Let It Snow I’m writing this column in the middle of the second snowstorm of the weekend, hunkered down and planning to not go out until I have to. I hate driving in snow. I’d rather look at the snow out my window than my windshield. The first snow that came added up to about a foot and it was pretty heavy...
Cookenomics: Resolutions to Save You Tons in 2009 1. Say No to Takeout
I admit it…I fell victim to the takeout trend when times got busy. Looking back at my bank account it is no wonder some bills went unpaid. Cooking for ourselves is easier than we think no matter how busy we are. My husband and I take turns on meal duty based on our schedules...
Comfort and Joy Just a few days ago on Christmas Eve I was running a couple of quick family errands. As I approached Exit 5 on Route 3 the car shuddered and sputtered. I know the sound and I know the feeling and a quick glance at the fuel gage confirmed my worst fears. The needle was several degrees below E....
A look at Kingston in 2009, through the eyes of the "psychics" I spent a few days in late December consulting with our region's leading psychics, for a glimpse into what lies in store for our town in 2009. As always, I spared no effort in securing the most diverse sources available. This year's talent bank includes an individual who uncannily reported the exact margin of Barack Obama's victory in...
Dog Blessings: Poems, Prose, and Prayers Celebrating Our Relationship with Dogs, Edited by June Cotner, New World Library, animals/inspirational, 166 pp., $16
If there’s a dog lover on your Christmas and holiday list, look no further for the perfect gift. This small, sweet volume is filled with lovely meditations on the joys of being loved by a dog. One of the things that makes this book so
If You Feed Them They Will Come I was down at the Plymouth Pier on a recent cold, windy day. As I drove through the parking lot, I saw what seemed to be mounds of wet newspaper stuck to the curb. I wondered how it got there, but as I drove closer, I could see it was a fl ock of cold, wet pigeons huddling close to the curb as a wind break. They didn’t even move as I drove by. The gulls, as usual, were out in the wind, some fl ying, some fi ghting for a spot on the breakwater. Nothing seems to faze these birds...
Him & Her: TKO at a Time of Transition... HIM: With the economy being what it is, the tightening of the purse strings has her engaged in a sneaky little game of financial cat and mouse. For years now she has raided my pants pockets of any loose change that I have accumulated throughout the day. Sometimes it’s nice to have that change…like when you buy a $1.68 coffee at Dunkin’ and you have the actual 68 cents in change. I always feel good when that happens, like I saved a dollar bill along the way....
A different perspective on the Tom O’Brien candidacy As a longtime supporter and friend of Tom O’Brien, I was surprised at the tone and content of the article in this newspaper’s most recent edition, questioning whether Tom’s image has been tarnished.
Moss Heaven I visited the Evergreen Cemetery a few days after Hurricane Ike and all that rain had passed, and found myself in an emerald fantasy land. All that water had brought out mosses and lichens of all descriptions. It looked more like forests that I have seen in coastal Maine than Kingston. Every inch of ground that was not covered by grass was covered by a tight carpet of moss. Mosses also were inching their way up monuments and stones. Lichens in jewel tones inched their slow way across headstones in their monumentally slow progress. Being a moss lover, I was thrilled.
Cookenomics: Tips to Save $$ on your Thanksgiving Feast Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away and if you're hosting the big event, you may want to rethink your menu. Gone are the days when we waste lots of time and money trying to impress family and friends with an extravagant meal. It’s no secret the economy is terrible. Last year’s menu may not be affordable or practical based on your current budget. Fear not. You can pull off the biggest feast of the year on a budget with elegance by just thinking ahead. Here are a few things you can do right now to prepare an impressive budget friendly meal based on simplicity. If there is one thing the economy has taught me, it is that simple is best. A simple, yet delicious meal with your loved ones is priceless and for that we should remain grateful, humble and blessed.
In His Sights: A True Story of Love and Obsession by Kate Brennan, Harper Collins, non-fiction, 279 pp., $24.95
Kate Brennan (a pseudonym) is a successful freelance writer and scholar living in an undisclosed location in the Midwest. When she was in her early forties she met Paul, a charismatic, independently wealthy man with whom she entered into a relationship. Brennan moved into Paul’s home, but chose to terminate the arrangement about three years later. Paul has stalked Brennan ever since, and that was almost 15 years ago. Brennan has moved many times since, but her stalker always finds her. She did everything right, contacting the police and receiving their support, and even flying to California to consult with an expert on stalking, but her tormentor is clever. Meanwhile, Paul earned a medical degree of all things.
Back to School Food Smarts As the new school year is upon us, we find ourselves trying to get in the groove with the infamous back-to-school routine. Aside from the clothes, shoes and supply shopping, we have to start thinking about how the change in schedule reflects what we feed the family. My boys are 6 and 11 and have luckily started to gain some independence with the morning routine. They are both capable of using the microwave so I spend the week before school starts making and freezing breakfasts. Pancakes are a must. My recipe is easy, healthy and inexpensive. If you don’t want to make such a large batch, cut the recipe in half. The best part about these is that you freeze them and let the kids do their own warming in the morning. Always have sugar free syrup on hand. (I’ve been giving my kids this stuff for years and they have never missed the sugar!) You can also make and freeze french toast too.
Nature’s Bounty No one has farmed this old plot for many years, but nature does provide. There is an ancient pear tree in the front yard, which, most years, puts out a few feeble flowers, and later, a couple of moth eaten fruits. Once every several years, though, it flowers fully, and glistens with light green fruit. This is one of those years. The tree is literally covered with pears, branches hanging low with the weight. I can’t wait until fall to taste them.
