Inspired by Mary Oliver’s poem, “After Reading Lucretius, I Go To The Pond.” The key to a good pumpkin spice anything is to actually omit the canned pumpkin, and use the spices – cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, etc. Canned pumpkin is for soups and pies. You use real pumpkin is your soups and pies? That’s precious. Please put extra brown sugar… View Post

They happen on a Monday morning when it’s humid and threatening to rain and doesn’t smell like fall and everything is grey except the overflowing bowl of grape tomatoes your husband has brought in from your garden. They happen getting the dog from Day Camp, because the day is still grey and it’s not a fun drive – busy and… View Post

One evening, years ago, my Aunt Julie and Uncle Greg were over for dinner and Julie was telling us about a recent visit to a spa where one of the beauty treatments consisted of her being fully immersed in mud.   I was 17. Sunday mornings when the Chicago Tribune arrived, the parts of the paper I grabbed were the comics, and then… View Post

It is 2,475 degrees outside but the other day on a walk with Corby, the wind blew, and the leaves on the ground made that scratching noise they do when autumn is on its way, and I admit I’m one to push boundaries so it probably comes as no surprise when I write that suddenly I wanted to sharpen all… View Post

Understanding how to get into the parking lot is the foundation of your high school parenting experience. For some parents, those of you won’t read the communications sent out with maps attached very clearly showing entrances and exits, you’re going to want to allow yourself some practice runs lest you embarrass your high schooler entering an exit, and/or attempting a… View Post