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...

Grandfather’s Udder Wisdom

The only time I spent alone with him, my grandfather talked about cows’ udders. “You got to take care of cows,” Grampy told me, sitting in his worn rocking chair in Grammy’s kitchen, slurping his usual milk-and-sugared-tea, rubbing his wooden leg, a phantom of one...

It’s her nature

“Carole,” Keith called from the outside deck, “bring a bag. Freya caught another squirrel, fresh kill, and it’s a big one.” Ugh, I thought, Yuck! I said, to which Keith replied, “It’s her nature.” In the past 4 months, Freya, a shepherd mix and hunter by nature, has...

Surrogates

I’ve always loved Christmas! From the time I was a child through my son’s and daughter’s growing up years, we gathered as a family to pick out the tree and decorate the house. We made Christmas cookies and prepared special meals while singing Christmas carols, and we...