By Merisa Sherman With my sleeping bag nestled snugly around me and a hot chocolate in my mittened hands, I sat on my front porch watching the snow slowly make its way down. It’s my favorite moment, that peaceful time when the snow absorbs all the sound and there is nothing to do but…

    By Dom Cioffi  I know it’s not the most traditional way to celebrate Thanksgiving, but this year, my family traveled to the beach to commemorate the holiday. Going to the beach during the off-season can be rewarding. Generally, the crowds are at a minimum, so it’s easy to go out to dinner and…

    By Susan Shea  For thousands of years, people have decorated their homes with evergreen boughs, a symbol of eternal life, during the darkest time of the year ­— around the winter-solstice and Christmas. In addition to common species such as spruce and fir, I’ve noticed another evergreen in my neighborhood: a low, sprawling…

Submitted   By Mary Ellen Shaw   The Mountain Times forwarded to me a hand-written letter from a regular reader of my “Looking Back” column. Her name is Ellen Lee Jones. She shared with me what she remembers about her own life when she “looks back.” Ellen gave permission for me to use the details…

By Bree Sarandrea   Crystals sparkle, As the sun hits, Just right, The evergreens shine, As if glitter had just been, Sprinkled all over them. Even the pine cones shimmer, The trees sparkle so bright, They almost look like they’re glowing, The branches have piles of snow, Resting on them, Making them twinkle so bright.…

  By Cassandra Tyndall When troubled times are on the horizon, there are various options to explore to discover truth.  There is religion.  There is wisdom from philosophers from ancient eras.  There are the historical facts, which can help put it in context.   One thing is for certain, as Greek philosopher Aeschylus said,” The…

By Sarah Calvin Picture yourself at the top of a small hill, your snowshoes strapped tightly to your winter boots. The frosty air kisses your cheeks as you breathe in the crispness of the winter day. You take a step, beginning to go down the trail, but the snow is loose and your feet slide,…

It’s that lovely time of year where we gather around a table with our family and closest friends. We fly across the country and drive for hours to interact with our loved ones or just sit staring at the parades and football games on television. Some of us go for a trot or a hike…

    If you look close enough and deep enough, sometimes you’ll find that great things can emerge from horrible events. Take Allison Parliament’s situation, for example.  During the recent pandemic, Allison was traveling alone from the United States to Canada to visit family. At the time, the number of Covid cases in the States…

 If you are prone to looking up as you walk (or pedal or drive) among trees, you may have noticed a bumper crop of cones clinging to the highest branches of white pine trees this summer and fall. Around my yard, the red squirrels have been busy gathering cones, chattering away as they scamper through…

  “Good morning Bear. I am happy to be with you. What would you care to share today?” I ask. “Good day, sweet Jill. What a glorious day to meet in our cave. I want to convey an important point that good health is a state of mind. Whenever we permit a negative influence, thought…

  No matter the era in time, no matter the race, the religion or the place you occupy on the globe, the most persecuted are always those who tell the truth. People say they want the truth, but you know how that goes… “You can’t handle the truth.” They believe in justice, in democracy, in…

I sit in a semi lotus position in the Bear Cave, seeking solace to quiet and comfort my anxious racing mind. I know I have come to a place of tranquility, knowledge and wisdom gained over eons. I close my eyes and simply breathe. I am transported to a winter wonderland with glittering ice and…

  I make the first few turns and I can feel my right leg is uncooperative. My femur is initializing the turns just fine but I can feel the latency on the finish, causing the inside edge of my tip to get caught on whatever sugar snow it can find. The delay in my right…

  In 1934, a radio show entitled “The Major Bowes Amateur Hour” was launched across the United States, making it one of the first known talent shows with a national audience.  The weekly show was hosted by Edward Bowes (a well-known radio personality of the time), who was convinced audiences would be intrigued by regular…