How to motivate yourself when you don’t feel like it
What chores do you avoid? Maybe it’s cleaning the bathroom. Or grocery shopping. For me, weeding was a grueling chore. Then I came across Daniel Pink’s “Pinkcast” called
Insights
Insights, Photography
How to love a bumblebee
Let’s face it. Honeybees get all the attention. They’re cute, fuzzy and necessary to our survival. But so are bumblebees. Maybe more so. But I didn’t know that stuff until
Gardening
When Michelle Obama dug up the White House lawn
During World War I President Woodrow Wilson asked Americans to plant vegetable gardens “to ward off the possible threat of food shortages.” By 1943, victory gardens supplied an amazing 40 percent
Insights
What is the #1 goal you need to complete your bucket list?
There’s something really satisfying about checking a goal off your bucket list. Your goal might emerge on cue, like a sunrise. Or demand patience. Here’s what happened at 4,000 feet in Joshua Tree
Cooking
Win friends with chocolate avocado mint pudding. Really?
Do you like to indulge in a little sweet after dinner? Me, too. But are you also trying to cut down on sugar? Well, have I got something for you! It’s a dark chocolate pudding that is dairy-free, gluten
Gardening, Kodiak, AK
My podcast story: I want to be open to the gifts
On a beautiful fall day, podcaster Catherine Praiswater stopped by the garden to ask me about the birds and the bees. Eagles and bumblebees, actually. She adjusted
Photography
RAW vs JPEG: Why both formats are good
If you want a chicken soup that fills the house with rich, savory smells, you probably won’t reach for Campbell’s chicken noodle soup. But if you’re in a hurry, canned soup might be fine. Same with photography. If you want the best photos,
Insights, Kodiak, AK
Why I’m to blame for the government shutdown
On January 18, 2019, the New York Times ran an article about my hometown of Kodiak, Alaska called A Small Alaska Town Reels As the Coast Guard Weathers on Without Pay. We do
Gardening
Want a dream garden? How to order seeds the easy way
In 1988 I decided to grow a few vegetables. Problem was, I’d never grown more than a sunflower in a milk carton. So it was no surprise when 50 years later, I was totally overwhelmed
Insights, Kodiak, AK
When did you last spend time being quiet?
On a clear, crispy winter morning, I’d just finished taking pictures of hoar frost. Fairyland stuff. I’m trying to do what feels right. And you? Are you walking each day? Learning how to knit? Adding kale to your smoothies? Before you dive headlong into
Gardening
Does snow help or harm plants?
It’s snowing. Big fluffy flakes. You start to worry that your shrubs and winter flowering plants might suffer. The good news: Snow benefits plants. But it can also spell trouble. Here’s a
Cooking
Cranberry salsa recipe and 8 curious facts about cranberries
When you think of holiday dinners, does a jiggling tower of red cranberry sauce come to mind? Weird stuff that sauce. Yet Ocean Spray makes 70 million cans of it. Don’t you think there are better things to do with one of the world’s
Photography
21 essential tips for taking stellar holiday photos
We love stories. They affirm who we are. And we want affirmations that our lives have meaning. Here are 21 of my favorite photo tips to help you use holiday photos to share stories with family and friends. To download the PDF I created from this post,
Insights, Kodiak, AK
The coffee spilled all over the floor…
I was first to get up this morning, which meant it was my job to start the coffee. I pushed the button on the brewer, then washed a few dishes. Minutes later, I smelled coffee. Such a wonderful smell. I grabbed a mug, turned, and to my horror,
Gardening
Eat this! Fixing our food waste problem
It’s been a busy week. Our local Walmart sold pumpkins for one dollar each. I bought 12. Now what? As I researched recipes online, I came across a haunting statistic: About 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkins are thrown
Photography
Through my camera: Fall colors in Kodiak
Fall colors on this North Pacific island appear casual, in a pear and cinnamon sort of way. Not like the East Coast’s hot salsa splendor. It’s a different kind of beauty. Allow me to show you…
Insights, Photography
Weather: The biggest show on earth
The weather is the biggest show on earth. It engages everyone. Best of all, admission is free and good seats are plentiful. Plus, no commercials. And it runs 24/7. To some though, the weather is just something to be tolerated. Clouds are