Exploring the Third Season of Life

Notes from Vanaprastha

Reflections on Faith, Nature, and Writing

Recent Posts

Fall Part III

Fall Part III

Three years ago, the red oak trees here at Vanaprastha produced a bumper crop of acorns. When the wind blew, acorns peppered the deck and roof like hail stones. Keith and I thought this was a response to the disruption of building the house, as if the Oaks were...

Priorities

Priorities

“Whether they articulate them or not, everyone has values in life. I recommend the following.” So spoke William Jennings Bryan, III, former pastor of Lover’s Lane United Methodist Church in Dallas and now Director of Intern Program and Professional Formation at...

Fall Part II

Fall Part II

“Carole, have you seen the dogwood tree outside the dining room windows?” Keith asked one morning in late August. “You really should get a picture now before it changes.” “It’s drizzling, and the light’s not that good,” I replied. “If you wait until conditions are...

Fall Part I

Fall Part I

Labor Day during my growing up years in Connecticut meant a neighborhood picnic. Dads carried grills to the lawn beside the swimming pool and served up hot dogs and hamburgers. Moms organized a potluck and corralled their children who raced around in excitement....

Sweet Dreams

Sweet Dreams

"May I help you?" asked the young hotel receptionist as Keith and I stepped up to the desk. "Yes, we're passing through and wondered if you have a room for the night," I said. "We don't have a reservation." "There're only a few rooms left," she replied. “How much...

Triangles

Triangles

When I was in kindergarten, my class presented a Christmas Pageant. Mother sewed an angel costume out of a white bed sheet and trimmed it with gold sparkles to match the pipe cleaner halo. I sang “O Little Town of Bethlehem” as a solo but felt I’d been miscast. I...