Psychic training, violin and fashion design. These are not the academic subjects I’d have chosen for my 13-year-old daughter. But she’s begged, pleaded, found the money, found her teachers and organized to work the lessons in between her writing, farm tours, waiting tables and math lessons. According to my conventional academic upbringing, these courses are […]
The Ideal Customer
IMMORTALS ONLY. I’m wondering if I can fit the sign on our already cluttered front door. Lifetime commitment required should be added there, too. Today is taking me by surprise. Sap Bush Saturday is when I step lightly, dance in the kitchen, shout joyfully to my customers. But I want to run from here. If […]
The Knight-Errant
“I am I, Don Quixote, The Lord of La Mancha, My destiny calls and I go.” Without looking up, Saoirse grabs a green mug off the back counter and pulls his coffee. She pours the cream and checks the volume in the sugar bowl. Not full enough. She tops it off, then pushes it all […]
Racial Reckoning
Nothing looks the same anymore. Last week I worked up the courage to pick up my copy of White Fragility by Robin Diangelo. My friend Vivian insisted I buy it over the summer. Demand for the book was so great, I waited weeks to get it. Then I procrastinated reading. Now, I can only read […]
The Cold River
There is no easy way to get to the Cold River. This fact grows increasingly plainer to me with each passing year. Backpacking 13-14 miles per day on the Northville-Lake Placid Trail, you’ll get there around day 8. You can pick up the spur trail along Route 28 in Long Lake and hike 13 miles […]
31: The Sweet Spot
It’s two bushels of tomatoes this year. And two bushels of green beans. And two bushels of peppers, when they’re ready. I’ve doubled-down on the canning and freezing. We have more mouths to feed here at home, and we’re not planning on going out in public much once it gets cold. Doubling down […]
The Choice
My house is a wreck, my email box is flooded, my to-do list is out of control, my feet are tired….It must be August…And You’re listening to Episode 30 of The Hearth of Sap Bush Hollow: The Choice. “Have we become prisoners of the life we dreaded? Or have we chosen this?” Bob doesn’t have […]
Prognosis
They don’t know I’ve been crying. I give them credit for persistence. They’d shown up the first time right after we’d closed and I uncharacteristically turned them away. “Sorry, we’re closed,” I’d called out as soon as they’d walked in the door. They shrugged their shoulders, settled for a pint of ice cream as their […]
Seven Tips for Thriving While Your Children School @ Home
Nobody asked you. The words rattle in my brain during a slow moment at the cafe as I hide on a corner stool in the back of the kitchen and scroll through the New York Times on my phone. The debate about whether or not to open schools captures my interest. I read an Op […]
26: The Croissant
Hate has no home here. I poke the blue sign into the flower pots in front of the cafe. “But it does visit from time to time,” Bob quips as he watches me. It’s late. He wants to go home, drink a beer, and try to see Comet Neowise. It’s been so hazy and we’ve […]
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