By Pam (aka Gates) Johnson It got me. After these many months of dodging the COVID bullet, the vaccines, the masks, the keeping my distance … it finally got me. It all started the night before my birthday. I was enjoying a warm, cozy sleep when my nose faucet turned on at warp speed. Wha?…
Managing Mother Nature
By Jo Ann Herbert If all of us died the earth would heal itself. Calling a plant a “weed” is like calling a human a racial slur. Every plant has a name and a purpose on earth. Are we to pull out all these plants we call “invasives?” We need more information about each. That…
Savers Are Losers
By Stephen Buller Robert Kiyosaki, famous for writing the number-one bestselling book on personal finance, “Rich Dad Poor Dad,” says savers are losers. If you’re able to get past the controversial and inflammatory nature of the statement, you will find much truth, especially in 2024. I’ll argue for the merits of saving for the future….
Herbal Adaptogens
By Kathy Abascal Adaptogens are remarkable plants. They increase our ability to handle stress, both physical (such as an illness or injury) and mental (such as a difficult job or financial issues), and most of us would benefit greatly by taking them regularly. I was taught that adaptogens will not solve our problems, but instead…
Island Epicure – A Gluten Free Thanksgiving!
By Marjorie Watkins and Suzanna Leigh Marjorie told me that since now she is 100 years old, she is considering retiring. Not to worry, though, she is leaving us with a wonderful backlog of archived articles to draw from for future “Island Epicure” columns. Also, I am republishing some of Marjorie’s cookbooks, such as “Gluten…
Take, for What Is Given – A Villanelle
By Jane Valencia Download a pdf of the poem set to music Years ago, in the dark of the year, a friend shared with me a dream she’d had. I quickly forgot the nature of her dream, but a phrase she spoke sparked my imagination: “Take, for what is given.” I set to work on…
Llaughing Llamas Chronicles – November
By Daniel Hooker Never donate to people who collect money for marathons. They just take the money and run. ~ Did you hear about the man who spontaneously evaporated? He’s mist. ~ I used to be addicted to soap. Now I’m clean. ~ Why don’t blind people skydive? It scares the heck out of the…
Math Puzzle – November
By Anne Cotter Moses Math Puzzle by Anne Cotter Moses
Día de Muertos, a Mexican Feast to Honor Life
By Cynthia Sadurni This article is dedicated to the memory of my brother Jaime Sadurni, who placed the most beautiful ofrendas. Illustration by Cynthia Sadurni As soon as the autumn days arrive, and the trees turn into beautiful colors, the light begins to change, becomes angled, perhaps even brighter, a blaze before the colder days…