Blog
As a curious observer of life, I blog on writing, marketing, my prairie - anything that interests me in the moment. I like to have conversations with readers, so don’t hesitate to leave a comment. I'll respond.
I admire people who know their passion. People with passion get things done, often against tremendous odds. Just one example: Jonas Salk worked for decades, with passion, to find a vaccine effective against polio. We…
Read MoreI’ve always admired Minnesotans for how they embrace winter. I admit I waffle on the subject of winter. I love it. Or not. A couple of years ago, I vowed to go out every day.…
Read MoreArticles filling the papers and wrap-up shows on TV as we come to the end of 2009 indicate we’re not only ending a year, we’re also finishing a decade. Which leads to the question I…
Read MoreI returned from a pre-dawn walk through three inches of new powder, breathless from the exertion, warm in spite of frigid temperatures, the sound of snow crunching with every step. The snowplows hadn’t passed yet,…
Read MoreMy intent has been to write about my prairie at least once every month. But sitting here in my office, looking out across the area where I so hopefully planted a prairie last spring, all…
Read MoreNature dumped 15+ inches of snow on Des Moines this week. Fifteen inches of snow followed by winds gusting to 50 miles per hour. Snow swirled in whiteout waves. Drifts mounded up to window ledges.…
Read MoreOur next-door neighbors breed dogs. A fact we did not know when we bought our acreage four years ago, but of which we were soon aware. The barking was incessant and loud every time we…
Read MoreI have always believed that Thanksgiving dinner is simultaneously the easiest and most difficult meal to make. Easiest because there is no wondering what will be on the menu. At least at our house, the…
Read MoreHeading toward the holidays, the media bombard us with new ways to cook the old standards. While I’m sure many enjoy the adventure of new foods on the holidays, for me these meals are all…
Read MoreThe trees outside my office window are devoid of leaves. Even our sugar maple finally gave up. It’s brilliant yellow leaves turned brown and now cover the ground with an ankle-deep, brittle blanket. No denying…
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