By Jane Valencia Editor’s Note: Participating in Island life, we hear Land Acknowledgments at events, from organizations, and see them posted at businesses or on websites. Each year, we welcome the Blue Heron canoe family to our shores at the Low Tide Festival at Point Robinson. Up and down the Island, colorful yard signs in…
By Seán Malone and John Sweetman Seán has always fed birds, and his deck has been full of them ever since he began to live in the cabin. At first, I noticed at least one crow would be very skeptical if Seán poked his head out the patio door. Seán’s story explains why. We were…
By Gates Johnson What does one my age do when the holiday chaos has passed? Remember all those appointments and meetings and lunches and whatnot that got put on the back burner while attending to more pressing things? Well, the time has come. So, here I go. First off, those visits to specialists that were…
By March Twisdale “Please do not come to my house to clean. I can’t have someone in my home who supports this administration and the destruction of our democracy. I am not open to any discussion.” This is the text I received two days after President Trump’s inauguration. To be clear, I worked for this…
By Suzanna Leigh Journal Entry – by Suzanna Leigh “How do you spend your days, now that you are 100 years old and retired?” I asked my mom, Marj Watkins. Waiting patiently while she struggled to find the words, I resisted the impulse to fill in the word I thought she might want. I thought…
Contesting the constitutionality of an Oregon county’s zoning law was not the beginning foundation we wanted for our monastery. We saw this zoning code as a possible sign that this farm was not the place God intended for us. With Great Lent nearing completion, we decided to put off any further decision until after Pascha….
By Anthony Latora In the pursuit of tracking hawks and raptors, I’ve found it to be relatively straightforward. Casting one’s gaze upwards often reveals these majestic birds perched atop lofty branches, diligently scanning their surroundings. Their occasional vocalizations break the serene atmosphere, a stark contrast to the songs of their smaller counterparts, the songbirds. However,…
By Marj Watkins and Suzanna Leigh Chocolate of course! Who doesn’t love it? Choose cocoa for a temporary boost to your brains’ serotonin, the happiness chemical. It won’t give you lasting happiness, but it will—for a little while—make you smarter. There are many components in chocolate, especially dark chocolate, that help to lift our mood….
This delightful and elegant vegetarian entrée or side dish was created by Cat Rose, a staff member. Acorn squash is stuffed with an herbed risotto, speckled with delectable chunks of butternut squash, then baked until meltingly sweet. Serves 8 4 acorn squash3½ tbsp extra virgin olive oilSalt to taste6 cups water or gluten-free vegetable broth1…