Gerard Nolst Trenité “The Chaos”: A Poem to Light Up Your Gray Matter
We tried farro, which was good. An ancient grain, so they say, farro has a pleasant, rubbery texture, a nutty flavor, and […]
Tough Mothers: Raising Children and the Development of Grit
As we have previously mused, there seems to be a necessary element of physical discomfort to develop grit. Our bodies are always […]
Why We Have Lost the Word for Loneliness
“I shall also give a white amulet upon which is inscribed a new name, which no one knows except the one who […]
Arthur Ransome’s “Swallows and Amazons” and the Power of Natural Consequences
Beginning Arthur Ransome’s “Swallows and Amazons” with little to no context, one might wonder where it takes place. The names are not […]
The Very British Childhood of Anglophiles Everywhere
There can be a real thrill in testing out an idea you’ve read about. Is it true? Does it hold up to […]
The Strength that Comes from Stories in Childhood
One of the most memorable reads of 2023 for me was E.B. Sledge’s “With the Old Breed at Peleliu and Okinawa.” By […]
Can Watching YouTube Videos Make Your House Cleaner?
There are people who don’t care about little messes and clutter. And there are those of us who long continually for clean […]
Manic Martyr Moms on Mushrooms
Next up in the trend of “normalizing” and “destigmatizing,” we have moms on mushrooms. Unfortunately, we’re not talking about mothers learning new […]
Lois Lenski’s “Regionals”: Fascinating Stories for Young and Old
Lois Lenski is often remembered primarily as an illustrator. An introduction to her work may come through the amusing picture book series […]
What Grit Is and How to Have More of It
Reading Charles Portis’s excellent little book, “True Grit,” you will likely be entertained. Personally, I did not find it to be as […]