Winter mornings in Maine are dark and bitter cold, hard as ice on the body and soul. I arise before dawn, eager for a steaming mug of hot tea. That must wait. My first task is to start the wood stove. I open the door and check for embers. On this snowy morning, all looks … Read moreThoughts by the Woodstove

Reflection from Christmas past…  It was to be a quiet Christmas, with our farmhouse deep in snow and a blizzard bearing down, tracked by radar from the Kansas prairie. Treacherous road conditions cut us off from civilization. At noon on the day before Christmas, a dim sun rose, rimmed with a dark circle — an … Read moreMerry Christmas…Still Applies!

Let us tip our hats to Charlotte’s Web, one of the most beloved children’s books of all time. Written by E.B White, Charlotte’s Web was published in 1952 and immediately was deemed a classic. One reviewer wrote. What the book is about is friendship on earth, affection and protection, adventure and miracle, life and death, trust and treachery, … Read moreHappy 70th Birthday Charlotte!

Way up north in the woods of Maine we have experienced several snowstorms this winter. Snow blankets our garden, tucked to bed in the warmth of October days. We planted 200 tulip bulbs and patted the soil in a sign of farewell. My husband planted winter wheat that grew in the rich composted soil. Green … Read moreThe Beauty of a Snowflake

Life is full of surprises, as you have probably noticed, some big and some small. I think of a startling moment that occurred on a day not so long ago. My husband pulled up at the drive-up window of our local bank. Just as the teller greeted us, a gray field mouse popped up on … Read moreThe Unexpected Hitchhiker