Books are my favorite gift and this Christmas I acquired lots of reading. The Book of HOPE by Jane Goodall  and Douglas Abrams – with Gail Hudson is one. We all know about Jane Goodall and her work with chimpanzees, but there is more to her work than that. Goodall, now age 87, is considered the world’s most famous naturalist, and her concerns are not only with animals. In The Book of Hope she focuses on ‘Four Reasons of Hope – (more…)

During these pandemic years I’ve done a lot  of reading – and a lot of cooking. A dear friend who also likes to read, and cook and eat gave me a marvelous book – an early Christmas gift. O frabjous day! I have already begun planning to make Louise Penny’s Madame Benoit’s Tourtiere, Harlan Coben’s Myron’s Crabmeat Dip, James Patterson’s Grandma’s Killer Chocolate Cake and Lisa Scottoline’s A Tomato Sauce for All Seasons. Cooking and baking is a great way to get through these pandemic days. We have just received the order to put our masks back on. (more…)

Once I consulted an astrologer. He examined my chart, hesitated and spoke with some puzzlement. “You have your whole family in your hands?” I was stunned. I had just come from a major family reunion and was fully aware of the vast numbers of aunts, uncles,  cousins, spouses and children surrounding me, their lives  leading in a hundred different directions. (more…)

Before the ground freezes I was determined to get my soil tested.  I think the result will be pretty good because we had to bring in 60 yards or more to create raised beds that would permit good planting spaces. As you all know, our yard/garden is a swamp when there is rain.  If we are  going to have a garden with lots of different plants we need to have good soil for raised beds.   Martin’s Farm (https://martinsfarmcompost.com/ was a dependable supplier of good soil and compost. (more…)