Perfect Fools

“Why Do Fools Fall in Love” – the song asked those who do. “What Kind of Fool Am I” – posed the question for one who did not. What kind of fool am I who falls in love with the perfect family myth? Baby Boomers like me grew up watching Leave it the Beaver, Father Knows...

Scale and Perspective

“Carole, your crocuses are up – have you seen them?” No I haven’t, I answered my husband Keith. The scope of Vanaprastha’s mountain land dwarfed my much-beloved spring flowers almost to the point of invisibility. In landscape planning, I had not considered the matter...

Daylight Saving Memories

My memory is a trickster. Growing up in the 50’s and 60’s, daylight savings time (DST) meant time to play after supper and endless days of summer ahead – right? Return to standard time in the fall meant the beginning of school, dark and homework after dinner. Or...

On Wind and Trees

Several days ago, friends visited our mountain home Vanaprastha. While admiring views of Virginia’s Three Ridges Wilderness area and Rockfish Valley, they expressed concern about the tall trees near the house being subject to wind. Curious about the relationship...