The Dust Bowl was the worst drought in U.S. history, covering more than 75 percent of the country and affecting 27 states severely. The drought lasted nearly a decade, from 1930-1939. It’s impacts lasted decades longer. Topsoil from the … Read more...
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Book Review: THE RIVER OF KINGS by Taylor Brown
Wow! What a fascinating book written with absolutely gorgeous, transporting prose.
I tend to enjoy dual-period books, but THE RIVER OF KINGS by Taylor Brown actually is a rare treat in that it weaves a third period into the storyline, … Read more...
How Deep Is Your Love?
In honor of Valentine’s Day, National Spay/Neuter Awareness Month (February), and World Spay Day (the last Thursday in February) — A letter from DOMESTIC ANIMAL COMPANIONS (PETS) UNITED FOR A BETTER FUTURE:
… Read more...Dear Humans:
This may seem like a strange
Book Review: GOODBYE, VITAMIN by Rachel Khong
“…there is a bit of magic in this author’s ability to tell a deeply affecting story with interspersed humor”
I will be honest: I don’t know how to feel about this book. Prior to picking up GOODBYE, VITAMIN by Rachel … Read more...
With Only 8.6 Percent Of The Sun …
A total solar eclipse happens about every 18 months, but rarely in the U.S.
And, yet, we didn’t join the masses traveling to the Great American Total Solar Eclipse of August 21, 2017. We stayed home. A place, according … Read more...
DEMENTIA DIALOGUES (TEDx) — Remaking Conversation
The value of communications and conversations are not just in their exchange of wants, needs, and information, but the connections and relationships they build with each interaction. One of the most compelling things about TEDTalks — they help us to … Read more...
Making Gelato Like A Pro
Gelato is the Italian word for ice cream. If you have ever visited Italy, you probably ate creamy, delicious gelato and wondered why it tasted better than American made ice cream.
What makes Gelato different?
Gelato has less fat in … Read more...
Book Review: THE SPORT OF KINGS by C.E. Morgan
What I’ve come to learn about myself as a reader is that I am patient enough (who knew?) to enjoy epic novels that span generations (This one was 545 pages). And I’m nerdy enough to enjoy puzzling out long, beautiful … Read more...
Words: “The Bastard Muses … Propaganda, Sentimentality, and Pornography”
In the age of social media when we are overwhelmed by too much information and too many ultra compelling stories from questionable sources with untold or dubious purposes, it’s helpful to remember Cleanth Brooks’ warning about the “Bastard Muses ” … Read more...
For The Joy Of Animals: Bald Eagle-Hawklet Day
Happy Bald Eagle-Hawklet Day!
The Mayor of Sidney, Canada has proclaimed Sunday August 6th, 2017 as Bald Eagle-Hawklet Day in recognition and celebration of the incredible events that took place this summer in an eagles’ nest high above Roberts Bay … Read more...
Book Review: ALL THE BEST PEOPLE by Sonja Yoerg
I’ve read all of Sonja Yoerg’s work and with each novel, she brings something different to the table. In her first novel, hidden secrets; in her second, a search for self among the wilderness; and in ALL THE BEST … Read more...
What Should You Ask About The Produce You Buy?
Sustainable farms produce crops without relying on toxic chemicals, synthetic fertilizers, genetically modified seeds or practices that degrade the soil and water. By growing a variety of plants and using techniques such as crop rotation and conservation, sustainable farms naturally … Read more...
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Book Review: THE ATOMIC WEIGHT OF LOVE by Elizabeth J. Church
Anyone who knows me will not be surprised to learn that I found much to love about THE ATOMIC WEIGHT OF LOVE by Elizabeth J. Church. 1) Crows! 2) Science! 3) Southwestern setting – I so enjoyed the references to … Read more...
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Pondering The Possibility: A Tease of Orange Blossoms
I’m a sucker for trivia questions that ask what a group of a particular type of animal is called? The fun being when the names are distinctive and not what one would expect. Yeah, a pride of lions, a parliament … Read more...
Connecting With Your Community — In Real Life
By Jessica McCann. Originally published at (jessicamccann.com) as “This is Not about Politics.”
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Brace yourself for a strikingly-simple, yet brilliant idea. It’s super easy, and it’s something each of us can do, today. It will make … Read more...
Pondering The Possibilities: Dinosaur Webs
Dinosaur webs?
When we think of what is possible…
we tend to be limited —
by our knowledge
by our perspective
by our experiences
by our curiosity
and by our imagination.
So why ponder dinosaur webs? It was something I … Read more...
Movie: HIDDEN FIGURES
As soon as I saw the preview for HIDDEN FIGURES I was hooked. As a women, as a history lover, as a child of the sixties who grew up watching the race to the moon, the civil rights movement, and … Read more...
Words: T.S. Elliot “…When We Do Not Know Enough…”
We can never know everything. But, when we do not know …when we have moments of doubt or confusion …or when we simply do not know enough —
Do we ignore the unknown? Or, do we pause to wonder?
Do … Read more...
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Lost & Found News: Galaxies, Whale Dung, Unicorns, & Wild Horses
Lost: Carl Sagan’s Billions; Earth’s Little Blue Orb
Found: The Universe Has Two Trillion Galaxies
Back in the 1980’s, Carl Sagan captured the publics imagination with his talk of the Universe’s Billions. Now, based on images collected over 20 years … Read more...
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Primitive Technology — Where Tiny House Meets Survivor Man
As I am neither a millennial nor a survivalist, it might seem kind of strange that I am a fan of both the “tiny house” movement and the survival/wilderness teachings of Les Stroud and Bear Grylls. I could blame … Read more...
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Movie: (DIS) HONESTY — The Truth About Lies
We all love a good story about the rise and fall of an unworthy person. It is the stuff of history, fiction and our daily news. Of course, the bigger the rise, the better the fall. Right?
But what if … Read more...
Why Zoos?
Some time ago, I wrote a post about a co-worker’s successful captive breeding project at the zoo where I am a keeper. One of the first comments was from someone who was saddened about the animal being hatched into captivity. … Read more...
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Book: ALL THAT IS SOLID MELTS INTO AIR by Darragh McKeon
Wow. ALL THAT IS SOLID MELTS INTO AIR by Darragh McKeon was an incredible read: lush, lyrical prose on a sentence-by-sentence level, with breathtaking imagery and description. The stories of the four main characters were introduced separately but woven together … Read more...
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Movie: UnBRANDED
From beginning to end, Unbranded is a wild ride. It is exactly what you would expect when you take a 3,000 mile journey from Mexico to Canada across the rugged public lands of the American west with four not-yet-ready-to-settle-down men … Read more...
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Pondering Possibilities: Embracing Ridiculous
If “possibilities are endless,” where and how will we find them? And when should we stop looking?
I wonder, because lately it feels as if too many of us stop looking for possibilities. We’ve settled for what is and handed … Read more...