Discover More from This Category: Columns

Livin’ the Dream: Here’s to chapsticks!

January 10, 2024
  My dad always kept a chapstick in the driver’s side door of any vehicle he ever owned. And he must have kept one in a pocket somewhere, because I can vividly remember him being able to pass me a chapstick whenever I asked him for one. No matter where we were, my dad was…

Movie Diary: Back from the dead

January 10, 2024
In the summer of 1816, Mary Shelley, along with her future husband Percy Shelley and a few friends, spent time at the beautiful Villa Diodati near Lake Geneva in Switzerland. This was known as the “year without summer” due to the volcanic eruption of Mount Tambora (which disrupted global weather patterns), so they experienced less…

American tree sparrows: Hardy winter visitors

January 10, 2024
 Most winters, a few sparrows visit my yard, feeding on the seeds I scatter on the ground near my bird feeder. These particular sparrows have long tails, rusty crowns and eye-lines on their gray heads, and a distinctive dark breast spot. Looking more closely, I’ve noticed buff-colored patches on the sides of their pale breasts,…

Mountain Meditation: There’s something about the mountains 

January 10, 2024
    Mountain Meditation By Margeurite Jill Dye There’s something about the mountains That calms a troubled soul. The air is fresh, the sky is blue, serenity, extolled.   Red foxes, bears and coyotes, squirrels and beaver run, Hunt and play in meadows and fields, On peaks and ledges in fog or sun.   Honking…

Poetry Is Power: Snow on the beach

January 10, 2024
Crashing waves, Falling snow, Salty air, Glowing sky, Beautiful, The foamy water, Rides in and out, As little specks of snow land, On crashing waves, An unusual combination, Yet so perfect, The waves make, Sort of, A rumbling sound, As they turn over rocks, Then they collide with big  beautiful boulders, Splashing all around the…

Cosmic Catalogue: Dream it, feel it

January 10, 2024
As the New Year begins to show signs of its promise, it will be easy to get carried away. The energy of 2024 is absolutely palpable. It’s electric and exciting! What has been stuck will become unstuck in sudden and unexpected ways. But… it’s still early days.  While you may have your mission in mind,…

Skiing with disabilities

January 3, 2024
  Submitted Skiing presents challenges to all skiiers.   By Tony Crespi At the top of Killington’s Skyepeak a skier smiles. An onlooker appears apprehensive. Another skier gasps. Sadly, such reactions are not uncommon: this skier has one leg and one ski. For those not fully aware of the kind of skiing options open to…

Living the Dream: Thriving in survival mode

January 3, 2024
Living the Dream By Merisa Sherman   Last week was probably one of the most difficult ski weeks I have ever experienced in my life. I’ve skied in that much precipitous weather for one day, maybe two. But an entire week of water pouring off the brim of your hood — this was a week…

The Movie Diary: Not fast enough

January 3, 2024
By Dom Cioffi Once the presents were opened, the wrapping paper was discarded, the food was served, the dishes were cleaned, the relatives had exited, and the decorations were taken down, my wife and I sat in our living room and discussed the holiday. We both agreed that it was an exceptional year, but also…

The Outside Story: Thundersnow: A rare type of winter storm 

January 3, 2024
By Colby Galliher It’s deep in winter, and a nor’easter is dumping snow outside. In between the howling winds you hear a boom! Maybe a heap of snow fell from the roof, you think, or a giant icicle crashed from the eaves. A few minutes later, another boom pounds through the blizzard’s gales. It’s closer…

Mountain Meditation: Gratitude and goodwill grow blessings in life

January 3, 2024
Mountain Meditation Marguerite Jill Dye   A dear friend of mine keeps a gratitude journal to write down the good things that transpire—like a heart-to-heart talk with a friendly neighbor, a courteous driver, a fall she avoided. Gratitude grows blessings. It’s a high vibration that attracts the same back to it like a magnet. When…

Cosmic Catalogue: Be the beacon of light and kindness

January 3, 2024
Happy Gregorian New Year! A change in the calendar year is always so much more than an old year ending. It offers the chance, the hope, the possibility of what you want to bring into your sphere being closer than it was before.  Even if you awaken from slumber on Jan. 1, having seen better…

Skiing with disabilities

January 3, 2024
  Submitted Skiing presents challenges to all skiiers.   By Tony Crespi At the top of Killington’s Skyepeak a skier smiles. An onlooker appears apprehensive. Another skier gasps. Sadly, such reactions are not uncommon: this skier has one leg and one ski. For those not fully aware of the kind of skiing options open to…

Living the Dream: Thriving in survival mode

January 3, 2024
Living the Dream By Merisa Sherman   Last week was probably one of the most difficult ski weeks I have ever experienced in my life. I’ve skied in that much precipitous weather for one day, maybe two. But an entire week of water pouring off the brim of your hood — this was a week…

The Movie Diary: Not fast enough

January 3, 2024
By Dom Cioffi Once the presents were opened, the wrapping paper was discarded, the food was served, the dishes were cleaned, the relatives had exited, and the decorations were taken down, my wife and I sat in our living room and discussed the holiday. We both agreed that it was an exceptional year, but also…