Weekly Newsletters

The articles below were featured in my weekly e‑mail newsletters. To subscribe to the newsletter, please use my contact form.

Small human figures forming the shape of a squiggly arrow, with some outliers

Echo Chambers

I was wrong about dying of starvation after missing supper one night. I could be wrong about a few more things.
Read more
Bright red oxblood lily with green foliage in the foreground and background

Little Red Surprise

I noted a bright red among some foliage, and on closer inspection decided it must be a renegade from the original location. Renegade; surprise; mostly delight.
Read more
A group of colorful, handmade felt vessels

Making Stuff Fun

We humans have an extraordinary proportion of our brain power allocated to our hands. Maybe that’s why making—using our hands to transform materials—is not only satisfying, but essential to who we are.
Read more
Rainy back yard viewed through a wooden window frame with stones on the windowsill

A Lazy Labor Day

We’ll use luscious Merino wool to create at least two small containers—they could hold small treasures or big dreams.
Read more
Purple, white and yellow water lily with shiny green leaves

Delight

Supposedly, this particular lily can tolerate partial shade. Truth be told, this little pond is mostly in full shade, but I couldn’t resist taking a chance.
Read more
View from vehicle dashboard, inside a garage, looking out at driveway.

Progress

It feels like a new normal. The inside looks a little different, and it seems like there should be more people coming and going to work on stuff. Pretty soon the new normal will feel as if it’s always been this way
Read more
Bullet hole in center of shattered glass

Something’s Wrong!

Please, y’all, we as individuals and as a culture can do better than this. We can agree to disagree. And we can do it respectfully, with appreciation for each other’s humanity.
Read more
Traffic slowly moving toward sunset

Slower Than Slow

It starts to feel like magic. How in the world did that get so much better? And now, movement can be not only faster, but also more powerful with the same amount of effort.
Read more
Blurry image of students with hands raised, as if to ask a question

Too Much, Miss!

You’d think that after so many years on the planet, I’d have figured this out a long time ago. I’m beginning to realize that somehow, we almost always find a way through.
Read more
Multi-colored illustration of hand bones, with each bone labeled

Thumb Up or Thumb Down?

As is too often the case, I forgot to ask why. So, when I was working on my own, I tried this thumb’s up position again, and asked myself why. The movement was smoother, simpler, gentler—and more effective.
Read more
Sewing pattern pieces, drafting curve, grid ruler, mechanical pencil and eraser

Making Mistakes

And with even better luck, the teacher reassures you that you don’t have to start all over again, from the very beginning. It’s especially nice if you can see where you went wrong and learn from that.
Read more
Sisters playing in a rain puddle

“We’re Sisters; We Fight”

Two of our granddaughters were riding in the back seat. After a while, there was some squabbling. As the sound escalated, I turned around to see what was going on, perhaps to intervene.
Read more