By Kathy Abascal As I write, goldenrod is blooming in various spots along Vashon roads. There are hundreds of goldenrod species across the world; the one most frequently found in the northwest is Solidago canadensis, but there are a few other varieties. John Trelawny, author of “Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest,” notes that it is…
By Deborah H. Anderson “Do you see where the break is?” … The surgeon asks. Pointing to the x-ray, I look at the diagonal line of a femur once shattered in two places, now fused into solid bone. “Yes”, I tell him, nodding my head. “Now look at the other leg,” he continues, “See how…
By Michael Shook I finally got around to staining the gates in the back of the property this month. They were holding up well, but red cedar does last longer with some protection. So, back I went, stain bucket in hand, brush in the other. As I approached the largest of the gates, I could…
By Seán Malone and John Sweetman As Seán remembers, Mom formed hats out of buckram, using the forms to glue Chinese pheasant feathers in, making a unique women’s hat. A full-grown male Chinese pheasant has a chest of iridescent, electric blue and brown feathers. Mom loved the colors, and would badger Dad and I to…
By Seán Malone and John Sweetman As John remembers: “He hit me!” “She was making faces at me!” “I was not!” “He was making fart noises with his armpit!” And so convened the daily district court of summary justice where the prosecutor, defense council, and detective agency was all in one. MOM! Mom interrupted her…
By Collin Medeiros It was only when the bell had struck its final tone that young Placidus realized he was awake, in the real world, and had someplace to be. He flew from his bed, fastened his leather belt around the brown tunic he had slept in, put his knife in its sheath, and hurried…
By Ali Elsberry Nearly 15 years ago, I stumbled upon a little website known as Etsy. I can’t even count the hours I spent sorting through listings on there; it was my go-to for new jewelry, home decor, and eventually, baby items when my children arrived. I even remember my very first purchase – a…
Sounds simple, no? It is simple. If you embrace music, music will heal you. I have been leading the MMM sing-along for five years, and at the Vashon Senior Center for a year-and-a-half. Every Tuesday, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Maybe you should come? People come for the joy of singing. For friendship and laughter in…
Coffee is a labor-intensive crop grown in some of the most economically marginalized and environmentally sensitive regions of the world. The life of not only the plants themselves, but also of the farmers, the pickers, and their families and communities, are vulnerable to rapid political changes and economic challenges, as well as the ever-increasing unpredictability…
By Marjorie Watkins When I was a little girl, almost 6 years old, I heard the grown-ups talking about the stocks falling, and I imagined the cows tripping and falling down. On Gramma Brunson’s farm, they had seven cows. All those cows fell down? Oh, that is sad! I hope someone helped them get up….