Hello Fellow Readers, Thanks to all of you our Garden Dilemma chats have run for 239 weeks and counting! We shared a range of topics this last year from the most recent ones – the history of poinsettias known as the Flowers of the Holy Night and the Magnitude of Promise of 5,000

Hello Fellow Readers, There’s a country song by Pat Alger and Ralph Murphy, sung by Kathy Mattea that I adore. The chorus of Seeds speaks volumes starting with “We’re all just seeds in God’s hands. We start the same, but where we land is sometimes fertile soil

Hello Fellow Readers, Fall is for gathering in the coziness of the season. I recently had the joy of visiting my piano teacher from way back. She’s now a grand 89 years wise. I’m not sure how long ago she became “Mom J” (J for Jackson), but I have fond memories

Hello fellow readers, Once again, I write from Virginia and admit I’m weary. Witnessing a loved one suffer is heartbreaking; Mom’s most enormous suffering is from fear. When I arrived Saturday, her deep cough and spiked fever seemed inevitable. To soothe her, I began readi

Hello fellow readers, The Blairstown’s Village Green, also known as the pocket park where the old Community Center once stood, benefited from a weeding frenzy and a hefty load of mulch. Thanks to a busload of energetic students from Centenary College in Hackettstown, NJ. Patti Doell w

Hello fellow readers, I came across two snapping turtles swimming near shore at Catfish Pond in Blairstown, NJ. Turtles have always fascinated me, but more so since my soulful twin brother passed a few years ago. Bill felt a strong connection to turtles, marveling over their slow and

Today Mom turned 88. In anticipation of her birthday, a quandary of what to send, I came across this beautiful reminder of eight while on a road walk with Miss Ellie. I sent her the photo as a birthday card. Mom always loved horses and often reminisced about her beloved horse Jack. Fo

Nature’s inspirations are sometimes seen looking up! I took this photo on December 18, 2015 from the side of the road; Cobblewood  Road, Blairstown to be specific. As a result of stumbling upon this puffy treat I made a note-to-self : Never overlook looking up!

Hello, fellow readers, The Press takes a hiatus between Christmas and New Year’s, so I don’t have a weekly column to share. But I’d like to share the story of Bill’s stones with you, my faithful online readers. One of my most frequented meditative walks is clim

Hello fellow readers, I’ve become a street walker – one of those folks seen waving to cars driving by. Which isn’t a bad thing; it’s polite to acknowledge each other and a smile and wave may help lift someone’s spirits. Often times yourself. It’s amazing how ev