and learn about a larger-than-life leader named John Coffee Hays. This Defender of the Texas Frontier…
< It feels weird to talk about school when our students won’t be inside the buildings for the rest of the school year. Friday, May 8 was a half day, something that previously would have changed a lot of schedules but didn’t even register at our house. The learning and the locations are different, but…
It’s true what they say, the world goes on. And just because everyone is stuck at home right now, it doesn’t mean life doesn’t happen anyway. One peek into any random animal shelter will tell you―things are a little hard for animals without stable homes. Most shelters are closed, which means animals are roaming free,…
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Thursday, May 7, 2020 marks the 68th anniversary of the National Day of Prayer. Did you realize or remember that? On April 17, 1952, the importance of faith and prayer in the lives of the American people was openly recognized. Congress established National Day of Prayer as an annual event by a joint resolution signed into…
Community takes on a different meaning during a pandemic. For more than a month, we’ve been telling the stories of COVID-19 and its impact on our community. They are stories of compassion. Of caring. Of survival. Of resilience. How schools are making sure kids in need don’t go hungry and how food banks are feeding families….
During a daily class Zoom meeting for my youngest, the student support specialist had the kids make a “Bliss List” — a list of things that students are enjoying lately. It was so good for him to hear that other people shared his coping skills and also to get ideas for new options. Connecting via…
In recent years, we’ve witnessed the public downfall of leaders from almost every arena of society – business, sports, religion and politics. One day they are on top of the heap. The next, shame and infamy are heaped on them. We are incensed by the catastrophic failures of these leaders. After all, we cheered them,…
Here’s the scene: You awaken to blinding sun streaming through your windows, and saunter off all squinty to the bathroom. You’re half asleep still. You’re wondering if you should go to bed earlier, rethink that with a simple “Why should I?” and turn on the bathroom light. And you were not prepared for what you…
It is hard to believe that we’ve been staying home since the middle of March…at least I hope everyone has been staying home. I venture out each day to take my miniature schnauzer Mia for a well-deserved long walk. Well deserved for both of us I think. I am grateful that I have a backyard…
Much like the Biblical Job, during her lifetime, Katrina Bagley endured one loss after another. Through it all, she never faltered in her love of life, her church, nor her love for her family. While talking with three of her grandsons, I learned much about this indomitable lady and her enjoyment of life. With that…
Kat Out of the Bag—the In Purse-Suit Mystery Series by Wendy Kendall I’m delighted to be guest columnist this week for the “Recommended Reads” column, because your regular columnist, Wendy Kendall, has published her first cozy mystery. And it’s no wonder that Wild Rose Press published Kat Out of the Bag. This mystery is a…
Back home, my sister organized a drive-by birthday party for my nephew where teachers, friends, and family drove by with their birthday wishes. They even rigged up a pulley system to lift presents to their deck, which is right above the sidewalk. Last week, we celebrated our anniversary with dinner from Salt & Iron. Of…
It’s happening everywhere ― people are gaining weight during quarantine. Much like the old “Freshman 15” from college, it seems when full-grown adults are left with limited forms of entertainment, they tend to eat out of boredom. Of course, for others it’s much more complicated: Without a routine to keep them in line, some people…
I did not anticipate it. . . I did not make any plans for it. . . I’m guessing that you didn’t either. I am referring to the COVID-19 virus that is sweeping the world, snuffing out the lives of an unknown number of people like you and me. Some of those folks you may…
Six years ago, I was in the midst of the worst circumstance of my life—the death of my husband. Now, as we are collectively experiencing the worst thing our country has experienced in our lifetime, I have been constantly reminded of my grief journey. Perhaps you can relate to what I am feeling. Heartache. Anger….
It’s been a tough few weeks of quarantine with businesses large and small closing until further notice. No eating out, no socializing, and no real enjoyment of the spring weather we’ve been getting… But before you throw in the towel and give up on those rare, bright, sunny days, it’s time to remember a very…
Some of our early quarantine “go-tos” aren’t fitting the bill these days. The kids are pretty burned out on sitting through a movie at night, especially because we’re still struggling to get a good amount of exercise — I’m going to add some new links below because it seems like it’s not just us. Virtual…
Bread making has become a favorite past time for many of us as we try to figure out what to do with ourselves while we stay at home. Yeast and flour seem to be in very high demand, and social media pages are filling up with pictures of proud bakers and their delicious-looking creations. After…
