Tender Places

Over in the eastern corner of the front yard, the old Bradford pear tree is just about to bloom.  Right now, its branches are filled with buds, tightly rolled pearly bundles that will soon burst into azalea-like blossoms. The flowers linger…

When my sons were Boy Scouts, they each worked hard to earn the badge called Orienteering. At the time, computer-assisted navigation was a resource reserved for ocean, air or space travel.  For almost everyone else, the time-tested method to navigate by…

The old cast iron stove radiated enough heat to warm the entire first floor of our New England home, but the byproduct of those cozy fires was ashes– lots and lots of ashes. Cleaning out the stove quickly filled our battered…

Day by Day, the Season of Lent unfolds. Traditionally, Lent is a time of sacrifice, denial and penitence, but can also be a time to embrace new opportunities for self-reflection, meditation, and renewal. The Season of Lent with its emphasis on…