Growing up, I used to love watching cartoons on Saturday mornings. My mom was pretty good about letting me hang out in my pajamas, eat cereal, and take in the colorful programming, but by late morning, she was usually pushing me out the door to play.  And I was usually ready to join my friends…

       I’ve always loved the idea of watching the sky for shooting stars. But I’m much more likely to be up to watch the sunrise than I am to stay awake past midnight, when most meteor showers happen. Lucky for me, the upcoming Geminid meteor shower will provide an opportunity to wish upon…

  If you follow my columns, you know I’m an artist and writer with a vivid imagination. My spiritual mentor says it assists me in communicating with the spiritual world. Our anthropologist friend and neighbor says I’m lucky my imagination allows me to explore my unconscious like Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung did. Jung believed the…

  Dogs, Are friends, Are love, Are happiness, Are fun, Are companions. Dogs are amazing, They are so important to our lives, They brighten things up when it gets dark. They are always our friends, They listen to us, They are always positive and wanting to play, They tell us that everyone needs a friend,…

  Do you remember the good ol’l days when Saturn was in Capricorn? Concepts such as “boundaries” and “clarity” and the word “no” actually meant something. If you stood up for yourself or honored what was right for you, you were “so brave.” Then Saturn moved into Aquarius. What was right for you didn’t mean…

By John Hall, VTF&W Bird feeders offer an easy and safe way to interact with wildlife, and installing them after Dec .1 limits the potential to attract bears, keeping you, your pets, the birds and the bears themselves safe — and properly wild.      “Winter bird feeding is a great way to observe and…

  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…