Raspberries and blueberries are in season. The raspberries in my yard have abundant berries. They are so good with ice cream! They are also good with a Finnish oven pancake (Pannukakku). Here is a recipe for this slightly sweetened pancake. Ingredients: Preheat oven to 400°. Beat eggs in a large…
The cherries were abundant this year. My daughter and the grandchildren helped me pick and pit them. The birds were a little intimidated by the shiny CDs that I hung in the tree and left us more to ripen than other years. The rabbits have enjoyed the cherries that fell…
This week my daughter called me with anguish. She and her husband have a difficult situation with their adopted son. I listened and my heart hurt for her. She was looking for advice and I had little to offer. I said her father and I would pray, and we did.…
Elba Iris Pérez has written an engaging novel about an immigrant family, The Things We Didn’t Know. The story takes us to Woronoco, Massachusetts and to Puerto Rico. The main character is a young girl who must find her identity as Puerto Rican and American. Andrea, came to Massachusetts with…
It is still the month of May and my tomato plants have flowers! I enjoy the heirloom varieties and now save seeds from one year to the next. I started my seeds indoors at the beginning of April. My granddaughter took over the care of the plants when we traveled,…
Last night we attended our granddaughter’s graduation from high school. Each speaker mentioned the pandemic because these students spent their freshman year at home. Their classes were online. But they persevered and are now celebrated for their achievement. I am proud of my granddaughter’s hard work! My thoughts returned to…
Peter and Paul wrote encouraging letters to the church during challenging times. These letters are for us also! Many of the letters wrap advice with a final thought. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there…
Cultures collide on the frontier. Linda Ulleseit’s novel, The River Remembers, is a story set in the Michigan territory during the 1830s and 1840s. Three main characters—each from a different ethnic group—move the story forward. Day Set is a Dakota Indian. Harriet is a Black slave. Samantha is White, a sister…
When troubles swirl around, I find some peace and rest in prayer (alone and with family), in the beauty of nature and in time spent with children. The curiosity and joy that children have is infectious. We have been spending time in New Mexico, visiting our son’s family. Flowers seem…
In 1973 I was in my first year of practice as a registered nurse. I was working on a labor/delivery unit in a city hospital. I was shocked when an abortion by saline induction was done on our unit. Why, on a unit devoted to new life, was a baby…