THE MURMUR OF BEES by Sofía Segovia was among a handful offered as a free e-book by Amazon Crossing, as part of World Book Day in March. Otherwise, it likely would not have been on my radar. Translated from Spanish, The Murmur of Bees was a fun read for me […]
Book Review: TRUE PLACES by Sonia Yoerg
For starters: that cover! It spoke to me immediately. But what is beneath the beautiful artwork is equally delightful. While I have enjoyed all of Sonja Yoerg’s novels, TRUE PLACES has to be my favorite, with its juxtaposition of nature and affluent suburban living. If you enjoy book club and upmarket […]
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 TOO LATE TO BEGIN AGAIN: Discovering Creativity and Meaning at […]
Only Human? So What Does That Take?
There are days when it feels like being human should be easier than it is. We are “Only Human” so what does that take… Can we see a fault without pointing a finger? Can we recognize our fallibility without making an excuse? Can we allow others to be humble without […]
Topi’s Camping Adventure
What did you do this summer? That seems to be the universal question of greeting as summer winds down and we begin to migrate back to our normal routine of work, school, and fall social occasions. Of course, how you react to the question usually depends on how you feel […]
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Book Review: THE REMOVES by Tatjana Soli
Wow. I could probably stop there, honestly, because that’s about all you need to know. But… I can’t do that because I loved this book too much not to talk about it. THE REMOVES by Tatjana Soli is an intense portrayal of yet another of America’s darkest periods of history. And […]
Here’s To Your Liberty And Mine
While your liberty and mine can take many different forms, may we ever embrace and strive towards an ideal of liberty where all people have the right, the power, and the ability to choose… “Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal […]
Book Review: THE WEIGHT OF INK by Rachel Kadish
THE WEIGHT OF INK by Rachel Kadish is one of those books that, when you close its covers upon reading the final pages, you know you’ve read something special. It is also the kind of book that, days later, sinks even deeper into your subconscious and makes you realize just […]
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 eyes delight in his whimsical artistry; my mind gleefully applauds his […]
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, and does so expertly. The novel follows the stories of […]
Words: ” No Wealth In The World Can Help Humanity Forward …”
How do we help humanity forward? When we value the wrong things, then we focus on the wrong things. And, of course, we create the wrong things. Not the things that we most need… As Albert Einstein explained in THE WORLD AS I SEE IT: “I am absolutely convinced that […]
Music: Augustin Hadelich’s “Fantasy of the Cats”
We listen to music for a variety of reasons — to relax, to distract, to celebrate, to evoke a memory, to capture a moment, to alter our mood, to reflect our emotions, to enhance our brain functions… But, have you ever wondered what musicians imagine when they listen to music? […]
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 the base and less air churned into it during the […]
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 ” and be wary of “Propaganda, Sentimentality, and Pornography.” Excerpt from Literature […]
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 — a baby red-tailed hawk was raised by bald eagles. […]
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 PEOPLE, a fight to understand and survive a damning family legacy. […]
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Book Review: THE FIRE BY NIGHT by Teresa Messineo
There is something about THE FIRE BY NIGHT by Teresa Messineo that packs a big punch. Perhaps it’s the reality of nurses who volunteered to serve during the war and who were put into the same horrific, life-threatening predicaments as soldiers, but who were never fully recognized for it? Perhaps […]
Garden Nemesis Or Garden Poser?
I didn’t see him arrive, but suddenly he was there. His back to me, he boldly surveyed the garden. As if, all my hard work was his for the taking. As if, I wasn’t mere inches away. As if, he had all the time in the world. I moved closer. […]
Book Review: THE BONES OF PARADISE by Jonis Agee
I’m not generally a reader of mysteries, and frankly, I’m not sure THE BONES OF PARADISE by Jonis Agee can be billed as one. It is a fabulous conglomerate: a family saga, literary fiction, historical fiction, a love story, a western, and a mystery all wrapped into one. Admittedly, the […]
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 Mexican food, New Mexico’s landscape, roadrunners, coyotes (so similar to […]
Music: FURTHER by Black Lab
The only thing better than finding a song that speaks to a pivotal moment in our lives, is finding a band that continues to reconnect as we journey through life. I didn’t know it at the time, but I first became a fan of the alternative pop rock band Black Lab […]
Make Your Own Coffee Cake
This is my all-purpose coffee cake recipe that our family loves. I can vary the filling and shape it to create a different cake each time. The basic procedures are the same for whatever filling you choose. Seasonal fruit filling is also a delicious option and you will have a different […]
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 the race riots in my hometown of Chicago, I […]
Book Review: DID YOU EVER HAVE A FAMILY by Bill Clegg
“stellar writing… unique story structure… uncannily genuine” I have to admit, when I picked up DID YOU EVER HAVE A FAMILY by Bill Clegg, I had reservations based on the theme, which felt like it had been done a million times … “Character faces tragedy. Character builds new life with outside family.” However, […]