A “horror of ticks” may not be the “correct” collective noun for ticks (and who knows what is?), but it does seem appropriate given the recent surge in horror tales of tick in the news. Long the bane of outdoor … Read more...
Words: “The Practical Value of Psychology…”
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“The practical value of psychology… It is well recognized that the teacher must understand the working of the mind in order best to impart his information in that way that will enable the student to grasp it most readily. It
It’s Spring — Plant Something Edible!
Spring is nature’s time for growth and renewal. So, what better time for us to recognize and understand the many facets of natures’ life cycles. And what better way for us to participate and observe than to plant something edible!… Read more...
Words: ” …to resist a technological formula that is sterile”
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“Perhaps success in the future will depend partly on our ability to generate cheap power, but I think it will depend to a greater extent on our ability to resist a technological formula that is sterile: peas without pageantry, corn
Words: “Water …The Vital Humour Of This Arid Earth”
Leonardo Da Vinci was a keen observer and student of nature. His notes on The Nature of Water, from The notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci , Translation by Edward MacCurdy (1955) are perceptive and eloquent:
“Water is that which serves … Read more...
Book Review: THE NATURE FIX by Florence Williams
I don’t review a great number of nonfiction on Goodreads, but to those who know me (and my penchant for fiction writing that includes sensory nature descriptions), it’s probably no surprise that THE NATURE FIX: WHY NATURE MAKES US HAPPIER, … Read more...
Downed Power Line PSA — This Might Shock You
Power lines come down for many reasons — sleet, hurricanes, tornados, accidents, etc.
Know what to do before you are faced with the situation. Watch this downed powerline PSA. I could save your life.
(h/t Sara M)… Read more...
A Simple, But Luscious Four-Ingredient Lotion
Dry skin is the bane of winter. But January is the time to try new things. So…
If you are tired of using skincare products with a long list of ingredients that you’ve never heard of and have no idea … Read more...
Book Review: NO SPECIES IS AN ISLAND by Theodore H Fleming
A study of the migratory pollinators and the interdependence they have on one another... a warning regarding possible environmental peril.
Beautiful And Cute But Still Voracious Predators
If something is beautiful or cute we tend to think of it as friendly, happy or, at the very least, benign. But few things look and act that simply.
Book Review: THE LOST LETTER by Jillian Cantor
Jillian Cantor is a natural at her first dual-narrative novel... fascinating insight about a little-known resistance tool during WWII ...
Location Isn’t Just A Place, It’s An Environment
The first, second, and third rule of real estate is — Location, Location, Location! But location isn’t just a place on a map or coordinates given by your gps. It is not something static. It is life.
Location is an … Read more...
Book Review: GOOD MORNING, MIDNIGHT by Lily Brooks-Dalton
I loved GOOD MORNING, MIDNIGHT by Lily Brooks-Dalton – which surprised me, since this novel was billed as a post-apocalyptic story. I have read only a handful of such stories and warmed only slightly to them (The Age of Miracles, … Read more...
Universal Well-Being And Planetary Considerations
What will it take for us to let go of our endless debates and finger-pointings over global warming or global climate change? When will we begin to truly recognize that the heart of our human existence and survival is the … Read more...
Fast Facts on Hurricanes
The month of September is peak hurricane season. The Atlantic Hurricane season is June 1st through November 30th. So as Florence makes her way slowly down the Atlantic coast, it seemed a good time to compile some fast facts on … Read more...
Walking In Nature — A Basic Tool For Creative Multitasking
Author Julia Cameron points out that one of the most valuable tools for creativity is one of the simplest — walking.
When she wrote THE ARTIST’S WAY she didn’t address exercise until week 12 in the program. In IT’S NEVER … Read more...
Forget Their Shoes — Ask and Listen!
The often quoted standard procedure for gaining empathy and understanding is to imagine ourselves in another person’s shoes. But recent research by Tal Eyal, Mary Steffel, & Nicholas Epley (2018) suggests that stepping into another’s shoes and taking their perspective … Read more...
Back Pain? Stop Sitting Like A “C” And Find Your Sitting Tipping Point!
It’s something of a myth that our back problems are just because we sit too much. Recent research by anthropologist David Raichlen shows that hunter-gathers sit about ten hours a day (while we sit an average of 9-13 hours a … Read more...
Would Your Ideal Americans be — Honest, Kind, Strong, and Responsible?
These days, it is kind of hard not to believe the great American divide is all around us. As proof we are bombarded daily with endless examples of a society divided by class, race, gender, politics, finances… And not to … Read more...
Book Review: PECULIAR SAVAGE BEAUTY by Jessica McCann
In Jessica McCann’s PECULIAR SAVAGE BEAUTY you get a front-row view of the horrors of the American Dust Bowl. Your skin will sting with torrents of dust, your eyes will burn from the grit, your heart will race. Yes, you … Read more...
FDR’s Words: ” Forests Are The Lungs Of Our Land “
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...
Book Review: THE SHAPE OF IDEAS by Grant Snider
First, a confession:
I’ve long been a fan and a follower of Grant Snider’s “Incidental Comics.” Seeing one of his comic strips pop-up in my Twitter feed is like a gift of sunshine to brighten my day. My … Read more...
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...