Feel the Need for Green? --Designing with Houseplants
Like millions of her followers, I have become intrigued by Marie Kondo’s philosophy on organizing your life. Since reading her book, I have been thinking about which of the things that I hold on to truly give me joy. Of course, pictures of my family came out on top, as did a few pieces of …
Feel the Need for Green? Add Some Houseplants!
If I had to choose one word to describe this winter so far, I would use the word bleak. The sun has been absent so the sky has been consistently grey, the temperature has been too cold to enjoy being outside and it has either been raining, snowing or unbelievably windy. All in all, the …
The Healing Power of Herbs
We got snowed in last weekend — eighteen inches of snow, no heat, no electricity and no way to get out of our driveway. Since there was absolutely nothing else I could do, I took the opportunity to bundle up in blankets, sit down in my favorite chair and read. All day — …
Resolving to Succeed
I’ve never been very good at either making or keeping New Year’s Resolutions. Like a lot of people, if I do remember to make them, I forget about them within a few days. Then, I feel guilty that I didn’t follow through, I start to feel badly about myself and my new year is off …
Bring Nature In -- Let Stress Out
I have been feeling incredibly stressed lately. Unfortunately, when I am stressed, I just shut down which, of course, increases my stress level and renders me virtually useless. My “To Do” list gets longer and my “Done” list stays blank.The only way I can interrupt this cycle is to take a nature break. …
Memory Gardens -- A Natural Lifeline
Watching someone you love slowly disappear from the present, fade into the past and eventually lose the ability to function is both frustrating and painful. Millions of American families are currently experiencing these emotions as their loved ones struggle with the challenges of Alzheimer’s Disease. It is the 6th leading cause of death in the …
Playful Spaces
I found myself muttering under my breath the other day because it was time to take the kids outside to play. I knew that in order to go out, I had to chase down three pairs of socks and three pairs of shoes and three coats and three hats and as soon as we got …
Rest, Relax and Rejuvenate -- In Nature
I honestly thought that when I retired from teaching the pace of my life would dramatically change. I imagined spending hours outdoors — working in my gardens, exploring new places and just generally basking in nature — since I wouldn’t be tied to a desk grading papers anymore. What I discovered was that the ending …
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