“We are stars wrapped in skin. The light you are seeking has always been within,” said Rumi, a  13th-century poet. When winds of change stir up our world, we often feel unsteady and confused. But these strong winds are ushering in a new era for the human race and a new psyche for us. We’re…

  Mounds of snow, Pile up high, Getting taller and taller, Reaching the sky, Falling to the ground, Without a single sound, The snow falls, Piling up, Its sparkling crystals, Glitter so bright, Just as the sun hits them, Shining and glistening, Just like a star, Floating down to the ground, Slowly drifting, Down, Beautiful,…

When something is seen, it can’t be unseen. When something is known, it can’t be unknown. Some words, once spoken, can’t be taken back.  This week brings something truly unique. Something that in years to come, may turn out to be your “sliding doors” moment. It may be something you see, speak or hear. For…

  Winter memories from the ‘50s and ‘60s My classmate from first grade through high school, Pat Maroney Embree, shared some wonderful winter memories with me from the ‘50s and ‘60s. As I read her email it prompted me to ask a couple of other old friends what they recalled from that era. It was…

  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…

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…

 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 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…

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…

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,…

  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 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…

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…

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 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…