Autumn is here and winter is approaching—and with it, colds and flu. When my children were young, I would treat colds with garlic. My girls were willing to swallow a chopped garlic clove mixed in applesauce, but my son refused. I bought some gelatin capsules, chopped the garlic and put…
As the growing season winds down, I am preparing herbs for the winter. Throughout the summer it has been lovely to walk outside and collect herbs for the meal I am making. Now I am drying the herbs. I collect the herbs and strip them from the stems. If there…
The fall season has begun, and in our neighborhood, there are skeletons and graveyards on front lawns. With a sigh I avert my eyes. This early for Halloween? This dark? I much rather see the flowers that are still blooming. I picked some cosmos to bring inside and arrange in…
This year we have been celebrating the 250th anniversary of our nation. A Founding Mother by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie tells the story of the early years of our country from the perspective of Abigail Adams. The book is a novel. It is hard to get to the thoughts and emotions of…
The roses and cosmos are still in bloom in my yard. One rose has a lovely scent, and I encourage friends and family to sniff it. I enjoy having a vase of flowers in the house, but realize that in a week or a little more, they will fade. The…
Last week my sister and I spent several days in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We stayed in a house that was seven miles from the nearest small town. Lake Superior was just a little further away. One night I woke up at 4 a.m. and happened to look out…
During James Madisons presidency the country was divided. The War of 1812 was opposed by the Federalist Party. The issues of slavery and western expansion also brought divided opinions.
My garden has offered some puzzles this year. I have a cucumber plant that looks healthy but didn’t seem to be producing any cucumbers. I am aware that cucumbers can hide among the foliage, so I looked carefully. As I was walking away disappointed, I looked upward and saw a…
After our son died, the eleventh chapter of the gospel of John became a great comfort. Martha and Mary struggled with their emotions after the death of Lazarus. Both sisters said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” John 11: 21 & 32 Jesus saw…
In the Bible two kings offer two women anything, up to half of their kingdom. What were their choices? The book of Mark records the imprisonment of John the Baptist and how the wife of Herod wanted him put to death. An opportunity for her wish came during a banquet.…