Tis the Season . . . for Finding Solutions
This essay originally aired on TriStates Public Radio. Go here to listen. Bah humbug. I don’t know about you but I’m really struggling with the holidays this year. It’s a perfect storm, a trifecta of winter weather, the pandemic, and climate crisis. I mean, geez, why bother even getting out of bed? But I only allow […]
Ode to the Farm Pond
It’s my baptismal font, my hole in the ground that gets me a few feet closer to the earth’s core. It’s in these waters, the color of meat broth, where I immerse myself to calm my anxieties, soothe my aches—of the heart and otherwise—and to make me feel closer to nature, which to me is […]
The Right Books at the Right Time
Sometimes you come across exactly the right book at exactly the right time. A year ago, when I was in a funk and had lost my way, along with my sense of purpose, I read Elizabeth Gilbert’s book “Big Magic.” In it, she poses the question: “What is it you love doing so much that […]
Is Social Media to Blame for Our Anxiety?
This post originally aired as a commentary on Tri States Public Radio. To listen instead of reading, go here. So many things are making me anxious these days. I have fears about getting COVID-19, about the November elections, about the rise of white supremacy, about our divisions growing so deep we could end up in a civil […]
Peach Crumble Pie: It’s Not Too Late
I love peach season! I just wish it lasted longer. As we approach all things pumpkin-spiced, I used the last peaches of the season to make one final peach pie. Peach crumble, actually, because . . . brown sugar and butter! When asked what my favorite pie is I always answer “apple” to keep it […]
Sleep Well, Don
This is not how I thought it would end. I thought I would get to talk to you again, to say goodbye to you. You called on Saturday morning but I was on the other line. I texted that I would call you right back, but I didn’t call until early evening. You didn’t answer. […]
Pie Shop for Sale in Pie Town, NM
Dreaming of running your own pie shop? Looking to move from the city to the country? I mean, this pandemic is making most of us rethink our lives — and our livelihoods — so why not move to a sparsely populated area on the Continental Divide? Pie-O-Neer in Pie Town, New Mexico is for sale! This […]
Pie for Minneapolis: A Small But Mighty Thing to Do
On the morning of May 29, I woke up to news that Minneapolis police had arrested an African-American reporter for CNN who was covering the protests resulting from the murder of George Floyd. Already outraged by Floyd’s death and the subsequent aggression of police toward peaceful protesters, this latest arrest triggered a tipping point for me, […]
Minneapolis Pie Giveaway — Sunday, May 31, 2020
Reading the news this morning provoked the same reaction I had after the Sandy Hook shooting — I cannot just sit here and feel outraged; I NEED TO DO SOMETHING! This is why I’m on my way to Minneapolis to coordinate a pie giveaway on SUNDAY. Why pie? Because sharing pie is sharing peace, comfort, kindness, love, inclusivity, […]
Stay Calm and Bake Pie — Episode 7: A Celebration of YOUR Pies
Episode 7 of “Stay Calm and Bake Pie” is here. It may be my favorite one, because it’s a celebration of all the pies you’ve been making this month. After watching it, my friend Kee Kee (who you read more about below) texted me this: “When this pandemic started you told me you wanted to […]