I’m inspired by artists’ journeys and the quality of their powerful work on an international blog that features 52 artists each year. It’s called “Artists Tell Their Stories.” Beginning Dec. 6, I’m honored to be the artist of the week. Along with showing colorful paintings of various places I’ve traveled and lived, it’s made me…

By Marguerite Jill Dye “What should I write my column about?” I asked my friends at our dining room table. Between bites of turkey and mashed potatoes, they offered ideas, one after the other. “Gratitude,” newspaper reporter Francesca said. “It’s the season to remember how blessed we are.” “We’ve entered the holiday season when many…

By Marguerite Jill Dye Did you know that the way we live and think about ourselves affects our longevity? Counting our blessings and feeling other positive emotions improves our health and extends our lives. “Miracles occur when we step outside of convention,” Dr. Joe Dispenza, author of “Programming Your Mind to Remarkable Recovery” announced in…

By Marguerite Jill Dye  However the mid-term elections play out, we still must consider how deeply divisions in the United States are affecting our wellbeing, as a nation, as world citizens, and as individuals. Many of us find our families divided, and have difficulty relating to friends whose political viewpoints seem opposite to our own…

By Marguerite Jill Dye Steve Finer began mountain rescue decades ago in Wyoming and has served as a longtime leader of Killington Fire and Rescue. He also works in Rutland Regional Medical Center’s emergency center, so his three-hour CPR class in the Sherburne Memorial Library was filled with personal experience. Gerrie Russel, president of Killington…

By Marguerite Jill Dye We rode on a tractor-pulled hayride up to the wedding ground. The mountain glowed in late the day sun that lit up the orchard and colorful woods. When the bagpipes began, we led the procession, then sat on the first wooden bench. The bride’s mother, aunt, and bridesmaids followed, escorted down…

By Marguerite Jill Dye “To love someone deeply gives you strength. Being loved by someone deeply gives you courage.” — Lao Tzu, Chinese philosopher Our only child, our son who’s a chef, and his true love are taking the plunge! They’re committing their love and trust in each other through their wedding vows on a…

By Marguerite Jill Dye Beholding the majesty of Vermont, I’m in awe of the nature around us. I’ve also been wondering just how it relates to our current state of affairs. So I’ll share a few thoughts and poems I’ve written on their possible interconnections. The Messenger The little red fox stared into our eyes,…

By Marguerite Jill Dye "Empathy, not apathy, is going to change the world,” Seane Corn declared in the Sounds True Summit, “Waking Up in the World.” “Empathy” is to identify with the feelings, thoughts, and attitudes of another. “Apathy,” also from Greek, is the refusal to suffer. Perhaps to understand the “other” we must recognize…

By Marguerite Jill Dye We paid a visit to the Bennington Museum, eager to see the paintings and prints of “Crash to Creativity: The New Deal in Vermont,” which is on exhibit through Nov. 4. At the entrance to the museum I was struck by Vermonter Clyde V. Hunt’s sculpture, “Faith, Charity, Hope—The American Spirit.” Abraham…

What do bets on the ice melt date in Joe’s Pond and apple blossom notes of Vermont farmers have in common? Both contributed to the creation of the first-state-in-the-nation Vermont Climate Assessment. The 2014 Vermont report combines local data from University of Vermont and state scientists in partnership with the National Climate Assessment (which provides…

By Marguerite Jill Dye We welcomed our friends from Avignon, France, Colette and Jean-Paul Pascal, with a fête. We explored our region on “Very Vermont” excursions and hikes. One lovely day at Silver Lake, Judy took Colette on her first kayak trip. We hiked Bear Mountain, Pico Peak, and the Appalachian Trail alongside Kent Pond.…

By Marguerite Jill Dye My favorite thing in all the world at this time in my life is spending time with our 3-year-old grandson, Silas. “Papa” and I recently spent several days trying to keep up with and care for him. Some conversations with our favorite little guy surprised and amused us, like this: “I…

By Marguerite Jill Dye “Papa” and I were thrilled to spend several days caring for our three-year-old grandson, Silas. But it made me aware of how recent minor health challenges affected my energy keeping up with him. It made me consider how important it is to attain the best health and longevity we can. So, in…

By Marguerite Jill Dye I was ecstatic at first, as I floated through the Clark Art Institute’s downstairs galleries filled with more than 80 magnificent works by “Women Artists in Paris, 1850-1900.” The stunning exhibit in Williamstown, Massachusetts was organized by the American Federation of Arts. “Her Paris” will remain through Sept. 3, but this…