How do we function when tragedy hits? September is a somber month in both historically and presently. My newest blog explores how we can find peace when tragedy feels overwhelming.

Summer is winding down with the Labor Day weekend looming. Kids are back in school or imminently headed there. Evenings are getting cooler, and morning temps have had a touch of chill. I love the changing of the seasons but have to admit that it gives me a touch of melancholy to think that winter is on its way. I have to store all of the sunshine, warmth, and brightness of the long days to prepare myself for the colder, shorter, darker days of winter. Lily Pad Fun-Photo by S.

Spring is fast giving way to summer in the PNW. Gardens are in and perennials are popping. A favorite in our family is the ubiquitous rhubarb. While these abundant plants are found in many places, people have strong opinions about this unusual vegetable. Yes, it's a vegetable. I checked because I always thought it was a fruit.

With the arrival of spring, the idea of hope comes to my mind. Read my new blog for more of my thoughts on spring.

Photo by Unsplash Valentine's Day was last week. I hope you had a good one. I love celebrating love. It provides me with a reason to make and give cards, bake treats, create a special menu, share (but mostly eat) chocolate, or shop for meaningful gifts. But most of all, I love a Happy Ever After . Whether it's a movie, TV show, conversation, or book, I enjoy it most when everything resolves with a happy ending. Soldiers returning home to surprise their family after a tour awa

" So Many Summers ", a song by country singer Brad Paisley, struck a chord with me recently. As an artist, he creates beautiful word pictures with his music. I have many favorite memories of summer. There's nothing longer than the final afternoon of school before summer vacation. The hours tick by slowly until the final bell rings. Yee haw! Little League. Trips to the lake. The anticipation and nerves of summer camp. Days spent swimming and sunning on the dock. Learning how t

Definition of a reunion: An instance of two or more people coming together again after a period of separation A social gathering attended by members of a certain group of people who have not seen each other for some time I have to admit, the thought of a reunion fills me with trepidation. I'm an introvert and the idea of spending hours talking to people I haven't seen in a long time and don't necessarily know well, is daunting. Sometimes it’s hard to work up enthusiasm to go

I've always loved popsicles and ice cream in the summer. I don't eat them often now. But I have fond memories of enjoying the frozen treats with my children and from when I was growing up with my siblings and cousins. The grocery store in our little town, both as a child and when I had my own children, had a freezer case right up front by the register. Smart marketing but hard on moms. I know I used the same strategy with my kids that my mom and grandmother used with me while

Spring is here, and the baby geese are hatching. The killdeer lay their tiny eggs in petite nests on the ground. My annuals are showing their green heads. I even have some early brave blooms. Mother Nature has a schedule that we are seldom privy to. But when I see the first hummingbird, the first gosling, the tender green leaves, and more sunshine than not, my heart rejoices. The smell of fresh cut grass permeates the air. Barbecues are lit. Comfortable patio furniture is dug