A few months ago, a tree-trimming crew working for my city worked down my street. They carefully pruned the first of the three trees in front of my condo building, but maybe they ran out of time because they then chopped off the entire crown on the next two trees. The two decapitated trees then … Continue reading Winter/Green
Inspiration
Year 1: Launch!
Hi! (insert nervous smile here) I haven't posted in a while... OK, OK. I haven't posted in 2024. So what! What's it to you? Oh, you were just worried? (shy smile) Thank you! So then what's my excuse? My "best" one? Well, I either started an all-consuming job, survived a car accident that upended my … Continue reading Year 1: Launch!
Cookies Tell Stories: Recipe for Life
Previously, on Campfire Tales: Various sources recounted the invention of the prize-winning Starlight Mint Surprise Cookies, sometimes omitting the theft and replacement of the $10,000 prize check. Today, let's consider the real legacy of Laura Rott. Every celebration, article and obituary focuses on the baking contest, mostly through Eleanor Roosevelt's summary, and including Eleanor's "unmarried" … Continue reading Cookies Tell Stories: Recipe for Life
Book Review: The Wild Trees
"A long time ago, I set out to do something. Now it looks like I've reached the goal. It's like if I die tomorrow, everything will be alright." He fell silent for a moment. "I think I've found out the secret of making a dream come true." "What's that?" "Just don't stop. Don't stop. Don't … Continue reading Book Review: The Wild Trees
Release, Embrace, Anticipate
I recently announced that "Release, Embrace, Anticipate" would be the theme for this year (referring to the Past, Present, Future) and then... (crickets) What happened? Did I accidentally release the present, embrace the past, and forgot all about the future? Well... maybe something like that. Sorry. Here's the scoop: Right after my last post, I … Continue reading Release, Embrace, Anticipate
Stop (Watching) the Clock!
A few observations: Every year for the past few years I keep hearing most everyone I know express eagerness for the prior/current year to be over, and the next year to begin. The belief/hope seems to be: New Year = Better Year. Every year for the past few years, the current year is rated worse … Continue reading Stop (Watching) the Clock!
The Atom Between Red and Green
Quick! Consume this itty-bitty science-filled quote — like a smart pill! — and then we'll talk about something more fun: goals! (It might help if you hold your breath until it's over; you'll read faster.) All the green in the planted world consists of these whole, rounded chloroplasts wending their way in water. If you … Continue reading The Atom Between Red and Green
The Legend of National Park Mountain
Ages ago, on a dark starry night, Between the forest and the Firehole’s banks (Perhaps the Madison’s), a spark took flight, A thought, a plan, for which we should give thanks National Parks, behold their provenance: Below dark outcroppings, beside a stream (Rock eyes, creek mouth; a face), camp occupants Envisioned preservation. Such a dream! … Continue reading The Legend of National Park Mountain
How Stanley Found Me
In How I Found Livingston by Henry Morton Stanley, journalist Stanley recounts his epic search across Africa, looking for the missing explorer, Dr. David Livingston. I started reading the book (over 700 pages) at least 15 years ago as research on available books circa 1872 that a person living then might have read. Somewhere around … Continue reading How Stanley Found Me
Grand Prismatic Spring: Inspiring
A few years back, as I found myself buying orange everything (furniture, clothes, dishes, to name a few), I explained my new obsession to a friend, something like this: ME: My favorite color used to be blue, but lately one definition of blue brings me down: sadness. My new favorite is orange. FRIEND: What does … Continue reading Grand Prismatic Spring: Inspiring
Campfire Tales 