One of my readers has become a regular correspondant. She is involved in an abusive relationship, and over the last couple of years, I have learned to offer her encouragement "in code". I know her e-mail isn't secure and she is forced to go to the library to write, so I offer this posting today just for her ( Read more... )

My dog will be 14 on Halloween. He is deaf, blind (we think because he walks into walls) and today, we found out he needs a hip replacement ( Read more... )

It's amazing. In some ways I feel like I have come so far, and in others, I feel like I haven't come very far at all ( Read more... )

It's been more than 20 years since my family lived in Washington state. But if you were to ask my mother when she was the happiest, it was probably then. There, she had her "dream" house. Her children still needed her for their day to day survival, her health was better and she was surrounded by the mountains and trees she loved ( Read more... )

I love giving presents. As a child, I can remember sitting on my mother's bed during the holiday season and watching her wrap what few gifts there were for my father and brothers. The colored papers, the bows, the curly ribbon. My mother could have worked as a gift wrapper in the department stores. Her edges were crisp and perfect. The bows ( Read more... )

The idea for Mother's Day came about 100 years ago ( Read more... )

When I was in elementary school, we used to make "presents" for our mothers for Mother's Day: fingerprint paintings, hand outlined flowers (the same as hand turkeys!), glitter styrofoam and pipe cleaner "things", or something with googly eyes. I never thought these were "good" presents, and always worked hard to create something my mom would ( Read more... )

The dynamics between dogs always amazes me. No matter how large or small the breed, each seems to come from a place of confidence, stepping boldly forward to sniff or mark. Rarely is there a dog that knows how small they truly are ( Read more... )

When the Puritans first came to this country, women were expected to be hearty, of "good stock", able to bear many children and to work, side by side, with her partner as a help mate. Marriage was a contract: men would provide the living if women could provide the labor force to maintain it. Love had nothing to do with it ( Read more... )

I find my spirits lifting these days now that the holidays are over. I miss the lights and the lawn decorations, but I can't say I miss the commercialism, 24-hour Christmas carol radio stations or the incessant commercials promoting holiday spirit in the guise of gift-giving ( Read more... )