Today I took the Metra train to downtown Chicago. I had plans to do some research at the Harold Washington Library. The library is about a mile walk from the the train station. Because it was warm and sunny the streets were crowded with pedestrians: people in business clothes carrying…
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Culture Informed by Worldview
The prompt for Five Minute Friday is: CULTURE This topic has been on my mind for a couple of weeks, stimulated by a book I am reading. Worldview: a particular philosophy of life or conception of the world Culture: a) a particular stage of advancement in civilization b) the characteristic…
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Personhood, Women’s Roles and Herbal Infusions
Most evenings I spend some time reading. Here are a few of the books I am enjoying. A friend of mine loaned me the book, Love Thy Body, by Nancy Pearcey. Ms. Pearcey addresses many of the controversial issues in our culture. She begins by discussing personhood. Some view human…
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The Promise of a Seed
In January and February I receive seed catalogues in the mail. I page through them, planning what I will plant in the spring, and I send in my order (or place it on-line). When the seed packets arrive they hold the promise of plants—herbs, flowers and vegetables. It is my…
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Practice Makes the Perfect Pie Crust
Meals and special desserts are a part of family life. In our home we enjoy pies, especially fruit pies. I have practiced and tweaked my recipe for pie crust until I was satisfied. The shortening in pie crust should be 1/3 the amount of flour. (I don’t remember where I…
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Women & Children at Botanica
When we visited Botanica, the Wichita Gardens, I especially enjoyed the focus on women and children. There is a children’s garden area where they can water plants. The children can walk through monster trees and climb the stairs to a fairy house. The peonies, roses, irises and clematis were in…
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Learning from History
Recently I read the novel, Saving Amelie, by Cathy Gohlke. It is historical fiction set in Nazi Germany. The story involves twin girls who were the subjects of medical experimentation. The story was riveting. I didn’t know that there actually was a doctor (gynecologist) who was working on a vaccine…